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Post subject: American Classic 52RI Bridge pickup question
Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:38 am
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A question for all of you with the new AmClassic 52RI Tele.
Mine is a new 2011 just purchased from GC.

Compared to my 2 other Teles (Am Std and CS Custom Classic) the bridge pickup is VERY microphonic. Enough that you can hear the switch move, hear the pick hit the bridgeplate etc. This is a double edged sword. It makes the guitar very "active" - rings and sings etc but also makes some odd sounds if you are sloppy.
I suspect that this is the way it was designed - as a recreation of the original '52.

Anyone else noticed this with their '52s?

DR


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Post subject: Re: American Classic 52RI Bridge pickup question
Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:29 am
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Have you played with the height..........like lowering it ?


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Post subject: Re: American Classic 52RI Bridge pickup question
Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:42 am
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I haven't changed the height on this guitar (I am familiar with the differnence height makes). This pickup is noticably different from all of the other Tele Bridge p/us that I have come across in that if you tap the top slightly with a pick you hear a pretty clear "tap" through the amp. My others do it, but this sounds like you are tapping a microphone.

So - I know that Fender "moved closer to the original '52 design" with this latest model so i suspect that the p/u is not potted and may even be mounted with springs as opposed to rubber.

My question is - is this normal for this model or do I have a pickup that is out of spec.
Not sure what to do in either case, it certainly adds as much as it subtracts from the character of the guitar.

DR


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Post subject: Re: American Classic 52RI Bridge pickup question
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:51 am
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Take it back to GC and make them check it out. You bought it new and Fender is good about warranty work so nothing to lose. :|

FWIW

T2

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Post subject: Re: American Classic 52RI Bridge pickup question
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:12 pm
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My original AV52RI was one of the first. They haven't really changed much over the years, aside from the neck profile. The neck pickups have always been microphonic. I used to goof around at practices singing through mine. They are not potted at all. The bridge pickup should not be microphonic. What you many be hearing is the vintage bridge assembly. They can do that, not always but sometimes if they are slightly bent, etc. And the bridge pickup, true to original specs, should come spring mounted and will have a bottom plate to it. Sometimes that plate itself can be loose. I'd check that first, because it can even howl. It's an easy fix -- that and a warped bridge plate -- if you don't like it, but messing with the bridge will affect some of the "liveliness" of this Tele.


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Post subject: Re: American Classic 52RI Bridge pickup question
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:19 am
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Latest update on this - the local Fender dealer (GC is 1000mi away) looked at it. They had never heard one this microphonic. Everyone agreed that the likely culprit is the bottom plate possibly being loose. We also agreed that it makes this tele seem absolutely alive.
I asked everyone there (a crowd formed) if it was theirs - would they replace it - the was lots of silence.

I'll take it apart at the next string change and see...


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Post subject: Re: American Classic 52RI Bridge pickup question
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:14 am
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I would get it replaced under the warranty, its a fault. If the guitar was sent to you by GC then they should pick it up and send it back to you (repaired) at their expense.


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Post subject: Re: American Classic 52RI Bridge pickup question
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 5:49 pm
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Problem solved.

I removed the bridge and the pickup, all looked OK, the bottom plate appeared to be normal and was tight to the bottom of the pickup. My thought was that the coils had to be loose or the potting wax wasn't sufficiently melted. So, I reassembled the pickup in the bridge making sure the bottom plate was tight to the bottom of the pickup and then heated the pickup (carefully) over the stove until the potting wax was well melted.

Reassembled the guitar and all the microphonics are gone. The pickup is still sensitive (moreso than my standard or Custom Classic) but no noise from the switch, straplocks etc.

DR


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