Just found this on ebay and it is kinda nice - but...

why on earth didn't they put some Kluson type machines on it?
those Gotho's are to bulky.
hmm - the neck ain't very '52 ish either^^

any thoughts about that one?


[cgi.ebay.de]

Could not get it in English, but if the price is $999.99 in US dollars it is a total ripoff since you can buy one new from Fender Japan for significantly less.

I forget exactly how it works out, but I checked this out over the summer and soup to nuts (shipping etc) it worked out to be about $600.00--I think it was less than that but I am being conservative in my price guesstimate



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-11-12 00:09 by Glass Slide.

Yeah, I guess you're right if it's going to be shipped to Europe. Tax would be doubled. So maybe its interesting for the U.S. folks.
Europeans would be better off getting one directly from Ishibashi Japan.

I find those Gotho tuners very distracting,
only recently I changed the machines of my MIK Lite Ash to Kluson type.
small details - but it makes a hell of a difference, at least for me, lol.

I am in the US, at least I think so--lol

Mathijs was the one who clued me into the possibility of dealing directly from Fender Japan (only Fender factory that makes the "Keith" reissue). If I remember correctly, he pointed out that you would want to change the machine heads and pick-ups, but that otherwise it is a highly playable, very well made guitar.

If you go to the website, they have the price and then you just have to do the conversion. I was surprised at how reasonable it was AND they will set it up for you (pretty cool of them) AND get it to your door step in 24 hrs--which I find difficult to fathom but can't believe they would say it if they couldn't.

One final thing, if I recall, this guitar is made of basswood and that is unfortunate and, for me, a deal breaker much more so than then the Gotohs, which I agree are pointless.

oops - now you say it, it dawns on me.
I do remember Mathijs mentioning that deal.
I blush in shame, totally forgot about it.

but they do say:
1. Body - Ash with a see-through butterscotch blonde finish.

if indeed it was made out of basswood, I agree, that would be a real let down.

Oh, maybe it's my memory that is faulty---if they say ash, that is different---for some reason I thought when I went to the site, it was basswood---ash would change a lot---I'll tell you though, I would still check the Fender Japan site to make sure that claim is accurate cause I really seem to remember it being basswood--in fact I recall they used basswood for alot of their guitars, which frankly, I don't understand---if you are going to replicate a guitar like that, it is kind of important to get the wood right.

If you buy a guitar on e-bay, never spend more than you'd put on a horse !

Some folks seem to put quite a lot of $$$$$ on classy horses
[cgi.ebay.com]

Got a direct link to the Micawbercopy in Japan?

Vilhelm
Nordic Stones Vikings

Not an exact copy but I like this one

[www.gbase.com]

also, Here is my Muddy Waters Tele> I added a Seth Lover in the neck position.




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-11-12 15:24 by jabhead.

mickijaggeroo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Got a direct link to the Micawbercopy in Japan?


Just go to Fender Japan. In addition to Micawber they have a RI of the Tele Custom.

open-g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> any thoughts about that one?


I think it's not too bad for a copy, but of course the colour doesn't match the one on Keith's "Micawber" at all. (Keith's is much more yellow-ish...).

The wood-question would be crucial for me. If it really is an ash body then it can be considered a quite good deal, but if it's basswood, forget it...

Has anybody noticed that the strap-locks aren't resembling the one's Keith has? (They are much bigger...can anybody please elaborate on this?)

Finally I have a question for all the specialists out there: As we all know Keith has not only "Micawber" but also "Malcolm". What are the exact differences?
I noticed that on one guitar the poles of the Humbucker pickup point towards the neck of the guitar ("Micawber" ???) and on the other they point "backwards". Is that "Malcolm" then ???

Any comments appreciated ;-)

well as far as I can see, Keith has security Strap Locks on his guitars, while on the ebay item it's plain strap buttons.

Micawber is a butterscotch paint finished '52 Telecaster, played without capo.
Malcolm is a natural finished '52 Tele and is kept capoed at the 4th fret.
but I wouldn't bet my life on it though - maybe one of 'em was from '54?

I don't know about pickup poles - I 'll have a closer look at some pics.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-11-12 21:51 by open-g.

Glass Slide Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am in the US, at least I think so--lol
>
> Mathijs was the one who clued me into the
> possibility of dealing directly from Fender Japan
> (only Fender factory that makes the "Keith"
> reissue). If I remember correctly, he pointed out
> that you would want to change the machine heads
> and pick-ups, but that otherwise it is a highly
> playable, very well made guitar.
>
> If you go to the website, they have the price and
> then you just have to do the conversion. I was
> surprised at how reasonable it was AND they will
> set it up for you (pretty cool of them) AND get it
> to your door step in 24 hrs--which I find
> difficult to fathom but can't believe they would
> say it if they couldn't.
>
> One final thing, if I recall, this guitar is made
> of basswood and that is unfortunate and, for me, a
> deal breaker much more so than then the Gotohs,
> which I agree are pointless.

Yes, I checked the site and wow, they ARE reasonable.
Wood is stated to be white ash.
The current price at Ishibashi is 64.000,00 JPYen = 544,216 USD = 423,840 EUR
+ shipping and duty fees


Here's the link, Mickijageroo
[www.ishibashi-music.com]

go to telecaster and choose model TL52-80SPL

I bought this model from Ishibashi..They are a very good firm to deal with..I have to say it's a beautiful guitar, and it is Ash. The quality and finish are superb and for the money beats a US model of a similar spec.

Thank You very much, open-g!

Vilhelm
Nordic Stones Vikings

You sound like a satisfied customer, Leeds - thats nice.
do you recall how much the custom fee/tax was?
my wild guess is you're in UK

Luckily my niece carried it back from Tokyo so didn't not pay any import duty or VAT..Their guys in the export dept are very helpful and emails are replied to very quickly..Have a look at their used section..the U-Box on their website..They often carry this model as a pre-owned. If you are in the US i believe you don't have to pay duty on guitars.
I worked out it would add about £120 to the price in the UK IF you had to pay the duty..Still worth it..Several UK dealers can get this model and usually charge about £600..Hope that helps

Now I know what I want for christmas, but I hopefully get to spend my hard earned money on some tickets for the 2007 tour first. Have 4 things on my prioritylist:

1. More Stonesshows
2 A 42 inch plasmaTV to watch all @#$%& on.
3&4 In no perticular order. A Gibson Les Paul and a Tele like the above...

Maybe I will have fulfilled all 4 in a couple of years...

Santa, I´ve been a good loyal fan for 33 years, please reward me!

Vilhelm
Nordic Stones Vikings

open-g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> well as far as I can see, Keith has security Strap
> Locks on his guitars, while on the ebay item it's
> plain strap buttons.
>
> Micawber is a butterscotch paint finished '52
> Telecaster, played without capo.
> Malcolm is a natural finished '52 Tele and is kept
> capoed at the 4th fret.
> but I wouldn't bet my life on it though - maybe
> one of 'em was from '54?
>
> I don't know about pickup poles - I 'll have a
> closer look at some pics.


There are two "Micawbers" if want, one with reversed pole pieces.

Hmm - that's a shame,
looks like Ishibashi isn't serving other markets than Japan anymore.
[www.tdpri.com]

[www.musik-schmidt.de]

That's a cool one...

micawber Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> [www.musik-schmidt.de]
> oduct_info.php?products_id=15426
>
> That's a cool one...

Yes, very close to Keith's own, with the exception of the vintage bridge (Keith = American tele bridge with steel saddles) which is of course original to the '52 original so to speak... and the Seymour Duncan humbucker (Keith's is supposed to be an original '57 Gibson PAF) but of course Fender couldn't use a Gibson PU in one of their own guitars and I guess the SD comes close....

open-g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hmm - that's a shame,
> looks like Ishibashi isn't serving other markets
> than Japan anymore.
> [www.tdpri.com]
> ore-fender-japan-us.html


Crap... I feared that... Guitarjapan also stopped shipping abroad... Looks like the rules are changing... Bye bye beautiful japanese guitars....

That is a tragedy. Wonder why they would do something like that?--does not seem good for business, unless Fender US realized that a consumer could purchase a superior product for less $$. Hate to be so cynical, but that is just about the only thing that makes sense--especially when they were telling me they could ship to my front door in 24 hrs.

Shame.

open-g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just found this on ebay and it is kinda nice -
> but...
>
> why on earth didn't they put some Kluson type
> machines on it?
> those Gotho's are to bulky.
> hmm - the neck ain't very '52 ish either^^
>
> any thoughts about that one?

Yes: all Keith's Tele's have the big, bulky Schaller tuners, as they are much more precise than the original Klusons. Fender Japan copied the entire guitar.

Mathijs

Glass Slide Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> One final thing, if I recall, this guitar is made
> of basswood and that is unfortunate

Fender Japan changed from basswood to alder and ash about three years ago. They did this for the international market: everyone wants an ash Tele, not a basswood. But good ash and alder is not readily available in Japan, so it is more costly for them.

Mathijs

open-g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hmm - that's a shame,
> looks like Ishibashi isn't serving other markets
> than Japan anymore.
> [www.tdpri.com]
> ore-fender-japan-us.html


I had a 5'2 reissue Tele sent to me in California from Ishibashi last month (A great, well made guitar by the way) and their website does not mention not shipping abroad. Where did you hear this then? (The link above does not seem to work by the way.)

donnywas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> open-g Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > any thoughts about that one?
>
>
> I think it's not too bad for a copy, but of course
> the colour doesn't match the one on Keith's
> "Micawber" at all. (Keith's is much more
> yellow-ish...).
>

Getting the yellowed nitro lacquer correct is the most chalenging for a guitar builder, and not even the $4000 custom shop guitars got it completely right.

> Has anybody noticed that the strap-locks aren't
> resembling the one's Keith has? (They are much
> bigger...can anybody please elaborate on this?)

In Europe most people use Schaller straplocks, in the US Dunlop is more common. Fender has a deal with Schaller, not with Dunlop. The Stones use Dunlop, which I find nicer to look at and a bit handier to use.

> Finally I have a question for all the specialists
> out there: As we all know Keith has not only
> "Micawber" but also "Malcolm". What are the exact
> differences?

Mainly the years. One is a '53, the other a '55. But lately Keith has been using dozens of Tele's, some vintage, some from the Fender Custom shop.

> I noticed that on one guitar the poles of the
> Humbucker pickup point towards the neck of the
> guitar ("Micawber" ???) and on the other they
> point "backwards". Is that "Malcolm" then ???

The name calling is a bit of a press story. But Micawber is the famous Tele he started using in 1972, and has the brass bridge and nickel plated humbucker cover. The other blonde Tele (actually a natural, where you can see the grain) is a '55 (or '54 as some articles mention), this would be Malcolm. BUt there's also a real blonde one with a black humbucker, this one he used until '97 a lot, and that one could be Malcolm as well. I don't think Keith knows that himself.

Mathijs

Glass Slide Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That is a tragedy. Wonder why they would do
> something like that?--does not seem good for
> business, unless Fender US realized that a
> consumer could purchase a superior product for
> less $$. Hate to be so cynical, but that is just
> about the only thing that makes sense--especially
> when they were telling me they could ship to my
> front door in 24 hrs.
>
> Shame.

Here you can still order internationally:

[www.ishibashi-music.com]

Mathijs