What is it about the '63 Tele?

**Jato** · 07-26-2002, 06:39 AM

I have a few friends (Stymie from the LP forum among them) who rave about the tone of the '63 Tele. I am in the Tele market, and have narrowed it down to either a relic '63 in candy apple red, or a thinline with texas special pups from the Fender CS. I havent gotten to play a '63 (real or reissue), but wonder what it is that distinguishes this year from others as a standout.
Anybody?
Steve

**qtipburst** · 07-26-2002, 06:51 AM

are very rare , I don't think fender made a ton of then in 1963. That is a magic year for Fender the necks were big, guitars were light and the pups are strong. Don't why they are that way, but a great year for a Fender electrics .

**halouis** · 07-26-2002, 07:00 AM

last year of the short lived Slab Board is likely the reason. and clay dotted fretboard.

thatr said i love my '64 tele. its a mojo machine! Never played the RI version, but I bet they are stellar axes.

**qtipburst** · 07-26-2002, 07:19 AM

Originally posted by halouis
last year of the short lived Slab Board is likely the reason. and clay dotted fretboard.

thatr said i love my '64 tele. its a mojo machine! Never played the RI version, but I bet they are stellar axes.

Yeah , the modified slab. The true slab ended around mid 62. The mid 62-mid 63 are slightly thinner (than the slab) but not a true curve board. Great stuff.

**Freddy** · 07-26-2002, 07:30 AM

I'd like to see the Fender Custom Shop reproduce the big slab board on the Time Machine Telecaster as an option..

**qtipburst** · 07-26-2002, 07:51 AM

I had a 1960 Relic from 1997 that was that thick slab style. It was the early relic's that were done by that guy Vince Countino (sp) I think. I was cool a Burgundy Mist thin Nitro very light and a stong guitar after I put Fralins in it.

**John Catto** · 07-26-2002, 07:58 AM

Are we talking about 63 Teles (made in 1963) or 63 Reissues here?

**Jato** · 07-26-2002, 08:04 AM

I've had no experience with either one...I was just curious as to why they were chosen to be a part of the the Time Machine line.
S.

**Freddy** · 07-26-2002, 08:12 AM

That 60 slab Cunnetto sounds cool!!

Yea,some of those early Cunetto's looked scary real when Fender first introduced them.
I remember walking into the local shop and askin exactly what year the beat-up
50's Tele was that they had just got in......and when he said it was something new that Fender was doin......I thought he was f**kin with me!!!

Never seen one with the thick slab board...

**qtipburst** · 07-26-2002, 08:22 AM

Originally posted by John Catto
Are we talking about 63 Teles (made in 1963) or 63 Reissues here?

Hey Master John , both the real 1963's and the ri's. I love the Paul you did.
You should do a Tele that way. Wow ,That would be the shit(the greatest).

**60burst** · 07-26-2002, 08:34 AM

There were no slabboards in 63. Some of the 63 Teles had pretty big necks which was nice. They were great guitars but no better than the earlier rosewood Teles. :60burst

**GeetarGoul** · 07-26-2002, 10:41 AM

Do yourself a favor and get in touch with Tonefiend about making you a tele! For less money than a custom shop model, you get much more guitar.

Email me for pix of mine.

**Bobby Lee** · 07-26-2002, 11:04 AM

I bought a 62 Custom Shop Tele Custom in 97 and it is sweet. C shaped neck, binding, alder body. Just a really nice tele. I believe it has Texas Specials in it. Sounds really good.

**Ed Rafalko** · 07-26-2002, 11:05 AM

Screw it- MY tele will be made of KORINA! So THERE!

**Tonefiend** · 07-26-2002, 11:09 AM

63 was the first year of the veneer board if I am not correct.
The only time of a pre cbs tele with the curved veneer board.
A completely different neck than the slab board, and way more tone from the neck!
They really knew what they were doing when they designed that one. The slabs may have the mystique because they are rarer, but look to teh veneer for the tone!

**60burst** · 07-26-2002, 11:21 AM

62 was the first year for the curved board. The year started out with slabboards and then changed to the thinner board. :60burst

**GeetarGoul** · 07-26-2002, 11:43 AM

but look to teh veneer for the tone
IP: Lo

Tonefiend you been drinking the company punch? ;-)/ I agree.

**Tonefiend** · 07-26-2002, 12:05 PM

Yeah it is called building hundreds of slabs, and then hundreds of veneer boards. Seeing and hearing the difference inthe necks. It is night and day. I was skeptical at first when he decided to quit making the slabs to do veneer boards exclusivly. I thought he was nuts. But now I see the light, or maybe it is the halucinations? :lol2
The guitars come alive with the veneer boards. It would be cheaper and easier to make the slabs but the reason he does it is that tone.

**jr mccarthy** · 07-26-2002, 12:15 PM

hello steve , I just signed up , my tele is a 66 in sunburst with
out the binding - its not a custom , but its a rare to have it sunburst . I think you played it at the last prs event ,.however the
neck on mine Is a tad thinner than a late 50s early 60s .I love the
clay dot neck fenders , but they are way to expensive , as you know. some of the japanese ones play great , and the relics are also very close. jr mcc

**Jim barth** · 07-26-2002, 08:11 PM

My original 63' Tele Custom is the best playing/sounding Fender I have ever owned and that includes 50's and 60's Strats and Teles.

I think the 63' pickups, whether Strat or Tele were the most magical.

Just the right blend of twang and roundness.

**60burst** · 07-27-2002, 01:25 AM

Glad to see you on here, Jim. I have played Jim's tele and it is as good of a Fender guitar as I have played. :60burst

**Jim barth** · 07-27-2002, 07:13 AM

http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL123/...7/11835891.jpg

A 63' Tele Custom

**jr mccarthy** · 07-28-2002, 12:18 PM

jim nice tele , little better shape than mine, those old pups are
fantastic . when I bought my 66 tele sunburst , no binding,
the neck pup was dead , and the bridge pup was very noisy ,
thru a high gain amp , so I put in a stack dimarzo hum , for the
bridge , and a fender noiseless for the neck . also needed new
frets . I am the scecond owner . shes a real driver . also your
63 pups maybe older than 63 , fender bought large amounts
of electric parts then , and ran months or a year behind .
the old fullerplast , they used to dip the bodys I think 7 - 11
at a time , the yellow part and than spray the rest . however
there is not many sunburst tele customs or even more harder
to find a sunburst with out binding , but the customs , the older
more $$$ . teles smoke man no matter what kind you own .
jr

**halouis** · 07-28-2002, 05:30 PM

thats a beauty Jim!!! i alsways had a thing for Customs.

I agree on the pups too. My '64 stock pups are fantasatic!!! i wouldn;t swap anything in theri place.

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