'82 '52 re-issue wiring anomally

T-bone Tone · January 8th, 2004, 02:23 PM

Hello...and help.

I have had a '52 re-issue Tele since I bought it in '82. Very nice guitar. Recently, my friend bought a new '52 re-issue. We both decided to re-wire it to a more modern spec, so removed the chrome control covers on both guitars.
Imagine my surprise when his turned out to have cloth insulated p/up wires, as per the original spec, whereas mine had PVC, despite being 21 years older, and the first vintage re-issue! The '82 Fender catalogure I still have stipulates all wiring is cloth insulated as per the original '52 guitars.

What are my options? Do I send a snotty letter to Fender (despite the fact mine was made in the original Fullerton plant, and was - arguably - a different Fender)?

Second, there were NO instructions how to wire the p/ups to a more modern switching arrangement. Where is the best place (web page) to find a schematic instruction for this?

Cheers

T bone T

Kevin · January 8th, 2004, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-bone Tone

...despite the fact mine was made in the original Fullerton plant, and was - arguably - a different Fender...

That cracked me up! I think it's funny to hear people say stuff like "Fender invented tele pups, so they should know how to make them," when what you've just said is entirely accurate. The current owners of Fender bought only the rights to the name (and all other rights) when they bought the company. No factory, no tooling, etc.; they even laid off most of the employees. At least CBS bought it all...

Anyway, your 52RI is correct. The earliest editions used standard (for the time) pickups and PVC-coated wire. They switched to cloth-covered wire and "reissue" pups later.

Although technically not as "vintage-correct" as newer models, you have a first-year reissue, which a lot of people would pay very good money for.

One more thing in reference to your comment. It doesn't matter if the current Fender is a "different" Fender if you have a legitimate complaint. When someone buys a company and all its rights, they also buy all of its liabilities.

Mark Davis · January 8th, 2004, 05:35 PM

Only the 1st few 82's used the plastic wire. It should also have red bottom pickups. If so those are some of the best ones ever made. It will probably also say Vintage in the neck pocket.

If I owned that 82 I wouldnt change a thing except strings.

T-bone Tone · January 9th, 2004, 12:57 PM

Interetsing comments, chaps, and thanks for them.

I also note, my friend's brand new '52 re-issue has a plastic scratchplate that looks cheap as ****, all shiny and bending away from the guitar body between the screws. Mine - the '82 - has a slab of pretty thick bakelite.

The back of my body has the little filled peg holes down the middle, not sure what they were used for? His does not.

Also, my lead pick-up is gray fibreboard, his is black which I think looks better.

But - shock, horror - I have to be absolutely honest and say the newer guitar plays and sounds a little bit better. Not a lot in it, but it is there. The neck is nicer, the fretboard edges rounded off a bit more, and the lead pick-up has an edge on mine.

Of course, sound is a very personal thing, maybe other people would prefer the sound of mine.

bpoe · January 9th, 2004, 10:39 PM

The gray is actually dried laquer all hazed/crazed up from oxidation over the years. They shinied them up with clear laquer back then. I've had two '82s (s/n 271 and s/n 1407 or so) and they both had pvc coated wire. I sold them both because i just did not fall in love with either.

T-bone Tone · January 12th, 2004, 09:36 AM

Again, an interesting comment, bpoe. :?

I, too, was not really bowled over by the guitar when I bought it back in '82 - although it was considerably better than the '82 '57RI strat I tried in the shop at the same time! Again, like yourself, I very nearly sold it on more than one occasion during my first few years of ownership.

My friend's 2003 '52 RI is actually very, very impressive sonically and comfort wise, straight out the box, so to speak.

However, mine has developed - which it should after 20 plus years! - into a great guitar. The only thing I don't like is that dire switching arrangement which gives a wooly bass sound in the 1st switch position, the rhythm p-up is on for the 2nd position and the lead p-up for the 3rd. I just do not find the 1st position usable.

I don't intend selling it, and am none too convinced RI's go for that much in any case. I put new pots and a 5 way switch in my '65 strat, as the original ones were pretty shot. I didn't throw them away, but as it's a guitar I use, rather than an investment to make some young kid a few bucks 20 years down the line, I don't worry about this leave the solder intact stuff. If it was a '54 with good working controls, maybe, but I really think things are getting way out of hand on the vintage front. Hence, I think I shall rewire the controls on the tele.

January 8th, 2004, 02:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 321	'82 '52 re-issue wiring anomally Hello...and help. I have had a '52 re-issue Tele since I bought it in '82. Very nice guitar. Recently, my friend bought a new '52 re-issue. We both decided to re-wire it to a more modern spec, so removed the chrome control covers on both guitars. Imagine my surprise when his turned out to have cloth insulated p/up wires, as per the original spec, whereas mine had PVC, despite being 21 years older, and the first vintage re-issue! The '82 Fender catalogure I still have stipulates all wiring is cloth insulated as per the original '52 guitars. What are my options? Do I send a snotty letter to Fender (despite the fact mine was made in the original Fullerton plant, and was - arguably - a different Fender)? Second, there were NO instructions how to wire the p/ups to a more modern switching arrangement. Where is the best place (web page) to find a schematic instruction for this? Cheers T bone T

January 9th, 2004, 10:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
bpoe Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 271	Gray fiberboard The gray is actually dried laquer all hazed/crazed up from oxidation over the years. They shinied them up with clear laquer back then. I've had two '82s (s/n 271 and s/n 1407 or so) and they both had pvc coated wire. I sold them both because i just did not fall in love with either.

January 8th, 2004, 05:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	Only the 1st few 82's used the plastic wire. It should also have red bottom pickups. If so those are some of the best ones ever made. It will probably also say Vintage in the neck pocket. If I owned that 82 I wouldnt change a thing except strings.

January 9th, 2004, 12:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 321	Interetsing comments, chaps, and thanks for them. I also note, my friend's brand new '52 re-issue has a plastic scratchplate that looks cheap as ****, all shiny and bending away from the guitar body between the screws. Mine - the '82 - has a slab of pretty thick bakelite. The back of my body has the little filled peg holes down the middle, not sure what they were used for? His does not. Also, my lead pick-up is gray fibreboard, his is black which I think looks better. But - shock, horror - I have to be absolutely honest and say the newer guitar plays and sounds a little bit better. Not a lot in it, but it is there. The neck is nicer, the fretboard edges rounded off a bit more, and the lead pick-up has an edge on mine. Of course, sound is a very personal thing, maybe other people would prefer the sound of mine.

January 12th, 2004, 09:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 321	Again, an interesting comment, bpoe. :? I, too, was not really bowled over by the guitar when I bought it back in '82 - although it was considerably better than the '82 '57RI strat I tried in the shop at the same time! Again, like yourself, I very nearly sold it on more than one occasion during my first few years of ownership. My friend's 2003 '52 RI is actually very, very impressive sonically and comfort wise, straight out the box, so to speak. However, mine has developed - which it should after 20 plus years! - into a great guitar. The only thing I don't like is that dire switching arrangement which gives a wooly bass sound in the 1st switch position, the rhythm p-up is on for the 2nd position and the lead p-up for the 3rd. I just do not find the 1st position usable. I don't intend selling it, and am none too convinced RI's go for that much in any case. I put new pots and a 5 way switch in my '65 strat, as the original ones were pretty shot. I didn't throw them away, but as it's a guitar I use, rather than an investment to make some young kid a few bucks 20 years down the line, I don't worry about this leave the solder intact stuff. If it was a '54 with good working controls, maybe, but I really think things are getting way out of hand on the vintage front. Hence, I think I shall rewire the controls on the tele.