FUZZY PRESENTS

June /29/ 2000

A PURPLE TELECASTER

DONE @ FENDER IN 53 or 54 ??
   This is the story of the Shoemaker-Penny-purple-cut-away TELECASTER. This story came from the TDPRI section called The Inner Sanctum where I have been honored to be the host . This is an on-going story and there has been discussion about it on the page for over a month now. Listed below are some of my posts from the Inner Sanctum page where you may join and haff as much fun as we all do. If you love TELECASTERs this is the place to be. Find this story and much more on this page: ( please read up-dates below as this is an on-going story) ****** 
 Telecaster spoken here!!
We all dream of finding that mint condition Broadcaster,  Nocaster or early TELECASTER at a yard sale or someplace and this is one of those. It has not been passed from dealer to dealer or collector to collector nor is it a production model. It's just a great story of a TELECASTER that has sat in a closet since 1954 till now. If you have any information , comments or questions or knew any of the following folks please visit my page and email me.
 FUZZYS TELECASTER PAGE 

PICTURES (presented by the owner) 

   The "Shoemaker-Penny purple TELECASTER" story in a nutshell. Please don't expect a definate answer because there is none. It started on a nutter page with a feller who found it in his moms closet. He and a friend were talkin about guitars and John (Shoe, Lame-o) remembered it. They took it apart and found 54 on the neck. This prompted John to look on the NET for information on vintage guitars. John is not a musician nor was he versed on vintage guitars (he has a snoot full now). He found in a search engine Clay's vintage guitar page Vintage Guitar Page  (a good one I might add). Upon lookin it over picked up on a couple of thangs includin the paint holes. He then went to the FDP page and posted a question or two jes lookin fer answers to it's relative worth. He was sent here to the Inner Sanctum by them and posted here havin found no answeres there. He got the same treatment here as there sorta cept a few of us DIE-HARD TELECASTER lovers were intrested in the thang and alwayz open to what-ifs of any kind about TELECASTERs. The facts were hashed out fer daze here and we tried ta make some cents of the whole cottin-pickin deal.
   When it was discovered that the second owner was a famous top money winning Jocky (until 1999 Willy Shoemaker and his son ---Shoe II and the first owner was a western swing picker of the early 50s Hank Penny with a purple Strat??  it got ta lookin real interestin. Work by myseff and others like Alan P. and phone calls and much email developed the possibilities that this was in fact a TELECASTER modified at Fender. The purpose of the searches were to verify that purple Strats, purple Jazzmasters and others were in fact painted back in those years and that metalic paint was available. What we know is that Hank Penny was a purple-lovin Fender guitar kinda guy. We know this purple Telecaster was givin to the Shoemaker family on or about 1954 before Hank and Sue moved to Las Vegas and never saw  Willy and Ginny again. Hank Penny was married to Sue Thompson and they were close friends with Willy Shoemaker and his wife Ginny (Shoe's mom). We know it was given to them as a cut-away purple TELECASTER (Shoes mom told me that her own seff). We know it sat in the closet from then on. We haff found out all these details and know all of these thangs and some of us are lovin this story with all of it's sordid details but we still don't know if the thang was done at Fender or elswhere but we do know that it was done within a two year time frame. The fat lady sang when we ran into the dead end of nobody knowin any more of the facts and in my exuberance to find out more I was hit with an email dealin with the reality of the fact that no more kin be done and whats the point here?? It was owned by a country singer and owened by a great jocky but what it's worth and where it was modified is still in question and thats what this is all about. It is what John and his mom want to know and remains an un-answerd question. I am sorry we kant prove that it was done by Fender but then again, what differance will that make to the value here? I am sorry that value is even a factor but thats what vintage guitar collectin is about to most folks. Now we kin kick back and be happy with what we haff done and smile cause it was fun!!! We kin also be happy with the fact that we know sumthin about TELECASTERs and kin do this kinda stuff. Yes the fat lady has sung but she did it over in the corner of the room with her face again the wall and did it real quiet. Is it really over? 

******  6/ 15 / 2000 UPDATE
  An hour ago I recieved an email from Bruce T. about Bill Carson's book and some stuff in it. I do
not haff Bill's book yet but I will soon I gar-on-tee. At the same moment in time I recieved a
conference call from John Shoemaker and his mom Ginny (more about that in the next post).
  Here is what he sent me:
Carson apparently complained loud and long about two things on the Telecaster; its intonation, and
the "slabby" telecaster body; Carson wanted a contoured back, even showed Leo "black and blue
places on my rib cage." "I got a second Telecaster in 1952, and in an effort to give myself some
relief, I took an ordinary hacksaw and sawed out a beveled area on the front...I also beveled the top
back edge of the body; I didn't have the tools in my garage to do any kind of contouring, and I got
an employee [at Fender]named Babe Simoni to work on the back a bit more. He smoothed it out,
and the guitar felt great." [p.15]
Carson apparently carried this contoured tele to a number of gigs and recording sessions, where it
got attention...
As far as custom colors go, Leo gave Eldon Shamblin a 1954 Stratocaster finished in Leo's favorite
color, gold... Carson also notes "I loathed Burgundy Mist, which had inally been done for a musician
named Hank Penny. He turned
out to be just about the only person that liked it!" [p.37]
Carson also notes that he hand-contoured his own necks with sandpaper, and would get Louie
Lugar, the Fender spray guy to finish them. "We were able to keep my necks separate from the
regular production ones; Louie would print my name in block letters on the backside of the butt of
the neck, then shoot that area with sanding sealer." [p.37]
Carson also reprints a phone conversation with Bob Perine, on Carson's and Leo's interactions on
body contouring. "My contention was that a good instrument ought to fit you much the same as a
good shirt, and he [Leo]said, 'Well, I'll saw out a half dozen bodies the way you've described... you
pick one out and we'll make it for you.' So I had him try while it hung on the back side... and a place
to rest my arm on the right side... and that was the beginning of the offset waist and contour design."
[p. 63]
Carson also notes carrying around the prototype strat to gigs. "The body of the prototype guitar was
ash, and as unfinished except for sanding sealer. Once I began field-testing it, I would take
sandpaper to performances, and would work on the instrument's body during breaks, trying to
smooth it out and make it more comfortable. Wade Ray almost fired me from his band twice,
because I'd
get wood dust all over my band uniform, which was a pretty blue color." [p. 17]

****** 6/ 15 /2000 UPDATE
John and Ginny talked to me on the phone and I cannot tell you or show you the excitement I felt
then and feel right now.
  The highlight of the conversation (this was a long one and much info was passed along to me) was
that Ginny had made phone contact with her old friend Sue Thompson(Hank Penny's wife a star in
her own right). Ginny asked Sue if she remembered the cut-up guitar that Hank had given to Bill and
she said, oh the purple one?? Yes of course and don't you remember the one Leo made for me?? A
pink and white one with the same contours? Leo made one for each of us and that dern Hank sold
mine!! I said "OH NO not another one"!!! Well I magazine that pink and white one got painted
reeeeeeel quick and probably by Fender the next day or so HEE! HEE! cause a feller done bought
that one.
  There is much more folks and I will relate it all as it comes. Fer now Ginny issa gonna meet up with
Sue in Vegas reeeeel soon and Sue issa diggin through her old stuff ta find pictures and thangs of
daze gone by. Dates and times and people will be a commin atcha iffin there are any of you left here
HEE! HEE!
  I haff had sooooooo much fun on my cornfuser this past month or so and I wish ya'll could hear
and speak with the folks I haff. I also wish you could see all the email that has poured in. I know
many of you don't post but are watchin this un-fold ri cheer before our very eyes . This will be
written properly and a letter is being formed for Sue Thompson to sign as she said she would.
WOW!! I are got goose bumps all over my liddo body.
           

      The following print is my humble opinion only. This is not intended to be the final word nor is it
intended to convince anyone of anything. These are just my observations and they are not
comprehensive nor are they complete as they were created from pictures and conversations with the
owner only. I am not a guitar expert nor do I want to be. I just love the Fender TELECASTER and
love this one very much!!!Known Facts
   The tuning keys:
1. Top little "E" is different with protruding shaft. The other five are non-protruding shaft.
This indicates a retrofit at some time after the original 5 were installed sometime after mid-51
as there are no markings on any of the six shells. This was quite common on player guitars.
As near as I can tell the screws holding them down are Phillips head and indicate a post mid-51 installation.
 2.  The tuning key shaft slots are wide and contain no hole markings drilled down the center as later duel-line Klusons had.
This indicates again an early manufactured date. Post mid-51. By 1957 the duel-line Klusons were introduced.
The ferrules have the typical ring within a ring or step configuration.
The tuning key pads are burnished and not shinny as new ones would be indicating wear and age.
   The Headstock front:
1. The string tree is round and is held down with a Phillips head screw thus later than mid 51.
2. The decal placement is correct with the "d" leg pointing at the "D" tuning key. It is about 1/8" back toward the nut from where most were.
The silver and border are correct.
3. The dark wood plug for the truss rod drilling is small, round (not as tapered as later ones) and high up near the nut as early Broadcasters were.
4. The nut is placed correctly and shows the curve, attitude and color of a non-replacement nut.
5. The general shape of the whole headstock is perfect in every way.
    The neck:
1. The fretboard shows very little signs of wear as a guitar played for only a year or two should show.
2. The frets are of the correct gauge and from the end appear to have a 71/4" radius when compared to other end pictured of vintage necks (overlay).
3. The marker dots at the 12th fret appear to have a 5/8" spacing between them rather than a 13/16" lined up under the "A" and "B" strings indicating a pre-52 manufacture.
4. The footprint or shape of the area behind the headstock connecting to the neck is not as pronounced rectangular as later TELECASTERs are.
The corner of that rectangle is sanded down smooth as are most pre-52 necks I have observed.
5. The truss rod slot is filled with a lighter colored wood and is the proper length and width.
6. The butt end has the initials T.G. written on and the "D" stamped in the wood and covered with finish.
7. The neck back flat section has the initials H P and the number 1002 stamped on it with paint chips from the body neck pocket.
   The body:
1.  Neck pocket is painted but has some chips off  which stuck to the neck.
2.  The "D" is stamped into the wood.
3.  There appears to be a number 1002 and HP written on the surface. (better pictures will follow)
4.  Nail holes for painting are there and not painted over. The top forward one is adjacent to the neck P/U cavity and in the same spot as Nocasters known to this writer. Later holes were located forward of that near the pickguard screw.
5.  Fourth body route indicates a post Broadcaster configuration.
6.  Sanding on body edges is inconsistent indicating a re-sand after the obvious contour treatment
7.  Body finish is checked but only where the old finish was left on. The paint on the contours is not checked.
8.  Contour treatment is that of an early Stratocaster and matches the old ones in a side by side comparison. Note that in the early Strats as well as on into the later years the depth of these contours has changed much.
   Bridge assembly
1.  Pick up mounting screws are slot head thus indicating a pre 53 assembly but as with all details not a definite fact and could mean a 51 to late 53 assembly..
2.  Brass poles indicate a pre late 54 assembly and as far as can be seen the notches on the outside of them are not there again indicating a pre 53 assembly.
3.   Springs, screws, and pole support set screws all are original and un-changed.
   Neck pickup
1.  Wires are correct but pickup has not been removed to see spring recesses nor shape of the base of shield.
   Jack cup
1.  Pressed style (not milled).
   Control assembly
1.   Switch is three PAT.NO. and a CRL 1452. This is an indication of a mid-50s switch.
2.  Assembly is very corroded and would have to be cleaned in order to read numbers and codes on pots ect, I have advised the owner not to remove any of this yet.
3.   Switch tip is old round type and has not been removed to see PAT.NO.s or lack there of which would date it.
4.  Wiring is correct for the year but appears to have been resoldered for the refinish. This is conjecture.

Some notes and speculation:
     I believe this TELECASTER was built and sold on or about 1952. I believe that the owner was an aquantence of Leo Fender and brought this TELE back to Fender for refinish and modification of the body. I believe the TELE was brought back to Fender and was modified for Hank Penny and to his specifications. I also think that it was NOT done elsewhere at that time. UPDATE!! UPDATE!! UPDATE!! ----June 26 2001

Shoemaker Penny TELECASTER Here it here. These are posts from the TDPRI having to do with the visit of this Purple TELECASTER to the TELE-Shack and the fun we had.

  • I jes kant, not yet anyway. I wish I had a secretary to take down notes and hand me tissues. Erry time I start tew type I kant see my keyboard. These tired old eyes are drownin. This weak mind is reelin. This old body don't wanna move this morgan. My thoughts and recolections of the past two daze are a run away train.
  • Hang on a liddo while longer (yew that care)and I'll pull myseff together directly. Jes a liddo more time cause I have been hit by a Mack truck of emotions and run over by the impact of wonderful folks, great musicians, kindred spirits, a wave of TELECASTERs and huge hearts over the past two daze. I jes kant git up and at it yet.
  • Please stay tuned for we haff climbed the mountain and I'm still savoring the moments and basking in the glow.


  • There were TELECASTER players then there waz the NET then TDPRI and because of that there waz this past weekend.
  • There is no way I can express the joy, the fun, the music, the generosity, the pleasure nor the enchantment of the moment in time where the humble TELECASTER brought together folks like this Purple one did.
  • I will haff to split this weekend up into two sections. This one will be about the gathering of few wonderful people and the next will be about the special TELECASTER that brought them together.
  • I waz estatic, I waz excited, I waz beside myseff when these folks started rollin in. They all found their way to the TELE-Shack and brought not only their TELECASTERs and equipment but brought their hearts, talent, kindness, luv of life and TELECASTER and FOOD!!! Lord haff mercy we had FOOD.
  • Now I must apoligize for not bein able to grasp who did what and who brought what and kin only show yew each of them and it would take me months tew type my feelings and my gratitude to and about each person that came.
  • In no specific order they are as follows. Please click on their respective pixs before reading about them.
  • Bob McLeod (Mac-Cloud)

  • Bob brought the old dead pig ribs and they were so good, along with other food. He drove all the way up here. The man is phe-non-man-al!! Talent far and above his humble demeanor. The TELECASTERs he brought and the equipment he has are outragious!! I have met and shook hands with another TELECASTER pickin great!! He has the patience of a saint and the grace of an angel. He put up with me and said nothing. He played licks all day that I cannot even dream of playing onna TELECASTER li kat. I cannot say enough about him and the following:
  • Mik

  • Don't chew dare git outta line!! This guy waz so laid back and so good. His equipment waz there for the pickin and he waz an asset to the music and a joy tew pick with.
  • Eric

  • This wonderful talent did the hard work of pickin bass and a beautiful one it is and a great job he did. His equipment was wonderful and his TELECASTERs were too.
  • Ron R

  • Now here issa feller who don't put on no airs, he is quiet and reserved but look out when it's his turn. He kin blow yer doors off. Played ole Richard like it ain't never been played before. His floor full of toys and and all the guys that were theres equipment I did not git pixs of nor did we git tew enjoy them as we should haff. There waz jes too much a goin on. Thanx fer the strings Ron, my God yew blew me away with that gift. My TELECASTERs thank yew and I thank yew from the bottom of my heart.
  • John James

  • A very special friend of mine who has a heart of gold and jes loves the music. The guys from the South seemed so understandin and respectful of the special person that he is to me and were so gracious and understanding while he played. THANX guys, yew were so great in this regard.
  • Shoe

    • What kin I say about this rascal? Drivin all the way up from Southern California jes tew let me be the FIRST. I will be forever greatful and will never forget this kind hearted and gentle man as long as I live. I will type more about the Purple TELECASTER in another post and later on.
  • Danny

  • My long time friend and great drummer. He and his wife Mary brought food and luv and most of all talent. Danny and I haff the special tie that binds. No words need to be spoken when it comes to makin the music. I thank him so much fer bein here for us tew lean on.
  • James

    • My son James. Well, these guys made a lasting impression on him. He had fun and so did his friend. I won't go on about it but I will say we talked later and my heart waz elevated to new heights. Thanx guys for the understanding.
  • Here are some other shots.
  • James, Mik, Bob and Ron

  • Mik, Bob and Ron.

  • It would take forever for me to express my gratitude, luv, apreciation, and memories of and about this special day-in-a-life here at the TELE-Shack.
  • I am proud to be a part of this special page and proud to know these special people. I am so sorry I kant type it all and I hope that those who were here know how I really feel. Thanx again guys. I hope I dent leaf nobody out and man I missed a bunch of stuff.
  • The following information is provided by and derived from my association and knowlege of and about a TELECASTER bearing the serial number 1002. It is my humble and non-Fender authorized opinion only.
  • Statements contained in this writing are based on my past knowlege and actual observation of this guitar.
  • I reteriate, these are my opinions only.

  • The developing story is written and viewable at this URL:

    CHECK OUT THIS PURPLE 54 TELECASTER!!

  • Now with all that outta the way I kin type li que expected HEE! HEE!
  • An amazing event transpired this weekend. I waz notified a month er so ago by the owner of this TELECASTER that he had a desire to drag the thang all the way up here from Palm Springs California (10 hour drive)in order that I might be the first to play this TELECASTER in many many years.
  • I could not believe this. Please read the above story in order to stand under the impact of this tale.
  • As yew all know we rassled with this and the facts thereof last year and it has been an on-going story. I must say it's not over yet at this point but much needs tew be told up tew this point.
  • The date waz set for the trip. Friday the 22nd of June. John Shoemaker tied the thang tew the back of the car and away he went!! He arrived here at 7:00 P.M. and I met him in the front yard. He drug it out and we went in to the TELE-Shack. My heart waz pounding as I followed him and showed him where we wassa goin. I had him lay it onna table I had set up in the middle of the Shack and my fingers jes kept twitchin and arms were reachin out but first thangs first. The video camera and digital camera had tew be set up and all had tew be ready for the moment.
  • Now John waz a sweatin and almost in tears because he did not know iffin it even worked. I really mean this, John did not know and I gar-on-tee he did not know. This TELECASTER had not been plugged into an amp for years. He had taken it apart for the pixs and expo provided on his page listed in the story above.
  • Well, I opened that case with so much apprehension and joy that I hardly remember. I reached in after James took a digital camera shot or two and grabbed it by the neck jes above the body.
  • Lord haff mercy on my TELECASTER lovin soul!!! Every nerve in my body reacted at once. It waz like a lectric shock. The magic, the exhilaration, the joy!!! I of course kant type the emotion so I'll leaf that up tew yew tew imagine.
  • Slipped it on the scale and it locked on at 6 pounds even. After a couple of photos of John and I time waz ripe fer the test.
  • Sat down in front of the one Twin on the East end of the Shack and tried tew plug it in. My hands were shakin and my knees were week (sounds lika song!!). It dent work!!! The jack cup was so loose that contact wouldn't work. The volume pot was so scratchy from non-use that it had tew be twisted a hunert times or so. Finally it settled down enough tew check the P/Us.
  • John breathd a sigh of relief and we proceeded tew play with it and check it out. Errythang worked and what a sound!! There ain't nuttin like a TELECASTER screamin through a TWIN specially a TELECASTER of that vintage.
  • Well we decided tew fix the jack cup and believe me it's hard tew work on a TELECASTER li kat even though I haff done it thousands of times my fingers were shakin and twitchin. I had tew tap the plate inside inward a liddo and hammer the cup it's seff in a liddo. I stuck my finger in that wonderful piece of history to hold the jack while I put it back together and it felt like -----------------nevermind!!
  • More twistin of the volume knob and it did purdy good. A new one waz in order but NO WAY!!!
  • We played and talked till midnite or so and John went back tew the No-Tell-Motel he wassa stayin at.
  • I did an in depth and critical overview of the SHOEMAKER PENNY TELECASTER and I kin tell yew that it is perfect in every aspect and that each and every item on it is the real deal.
  • John Shoemaker, yew are a jewel and a true TDPRI friend. I am and will be forever in debt to you.
  • Thank yew so much for the trip, the trust, the honor, the spirit and most of all for the Purple Mistress as yew and yer wife and mamma call it. It waz a joy and an honor and a great pleasure for me.
  • I will dew a detail post here some where with some pixs of the Nitty Gritty of this TELECASTER that I did Saturday nite after all had gone home sept fer John. I gotta post this fer now.
  • Yer very happy and still on cloud nine TDPRI friend;
  • The following information is provided by and derived from my association and knowlege of and about a TELECASTER bearing the serial number 1002. It is my humble and non-Fender authorized opinion only.
  • Statements contained in this writing are based on my past knowlege and actual observation of this guitar.
  • I reteriate, these are my opinions only.
  • Please note. All these photos are un-altered and only brightened and or sharpened in PSP tew enhance the view and in no way are the tweaked tew show any false views. The images are shrunk and I haff all originals saved tew disk in case anyone has any questions. On my honor and with my personal gar-on-tee I present these pixs.
  • First of all a view of the headstock. All of these pixs haff been shrunk down fer NET space on my various servers and for faster downloading. I will make them links so yew don't haff tew load all at once.
  • This is the face, please note the "D" string tuner shaft hole, ain't that weird??
  • Headstock

  • Now a look at the neck pocket. As I waz takin these many pixs I know and as my sweet thang looked over my shoulder she said and knew, this writin says Penny. The "D" is there and I haff taken many shots of this aspect of the TELECASTER. I waz tempted tew chip off some paint but-----NO NO NO!!
  • Neck pocket

  • The back or bottom of the neck that goes into the pocket. Here see the very pronounced and obvious makkins that kin only mean one thang. Who ever did this was makin sure it stayed with the body.
  • Neck bottom

  • The bridge. No cut outs on the bottom ends of the poles so these could very well be 51 or 52 pole pieces.
  • Bridge

  • Nail hole. Note the chippin around this one. It waz painted in the same method that Fender used and the location of this one is much like a 51 or early 52 are. Painted with nail in and then the nail pulled out. Who else in that day (besides Fender) would haff done a refin li kat? I'd sure like tew know. I painted cars and guitars then and never would haff thought of doin it li kat. Still wouldn't.
  • Nail hole near neck P/U pocket.

  • Here is the killer. This is a bigger pix so yew kin see it well. Now this butt-view I gazed at fer hours. Whats under that date? What actually went on with this neck before this factory refin? How old is it actually? Is it fake-------------------not hardly my friends, if it is yers truly done been fooled BIG TIME!!
  • Neck date on the butt.

  • Couple more.
  • Body back ferrules

  • Neck where it really counts.

  • There is much much more but I'll wait till later fer more of it.