FS; c.1980 Tele Partscaster Amazing sound and playability! Mighty Mite? Brass parts!

Zoonyboy · August 2023

I'm moving on my very unusual and really vintage Tele made up from parts, circa. 1980. That's when building your guitar out of parts was a brand new thing, re. Van Halen. I worked in a shop that sold these parts, so I remember it well, but this guitar wasn't made by me. It has a brass bridge with 6 saddles, brass control plate and nut, and that all looks to be Mighty Mite brass from back in the day. The pickups may well be vintage DiMarzio, and sound fantastic, both balanced and loud with a full clear tone, could be Mighty Mite. The switch is a Fender type Switchcraft, and the pots have no date.
The neck has a hex adjuster, I don't know what it is but it plays great like an old Mighty Mite or Fender does, has a slab maple board and is straight as a die. The tuners were originally Kluson types, but have been changed to Music Man Schaller types, so there are two sets of holes, and a small split where someone put a screw in that was too big on the bottom E. Not structural. Also the string tress have been moved.
The body is handmade/home made out of SOLID maple, with a cute sunburst finish in nitro. There is clear tape all over the back of the body. Under the pick guard there is a serial stamped into the wood reading CA001. The maple body gives it the sustain and smoothness of a pedal steel. The body thickness and shape seem spot on for a Tele, but the internal routing is crude and the jack is more at 20 past than 25 past, but, you know, it was 1980....
Overall this is a heavy guitar but sounds and plays way out of its league, which is why it is good. Absolutely keeps up with a good Fender tonally, and plays smoothly with a low action. It may be great, but it isn't worth a lot ,other than to 1980 parts collectors/nuts. Or a guitar player who values tone and playability above other aspects, and likes a cheaper guitar. Its an original Van Halen era hot rod! 4.3 kilos I believe, which is as heavy as my Les Paul Custom, but what a sound! No case, will ship in a box if not collected, but at £375 posted it has to be good value, doesn't it? If I had no other Teles I'd keep it for recording work. Loads of pics available. UK only thanks.
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