What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

brisk

brisk

NeverLostologist
Since I don't have tele, and Jolly told me that I can get ACDC from tele, I am trying to get myself a telecaster. I've been eyeing on the Fender 52 tele reissue and current line MIA tele.

I have both a new strat (MIA fender strat) and an old strat (MIM deluxe strat). For me new strat plays better although I enjoy the vintage feeling of the old strat A (7.5 radus ...). Overall, I think newer MIA strat plays better for me. I wonder if this applies to tele. I love the look of 52 RI but I much prefer better playablity.

What would you suggest?
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

Personally, I'd go 04 MIA all the way.
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

You know what I think is the best value in a Fender Tele? The Made in Mexico James Burton. This guitar plays beautifully, has a flatter fingerboard than vintage for easy string bending, and has jumbo frets...not those dinky 50's style Fender frets the 52 RI has. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I have one...I love it. The pickups are Fender Texas Teles...very good pickups. Some Duncan Antiquitys would be even better of course! Lew
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

Lewguitar said:
You know what I think is the best value in a Fender Tele? The Made in Mexico James Burton. This guitar plays beautifully, has a flatter fingerboard than vintage for easy string bending, and has jumbo frets...not those dinky 50's style Fender frets the 52 RI has. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I have one...I love it. The pickups are Fender Texas Teles...very good pickups. Some Duncan Antiquitys would be even better of course! Lew
Click to expand...

I'm talking about the alder body, maple neck MIM James Burton...that one looks like a '52 Tele. Not the 3 pickup James Burton with the Paisley Finish...that ones alot more expensive. The MIM James Burton can be found brand new for around $500. Lew
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

If I was getting a new Tele, I'd probably buy one from Fender Japan...but out of those two I'd go for the 04MIA. I have owned two '52 (one made here, one in Japan) and I never could bond with either. That's MHO, YMMV, etc., etc.
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

The thing with the Reissue 52 Tele and the Japanese Teles is those dinky little frets. If you're a AC/DC style player who's used to the feel of a Les Paul, SG or something similar, you may not like playing on those tiny frets. When I go to bend a note, my fingers slip right over the tops of them. Even my old '54 Tele has been refretted with medium jumbos. I have to say that I'm not so sure you can get the tone of a Gibson SG loaded with humbuckers raging through a cranked Marshall (like AC/DC) from a Fender Tele! A Boss DS-1 or some kind of booster might be needed to push your amp into overdrive a little more than a Tele by itself will do. Lew
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

i like he vintage reissue stuff from fender but lew is right about the frets. I would get the mim tele, but if it is really between those two then go for the 04 MIA. I think you might like playing that one better and since you will save some in the guitar itself install new pickups and maybe a callaham bridge. I am very impressed with the bridge i got from him.
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

AC/DC from a Tele!?! What are you crazy :crazy: Next thing you know you'll be saying you can get Michael Schenker tone from a Les Paul. :smack:

:joke: If you really want to get AC/DC from a Tele get a Tele-Sonic, you'll be MY in no time, maybe not Angus but you can tweak it enough to get close. If the pups don't thrill you, you can always slap in some Filter-trons from SD or TV Jones and really nail it.

If you want to go traditional Tele get a tapped QP, wide open they have an AC/DC sound when you run into a Marshall or similar.
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

I'm no authority on Telecasters, but I would consider looking at a model with a bridge humbucker if you want an AC/DC sound. Of all the sounds people try to squeeze out of their gear, Angus's tone is by far the easiest. There are a number of guitar/pickup/amp combinations that will get you there. But I'm not sure about getting that full humbucker tone from a Tele with single coils. This would be a situation where building a Warmoth guitar would be perfect. If I were you, I might consider going that route.

Ryan
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

actully I am getting close to ACDC with my MIA strat with duncan custom through marshall. Not necessary exactly the same but I get the raw vintage tone.

ACDC tele thing was my attemp to justify this purchase. But I don't see any problem with playing ACDC with tele.
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

Lewguitar said:
I'm talking about the alder body, maple neck MIM James Burton...that one looks like a '52 Tele. Not the 3 pickup James Burton with the Paisley Finish...that ones alot more expensive. The MIM James Burton can be found brand new for around $500. Lew
Click to expand...

Lew-

Where did you find the Burton tele? The only place online I can find it is selling for $600! :smack:
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

the 60's reissue i played (MIM) was nice as well, but would need new pups and probably a new bridge (3 compensated brass saddles for me) .. the neck felt nice and had nice medium frets instead of those 'fretless wonders' on the 52ri .. the 52 ri has a vintage (read 'useless') pickup combination that needs to be redone to make it useable .. here is a link to a guitar that i am considering HIGHLY ... caveat, i dont want it to do AC/DC ... i am going for RB/DG (roy buchanan / danny gatton)

http://www.frettech.com/ ... click on the 'cost' tab to see the guitar i am after ..

good luck
cheers,
t4d
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

My MIM 72 tele custom's stock bridge pickup, into a G2D classic od, into my Vibrolux and mesa recto cab gets into the AC-DC ballpark. Close enough to say 'that's not exactly what malcolm young sounds like, but that's one ballsy tone!', anyway. Kind of it's own, cool thing. Eventually it'll get an antiquity, and then it'll sound even ballsier.

I love the 52ris, but the frets, saddles and wiring need modding. The burton sounds like a good choice. To me, the necks on the American std models are a bit too 'modern' and thin, sort of a no-man's land neck. The mexicans are cheap, making them a good platform for upgrades. Try a bunch, and you'll find a gem. My 72 custom is a better made, better sounding guitar than any original 70s custom I've played.

If you can find an MIJ tele, go for it. Great quality, but the vintage style ones have vintage style frets.

Fender should make a 'player' 52ri and 60ri, with med jumbos, compensated saddles and modern wiring. That would be the bomb.
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

Hot _Grits said:
Fender should make a 'player' 52ri and 60ri, with med jumbos, compensated saddles and modern wiring. That would be the bomb.
Click to expand...

i think the new deluxe ash tele is what you are refering to ... very much like a 52ri, but with those mods, and the SCN pickups and series/parallel push button switch in the volume pot

cheers,
t4d
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

This thread's killin me! The G&L in my avatar is comin Wednesday. You want twang to AC/DC? Yep, you guess it. AC/Z-3! As Jolly would say, Gaaaaalllldddammmmmmnn
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

mrid said:
Lew-

Where did you find the Burton tele? The only place online I can find it is selling for $600! :smack:
Click to expand...

I bought mine used from my buddy Rondo...Les Pauls are all he plays! Rondo bought it last year from some where in Denver. The sales slip was still in the case...I'll take a look and see if I can find it. I believe he paid about $560 including tax. Lew
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

how about Fender Highway 1 US Special Telecaster ($600)?

p20654h.jpg


Specifications

SERIES: Highway 1™ Series
BODY: Alder
NECK: Maple, Modern "C" Shape (Satin Polyurethane Finish)
MACHINE HEADS: Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
FINGERBOARD: Maple, 9.5" Radius (241 mm)
NUMBER OF FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
PICKUPS: 2 Standard Vintage Style Single-Coil Tele Pickups with Alnico Magnets (Neck & Bridge)
CONTROLS: Master Volume, Master Tone
BRIDGE: Vintage Style 3-Saddle Strings-Thru-Body Tele Bridge
PICKUP SWITCHING: 3-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups
Position 3. Neck Pickup
HARDWARE: Chrome
STRINGS: Fender Super 250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-0250-003
CASE: Deluxe Gig Bag
PICKGUARD: 3-Ply White
SCALE LENGTH: 25.5" (648 mm)
WIDTH AT NUT: 1.6875" (43 mm)
UNIQUE FEATURES: Satin Lacquer Finish, White Plastic Parts, Dot Position Inlays
ACCESSORIES: Deluxe Gig Bag
 
Re: What would you get: 52 Tele RI or 04 MIA tele

i think that one would be cool. but if you are really after the look of the 52 reissue then i think someone mentioned the lite ash tele. That would be something to check into also. You just need to go to all the shops you can and play a few, see what features you like. I personally like the reissue necks but i think they could use some bigger frets so... it is all about feel.
 
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