Question about 50's classic reissues

jdfoosh357 · May 18th, 2005, 01:42 PM

Do the 50's classic reissue teles have "C" or "U" shaped necks? I've seen them advertised with both types all over the internet.

Thanks.

Fatmanstratman · May 18th, 2005, 02:13 PM

I've always understood them to have the 'C' shape, and that's how they feel.

According to Fender http://www.fender.com/products/view_...50s+Telecaster that's how they are specified.....

maestrovert · May 18th, 2005, 02:24 PM

Heya !
my '50's Classic has a "U", definitely. My '52 RI has a "U" also...they're quite close in feel.

Recently a local shop i was in had a '50's Classic and a '50's Esquire...both have "U" necks...i had my Nashville along to check on a refret, it has a "C"....direct comparison.

Jean-Baptiste · May 18th, 2005, 02:25 PM

Got a Mexican made '69RI with a fantastic neck. Can't put a 'letter' on it but it's fat'n'comfy. Last time this came up I upset a few souls by saying that it feels practically identical to the current production American made 52RI at a fraction of the price.

Outside of the poly finish, the narrow frets, 7 1/2" radius and 'clubby' profile feel very similar to me.

I'm not sure, but I think that all the one piece maple necks in the Mexican vintage reissue series differ only in headstock decal style.
jb

maestrovert · May 18th, 2005, 03:38 PM

seeing's as Fender is curtailling individual sales of the '52 RI spec replacement necks, i wonder if they're "using 'em up" by putting 'em on the '50's Classic series ?
yes, the official published spec is for a "C" contour, but mine and the other '50's Classics i've seen recently definitely have "U" contours......now, i'm no Ole Fuzzy or a Nacho, but i DO know a U from a V from a C, when i'm a - b - c - ing 'em side by side....

opinion on this theory ?

moonshiner · May 18th, 2005, 04:04 PM

I would have to say mine is a U but nearly a V... mostly a U though...

bagpipe · May 18th, 2005, 04:36 PM

But the "C" shape is not the same as the "modern C" shape which Fender uses on the American Series and Highway 1s, right? I understood the "modern C" to be not as thick as the "C" shape. Is that correct?

Mark Davis · May 18th, 2005, 04:45 PM

Fender makes some typos on their site for years the 50's Classic was advertised as having a V neck.

I have owned 2 of them and played about 20-25 different ones.

I would call it a U neck one of mine had the slightest v feel but not really enough to call it a V neck.

A true C neck has rounded sides a U neck has less rounded and taller shoulders.

Here is a chart from warmoth that shows lots of different neck ptofiles they are all very different in feel.

Jean-Baptiste · May 18th, 2005, 06:15 PM

Hey Mark - thanks for posting that diagram! It's goin' in the archives for sure. A question - I've never laid my hand on a 'Jeff Beck' neck, but have heard that its humungous. Would it correspond to the fatback? Bigger? I got real small hands, but as far as I'm concerned, they can't make 'em too fat. This is not some macho thing like the big strings, my hand has always cramped up on those modern skinny necks.
jb

Mark Davis · May 18th, 2005, 06:36 PM

The Jeff Beck is bigger than the fatback its unplayable almost. Its the biggest neck Fender has ever made, on the newer ones they have a smaller neck Fender got so many complaints they changed it.

Jean-Baptiste · May 18th, 2005, 10:34 PM

Thanks Mark,

another GAS attack nipped in the bud.
jb

Essex Boy · May 19th, 2005, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

The Jeff Beck is bigger than the fatback its unplayable almost. Its the biggest neck Fender has ever made, on the newer ones they have a smaller neck Fender got so many complaints they changed it.

I actually liked the neck on that thing hehe.

shakedancer · May 20th, 2005, 02:45 PM

If they are putting the necks on 50's classic, scoop one up. The replacement necks are far superior in workmanship to the regular necks. They are custom shop quality.

maestrovert · May 23rd, 2005, 03:00 PM

i just did....though i don't really like the circumstances...

some kid was in the store over the weekend.....played lotsa guitars, bunged up a quite few as i understand it.....he pulled the '50's Classic from a floor stand, and when he was done, he tried to hang it on the wall, top tier....
yep, you guessed it.....it came crashin' down..... there's a couple of BIG pieces of the finish missing and some smaller ones as well, the strap button's now almost 1/4" recessed into the body, and there's huge scratches on the top and back too....it gets even better than that guys.........in the process it dropped and damaged a Customer's PRS on consignment......

anyways, i got it for a couple hundred....figuring that i'm gonna use the neck and Pups to assemble my latest DeLacugo Sparklecaster.....

some people's children.......

nopedals · May 23rd, 2005, 03:19 PM

My MIM esquire has a U feel to it. The edges are a bit sharper than I would associate with a 51RI.

nopedals · May 23rd, 2005, 03:21 PM

I mean "52RI"

May 18th, 2005, 01:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
jdfoosh357 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 566	Question about 50's classic reissues Do the 50's classic reissue teles have "C" or "U" shaped necks? I've seen them advertised with both types all over the internet. Thanks.

May 18th, 2005, 02:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fatmanstratman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fatmanville, Cambs., UK Posts: 2,933	C..... I've always understood them to have the 'C' shape, and that's how they feel. According to Fender http://www.fender.com/products/view_...50s+Telecaster that's how they are specified..... __________________ . . . *"Behind every argument is someone's ignorance."*

May 18th, 2005, 02:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,553	re: neck contours Heya ! my '50's Classic has a "U", definitely. My '52 RI has a "U" also...they're quite close in feel. Recently a local shop i was in had a '50's Classic and a '50's Esquire...both have "U" necks...i had my Nashville along to check on a refret, it has a "C"....direct comparison. __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 18th, 2005, 03:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,553	hmmmm.....perhaps..... seeing's as Fender is curtailling individual sales of the '52 RI spec replacement necks, i wonder if they're "using 'em up" by putting 'em on the '50's Classic series ? yes, the official published spec is for a "C" contour, but mine and the other '50's Classics i've seen recently definitely have "U" contours......now, i'm no Ole Fuzzy or a Nacho, but i DO know a U from a V from a C, when i'm a - b - c - ing 'em side by side.... opinion on this theory ? __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 18th, 2005, 04:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,171	I would have to say mine is a U but nearly a V... mostly a U though... __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

May 18th, 2005, 02:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jean-Baptiste Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 633	Got a Mexican made '69RI with a fantastic neck. Can't put a 'letter' on it but it's fat'n'comfy. Last time this came up I upset a few souls by saying that it feels practically identical to the current production American made 52RI at a fraction of the price. Outside of the poly finish, the narrow frets, 7 1/2" radius and 'clubby' profile feel very similar to me. I'm not sure, but I think that all the one piece maple necks in the Mexican vintage reissue series differ only in headstock decal style. jb

May 18th, 2005, 04:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
bagpipe Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 235	But the "C" shape is not the same as the "modern C" shape which Fender uses on the American Series and Highway 1s, right? I understood the "modern C" to be not as thick as the "C" shape. Is that correct?

May 18th, 2005, 04:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	Fender makes some typos on their site for years the 50's Classic was advertised as having a V neck. I have owned 2 of them and played about 20-25 different ones. I would call it a U neck one of mine had the slightest v feel but not really enough to call it a V neck. A true C neck has rounded sides a U neck has less rounded and taller shoulders. Here is a chart from warmoth that shows lots of different neck ptofiles they are all very different in feel.

May 18th, 2005, 06:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jean-Baptiste Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 633	Hey Mark - thanks for posting that diagram! It's goin' in the archives for sure. A question - I've never laid my hand on a 'Jeff Beck' neck, but have heard that its humungous. Would it correspond to the fatback? Bigger? I got real small hands, but as far as I'm concerned, they can't make 'em too fat. This is not some macho thing like the big strings, my hand has always cramped up on those modern skinny necks. jb

May 18th, 2005, 06:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	The Jeff Beck is bigger than the fatback its unplayable almost. Its the biggest neck Fender has ever made, on the newer ones they have a smaller neck Fender got so many complaints they changed it.

May 18th, 2005, 10:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Jean-Baptiste Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 633	Thanks Mark, another GAS attack nipped in the bud. jb

May 20th, 2005, 02:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
shakedancer Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: north of Boston Posts: 1,634	maestovert If they are putting the necks on 50's classic, scoop one up. The replacement necks are far superior in workmanship to the regular necks. They are custom shop quality. __________________ "If you don't like the Blues, you got to have a Hole in your Soul." Luther Allison JOE

May 23rd, 2005, 03:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,553	yessiree i just did....though i don't really like the circumstances... some kid was in the store over the weekend.....played lotsa guitars, bunged up a quite few as i understand it.....he pulled the '50's Classic from a floor stand, and when he was done, he tried to hang it on the wall, top tier.... yep, you guessed it.....it came crashin' down..... there's a couple of BIG pieces of the finish missing and some smaller ones as well, the strap button's now almost 1/4" recessed into the body, and there's huge scratches on the top and back too....it gets even better than that guys.........in the process it dropped and damaged a Customer's PRS on consignment...... anyways, i got it for a couple hundred....figuring that i'm gonna use the neck and Pups to assemble my latest DeLacugo Sparklecaster..... some people's children....... __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 23rd, 2005, 03:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
nopedals Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 152	I think they are MIM necks My MIM esquire has a U feel to it. The edges are a bit sharper than I would associate with a 51RI.

May 23rd, 2005, 03:21 PM	#16 (permalink)
nopedals Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 152	oops I mean "52RI"