Current Production MIM - 50s vs 60s

Tele_MEL · April 4th, 2008, 12:32 PM

Hi,

Since I can't find either in my market area to sample:

Is the ONLY difference in the current production MIM classic 50s versus the classic 60's - the body wood , fretboard and color offerings ( bodies / pickguards) ?

The current Fender site lists BOTH as : C shape neck, 7.25" radius, 21 vintage frets, same bridges and saddles, wiring etc.

50's - Ash body, Maple Fretboard and <colors: Black, White, Burst>
60's - Alder Body, Rosewood Fretboard and <colors: Black, White CA Red>

So when I see posts recommending classic 60's versus classic 50s, seems then that the real differences that would <subjectively> affect playability or sound would be: fretboard and/or body wood.

* I gather that in the past, the real 50s and 60s's had different neck shapes, and <?> more?

Thanks,
Mark

PJ · April 4th, 2008, 02:45 PM

Yeah...I think the 50s & 60s series guitars have been "homogenized" a little. The neck profiles seem very similar, although the 60s feels more like the 70s RIs, just with rosewood, probably cloer to the 70s Custom rosewood neck. Different colors, pickguards and saddles. I think the rest, including the pickups are the same. There appear to be many common parts in the Mex Classic Series, across all models. That's not a bad thing though, since the parts are very good. CTS pots, CRL switches, decent tuners and bridges. I have had to replace some jacks in them, though - they seem to skimp on this part.

Telemarkman · April 4th, 2008, 03:10 PM

Biggest difference (besides the fretboard/body material) is the bridge pickup.

The 60's has staggered pole pieces while the 50's has flush ones. (This makes a difference in tone).

Also the 60's has threaded saddles. (Makes no difference, I guess?).

Tele_MEL · April 4th, 2008, 03:48 PM

Interesting,

look more closely at the spec page of the two guitars - if I'm to parse meaning into every word:

Neck:
Both list " C " shape neck as the neck profile.
but the 50's - Special Features says: " C shape neck"
- and that's not noted in the 60s's special features.. .. so that does suggest the C shape is slightly different than the 60's <?> , or maybe it's just different that the original 50's.

Pickups:
The 50's says " 2 Vintage Single Coil Pickups "
where the 60's says " 2 Single Coil pickups " .
Telemarkman notes the staggered pole pieces in the 60's (and a sonic difference!) - so the two DO have different pickups!

Sorry to bang on every little detail, but since I can't put my hands on EITHER.. I have to try and make a decision off just gathering these details from the crazy knowledge rich folks here at TDPRI !

M

.

Telemarkman · April 4th, 2008, 04:04 PM

Regarding neck profiles, a lot of folks here characterize the 50's neck as being a U-neck. And it certainly has a bit more shoulders than the 60's neck. It's also a bit deeper at the first frets, but at the 12th fret there's no measureable difference. (Yes, I have measured them).

But ...... as with most things Fender make, there are variations. My 50's neck even had a very soft V-profile at the first frets.

The 60's neck is what I'd call a "classic" C-neck - slim, without being thin.

Mark Davis · April 4th, 2008, 04:24 PM

50's Classic

U shaped neck all maple 7.25 radius vintage frets
Ash body
steel saddles
CTS 250k pots
ping tuners
flat poles on bridge pickup.

60's Classic

C shaped neck maple/rosewood 7.25 radius vintage frets
Alder body
threaded steel saddles
CTS 250k pots
ping tuners
staggard poles on bridge pickup.

Both models have the same neck pickup.

They sound quite a bit different from each other with the 60's sounding the best on a stock instrument.

Mark Davis · April 4th, 2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

Regarding neck profiles, a lot of folks here characterize the 50's neck as being a U-neck. And it certainly has a bit more shoulders than the 60's neck. It's also a bit deeper at the first frets, but at the 12th fret there's no measureable difference. (Yes, I have measured them).

But ...... as with most things Fender make, there are variations. My 50's neck even had a very soft V-profile at the first frets.

The 60's neck is what I'd call a "classic" C-neck - slim, without being thin.

One of my 50's Classics was a sorta U soft v as you described and the other was a U with no hint of a V shape.

The MIM 60's Classic is real close to an original neck feel its bigger than the USA 62ri Teles.

April 4th, 2008, 12:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tele_MEL Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hillsboro, OR Age: 52 Posts: 139 1 Photos	Current Production MIM - 50s vs 60s Hi, Since I can't find either in my market area to sample: Is the ONLY difference in the current production MIM classic 50s versus the classic 60's - the body wood , fretboard and color offerings ( bodies / pickguards) ? The current Fender site lists BOTH as : C shape neck, 7.25" radius, 21 vintage frets, same bridges and saddles, wiring etc. 50's - Ash body, Maple Fretboard and <colors: Black, White, Burst> 60's - Alder Body, Rosewood Fretboard and <colors: Black, White CA Red> So when I see posts recommending classic 60's versus classic 50s, seems then that the real differences that would <subjectively> affect playability or sound would be: fretboard and/or body wood. * I gather that in the past, the real 50s and 60s's had different neck shapes, and <?> more? Thanks, Mark

April 4th, 2008, 02:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,077 4 Photos	Yeah...I think the 50s & 60s series guitars have been "homogenized" a little. The neck profiles seem very similar, although the 60s feels more like the 70s RIs, just with rosewood, probably cloer to the 70s Custom rosewood neck. Different colors, pickguards and saddles. I think the rest, including the pickups are the same. There appear to be many common parts in the Mex Classic Series, across all models. That's not a bad thing though, since the parts are very good. CTS pots, CRL switches, decent tuners and bridges. I have had to replace some jacks in them, though - they seem to skimp on this part. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 4th, 2008, 04:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,855	50's Classic U shaped neck all maple 7.25 radius vintage frets Ash body steel saddles CTS 250k pots ping tuners flat poles on bridge pickup. 60's Classic C shaped neck maple/rosewood 7.25 radius vintage frets Alder body threaded steel saddles CTS 250k pots ping tuners staggard poles on bridge pickup. Both models have the same neck pickup. They sound quite a bit different from each other with the 60's sounding the best on a stock instrument. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

April 4th, 2008, 03:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Telemarkman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 61 Posts: 4,719	Biggest difference (besides the fretboard/body material) is the bridge pickup. The 60's has staggered pole pieces while the 50's has flush ones. (This makes a difference in tone). Also the 60's has threaded saddles. (Makes no difference, I guess?).

April 4th, 2008, 03:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tele_MEL Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hillsboro, OR Age: 52 Posts: 139 1 Photos	Interesting, look more closely at the spec page of the two guitars - if I'm to parse meaning into every word: Neck: Both list " C " shape neck as the neck profile. but the 50's - Special Features says: " C shape neck" - and that's not noted in the 60s's special features.. .. so that does suggest the C shape is slightly different than the 60's <?> , or maybe it's just different that the original 50's. Pickups: The 50's says " 2 Vintage Single Coil Pickups " where the 60's says " 2 Single Coil pickups " . Telemarkman notes the staggered pole pieces in the 60's (and a sonic difference!) - so the two DO have different pickups! Sorry to bang on every little detail, but since I can't put my hands on EITHER.. I have to try and make a decision off just gathering these details from the crazy knowledge rich folks here at TDPRI ! M .

April 4th, 2008, 04:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Telemarkman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 61 Posts: 4,719	Regarding neck profiles, a lot of folks here characterize the 50's neck as being a U-neck. And it certainly has a bit more shoulders than the 60's neck. It's also a bit deeper at the first frets, but at the 12th fret there's no measureable difference. (Yes, I have measured them). But ...... as with most things Fender make, there are variations. My 50's neck even had a very soft V-profile at the first frets. The 60's neck is what I'd call a "classic" C-neck - slim, without being thin.