Do I NEED this telecaster....

phil_104

phil_104

Cheesesteakologist
Alright, first time I post a thread like this, but I'm on the fence.

Been wanting to add tele tones to my arsenal for a while now. It's been the ''guitar type'' that's been missing from my lineup for quite a while now. I've always had a hard time bonding with the guitar type, but I've always dug the tones. Yesterday I got to play a specific tele that just really worked for me. It's a american vintage 52 RI tele. Here are some specs that make is appealing to me.

- Ash body (lacquer finish)
- Big old U shaped maple neck
- 7.25 fretboard radius
- 21 frets
- Bone nut
- Ashtray bridge with 3 style vintage saddles

fender-tele-american-vintage-52-occasion-45997-1.jpg

So yeah, I don't know much about teles, but I know I can totally dig this specific guitar. Experienced tele guys ; is there anything I should be weary of when considering this model? Any other similar teles I should be looking at? Do I need this guitar in my lineup? Opinions on it?

Any info or opinions on it are much appreciated. Cheers!
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

I think that model's a great place to start with a Telecaster.
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

A buddy of mine loves his 52 RI. I'd go with it if it speaks to you.
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

LReese said:
I think that model's a great place to start with a Telecaster.
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From what I've found in my very limited research on telecasters, the general consensus seems to be that getting the best ''vintage correct'' tele you can find isn't a bad idea, because that's where you'll find the elements that are responsible for the classic tele tones we know. After that, I guess tweaking with pickups and details would be easier, if the need arises. That's my theory at least.

I played some american standards, and other american vintage models, but the 52 with the big neck just feels like home to me with the bigger gibson necks I'm use to playing. We will see, but if all pans out, I might pick it up on monday.
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

Do I NEED this telecaster....
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That question would be ridiculous enough under normal circumstances...

... but by your own admission you don't own any Telecaster right now? :eek:
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

Those are nice Teles. Not a thing wrong with them, and will serve you well for many years. As long as it works for you with the vintage radius and frets.

and see my sig.
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

Personally I like them a bit more flashy, namely a red or blue 62 reissue with binding.
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

I've been playing Teles for 10 years and I've found them to be required for versatility in the gigs I do, particularly when I sit in with other people and am not sure what tunes they are going to call. They are the only stock guitar that in my personal experience are able to cover rock, blues, country, pop, indie, even some hard rock/metal, all in the same set list. Other stock guitars are certainly versatile, but not that versatile.

The American Vintage '52 (IMHO) might not be the best version of an early 50's Tele Fender has done, but if you actually played it and it really satisfied you, that is what matters. (I was partial to the previous version that had a Broadcaster bridge pickup and a Twisted Tele neck pickup and used that actual 50's wiring scheme. Now these pickups only seem to show up in the Baja Telecaster.)

The earliest Teles had several different wirings. The '51 Broadcaster/'52 Nocaster didn't have a tone control, it had a neck pickup blend knob that worked in the treble position. Around '52 they changed to an actual tone control. The wirings worked like this:

1951 - 1952
Neck + fixed dark tone (Esquire type dark circuit)
Neck only (straight out, no tone, like a Strat)
Bridge + blend knob for neck (straight out, no tone, like a Strat)

Late 1952 - 1966
Neck + fixed dark tone (simple .05uf cap)
Neck + tone control
Bridge + tone control

1967 - present
Neck + tone control
Neck + Bridge + tone control
Bridge + tone control

The earliest version with the blend control is an incredible sound. Too bad Teles don't have it anymore.

If you're working at all, I think you need a Telecaster. The American Vintage '52 is a good one. But before rushing into the purchase, I would look for the previous version of the '52 reissue that Fender put out. (Not the $4000 custom shop they have now, but the $1999 one that was out about 3-4 years ago. It was closer to an actual '52 than this Am. Vintage is.)
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

Ok so the 52 reissue was replaced in 2012 with the new "American Vintage 52". Essentially Fender went back to the drawing board and used specific vintage examples to spec the models. What changed on the 52 was:
-the finish. New ones are thinner.
-the colour. New ones are WAY less orange and they look more like the Nocaster blonde.
-pickups. New more vintage correct spec.
-the neck profile. New ones are fatter and more chunky.
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

Powdered Toast Man said:
Ok so the 52 reissue was replaced in 2012 with the new "American Vintage 52". Essentially Fender went back to the drawing board and used specific vintage examples to spec the models. What changed on the 52 was:
-the finish. New ones are thinner.
-the colour. New ones are WAY less orange and they look more like the Nocaster blonde.
-pickups. New more vintage correct spec.
-the neck profile. New ones are fatter and more chunky.
Click to expand...

In my book, those are all improvements. Good to know.
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

Just recently bought my first Fender MIM tele that looks just about like that one and I love it. Mine is that butterscotch blonde and it plays and sounds NICE. It bangs out those early Zepplin songs in a way that I never realized I was missing with my strat.

If you don't already have a Fender Tele, you need one. At least that is what I told my wife.
 
Re: Do I NEED this telecaster....

phil_104 said:
Yesterday I got to play a specific tele that just really worked for me.
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You played it, you liked it, you don't have a Tele. Teles are awesome versatile guitars. Hmmmmmm let me think about it a while :scratchch

Ok, I've thought about it.

Yes you NEED that Telecaster! :fing2:
 
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