Hi Tele and welcome to the forum. Just about all of the responses that you got on the Telecaster Forum are correct (apart from that ashtray mistaken for a Bigsby mark). The L22xxx serial could be 1963 or 1964, you say the neck heel is 1963 stamped and the final thing that can be done is to look at the date codes on the CTS volume and tone pots. Even then, it only tells the EARLIEST your Tele could be. Parts could easily be held in stock for several months before assembling.

’63 or ’64 doesn’t matter because you have the golden phrase “Pre-CBS” to describe your Tele. Guitars (and amps) made by Fender before Columbia took them over in 1965 are considered Holy Grail of Fender and, as you’ve been told, the mahogany body is a rarity. I’ve seen refinished pre-CBS ordinary Teles sell for $5000 so I do think that $15k could be handed over quite easily by a collector once the credit-crunch thing blows away.

Congrats on getting such a nice guitar, keep it in its original condition and enjoy 😀

I think you’re right about 1963/64 being the only period Teles were offered in mahogany.

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender2.html

Dunno what it’s worth, but it looks all original, has that played-in look that many so-called “relics” try to re-create. I reckon you’d get quite a few bob for it!

But are you asking because you want to sell or just curious?

Any pics?