can you make a 50s tele into a '52?

capt pearl · April 3rd, 2008, 04:59 PM

The MIM 50s teles seem well thought of. Almost all current Fender's have enuff poly to negate that issue. Pickup and electronics upgrades are pretty cheap.

So is an upgraded 50s the budget key to a new "vintage" tele for <$500?

Talk it over amongst yerselves (ourselves)...

-capt pearl

mowcheeba · April 3rd, 2008, 05:15 PM

I think an upgraded 50's Classic indeed can rival some of the AV 52RI but
a lot of them can't.
But it is definately a good way to get a budget "52RI" however it
would be in white blonde.

boris bubbanov · April 3rd, 2008, 06:52 PM

I can see changing out various parts to achieve a guitar best suited to your needs. No matter which model.
But the 50's Classic Tele ( and Esquire ) stands on its own. It doesn't need to be converted into a AV52 any more than a Av52 needs to be converted to a No-Caster.
To me this MIM white blonde finish is every bit as desirable as the Av52 color, and the finishes are durable + are most gig worthy, especially in sweltering conditions.
If by the time you are done modding your 50's Classic you've zoomed around and past a stock AV52, that would be perfectly understandable. If you want a AV52 and no more and no less, better to actually get one of those.

Mark Davis · April 3rd, 2008, 07:52 PM

Ive changed the pickups in both the 50's Classics Ive owned one of them got a 1953 Fender Lap steel pickup and the other got a dual coil 7k-13k pickup with oversized magnets. I made them both into Esquires.

They both sounded very good the one with the 53 pickup sounding the best.

Sounded as good as any 52ri or Nocaster ri Ive played.

As far as poly there is almost as much poly in a 52ri (except for the thninskins) as there is in a 50's Classic so that part makes zero difference.

Murphy Slaw · April 3rd, 2008, 08:10 PM

Yea, there are pictures somewhere in here where someone peeled pounds and pounds of poly off a 52RI. (man that is hard to read!

)

Anyhow. I agree.

Murph.

capt pearl · April 4th, 2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I can see changing out various parts to achieve a guitar best suited to your needs. No matter which model.
But the 50's Classic Tele ( and Esquire ) stands on its own. It doesn't need to be converted into a AV52 any more than a Av52 needs to be converted to a No-Caster.
To me this MIM white blonde finish is every bit as desirable as the Av52 color, and the finishes are durable + are most gig worthy, especially in sweltering conditions.
If by the time you are done modding your 50's Classic you've zoomed around and past a stock AV52, that would be perfectly understandable. If you want a AV52 and no more and no less, better to actually get one of those.

I'm of the opine that a tele was designed to be "a good basic" guitar. Not a knock so much as an observation. And that's a Good Thing.

And a lot of folks like a "classic tele", or there wouldn't be such a thing as reproductions. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, than Leo and the humble Tele, are much flattered.

I picked the 1952 model b/c that seems to be the default of "getting it right" and all others are to some degree subsets.

The factory can save a lot of coin by skimping on electronics and hardware. But ironically, this is where the informed consumer (and that's us TDPRI-ers)can affordably and significantly improve performance.

So I'm getting at/wondering is, if you want a "classic tele", one that feels like a good basic tele should, then a 50s with upgraded hardware and electronics should be a great "working man's" classic.

Or am I off base here.

gratzi,

-capt pearl

nosuch · April 4th, 2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt pearl

So I'm getting at/wondering is, if you want a "classic tele", one that feels like a good basic tele should, then a 50s with upgraded hardware and electronics should be a great "working man's" classic.

I wonder what upgrades you'd suggest?

surfoverb · April 4th, 2008, 10:44 AM

What about a MIJ 52? You can get one for around $700.

petebradt · April 4th, 2008, 11:21 AM

My CIJ 52RI is the best Tele I've ever laid hands on...for me. I've played old 0514 (When Bill had it), James Pennebaker's '52 (great guitar but I like mine better). Doesn't have the original pickups or electronics (I've actually worn out two sets of pots/switches), it's been re-fretted but it's still my workhorse, my "go-to" for almost everything but slide and the occasional foray into baritone. There's a used one in the Ishibashi UBox and if I needed another guitar I'd snap it up.

So someone else go snap it up so we can get it into the family.

April 3rd, 2008, 04:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
capt pearl Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 102	can you make a 50s tele into a '52? The MIM 50s teles seem well thought of. Almost all current Fender's have enuff poly to negate that issue. Pickup and electronics upgrades are pretty cheap. So is an upgraded 50s the budget key to a new "vintage" tele for <$500? Talk it over amongst yerselves (ourselves)... -capt pearl __________________ "Shoot low, Boys. They're riding shetland ponies..." -The Kung Pao Buckaroo

April 3rd, 2008, 06:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 8,539	I can see changing out various parts to achieve a guitar best suited to your needs. No matter which model. But the 50's Classic Tele ( and Esquire ) stands on its own. It doesn't need to be converted into a AV52 any more than a Av52 needs to be converted to a No-Caster. To me this MIM white blonde finish is every bit as desirable as the Av52 color, and the finishes are durable + are most gig worthy, especially in sweltering conditions. If by the time you are done modding your 50's Classic you've zoomed around and past a stock AV52, that would be perfectly understandable. If you want a AV52 and no more and no less, better to actually get one of those. __________________ Bubban0v

April 3rd, 2008, 07:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,856	Ive changed the pickups in both the 50's Classics Ive owned one of them got a 1953 Fender Lap steel pickup and the other got a dual coil 7k-13k pickup with oversized magnets. I made them both into Esquires. They both sounded very good the one with the 53 pickup sounding the best. Sounded as good as any 52ri or Nocaster ri Ive played. As far as poly there is almost as much poly in a 52ri (except for the thninskins) as there is in a 50's Classic so that part makes zero difference. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

April 3rd, 2008, 05:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
mowcheeba Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Norway/Sweden-Temporarily Age: 31 Posts: 720 48 Photos	I think an upgraded 50's Classic indeed can rival some of the AV 52RI but a lot of them can't. But it is definately a good way to get a budget "52RI" however it would be in white blonde.

April 3rd, 2008, 08:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Murphy Slaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Joppa, Il. Age: 50 Posts: 439	Yea, there are pictures somewhere in here where someone peeled pounds and pounds of poly off a 52RI. (man that is hard to read! ) Anyhow. I agree. Murph.

April 4th, 2008, 10:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,889	What about a MIJ 52? You can get one for around $700.

April 4th, 2008, 11:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
petebradt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Niner Country Posts: 3,433 12 Photos	My CIJ 52RI is the best Tele I've ever laid hands on...for me. I've played old 0514 (When Bill had it), James Pennebaker's '52 (great guitar but I like mine better). Doesn't have the original pickups or electronics (I've actually worn out two sets of pots/switches), it's been re-fretted but it's still my workhorse, my "go-to" for almost everything but slide and the occasional foray into baritone. There's a used one in the Ishibashi UBox and if I needed another guitar I'd snap it up. So someone else go snap it up so we can get it into the family.