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Post subject: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:08 pm
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I've been trying for the last couple of days to identify the model of my son-in-law's Tele, but I'm stumped so far. It has the 5-digit serial on the bridge plate (50858) which apparently is a '52 reissue, but it's (what I call) butterscotch, kind of transparent cream-yellow, and it has the s-1 system on it. Nothing of the front or back of the neck except the Fender logo and "Telecaster" below the logo. Rosewood or ebony fingerboard. White pickguard (not Mother Of Toilet Seat, just plain white). Without being able to take the neck off I believe it's post 2000 production, since he got it used, in perfect shape with tweed case, in 2006.

Any help would be appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:10 pm
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Any pictures would help, especially the real serial number on the headstock.

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:39 pm
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dbrick wrote:
I've been trying for the last couple of days to identify the model of my son-in-law's Tele, but I'm stumped so far. It has the 5-digit serial on the bridge plate (50858) which apparently is a '52 reissue, but it's (what I call) butterscotch, kind of transparent cream-yellow, and it has the s-1 system on it. Nothing of the front or back of the neck except the Fender logo and "Telecaster" below the logo. Rosewood or ebony fingerboard. White pickguard (not Mother Of Toilet Seat, just plain white). Without being able to take the neck off I believe it's post 2000 production, since he got it used, in perfect shape with tweed case, in 2006.

Any help would be appreciated.


Yes, photos would be helpful.

Does it have a single ply black pickguard? 3-barrel bridge? Vintage type tuners? Flat pole pieces on the bridge pickup? Is there anything written on the top of the pickups?

It could be a 52 Reissue that someone modded with the S1 switch.

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Last edited by bluesky636 on Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:41 pm
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qblue wrote:
Any pictures would help, especially the real serial number on the headstock.


The OP stated there is nothing on the back of the headstock and only "Fender Telecaster" on the front. The serial # is on the bridge. This would be correct for a 52 reissue.

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:43 pm
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Thanks for the replies, guys. I was finally able to get a few pics off of my phone. My daughter sent them via her phone, had to wait until I got home to get my sync cable. Now to see if I can get them to post...

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:38 am
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Images don't show up.

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:43 pm
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Sorry, I had to change a setting to allow external links. Should work now...


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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:18 pm
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It appears to be a Classic Player Baja Tele:

http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0141502389

I don't know if earlier versions came with a rosewood neck and a butterfly string retainer. Also, the current versions do not have a serial number on the bridge plate. However, the body color, pickguard, and S-1 switch match the current Classic Player.

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:03 am
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A bit of an odd one. If it was bought used in 2006, and the S-1 switch appeared in 2003, that narrows it down a bit, but although it appears to have a '52 reissue bridge, it isn't a '52 reissue. It has a S-1 switch, but it isn't a Baja. Neither of those guitars have a suspended neck pup, and neither have a rosewood board. Neither have top-hat switch tips.
The wing string tree placement is unusual too. I've looked through my Frontline mags from that period, and I can't say I've found anything that matches.

Pulling the neck might lend further clues...or it might not. It may be that it is actually a "partscaster" that someone has assembled. Nothing wrong with that, and it might be a fine guitar, but if that is the case, then it won't be a real Fender Telecaster.

You could check the serial number with Fender at consumerrelations@fender.com but if they say it's a '52 reissue...it isn't! Good luck!


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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 7:00 am
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Butterscotch wrote:
A bit of an odd one. If it was bought used in 2006, and the S-1 switch appeared in 2003, that narrows it down a bit, but although it appears to have a '52 reissue bridge, it isn't a '52 reissue. It has a S-1 switch, but it isn't a Baja. Neither of those guitars have a suspended neck pup, and neither have a rosewood board. Neither have top-hat switch tips.
The wing string tree placement is unusual too. I've looked through my Frontline mags from that period, and I can't say I've found anything that matches.

Pulling the neck might lend further clues...or it might not. It may be that it is actually a "partscaster" that someone has assembled. Nothing wrong with that, and it might be a fine guitar, but if that is the case, then it won't be a real Fender Telecaster.

You could check the serial number with Fender at consumerrelations@fender.com but if they say it's a '52 reissue...it isn't! Good luck!


I missed the suspended neck pickup. Good catch.

The link to the Baja on the Fender website that I provided shows a top hat switch knob on the Desert Sand body and mentions that in the spec sheet although the Butterscotch version appears to have a barrel knob.

The string tree appears to be in the correct location, it is just the wrong type and again, the current Baja has a maple fretboard vice a rosewood one.

dbrick - is the switch a 3-way switch or a 4-way? The Baja uses a 4-way.

Agree on pulling the neck and looking under the pickguard to see if anything is written on the body.

At this point, I am also leaning toward partscaster or at least a modified Baja. It is safe to say that it is NOT a 52 reissue. That's about the only thing I am positive of. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 6:06 pm
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It's not a Baja because it has a multiple ply 8 screw pickguard, a winged string retainer, and a tophat switch. Most bajas have a round barrel switch( before 2010), a single ply 5 screw pickguard, and a round string retainer. Like this:
Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 6:22 pm
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Check the link I posted to the current Baja. The Desert Sand photo clearly shows a top hat knob (and calls for that in the specs) while the Butterscotch Blond photo shows a barrel knob. The pickguard, bridge plate, and neck are clearly wrong for a Baja, but could easily have been changed. The decal appears correct and correctly located. I'm still waiting on the OP for an answer to my question as to whether the switch is a 3-way or 4-way. There is a possibility that it could be a "special edition" Baja ordered by a dealer. Guitar Center does that all of the time.

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 6:26 pm
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qblue wrote:
Image


By the way, you're Baja looks almost as nice as my 52 Reissue:

Image

How do you like the 4-way switch? I contemplated changing my 3-way to a 4-way. :D

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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:17 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
qblue wrote:
Image


By the way, you're Baja looks almost as nice as my 52 Reissue:

Image

How do you like the 4-way switch? I contemplated changing my 3-way to a 4-way. :D


I think a 4-way switch should be on every Telecaster, like all Strats have been upgraded to 5-way switches from the old 3-way switches. As for the Baja, the S1 switch makes an additional out of phase parallel or series connections.

I paid less for my ugly sister Baja to your '52 RI, and with the tweed case to boot. Plus I got 3 extra tones to fool around with. I always say the Baja is a stealth tone monster, in '52 RI clothing. It helps to have a twisted Tele neck PU, and Custom shop styling.

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1986 Yamaha SBG2100
1980 Gibson L6-S
1971 Stratocaster
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Post subject: Re: Help ID'ing Tele model
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:34 pm
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Nice. I'm not interested in the S-1 but I might try a 4-way next year. I have Seymour Duncan Vintage Stacks (noiseless) in the neck and bridge on my 52 RI. Sounds very 50s but without the hum.

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