Best USA 52 ReIssue...

[Rick J]

Hi Grin,

This is a picture of the beaut, hope it looks as good in the flesh! Yours looks superb! Love the way the neck is a very close colour match to the body.

I'll put in a full review in a few days.

Rick J

[Grin'n'pick]

Originally Posted by Rick J

Hi Grin,

This is a picture of the beaut, hope it looks as good in the flesh! Yours looks superb! Love the way the neck is a very close colour match to the body.

I'll put in a full review in a few days.

Rick J

Without wanting to hijack this thread too much... yum, that looks like a tasty one Rick, the grain looks more interesting than on mine, but everything else looks very similar to me. Mine comes in around 7.5lbs. Looking forward to the review mate! Is it a 9.5" radius one?

I take it it was your prize for being the 1,000,000th poster on here?

[thepassivevoice]

Originally Posted by Dacious

Lots of people misplaced the case candy, and Guitar Center often sold the guitar without the rest, if it is missing the c-c or original case, deduct value.

If this is true, and the c-c does contribute to the value, it's probably best to leave the c-c bag unopened. There isn't much of interest inside.

[Rick J]

[quote]I take it it was your prize for being the 1,000,000th poster on here? [/QUOTE]

If only!! No, had to pay good old British pounds for it! (But not a bad deal, about same as I might have expected for any used 52RI, TS or not). Full review in separate thread very soon!

With regards to case candy and COA's I would mention that Fender haven't been supplying COA's for 52RI's since July 2006 or thereabouts. This has been mentioned recently in another thread, I think.

Rick J

[Hector Spector]

I bought a '62 Custom Telecaster "thin skin" model and was so blown away by it that I went back to look at (and put money down on) one the thin skin '52 reissues. I played 6 different ones and finally went with a 7.02 lb model that was just dreamy.

My point to that was that even the 5 I didn't go with seemed better than any AVRI I had tried in the past year, not just in sound but in feel and especially looks. I don't know that I would contribute that entirely to an all nitro finish, but there is something about those guitars that do seem like finer instruments.

The shop (Music Machine Guitars) does set each one up themselves when they get them, and all of the AVRIs I played were at Guitar Centers (whom I doubt does that on all their guitars), so that may factor in. Still, they just seemed nicer. Granted, they are a little bit more $$$, but I found they were worth it.

[0le FUZZY]

...Looks lika MIJ with them 12th fret marker dots where they iss.



...I could be rong.

...Watt iss the cereal numb-burr on at bridge?




0le FUZZY

[Rick J]

Well, not to hijack this thread (again!) - but this axe actually turned up here in the office about 2 hours ago. Only just had a chance to get it unpacked and look it over. No camera in the office so no chance of any more photos right now, - photo posted was vendors.

Certainly looks and feels like a USA model, - stamping on bridgeplate looks like this:

FENDER
PAT. PEND
55391

Exactly like I've seen it all other AV52's.

Frets on the neck are certainly not vintage, but on the Thinskins they are specified as 6105, (larger!) frets. The frets measure 6/64" wide, and are about 3-4/64" tall, (which I think) are spec for a 6105 fret.

OK - lets see under the hood. Pots are full size CTS's marked 0702 CTS on one side and 019064 on the other. Wiring is all vintage cloth, and, yes, its still got the vintage wiring circuit intact, with square reddish cap on the neck p/up and 5032 cap on the tone pot. Bridge wire is yellowish, neck wire is whitish just as it should be. The switch itself is traditional open style, with 51992 and 0721 on a sticker.

While I've got the control plate off, I'm looking at the finish at the edge, - it certainly does look "thin"! Finished applied down to the bottom (but not on the bottom) of the control cavity. No visible "layer" over the wood as seen from the side at all. Grain is clearly visible through finish, and slightly sunk in so grain is visible physically from the right angle, as well as optically. (If you see what I mean.)

And, I'm just checking as I'm typing, but it seems that every single screw on the whole thing from tuners down to bridge is a slot head.

But those 12th fret dots, Fuzzy, are indeed a bit wider apart than some I have seen! The strings go almost through the centre.

But - that apart everything else here seems to be what it should be, - as well as the general "vibe" of the thing. (BTW it arrived perfectly set up, with lowish action and perfect nut, and clangs out very nicely acoustically, - no amp here in the office so can't judge amped sound!)

So what the hell do I have here!!!

Help!

Rick J

[Rick J]

Just took off the strings and popped the neck! Stamped neatly under the finish on the end of the neck is "NOV 05 2006".

There is some sort of sticky label in the neck pocket which didn't quite survive the parting of the ways, but the remnants of which seem to have the same date on it, and what might be a someone's handwritten initials. Under the sticker stamped direct onto the neck pocket in black is what looks like a square black blob and the digits 183(8?)5 and the last digit has been drilled straight through for the top right neck bolt hole - might just have been a 4. There are two more holes slightly smaller than the bolt holes about half an inch or so inside the north east and south west main bolt holes. They are about 7/8" of an inch deep.

No "TL" or other normal Japanese Manufacture type model numbers or markings.

I know those 12th fret markers are in an odd position, but surely this thing is a real USA ri?

Help again!!

Rick J

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by Rick J

I know those 12th fret markers are in an odd position, but surely this thing is a real USA ri?

Just might be one of those rare '53RI's I guess .

[jivetrain]

Originally Posted by Dacious

Guitar Center often sold the guitar without the rest

tell me about it. they're the wal-mart of music stores

[Dacious]

Originally Posted by Rick J

Well, not to hijack this thread (again!) - but this axe actually turned up here in the office about 2 hours ago. Only just had a chance to get it unpacked and look it over. No camera in the office so no chance of any more photos right now, - photo posted was vendors.

Certainly looks and feels like a USA model, - stamping on bridgeplate looks like this:

FENDER
PAT. PEND
55391

Exactly like I've seen it all other AV52's.

Frets on the neck are certainly not vintage, but on the Thinskins they are specified as 6105, (larger!) frets. The frets measure 6/64" wide, and are about 3-4/64" tall, (which I think) are spec for a 6105 fret.

OK - lets see under the hood. Pots are full size CTS's marked 0702 CTS on one side and 019064 on the other. Wiring is all vintage cloth, and, yes, its still got the vintage wiring circuit intact, with square reddish cap on the neck p/up and 5032 cap on the tone pot. Bridge wire is yellowish, neck wire is whitish just as it should be. The switch itself is traditional open style, with 51992 and 0721 on a sticker.

While I've got the control plate off, I'm looking at the finish at the edge, - it certainly does look "thin"! Finished applied down to the bottom (but not on the bottom) of the control cavity. No visible "layer" over the wood as seen from the side at all. Grain is clearly visible through finish, and slightly sunk in so grain is visible physically from the right angle, as well as optically. (If you see what I mean.)

And, I'm just checking as I'm typing, but it seems that every single screw on the whole thing from tuners down to bridge is a slot head.

But those 12th fret dots, Fuzzy, are indeed a bit wider apart than some I have seen! The strings go almost through the centre.

But - that apart everything else here seems to be what it should be, - as well as the general "vibe" of the thing. (BTW it arrived perfectly set up, with lowish action and perfect nut, and clangs out very nicely acoustically, - no amp here in the office so can't judge amped sound!)

So what the hell do I have here!!!

Help!

Rick J

No, I would say the Thinskin because it has the flatter radius may use a different neck to the stock one, which might explain the dot spacing. Or it might just appear wrong to Fuzzy because it is the flatter radius and a shot on the net.

Everthing sounds right. Sounds like the right stamps and marks, too.

[Grin'n'pick]

Originally Posted by Dacious

No, I would say the Thinskin because it has the flatter radius may use a different neck to the stock one, which might explain the dot spacing. Or it might just appear wrong to Fuzzy because it is the flatter radius and a shot on the net.

Everthing sounds right. Sounds like the right stamps and marks, too.

+1, reckon the photo is telling porkies because of the radius, your guitar sounds identical to mine Rick although those dots do look wider apart on the photo compared to my photo . I don't have mine here to check the dot spacing but I'll look tomorrow. I'm sure you have an AV52 thin skin though from the description. And I'm saying that as an owner of both an MIJ 52 RI and the thin skin AV52.

Well spotted though Fuzzy, I never think to look, you are a marvel sir. Kindly refer back to the thread about the Nocaster for more plaudits please, and just keep doing what you do!

All the above plus "Grain is clearly visible through finish, and slightly sunk in so grain is visible physically from the right angle, as well as optically" - yep, got that too, the most notable thin skin attribute over the standard 52 that I've noticed..

[rul8agn]

Here's my '04.....I love the tones that come from this thing...

and with some friends...

[telejonez]

Hi ya. How do you like your hot rod tele? I'm trying to decide between it and a 52RI. I already have a sweet '88 American Standard, and I thought I could use the mini humbucker in the neck for some versatility since I also own a strat.

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by Dacious

No, I would say the Thinskin because it has the flatter radius may use a different neck to the stock one, which might explain the dot spacing. Or it might just appear wrong to Fuzzy because it is the flatter radius and a shot on the net.

The Thinskins that Wildwood display on their website have the usual, narrow dot spacing.

I'm convinced that 0le FUZZY is right though, and it would be easy to prove. Just measure the distance between the dots. Then we can at least start to discuss realities and not speculate whether our eyes or the photo plays a trick on us .

On my standard '52RI the distance between the dots is 0.622" (5/8")

[Twang Man]

I have one too!!

[Twang Man]

here she is...



she's a 'thin skin' too...

...me and 'grinnpick' have similar tastes. lol

[Grin'n'pick]

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

The Thinskins that Wildwood display on their website have the usual, narrow dot spacing.

On my standard '52RI the distance between the dots is 0.622" (5/8")

Okay, as promised I've just measured mine (as the bishop said to the actress ). The distance between the dots is the same as above: 5/8". My fingerboard radius is 9.5".

[Grin'n'pick]

Originally Posted by Twang Man

here she is...



she's a 'thin skin' too...

...me and 'grinnpick' have similar tastes. lol

How's yours holding up under your hectic gigging schedule mate, still loving it?

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by Grin'n'pick

Okay, as promised I've just measured mine (as the bishop said to the actress ). The distance between the dots is the same as above: 5/8". My fingerboard radius is 9.5".

OK, if we could get Rick J to measure his , we could prove beyond doubt if the distance on his really is larger. In that case we have an interesting problem .

[kb1rcefn]

Grin'n'pick - that is one beautiful guitar!!!

[Rick J]

Hi Telemarkman - I've measured mine! I've also had a very experienced local tech look over the whole thing earlier today, - someone who has sold and worked on literally hundreds of RI's both USA and MIJ, and has also re-wired many of them to modern wiring so knows the guitar inside and out including the electronics.

Firstly, the measurement between the dots is a hair over 1 3/4", - which is definitely wider than most USA Ri's. This aspect might indeed suggest a MIJ.

However, in every other aspect possible to examine, he was convinced that this was a USA 52ri. I don't have time to write a long post now, (I'm an accountant in the thick of tax season in th UK!!) but the principal points of his diagnosis were:

1) Date stamping "NOV 05 2006" on the butt of the neck is USA style.

2) No "Crafted in Japan" on back of neck. He said he had seen several guitars over the years where this had been sanded off or somehow removed, and in every single case there was some "ghost" image left or evidence of removal, or the neck had very obviously been stripped and refinished. NO evidence here of any refinish or any sort of disturbance or ghosting in the relevant area of the neck.

3) Electronics under the control plate: Soldering is clearly factory quality and unchanged, "old wiring" circuit still in place, with correct factory components, not just in values, but in terms of actual brands. CTS pots with correct markings. Switch is open type, - every MIJ he had seen came with a closed in type switch. He couldn't guarantee they had never been made, (maybe somebody else can certify this point) but in twenty years he had never seen a MIJ (or CIJ) re-issue with old style wiring, or ever been asked to rewire one from old to new.

4) Frets on the neck were clearly not standard, and looked a lot like the Dunlops they are supposed to be, not just because of measurement but because of the brighter silver colour and lack of any noticeable wear on a used guitar, (apparently they have a lower nickel content and wear better than standard frets).

5) Neck is (medium) chunky U shape, not as big as a Nocaster, but in his opinion bigger than any MIJ he had ever seen other than that on a MIJ Donahue. - But that neck has a noticeable "v" in the first five or six inches, and there was no sign of that on this neck.

6) Colour - Yellow golden colour very typical of USA production, particularly recent, - he couldn't recall seeing a MIJ of this colour, - all the 52 RIs of Japaneses origin he had seen are "browner" (clearer lacquer) or "whiter" (more blonde). This, incidentally, accords with my own experience.

7) Bridge plate, saddles, stampings are correct for recent 52RI. We didn't remove the bridge, but he had a good look and thought that it looked very much like it had never been removed, not conclusive by any means, but he reckoned its quite difficult to remove a bridge and replace it with another without any leaving any kind of evidence at all, - - but yes, it could just have been replaced.

8) Little peek of the bridge pick up rout visible to the right of the bridge, - he said almost unversal on USA models, - never seen it on an a MIJ or CIJ, - the Japanese would have likely "corrected" such an error.

9) As far as the "thinskin" aspect went, he didn't know the model intimately, but was aware of them. He did say though that usually the regular USA ri's have pretty much of a "mirror" finish, i.e reflections are only very slightly distorted, (as is the case with my AV62ri) whereas on this one the reflections were much more distorted as the grain was much more in evidence in the reflection. He also looked at the screwholes under the pickguard, (firstly to check there were only five of them!!) but also to look for the lacquer buildup, which he said was often very much in evidence, as it was also around the edges of the neck pocket. At both points, there appeared to be almost no visible layer of finish above the bare wood, just a faintly perceptible yellowy line, no thicker than a high E string.

10) Pickups were definitely Fender OV's as far as could be determined by visual inspection without removing the bridge. This was based mainly on what he could see of the neck pickup exposed in its rout and the lead wires and colours.

11) He admitted that he had not come across any of the very high end Japanese market only models, (Extrads?) or had any explanation for the odd dot spacing. But those matters apart, he said that he would be willing to swear in a court of law that this was in his opinion some variant or other on a USA52ri!

We ran the serial number past Fender UK, and they confirmed that it was a valid possible serial number but was not an official UK import, which is a sort of negative confirmation, but if this is what its supposed to be, then it wouldn't be a UK import - Thinskins have only been retailed in the USA. All I can do now is run the serial number past Fender USA and see what they have to say!

His final word was that used RI's sell quickly out of the shop he manages on the rare occasions he gets them, at an average of about £150 ($300) more than I have paid for this, so whatever it is he didn't think I'd been seriously ripped off, and if it is a genuine Thinskin, then I'm probably about £250 (£500) up on the deal.

Thanks for your thoughts and info everyone so far, - did I say this wasn't going to be a long post? Any further insights would be very welcome!

Thanks
Rick J

[Rick J]

I haven't reassembled the guitar yet, so if any one has any points to ask or check that would further help id confirmation while it still in bits, please ask! Forgot to bring camera into office today, but might manage some pics tomorrow. BTW, think I might start a new thread on this. Thanks again for the support!

Rick j

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by Rick J

Firstly, the measurement between the dots is a hair over 1 3/4", - which is definitely wider than most USA Ri's.

I guess you mean 3/4", not 1 and 3/4" .

It definitely seems to be the real McCoy, except for those 12th fret dot markers.....

This is definitely a case for our Sherlock Holmes, 0le FUZZY.....

[Rick J]

Yup, thats 3/4", not 1 3/4" - boasting again!

I'll see if I can take some photos tomorrow, while its still in pieces.

Rick J

[J Lacey]

Bought my '06 AV52RI new, and even though I still have not fell in love with the guitar in over a year later, I must say that it completley changed the way I play now. It inspired me to learn to be a better player and chase down licks and bends that I otherwise wouldn't have gone after since I was a die hard Strat player and had ditched acouple of Teles over the years. It put me back where I needed to be, a Tele picker, and I'm happy playing again and no longer feel that "rut" that alot of us get into playing the same 'ol same 'ol year after year. I own four really good Teles now.......Still not overly excited about the 52, but understand and appreciate what it represents to those who cherish them and I owe it some credit for my interest in playing these days.......I will agree that they are put together really nicley. I thought of selling mine awhile back, I've got two upgraded MIATeles that fit me better, my co-worker told me to sell it since I never played it. He said it wasn't anything but a trophy to me . He's right, but I'm gonna keep it anyway.....

Jeffro

[Dacious]

Thanks for your thoughts and info everyone so far, - did I say this wasn't going to be a long post? Any further insights would be very welcome!

Maybe what might have happened, Rick - and it's only a guess - is that a neck blank from another Fender model was used with a wider spacing (what is the dot spacing on a USA Standard) - before they sand to shape the blanks all look the same and have dots inserted, and as the thinskins have the wider radius they are sort of a low-volume, probably with more selectivity about the body grain etc.

Involve humans and there's always a potential for error. It would make yours a bit rarer if this worked out to be the case. Fender deliberately changed the dot spacing on the reissues so as to remove the possibility or people passing them off as old ones.

I am sure yours is a USA Tele - never seen a CIJ/MIJ that colour, and the stock 52Ri and the CIJ ones too the colour coat is very visible for thickness if you pull the control plate off, especially the screwholes, so the fact yours is not lends credence to it being a Thinskin.

You can also pick the CIJ/MIJ neck profile as it is more like a rounded C and narrower at the nut than the US, which has a pronounced U-shape with deeper shoulders and 'feels' bigger. Also, the Japanese neck colour is usually darker than yours. Yours has the lighter tint common to newer AVRIs.

[bluesjuke]

Originally Posted by Jellecaster

I like mine:





But they only made seventy-five of them.

What is that in particular that is unique in addition to the beautiful finish?

[j1976]

I also have a thnskin 07. Its the business - I like it almost as much as my gatton.

[pedalcr8z]

Originally Posted by Califatboy

I do like a chunkier neck so it looks like I need a post 2000 with a nice dark butterscotch and just enough grain showing through...thats what I like. Thanks for everyone's input so far. BTW...are they all ash?

With all due respect to the '52, you should also play a Nocaster as you are certainly describing one!

[Rick J]

Firstly, Dacious thanks for the post and reassurance. Maybe your neck theory is true! In fact, due to the amazing bottomless mine of knowledge that is the TDPRI, I think I have final proof that this is a genuine USA 52ri. In my first post giving any detail about the guitar I said "Under the sticker stamped direct onto the neck pocket in black is what looks like a square black blob and the digits 183(8?)5 and the last digit has been drilled straight through for the top right neck bolt hole - might just have been a 4." (There's a photo below.)

Well, on a whim, I put the string "18354" into the "search this forum" facility. To my utter astonishment, up came four threads. One, last November by Boxelder headed "USA '52 markings for being authentic?", got a reply from Twangtone confirming that 18354 is the Fender USA part number for a 52RI!

Coming along with all the other observations I think I am now convinced that this is a genuine 52RI, and well, even if its not an "official thinkskin", - the skin is indeed very thin! I've also posted below a picture of the bridgeplate, the wiring and the butt end of the neck. The decal, BTW is on top of the finish as it should be.

I think the next move now is to put the thing back together again and play it for a few days and then post a proper review in another thread. As for the dots, - who knows!

Rick J

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by Dacious

Maybe what might have happened, Rick - and it's only a guess - is that a neck blank from another Fender model was used with a wider spacing (what is the dot spacing on a USA Standard) - before they sand to shape the blanks all look the same and have dots inserted, and as the thinskins have the wider radius they are sort of a low-volume, probably with more selectivity about the body grain etc.

Sounds probable. I'll go for that explanation until someone proves it wrong .

Originally Posted by Rick J

Coming along with all the other observations I think I am now convinced that this is a genuine 52RI, and well, even if its not an "official thinkskin", - the skin is indeed very thin! I've also posted below a picture of the bridgeplate, the wiring and the butt end of the neck. The decal, BTW is on top of the finish as it should be.

Looks like an "official Thinskin" to me. But I'm definitely no expert .....

[Twang Man]

Originally Posted by Grin'n'pick

How's yours holding up under your hectic gigging schedule mate, still loving it?

Hey 'grin', she's holding up just fine. I stuck some Elixir 10-46's on her and she sings now! gigging is going well and so far she's ding free (well, almost) but she has a character all of her own that only seems to come out when I play her. she's warm and loving but she can really bite if provoked.

[nrps]

1999 Fender Telecaster '52 Reissue Copper Metallic "The Copper Caster" (USA)

[Telemarkman]

Oooooh, beautiful guitar nrps !

[Twang Tone]

Originally Posted by Rick J

Well, on a whim, I put the string "18354" into the "search this forum" facility. To my utter astonishment, up came four threads. One, last November by Boxelder headed "USA '52 markings for being authentic?", got a reply from Twangtone confirming that 18354 is the Fender USA part number for a 52RI!

Hey Rick J!!

Well, I'm glad my posts can be of use to someone! I've just seen this thread, and I'm just as curious as you as to why those 12th fret dots are farther apart! My own 2006 AV52RI has the closer dots, but as long as the logo is on top of the lacquer, you've got yourself a genuine USA Fender! Congratulations!

Thanks,

[Rick J]

Well I didn't think this thread would get revived! Firstly Twangtone, that bit of info about the part number was invaluable to me, as it finally proved beyond doubt that it was real USA 52ri. I've passed that information on a few times, including in other answers on this board, as its a really handy thing to know. Thanks to you!

Incidentally, Fender USA have since confirmed the authenticity again through the serial number.

It has turned out to be a stonkingly good guitar, great muscularity and musicality. Different flavour entirely to my 62ri, but I think both are great examples of what they are supposed to be, representations of two different era Tele's. The dot thing remains a mystery though, its the only 52 I've seen with the dots like that. All I can say is that if by any small chance this is not a Fender neck, I'd like to know who made it, - he can do another couple for me, - its superb. But seriously, dots apart, every other jot and tittle of the neck matches the Thinskin spec perfectly, so I'm not worried.

Another testament to the power of the TDPRI, - I think this board might just be the greatest fount of knowledge on the planet for Teles in particular, Fender products in general, and actually, just about anything at all to do with the electric guitar.

Rick J

[nrps]

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

Oooooh, beautiful guitar nrps !

I picked her up a few days ago and she is sweet.

1999 Fender Telecaster '52 Reissue Copper Metallic "The Copper Caster" (USA) only 100 were made.

[frogger]

Just give me a slab of light ash slathered in nitro, add some zesty nocaster sauce and you will have a finger lickin, pickin good geetar samich.

[maggieo]

I rue the day I traded in my 1983 '52RI Telecaster. It has a chunky V neck, a bakelite pickguard and sounded like the devil with his hair on fire!

Great guitar. If I hadn't traded it for a guitar I've now had for 22 years, I'd be inconsolable.