Vintera '50s Road Worn Telecaster

[palmerfralick]

Been away from this forum for a while so forgive me if this is old news. Why did Fender discontinue the Vintera '50s Road Worn Telecaster? I am considering getting one and all the reviews I read on the series are extremely positive. Looks like it was just a 2020 2021 run.

 

[NatillasdeMuertos]

I seem to remember the Mexican factory nitro runs are limited because they don’t have a dedicated nitro spray room or something like that.

They know they’re popular and I’m sure they’ll reintroduce a similar line before long.

 

[IrishBread69]

Answered above. I think they're doing limited runs now. I would expect to see something new next year. Hopefully even an offset.

 

[Martocaster]

Yeah I've heard the same as above before too. I'm sure they'll be reintroduced pretty soon in a new range of colours.

Not to rub salt into the wound, but they are brilliant guitars. I picked up a Tele around this time last year and liked it so much that I got a Strat over the summer. It was the only Strat that I could find for sale in the UK so I took a bit of a risk and ordered it online. Fortunately it lived up to all of my expectations!

 

[Butch Snyder]

Reverb has them for sale and a lot to choose from.

 

[Billy Bends]

I'm reviving this thread rather than starting my own of a similar nature.

My music store has an "exclusive" 2023 run of RW 50's Telecasters and I'm curious about a few things. I've heard these have a clear top coat over the paint/checking, that you can't actually feel the checking. Is that true, and those who have owned them for years, does the finish age with use? Is there maybe a poly top coat?

Also, I've noticed when looking these up there seems to be a noticeable variance in the specific shade of butterscotch over the years. Is that actually the case, or is it just lighting/pictures making them look different? These newer ones look a little darker, maybe.

Lastly, these new ones are alder, which is fine with me, but I'm curious if specs have changed over the years.

Edit: I see now that there's a Vintera 50's Road Worn Vintage Blonde, and a Vintera 50's Road Worn Butterscotch Blonde. Two seemingly different, at least in name, finishes.

Edit #2: Just got off the phone with Fender. They only made 150 of the BSB model (014-9872-350), and they made 1500 of the Vintage Blonde model (014-9872-307). I was told the vintage blonde should lighten with age, the bsb will not.

 

[IrishBread69]

I owned a FSR roadworn until fairly recently. What I can tell you is that it has a poly undercoat and feels smooth to touch. You can't 'feel' the checking but I believe that's accurate as it's not a rough feeling finish.

I would jump on that run whilst they're in stock. I regret selling mine and would gladly own another if they released in my country.

 

[3rdworlder]

I'm reviving this thread rather than starting my own of a similar nature.

My music store has an "exclusive" 2023 run of RW 50's Telecasters and I'm curious about a few things. I've heard these have a clear top coat over the paint/checking, that you can't actually feel the checking. Is that true, and those who have owned them for years, does the finish age with use? Is there maybe a poly top coat?

Lastly, these new ones are alder, which is fine with me, but I'm curious if specs have changed over the years.

I have here beside me one from 2021. Yes, you got it right it's Alder. And about the clear coat mine has none. You can actually feel all the marks over the body. Also, I bought the guitar last month and I can notice very small cracking in some areas of the body finish.

 

[Billy Bends]

I owned a FSR roadworn until fairly recently. What I can tell you is that it has a poly undercoat and feels smooth to touch. You can't 'feel' the checking but I believe that's accurate as it's not a rough feeling finish.

I would jump on that run whilst they're in stock. I regret selling mine and would gladly own another if they released in my country.

I noticed that about the checking once when I picked one up, which I found interesting, because I've handled vintage guitars with authentic checking and you can usually feel it if you run your thumbnail over it, for example.

 

[Billy Bends]

I have here beside me one from 2021. Yes, you got it right it's Alder. And about the clear coat mine has none. You can actually feel all the marks over the body. Also, I bought the guitar last month and I can notice very small cracking in some areas of the body finish.

That worn spot they all have on the back, just south of the neck plate, it has clear coat over it, right? Like, you can't touch raw wood, can you?

 

[Fretting out]

I’m not really much help but on my j mascis teles neck there does appear to be overspray over the aging

I didn’t pay enough attention to the two other recent roadworns to tell if they are like this and have no clue how the original roadworns were done

 

[3rdworlder]

That worn spot they all have on the back, just south of the neck plate, it has clear coat over it, right? Like, you can't touch raw wood, can you?

If you ran your fingers through that spot you will instantly notice the change of texture, and the wood.
Oh, and I can tell you that specific spot looks really ugly

 

[jim232777]

I have one in Lake Placid Blue, and do love the guitar in spite of the fact that i was always in the camp of "I don't want to pay someone to beat up my guitar." It does have the advantage that I won't cry the first time I put a ding in it. Heck, I've had it for over a year so could have already dinged it without knowing!

I've heard these have a clear top coat over the paint/checking, that you can't actually feel the checking. Is that true, and those who have owned them for years, does the finish age with use? Is there maybe a poly top coat?

I couldn't rule out a top coat. Mine has minimal checking, and it's hard to feel with a fingernail. I can only feel it in one area (although multiple check lines) and it's slight.

That spot on the back just doesn't look real, of course. If it were real-life belt-buckle wear, there should be more surface scratches around it, and there aren't. Held at an angle to the light, mine has a pretty noticeable gloss to it, much like the painted body. It feels almost like the painted area to me as well, so maybe there is a very light topcoat.

I'm a chemist and I'm sure nitros, urethanes, polyesters, etc. all look different to a spectrometer. I'm not curious enough to take a chunk from my guitar to analyze it though. If anyone else wants to, I might take it to work...

 

[Billy Bends]

I have one in Lake Placid Blue, and do love the guitar in spite of the fact that i was always in the camp of "I don't want to pay someone to beat up my guitar." It does have the advantage that I won't cry the first time I put a ding in it. Heck, I've had it for over a year so could have already dinged it without knowing!



I couldn't rule out a top coat. Mine has minimal checking, and it's hard to feel with a fingernail. I can only feel it in one area (although multiple check lines) and it's slight.

That spot on the back just doesn't look real, of course. If it were real-life belt-buckle wear, there should be more surface scratches around it, and there aren't. Held at an angle to the light, mine has a pretty noticeable gloss to it, much like the painted body. It feels almost like the painted area to me as well, so maybe there is a very light topcoat.

I'm a chemist and I'm sure nitros, urethanes, polyesters, etc. all look different to a spectrometer. I'm not curious enough to take a chunk from my guitar to analyze it though. If anyone else wants to, I might take it to work...

After looking at one up close I noticed the perimeter chunks and surface divots do not have any coat over them. They're exposed body wood. That "worn" spot on the back, however, does appear to be beneath a clear coat. This would tell me the worn spot and checking are done, then a top coat is added, then they ding the body up some.

None of this really matters, as the guitars themselves seem fantastic and an excellent value. I'm just curious about the process as a wannabe luthier and general guitar nerd.

 

[Martocaster]

After looking at one up close I noticed the perimeter chunks and surface divots do not have any coat over them. They're exposed body wood. That "worn" spot on the back, however, does appear to be beneath a clear coat. This would tell me the worn spot and checking are done, then a top coat is added, then they ding the body up some.

None of this really matters, as the guitars themselves seem fantastic and an excellent value. I'm just curious about the process as a wannabe luthier and general guitar nerd.

The clear coat that you can see on the ‘worn’ spot on the back is the poly sealer that is under the paint but over the wood. At that point I guess they’re going for a more ‘rubbed’ away look so they’ve removed some paint like that.

The chips and scrapes around the edges are a bit more aggressive so some of those are through to the bare wood.

There’s no clear coat over the paint, at least there wasn’t any on the LPB Tele I had, or the firemist gold Strat that I still have.

That Tele was a great guitar though. I’ve bought and sold quite a few guitars over the years but that’s the one a regret a bit. Unfortunately I never really liked the colour. The neck though was amazing.

 

[Billy Bends]

The clear coat that you can see on the ‘worn’ spot on the back is the poly sealer that is under the paint but over the wood. At that point I guess they’re going for a more ‘rubbed’ away look so they’ve removed some paint like that.

The chips and scrapes around the edges are a bit more aggressive so some of those are through to the bare wood.

There’s no clear coat over the paint, at least there wasn’t any on the LPB Tele I had, or the firemist gold Strat that I still have.

That Tele was a great guitar though. I’ve bought and sold quite a few guitars over the years but that’s the one a regret a bit. Unfortunately I never really liked the colour. The neck though was amazing.

Cool, thanks for the info!

On your Strat, can you feel the checking? On the road worn I tried I couldn't feel it.

I thought the neck felt great, maybe just slightly gritty, but I'm sure it would wear in nicely. I've read a few say they hated the feel of the raw kind of finish on the back of the neck, but I enjoyed it.

 

[NiceTele]

I bought a second hand Vintera RW 50s Tele last year, and I think it probably my favourite Tele of all the ones I've owned over the years. The only thing is that I can feel the joint between the skunk stripe and the wood on the back of the neck in some spots. I tried very light sanding which made it a little better, but not sure what to do next- maybe drop in some matt clear laquer and sand back until smooth? It plays and sounds great though.

 

[SunnySideUp]

Reviving this thread, Don't want to start a new one.

I was able to catch last few Sonic Blue ones recently. I was on a market for a Jaguar, but I accidentally came across this and read the rave reviews about this guitar. I was sold, since I just sold my previous Telecaster, and this guitar really doesn't disappoint. My favourite part is the U-shaped neck. Fits my hand perfectly and I can play it for hours since my wrist is injured and thin C-shape necks don't suit me. I wish Fender would offer more U and D -shaped necks in their catalog.

This is by far my favourite telecaster I've played or owned in 30 years I've played guitars.d

There is a poly sealant under the nitro finish. I can happily announce that at least on my guitar it is very thin and very brittle. I can scratch the poly away to bare wood just with my nails easily on the edges. And there is little bare wood visible anyways. So I'm not bummed out about that. Most of the nitro finishes have poly sealant under nitro finish anyways, even on America made models, so it's nothing new. Fender has been using this method widely since mid 60's. But I'm happy that the Poly/Clearcoat sealant on these ones is really thin and brittle. Might age nicely over the subtle (which I like) road worn finish. Or you can easily worn in to bare wood with little to no effort.

 

[Festofish]

I love my Tele Deluxe Road Worn Vintera.

Hey Fender, build a nitro spray room in Mexico.