Help with 1985 MIJ 62 Custom specs

superbadj · March 30th, 2008, 08:51 PM

Tried searching here and on Google, but found little to nothing. I'm just trying to track down specs on my guitar. Things like:

Neck radius/width
Fret style
Pickups (exact names)
Body wood (Alder, I think, but do you know?)
Yadda yadda.

Here are a few pics from a previous thread where I was trying to date it (finally took off the neck to see the date for sure).

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...info-tele.html

I ask because I really love the way this thing plays, but I've had it for nearly 20 years. I pick up other guitars and their neck feels all "off" sometimes, and often, I'm not sure why. So I just figured if I knew the specs to this one, it might help me in the search for some stable mates.

Thanks!

superbadj · March 31st, 2008, 08:09 AM

no replies makes me sad......

mellecaster · March 31st, 2008, 08:22 AM

Should be 7.25" Radius...small Vintage Frets...1 5/8" nut width....Fairly slim C backshape on Neck...Wood ...Alder ?...Basswood?...Pickups ?...feelin better now ??

superbadj · March 31st, 2008, 08:30 AM

Well that helps. Just wanting to learn what I can about the guitar, and info seems to be hard to find (and it varies---like the wood type). Just curious about her, that's all.

thaus · March 31st, 2008, 08:35 AM

Doing a quick search on the Fender Japan website reveals this info:

1) Neck radius = 7.25
2) Fret style = doesn't specify but one assumes vintage frets. (yes, the thin ones!)
3) Pickups = According to the current models, they are loaded with Texas Specials but you could tell what yours are if there is a red dot on the bottom of the pups.
4)Body = Alder
5) Neck shape = Oval; 42mm nut-width.

I am no expert and there are people here with a LOT more knowledge! This is just what I have found at the Fender Japan website (I just bought a CIJ 62 Stratocaster so I was familiar with the pages to look for!!)

superbadj · March 31st, 2008, 08:46 AM

yeah, I've found some modern specs. Just curious if the '85 models had the same pickups, etc. But that's probably close if not totally correct.

superbadj · March 31st, 2008, 08:47 AM

Oh, and THANKS>

TELECASTERbstrd · March 31st, 2008, 09:35 AM

It's just a MIJ 62 ri. 7.25 radius, vintage frets, thin C neck...
You have the spec's. The early ones have sad & muddy cheap neck pups and utility bridge pups the pups probably don't have woven leads. Nothing special about that MIJ compared to any other that I see. Basswood body. Yours must be one of the first of the run because it doesn't say "Custom Telecaster" , only "Telecaster". That may make it more valuable?
I know that Fender was planning on island production back in 1981 because my 1981 Tele says Made in USA... I think that was the first year for that text and apparently MIJ.
The pickguard was probably replaced, I think they came with WBW pickguards.

winny pooh · March 31st, 2008, 10:37 AM

If you want to duplicate the neck remember to measure depth at nut and 12th fret in addition to neck width and fret heights...

Newfie_J. · March 31st, 2008, 01:45 PM

I have one of those and its the most comfotable neck I have found yet on a Telecaster. I love it. I have played other early MIJ's and they have all felt similar.
The specs listed by the others are pretty much correct.
Mine is marked as AO22852. It says "Telecaster" on the headstock instead of Custom telecaster. The neck seems slightly darker than yours, most likely due to use and environment.
Mine seems to have the thicker, flat bottomed,
"slab board" rosewood cap. That surprised me when I got it.

The neck plate differs from yours and says FENDER in the old style block letters. Its easy to see mine is from a 3 piece body blank but I dont care.
Has a nice vintage Nitro cellulose finish (some hairline finish cracks)
Decent pots and hardware (CRL switch), .001 treble bleed. That was stock.

The pickups were a little weak to me though and got changed for some Antiquities.
Yours is in alot nicer shape than mine. Good job,Keep it that way. I play mine hard and it doesnt even go out of tune.
Its neat that 2 guitars from the same factory have those subtle differances.

The value on them isnt tremendous or anything but they are in big demand right now because they are very high quality guitars for a fair price.
So obviously that means they will continue to increase in value. Especially in the good condition yours is in.
I wish I had a camera to show you some pics.

It is my favorite guitar no matter what others have come and gone.

Caffeine Patrol · March 31st, 2008, 01:59 PM

I have the same model as yours and it is my favorite Tele of all time. The PUs are low output but they sound fantastic. I replaced the switch and sanded the finish off the back of the neck but otherwise, no changes. Check out the latest Fretboard Journal. There's a picture of John Jorgenson playing his with the DRB; he says he preferred it to his '50s Tele ('53, I think). Not a bad endorsement!

superbadj · March 31st, 2008, 08:58 PM

Oh, it has a few nicks and what-not, but it's generally in good shape. And yeah, it plays great. I like the way these pups sound, actually, but I've really not played a ton of other Teles, so that might be part of it. Little to compare it to.

March 30th, 2008, 08:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
superbadj Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: roanoke, va Age: 34 Posts: 353	Help with 1985 MIJ 62 Custom specs Tried searching here and on Google, but found little to nothing. I'm just trying to track down specs on my guitar. Things like: Neck radius/width Fret style Pickups (exact names) Body wood (Alder, I think, but do you know?) Yadda yadda. Here are a few pics from a previous thread where I was trying to date it (finally took off the neck to see the date for sure). http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...info-tele.html I ask because I really love the way this thing plays, but I've had it for nearly 20 years. I pick up other guitars and their neck feels all "off" sometimes, and often, I'm not sure why. So I just figured if I knew the specs to this one, it might help me in the search for some stable mates. Thanks!

March 31st, 2008, 08:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,280 17 Photos	Should be 7.25" Radius...small Vintage Frets...1 5/8" nut width....Fairly slim C backshape on Neck...Wood ...Alder ?...Basswood?...Pickups ?...feelin better now ?? __________________ Let's Not Forget the Other 75% of The Tone Equation...It's Called an AMP

March 31st, 2008, 09:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 689	It's just a MIJ 62 ri. 7.25 radius, vintage frets, thin C neck... You have the spec's. The early ones have sad & muddy cheap neck pups and utility bridge pups the pups probably don't have woven leads. Nothing special about that MIJ compared to any other that I see. Basswood body. Yours must be one of the first of the run because it doesn't say "Custom Telecaster" , only "Telecaster". That may make it more valuable? I know that Fender was planning on island production back in 1981 because my 1981 Tele says Made in USA... I think that was the first year for that text and apparently MIJ. The pickguard was probably replaced, I think they came with WBW pickguards. __________________ Howdy Y'all, most of my stuff pertains to country music. my MySpace Music Hill Country Horseworks

March 31st, 2008, 10:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
winny pooh Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South London Posts: 1,443 1 Photos	If you want to duplicate the neck remember to measure depth at nut and 12th fret in addition to neck width and fret heights... __________________ my afro ambient side project: http://www.myspace.com/theswyambusessions

March 31st, 2008, 08:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
superbadj Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: roanoke, va Age: 34 Posts: 353	no replies makes me sad......

March 31st, 2008, 08:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
superbadj Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: roanoke, va Age: 34 Posts: 353	Well that helps. Just wanting to learn what I can about the guitar, and info seems to be hard to find (and it varies---like the wood type). Just curious about her, that's all.

March 31st, 2008, 08:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
thaus Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 439	Doing a quick search on the Fender Japan website reveals this info: 1) Neck radius = 7.25 2) Fret style = doesn't specify but one assumes vintage frets. (yes, the thin ones!) 3) Pickups = According to the current models, they are loaded with Texas Specials but you could tell what yours are if there is a red dot on the bottom of the pups. 4)Body = Alder 5) Neck shape = Oval; 42mm nut-width. I am no expert and there are people here with a LOT more knowledge! This is just what I have found at the Fender Japan website (I just bought a CIJ 62 Stratocaster so I was familiar with the pages to look for!!)

March 31st, 2008, 08:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
superbadj Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: roanoke, va Age: 34 Posts: 353	yeah, I've found some modern specs. Just curious if the '85 models had the same pickups, etc. But that's probably close if not totally correct.

March 31st, 2008, 08:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
superbadj Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: roanoke, va Age: 34 Posts: 353	Oh, and THANKS>

March 31st, 2008, 01:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Newfie_J. Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North Bay Age: 28 Posts: 194	I have one of those and its the most comfotable neck I have found yet on a Telecaster. I love it. I have played other early MIJ's and they have all felt similar. The specs listed by the others are pretty much correct. Mine is marked as AO22852. It says "Telecaster" on the headstock instead of Custom telecaster. The neck seems slightly darker than yours, most likely due to use and environment. Mine seems to have the thicker, flat bottomed, "slab board" rosewood cap. That surprised me when I got it. The neck plate differs from yours and says FENDER in the old style block letters. Its easy to see mine is from a 3 piece body blank but I dont care. Has a nice vintage Nitro cellulose finish (some hairline finish cracks) Decent pots and hardware (CRL switch), .001 treble bleed. That was stock. The pickups were a little weak to me though and got changed for some Antiquities. Yours is in alot nicer shape than mine. Good job,Keep it that way. I play mine hard and it doesnt even go out of tune. Its neat that 2 guitars from the same factory have those subtle differances. The value on them isnt tremendous or anything but they are in big demand right now because they are very high quality guitars for a fair price. So obviously that means they will continue to increase in value. Especially in the good condition yours is in. I wish I had a camera to show you some pics. It is my favorite guitar no matter what others have come and gone.

March 31st, 2008, 01:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
Caffeine Patrol Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 293	I have the same model as yours and it is my favorite Tele of all time. The PUs are low output but they sound fantastic. I replaced the switch and sanded the finish off the back of the neck but otherwise, no changes. Check out the latest Fretboard Journal. There's a picture of John Jorgenson playing his with the DRB; he says he preferred it to his '50s Tele ('53, I think). Not a bad endorsement!

March 31st, 2008, 08:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
superbadj Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: roanoke, va Age: 34 Posts: 353	Oh, it has a few nicks and what-not, but it's generally in good shape. And yeah, it plays great. I like the way these pups sound, actually, but I've really not played a ton of other Teles, so that might be part of it. Little to compare it to.