MIM Classic Series 50’s tele PU?
- Thread starter Neener
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
BadTranslate
Tele-Meister
I had one of the Classic Series strats. The pickups were just no-name Fender pickups. Really great sounding guitar though!
The Classic Player series comes w/ branded/special pickups. The Classic Series did not.
The Classic Player series comes w/ branded/special pickups. The Classic Series did not.
Nice. Do you know if they are Alnico 3 or 5?
Rigel7
Tele-Meister
I have a MIM Classic Series 50's Strat, as well as a Tele (lacquer version). Both were marketed as having "vintage style pickups" with Alnico magnets. Fender didn't specify what actual model they were. Here's a screenshot via the wayback machine. 
Hey thanks! I think the "vintage style" is usually A3 magnet. Just my guess.
There's one of these locally I'm thinking of picking up. He's asking $500 might try and talk him down.
Thinline casket
Tele-Meister
I really like all the classic series. I have a thinline and a strat. But I changed the pups in both. Everyone knows about the thinline "humbuckers." I thought the neck pickup on the strat was pretty good, but the bridge was unusable for me. It sounded like a string attached to a soup can.
Thinline casket
Tele-Meister
There's one of these locally I'm thinking of picking up. He's asking $500 might try and talk him down.[/QUOTE]
Anything below $500 is a doggone good price.
Anything below $500 is a doggone good price.
Anything below $500 is a doggone good price.[/QUOTE]
I have read some complaints the thickness of th poly coating on neck is a bit annoying. Any validity to this?
Dr Improbable
Tele-Holic
Anything below $500 is a doggone good price.[/QUOTE]
I picked up a Nitro Classic 50's for $600. At $500 my wallet would be on fire!
Nope back then just plastic bobbin A5 rods. They measure up at 6.0-6.5k and 50s were flat poles, 60s staggered. A3 rods were still 5 or 6 years off.
Mine sounds OK. Had a gen 78 and 52Ri at the same time. Still got the Thinline - with baseplate sounds like a Tele.
Rigel7
Tele-Meister
@Neener With my small sample size of a poly Strat and a lacquer Tele, I'd say that yes, the poly is a tad thick (but likely normal for poly). The lacquer is noticeably thinner. I got my Tele used, and there's a very small chip near the 12th fret. The finish is as thin as it feels.
$500 US is in the same ballpark as what I paid for my Tele.
Is it a poly or a lacquer model? The lacquer seems to be less common and was a sweet deal when new. It was about 100 bucks more but came with a tweet hard shell case, plus... y'know, nitro.
$500 US is in the same ballpark as what I paid for my Tele.
Is it a poly or a lacquer model? The lacquer seems to be less common and was a sweet deal when new. It was about 100 bucks more but came with a tweet hard shell case, plus... y'know, nitro.
It's from 2006, not entirely sure. I thought I read these were poly?
Rigel7
Tele-Meister
A lot of people do, even when the series was still in the catalogue. I think the lacquer ones were only in white, but the tip off is the tweed, orange lined HSC. The regular series came with a gig bag.
EDIT: I was mistaken about the colours. White, or 2 tone sunburst.
(link removed)
https://www.long-mcquade.com/115193...quer--Maple-Fingerboard---2-Tone-Sunburst.htm
Regardless, the lacquer version was far less common than the poly. It was also clumsily named. "Fender Classic Series 50s Telecaster Lacquer (Colour)". Before I found mine used I asked my local shop to see if any old stock could still be ordered in and every time I gave the owner the model name he'd say "okay, but what is the model name?" thinking I was just describing the instrument.
Last edited:
Thinline casket
Tele-Meister
I have read some complaints the thickness of th poly coating on neck is a bit annoying. Any validity to this?[/QUOTE]
It doesn't bother me. I do think my vintera thinline feels a little better. But I forget about it in 2 minutes.
Similar threads
