Certificate of authenticity

[maajka]

Hi,
I bought a Vintage '52 RI Tele this Monday from Guitar Center, it had a few dings +Memorial Day sale and I got it for 1020$. Except the manual and the cable, there was nothing else in the case.

Is there any way I can get Certificate of Authenticity from Fender? I talked to the GC people, they said they can't do anything about it.

 

[Telehackster]

Fender stopped issuing the COAs in August, 2006--I think. They're now pretty much a Custom Shop thing.

 

[television]

They no longer come with certificates

I called Fender on this several months ago and they confirmed that the AV52 no longer comes with a certificate of authenticity.

 

[Telemarkman]

The COA has been discontinued since the president of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. William C. Schultz, died a couple of years back. He was the one who signed the COA.

 

[Mark Davis]

The COA has been discontinued since the president of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. William C. Schultz, died a couple of years back. He was the one who signed the COA.

100% correct.

Another reason they stopped giving out COA's is it imcorrectly stated the 52ri's were finished in Nitro just like the original fenders were.

 

[maajka]

Thanks guys.
What do you think about the deal btw., considering that it is a floor model and doesn't have the 6 saddle bridge, cover, strap and the rest?
I really like it, it's much better built than my old highway one, and the sound is just perfect (to me).

 

[T-bone Tone]

100% correct.

Another reason they stopped giving out COA's is it imcorrectly stated the 52ri's were finished in Nitro just like the original fenders were.

Really? Where?

Prior to '82, there was nothing like the 1952 vintage reissue tele - to give it it's original nomenclature. Short of getting help from Stephen Hawking you are not going to get a 1952 tele, as was. The original '82's were a replica, and stated as much in the Fender catalogue of that year. I have the catalogue from #82, as well as the tele (recently on classifieds, and incorrectly labelled as 'sold' by the software, when the ad time-span ran out, that in any other place of reason would merely remove the guitar after the period specified in setting up the ad) which I am sure I do not need to reproduce here, as it's doubtless been done before, and it doesn't specify the finish in detail. At all. Nor does it specify the finish on the COA. At all.

The finish is excellent, however. My '82 vintage RI tele is still pristine.

Originally, the vintage tele reissue, now commonly referred to as the '52 RI, was not intended to run anywhere near as long as it has. But, it was a cash cow the fledgling Fender-Corona plant could not let go. From then, we have descended into relics and all that B.S. Just my opinion, of course.

Whereas, I feel they should have concentrated on using the new, re-gained quality of '82 (virtually every guitar from fullerton during this time was outstanding, even today, let alone after the late '70s' standards of quality) to launch new, improved teles and strats, and totally new models, instead of playing safe.

Take the Super Champ of '82, as an example of what they did right. Brilliant, improved, design of a classic. It's taken them all these years to reissue that! Although, hats off to them; they have done an ace job.

 

[Dacious]

100% correct.

Another reason they stopped giving out COA's is it imcorrectly stated the 52ri's were finished in Nitro just like the original fenders were.

I don't think that's the reason. The topcoat or 'finish' is nitrocellulose. The undercoat on the body isn't. And the pore sealer and filler in a real '52 or any other ash Fender or sealer on any alder Fender isn't either.

I think they reason they stopped was because it was seemingly the only reissue that came with a COA - and people seemed to simply lose them anyhow. The 52Ri predated the Custom Shop which is why I guess they used the COA in the first place (plus it is a pretty special guitar for Fender), and ithe COA might mislead people into believing the 52Ri is a Custom Shop guitar when it isn't - it's a standard production item.

As COAs only now come with CS guitars, it's now consistent.

 

[surfoverb]

Really? Where?

Prior to '82, there was nothing like the 1952 vintage reissue tele - to give it it's original nomenclature. Short of getting help from Stephen Hawking you are not going to get a 1952 tele, as was. The original '82's were a replica, and stated as much in the Fender catalogue of that year. I have the catalogue from #82, as well as the tele (recently on classifieds, and incorrectly labelled as 'sold' by the software, when the ad time-span ran out, that in any other place of reason would merely remove the guitar after the period specified in setting up the ad) which I am sure I do not need to reproduce here, as it's doubtless been done before, and it doesn't specify the finish in detail. At all. Nor does it specify the finish on the COA. At all.

The finish is excellent, however. My '82 vintage RI tele is still pristine.

Originally, the vintage tele reissue, now commonly referred to as the '52 RI, was not intended to run anywhere near as long as it has. But, it was a cash cow the fledgling Fender-Corona plant could not let go. From then, we have descended into relics and all that B.S. Just my opinion, of course.

Whereas, I feel they should have concentrated on using the new, re-gained quality of '82 (virtually every guitar from fullerton during this time was outstanding, even today, let alone after the late '70s' standards of quality) to launch new, improved teles and strats, and totally new models, instead of playing safe.

Take the Super Champ of '82, as an example of what they did right. Brilliant, improved, design of a classic. It's taken them all these years to reissue that! Although, hats off to them; they have done an ace job.

Mine came with a pamphlet titled, "Lacquer Finishes: Precautions and Care" and in that it implies that they are finished the same as 50's models...it says, "Lacquer finishes were brought back by popular demand in 1982" then it goes on to describe how poly is harder and less susceptible to wear...I think the descrepancy is that they use poly as a sealer and nitro on top and not straight nitro.

 

[Mark Davis]

Mine came with a pamphlet titled, "Lacquer Finishes: Precautions and Care" and in that it implies that they are finished the same as 50's models...it says, "Lacquer finishes were brought back by popular demand in 1982" then it goes on to describe how poly is harder and less susceptible to wear...I think the descrepancy is that they use poly as a sealer and nitro on top and not straight nitro.

That was the literature that came with my 1988 52ri also.

I was probably mistaken when I said it appeared on the COA.

 

[boris bubbanov]

While we're on this subject, what chances do ya'll figure I have of getting a fresh COA from FMIC on an "NOS" NOS No-Caster I bought last year?

The case couldn't be found, nor any of the candy. Guitar Center, of course.


Much obliged,

 

[surfoverb]

While we're on this subject, what chances do ya'll figure I have of getting a fresh COA from FMIC on an "NOS" NOS No-Caster I bought last year?

The case couldn't be found, nor any of the candy. Guitar Center, of course.


Much obliged,

Its probably not unlike getting a replacement decal which involves taking pictures of the guitar and having an authorized Fender dealer look at it and send in the appropriate paperwork...Basically a big PITA.

 

[vintage52]

That was the literature that came with my 1988 52ri also.

I was probably mistaken when I said it appeared on the COA.

As did my 97 Reissue.

 

[vintage52]

Interesting though

They do issue the FSR certificates.

Makes you wonder why they just couldn't keep the other certs going.

 

[Ricky D.]

Thanks guys.
What do you think about the deal btw., considering that it is a floor model and doesn't have the 6 saddle bridge, cover, strap and the rest?
I really like it, it's much better built than my old highway one, and the sound is just perfect (to me).

The deal is OK. The missing stuff has some street value, I guess, but not so much. And it's not stuff I would use. Very cool guitar.

 

[surfoverb]

Yeah I'd say $1000 and some change is a good deal on a great guitar...I think I payed $1400 for mine and both the strap and cord fell apart so there ya go.

 

[maajka]

Haha. You're right guys. I just have to get the switch knob. GC....
Only thing that surprised me was that it's a 3 piece body. Still, it sounds great.

 

[Dacious]

90+% of Fenders are three or more pieces. They just look like they aren't. Don't sweat it, it doesn't matter. Many of the great players and recordings we admire used guitars the same.

 

[geemo]

While we're on this subject, what chances do ya'll figure I have of getting a fresh COA from FMIC on an "NOS" NOS No-Caster I bought last year?

The case couldn't be found, nor any of the candy. Guitar Center, of course.


Much obliged,

Hi

I'd say you´re in for a challange... GRANDE!

I had guitar maker Bob Benedetto who works with fender try to help me get a certifikate for a Nocaster. I have heard that they have great respect for him and since he was a personal friend of the guitars store owner where I bought the guitar, me and the owner thought we would give it a shot. Bob was ofcourse supplied with all the photos and serialnumbers on the Nocaster from the guitarsstore...

Not even Bob could make this happen. I guess Fender thought they had to give him something so I got the case candy bag, but no certificate.

This was around 2004.

 

[Telemarkman]

That was the literature that came with my 1988 52ri also.

I was probably mistaken when I said it appeared on the COA.

The exact words on the COA are:

Fender - CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

This is to certify that this Vintage Telecaster Guitar incorporates the highest standards of craftmanship and quality components and is a replica of the 1952 design.

Dated_______, Serial No. ________ It is signed by William C. Schultz