Got to spend a few hours at a Fender Master dealer...

John E · August 11th, 2003, 11:43 AM

... on Friday. I know the guy that owns Ossining (you know, the home of Sing Sing prison

) Music Center.

Got to spend a few hours of quality time with some very cool pieces of Fender gear. I gotta say Im usually the first one to slam Fender gear but this stuff was making me eat my words...

Guitars:

69ri Thinline: This was my favorite, it was Shell pink! The bridge pup was just killing thru the Bassbreaker... Chimey and ballsy, clear with hair. I wanted to cry because it made my Nocaster pup in my thinline sound pathetic. Was it the amp? Anybody know what pups/pots/caps are in these things?
72ri Thinline: This was a very cool guitar, my 2nd favorite. Those Fender Humbuckers sound pretty good... I was very surprised.
72ri custom: Again, very impressed by the stock Fender buckers...
MIM Toronado: I actually dig these, very cool looking in black w/tortoise, wasn't enthralled with the "Atomic" HB's though. Still, it was useable, I might think about picking one up if it had the 25.5 inch scale.
ri Jaguar: I hated this thing... very dissappointing... I played an old Jaguar that was very cool a few months ago that I fell in love with, but this ri was clunky and didn't play or sound very good (to me).

Amps:

BF Tremolux:Beautiful, clean, great sounding example of a early 60's Head w/matching 2x12 cab... I'm surprised these amps don't get more raves... it was pretty killer
Bass Breaker:I don't know about anyone else, but this is far and away my favorite "current" Fender amp... it sounds so big and fat, I really love this amp. Every guitar I played thru it sounded good, especially the thinline ri's.

John E · August 11th, 2003, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John E

69ri Thinline: This was my favorite, it was Shell pink! The bridge pup was just killing thru the Bassbreaker... Chimey and ballsy, clear with hair. I wanted to cry because it made my Nocaster pup in my thinline sound pathetic. Was it the amp? Anybody know what pups/pots/caps are in these things?

I just answered my own question... the pickups in the 69 thinline are the same as in the MIM 50's! How can that be possible... I had a MIM 50's and the Bridge pup was uninspiring, to say the least.... doesn't even have a baseplate if I remember correctly... If anybody knows the pot and cap values on these things, please fill me in... they must be different than what's on the MIM 50's.

Mark Davis · August 11th, 2003, 05:48 PM

Didnt you have the pickups changed on your 50's Classic before you even played it?

As I remember you had a nocaster bridge and texas special put in the 50's Classic when you bought it new.

John E · August 11th, 2003, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Didnt you have the pickups changed on your 50's Classic before you even played it?

As I remember you had a nocaster bridge and texas special put in the 50's Classic when you bought it new.

Yeah I did, it was very stupid of me, I should've tried it stock first... the neck pickup smoked the Texas Special neck I put in there... when I sold the MIM 50 I put the stock pickups back in so I got to hear them. The neck was a good pickup (I remember you telling me that, before I even bought that guitar, I should've listened to you) and the bridge wasn't bad either... not great but useable. But it sounds totally different to me in the 69 thinline, nice highs and "hairy" for lack of a better term. If it had a little more bottom it would be perfect, the sound I've been looking for in a bridge pickup... do you know the pot and cap values? Actually I've since found out that the pots are 1meg, do you know what the caps are? Or do you think it was the amp(bassbreaker) that made it sound so good?

rebelern · August 11th, 2003, 07:32 PM

I researched stock pickups a while back,and the MIM 50's,60,s and the MIA Highway-1,all have the same neck(P/n 53678000) and bridge P/up(55216000)the 69 Thinline also has the same Neck fitment,but has a different bridge P/up(53676000).
this info was from Mr Gearheads,model/parts fitment part number listings.

Ernie.

Mark Davis · August 11th, 2003, 08:08 PM

Thanks for clearing that up John didnt realize you went back to the stockers before you sold it.

Yes that Tele stock neck pickup on the 50's Classic is great in my books I bought 5 different expensive neck pickups until I realized the stock one was better than all of them.

As for the 69 Thinlines they do have 1 meg pots and a .05 cap. Nothing real special.

I had the same experience with the 50's abd 60's Classic Teles. The 60's Classic to my ears needed nothing. The pickups sounded amazing. SO of course I took it all apart and saw it had the same pickup as the 50's Classic except it had raised DG poles. SO I looked at Mr Gearhead that said the 50's Classic and 60's Classic were even the same parts number which was really weird??

Just goes to show ya a pickup in one guitar even the same pickup can sound completly different in another guitar.

I'm sure that amp you were using had something to do with the sound to probably just a perfect match to that guitar.

I like the semi hollow Teles sure wish I had my G&L SH Classic back that sucker sounded awesome!!!~!

Dacious · August 11th, 2003, 09:50 PM

To fix the Thinline's bridge pickup (if you think it needs it) is as simple as fitting a baseplate - screws on, totally reversible. Angela has them for about $10 I think. It takes just a little treble off, and adds that familiar Tele bridge compression. I haven't felt the need to change the pots or anything else - the guitar has a brightness and airiness the other Tele's I have don't, and I don't want to affect that negatively. Back the tone and volume just a tad, and it goes all acousticy.

I agree about the neck pup - it is a beauty, I rate it as nicer than the 52RI neck pup I have in my partsocaster.

IPLAYLOUD · August 11th, 2003, 10:26 PM

He had some very nice Relics there a few months back. A very nice representation of Fender gear.
Pleasant people also.
Mike Byrnes also has a local cable access Guitar Show that is often interesting.

I might actually be there tomorrow on my way upstate.

John E · August 11th, 2003, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPLAYLOUD

He had some very nice Relics there a few months back. A very nice representation of Fender gear.
Pleasant people also.
Mike Byrnes also has a local cable access Guitar Show that is often interesting.

I might actually be there tomorrow on my way upstate.

Yeah the owner Bob is a very good guy...
Hey, I actually did the Mike Byrnes show with my dad a few months ago... It was me and my pop with our acoustics and the percussion player we play with... we recorded 2 shows. Mike Byrnes is an interesting character.... definitely a good time.

LarryR · August 12th, 2003, 04:00 PM

I grew up in Yonkers....used to ride up to Hastings sometimes and pass Sing Sing on my bike.....always got creeped out a bit as we went by...Is Otis Elevator still up there as well???
Memory lane strikes again
Larry

astro · August 12th, 2003, 04:20 PM

My brother in law was a guard at Sing Sing. He's been a guard at all of the best places on the east coast. Attica, Sing Sing.

Excuse me I have to go give Solly Tomato the weather report.

August 11th, 2003, 11:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
John E Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,396	Got to spend a few hours at a Fender Master dealer... ... on Friday. I know the guy that owns Ossining (you know, the home of Sing Sing prison ) Music Center. Got to spend a few hours of quality time with some very cool pieces of Fender gear. I gotta say Im usually the first one to slam Fender gear but this stuff was making me eat my words... Guitars: 69ri Thinline: This was my favorite, it was Shell pink! The bridge pup was just killing thru the Bassbreaker... Chimey and ballsy, clear with hair. I wanted to cry because it made my Nocaster pup in my thinline sound pathetic. Was it the amp? Anybody know what pups/pots/caps are in these things? 72ri Thinline: This was a very cool guitar, my 2nd favorite. Those Fender Humbuckers sound pretty good... I was very surprised. 72ri custom: Again, very impressed by the stock Fender buckers... MIM Toronado: I actually dig these, very cool looking in black w/tortoise, wasn't enthralled with the "Atomic" HB's though. Still, it was useable, I might think about picking one up if it had the 25.5 inch scale. ri Jaguar: I hated this thing... very dissappointing... I played an old Jaguar that was very cool a few months ago that I fell in love with, but this ri was clunky and didn't play or sound very good (to me). Amps: BF Tremolux:Beautiful, clean, great sounding example of a early 60's Head w/matching 2x12 cab... I'm surprised these amps don't get more raves... it was pretty killer Bass Breaker:I don't know about anyone else, but this is far and away my favorite "current" Fender amp... it sounds so big and fat, I really love this amp. Every guitar I played thru it sounded good, especially the thinline ri's.

August 11th, 2003, 07:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
rebelern Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Swampyville, Australia. Posts: 896	This might help ? I researched stock pickups a while back,and the MIM 50's,60,s and the MIA Highway-1,all have the same neck(P/n 53678000) and bridge P/up(55216000)the 69 Thinline also has the same Neck fitment,but has a different bridge P/up(53676000). this info was from Mr Gearheads,model/parts fitment part number listings. Ernie.

August 11th, 2003, 09:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,612 35 Photos	To fix the Thinline's bridge pickup (if you think it needs it) is as simple as fitting a baseplate - screws on, totally reversible. Angela has them for about $10 I think. It takes just a little treble off, and adds that familiar Tele bridge compression. I haven't felt the need to change the pots or anything else - the guitar has a brightness and airiness the other Tele's I have don't, and I don't want to affect that negatively. Back the tone and volume just a tad, and it goes all acousticy. I agree about the neck pup - it is a beauty, I rate it as nicer than the 52RI neck pup I have in my partsocaster. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

August 11th, 2003, 10:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
IPLAYLOUD Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Posts: 471 1 Photos	He had some very nice Relics there a few months back. A very nice representation of Fender gear. Pleasant people also. Mike Byrnes also has a local cable access Guitar Show that is often interesting. I might actually be there tomorrow on my way upstate. __________________ I play an Esquire because I can only afford ONE pickup.

August 12th, 2003, 04:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
LarryR Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: los angeles Posts: 640	Off Topic( sort of) I grew up in Yonkers....used to ride up to Hastings sometimes and pass Sing Sing on my bike.....always got creeped out a bit as we went by...Is Otis Elevator still up there as well??? Memory lane strikes again Larry

August 11th, 2003, 05:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,745	Didnt you have the pickups changed on your 50's Classic before you even played it? As I remember you had a nocaster bridge and texas special put in the 50's Classic when you bought it new.

August 11th, 2003, 08:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,745	Thanks for clearing that up John didnt realize you went back to the stockers before you sold it. Yes that Tele stock neck pickup on the 50's Classic is great in my books I bought 5 different expensive neck pickups until I realized the stock one was better than all of them. As for the 69 Thinlines they do have 1 meg pots and a .05 cap. Nothing real special. I had the same experience with the 50's abd 60's Classic Teles. The 60's Classic to my ears needed nothing. The pickups sounded amazing. SO of course I took it all apart and saw it had the same pickup as the 50's Classic except it had raised DG poles. SO I looked at Mr Gearhead that said the 50's Classic and 60's Classic were even the same parts number which was really weird?? Just goes to show ya a pickup in one guitar even the same pickup can sound completly different in another guitar. I'm sure that amp you were using had something to do with the sound to probably just a perfect match to that guitar. I like the semi hollow Teles sure wish I had my G&L SH Classic back that sucker sounded awesome!!!~!

August 12th, 2003, 04:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
astro Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Shoa, MA Posts: 872	My brother in law was a guard at Sing Sing. He's been a guard at all of the best places on the east coast. Attica, Sing Sing. Excuse me I have to go give Solly Tomato the weather report.