My "New" '52 RI

[Stubee]

I thought I was done, all done, but read a few billion words here on the '52 RI, had to try one. Bought a lightly used 1998 MIA '52 from an FDP guy, had been converted to an Esquire but still had all original stuff, case candy, etc. I read extensively about the wonders of Esquires, so tried it like that thru two amps for, oh, 30 minutes. Enough. Took her back to '52 RI with "modern wiring" immediately.

1st Observations: beautifully crafted piece, nice finish, neck is very well done, lightly finished & unlike much I've read, probably will fit my cobbled hand (this is apparently the older & slimmer "C" neck, about .81" thick). Pickups sound wonderful, and a surprising difference from my '50s Classic w. Nocasters: neck maybe not quite as "to die for", but bridge IMO much nicer & more useable, middle position just wonderful. Seems even more responsive to tone/volume twiddling than my '50s (better pots?). Excellent articulation & balance of notes, guitar is great sounding in all ways. Played it upstairs w. Pro Jr at low volume, my wife said "I'm not really into electric guitars, but this one sounds simply beautiful". Of course, she's more accustomed to hearing me wail away in the basement at much higher volume. Haven't played it much overdriven, the Nocasters may be better for that, time will tell.

So an impressive axe, now I'm done. I swear.

[daviddoubleu]

Match made in heaven, congrats!

[mellecaster]

I have no idea what sort of other Amps you have....but you owe it to yourself, just once...to try it thru one of the Large Fender Amps....ie.....Super....Vibroverb...Twin.......:gr in:

[shades]

Stuuu...she's a sweetie I tell ya.
Congrats and welcome to the '52RI club.
I love mine.

[joelfrieders]

ive got the same set up on my 2006
i wouldnt trade her for anything

love the grain on that body!

[Stubee]

Mellecaster, I've cut way down on amps cuz I rarely play out anymore + had too much junk around (though now some of that junk is high $$). I've owned: silver-face Twin, a MM HD-130, even a very old Dual Showman R with cab, but they're long gone. Used to schlep 'em around when I gigged but really never needed 'em for my small venues. My "big" amp is an ancient Musicman RD112, I've used also with a 4X10 extension cab. But it's pretty darned loud on it's own. The PJ covers me pretty well know for any "sitting in" in a small club. I'm not in a band now so hard to justify my guitars alone, much less a Twin or similar...except that they're so nice.

Years & years ago I played with some guys thru a dual Marshall stack (this was about 1971, I was playing, of all things, a Harmony Rocket) and still remember the stunning "push" of that set-up. That was my first big amp excursion. The '52 RI is a "big" sounding guitar in it's own right, kinda surprising me. Not sure I know anybody with a really big amp anymore, but if I get a chance, I'll plug her in.

[mistermullens]

Very, Very nice. I bet it sounds great through the PJ

[AndrewG]

These are great Telecasters; I left mine with the stock vintage wiring setup and discovered you can do the old Strat trick and wedge the selector between bridge and middle to get the modern middle sound.

[TexGoneNW]

You can't go wrong with that date MIJ.

Congrats!

Lemme know if you want to talk PJ tweaks!

[yegbert]

Nice Tele, Stubee!

The pots in the current production AV '52 Tele are the same part as those in the Classic Series MIM '50s Tele, part number 0019064000.

[Stubee]

Interesting on the pots. Well, my '50s/'60s/NC is great, the pot responsiveness I hear on the '52RI is probably just due to all the differences between the guitars & also what my ear is perceiving as it's kinda tough to play 'em both at the same time. To me, the '52 is a very "clear" sounding guitar, almost like boosting a flattop in some settings, so roll-off is very noticeable. A remarkable guitar in every way.

Yegbert, may take ya up on PJ mods someday. I did swap out my speaker for a Cele-50 to get less break-up at mid-volumes, but all else is stock. But I love the little thing as it is today. I think tweaking it could be, for me, like tweaking guitars: an endless obsession I'd be better of letting rest. For now.

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by Stubee

Interesting on the pots. Well, my '50s/'60s/NC is great, the pot responsiveness I hear on the '52RI is probably just due to all the differences between the guitars & also what my ear is perceiving as it's kinda tough to play 'em both at the same time. To me, the '52 is a very "clear" sounding guitar, almost like boosting a flattop in some settings, so roll-off is very noticeable. A remarkable guitar in every way.

Yegbert, may take ya up on PJ mods someday. I did swap out my speaker for a Cele-50 to get less break-up at mid-volumes, but all else is stock. But I love the little thing as it is today. I think tweaking it could be, for me, like tweaking guitars: an endless obsession I'd be better of letting rest. For now.

That was TexGoneNW talking about PJ tweaks.

If the change in tone when you roll off the tone control is the difference you hear, take note of how the two are wired in detail. If they are in fact wired the same way, take note of the value of the caps in each, and experiment with different cap values.

I believe a larger value cap will give you a bit less treble at max CW on the tone and more treble rolloff per amount you turn the knob CCW.

And a smaller value cap will give you a bit more treble at max CW on the tone and less treble rolloff per amount you turn the knob CCW.

[Stubee]

Thanks Yegbert. It was wired as an Esquire with new pots & caps when I got it, I simply put in the neck pup, removed all the Esquire stuff & rewired it as a '52RI "modern wiring" vs. "vintage wiring" with the original pots & cap. I left the .022 cap in because I didn't think I'd need the added treble from the .047 cap (or whatever it is), per what I read here.

I was right on that: plenty of treble but nice "bite", I love the sweep effect so far.

[johnnylaw]

My other Tele is a '52 reissue, and I love to play it. I bought it because it was the elemental Tele experience for those of neither lucky nor rich enough to have an old blackguard to share. It does everything right, and nothing wrong. The only thing I changed was to add the four position switch (which I find most useful with a clean amp), and I shortened the bridge height adjustment screws so they wouldn't shred my hand.

I think you'll find this to be that axe that never lets you down. Welcome to the club!

[eddiewagner]

my main guitar is 52 ri. the only thing i changed are the stringsaddles to the black ones from graphtec. takes away a bit from the classic loo, but prevents stringbreaking. other than that: the 52 is my only unmodded guitar.

[Twang Tone]

[quote=Stubee;853129]To me, the '52 is a very "clear" sounding guitar, almost like boosting a flattop in some settings, so roll-off is very noticeable. A remarkable guitar in every way.[quote]

I agree. That's why I can't justify shelling out the extra green for a CS Nocaster.

My #1 is a '99 AV52RI, and I've still yet to find anything better.

Thanks,

[ReddRanger]

Sweet! :)

I love '52 RI's.

[glenndeb]

Luv my 52 ri wouldn't trade it for anything......I did do the wire mod to try it, but had to put it back to the way it was, when doing the mod it sounded as if i lost the punch it had , now that its back it has the punch back......
I am thinking on getting the 52 hotrod though to add to my collection, any thoughts on one....

Glenn

[Daddydex]

You are one lucky dog Stubee. Congratulations and good luck with the new guitar.

Dan

[Stubee]

Thanks Daddydex. I'm the last to admit it, but yer darned right I'm lucky: very understanding wife, great family, healthy, retired after 32 years corporate grinding, and have enough $ one way or the other to try out guitars. Now that I'm a "pensioner" I do try to rein in my avarice a touch, i.e. if I want something, something else has to go. I sold a beautiful 1926 Ithaca NID double 16 Ga & used some of those $ for the '52RI. Perfectly rational: got too many double barrels anyway, and play guitar about 600X more than I shoot the old shotguns.

Glad to see so many '52RI lovers, and I am liking this one even more every day. Even sounds great thru my little Pignose. I'm in heaven.

[smack1081]

Hi guys,

nice to see so many people having and loving the 52 RI. I got a butterscotch babe since last year. I`m more kinda Strat-Player but always wanted to have a telly. So I saw this one on EBay for a very reasonable price (unlike ebay.com the prices in germany are mostly higher). It`s a great Tele. Only thing I changed a while ago was the PU-Set which is now a CS Nocaster Set. In my opinion a great and recommentable upgrade!

So keep twangin` and many greetings from germany!

Dave