QUESTION
I just bought a 1952 Fender Telcaster I thought was correct and I have brought it to several dealers and they tell me the pickguards is a replacement. It looks original to me is definitely bakelite how can I tell if it is real. The dealer i got it from swears it is real but nobody interested in buying it says real. I am stuck ! and frustrated help!!
REPLY
This is a more common problem than you think. The quality of fake vintage parts or reproduction has reach a dangerous level. They are so good it is even hard for us to tell at first glance. Only our years of experience tells us it is a reproduction.
For example. A great guy named Clive Brown in England makes the best black guard reproduction i have ever seen. I know Clive and he is a gentlemen and a true master at his craft. He sells them as reproductions and his companies parts are for restoration only and he states that. It is not his fault if unscrupulous people tale his product and sell it as real. Clive has even gone out of his way to help people who have been duped. So the problem is not Clive it is the idiot who buys it and tries to rip people off
Another great company is Retrospec LLC. they make the best repro parts i have seen and probably the only two company I would recommend due to my first hand experience. I Will not bad mouth any other companies many of the people i know and like but i feel as thought these two are the best and more importantly sell the stuff as repro and no to screw people.
Now as far as your problem goes any legitimate dealer should take the guitar back or make a price adjustment if the guard was not real. Dealers are human and do make mistakes and again some of this repo stuff is amazing. I personally find that it is difficult now lets say like on eBay to buy a guitar that looks correct and has repro parts. That is why we have always suggested but from a reputable dealer or a reputable seller on ebay and make sure you have a return policy and an inspection time period. if the dealer or seller says no run away!!
Sorry to hear about this i hope you can work this out with dealer. If you have any further questions please e mail me at The Parts Drawer
Thanks
Jim Pasch