50s classic tele

[xjazzy]

Tele rob, congrats on your new guitar.
I have a 50's tele too and I always wanted a baja cause I just love the blonde one. Did you think you they're different guitars or they too similar? I just don't want to have one more guitar just for the color. I think I would not use the S-1 too much so I think I would stay only with the 50's.

Here it is:

 

[91xlntS-3]

Well guys & gals, got my Black 50's classic today! Came in a brand new Guardian Tweed HSC! Here's my first impressions:

First, when I took it out of the case, seemed sooo light; reason-only weighs in a 6.4 lbs.!! This is my lightest guitar (next is 7 lbs. even). Very light and very resonant unplugged.

This was a NOS from 2000, and the plastic was still on the pickguard! Doesn't look like it's ever been played, even tho it's supposed to be a "demo" model. Very beautiful black finish, not a spec or mark on it. Same with the neck, nicely tinted and no wear that can be found.

So, I changed the strings and cleaned her up and adjusted the intonation. Plugged her in and WOW, those p-ups are amazing! The bridge p-up is a twang monster! Sounds pretty "hot", and very in your face, as someone else pointed out. The neck p-up was a surprise to me, not as dark sounding as I was expecting. Almost has a Strat-ish kind of tone to it; I'm liking it a lot! The mid position is just what you'd expect from a Tele, nice, clean and a bit "spanky".

Had to raise the action slightly, especially on the E & B strings; wanted to fret out on a full note bend. so after raising the saddles just enough to keep it from fretting out, she stills plays like a dream. I like my action fairly low and use Fender super 250's (9-42 ga.). So a little buzzing is O.K. as long as it doesn't fret out or come thru the amp.

The real test will come next week at rehearsal and a gig next Friday night. I'm not saying that this will be my number 1; but will make a nice addition to my American Ash. Will post pics tomorrow when I have some time.

I was a bit skeptical about buying this sight unseen; but it was a real sweet surprise when see arrived. I can see why this is such a popular model with a lot of folks; great bang for the buck IMO.

 

[giginthesky]

pics pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze! can't wait to see it!

 

[tele rob]

Tele rob, congrats on your new guitar.
I have a 50's tele too and I always wanted a baja cause I just love the blonde one. Did you think you they're different guitars or they too similar? I just don't want to have one more guitar just for the color. I think I would not use the S-1 too much so I think I would stay only with the 50's.

Here it is:

Well, even though both guitars (Baja and 50s classic) are from the same series, they are different. The PUs are different, the 50s sounds rawer in my ears, the S1 on the Baja gives me somewhat of a strat tone in the 2nd position (or is it 4th?), anyway, the classic 50s is a straightforward 3 position guitar, the Baja a bit more refined IMO (4 position switch + S1). I'd like to hear other people's opinions on this.

 

[Telemarkman]

Well guys & gals, got my Black 50's classic today!

Congrats, sounds like you got a good'un, and very light indeed . (My 50's Classic weighed 8.6 lbs !)

So a little buzzing is O.K. as long as it doesn't fret out or come thru the amp.

Even if the buzzing doesn't come through the amp, the contact between the string and the frets prevents the string from vibrating absolutely freely, which may affect the tone.

 

[91xlntS-3]

Pics of my new 50's Classic

Batteries gave out on the camera before I could get any more shots. Good shot of my socks in pic #3 tho!!

 

[Twang]

I just scored a white blonde 'Classic 50s' body on the bay.

My first tele build has begun

 

[bajaman]

I just scored a white blonde 'Classic 50s' body on the bay.

My first tele build has begun

Good luck, keep us posted!!

 

[androo]

Pictures please

Congratulations,
droo

 

[TeleSVK]

Question – 50’s ClassicTele MIM Neck thickness:
Can anybody write neck thickness at the 1st and the 12th fret?
Is it the same size as Baja?
Can’t find this data on Fender site.
Thanx.

 

[Aengland77]

Very nice choice! I actually picked up a 50s classic the other day in my local ma n pa shop and it was awesome- handles preamp distortion very well along with cleans. I believe it was the same color too

 

[boris bubbanov]

Question – 50’s ClassicTele MIM Neck thickness:
Can anybody write neck thickness at the 1st and the 12th fret?
Is it the same size as Baja?
Can’t find this data on Fender site.
Thanx.

I apologize, my 50's is in Florida. I posted the comparison numbers on it and a few Bajas, Highway Ones and AV52 FSRs I had on hand a while back, at the suggestion of Mark Davis. I don't remember the general topic heading.

In general, the Baja is largest, then 50's Classic and AV52 about the same, then the Nashville, Highway One and '69 Thinline all approximately the same thickness but either the profile or the taper differs.

Let me clarify that the Fender specs on nut width are fantasy. All these MIMs are 1.64-1.66, mostly right at 1.65; there are no true MIM 1.625 necks that'd I've ever touched. ( I can't remember if the Bonnie Raitt sig was MIA or MIM).

 

[PJ55]

They're terrific guitars. Have had mine for 10 years already - first year.
Still my favorite, 2nd to my '70 (at left).

 

[TeleSVK]

I apologize, my 50's is in Florida. I posted the comparison numbers on it and a few Bajas, Highway Ones and AV52 FSRs I had on hand a while back, at the suggestion of Mark Davis. I don't remember the general topic heading.

In general, the Baja is largest, then 50's Classic and AV52 about the same, then the Nashville, Highway One and '69 Thinline all approximately the same thickness but either the profile or the taper differs.

Let me clarify that the Fender specs on nut width are fantasy. All these MIMs are 1.64-1.66, mostly right at 1.65; there are no true MIM 1.625 necks that'd I've ever touched. ( I can't remember if the Bonnie Raitt sig was MIA or MIM).

Thanx boris b.,
but this is not the thing i need to know. "Widht at nut" Nr. is available on Fender site.
I would like to know not the horizontal sizes of Tele necks, I seach for vertical sizes - neck thickness.

 

[Telemarkman]

I would like to know not the horizontal sizes of Tele necks, I seach for vertical sizes - neck thickness.

My 2004 50's Classic (sold):

Depth of neck at 1st fret: 0.88" (2.25cm)

Depth of neck at 12th fret: 0.96" (2.44cm)

This is very close to my '52RI's neck, but it doesn't have as pronounced shoulders. To me it felt more like a full C with a hint of V at the first frets.

As always with Fender, there are individual variations.

 

[TeleSVK]

My 2004 50's Classic (sold):

Depth of neck at 1st fret: 0.88" (2.25cm)

Depth of neck at 12th fret: 0.96" (2.44cm)

Could anyone compare this with Baja?

 

[JimmyBones]

50's classic tele

New member here. I just had to add my 2 cents worth on the Classic '50s Tele. I just got one and am very satified in every respect! Build quality appears to match my Am Dlx Ash Tele and the set up was great. It appears to be a 2 piece body but the grain is so well matched it almost appears to be 1 piece of wood. Looks great in the 2 color sunburst. Overall tone is a nice balance of brash and in your face or smooth and full depending upon your tone and amp settings. It's sooo good that I've put my Am Dlx Ash up for sale as it just doesn't match up when it comes to the respective tonal differences available from my Classic '50s pups. I also love the C shaped neck as it's sustantial w/out being too big.

I also have a Classic Players Baja which is nice but required a truss rod adjustment and set up when purchased which, I suppose, speaks to the variation in quality control addressed by others. I like the pups on the Baja but could easily do without the out of phase S-1 switching. The soft V neck is noticeably but slightly smaller than the C shape on the Classic '50s and the 9.5" radius w/ med jumbo frets feel good.

 

[capt pearl]

Well guys & gals, got my Black 50's classic today! Came in a brand new Guardian Tweed HSC! Here's my first impressions:

First, when I took it out of the case, seemed sooo light; reason-only weighs in a 6.4 lbs.!! This is my lightest guitar (next is 7 lbs. even). Very light and very resonant unplugged..

Is this weight common? I love light guitars!

best,

-capt pearl

 

[boris bubbanov]

Thanx boris b.,
but this is not the thing i need to know. "Widht at nut" Nr. is available on Fender site.
I would like to know not the horizontal sizes of Tele necks, I seach for vertical sizes - neck thickness.

You should know that the information provided by the Fender site, as I said before, pertaining to width at the nut is not reliable.

Not reliable. In general terms these necks all come in at 1 + 11/16ths ( 1.65 ) no matter what the website says. I've measured maybe 70 of them.

 

[boris bubbanov]

Is this weight common? I love light guitars!

best,

-capt pearl

No, sir. It is not common. Eight pounds is common, approaching nine not rare at all.