Best USA 52 ReIssue...

Califatboy · January 13th, 2008, 05:03 PM

I have decided that to round out my tele collection I need a nice USA 52 re-issue.

I understand that these have been around for several years (?). Are the current ones better than the older ones? Is any year in particular more desireable / different? Is COA valuable? Orig case?

Educate me...

Thanks

mellecaster · January 13th, 2008, 05:11 PM

Been out since 1982..so yeah, I would say awhile...some are called AVR 52s..just type in 52ri somewhere, and you can be entertained for Weeks !

gitarjoe · January 13th, 2008, 05:14 PM

52 reissues from pre 2000, have smaller necks. Sold my 98 for that reason. On the other hand they had the best finish and color.

bglaze · January 13th, 2008, 05:16 PM

Well, I just bought a 2007 '52 AVRI, and I can definitely tell you that the quality is astounding. This guitar has gotten more playtime in the past week than I could've imagined possible. I don't know anything about the older ones, so that's the only advice I can give. I know you'll be happy with a new one, and I'm almost positive you'd be happy with an older one! It's great!

Jellecaster · January 13th, 2008, 05:24 PM

I like mine:

But they only made seventy-five of them.

Telemarkman · January 13th, 2008, 05:54 PM

There's no telling which is the best, but those made after 98/99 are more true to the original specs, meaning more correct body radius, thicker neck and alnico 3 pickups instead of alnico 5. But guitarjoe is right that the finish was great on the earlier ones - not so orange and more transparent. But there have always been variations.

And Jellecaster, yours is one of the best looking examples I've seen. Some sort of limited edition obviously......?

Ed Bickert · January 13th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Is that a fact or an opinion? That the pre-2000 models have smaller necks? That's good to know if it's true.

gitarjoe · January 13th, 2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Bickert

Is that a fact or an opinion? That the pre-2000 models have smaller necks? That's good to know if it's true.

I can only go from personal experience and chat with other fellows on this forum. The new ones feel chunkier on the necks.

Dacious · January 13th, 2008, 06:50 PM

The pre-'99 model was 1302, which you won't find anywhere on the guitar except maybe a stamp in the neck pocket.

My own personal take is: they are all good guitars, some will be better than others. You may like the slimmer neck of the '90's, some people do. It makes not much difference to value - they are more valued by condition and originality. The later ones have a similar neck profile to a 1969 RI Thinline or a 70's Tele or the 70's MIM reissues. It is slightly slimmer than the slugger on the 50's Classic Tele.

Some of the early ones are getting some really great player wear on the fretboards, like real 50's and around the upper bouts.

There's been heavier and lighter ones, some with better figure. Some are reckoned to be better colours - nobody really knows. After about 2002 they toned down the orangey neck tint which is better IMO. But some really old Teles have very orange necks.

The pickups did change, from alnico 5 to alnico 3 but stayed the same for windings and impedance, inductance changed ever so slightly; but I have/had both versions and there is not that much difference in tone really. You can buy the new ones and stick them in if you want, they look exactly the same.

The interesting thing is, if you count the 1982-'86 or thereabouts ones made in Japan, the 52Ri had it's own 25th Anniversary last year, which makes it a very long lasting model!

IMO they're a bit like a Harley - with no planned obsolesence, they all look very similar, so the older ones retain virtually the same value as newer ones, and a cherry old model with case and case candy can still be a $1000-1100 guitar.

Find one you like, don't worry about the year. There's plenty of good Tele models - they are one of them as long as you want a vintage-type Tele.

Califatboy · January 13th, 2008, 06:59 PM

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?

Telemarkman · January 13th, 2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

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?

Sorry, mine's not for sale

Hee, hee!

And yes, they're all "Premium Ash", or what used to be called "Southern Ash" or "Swamp Ash".

Dacious · January 13th, 2008, 07:11 PM

Every 'real 52Ri is ash. The only real changes over the years was that there were some in black, some in a very attractive copper finish.

There were also a few hybrid models like the FSR which IIRC had gold vintage hardware, MOP dots on the fretboard and a different radius neck and thicker frets. Some of these are cool guitars, too.

All AVRI (American Vintage Reissue) Teles should have a bakelite pickguard, slotted-head screws over the whole guitar including strap lugs and neckplate screws, cloth wiring. Even the pickup mounting screws are slotted, not Phillips.

Pre-July 2006 they all came with a certificate of authenticity (COA) signed by the CEO of Fender which interestinlgly enough said Custom Shop on top.

They also came with a bag of 'case candy' which included a skinny old-style strap with a shoulder pad, a six-barrel string-through bridge, a modern-style wiring kit with .022 capacitor and 1 meg pots with wiring diagram, a vintage style lead that's actually good quality, and an ashtray bridge cover. And it came in an orange-lined Tweed hardcase.

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.

dyflwd59 · January 13th, 2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Califatboy

I have decided that to round out my tele collection I need a nice USA 52 re-issue.

I understand that these have been around for several years (?). Are the current ones better than the older ones? Is any year in particular more desireable / different? Is COA valuable? Orig case?

Educate me...

Thanks

Bro, good choice if you decide to pick up a 52RI. I bought mine last year, and its a totally beautiful guitar. Best finishing of any of my guitars, and plays like a dream. I wont go into the technical aspects, as the other bros and sisters have already given you enough to chew on. I love the colour on mine, and it has grown a little darker over the year, but the grain still shows through clearly. Whether you get a current or older model, it's a must have for anyone who loves guitars the way people on this forum do. Enjoy!

FredDairy · January 13th, 2008, 08:08 PM

Don't buy it on looks alone. My 2007 has a big neck gap, and is a three piece body, which seems to be the least desired of the body options. It is the best sounding '52 reissue I've played, sound wise. But that may be because I've stumbled on the sweet spot for both pickups.

Dacious · January 13th, 2008, 09:46 PM

More Teles, even 52s, have three piece bodies than don't. This includes many old, revered ones. Fender has always been happy to amalgamate bits of lumber. Sometimes six or seven bits was common.

Many people reckon as long as the bridge and neck aren't on a seam it shouldn't make no never mind. IMO it don't matter anyway - I have a centre-seam partscaster that bisects both that is extremely resonant.

Quote:

It is the best sounding '52 reissue I've played, sound wise.

That's the only bit that makes any real difference IMO.

AJ Love · January 13th, 2008, 09:46 PM

My 2006 AV '52 RI is a spectacular Telecaster, no doubt about it.

My personal opinion (based on very little evidence, almost all snap-judgement) is that the quality of the "Thin Skin AV '52 RI limited editions" put out by Fender and sold at places like Wildwood and Dave's Guitar in 2006 and 2007 was slightly better than the previous factory models (however they had/have 9.5 inch radius and/or 6105 frets, which I don't like, but the overall quality was better) and that after those batches came out, Fender production stepped up the quality on the regular AV '52 RI's a bit: more attention to detail, less of the pumpkin orange finish, etc (this was in the second half of '06 and in '07, and I bet will continue in '08)

Pure opinion, but I'd say some of the best AV '52 RI's ever were made in '06 and '07 and likely in '08

Telemarkman · January 14th, 2008, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ Love

My 2006 AV '52 RI is a spectacular Telecaster, no doubt about it.

My personal opinion (based on very little evidence, almost all snap-judgement) is that the quality of the "Thin Skin AV '52 RI limited editions" put out by Fender and sold at places like Wildwood and Dave's Guitar in 2006 and 2007 was slightly better than the previous factory models (however they had/have 9.5 inch radius and/or 6105 frets, which I don't like, but the overall quality was better) and that after those batches came out, Fender production stepped up the quality on the regular AV '52 RI's a bit: more attention to detail, less of the pumpkin orange finish, etc (this was in the second half of '06 and in '07, and I bet will continue in '08)

Pure opinion, but I'd say some of the best AV '52 RI's ever were made in '06 and '07 and likely in '08

Mine's a jan.2004 regular '52RI, while my friend has a 2006 "Thin Skin", both purchased from Wildwood. There's absolutely no foundation for the assertion that the "Thin Skin" is of a higher quality. They are different as to the radius/frets and the finish, but the overall quality seems to be very similar. If anything, mine appears to have even smoother fretboard edges, but that may be due to the thicker finish.

But then there are always variations I guess...

Klaus Kemmerling · January 14th, 2008, 07:46 AM

Hello,
referring to Fender they changed the models from the older series to the new (vintage correcter) "American Vintage" series in 1998/1999:

http://namm.harmony-central.com/Newp...ge-Series.html

My '52 RI Telecaster is from 1999 and it has a chunkier neck than the earlier guitars. Howerver this "chunkier" neck is still much slimmer than the necks of the Custom Shop Nocaster models.

Klaus

austintele · January 14th, 2008, 08:28 AM

I do like the new thin-skin ones with the bigger necks. Very cool guitars

serialsteve · January 14th, 2008, 10:21 AM

THE best '52 RI (it was actually "Vintage Telecaster" at the time), was a really early one that I had about a decade ago. I have yet to find anything that has "it" like that one did. Pots were dated late '81 and the serial number was #065*, neck stamp just said "VINTAGE", no pencil date or anything. That might have been the best Telecaster I've ever owned and I've had a bunch of really good ones.

Grin'n'pick · January 14th, 2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellecaster

I like mine:

But they only made seventy-five of them.

Jellecaster's one is certainly the nicest new one I've seen. I have a normal thin skin which I adore, although I'm agreement that there probably is no difference in quality between a good standard run AV52 and a good thin skin (or bad example of either - there will be gems and duffers for both). Not all the thin skins had the 9.5" radius fingerboard radius, you can get them with 7.25" as well. Unless you want the added protection of a poly under layer I would recommend the thin skin just because it is (arguably) closer to the original specs and is rarer. My thin skin hasn't got the pumpkin shade finish, despite what the dodgy white balance on my digital camera would have you believe! Get a good AV52, of any age, and I'd imagine you'd have yourself a very fine Telecaster.

Mine...

0le FUZZY · January 14th, 2008, 12:13 PM

...Iss iss won classic lookin TELECASTER:

...I wish it waz mne.

0le FUZZY

stantheman · January 14th, 2008, 12:43 PM

Grin, I gotta agree with Fuzzy too.
That's one of the nicest I've ever seen period.

Califatboy · January 14th, 2008, 05:33 PM

I thought all AVRI were butterscotch blond....

http://cgi.ebay.ca/2000-American-Fen...QQcmdZViewItem

Jellecaster · January 14th, 2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Califatboy

I thought all AVRI were butterscotch blond....

http://cgi.ebay.ca/2000-American-Fen...QQcmdZViewItem

Not all. Fender periodically does special runs. Mine is "Nocaster" blonde and was a limited run of seventy-five. They did a run of two-tone sunburst at the same time and I know there have also been black and copper versions.

Gareth John · January 14th, 2008, 06:01 PM

I chose mine out of a bunch in new york, and they're outstanding guitars. Some were slightly darker than others and they varied alot. I'd like to see how well those 80's reissues are aging if anyone has any pics, I wanna see what 20 years does to one.

Dacious · January 14th, 2008, 08:39 PM

Yeah, I forgot the sunburst one, too. They've done a few 'special' runs including a very limited 'Player Special' IIRC (?) that was either sunburst or black, was all 52Ri except it had the flatter radius neck and big frets, and - stretching memory - also had a 4-way or some special switching? Might have been Nocaster pickups, too.

So there's been a few versions. I like the circa 2000-2001 FSR myself with the black paint/gold hardware - there's a pic running on another thread somewhere. Very cool. If you were looking for a semi-collectable, one of these in the case with candy and COA would be cool.

I have a full set of the gold hardware on my partscaster, which included all the gold-plated slotted screws incl. the intonation adjusters and pickup mounts, plus a gold-plated neck cover!

Cheesehead · January 14th, 2008, 08:56 PM

I got my 2007 AV 52 RI for xmas. It's lived up to all my expectations of being my dream guitar. Awesome.

justapasinthru · January 14th, 2008, 09:15 PM

I had one sent to the local shop where i buys my stuff...knowing i might not be 100% happy sight unseen....but it is without a doubt the most responsive wood-neck combo i own...and even w/o compensated saddles....will stay just like it is.....switch in the 1/2 postion.........not a perfect looking peice of wood...but for two pc's.....great tone....

bglaze · January 14th, 2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justapasinthru

I had one sent to the local shop where i buys my stuff...knowing i might not be 100% happy sight unseen....but it is without a doubt the most responsive wood-neck combo i own...and even w/o compensated saddles....will stay just like it is.....switch in the 1/2 postion.........not a perfect looking peice of wood...but for two pc's.....great tone....

Not perfect? That things a beauty! I love that wood... You got a pretty darn perfect instrument there if you ask me!

justapasinthru · January 14th, 2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bglaze

Not perfect? That things a beauty! I love that wood... You got a pretty darn perfect instrument there if you ask me!

That as much as i like wide-fat necks....I fnind I'm really enjoying playing this guitar. It makes me really stretch to fret cleanly and avoid the "crowded" playing area being used to a wider neck..but that's good for me, and I ablsolutley love the chimey sound and responsiveness....kinda takes you back to when these guitars first came out....and the simplicity of it all...thanks for the compliment on the wood...they all look so differnent...I'm happy...

macdog · January 14th, 2008, 10:06 PM

Jellecaster, yours is showing some pickup rout below the bridge. Is your bridge properly aligned? My new 52 is brilliant but the bridge is misaligned and shows a chunk of rout. I am likely to return it to be fixed or replaced even though I love the guitar.

marty h · January 14th, 2008, 10:15 PM

i want a 52 ri also to add to my collectin of a glendale pine tele,highway 1 texas tele,2007 hot rod tele

jholcomb · January 14th, 2008, 10:26 PM

I ordered mine sight unseen from Sam Ash in '84, and hit the jackpot. One piece body, beautiful flame on the neck, plays like butter. Have never been thrilled with the neck pickup as has been detailed here in other posts. But otherwise, it's undoubtedly my Number One. Funny, I really like big necks, but the slightly thinner one on this Tele fits like a glove. I just got lucky.

Dacious · January 15th, 2008, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macdog

Jellecaster, yours is showing some pickup rout below the bridge. Is your bridge properly aligned? My new 52 is brilliant but the bridge is misaligned and shows a chunk of rout. I am likely to return it to be fixed or replaced even though I love the guitar.

Old ones do, new ones do it, my 52Ri did it, my 78 did it, my 69RI does it. Put the ashtray on it, it disappears. Every Tele with a vintage bridge I've ever worked on (quite a few) always shows some pickup 'bumcrack'. It's partly because the rim bend is not a straight edge, but curves upwards. Alwasy looks worse veiwed from a playing angle.

macdog · January 15th, 2008, 03:33 AM

Thanks Dacious. I've decided to take mine back to see what they can do about it. I don't mind a bit of bum crack (ha) but the crooked bridge has bummed me out (ha ha). These guitars are around $2,800 here, not good enough quality control methinks.

Telemarkman · January 15th, 2008, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grin'n'pick

Mine...

Mine is nicer, mine is nicer, mine is nicer

Oh, man

......

Grin'n'pick · January 15th, 2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Califatboy

I thought all AVRI were butterscotch blond....

http://cgi.ebay.ca/2000-American-Fen...QQcmdZViewItem

Whilst I'm not disputing the authenticity of that auction, or the guitar, or anything like that per se it always makes me laugh when you see "It is the envy of every guitar col[l]ector I have met at Guitar Center near me" - makes you wonder why they haven't bought it then!

And it is a bit of a cliche that the guitar has only had one careful lady owner before (oh, plus her siblings).

I can say one thing for sure though, if I was having a sunburst 'fiddy-tew' I'd rather have a two colour fifties spec one than this, which is bordering dangerously on the fringes of being a furniture guitar (albeit a very pretty one), and therefore IMHO at odds with what the 52 is all about. And for Telemarkman's information, mine's nicer anyway.

They should reintroduce the black and the sunburst versions, and possibly the copper, but then I think maybe it's is a subject we've done to death.

Califatboy, are you any closer to deciding what you might get?

Rick J · January 15th, 2008, 09:34 AM

I have a 2006 Thinskin on its way to me as I type, might get here later today or tomorrow. Very excited, pretty rare beast here in the UK. Will report in when it arrives!

Rick J

Grin'n'pick · January 15th, 2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick J

I have a 2006 Thinskin on its way to me as I type, might get here later today or tomorrow. Very excited, pretty rare beast here in the UK. Will report in when it arrives!

Rick J

Rick you're going to love it. I know at least two of us with them over here, but I think we are quite a 'select' band.

January 13th, 2008, 05:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Califatboy Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 226 39 Photos	Best USA 52 ReIssue... I have decided that to round out my tele collection I need a nice USA 52 re-issue. I understand that these have been around for several years (?). Are the current ones better than the older ones? Is any year in particular more desireable / different? Is COA valuable? Orig case? Educate me... Thanks __________________

January 13th, 2008, 05:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
mellecaster VENDOR Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 7,542 17 Photos	Been out since 1982..so yeah, I would say awhile...some are called AVR 52s..just type in 52ri somewhere, and you can be entertained for Weeks ! __________________ Expert Repair....ReCrafting...and Set-ups Making your World a Better Place...One Guitar at a time

January 13th, 2008, 05:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
gitarjoe Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,164 15 Photos	52 reissues from pre 2000, have smaller necks. Sold my 98 for that reason. On the other hand they had the best finish and color. __________________ Just my two cents.

January 13th, 2008, 05:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 41 Posts: 2,422	I like mine: But they only made seventy-five of them. __________________ It was born at the junction of form and function...

January 13th, 2008, 05:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ed Bickert Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cape Cod, MA Age: 41 Posts: 946	Is that a fact or an opinion? That the pre-2000 models have smaller necks? That's good to know if it's true. __________________ Sorry, not the real Ed Bickert. Just a fan.

January 13th, 2008, 05:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
bglaze Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indiana Age: 26 Posts: 519	Well, I just bought a 2007 '52 AVRI, and I can definitely tell you that the quality is astounding. This guitar has gotten more playtime in the past week than I could've imagined possible. I don't know anything about the older ones, so that's the only advice I can give. I know you'll be happy with a new one, and I'm almost positive you'd be happy with an older one! It's great!

January 13th, 2008, 05:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Telemarkman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 62 Posts: 6,131	There's no telling which is the best, but those made after 98/99 are more true to the original specs, meaning more correct body radius, thicker neck and alnico 3 pickups instead of alnico 5. But guitarjoe is right that the finish was great on the earlier ones - not so orange and more transparent. But there have always been variations. And Jellecaster, yours is one of the best looking examples I've seen. Some sort of limited edition obviously......?

January 13th, 2008, 06:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,786 35 Photos	The pre-'99 model was 1302, which you won't find anywhere on the guitar except maybe a stamp in the neck pocket. My own personal take is: they are all good guitars, some will be better than others. You may like the slimmer neck of the '90's, some people do. It makes not much difference to value - they are more valued by condition and originality. The later ones have a similar neck profile to a 1969 RI Thinline or a 70's Tele or the 70's MIM reissues. It is slightly slimmer than the slugger on the 50's Classic Tele. Some of the early ones are getting some really great player wear on the fretboards, like real 50's and around the upper bouts. There's been heavier and lighter ones, some with better figure. Some are reckoned to be better colours - nobody really knows. After about 2002 they toned down the orangey neck tint which is better IMO. But some really old Teles have very orange necks. The pickups did change, from alnico 5 to alnico 3 but stayed the same for windings and impedance, inductance changed ever so slightly; but I have/had both versions and there is not that much difference in tone really. You can buy the new ones and stick them in if you want, they look exactly the same. The interesting thing is, if you count the 1982-'86 or thereabouts ones made in Japan, the 52Ri had it's own 25th Anniversary last year, which makes it a very long lasting model! IMO they're a bit like a Harley - with no planned obsolesence, they all look very similar, so the older ones retain virtually the same value as newer ones, and a cherry old model with case and case candy can still be a $1000-1100 guitar. Find one you like, don't worry about the year. There's plenty of good Tele models - they are one of them as long as you want a vintage-type Tele. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

January 13th, 2008, 06:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
Califatboy Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 226 39 Photos	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?

January 13th, 2008, 07:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,786 35 Photos	Every 'real 52Ri is ash. The only real changes over the years was that there were some in black, some in a very attractive copper finish. There were also a few hybrid models like the FSR which IIRC had gold vintage hardware, MOP dots on the fretboard and a different radius neck and thicker frets. Some of these are cool guitars, too. All AVRI (American Vintage Reissue) Teles should have a bakelite pickguard, slotted-head screws over the whole guitar including strap lugs and neckplate screws, cloth wiring. Even the pickup mounting screws are slotted, not Phillips. Pre-July 2006 they all came with a certificate of authenticity (COA) signed by the CEO of Fender which interestinlgly enough said Custom Shop on top. They also came with a bag of 'case candy' which included a skinny old-style strap with a shoulder pad, a six-barrel string-through bridge, a modern-style wiring kit with .022 capacitor and 1 meg pots with wiring diagram, a vintage style lead that's actually good quality, and an ashtray bridge cover. And it came in an orange-lined Tweed hardcase. 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. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

January 13th, 2008, 08:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
FredDairy Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicagoland Age: 28 Posts: 1,129	Don't buy it on looks alone. My 2007 has a big neck gap, and is a three piece body, which seems to be the least desired of the body options. It is the best sounding '52 reissue I've played, sound wise. But that may be because I've stumbled on the sweet spot for both pickups.

January 13th, 2008, 09:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
AJ Love Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison WI Age: 43 Posts: 1,026	My 2006 AV '52 RI is a spectacular Telecaster, no doubt about it. My personal opinion (based on very little evidence, almost all snap-judgement) is that the quality of the "Thin Skin AV '52 RI limited editions" put out by Fender and sold at places like Wildwood and Dave's Guitar in 2006 and 2007 was slightly better than the previous factory models (however they had/have 9.5 inch radius and/or 6105 frets, which I don't like, but the overall quality was better) and that after those batches came out, Fender production stepped up the quality on the regular AV '52 RI's a bit: more attention to detail, less of the pumpkin orange finish, etc (this was in the second half of '06 and in '07, and I bet will continue in '08) Pure opinion, but I'd say some of the best AV '52 RI's ever were made in '06 and '07 and likely in '08

January 14th, 2008, 07:46 AM	#18 (permalink)
Klaus Kemmerling Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cologne/Germany Age: 45 Posts: 307	Hello, referring to Fender they changed the models from the older series to the new (vintage correcter) "American Vintage" series in 1998/1999: http://namm.harmony-central.com/Newp...ge-Series.html My '52 RI Telecaster is from 1999 and it has a chunkier neck than the earlier guitars. Howerver this "chunkier" neck is still much slimmer than the necks of the Custom Shop Nocaster models. Klaus

January 14th, 2008, 08:28 AM	#19 (permalink)
austintele Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2004 Location: austin, texas Posts: 1,551	I do like the new thin-skin ones with the bigger necks. Very cool guitars

January 14th, 2008, 10:21 AM	#20 (permalink)
serialsteve Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 808	THE best '52 RI (it was actually "Vintage Telecaster" at the time), was a really early one that I had about a decade ago. I have yet to find anything that has "it" like that one did. Pots were dated late '81 and the serial number was #065*, neck stamp just said "VINTAGE", no pencil date or anything. That might have been the best Telecaster I've ever owned and I've had a bunch of really good ones.

January 14th, 2008, 12:13 PM	#22 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 9,999 6 Photos	...Iss iss won classic lookin TELECASTER: ...I wish it waz mne. 0le FUZZY

January 14th, 2008, 12:43 PM	#23 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,935	Grin, I gotta agree with Fuzzy too. That's one of the nicest I've ever seen period. __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

January 14th, 2008, 05:33 PM	#24 (permalink)
Califatboy Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 226 39 Photos	I thought all AVRI were butterscotch blond.... http://cgi.ebay.ca/2000-American-Fen...QQcmdZViewItem

January 14th, 2008, 06:01 PM	#26 (permalink)
Gareth John Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: England Age: 24 Posts: 832 8 Photos	I chose mine out of a bunch in new york, and they're outstanding guitars. Some were slightly darker than others and they varied alot. I'd like to see how well those 80's reissues are aging if anyone has any pics, I wanna see what 20 years does to one.

January 14th, 2008, 08:39 PM	#27 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,786 35 Photos	Yeah, I forgot the sunburst one, too. They've done a few 'special' runs including a very limited 'Player Special' IIRC (?) that was either sunburst or black, was all 52Ri except it had the flatter radius neck and big frets, and - stretching memory - also had a 4-way or some special switching? Might have been Nocaster pickups, too. So there's been a few versions. I like the circa 2000-2001 FSR myself with the black paint/gold hardware - there's a pic running on another thread somewhere. Very cool. If you were looking for a semi-collectable, one of these in the case with candy and COA would be cool. I have a full set of the gold hardware on my partscaster, which included all the gold-plated slotted screws incl. the intonation adjusters and pickup mounts, plus a gold-plated neck cover! __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

January 14th, 2008, 08:56 PM	#28 (permalink)
Cheesehead Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Age: 45 Posts: 1,320 6 Photos	I got my 2007 AV 52 RI for xmas. It's lived up to all my expectations of being my dream guitar. Awesome. __________________ "This is blues power!" Albert King

January 14th, 2008, 09:15 PM	#29 (permalink)
justapasinthru TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Medford Oregon Age: 62 Posts: 82 4 Photos	Mine was shipped in DEC 07 I had one sent to the local shop where i buys my stuff...knowing i might not be 100% happy sight unseen....but it is without a doubt the most responsive wood-neck combo i own...and even w/o compensated saddles....will stay just like it is.....switch in the 1/2 postion.........not a perfect looking peice of wood...but for two pc's.....great tone.... Last edited by justapasinthru; December 31st, 2008 at 10:22 AM.

January 14th, 2008, 10:06 PM	#32 (permalink)
macdog Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 166	Jellecaster, yours is showing some pickup rout below the bridge. Is your bridge properly aligned? My new 52 is brilliant but the bridge is misaligned and shows a chunk of rout. I am likely to return it to be fixed or replaced even though I love the guitar.

January 14th, 2008, 10:15 PM	#33 (permalink)
marty h Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: gonzales,la Age: 53 Posts: 224	i want a 52 ri also to add to my collectin of a glendale pine tele,highway 1 texas tele,2007 hot rod tele

January 14th, 2008, 10:26 PM	#34 (permalink)
jholcomb Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 245	I ordered mine sight unseen from Sam Ash in '84, and hit the jackpot. One piece body, beautiful flame on the neck, plays like butter. Have never been thrilled with the neck pickup as has been detailed here in other posts. But otherwise, it's undoubtedly my Number One. Funny, I really like big necks, but the slightly thinner one on this Tele fits like a glove. I just got lucky.

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

January 15th, 2008, 03:33 AM	#36 (permalink)
macdog Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 166	Thanks Dacious. I've decided to take mine back to see what they can do about it. I don't mind a bit of bum crack (ha) but the crooked bridge has bummed me out (ha ha). These guitars are around $2,800 here, not good enough quality control methinks.

January 15th, 2008, 09:34 AM	#39 (permalink)
Rick J Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North London, UK Posts: 647	Thinskin on its way. I have a 2006 Thinskin on its way to me as I type, might get here later today or tomorrow. Very excited, pretty rare beast here in the UK. Will report in when it arrives! Rick J __________________ "If you want to know what an electric guitar is supposed to sound like, just listen to this." - British DJ John Peel introducing a Roy Buchanan track on BBC radio in the late 60's.