MIJ price check on Isle 1...

[awfulguitarnois]

I'm curious about a fair price for a MIJ 52 RI in good shape? I've done a good bit of research, but can't find a good idea.

Thanks!

[sneakyjapan]

you need to tell us when it was made and the model number, and if you`re doing a search on MIJ reissues maybe nothing is coming up because they don`t call em reissues here.

[Mark Davis]

As Sneaky said no such of a thing as a MIJ/CIJ 52ri.

We have both been preaching this for years.

The only guitars called the 52ri are the USA Vintage 52 reissue and the Custom Shop versions thats it.

The MIJ's are refered to as the 50's style or the collectable series or many other names but not the 52ri.

[awfulguitarnois]

Thanks, I re-read my post and found I left out some vital info. It's an 'O' sn, which I think means 93-94 year, and I assumed 52 RI but it must just be a 50's style. Sorry to have been vague, and thanks for any info.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by awfulguitarnois

I'm curious about a fair price for a MIJ 52 RI in good shape? I've done a good bit of research, but can't find a good idea.

Thanks!

We need to see the neck pocket or know what model it is like the TL52-80tx.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by awfulguitarnois

Thanks, I re-read my post and found I left out some vital info. It's an 'O' sn, which I think means 93-94 year, and I assumed 52 RI but it must just be a 50's style. Sorry to have been vague, and thanks for any info.

DO you have a pic of it?

BTW any friend of zappa is a friend of mine didnt mean to rake you over the coals for calling them a 52ri LOL.

[awfulguitarnois]

Mark, no problem, I need to learn this stuff, and I appreciate the help because I really don't know anything at this point. I have a few small pics:

[Mark Davis]

That looks great.

Id pay $500-650 for one of those all day long.

If its got slot head screws like a 52ri does then its probably one of the higher priced models and not a TL48 or one of the real low end ones.

That really looks nice.

[ayetee]

...but this is taken from a page of 1992 "Guitar Magazine". It referred the US 52 Reissue as "Vintage Series" and the MIJ Teles as "Reissues of the '50's Telecaster, '60 Custom and '69 Telecaster Thinline."

[Mark Davis]

Thats correct they are reissues in apperance but in Japan they never tagged one or called one a 52ri as that is a USA model.

Just as the magazine said they were called 50's Telecaster, '60 Custom and '69 Telecaster Thinline but not 52ri.

Fenders actual name is American Vintage ‘52 Telecaster® we commonly refer to them as 52ri's since is says American in the name thats what it is a USA model.

[sneakyjapan]

yeah theres a difference between what they are and what they are called, especially outside Japan...we went through this, again, last time somebody posted about the TLG-70P, which overseas has become known as the 50th anniversary, even though there were made for 2 or 3 years. So people frequently call MIJ reissues even though I`ve never seen nor heard of any models called that by Fender Japan, but hey, I`ve been wrong before and will be again, no, really. If you have the guitar you can probably answer the questions yourself by looking at the markings in the neck pocket, if you don`t have the guitar ask the seller to pop the neck off, not like he`d need a degree in engineering to do that...if he knows how to operate a screwdriver he`s golden. As someone who occasionally sells guitars myself, I always take pics of neck pockets and neck butts, just leaves no doubt about the model.
The guitar looks nice but I can`t see if it`s Made in Japan or Crafted in Japan or what the serial number is...and the A number on the bridge will not give you a date, so don`t fall for that pitch.

[Mark Davis]

Sneaky he said it was an O serial # in an eariler post.

Which would make it a 93-94 if its an MIJ or a 1997-2000 if its a Crafted.

It looks so new its probably a Crafted but hard to say without seeing better pics.

[sneakyjapan]

so he did, missed it.

[awfulguitarnois]

Thanks for all the great info. Mark, when you say slot head screws, which screws are you talking about? My ignorance is hanging out but I want to be sure I understand and can maybe get more pictures.

[KevinB]

Look at all the screws - bridge, neck, etc. They will be either slot heads or Philips heads. Also, if you have access to the guitar, pop the neck off and look at what is written in the neck pocket.

[yegbert]

What some folks call a '52 RI that's made in the US, Fender names the American Vintage ‘52 Telecaster®. It appears to me that Fender doesn't use the term reissue or its abbreviation RI in naming this or any other model. Did Fender ever use the term reissue in its marketing? I don't know.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by yegbert

What some folks call a '52 RI that's made in the US, Fender names the American Vintage ‘52 Telecaster®. It appears to me that Fender doesn't use the term reissue or its abbreviation RI in naming this or any other model. Did Fender ever use the term reissue in its marketing? I don't know.

I dont think Fender themself has ever refered to them as 52ri's in print they just call them the American Vintage.

But the 52ri term is sorta like saying hey get me a coke at the store when the real name is coca cola or when walkman type portable cassette players came out Sony was the only company they really made a walkman but all the other devices made by other compaines ended up getting called walkmans also.

Its the name game! LOL

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by awfulguitarnois

Thanks for all the great info. Mark, when you say slot head screws, which screws are you talking about? My ignorance is hanging out but I want to be sure I understand and can maybe get more pictures.

Slot head screws look like this _ phillips look like this +.

I cant tell from your pics what kind they are.

[awfulguitarnois]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Slot head screws look like this _ phillips look like this +.

LOL! I know what phillips head screws look like, I just wasn't sure where on the guitar those screws should be (neckplate, bridge, control plate, etc...)! I've been looking closely at the pictures again, and they look like phillips... I asked for more pictures, so we'll see.

Thanks again so much for the assistance.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by awfulguitarnois

LOL! I know what phillips head screws look like, I just wasn't sure where on the guitar those screws should be (neckplate, bridge, control plate, etc...)! I've been looking closely at the pictures again, and they look like phillips... I asked for more pictures, so we'll see.

Thanks again so much for the assistance.

I thought you already had the guitar. If you havent bought it yet have them remove the neck and get pics of the back of the neck so we can see the serial # and tell if its crafted or made in japan and the markings in the neck pocket can give us clues on what the guitar cost when new.

The actual date also might be written on the neck too.

[sneakyjapan]

as well as the model number.

[TDPRI]

People selling the $500 MIJ 50's Classics are ALWAYS listing them as MIJ '52 Reissues. And, most sellers will wrestle you to the ground if you try to disabuse them of it.

However, every time I remind folks that there are no MIJ 52 Reissues people rightly point out that FJ made and still makes Teles that are for the Japanese market only that are the equivilant of a '52 Reissue. And some of those do get self-imported to the US. So, in some limited cases calling these guitars a MIJ 52 Reissue could be fairly accurate.

You just don't see those all that often.

[ayetee]

Originally Posted by TDPRI

People selling the $500 MIJ 50's Classics are ALWAYS listing them as MIJ '52 Reissues. And, most sellers will wrestle you to the ground if you try to disabuse them of it.

However, every time I remind folks that there are no MIJ 52 Reissues people rightly point out that FJ made and still makes Teles that are for the Japanese market only that are the equivilant of a '52 Reissue. And some of those do get self-imported to the US. So, in some limited cases calling these guitars a MIJ 52 Reissue could be fairly accurate.

You just don't see those all that often.

The MIJ/CIJ product code of TL52-xx would refer to which model then? ...the MIJ 50's Classics? ...or the "MIJ '52 Reissue"?

Another thought: if Fender never called the American Vintage "reissue", then who decided that "only" American Vintage can be called "Reissue"?

[Mark Davis]

It all depends on how nit picky you wanna get.

The MIJ-CIJ's arent refered to as 50's Classics that name belongs to the 50's Classic MIM Telecaster.

But Fender itself calls them the 50's Telecaster in the classic series.

Fun huh? LOL

Model Name ‘50s Telecaster®
Model Number 013-1202-(Color #)
Series Classic Series
Colors (301) White Blonde,
(303) 2-Color Sunburst,
(306) Black,
(Polyester Finish)
Body Ash


So what we all call things on these guitar forums might or might not be completly correct as long as we all know what they other person is talking about.

The way I see it is when someone says 50's-60's Classic thats an MIM Classic series Fender.

When someone says 52ri to me thats a USA made 52 reissue but Fender calls it the American Vintage 52.

Its really the same thing as coke and coca cola same product called 2 different things.

But people will also call a Pepsi a coke but they dont call a root beer or Dr Pepper a coke.

Another subject the late great George Carlin would have fun with LOL.

[Mark Davis]

More fun with the name game.

There was never an offical Mary Kay Fender that was made in the 50's that name got tagged as vintage dealers saw a photo of Mary Kay playing a blonde Strat with gold hardware. But now if anyone says Mary Kay we expect to see a blonde guitar with gold hardware.

Same thing with the Nocaster. Fender itself never called them that in the 50's the vintage dealers tagged that name for the few ones made like a Broadcaster but with that name removed due to a lawsuit it didnt say Broadcaster or Telecaster so it became the Nocaster.

What if we just called all these Fenders by their actual model number?

Most people wouldnt have an idea that a 013-1202-301 is a White Blonde 50's Classic.

The 013 means its made in mexico the 1202 is the model mumber and the 301 is the color code for white blonde.


The American Vintage 52 what we call the 52ri is 010-0202-850

The 010 means its made in the USA the 0202 is the model number and the 850 is the color code for Butterscotch.

From 1982-1998 the 52ri was called the 010-1303-850

Id be fine with everyone calling them by the actual model number cause I know them all but I think that would lead to even more confusion. LOL

[surfoverb]

I always say 52RI, if you say "check out my 52 Tele!" The first question will be, "Is that a real 52?"

[ayetee]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

It all depends on how nit picky you wanna get.

The MIJ-CIJ's arent refered to as 50's Classics that name belongs to the 50's Classic MIM Telecaster.

But Fender itself calls them the 50's Telecaster in the classic series.

Fun huh? LOL

Model Name ‘50s Telecaster®
Model Number 013-1202-(Color #)
Series Classic Series
Colors (301) White Blonde,
(303) 2-Color Sunburst,
(306) Black,
(Polyester Finish)
Body Ash


So what we all call things on these guitar forums might or might not be completly correct as long as we all know what they other person is talking about.

The way I see it is when someone says 50's-60's Classic thats an MIM Classic series Fender.

When someone says 52ri to me thats a USA made 52 reissue but Fender calls it the American Vintage 52.

Its really the same thing as coke and coca cola same product called 2 different things.

But people will also call a Pepsi a coke but they dont call a root beer or Dr Pepper a coke.

Another subject the late great George Carlin would have fun with LOL.

I'm not trying to be nit picky, though I might have sounded so. I'm new with this and was just trying to find out what is the proper, or accepted name to call my TL52-TX as shown here: http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/fender/...telecaster.htm

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by ayetee

I'm not trying to be nit picky, though I might have sounded so. I'm new with this and was just trying to find out what is the proper, or accepted name to call my TL52-TX as shown here: http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/fender/...telecaster.htm

I think its just a 52 with texas special pickups

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by ayetee

I'm not trying to be nit picky, though I might have sounded so. I'm new with this and was just trying to find out what is the proper, or accepted name to call my TL52-TX as shown here: http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/fender/...telecaster.htm

I just call it a TL52-TX.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by yegbert

I just call it a TL52-TX.

Me too if someone says that I know exactly what they are talking about.

[Geo]

I'm curious about a fair price for a MIJ 52 RI in good shape? I've
done a good bit of research, but can't find a good idea.

There is one on the Nashville Craigslist for $600 OBO. It is listed as a
'62 MIJ RI but it is actually a '50s style model.

[ayetee]

I seem to remember that Sneakyjapan attracted some flak when he suggested that what we usually call "90's Custom" should be referred as TLG70P. The opinion here was that a product code doesn't do as well a job as a proper name. So I guess TL52-TX is different.

Here's the thread:
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...hat-model.html

[sneakyjapan]

yeah I`ve seen that one called the anniversary model too, personally I don`t have much trouble remembering the TLG70P, it`s shorter than telephone numbers that most people seem to have no problem remembering. Whatever, thats one FJ model that just doesn`t appeal to me.
In 2008 they began to call it the TL62B-TX...until last year they always had the retail price worked into the model number, in 2007 it was called the TL62-82TX meaning it sold for 82,ooo yen...perhaps when they raised prices it caused some trouble because it no longer met the catalog price, they probably didn`t want to have to print a new catalog every time prices went up, now they`ve solved that by elimnating the retail price　in the model number so they can raise the prices `til the cows come home and not worry about that. In 2007 it retailed for 82,ooo yen...in 2008 it went for 94,5oo yen...the Bigsby model is now well over $1000.oo...sorry but I refuse to pay that much for any Japanese Fender, we`re into used Van Zandt territory at that price and personally if I`m gonna spend that much it`s going to be on a Van Zandt which are in a completely different league.