Fender CS 51 Nocaster Relic Vs Fender CS '52 Tele Heavy Relic

[Groberts]

I have a 2014 Fender '51 Nocaster Relic. Weighs just under 7 lbs. 9.5" radius, 6105 frets. Started life with Fender CS Nocaster Pu's but I swapped them with a set of Nordstrand NVT Alnico III PU's. Its been a stellar great guitar.

I recently played a '52 Fender CS Tele, Heavy relic, Ncoaster U shape necl profile, CS Nocaster PU's, 9.5" Radius, 6105s. The heavy relic '52 has a more open, organic, responsive resonant tone that can get very twangy and classic, or sweet, clean, bluesy. What is remarkable about the '52 is the open, resonance. It plays effortless and is so 'alive'. I briefly compared my Nocaster Relic (But just 10 mins before shop closed) The '52 is snappier, brighter, twangier. Mine is warmer, bigger, deeper, a little but tighter sounding. Hard to describe.

I can't get that '52 out of my head. Can't really justify both guitars since they are different but VERY similar. So I am trying to decide whether to sell my '51 Nocaster for the '52 Heavy relic.

Things I like more about the heavy Relic: The back of the neck finish is well warn and the lacquer is gone in the player area from 1st to 14th fret or so. VERY comfy.

The biggest thing is the open, airy, resonance that is tonally expressive and very deep. Keep in mind, until now, my Nocaster has beat most other Nocaster or tele's I've compared it to. But this '52 has something special.

Arguably, they are the same guitar. Ash/Maple, similar weight, U Shape Nocaster neck, 9.5" Radius, 6105's. Mine has different PU's but I still have the stock Nocaster PU's.

Suggestions? I wonder how different is the '52 model traditionally compared to a '51 Nocaster?

 

[BopT]

Check the setup of your guitar verses the 52. It could be the string height, neck angle etc that brings out the sound you like. Worth a shot. Best o luck.

 

[TeleTown]

If its the 52 at Rainbow guitars, I see where your coming from. Something special about that CS. I liked it a lot more than my nocasters as well. Some body at the factory put that thing together with care! Good Luck!!

 

[Groberts]

If its the 52 at Rainbow guitars, I see where your coming from. Something special about that CS. I liked it a lot more than my nocasters as well. Some body at the factory put that thing together with care! Good Luck!!

Yessir, indeed it is. You have Nocaster relics too? Who is this? Have we met here in Town?

 

[TeleTown]

Yessir, indeed it is. You have Nocaster relics too? Who is this? Have we met here in Town?

No- don't think weve met, but I gig a lot with a couple of TexMex horn section bands in Tucson, Ajo, PHX.> Casino Del Sol, The Blue, etc. I just moved back to Gila Bend. That's a very cool tele your looking at. I thought about it as well, but my nocasters got some huge necks on em, and im a big fan of the fat neck. The fatter the better for me. The 52 has a tone of its own, with a fast neck. I tried it with a super verb, lord that thing was killer! No need to swap pickups on it. Keep in touch and let me know what you do! You might not want to let it get away> just saying!

 

[Groberts]

No- don't think weve met, but I gig a lot with a couple of TexMex horn section bands in Tucson, Ajo, PHX.> Casino Del Sol, The Blue, etc. I just moved back to Gila Bend. That's a very cool tele your looking at. I thought about it as well, but my nocasters got some huge necks on em, and im a big fan of the fat neck. The fatter the better for me. The 52 has a tone of its own, with a fast neck. I tried it with a super verb, lord that thing was killer! No need to swap pickups on it. Keep in touch and let me know what you do! You might not want to let it get away> just saying!

yes, the necks are different. I loved the '52 neck. Which one(s) did you play? are you talking about a certain '52 down there? I am going back tomorrow. I will take my Nocaster with me to compare. Tough call because my Nocaster is truly exceptional too. Not sure there is a loser. Just a couple different flavors of awesome! ...and you are right, I don't want to let it get away ..even though I was not shopping for a guitar. But when they speak to you, ..its hard to get them outta your head.

 

[Nick Fanis]

The '52 is snappier, brighter, twangier. Mine is warmer, bigger, deeper, a little but tighter sounding. Hard to describe.

put back the ORIGINAL pups in your guitar than

 

[Groberts]

I went back and played the '52 Tele again today and compared to my Nocaster. Both are great, but the 52 heavy relic is twangier and has more classic Tele Snap that makes me want to develop better Tele chops.

I am demo'ing the '52 again tomorrow or the next day after changing the strings on my Nocaster back to regular D'addario XL110's. I am afraid I will regret and miss my Nocaster if I let it go to fund this one. and I am afraid if I don't fund the '52, it will haunt me as 'the one that got away.' Dammit.

I've played a Ton of Tele's, Custom shops mostly, and a bunch of Nocasters and Relics. a lot of them are really good. Some are just OK, a couple are 'great'. This one has "great" all over it.

 

[Nick Fanis]

Once again: You are ignoring THE most important factor in an electric's guitar tone: the PICKUPS, I am 90% sure that if you put the same pickups in your Nocaster (which you still have) the "gap" between those 2 guitars will be bridged.

 

[xtrajerry]

There will always be another guitar..

 

[Groberts]

Here is a Video I made on the fly at home last night. Which one sounds best to you? I won't comment here. But I have a preference. Thanks!

 

[Groberts]

​Nocaster Bridge PU Only (Both guitars have Nocaster PU's)


Middle PU position


Nocaster bridge PU's

 

[51Blackguard]

there's absolutely nothing wrong with seeking other's opinions here. However, I see mixed answers, both supporting you buying the '52 and others saying do this or change this.
The bottom line is, what sounds, plays and feels best to you. Based on what you've written, the answer is obvious!!!!!

Nick Fanis wrote "Once again: You are ignoring THE most important factor in an electric's guitar tone: the PICKUPS, I am 90% sure that if you put the same pickups in your Nocaster (which you still have) the "gap" between those 2 guitars will be bridged"

I have to disagree here (somewhat). I just changed the stock pots/caps on my 2007 '51 Nocaster NOS. It sounded nice before, but adding the RS Guitarworks pre-wired Vintage kit (280k Super Pot volume, 250k audio taper tone, vintage .047 PIO cap) opened the guitar up more than I can describe. My guitar has run-of-the-mill, stock Nocaster p'ups.
So, there goes the "change the pickups and have better tone" theory out the window.
Anytime I have upgraded pots/caps in my guitars, the difference has been night and day. The best part??? ( for a Tele) you spend $75.00 +/- for an upgrade the sounds like a million $