What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

[uOpt]

I really would like to have a double bound Tele but I'm too cheap for the AVRI, not to mention it often doesn't come in the colors I want (CAR or metallic blue).

Is the MIJ/CIJ stuff any good? I am a little less enthusiastic about Fender CIJ than I used to be. In particular, what kind of body wood is used in there? Random or proper alder? Will I have to expect that a bridge replacement comes next?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

Some MIJ/CIJ guitars are Alder. Parts fit is good. American bridge, electronics and pickups will bring some improvement. You may still wish that you had bought an AVRI, an American Deluxe or a Relic.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

I should probably have somebody make me a bound alder body with binding. CAR should be a relatively easy color to attempt a home finish in.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

Here's mine:



But here's what it looks like now:



I put a Barden bridge with a Duncan Jerry Donahue and Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot Strat neck pickup in it.

I never loved it as a regular Tele. But after making these changes I like it a lot. I keep the action very high and use a heavy gauge string set with a wound G string. I keep it tuned to an open tuning and it's my favorite guitar for slide.

Gets a great growly tone with excellent sustain.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

Mine is alder, BTW. If I were having one made I would not choose alder. Light weight "swamp ash" would be my preference for tone and weight.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

Mine is alder, BTW. If I were having one made I would not choose alder. Light weight "swamp ash" would be my preference for tone and weight.

I was thinking that, too. In a Tele, given the choice of alder or light ash I'd go for the latter, and that's unlikely to make it out of Fender Japan.

Also, I think I would like to run it with a Roadstar II neck, they feel very Tele-ish to me.

ETA: on the other hand, then I would have to fill the wood if self-finishing.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

I used to own a MIJ 62 tele.
Was pretty nice. Light and loud and beautifully constructed.
The bridge was pretty flimsy and so were the pickups, but those things are easy to upgrade.
Neck was nice to play. Thin profile, nice and fast.
Mine ended up with a gotoh bridge and a set of barden style rail pickups but that turned it into a completely different axe. Really nice - but quite a different vibe to what the 62 naturally does. I think the joe barden bridge and JD pickup that Lew has would be the way to go if i did it all over again with the same axe. ...fwiw...i put a barden and a JD into a tele warmoth partsocaster just recently - winning combination.

I coincidentally played a pair of MIJ 62's just recently (one was an eighty seven like my old one, and one was more recent CIJ 2000 something - believe it had factory fitted texas specials?) as well when i was playing a heap of teles, gathering info for my personal "ultimate tele" build.
I have to say that both the japanese ones were delightful axes. My memories of my old axe were not tinted by rose colored glasses.
Light and resonant - i have no idea what kind of wood they were - definitely not swamp ash or alder tho. but they sounded nice and bright and bouncy. Possibly poplar? I dunno - but nice sounding and springy.
Just like my old one, i didn't like the bridge much, but thats no big deal as already discussed.
Compared to a couple of NASH teles they stacked up really nicely. Lighter and more pleasant to play.
Compared to an American Standard tele, they really shined. The american standard (late 90s) had a super thick poly coating and was really heavy. Not very exciting acoustically either.
Compared to a couple mexican teles....no contest.

So all in all, the MIJ tele 62 models are really sweet if you can score one for the right price. Nice necks, nice thin finishes. Nice looks. Well finished frets. Acoustic resonance. Light weight. Vintage feel. Win.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

Well a Warmoth body will be $565 painted so that's not gonna happen

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

Mine is alder, BTW. If I were having one made I would not choose alder. Light weight "swamp ash" would be my preference for tone and weight.

I was thinking that, too. In a Tele, given the choice of alder or light ash I'd go for the latter, and that's unlikely to make it out of Fender Japan.

Also, I think I would like to run it with a Roadstar II neck, they feel very Tele-ish to me.

ETA: on the other hand, then I would have to fill the wood if self-finishing.

Ha! I don't know, I've owned ash and alder guitars and alder is way more balanced and richer sounding to my ears which seems to eliminate the harshness in teles.

 

[marantz1300]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

I have one too.My wife bought it for a birthday present.Had it five years now.
Over the years,I changed the bridge to a Fender USA three brass barrel one and the pickups to Bareknuckle Yardbirds.It has BKP Brown sugars in now.I also changed the pots and switch to Fender USA items. Its a nice guitar ,feels great.I have a spare Sunburst 62 RI body,so I'm going to build another.
So they are good guitars,but like most better when be modded to suit yourself.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

That's a very nice guitar, marantz.

 

[marantz1300]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

thanks.
Here it is with my 78 and the other 62 RI body wearing a temporary Squier neck.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What can I expect from those MIJ/CIA Fender '62 Telecaster reissues?

My CIJ Jaguar hasn't really slowed me down in my music career.

I'm just saying.