Author Topic: Decent price for a 1983 MIJ Fender 'Squire Series' JV Tele? (Read 10429 times)

Brow · « **on:** June 15, 2008, 09:28:06 AM »

Hey guys.

As some of you may know, I've been after a Tele for a while and had pretty much decided on a Baja Tele as I've heard nothing but good things about them and for the price, they have an awesome spec.

Every so often I pick up the areas free ads paper to see if there's anything interesting in it, and yesterday there was an ad for a Fender JV Telecaster with 2 piece ash body, 1 piece maple neck, nitro finish and is Open To Offers. I spoke to the guy and he says it's a MIJ 1983 Fender Squier Series Tele and that he was looking for offers around £500. He mentioned he'd probably take £400 to sell it quick.

I've had a quick look into these guitars and they appear to be very well received by alot of people, and may even start to be collectable.

I've never played 1 of these myself, and thought I'd ask if this sounds like a decent enough price or not, as I can't really find much out about their worth in £s :)

Thanks.

Craig

jibidy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2008, 09:38:00 AM »

I think that sounds like a fair price. They are quite sought after and ive heard that when they were released that they were better than the American fenders. thats gotta mean they're good.

Also depends on condition though. Some people would rather get a brand new product than risk getting a badly worn old one. Try to get a look before you buy it?

I wouldnt mind a tele but i just bought a telly :shock: and im skint for a while.

Brow · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2008, 09:44:28 AM »

Quote from: jibidy

I think that sounds like a fair price. They are quite sought after and ive heard that when they were released that they were better than the American fenders. thats gotta mean they're good.

Also depends on condition though. Some people would rather get a brand new product than risk getting a badly worn old one. Try to get a look before you buy it?

I wouldnt mind a tele but i just bought a telly :shock: and im skint for a while.

The guy lives quite local, so I'll be able to check it out in and pick it up myself in person.

About 90% of my guitars have been bought (atleast) 2nd hand, so that doesn't bother me too much :)

jibidy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2008, 09:48:23 AM »

I'de get some more opinions first. ive heard theyve been bought for less than that but maybe in worse condition. I wouldnt buy a second hand guitar without seeing it first.

Twinfan · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2008, 10:17:49 AM »

I'd be surprised if it's nitro finished, it will be poly from that era on Squiers. If it's a Fender JV then they're very collectible and may be nitro finsihed. I'd give him £400 if it's either of those to be honest as the early Japanese guitars are superb.

Check out this site for some info: http://www.21frets.com/

Oh, and get it bought ;)

AndyR · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2008, 10:41:21 AM »

Twinfan beat me to it - I'd also be surprised at nitro on a Squier. I've got an early 80s JV Squier Strat, that had a very thick poly layer on it (that took me a long time to, er, "hack off" some 10 years ago!).

But if it's a good player and in a condition I felt was OK for me, I'd be prepared to pay £400. Get round and have a look at it :D

Brow · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2008, 11:00:23 AM »

Cheers for the info :)

I've got the £400 cash, so if I wave it under his nose, hopefully he'll take it :twisted:

I should hopefully be going round to have a look either later on today or tomorrow night, so will have to see how it goes.

Jonny · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2008, 11:57:55 AM »

Quote from: Brow

Cheers for the info :)

I've got the £400 cash, so if I wave it under his nose, hopefully he'll take it :twisted:

I should hopefully be going round to have a look either later on today or tomorrow night, so will have to see how it goes.

Reserve it for yourself or something, since you have the money, etc.

You don't want to risk pulling a Twinfan :roll:

dave_mc · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2008, 03:56:22 PM »

i actually managed to try a baja tele the other day, and to be honest I don't see what all the fuss is about them. Granted i might have tried a lemon, as i only tried one, but it was really heavy, had a really thick finish, half of the neck finish seemed to still be left on the upper frets, etc. etc. i preferred the light ash tele i tried next to it, and i'm not that fussed on those...

Assuming that squier is of similar quality to 80s MIJ tokais (i haven't tried those 80s squiers, so take what i say with a pinch of salt), I'd definitely get that instead of the baja. EDIT: though, as everyone's saying, if it doesn't have the nitro finish, the finish might be as thick as on the baja. :lol:

Twinfan · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2008, 05:03:41 PM »

The Bajas do vary.

I actually swapped my Baja for another yesterday :oops: Mine was a boat anchor and sounded a bit too full. The one I have now is MUCH lighter, the neck isn't as chunky, and the tone is much more balanced and airy.

Try before you buy, and go with your head. I knew mine was heavy when I bought it and thought "it'll be OK". It wasn't, and I ballsed up. Luckily I got a good deal on the swap ;)

And Brow, I'd get in quick on that Tele if I were you. It won't hang around long at £400......

Brow · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2008, 08:35:24 PM »

Hey guys.

I spoke to the guy again earlier and had secured the guitar for £400 to go and fetch it tomorrow.

I got a text message an hour or so later saying sorry but someone had rung up and had offered £550 for the Tele so he was letting them have it.

Looks like it's back to the drawing board! :roll:

Ted 'N' Leo · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2008, 08:52:32 PM »

Oh well, thats unlucky, better luck next time I guess?

dave_mc · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2008, 09:40:01 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

The Bajas do vary.

I actually swapped my Baja for another yesterday :oops: Mine was a boat anchor and sounded a bit too full. The one I have now is MUCH lighter, the neck isn't as chunky, and the tone is much more balanced and airy.

Try before you buy, and go with your head. I knew mine was heavy when I bought it and thought "it'll be OK". It wasn't, and I ballsed up. Luckily I got a good deal on the swap ;)

And Brow, I'd get in quick on that Tele if I were you. It won't hang around long at £400......

oh yeah, definitely, that's one of the biggest problems with cheaper guitars, that they can vary so much. :) bad news about the tele too, brow, as twinfan says that sounded like a pretty decent price.

Philly Q · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2008, 09:47:59 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

The Bajas do vary.

I actually swapped my Baja for another yesterday :oops: Mine was a boat anchor and sounded a bit too full. The one I have now is MUCH lighter, the neck isn't as chunky, and the tone is much more balanced and airy.

Try before you buy, and go with your head. I knew mine was heavy when I bought it and thought "it'll be OK". It wasn't, and I ballsed up. Luckily I got a good deal on the swap ;)

That was a piece of luck, did the guy actually want a heavy one?

I hate heavy guitars, but when you're buying it's hard to judge the weight unless there are others to compare to. Especially if, like me, you get a bit of a nervous-tension-induced adrenaline rush in guitar shops. :oops:

My American Ash Tele was 9.5 lbs, but I've just rebuilt it with a lighter body.

Brow · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2008, 11:03:46 PM »

Ah well, I'll find something else.

I could beat myself for missing out on a parts Tele a month or so ago, that thing had an awesome spec but I hesitated too much and I missed it :(