American Made Fender Telecaster Has a Few Issues! Let's take a Look Inside!

In this video, I take a look at one of my good friends
American telecaster. It’s been hanging on his wall
for the longest because he couldn’t get past the hole
beside the bridge where the pick up cavity was over
routed.
So you know me, I take it apart and try to make it just
a little bit better. I really appreciate you watching.
Thumbs up numb nuts!!
If you’re wondering what tools I use here’s a few links
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[@DougHinVA]

A full-time and skilled electric guitar guy can answer all the questions from those who do not know: About full-size pots, which pickups and tuning machines are used and the rear pickup cavity open area visible at the rear coverplate... Speculation is not allowed. Facts are allowed.

[@scarmyguitar]

Bro I said if ya got OCD beat it! Bwahahaha

[@12to3Guitars]

I respect your mindset about how you do things vs how the self-proclaimed "pro's" do it. At the end of the day, these chunks of wood are tools for us and as long as a person isn't going into business as a professional luthier, a person should be able to fix and customize their stuff however they like! No one was giving EVH lip about the frankenstrat. There's enough production models in the world that all look the same.... sometimes we gotta make the tools truly "ours".

[@bigkahuna100]

You have seriously busted you @$$ to build this channel up, brother!!! I can't express my gratitude to you enough, or thank you for the smiles and lessons! Cheers, brother, and can't wait to see what the future of this channel holds. Maybe someday I'll get a scarred guitar!

[@heavyjoechipman3594]

As a mediocre guitar player from the south, i've gotten so addicted to watching your channel Shawn(sorry if I misspelled). Plus, i'm suffering from depression and addiction issues. Your videos help me tune that stuff out by putting a smile on my face. Shawn, you mean everything to me too. God bless you brother.🎶🎸❤😊🙏👍

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

If I bought that guitar new, I would swear the S.B. stands for suckers bet! I really hope the owner got this guitar for a bargain. I appreciate the no-nonsense attitude, you get the guitars crackin' without all the flip-flappin'! Mad respect-Peace.

[@Dr.J1000]

Well, I enjoyed this entry even more than usual. For one thing, I have seen that very issue before and wondered how to fix it. Nicely done. Another point: I'm a Tele convert. After 25 years as a Strat-o-holic and 5 years playing the field, as much as I love all the girls, I have come home to Mama Tele. And third: never heard you play with that tone and in that manner. Yeah, bubba. Glad you straightened out the deal about the catfish. Enough lip flappin'....

[@scarmyguitar]

Let's make it happen!

[@johnnygreenway3579]

You're a stand up guy Sean. Love your channel and appreciate all the hard work you and Kathy have put in

[@rogerrussian9750]

Bloody good job ! I'd call that guitar a Friday afternoon build, they're in a hurry to go home for the weekend. Down here in Aussie we call Friday "poets day", poets stand for - "piss off early tomorrow's Saturday". A Monday morning build can be as bad due to hangovers. A great idea the way you revived the bridge saddle screws too. Strange no serial number on neck plate. The barcode stickers are for internal reference, not unusual to see 3 or 4 in modern guitars. I'm sure the owner was very pleased when you gave it back. All the best !

[@whitepepper8365]

Pretty sure it's a highway 1 series.

[@ReVeRbx-fe5wr]

I think so too.

[@ReVeRbx-fe5wr]

With a black pickguard

[@b.rodclark334]

The tone pot has a greasebucket circuit. As for that cavity route that goes far back as the late-40s, I made a full shim for the bridge plate I colored the edges with a black Sharpie and after lowering the saddles, it covers that cavity corner and looks perfect... great video!

[@danielhercules]

Mine tele had a modern bridge and when I change it for a vintage shaped like yours the gaps appeared. These vintage bridges used to have a ashtray cover over it and it hides the gap. Modern tele bridges are a bit larger to compensate this. But still a fenders flaw, because they sell Teles with vintage bridges without the ashtray and don’t fix the routing. It’s a problem of production line, where all the bodies are made equal and used in different models.

[@Jim_Cox]

As others have said it's a Highway One Telecaster (2006-2011 models have jumbo frets). The SB just means sunburst. They stamp that on the blanks that have decent wood grain. It could end up sunburst or a translucent color (the highway ones had thin nitro even on non-sunburst. My Highway One Stratocaster is honey blonde). The ones that don't get the SB designation are bound for solid colors to cover up imperfections in the grain. I love the Highway One Strats and Teles for the jumbo frets. I think I might do my first refret on a Lone Star neck I have just to put some jumbos on it. I just have to do a little more research and decide which frets (there are too many choices, haha). In the meantime I bought a used American Performer neck to put on that guitar (jumbo frets also).

[@ergodyne705]

that is a Fender "Highway One" American tele, it is a budget friendly American made fender, it has the made in America but they cheaped out on a few things parts and labor to get it under the price range, very very good guitars and pocket freindly

[@coppertopv365]

Wow good info. Appreciate it. Wish I could find one maybe in a garage sale cheap.

[@wishbone66]

Nice to see some open honest guitar reviews here on Scar - Good and Bad that you'll find with any guitar. Thanks for that Shawn, Sean, Shaun, etc. 😉 Getting tired of the so called gear reviews where every guitar a channel reviews is a great guitar. 🤣🤣 Hard to take those channels seriously when they can't be objective. I guess getting free crap is more important than honesty. 🤦‍♀

[@greenfly1264]

Yea I agreed many rate poor guitars as great. It is just fawning for free guitars.

[@scarmyguitar]

You bet! And cause you care, it's Sean. Thanks!

[@scarmyguitar]

Never here. I'll never demo another free guitar after the Leo Jaymz Tele. I feel like I got duped on that one and I ain't happy about it.

[@Dr.J1000]

Hey, there's real, and there's everyone else.

[@DavidHBurkart]

...and after the fix Sean spanked that tele with some proper twang! Seems to me the dude at Fender slapped that wet body together on Tuesday April 15th 2008 because his taxes were due and he had to get to the post office before closing 😂

[@THESESSIONROOM]

😂😂😂

[@mattslade]

It's from 2007-2008

[@Drt0Kkdo]

Watching this while accidentally rounding a mach head screw of my bass is poetic

[@billkaroly]

It's purty now. Another fine job.

[@jeffrowlette]

That was a slick repair!

[@VillainDave]

That wood fix was damn good!! 👍

[@barryhayes197]

Definitely a B stock guitar. I would rather build my own or mod an inexpensive guitar. Love the channel. Keep up the good work

[@soulagent79]

Looks like a Fender Highway One Telecaster. The Highway One Series guitars were cheaper than the Standard models and they were the predecessors of the American Specials and the American Performer Series. They had nitro finishes, basic hardware and electronics and they were about 750 bucks new and great guitars for the money. Had a few Highway Ones (Strats and Teles) over the years and liked them all.

[@OakLawnSpeedShop]

I agree and the date also coincides with the run. They were nitro finish also.

[@Wheelchairup]

Love Tele’s! You made it look great. Cool fix on the hole!

[@briano.1503]

Keep up the good work Sean! ✌💀👍🎸🎼🎵🎶🇺🇸

[@scarmyguitar]

Thanks, you too!

[@PhillipBlanton]

You did a great job cleaning that bridge by hand, but I was thinking that a cheap ultrasonic cleaner from Amazon would probably be a good tool for you to have.

[@peterburi2727]

I recently picked up a 2013 MIM Tele. It is absolutely perfect. No fret sprout, the fretwork is perfect and the guitar as a whole has great fit and finish. The only modifications that I did was replace the ceramic pickups with Fender Vintage 64s and changed out the tuners to the split shaft. No lockers needed. After I purchased this guitar I went to my local Guitar Center to do a comparison to a USA Tele. I tried three different guitars and they were crap. Major fret sprout, misaligned necks and that gap on the bridge. No comparison. My MIM was so much better.

[@utahprepper8925]

Best guitar I own is a MIM Esquire. I turned it into a Tele with a set of Fender CS '51 NoCaster pickups. It plays and sounds as good as any Fender I've ever played. I have several high-end guitars and this is by far my favorite. As for the fret-sprout in Guitar Center - that's their middle name. That place is where decent guitars go to die from abuse.

[@ReVeRbx-fe5wr]

2008 Highway One Telecaster w/ black pickguard. Not sure if the pickguard is stock. Catalog shows it with white pickguard but the headstock logo suggests Highway One. Good guitars. Is that satin finish? Looks like satin nitro. Electronics might be greasebucket circuit.

[@kennethhoneycutt4513]

You did an outstanding job on that tel a caster man he's gonna love that

[@gearViewmirror]

Hi Shawn, love your approach and attitude! Subbed🎸🤘🎸👊🏼Josh from Switzerland🙏🏼

[@scarmyguitar]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Bob-Whiting]

@SCAR MY GUITAR SB means "Sun Burst" But I think, wink-wink, you already knew that. lol

[@davidqueen5098]

As usual, your show is awesome and even though you don’t think you know a lot of our guitars brother, you know a lot. It’s helping me to get down and start working on my guitars. Thanks for the channel you do a great job.!

[@brad-guitar-miller813]

Cleaned up nice. I do cringe when you use the screw gun to out in the screws

[@scarmyguitar]

Why? Every factory on earth uses low speed air drills to assemble the guitars. All of them. Is it because some youtuber said it? You see I didn't hurt nothin, right? Love ya Brad!

[@brad-guitar-miller813]

@@scarmyguitar love ya yo Sean you the man. Guess it's cause my drill skills suck 😂

[@KrishinPillay]

Probably wont see this , but just want to say how awesome your videos are! It really has kinda proven the hunch I had about cheap vs expensive guitars. Really hoping you continue with these kinda videos! I cant get enough!

[@scarmyguitar]

Wow, thank you! Hope to see more from you around here too!

[@oldmanrocker227]

well you see.. Fender has this Serial number lookup tool when you go to Fenders website and I just happened to go look and lo and behold the guitar is actually listed there.. So I call out all who doubted the validity of it being real And Sean thanks for all that you do and have done for us in the Scar Nation ..The Highway One Telecaster guitar features an alder body, modern C-shaped maple neck with a rosewood or maple fingerboard and 22 jumbo frets, two hot single-coil Telecaster pickups with alnico 3 magnets, Greasebucket™ tone circuit .. (Treble bleed)..and satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish ...made in 04/2008

[@randallkrasomil280]

I’m currently working on a Strat kit w/ a terrible neck and fret problem. Very disappointed with the company but like you said, ‘No one’s perfect’. I learn a lot from your videos. Thanks

[@kcsvantasticvoyages9729]

She is a real beautiful Tele now! Props.

[@user-rd1om2wx1e]

Shawn every guitar you fix is amazing. I would love to be guy that wins your custom guitar I enjoy your videos.

[@scarmyguitar]

Good luck!

[@shtrudelmusic7653]

I compared some photos online and I'm pretty sure this is a Highway One series (font of the logo, string tree, walnut plug at the truss rod, 3-saddles chrome bridge). The pickguard might be an aftermarket, because I've only seen this model sold with white guards - but I could be wrong. The Highway Once series was a tier under American Standard. It was discontinued in 2011 and replaced with American Special.

[@markpell8979]

Really nice job on this Tele man.

[@junebromley5621]

SB is sunburst

[@alkyhauler8185]

Man I enjoyed every sec of that. I have a buddy shipping me his tele to freshen up and I am going to do all the metal polish just like you did, great job!

[@ianinindy1165]

So satisfying to see that crome shine!

[@edwardmorton6691]

Just discovered your channel, Sean and i really admire and enjoy your NO BS approach. Keep on telling it how it is. Or , as we say here in Belfast Northern Ireland, Do Not Miss And Hit The Wall. Great work all round and good bit of scissor work from Mrs Sean.

[@scarmyguitar]

Much appreciated

[@robertnilsson8213]

A very interesting video on the Tele model with some issues. I'm a guitarist, producer and guitarbuilder and i noticed the walnut cover on the trussrod cavity on the headstock, so in deed that guitar is an american Telecaster from the Corona Plant in California made between 2007 and 2008, production-number: 273448. I also noticed the letters SB under the bridge-pickup and that indicates that the original finish of the guitar was a SunBurst. Good job with a fantastic guitar. The Fender Lover Rob Nilsson from Stockholm Sweden. Thanks again and have a good day! 🎸

[@scarmyguitar]

Thank you too!!

[@Real.Alpheus]

The CTS pots are dated the 9th week of 2008

[@Voxguitarsrock]

Respect for the scammer shout down. You rock!

[@frankperricone2065]

I was just going to comment on how many wines were around those posts, oh I guess I did. What I don't understand is that I just put Seamore Duncan Quarter Pounders on my 2021 MIM P bass and a Hipshot bridge. When I took the old bridge off and were the ground wire was pressed under the bridge there was a imprint of the wire in the finish. Now it was no big deal but do they put these things together when the clear coat is not totally dry. I bought the guitar brand new and had to send the first on back. A few issues that were really no big deal and would have taken the bass but the neck was like a bow and arrow. I took it home because I had 30 day to return and adjusted the neck 3 times and could not get the neck anywhere near it should be. The second one was perfect, I was looking for any reason to bring it back, frets were flawless. I did not have to change the pup I just did it because I like Quarter Pounders.

[@dnate697]

Luv ya' dude! You rock and keep on goin' on!

[@snafu1957]

I'v had a bunch of "Fender" teles in my shop with the same bridge rout, & never seen it on a squier. My 2 cents Chiropractic Guitars.

[@donfostermusician3690]

Amazing work on fixing the pickup route Can't tell it's there Cleaned everything up real good too Super video and thanks for sharing

[@scarmyguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@greenfly1264]

Nice playing mate.

[@scarmyguitar]

Thanks a lot!

[@egnbigdave]

Its a 2008 Highway One Telecaster - Maple neck, 3 tone sunburst according to fenders site

[@GordiansKnotHere]

The only thing I love more than a Sunburst Tele is a Clownburst Les Paul. Great Work Bud! Happy New Year!

[@Dave062YT]

According to the forums SB is the code for Sun Burst .

[@danielpoole1494]

sharp looking

[@RUBBERTANK_3]

That gap is normal for telecasters but it can be avoided with proper attention which fender don't have the time for. You know telecasters were supposed to have an ashtray bridge cover which would cover that hole ish. My partscaster does have a gap either side though. P.s you sure that's LEGIT?

[@donbishop6994]

Yours isnt the only one. Ive seen at least 2 other reviews showing the hole by the bridge. Apparently its somewhat common on that model.

[@robbyt.5258]

Good job. You can improve the result and save a lot of time if you use an ultrasonic device with cleaning liquid, to clean the metal parts. The ultra-sonic device gets dirt out of the smallest scratches and i have had very good experiences with it. Thanks for your good videos.👍 Greetings Robby

[@scarmyguitar]

Thanks for the tips!

[@michaelmillican5592]

It sounds great! And you made it shine. That is a true telecaster sound! Great video. I'm a new subscriber!

[@scarmyguitar]

Awesome, thank you!

[@EddieOakes]

Hey sean, that sticker you found in the pickup cavity reminds me of a pawn shop ID number. Why someone would have put it in a pickup cavity is beyond me but maybe it was an attempt to fool any would be shoplifters or thieves. Your channel is the best and I've learned so much just buy enjoying your content! Rock on brother!

[@bacongl]

Yeah she is a pretty nice Tele now. I would love to own one like that eventually. T style was never my thing though. Not much of a single coil guy. This one does sounds like a tele for sure.

[@allancopland1768]

Thanks for the video. I was after a TELE but I'll buy a carefully selected Chinese one now. Like your channel.

[@stratcat4450]

Although I simply wouldn't now, I bought a fender modern player tele about 8 years ago simply on a whim an never before having one. It is a great playing guitar, sounds great an has held up well after playing it daily all these years. The pickup selector is known to be crap an I did have to replace that, but a quality part is cheap an easy to do if you can use a soldering pen.

[@guitarman430]

Sean, I enjoy you demeanor and your channel! I never met a USA factory Fender that I liked! I always built my own out of mostly Fender Parts! The best Fender branded instruments are the ones made in Japan! I’ve owned a Strat and currently a Jazzmaster from Fender Japan and they are perfect instruments!

[@scarmyguitar]

Right on!

[@stringedaz]

I have a 1991 inca silver strat with lindy fralin pickups. It is a spectacular guitar. The 90s usa ones are fantastic MINUS the pickups, in my opinion. People love to bag on the bathtub route, too, but that is nothing but Cork-sniffery nonsense.

[@stringedaz]

And big YES on your comments about Japanese Fenders.

[@geraldscott4302]

Fender says it's a Highway One Telecaster, Maple Fingerboard, 3-Color Sunburst, model #0111262300, made 2006-2011. That doesn't sound right to me. I have three U.S. made Fenders, all bought new, and the serial numbers come back with a month and year of manufacture. None of those other numbers or letters mean anything to me. Also, all real Fenders say Fender on the neck plate, assuming it's the original plate. The truss rod hole on a real Fender neck has walnut around it. That does appear to be a real Fender bridge. All the components are decent quality. Definitely not Chinese. That hole wouldn't bother me as far as playing it, but it would be a huge deal as far as how much it's worth. I've seen imperfections on a lot of Fenders, but nothing that bad. I use Windex for cleaning everything, including electronics. It's a good cleaner, dries fast, and does not leave spot or anything corrosive. If you are going to use water, use distilled water.

[@nbmike65]

Fender uses a system of putting the letter of the decade it was made first. E for the 80s, N for the 90s. Its Zero 7 so it should be 2007 but the body is dated April of 2008, so its from that era.

[@scarmyguitar]

Thanks, good to have guys around that know their stuff.

[@edwardsmith9801]

Great job man!!!

[@scarmyguitar]

Thanks!!

[@pecktox]

Fender now use color ball ends. And pack all in one envelope, which I hate ! Obviously they don't play in smoky dark bars anymore.. PEX

[@jimhaldemanpossumman7994]

Love it!

[@Whitewolf76802]

Would you not think that, high end guitars, would take the time to make, clear, legible, stamps, on the neck and neck cavity, so as people, in years to come, can see exactly what they're dealing with.

[@scarmyguitar]

Nailed it!

[@patrickkem689]

Wondering if it could have been joined up with a Corona neck with a Mexican body Just guessin! Not too sure if that is a real fender bridge possibly explaining the weirdness in the size. Man you do some good work brother. I like the way you rationalize everything out!

[@CKS64]

Got to pay extra for that Fender quality. But they have customers who still praise them and buy whatever they churned out.

[@paint3d]

I like that NOXON. Not only is it a palindrome, it reads the same upside-down.

[@jeremysummerrell8210]

Plain neck plate is standard pots standard CTS pots think signature is the lady who wound the pickups SB stands for sunburst , ???

[@Stratsrule]

Had to watch this one again bro. Down here in Alabama we gotta take another look lol

[@scarmyguitar]

For sure!!

[@mrskint55]

You have done a great job there well done .

[@scarmyguitar]

Many many thanks

[@audiomonster303]

SB is Sunburst!

[@cnserviceuy]

Good work Mr. scarred guitar

[@reggiemurphy1523]

You mean to tell me I didn't win Shawn's publisher's clearing house of guitar giveaway?!? LOL Love watching these cleanups, reminds of Bob Ross painting a whole scenery in 20 minutes!!! LOL Keep on rocking!!!

[@billywebb4325]

I just found your channel today and I really dig your style, man! So much that I subscribed and ordered one of your unique tee shirts!

[@fmh357]

Wow, it cam out looking brand new. Great work.

[@davegenske8973]

Nice job. Looks great

[@conniechamberlain6586]

Thank you Sean.

[@giabgr]

Fixing the famous Tele Buttcrack?? Why???

[@SquirrelDarling1]

Kinda sad fixing the butt-crack. It’s a blue collar working guitar, and just like many blue collar workers-sometimes the butt-crack shows. I’ve got a Squire CV with a slight crack showing, leaving that alone it’s traditional.

[@manonbassguitar]

Use windex when cleaning, I’ve used it forever because it cleans & dries quickly

[@johnwebb2562]

Looks Top job, sounds great. john.

[@dudetheclown]

Really enjoy watching your videos! I’ve got to get me some of that polishing cream you use, it works like magic!

[@scarmyguitar]

Yes it does!

[@robertclarkguitar]

2007 neck standard US tele I guess.

[@robertclarkguitar]

It's strange but z is 00 and the first number is the year meaning 2007. But the stamp says 08. Perhaps it's a leftover neck pre decal and fit on 08 model? I have no idea. I'm sure someone does. All I know is it did sound great.

[@74dartman13]

Nice work!👍😎🎸🎶

[@pecktox]

That's probably a glarry body. I have a glarry I put a fender style neck on, but has that same hole showing in pickup cavity. Doesn't bother me. Oh and fender makes color coded strings with no individual packages..I hate that with a passion! Pex

[@robr471]

This was a great video, again, well done brother, I always learned a lot, us normal guys have way more in common with you than those uppity guitar snobs.

[@scarmyguitar]

I appreciate that cause I hate the snobs too.

[@thetoneknob4493]

sb stands for sunburst

[@scarmyguitar]

I love it when OG subscribers comment! Wuz hangin, bro?!

[@jimcamp2423]

WD40 takes rust off the screws. Also is that a polyurethane or a lacquer finish on the body ? Since you did the rout repair, might as well rub on poly lacquer to make it look invisibly good ? Might even smear some super glue to seal the wood. Beautiful guitar after the cleanup & repairs.

[@TeleCaster66]

No metal plate on the bridge pickup? When did that start?

[@scottied2003]

Love your work and channel! I am thinking of building my first part aster soon...

[@scarmyguitar]

You can do it!

[@scottied2003]

@@scarmyguitar definitely, between your channel and Know Your Gear guy I should be good, haha.

[@mikestroud9969]

Right on brother Good video as usual. Have a good one 👍✌️✌️💯🎸🎸

[@ghph2880]

You made me dizzy whilst you talking front of your camera, just stopped moving whilst Talking. haha

[@fatratz2012]

my nephew has a strat I broke a string on it and couldn't replace it because the tuneing post had no slot or hole in it only a dimple I've never seen anything like that before have you? gave it back with a new loose string in the package

[@helcat3567]

Hi Shawn. I just subed to your channel I like your down to earth style. So with regard to the tele in this clip. seems like it might be altered the pots look right but I would expect to see cloth braided wire from the pickups on a true USA. Also I would expect to see the trusrod adjusting point under the pic gard if it really is a USA. I know I could be wrong but these are the things I look for from USA models. never the less you realy clean it up nice and it has a beatifull worm tone Great job.

[@scarmyguitar]

Thanks for the sub!

[@rogerj.reinke6224]

Youve git some great tools Sean for these woodjobs,,,,,, Wombat from Au!!!!!!!

[@ohiostate98]

Nice work