Played my first 51 Nocaster Saturday!!

91xlntS-3 · October 28th, 2007, 05:45 PM

Well, my wife and I were in southern Indiana for the weekend, and I stopped at one of my regular music store stops (Tom Pickett's Music-Columbus, IN).

They had a '51 Nocaster Relic hanging on the wall, so, I pulled it down and plugged it in.

Well, I have to say, the bridge pick-up had the best "twang" I'd ever heard in a Tele! Second position sounded very sweet also. The front position (dark) was almost non-existant! Lost almost all volume and very muffled sounding. I wasn't real crazy about the fatness of the neck, but it felt and played exceptionally well! Felt like an old friend in your hands. I was pretty impressed, but at still $2,600+, more than I would spend. However, if I could get a set of the '51 Nocaster p-ups, I'd have them installed in my Am. Std. Tele! The sweetest sounding set of Tele p-ups I'd heard in a long, long time.

Just my opinion, and I'm no expert, but a very nice Custom Shop instrument, if that's what you're after!

rhinocaster · October 28th, 2007, 05:55 PM

Before the Nocaster came out, my favorite Fender was the '52 Reissue. The '52 just felt and sounded the way that I wanted a Tele to sound. I think that the Nocaster is the best Fender Tele in the last 45 years. I've played 7 great ones and one good one. Just a fantastic guitar!

Mark Davis · October 28th, 2007, 05:58 PM

The pickups are only part of the reason it sounds that way.

The switch all the way up sounded dark cause it replicates the way a real 51 would have been wired most people change that.

You can add the 51 Nocaster pickups to your AM Std but it isnt gonna sound the same as the Nocaster did.

91xlntS-3 · October 29th, 2007, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

The pickups are only part of the reason it sounds that way.

The switch all the way up sounded dark cause it replicates the way a real 51 would have been wired most people change that.

You can add the 51 Nocaster pickups to your AM Std but it isnt gonna sound the same as the Nocaster did.

I knew the front position was the "dark" position, but I didn't know you'd lose most of the volume also. Chris said he usually changed the wiring to "modern" after they were purchased anyway. I can see why, the front position just wouldn't be useable for me.

Maybe adding the '51 p-ups might not make my Am. Std. sound exactly like the Relic, but if it was close or similar, man that would be one sweet sounding Tele!

October 28th, 2007, 05:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
91xlntS-3 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 634	Played my first 51 Nocaster Saturday!! Well, my wife and I were in southern Indiana for the weekend, and I stopped at one of my regular music store stops (Tom Pickett's Music-Columbus, IN). They had a '51 Nocaster Relic hanging on the wall, so, I pulled it down and plugged it in. Well, I have to say, the bridge pick-up had the best "twang" I'd ever heard in a Tele! Second position sounded very sweet also. The front position (dark) was almost non-existant! Lost almost all volume and very muffled sounding. I wasn't real crazy about the fatness of the neck, but it felt and played exceptionally well! Felt like an old friend in your hands. I was pretty impressed, but at still $2,600+, more than I would spend. However, if I could get a set of the '51 Nocaster p-ups, I'd have them installed in my Am. Std. Tele! The sweetest sounding set of Tele p-ups I'd heard in a long, long time. Just my opinion, and I'm no expert, but a very nice Custom Shop instrument, if that's what you're after!

October 28th, 2007, 05:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 12,187	The pickups are only part of the reason it sounds that way. The switch all the way up sounded dark cause it replicates the way a real 51 would have been wired most people change that. You can add the 51 Nocaster pickups to your AM Std but it isnt gonna sound the same as the Nocaster did. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

October 28th, 2007, 05:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
rhinocaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Age: 44 Posts: 1,162	Before the Nocaster came out, my favorite Fender was the '52 Reissue. The '52 just felt and sounded the way that I wanted a Tele to sound. I think that the Nocaster is the best Fender Tele in the last 45 years. I've played 7 great ones and one good one. Just a fantastic guitar!