Fender 1951 Telecaster Neck, Fat "U" Shape, Narrow Tall Frets, 9.5", Maple

I know this is a necro-post but I figured it’s better than a new thread.

I haven’t played a thick U, but I’ve played a 1056 Soft V and a Brad Paisley V. Both were about .9 to 1” 1st to 12th.

how does the thick U compare? I like to do a lot of thumb over the top playing. Is the thick U harder to play on than the V styles for that sort of thing? Looking to buy stock Fender parts and can’t really find anything with a thick V profile and 9.5” radius.

 

The Vintage Modified Thinline Telecaster Neck is the most reasonably priced U Shape out there right now that is not $299.99. Indonesian made with a 9.5” and medium jumbo frets and the truss rod adjust is on the neck - not the heel which to me is The Archilles Heel of Old School
Fenders (along with 7.25 and “vintage” frets - which lately I call Bean Counter Frets - because only an accountant would do such a disservice like this
to such a great guitar.

 

Can you buy that neck by itself?

 

Yep, I’ve seen them on The Stratosphere.
The Indonesians are into Chunky Necks.
Just in case You’re unaware - I got my Natural Squier Thinline WITH Fender stamped pickups for $299.99 and She’s as good and in many cases 90% better than most Guitars I’ve played over the last 54 years. I have not changed or replaced a bloody thing.
Power Slinky’s on everything.

 

I’d love to oder this neck to replace a modern C, but I’m nervous about finishing off the nut. Ive never done any work on nuts before...

 

You could slap a pre-cut Tusq on there. I did before and instead of cutting any slots, I taped sand paper to the neck(to match the radius) and sanded off the bottom of the nut until the highest was right. I mainly had to do this because I was putting a flat bottom in a 12” radius neck. You might not have to do anything if you get the standard 9.5” radius nut.

 

I hadn't either, though I'm a trained engineer, so not averse to using hand tools...I bought a set of Hosco nut files and took my time. I've actually used these to fine tune my other guitars, so they have already paid for themselves in terms of what I would have paid a tech to get them done.

This is now one of my favourite guitars; I put an aged body on it in the end, so it has become a sort of '54 Esquire wannabe.

 

Who makes the lipless bridge plate?

 

You can buy them made by various sellers, but my one is a standard Fender plate, that I've linished the sides down using a flap wheel on an angle grinder (right side of photo).

 

I have a couple of questions for anyone that may have ordered this neck.
First can anyone tell me how rolled the edges are. I prefer not too much as I don't like the lack of real estate at the edges for the e strings
Second can anyone tell me where I could order this in Canada?

 

Seriously considering this neck for a project. Is it as fat or fatter than the U-shaped necks on the Classic 70's strats?

 

I have this neck but have not used it on a project yet. Far too many existing guitars!

The fretboard edges are not rolled

The neck is properly thick. Thicker than a Baja. If you want a thick neck and not expensive this is it.

It’s very glossy. If I use it I will take off all the excessive gloss and roll the edges as well as install a bone nut.

 

You, Sir, are a Certifiable Badass and I salute you!

 

Hmmmm, me thinks I may have to look into this once the evil Corona hangover has passed

 

Bringing up an old thread here,. Old man hands have me looking for a thicker neck on my Tele. I'm interested in this neck. What size are the tuner holes? MIM=10mm? Are all modern Fenders 10mm now? I assume I either need Fender tuners or Klusons with the adapter bushing. I have Klusons on the neck on the guitar now and I have zero complaints.

What tuners have you guys been using?

Thank you

Neil

 

I like the slotted vintage style tuners.

 

Thank you Fenderchamp. I like those as well. What brand works in that neck or do I just get the Klusons I like and add the adapter bushings

I am assuming being a MIM neck it takes 10mm tuners. Confirm?

What did you use?

Neil

 

Bit of a tangent but I saw someone ask earlier how the 51 U tele neck compares to the Classic Series 70s U Strat neck. I was thinking of sticking the 51 tele neck on a strat body but that would require some touting id rather not do. If the Classic Series 70s U neck isn't a huge departure from the tele U I'd gladly use that. I have no doubt the tele U is fatter overall but if someone with measurements or first hand knowledge were to say that they're pretty comparable that'd be valuable info

 

I'm not sure it does. I fitted vintage tuners to mine and I'm 99% certain this was the neck I had to ream to fit the tuners into. I'm not at home right now, so I can't check.

I didn't update this thread, but I sanded the poly off mine (apart from the fingerboard) and sprayed it with tinted nitro to give it an aged effect and changed the logo to say 'Esquire'. Hope this doesn't cause arguments on here, but it was already labelled 'Fender' so I don't feel I'm faking anything.

I put a bone nut in it too while it was stripped down. It plays really, really well now and feels nicely worn in despite being one of my newer guitars.



From behind:

 

If the frets are the same as on my AO50s, also described as 'tall vintage', I think Fender are being somewhat liberal with their terminology. They may be very slightly taller than what you'd find on, say, an AVRI, but they are less tall than medium jumbo.