w00t! Getting a Vintage Hot Rod '52

soma5 · March 2nd, 2008, 10:58 PM

Finally, I've got one coming in. I've got a Cunetto-era Nocaster and a MIM Muddy Waters Signature already and the best two will remain! Actually, the Nocaster and the best of the other two will remain. I'm guessing that I will really like the VHR '52 because I like butterscotch blondes better than candy apples.

-soma5

soma5 · March 27th, 2008, 09:36 PM

I thought I'd update the thread. I've been playing the Vintage Hot Rod '52 now and it's a definite keeper. The mini-bucker in the neck gives it a different, deeper and throatier sound which is good for blues and the twang is definitely still there. The neck is very comfortable and big, with a slightly different shape from my '97 Nocaster Relic. Meatier than the neck on my MIM Muddy Waters. It weighs 7 pounds 4 ounces on my digital scale. The Nocaster comes in at 7 pounds 8 ounces, so it's a comfortable weight for me. The Nocaster is a "happier" sounding guitar, for some reason. The VHR52 gives me a different tone in a package I really like. I believe that I will be selling off the Muddy, as much as I hate to do that. I don't believe it will get played much any more. Between the Nocaster, this new guitar and my CS '56 RI Strat I've got all my bases covered.

For those who like the Blackguard look but already have that sound covered and would like to have something different, the Vintage Hot Rod '52 is a great option. It does have the 9.5" radius so it's a matter of preference if you like that. The '97 (Cunetto-era) Nocaster Relic also has a 9.5" radius neck so I'm used to it. For that matter, so does the Muddy. My only 7.5" radius neck is on my Strat.

-soma5

sean79 · March 27th, 2008, 09:40 PM

Very nice. I've heard nothing but great things about those guitars.

jazztele · March 27th, 2008, 10:28 PM

be sure to PM me your home address, and the next time you'll be away for a few hours.

soma5 · March 28th, 2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazztele

be sure to PM me your home address, and the next time you'll be away for a few hours.

Um, yeah, um,

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500

I won't be there much over the next several days...

-soma5

ucnick · March 28th, 2008, 07:24 AM

I just got one last week, sounds and feels great, nice and light, used it at rehearsal (I'm in a country rock band) and it sounded great, the mini HB gives it a different sort of tone than the standard SC neck pup, a pleasant variation upon a theme! About the only caveat is that the lacquer on the neck seemed a bit sticky, even though it was satin finished, but I used some fine grit sandpaper on it to satin up the neck a bit more and it helped a lot. It's a really good guitar.

Bill Jones · March 29th, 2008, 10:36 AM

Mine was a piece of crap. Sent it back. Poorly mismatched three piece PREMIUM ash body. Chipped finish at neck joint. Baja was and still is a better gui for the money.

rhinocaster · March 29th, 2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Jones

Mine was a piece of crap. Sent it back. Poorly mismatched three piece PREMIUM ash body. Chipped finish at neck joint. Baja was and still is a better gui for the money.

Poorly mismatched? Wouldn't that make it "Well matched"?

I've played several and they've all been very well built guitars, but it does remind us that these are production line guitars, and not every one of them is going to be a gem.

I've played Bajas that were good and several that were OK and a couple that just flat out stunk.

lammy · March 29th, 2008, 05:41 PM

mmmmm! I love my hot rod. sounds awesome!!

soma5 · March 29th, 2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Jones

Mine was a piece of crap. Sent it back. Poorly mismatched three piece PREMIUM ash body. Chipped finish at neck joint. Baja was and still is a better gui for the money.

Wow, sorry to hear that. Mine has a 3-piece body but the matching is really good. You can't see the seams from the top, you have to look at the tail end to see them. I guess production tolerances yield a range of instruments.

I have not played a Baja, but I can readily believe that they are good guitars. I just wanted the particular combination of features that the VHR52 offers, and it really delivers (at least mine does).

-soma5

Telarkaster · March 30th, 2008, 11:19 AM

Congratulations soma! I've been agonizing over whether I should get one for quite a while now. Actually I know I should get one, it's the nicest tele I've played, it's more a question of budget and priorities.

Bill Jones, I asked you a similar question in your other thread: other than the cosmetics, what else about your Hot Rod that you didn't like? I agree the Bajas are beautiful, but the Hot Rod has some great features going for it:

-minihumbucker power
-3D sound in the middle position
-hot bridge pickup
-more quiet than the Baja
-nitro body
-U neck, fills hand nicely
-med jumbo frets
-Satin neck
-compensated bridge saddles

austintele · March 30th, 2008, 02:27 PM

The nocaster and hot rod would be a perfect pair IMO I would keep the muddy too. Great guitars

mojocasterman · March 30th, 2008, 04:16 PM

My hot rod was superb. I made some videos with it, had a blast. I did get rid of it, mostly because of the neck shape, with which I couldn't find a comfort zone. Tone-wize, I wish I still had it to listen to it through the Dr Z Mini Z I just acquired. That mini-hum with the Mini Z would have been lovely.

soma5 · March 30th, 2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austintele

The nocaster and hot rod would be a perfect pair IMO I would keep the muddy too. Great guitars

I'm trying to think of how to make that happen, but it can't happen unless I can find something else to sell off. I like the Muddy a lot, so I'd like to keep it if I can.

-soma5

March 2nd, 2008, 10:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
soma5 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 118	w00t! Getting a Vintage Hot Rod '52 Finally, I've got one coming in. I've got a Cunetto-era Nocaster and a MIM Muddy Waters Signature already and the best two will remain! Actually, the Nocaster and the best of the other two will remain. I'm guessing that I will really like the VHR '52 because I like butterscotch blondes better than candy apples. -soma5

March 27th, 2008, 09:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
sean79 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: northcentral/western Pennsylvania Posts: 1,749 9 Photos	Very nice. I've heard nothing but great things about those guitars. __________________ Every now and then I know it's kind of hard to tell, but I'm still alive and well.

March 27th, 2008, 10:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
jazztele Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chicago Age: 29 Posts: 1,879	be sure to PM me your home address, and the next time you'll be away for a few hours. __________________ “For the guitar is the most unpredictable and least reliable musical instrument in existence...and also the sweetest, the warmest, the most delicate, whose melancholic voice awakes in our soul exquisite reveries.” Andres Segovia

March 30th, 2008, 04:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
mojocasterman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,259	My hot rod was superb. I made some videos with it, had a blast. I did get rid of it, mostly because of the neck shape, with which I couldn't find a comfort zone. Tone-wize, I wish I still had it to listen to it through the Dr Z Mini Z I just acquired. That mini-hum with the Mini Z would have been lovely. __________________ Lentz HSL - McNaught SC Jr - Tom Anderson Cobra w/ 3 P90s - Crook Custom Tele w/ Lollar & TV Jones - Trussart Deluxe Steelcaster - Vinetto Legato - Grosh Bent Top S - SRV Strat - Ovation Elite T - Dr. Z. Carmen Ghia & Mini Z - Fender Tweed Blues Junior.

March 27th, 2008, 09:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
soma5 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 118	I thought I'd update the thread. I've been playing the Vintage Hot Rod '52 now and it's a definite keeper. The mini-bucker in the neck gives it a different, deeper and throatier sound which is good for blues and the twang is definitely still there. The neck is very comfortable and big, with a slightly different shape from my '97 Nocaster Relic. Meatier than the neck on my MIM Muddy Waters. It weighs 7 pounds 4 ounces on my digital scale. The Nocaster comes in at 7 pounds 8 ounces, so it's a comfortable weight for me. The Nocaster is a "happier" sounding guitar, for some reason. The VHR52 gives me a different tone in a package I really like. I believe that I will be selling off the Muddy, as much as I hate to do that. I don't believe it will get played much any more. Between the Nocaster, this new guitar and my CS '56 RI Strat I've got all my bases covered. For those who like the Blackguard look but already have that sound covered and would like to have something different, the Vintage Hot Rod '52 is a great option. It does have the 9.5" radius so it's a matter of preference if you like that. The '97 (Cunetto-era) Nocaster Relic also has a 9.5" radius neck so I'm used to it. For that matter, so does the Muddy. My only 7.5" radius neck is on my Strat. -soma5

March 28th, 2008, 07:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
ucnick TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Union City CA Posts: 27	I just got one last week, sounds and feels great, nice and light, used it at rehearsal (I'm in a country rock band) and it sounded great, the mini HB gives it a different sort of tone than the standard SC neck pup, a pleasant variation upon a theme! About the only caveat is that the lacquer on the neck seemed a bit sticky, even though it was satin finished, but I used some fine grit sandpaper on it to satin up the neck a bit more and it helped a lot. It's a really good guitar.

March 29th, 2008, 10:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bill Jones TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 26	Mine was a piece of crap. Sent it back. Poorly mismatched three piece PREMIUM ash body. Chipped finish at neck joint. Baja was and still is a better gui for the money.

March 29th, 2008, 05:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
lammy TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 34	mmmmm! I love my hot rod. sounds awesome!!

March 30th, 2008, 11:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
Telarkaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Posts: 1,607	Congratulations soma! I've been agonizing over whether I should get one for quite a while now. Actually I know I should get one, it's the nicest tele I've played, it's more a question of budget and priorities. Bill Jones, I asked you a similar question in your other thread: other than the cosmetics, what else about your Hot Rod that you didn't like? I agree the Bajas are beautiful, but the Hot Rod has some great features going for it: -minihumbucker power -3D sound in the middle position -hot bridge pickup -more quiet than the Baja -nitro body -U neck, fills hand nicely -med jumbo frets -Satin neck -compensated bridge saddles

March 30th, 2008, 02:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
austintele Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2004 Location: austin, texas Posts: 1,550	The nocaster and hot rod would be a perfect pair IMO I would keep the muddy too. Great guitars