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Post subject: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:54 am
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I have an American Deluxe Ash Tele in Butterscotch finish and I like it for the most part. However, the SCN pickups don't have the Tele twang and I like the appearance of the vintage bridge. So, I've been looking for a '52 reissue that has modern playability features like 9.5" radius fretboard, and medium jumbo frets. As far as I can tell, these are the choices:

1) Am. Deluxe Ash Tele - has the modern features but also modern bridge and tuners and SCN pickups. I'd prefer vintage tuners and bridge.

2) Am. Vintage '52 Reissue - Has the vintage appointments but also a 7.5" radius board and vintage frets. I'd also prefer modern switch wiring and a brighter neck pickup.

3) Vintage Hot Rod '52 - This version has all the modern features I want but still looks like a vintage '52 Tele. The only thing is, I don't want a humbucker in the neck position.

4) Custom Shop NOS '52 Tele - These were available with the 9.5 diameter board and medium jumbo frets but the supply seems to have dried up. They are not in the Custom Shop catalog and none of the online sources I've checked seem to have one.


So, it looks like the best bet might be to get a '52 Hot Rod and change out the neck pickup and pickguard. This seems straightforward at first glance. Any gotchas that I'm missing?

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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:44 am
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I'm more or less pondering the same question ..

http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/telecaster-esquire-forum/155987-blackguard-tele-buying-choices.html

After being a bit dazzled by the 60th Tele, I must admit I'm leaning more towards the vintage '52 side of things but with a 9.5 neck now and am thinking the Hot Rod 52 may be the best answer, the pickup cavity looks to be the same depth but slightly enlarged, so a single coil should screw in OK, pickguard is an easy swap, and I do believe that the Volume pot on the HR is 375k rather than 250 k (probably a compromise to suit the minibucker) , that's the only other thing, but that may be nice anyhow for brightening things up a tad.

Has the advantage of being able to simply put the minibucker back in too at some point if required :)


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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:21 pm
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Thanks for your input! I hadn't thought about the cap values - I'm glad you pointed that out. I think I'll take a close look at the Hot Rod this weekend.

Any thoughts about a new neck pickup (or set) if I do replace the 'bucker?

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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:53 am
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I had some issues with my 2006 Butterscotch Deluxe Ash tele as well. I tried to like the sound of the SCN pickups but in the end change won out. Having said that I loved the sound of the SCN's on my Deluxe Strat?

I replaced the tele pickups with a Custom Shop Twisted Tele in the neck and the CS Nocaster pickup for the bridge. Now in my opinion, it sounds great. I appreciate the modern amenities of the 9.5 neck, modern tuners and the bridge which maintains great tuning stability.

There are some Custom Shop You Tube videos that demo that tele pick up combination by Mike Eldred.

Bear in mind I am a newbie at this guitar thing been playing for 4 years but I try to play every day! Just wated to share my humble opinion.
Good luck in your quest

best regards
ginop
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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:05 am
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Thanks for the input. I've seen that combination of pickups mentioned before but I'll have to search YouTube to see if there are any that I can listen to.

A pickup change would probably make the sound much closer to what I'm looking for. I've also considered using Callaham brass bridges to get more of the vintage bridge sound.

ckf

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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:28 am
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Well, I went and did it: Purchased an American Vintage '52 Hot Rod Tele. I played one in the local shop and actually liked the sound of the mini humbucker. I'll stick with that for now. My new Tele has all the vintage parts I wanted - bridge, tuners - while still having a 9.5" radius fretboard and medium jumbo frets.

I'll play it like this for a while and then decide whether to purchase new pickups for it. Until then, I'm enjoying the new Tele!

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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:43 am
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Congrats! enjoy and play it like there is no tomorrow!!

ginop

2007 CS 57 NAMM LTD Edition Relic Strat
2006 Deluxe Ash Tele (Butterscotch)
2006 Gibson Les Paul (Swampash)
2011 Martin OMP4
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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:07 pm
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Congratulations ! Pictures please :)

Must admit I'm leaning that way myself, I played the recent 60th anniversary blonde and although I found it to be a spanking resonant and really lively guitar to play, it felt somehow modern and 'generic' and unlike what I feel I want the Tele I finally buy to feel like, I've decided neck rad/fret size doesn't fuss me much either way, and I am actually a bit intrigued by the little neck humbucker on the Hot Rod. I also played one of the Telebration blonde '52's with the full-size humbucker and it totally swamped out the bridge pickup, would you say you can get a nice balance with the little mini Seymour Duncan, and is it nice and 'open' sounding :)

Enjoy that beautiful guitar ! :)


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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:16 pm
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palermog wrote:
I replaced the tele pickups with a Custom Shop Twisted Tele in the neck and the CS Nocaster pickup for the bridge.



The 2012 USA Standards feature the pickups you're talking about except the bridge pickup is a CS Broadcaster. Have you already tried these brand-new Teles?


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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:35 am
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Apologies chromeface I did not see your post/question in a timely fashion.

I have not in fact tried the new Tele(s) you are referring to. In my case I tried out a Custom Shop Tele with this set up in a local guitar shop and loved the sound combination. Researched a bit on the web and heard them on You Tube as well and that sold me on them. I picked them up on E bay.

ginop
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Post subject: Re: I want a '52 Reissue w/ modern playability
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:30 am
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The 2012 USA Stds had also a belly cut.

Unfortunately Custom Shop Broadcaster and Twisted pickups did not came with the Baja wiring.

Love the 2012 USA Standards with the Baja mod and Deluxe compound radius neck & bound top. :wink:


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