Fender 50's Tele

[Gary in Boston]

I need an opinion on the Fender MIM 50's RI.

I saw a beat up one @ GC which when played seemed to have alot of the "spirirt" of that period Tele. It was light and sounded great. It was way to beat to buy but what are the opinions and prices of the used ones around?

Thanks!

Gary

[mellecaster]

About $450.00 to $485.00 when you can find someone that wants to sell one....and what does..... to beat to buy mean ??

[mrbdxmpl]

Gary,

After going back and forth through too many guitars and considering several customs builders, I pulled the trigger on a whim on a nice looking 50's Esquire on eBay for under $500. I love it. It has cured my GAS pains, for quite a while. Great neck--nice and chunky--and good weight, around 7 1/2 lbs. I'm sure I will fuss with it--probably Glendale Saddles and I want to try a couple of pups--but I am spoiled by owning a couple of really nice acoustics, and I have just as big a grin playing this one...you won't be sorry.

[sudancat]

I have 52RI,Nashville Deluxe,American Deluxe and a MIM 50s Teles.

MHO-The MIM 50s is just as good as any of the others I have and grabbed it up at $450 used in excellent shape and I will buy another one in the near future.

[BritishBluesBoy]

Buy one. You will not regret it for a second.

[Stubee]

Too beat? Impossible. I love beat-up guitars. Not relics, really played guitars. Love 'em.

OK, on the 50s Classic: kinda a "can't miss", they are very nice, but some will be nicer (to you) than others. I love mine (though swapped the neck with a '60s Classic cuz it fit me better). If this specific guitar called to you & was light & you liked the color, I'd immediately quash thoughts of finding a "pristine" example, march right back to that GC store and start to make a very good deal for that floor model. Let them know just how beat-up it is, and talk to the store manager. They'll have to move it someday anyway.

I think I got my used '50s (nearly mint) for $525, but that included Nocaster pups and was, IMO, I tremendous deal. I got my brand-new '60s Classic from a store, with a paint chip, dirt, scum (a "floor model" they apparently stored in a barn the last few years) for $500+ tax. You'd be very hard pressed to find a used model for much less than that.

[PJ]

....with a tweed case, used, from a dealer in Nashville. I've had it ten years, now, and it's one of the best Teles I've owned. Light, resonant, built well. It's on its second neck, since I went through the vintage frets pretty quick, but I'm sure I'll have this one a long time.

[montyphoto]

I would think $400.00-$500.00 to be a fair range for a 50s RI Tele. Mine is now 8 years old (two tone 'burst). I found the p/ups to be a bit thin, so I replaced the bridge with a S/D Quarter Pounder (fuller/richer tone) and the neck p/up with a S/D vintage ALNICO which seems a bit warmer than the original. I love the chunkier neck....When I replace the frets, they will be medium jumbos....Right now, it looks as though I've still got qquite a bit of playing to do to get to that point.

[Gary in Boston]

By too beat to buy I mean it had the knobs crushed and bent. The back had a crack in the horn that went through the paint and looked like it was into the wood. One of the ferrals was misiing in the back and last but not least it was black. I could have maybe lived with white and for sure sunburst but black.......... Also the crack in the horn was wierd.

I don't have trouble with used guitars at all. My MIM Tele was, " Well loved" before I got it. I paid 250 for it. It came from TN and when it arrived it was still in tune............. That's a guitar to keep. It had quite a few chips and such which I enjoy for their character.

Gary

[GuitarJonz]

Originally Posted by PJ

....with a tweed case, used, from a dealer in Nashville. I've had it ten years, now, and it's one of the best Teles I've owned.

Wow, how did you do that, since the first year of manufacture was 1998? They had serial numbers that started with MN8...

[Geo]

Great Tele especially for the price.
I though '96 might have been 1st year for MIM '50s but
not sure.

[PJ]

....thought it was made in 97, since I got it early in 98, but I don't have the neck anymore, so I can't check it.
I know the model had just come out, though, and it was used, so I pegged it at 97, but might have been 98. Either way, it's a terrific guitar. I'd like to get another, but the Baja has my attention, now.