'52 reissue bridge part number?

What is the Fender part number? I see about 3 or 4 listen at Darren Riley- they all look about the same, except for the writing/numbers stamped on the face... :confused:

Guitar Parts Resource uses the real Fender part numbers in their listings:
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_genuinefendertele.htm

Just note, however, that the description for the vintage bridge is inaccurate as to the plating - the part you'll actually receive is chrome not nickel.

Thanks Viz. So it has the Pat Pending and serial number, yes?

Don't think you'll fine one w/ a Serial number for obvious reasons....Darren did have some LH Special assemblies from Fender w/ SR...but that was a one time deal....It's usually just the Pat. Pend....and blank below that.

That's what I was thinking too. Yet, this is listed at his site.

http://www.darrenriley.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=2274

Ima try to order one for my '52 reissue tribute/recreation. :cool:

That's what I was thinking too. Yet, this is listed at his site.

http://www.darrenriley.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=2274

Ima try to order one for my '52 reissue tribute/recreation. :cool:

That's a New one on me ?....but it's worth a try...I'm surprised Fender offers that, but I've been misinformed before.....:wink:

I've never seen those for sale either. I mean why would Fender sell them?

Anyway, I just ordered one. Darren says it's on its way. I'll report back.

It certainly doesn't look like anything special though, just the standard, crappy, Fender crudely-stamped plate. :shock:

https://www.darrenriley.com/shop/images/products/4318.jpg

It certainly doesn't look like anything special though, just the standard, crappy, Fender crudely-stamped plate. :shock:

Ouch.

We'll have to compare serial numbers. I have one in the mail too. woot!

Ouch.

We'll have to compare serial numbers. I have one in the mail too. woot!

Well, after you've seen one of Dale Clark's or Bill Callaham's bridge plates, all the Fender stuff is kinda crude.

Well, after you've seen one of Dale Clark's or Bill Callaham's bridge plates, all the Fender stuff is kinda crude.

I had a Glendale bridge/saddle setup on my Highway One Tele. Superior quality, I just couldn't justify fancy bits on my CV.

I had a Glendale bridge/saddle setup on my Highway One Tele. Superior quality, I just couldn't justify fancy bits on my CV.

Yes, I hear you. Three Glendales just about gets you a CV :shock:

By the way, should you wish to enhance the mids, and improve sustain (at the cost of a little loss of treble) the stock Fender Highway One plate is nicely made and a useful alternative to the "Pat Pend" plate.

I have an update on the Fender bridge plate with a serial number that Darren Riley sells.

Mine arrived yesterday, and I have it here with me. First off, the packaging says "Made in USA" and it's a much nicer plate than another (eBay sourced and presumably import) PAT PEND bridge plate I have. The finishing is smoother, with absolutely no sharp edges and quite nicely finished corners. It's not a smoothly finished as a Highway One bridge, but a huge improvement over the other one I have. It also sits totally flat while my older bridge shows just a little side-to-side rock. As to the serial number, OnlyVees told me that the one he received has exactly the same serial number (36437) as the plate on Darren Riley's website, but mine is different (37246). Now I don't think for a minute that these are really true serial numbers and my suspicion is that Fender just made a few different ones.

Now it gets more interesting. Melle points out above that Daren had "some LH Special assemblies from Fender w/ SR...but that was a one time deal". The packaging on these plates says "BRIDGE PLATE VINT TELE LH CH P.N. 0053822000", but it's clearly a right hand plate.

The puzzle is, why would Fender make these pieces? What Tele model are they really intended for? Unlike a 52RI plate there is no dot under the serial number. Does anyone have any ideas?

It's certainly a very nice plate, much better work than the standard PAT PEND plate.

And now "Out of stock" at Darren's site. :shock:

I wonder how many were ordered in the last four days? :shock:

He still has the left hand version in stock...

https://www.darrenriley.com/shop/images/products/3905.jpg

I have some misgivings about FMIC offering these parts. I keep imagining selling or donating a partscaster and some subsequent buyer crying foul, claiming he was somehow deceived.

My wacky solution is to only use the Lefty FMIC bridges on the right hand guitars, on the theory that a reversed bridge is not offered by FMIC and people should know that. I dunno. I think if it came time to actually part with the instrument I would de-image the part, i.e., deface the "fender" letters and the serial number as well.

Even if FMIC gets the whole world to understand, you call or e-mail Scottsdale with the number and they'll tell you if it is a part for a real AV52 or if it is just a stand alone part, there's always some bellyaching "victim" who wants it to be someone else's fault, not his, when he bids on an item that 98% of buyers will know is not a genuine FMIC guitar.

I'm waiting for the day when FMIC is obliged to put yellow warning stickers on their guitars: WARNING This guitar will sound like cr8p if played through a crummy amplifier.

:^)

I just think this is a very interesting "offering".

Of course, Fender may have covered themselves by using 5-digit 1959-era "serial" numbers on these plates, when in fact, by '59 serial numbers were stamped on neck plates rather than bridge plates.

I don't really care about the serial numbers though. What I do care about is that this bridge is a huge step up in quality from the normal Fender Pat Pend plates we see. It is still pressed, but its country of manufacture is USA (according to the packaging), it sits perfectly flat and has absolutely no sharp corners or edges. For a non-machined plate made from thin steel (.050" thickness) it's about as good quality as you could hope for. And a bargain at $20.

The puzzle is, why would Fender make these pieces? What Tele model are they really intended for? Unlike a 52RI plate there is no dot under the serial number. Does anyone have any ideas?

It's certainly a very nice plate, much better work than the standard PAT PEND plate.

They're pre-stamped for the American Vintage '52 Telecaster (model 010-0202-850). Fender started stamping the dot under the serial numbers in 1982 to stop fraudsters passing off a re-issue bridgeplate as a genuine '50s part (and to prevent any confusion between original '50s bridgeplates). Fender ran out of re-issue 4-digit serial numbers around December 1988, when 5-digit serial numbers first started to appear.

Then, in the early '90's (around '92-'93), Fender realised that there were no 5-digit serials stamped on bridgeplates in the early '50s, so they stopped stamping the dot.

Numbers 36437 and 37246 would normally appear on the current US-built AV52 Tele. For example, my 2000 AV52 Tele was #37389.

Thanks,

They're pre-stamped for the American Vintage '52 Telecaster (model 010-0202-850). Fender started stamping the dot under the serial numbers in 1982 to stop fraudsters passing off a re-issue bridgeplate as a genuine '50s part (and to prevent any confusion between original '50s bridgeplates). Fender ran out of re-issue 4-digit serial numbers around December 1988, when 5-digit serial numbers first started to appear.

Then, in the early '90's (around '92-'93), Fender realised that there were no 5-digit serials stamped on bridgeplates in the early '50s, so they stopped stamping the dot.

Numbers 36437 and 37246 would normally appear on the current US-built AV52 Tele. For example, my 2000 AV52 Tele was #37389.

Thanks,

Ah, that does explain things. Thanks for the info.

Why FMIC sells these as "replacement" parts is still strange though, especially as some have duplicate serial numbers.

Wondering if FMIC is counting on a protocol where any buyer or sleuth can call FMIC or e-mail them at any time and get a definitive answer:

Serial Number EDCBA is a mass issue "replacement" plate sold through dealers and repairmen such as Darren, and DOES NOT correspond with any actual valid FMIC guitar ever issued.

And all other serial numbers, "good" ones are matched to existing or once existing real Reissue Fender guitars.

I wonder if FMIC made a few too many of these USVRI plates and with the global economy as it is (not to mention the price increases of a few years ago) demand for higher-end guitars is way down. It's probably better for FMIC to sell them rather than store them???

He still has the left hand version in stock...

https://www.darrenriley.com/shop/images/products/3905.jpg

ya i was thinking about getting a lefty one for down the road someday :cool:


I wonder if they all have the same serial number though?

ya i was thinking about getting a lefty one for down the road someday :cool:


I wonder if they all have the same serial number though?

I think that if you want one, you should act sooner rather than later. Darren is out of stock on the RH ones already.

OnlyVees and I bought one each last week. His has the same serial number as the photo on Darren Riley's website. Mine has a different serial number. So, my guess is that they are probably from a limited range, and there are dupes, but they are not all identical.

But don't buy it because of the serial number. Buy it because it's the nicest Fender Pat Pend plate you'll probably ever see.