1970 Telecaster - Decal over or under the lacquer?

[Dewey Cox]

I'm looking at buying what the seller says is a 1970 Telecaster neck for $100. The decal is missing, which is why I'm curious if the decal on a 1970 tele neck would be over or under the lacquer. Would there be anything else to check for rather than just take the guy on his word? Thanks!

[russ]

It should be under the finish

[paulg]

That doesn't sound right. $100 sounds to good to be true. Proceed with caution

[Dewey Cox]

That doesn't sound right. $100 sounds to good to be true. Proceed with caution
I thought so to, but it's always worth checking! I also just noticed there's no skunk stripe. Good or bad?

[russ]

I thought so to, but it's always worth checking! I also just noticed there's no skunk stripe. Good or bad?
Rosewood fretboard?

[supa-fuzz]

Any pics? Is it a maple or rosewood fingerboard?

[Dewey Cox]

Rosewood board. Will post pics in a few minutes.

[Sweetfinger]

At that time the neck was finished in poly but the decal was cleared with nitro. You'll see guitars from that time period with just the headstock face yellowed and checked. Later (I don't recall exactly when), Fender got the hang of doing the whole thing in poly.

[jpervin]

Is the year printed on the end of the neck heel?

[Dewey Cox]

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh604/DeweyCox177/ScreenShot2012-03-07at74723PM.png

[Dewey Cox]

Is the year printed on the end of the neck heel?

The heel isn't in the pictures, but I've asked the guy and am waiting for a reply.

[IPLAYLOUD]

Changed Tuners...I don't see holes from the stock units. If there are no plugs in the wood, something is very amiss.

[IPLAYLOUD]

Wait...he is saying it is not (?). It was ON a 70's Tele.
Confusing.

[jb4674]

The ad says "older telecaster neck that was on a 1970 telecaster". The neck could be a non Fender neck. I'd pass on this....

[Dewey Cox]

Wait...he is saying it is not (?). It was ON a 70's Tele.
Confusing.
The title of his ad said 1970 tele neck. So he's saying that he believes that the neck is a 1970 but can't exactly prove it without a decal.

[Dewey Cox]

Changed Tuners...I don't see holes from the stock units. If there are no plugs in the wood, something is very amiss.
I see what you mean, I'll ask him for some closeups of the back of the headstock.

[leray1]

You just need to go check it out. If it's not sold yet, it's probably not a 70's Tele neck.

[Dewey Cox]

I don't think I'll bother checking it out. Doesn't seem very promising...

[supa-fuzz]

I'll bet my entire collection that it is not a Fender neck based on the headstock shape and the radius to heel transition looks incorrectly shaped, also at that angle it looks like the 12th fret dots are spaced too wide

[Guitarworks]

Pass on it. No definite answers to every question asked. A genuine vintage Fender neck would've proven its identity much sooner. If it does happen to be the real deal, then it's been far too mucked with beyond the point of recognition. Leave it.

[rusted]

That is not an authentic vintage Tele neck.

Nevermind the tuners or missing decal or not seeing the butt... Incorrect shaping, incorrect base (missing pin router hole), and incorrect construction for 1970 (they switched back to 1-pc construction in early 69, so no rosewood cap after that).

And Sweetfinger was correct about the headstock face being lacquer finish at that time.

[DANOCASTER]

Pass on this

[cmatthes]

What Dan said.

No way in Hell...

[Nurk2]

He sort of says in the ad that there's no way to tell that this is not a real Fender neck, implying that it is not a real Fender neck, and he knows that.

[burningyen]

The ad says "older telecaster neck that was on a 1970 telecaster".
This is perfect. Next time I get a piece of crap part, I'll sit it on top of a real '57 Strat and advertise that it came off of a '57 Strat.

[Dewey Cox]

Hmmm... Sounds like you guys aren't to sure as to whether or not I should pass...
:sarcasm