1968 Telecaster Oly White

[Beng2040]

I have my eye on a 68 tele in custom color oly white w/rosewood board. Great looking guitar in fantastic shape. The only changed parts are the pickguard and pickups. Has the original case also. Does anyone know what would be a fair price for this? I am looking to make an investment and have wanted a 60's tele for a long time. I plan to play it a lot and maybe sell in 18 years, when my daughter is ready for college. Thanks in advance!

[Vintage-tone]

A guitar with modifications is hard to consider an "investment" .
You could always findd an original set of pups somewhere down the road but your soldering joints would be broken anyhow, even if you find original pots.
The non original guard often indicates that there was a humbucker route in the neck position. Not always but often soo be very careful and make sure the finish is original.
Feel free to post or email me some pictures of the neck pocket and routes, body without the guard front and back .
This said, the Oly white is a lot more common on this era Tele than most think and is not in my opinion a major bump in the value as opposed to a Fiesta, dakota, lake placid or even a candy apple red ( relatively common in the mid to late 60's)
Without the original pups, and IF the finish is original I would pay 2k to 3500 depending on the condition of the frets, fretboard, condition of the case ( 200 to 450 for a clean case), what hardware is original or not.
Of course if you have an absolute crush on the sound, looks, playability etc etc then it's worth what you decide to pay to have it.
In this market, if you want to be relatively comfortable to be able to get your money out of it quickly if you need, doon't spend more than 2500-3k on it.
They made A LOT of Tele in 68 and even a superb clean one isn't THAT good of an investment simply because of the mass production factor. Now as far as the sentimental value to pass it on to your daughter etc is another story and that iis priceless.
hope that helps.
See Ebay completed listing "Tele 68 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-FENDER-TELECASTER-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-CASE-1968-MEMPHIS-THING-/130612624562?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e691e7cb2)"

[Beng2040]

Thanks for the reply! Very informative post...it's definitely not refinished or routed, and the body is in incredible shape for a 68. I realize the pickups will be an issue even if I find originals, and you are probably correct about it not being the greatest investment for that reason. Still, it just looks so damn cool and tempts me! The seller is looking for $4000, so I think I'll pass...that sounds to be a little on the high side.

[Vintage-tone]

I would say 4k is steep in this market.
You stiill see 100% ones floating aroud around collecting dust for 6 to 8k but they do not sell.
I would invite the selller to check Ebay completed listiings and make an educated decision as far as dooes he really want to move it for say 3k, 3200 tops or would he rather hang onto it.
You can dig up a set of pups for 500 to 1200 so you'dd end up with a mostly period correct guitar under 4500 after the restoration wich would be a decent deal. For anything more than that I would wait for a good, straight one to come up at the "right" price.
4k + original pups + original guard and maybe pots / switch assembly etc will end up costing you the same iif not more than a straight original one.

[Gas-man]

Is the "investment" angle a way to okay it with the wifey?

[Beng2040]

Is the "investment" angle a way to okay it with the wifey?

Haha...yeah, sort of. She plays guitar and loves teles, so it's not too much of a stretch. I just want to know the $4K is high, which it appears to be.