Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

[SirJackdeFuzz]

OK, still on a Tele hunt.

What would you get ?
This Butterscotch'ed Ash body Std (see below link) and give it a Duncan Broadcaster set, or, try and hunt down a current production model sub-$900.00 '52 RI ?

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...tar-With-Vintage-Noiseless-Pickups?sku=502530

Model Name: Fender Standard Telecaster
Series: Standard Series
Color: Butterscotch Blonde
Body: Ash
Neck: 1-Piece Maple, Modern "C" Shape, (Tinted Satin Urethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5" Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
Pickups: Noiseless Vintage Single-Coil Pickups (Neck & Bridge)
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Switching: 3-Position Toggle


Sadly, it is NOT Nitro, but the Satin is atleast better than a gloss finnish for me.

What do you reccon is the better value ?

This Std (w Broadcaster set) or a used '52 RI ???

Problem is, all the 52RI's i see in eVilleBay is $900PLUSS

Over to you . . .

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

I'd check out the RI. honestly, theyre both awesome guitars.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

it's probably gonna come down to a few things for you.

Neck shape: AM. FSR Std: modern 9.5" C (with NICE satin poly) vs. 52 AVRI: 7.5" U (with nitro)
Frets: Am. std: 21 Med. Jumbo vs. 52: 21 vintage
Body: Am. std: darker poly butterscotch on ash vs. 52: lighter nitro butterscotch blond on "premium" ash.

They do grade their wood and common sense dictates that the 52 would have a higher chance of getting a lighter piece of ash with better looking grain.

I'm not gonna compare the stuff you can swap out.

For me, I love the way they roll the fingerboard edges on MIA necks. their satin jobs feel like *satin*. They're smooooth.

The thing is about the 52 RI is that fender's "original vintage" a3 tele pickups, while great, aren't the best, and you may still end up replacing them.

Nitro is cool but I'm not convinced it makes a HUGE difference. With a reallly nice piece of ash PLUS the nitro, you may be looking at a more resonant axe with the 52 AVRI, but at that point I'd just be looking at "how cheap can I get one" and how does it feel.

Just go play something with a 7.5" U shape neck and if you like it, go get the 52.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

What do you really want in terms of features??

Also, why the hang up on having nirto??

Whats your budget??

 

[tone4days]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

i'd play a buncha both and go with the one that felt and sounded best

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

I can't tell you what to do, but here's what I did.

I was thinking either Texas Tele or a Hot Rod 52, but I decided to get a gift guitar for my wife, and then found a USA Standard for $550. I jumped on that deal, and now it's going to get a maple fb neck from Butch Snyder's 60th ann. Tele.:smokin:

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

What do you really want in terms of features??

Also, why the hang up on having nirto??

Whats your budget??

$800.00 USD max . . . but might be able push it more if it comes with a hard shell case.

Nitro has a reputation to be thinner than thick Poly, and is also more vintage accurate, not so ?

Features ?

Round saddles - not the modern stuff / Butterscotch in apperance / light overall weight / smooth fret edges / sex lube like smooth neck.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

$800.00 USD . . . but might be able push it more if it comes with a hard shell case.

Nitro has a reputation to be thinner than thick Poly, and is also more vintage accurate, not so ?

First on the nitro issue, US and AV Fenders as well as many CS models use a poly base coat that is still VERY thick.

Now, I say this not at all to be a slam...lots of players have, use and love these guitars but thte only part that is nitro is the top coat and the clear coat and the only real benifit in this setting is being able to relic the finish either by force or over time...

Now, with that out of the way I'd be looking at a Road Worn or a Baja if I were you...you might find a used AV52 in your price range and if so those are killer guitars, jump on that!

I'll also add that I am a BIG fan of the MIM Classic 50's Tele and with the money you;d save you can upgrade the pickups, electronics and even add a case and still save money but they do not come in butterscotch...

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

GREAT INSIGHT FROM ALL SO FAR . . .

. . . thanx to all !

Keep 'em comming guys !

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

First on the nitro issue, US and AV Fenders as well as many CS models use a poly base coat that is still VERY thick.

Now, I say this not at all to be a slam...lots of players have, use and love these guitars but thte only part that is nitro is the top coat and the clear coat and the only real benifit in this setting is being able to relic the finish either by force or over time...

Now, with that out of the way I'd be looking at a Road Worn or a Baja if I were you...you might find a used AV52 in your price range and if so those are killer guitars, jump on that!

I'll also add that I am a BIG fan of the MIM Classic 50's Tele and with the money you;d save you can upgrade the pickups, electronics and even add a case and still save money but they do not come in butterscotch...

OK, i follow you.

Two quetions :

You like the Roadworn Tele's ?
Aren't they a wee bit pretencious ?

And :

If i get a MIM (no ishooo w that at all) Classic, and upgrade the saddles, bridge pick up plate, pick ups, wires and nut with quality items ... with what model Fender can you then compare the upgraded MIM with ?

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

If you get a classic 50's tele, they don't come in butterscotch. Nothing but the 52 AVRI has the U shaped neck, if you want to be more vintage correct.

If you got the FSR Ash tele from the first post, got a fender 3 barrel bridge, bone nut, and stuck good pickups in there, you'd have 85% of what the 52 AVRI is. It's just poly instead of nitro, c shape instead of u, med. jumbo frets instead of vintage, and the modern tuners instead of the old kind.

I'd do that, really.
If you must have nitro, I'd get a poly (or unfinished) maple neck and refinish it myself, get a blank body and finish it myself, and put together a partscaster.
Fender DOES use a poly undercoat, and it IS thick unless you get a fender finish that says "thin skin nitro". If you want a sweet job, you can learn to do it in your garage pretty easily.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

Pretentious? Not at all...

Relicing aside they are great guitars, feel great and play great...a pickup swap and they are ready to go on tour with!

MIM 50's...

Not sure what I'd relate an upgradsed Classic to...

I'll say this...I have 4 Tele's right now...ranging in price from a few hundred bucks to right at 2k...one of them is a MIM Classic 50's.

The MIM Esquire with up graded saddles and pickup holds it's own quite well with all of these guitars!

It really is a great guitar, and with pickups, a better cap, a set of saddles and maybe a pro set up they are solid, great playign gig ready guitars for WELL under your budget.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

I agree with FuseG4.

This question boils down to neck feel and how much amplifier gain you plan to use. The vintage stamped steel bridge assembly is prone to squeal at extreme gain levels. The chunkier modern bridge is designed to eliminate this problem.

About ten years ago, I owned a Fender American Standard Tele, Natural finish, Ash body, one-piece maple neck, a bunch of fingerboard varnish chipped away along the fret ends. (Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about!) Played nicely but something was lacking. I sold that guitar.

Nowadays, my number one T-style guitar is an expensive Butterscotch 'n' Bakelite affair. My knockabout T-style guitar is an inexpensive Indonesian-made thang with P90s. I love both.

SUGGESTION: If you want the look of a vintage T but the playability of a modern one, check out the Fender Hot Rod '52 Telecaster. Another way to achieve this compromise between vintage and modern is the G&L ASAT.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

I love my MIM Tele but if you're asking between a Std. and a used '52 RI I would go for the '52 RI without a second thought. I like the stock pickups, it's a nitro finish and - if it matters to you - it will resale for more than the MIM. That said the std. with noiseless pups does look nice.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

The texas tele has a "U" neck as well as the 52 and the Hot Rod 52, and the HR52 and Texas have flatter radii. The '52Ri is probably a bit thicker than the other two, but they have fat backs nonetheless.

That said, the neck will have more affect on the tone than will nitro vs poly, so that should be the least of your spec. worries.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

LOL just get the FSR tele. it's a good looking axe with modern playability. Switch out the bridge for like $30 and get some pickups.

To be honest MOST fender telecasters sound good with those two mods, provided the set up and all that is good. I think that those heavy U shaped necks are something you either love or hate. If you don't know if you like it or not yet, and if you can't play it before you buy it, then you should go with what you know, and get a c-shaped 9.5" radius.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

LOL just get the FSR tele. it's a good looking axe with modern playability. Switch out the bridge for like $30 and get some pickups.

To be honest MOST fender telecasters sound good with those two mods, provided the set up and all that is good. I think that those heavy U shaped necks are something you either love or hate. If you don't know if you like it or not yet, and if you can't play it before you buy it, then you should go with what you know, and get a c-shaped 9.5" radius.

true that...those 52s feel like bats if you're used to a slim c.

 

[DLT]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

Look for a good used Muddy Waters Telecaster!

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

I'd take the butterscotch ash tele over that one ^

I like muddy waters, but I don't dig red teles. sorry.

Maple necked teles are better for that old school sound, IMO. That muddy waters axe would be cool for playing slide though. If only I could play slide!

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Std Tele vs. '52 RI - what would you do ?

I'd take the butterscotch ash tele over that one ^

I like muddy waters, but I don't dig red teles. sorry.

Maple necked teles are better for that old school sound, IMO. That muddy waters axe would be cool for playing slide though.
If only I could play slide!

Oh come on, slide playing is easy, just look how easy it is