Not a bad lookin' 52 tele - blast from the past

[poorplayer]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1952-Fender-Tele...QQcmdZViewItem

Asking too much dough but looks like a nice straight guitar.

[Elliot Easton]

You really think he's asking too much? I would think that the price is in line with today's market, but who knows-I guess it's worth whatever someone's willing to pay...

[ehawley]

Nice guitar...but the man never played past the 9th fret??!!

[Stuco]

Originally Posted by ehawley

Nice guitar...but the man never played past the 9th fret??!!

How do you know? Just because he didn't wear out the fretbard all the way up doesn't mean he didn't play up the neck.

This is a very nice example. Looks like it's been cleaned thoroughly, I bet some of that surface rust will come back within weeks of now.

[poorplayer]

Originally Posted by Elliot Easton

You really think he's asking too much? I would think that the price is in line with today's market,

I am one who believes that price is incredibly sensitive to condition. I think the condition is about a 7.5-8.0 area but impossible to tell by pics alone. I call these kind of vintage guitars "80 year old women". They're beautiful and tell stories with their faces, but they're old, and world weary. There's lots of darkening on the top, the back is very light relative to the top, especially under the right arm, lots of heavy checking, some scratches, moderate finger board wear, wear to the back of the neck, pickguard where, raw edges especially in the cutaway of the body, apparently some decals or plaques were attached on the top at one point as seen under the blacklight - I think it looks absolutely stunning! And it's a miracle to see one that's been used for a long time but never messed with. That guitar looks really straight to my eyes. I would cautiously call it 100% (which is something I would never say normally).

But honestly. this guitar might fetch 45k at this time next year. When we went from 30k to 60k in blackguards in the matter of 6 months from end of 2005 to mid 2006, I think it was overdone, and that it will be entirely erased.

[bastardbus]

WOW, what a stunningly beautiful example of a `52. I think when most of us dream of finding an old tele that a friend's uncle has stashed under the bed for 50 years, this is what we imagine!

For me this guitar is something special as well, I am from Toledo Ohio and actually took some of my first guitar lesson at Durdell's in the early `80s.
The great thing is Durdell's is STILL in business and selling Fenders to this day. I bought my `57 RI strat there new in `85 as well as a `62 RI strat in
`87 a musicman Sting Ray bass in about `88-`89. Most of my early guitars are long gone except the `57 which I will probably be buried with, I gigged 5 nights a week for 10 years straight in my 20's with this strat, she is worn and beat and I am holding her right now, I think my wife would go before this old girl...

Anyway...great to see a Vintage Tele from my home town and especially from one of the last "old school" music shops that is still around!
I will have to forward this thread to Fred over at Durdell's they will get a kick out of it.

[blue metalflake]

Lovely looking guitar, great photos, but I just don't get the price. Is this really what the market says?

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by poorplayer

But honestly. this guitar might fetch 45k at this time next year. When we went from 30k to 60k in blackguards in the matter of 6 months from end of 2005 to mid 2006, I think it was overdone, and that it will be entirely erased.

You may be right, but I fear not. I mean, they don't make'm anymore - the originals that is ... and this is a rather clean example.

Beautiful anyway ...

[jhundt]

Nice guitar...but the man never played past the 9th fret??!!

neither do I !

I always wondered why they bothered with all those little frets way up there...

That is a fine looking guitar!

[austintele]

That's just perfect for me; not too beat, a little weight to it, and the blend circuit.

Boy, do I want that guitar!

[Big John]

Originally Posted by ehawley

Nice guitar...but the man never played past the 9th fret??!!

I'm guessing he did, looking at the wear on the inside of that lower bout.

Interesting to see how different the jack cup holder looks on that too, seems much thicker than later ones.

[Stevie 202]

The wiring looks interesting. I'm wondering about the switch; it seems to have a cap and a resistor soldered to it. What's up w/that?

[mowcheeba]

Man, that is one great looking guitar.

[Colt W. Knight]

fantastic tele, but I cant see why anyone would pay that much for a guitar.

[Ron Garson]

Stevie 202, the wiring is the old Broadcaster blend circuit, so that's why that resistor is on the switch.

Beautiful guitar!

[ehawley]

Originally Posted by Stuco

How do you know? Just because he didn't wear out the fretbard all the way up doesn't mean he didn't play up the neck.

Fair enough...But if you look at the UV pictures he didn't play MUCH up there There is really no wear past the 9th. It IS one beautiful guitar!

Originally Posted by Big John

I'm guessing he did, looking at the wear on the inside of that lower bout.

Hmm..That to me looks like the classic wear pattern of a player who, when he stops playing and drops his fingering hand, supports the guitar by holding it around the front of the neck . Your pinky and ring finger rub that area. More so someone who sits when he playes, as the pictures show. Also, a rhythm player who plucks high on the neck without a pick,only using his thumb, will wear that area out real fast. Try it. In both instances your thumb and ring finger of your picking hand(or support hand) will rub against that section of the bout. Playing high on the neck ,I don't think you will hit the bout area that much because that would hinder the action of your pinky. And that's what you need to hit the real high ones! I could be wrong, as I usually am , but that's what I think.
All in all it is one fine example of a 52!!
Cheers
ED

[Jellecaster]

I want that guitar more than anything I can think of!!!!

[TerryOz]

This is just beautiful, I can't get over some of the threads here that knock this guitar! Sure it is a heavy price tag, but that is just how it is and has been for a while...Just go and get the mortgage "massaged" and get it over with!

[russ]

Since I'm not looking to buy right now, the price doesn't matter to me.
I do think that is really nice Tele.

*Added later*
Although this is one of Fender's other models, it has similar neck wear to the Tele being dicussed.
I personally guarantee that this guitar has been played above the 9th fret...alot!

[axe-me-vintage]

Hello all.I just joined because I saw this thread about my 52 Telecaster.
Thought I'd clear up a few things.
Firstly as to the guitar being given a thorough cleaning and that the surface rust will reappear in weeks.This is pretty much the way I received the guitar.I did not clean any metal parts.I used a bit of Dunlop 65 guitar polish on it before I took the pictures.
It is 100% original.
The original owner was a rhythm player and I don't imagine he played past the ninth fret.He did not play it after about 1982,as he switched to exclusively acoustic.
The 52 Deluxe you see in this photo is part of the set I bought from his son and widow,they were both bought the same day.
I am keeping the Deluxe because it is killer.
The price is what it is,a good conversation piece.
I'm glad you like it.
Laurence

a

[Colt W. Knight]

All the wear on my necks are the first three frets because I hold the neck different for cowboy chords. When I play open chords I have a death grip and my fingers are perpendicular to the strings. That causes my fingernails to dig into the fret boards. When I move from cowboy chord position up the neck I release the death grip and play delicately. Instead of gripping the neck, I move my thumb to the center of the bottom so I have support for barre chords, and my finger are angled when I fret. Therefore, I dont really get into the fret board.
Anyone else have a similiar explanation for the wear on their fretboards?

[dobrodoc]

Phillips screws in the control plate?

[axe-me-vintage]

Originally Posted by dobrodoc

Phillips screws in the control plate?

Yes there are phillips in the control plate,the end pins and the bridge plate mounting screws.All others are flathead.

I just read the rules on commercial posts and I hope I'm not perceived as promoting an item.I just thought I'd respond to a few observations.

Laurence

[ehawley]

Axe-me-vintage...That is one beautiful guitar! anymore history you can give will really be appreciated!
Welcome to the TDPRI! Sounds like you have been watching here for awhile. Looks like you have a few more sitting behind you in the picture. Any other vintage guitars and history you would like to share?
Again, welcome!
Cheers
ED

[axe-me-vintage]

Originally Posted by ehawley

Axe-me-vintage...That is one beautiful guitar! anymore history you can give will really be appreciated!
Welcome to the TDPRI! Sounds like you have been watching here for awhile. Looks like you have a few more sitting behind you in the picture. Any other vintage guitars and history you would like to share?
Again, welcome!
Cheers
ED

Hi and thanks.No I haven't been here much before.I came a couple of times to link to some old Esquire wiring diagrams.

I have talked a lot with the owners stepson who only knew him for the last 30 years of his life.
He still has a whack of stuff I'm trying to coax out of his hands.But he is busy and guitars and amps don't mean a lot to him.

Richie the original owner,was more of an acoustic player.Poorplayer mentioned some marks that are visible under the blacklight that he thought may have been decals.I don't think so.The big spot on the pickguard is just lacquer wear and the 2 squarish spots above the guard are I think from a strap buckle resting on the guitar in the case for many years.

I do have many guitars and amps.The biggest ticket item is a 63 Burgundy Mist Strat with a tortoise guard.Near Mint and the best guitar I have ever played.I actually take it to bed with me every night and play for an hour.I've been doing that for the 5 years I've had it.