MIJ '52 RI neck

[TelZilla]

I've been looking at these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...5731&rd=1&rd=1 for a while, and I have a couple of Q's:

-Are the specs the same for this and the USA '52 RI (I'm not trying to start one of those MIJ V MIA threads, I just want to know if the neck shape and thickness are the same). I can see that there all U shaped, but is a "U" always a "U"?

-Is the headstock drilled for Vintage-style Klusons? Are all vintage style Klusons the same diameter? If not, what are the respective measurements?

Thanks for any info.

[0le FUZZY]

...Never mind the specs, look at the 12th fret marker dot spacing and noe it cannot be an exact 52 Reissue replacement.




0le FUZZY

[jwells393]

My Japanese Fender '50s RIs have V-shaped neck profiles.

[Grin'n'pick]

Originally Posted by jwells393

My Japanese Fender '50s RIs have V-shaped neck profiles.

Mine does too, and what a lovely V-shaped neck it is too!

I put a US AV52 RI black pickguard on my MIJ and had to sand quite a lot of the part where it fits around the neck. I don't know how representative that is but certainly it would seem that the MIJ neck is wider (width as opposed to depth) at the heel end of the fingerboard than the US 52RI, it was on mine anyway.

I understand that you can just drop in the vintage style Klusons, but I've never had any trouble with tuners on my MIJ, which I think are Ping. I've never found the need to change them yet, they work well enough and are accurate with my strobostomp.

EDIT - Just seen you're just looking at the neck without any tuners.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

...Never mind the specs, look at the 12th fret marker dot spacing and noe it cannot be an exact 52 Reissue replacement.




0le FUZZY

So are you saying that the MIJ 52 RI doesn't match a real '52 or that what he's showing here is not from an authentic Fender MIJ '52 RI? I'm not doubting you, and I know you're more knowledgable than this guy.

I was under the impression that this guy just bought new Fenders, dissasembled them, and parted them out.

Also, on the U Versus V thing, do y'all think it's more likely that these necks (he's got lots in his store, the STRATosphere) are not what he says they are, or that he just has the neck profile wrong?

Let's just be sure we're talking about the same thing here. I think of this: http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0100202850 as an MIA '52 RI (Fenders specs say it's a U shaped neck), but I'm having a hard time figuring out what to call an MIJ '52 RI. Is it this? http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0131202303 The specs on that say it has a C-shaped neck.

Now I am officially corn-fused.

Maybe my real question is what should I really be looking for, and how can I buy it on ebay without getting hosed. Here's my criteria:
-I want a big fat neck like the one on my Burton or the US '52 RIs I've played in shops
-I want it to be a real Fender (I know some think this is stupid, but I guess I wants what I wants)
-I'd rather not spend a ton
-Is this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-52-RI-Am...QQcmdZViewItem my best option- I really don't want to spend that much.

Thanks again, guys. And sorry this id so G-D long. I do tend to go on a bit...

[jwells393]

I think he is saying that Telecasters built in 1952 did not have the wide 12th fret marker spacing you see on this neck. This has long been a common difference between the American Vintage '52 Telecaster and the Model TL52-88TX from Fender Japan. Here's the American version with the narrow marker spacing.

.............

To add to your confusion, the Fender Japan website describes the neck as "Maple oval type".

If Stratosphere say's he's selling a genuine Fender neck from Japan ...... that's what it is.

[jwells393]

Deleted

[TelZilla]

If I don't care about the dot spacing, can I trust that the MIJ '52 neck has the same profile as the US '52 RI?

And Will any Klusons (or Kluson copies) fit, or is there some specific measurement I need to ask for?

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse, but I want to be sure this is going to work before I put my cash on the barrelhead....

[jwells393]

If I don't care about the dot spacing, can I trust that the MIJ '52 neck has the same profile as the US '52 RI?

I don't think so.

And Will any Klusons (or Kluson copies) fit, or is there some specific measurement I need to ask for?

I think so. I think Fender Japan uses Gotoh tuners. Warmoth has the best prices on Gotoh Kluson style.

[Bluesbob]

I'm not sure, but I think you can install the All-Parts Kluson style tuners if they have the smaller bushings, not the larger ones that fit MIM and MIA necks. On the plus side, you may be able to buy the bushings separately.