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Post subject: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 4:01 pm
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Location: England
Hi, I normally hang out in the Mustang amp forum, but I've just bought a new Telecaster (American Standard, 2-tone sunburst) so wanted to check-in here. I also bought a Super-Sonic amp and the two together sound amazing! Interestingly (to me, anyway) I had intended to buy an American Deluxe, but I preferred the sound of the Standard.

One question please to the Telecaster experts, if I may:

I understand that since some point in 2012, American Standard Telecasters have been fitted with custom-shop pickups. My guitar was made in 2012, how can I tell if it has the newer, and presumably better, pickups? Is there a visible difference, either in the pickups themselves, or something else that changed at the same time? (I don't have a 2011 Telecaster to compare with!). Does anyone know at what serial number the change occurred?

Thanks for any pointers on this!


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:11 pm
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Did you buy it new? Pick ups would be; neck = Twisted Tele and Bridge = Broadcaster pick up, i thought it said something on the pickguard sticker?


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 7:04 pm
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We need the expert's help, perhaps John C could answer to your question.


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:09 pm
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I believe that broadcaster pickups have flat poles.


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 10:14 pm
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Model #: 0113200700



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Overview
Specs
Artists
Models
SPECS
General

General
Model Name: American Standard Telecaster®, Rosewood Fingerboard, 3-Color Sunburst
Model Number: 0113200700
Series: American Standard
MSRP: $1729.99
Color: 3-Color Sunburst
Body

Body
Body Material: Alder
Body Finish: Urethane
Body Shape: Telecaster®
Neck

Neck
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck, Gloss Finish on the Face of the Headstock
Neck Shape: Modern "C"
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 1.685" (42.8 mm)
Position Inlays: Dot
Truss Rods: Bi-Flex™
Truss Rod Nut: 1/8" American Series
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt with Micro-Tilt™
Electronics

Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Single-Coil Broadcaster
Neck Pickup: Custom Shop "Twisted" Single-Coil Tele
Controls: Master Volume, Master Delta Tone™
Pickup Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
Pickup Configuration: SS
Special Electronics: No-Load Tone Control
Hardware

Hardware
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Standard Strings-Through-Body Tele with Bent Steel Saddles and Stamped Brass Plate
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Tuning Machines: Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed
Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
Control Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top
Switch Tips: Barrel Style
Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous
Strings: Fender® USA 250L, NPS, (.009-.042 Gauges)
Unique Features: Five-Screw Mounted Brass Bridge Plate for Sonic Stability, Loaded with Improved Bent Steel Saddles with Elongated String Slots, for Increased Resonance and Sustain, Thinner Undercoat Finish for Improved Body Resonance, Tinted Neck, Body Contour
Accessories

Accessories
Polishing Cloth: Polishing Cloth Included


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:27 pm
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IMHO... If you can't be happy w/ a Telecaster (of any model/vintage), the issue isn't with the guitar. :shock:

Not that there aren't other great guitars out there to be discovered/played... there are...

But a Telecaster is truly greater than the sum of it's parts !! :wink:

Image

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:38 am
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Location: England
Quote:
Did you buy it new? Pick ups would be; neck = Twisted Tele and Bridge = Broadcaster pick up, i thought it said something on the pickguard sticker?

Yes I bought it new. It doesn't have the "custom shop pickups" sticker, it just has the "American Standard Telecaster" sticker. The people in the shop (and it's a reputable shop I'm inclined to trust) were adamant that mine is the newer spec, just that the sticker-change happened later. But it's that potential mismatch that has prompted my question.

Quote:
Pick ups would be; neck = Twisted Tele and Bridge = Broadcaster pick up

Indeed. But is there any way to tell that visually, and without dismantling the guitar?

Quote:
broadcaster pickups have flat poles

Thanks, that's potentially useful - but as I'm not 100% certain what non-flat poles would look like (I come from a land of humbuckers), it's hard to make a comparison :-(

Quote:
If you can't be happy w/ a Telecaster (of any model/vintage), the issue isn't with the guitar

I never said I wasn't happy with it - the complete opposite as per my original post. I'm just curious to check what I have (particularly as I paid new-model, new-spec price for it, rather than old-stock, old-model lower price!)

Thanks for help so far. I will try and ascertain the (visual) difference between flat and non-flat poles.


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:50 am
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Location: Kansas
scott-uk wrote:
Thanks for help so far. I will try and ascertain the (visual) difference between flat and non-flat poles.


By "flat poles" we mean that all the polepieces on the pickup are the same height. If the polepieces are not flat then they are "staggered" meaning some of them will be higher than others. You should be able to visibly see the different heights.

You could just email the serial number to Fender and have them verify if this one was before or after the change to the CS pickups (which happened in March 2012). The address is consumerrelations@fender.com.


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 4:26 pm
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I bought my 2012 in December 2012 and it has the CS PU's, SN 12272721. It is my favorite Guitar, my 2011 AS Strat does not get as much love. One distinctive note about the CS Neck PU is it has more of a neck position sound of a strat, the middle position is nice and chimey. One thing i did on mine was to raise the neck PU up a bit and i like the difference that made.

Happy Playin'


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 4:02 am
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Location: England
Quote:
email the serial number to Fender

Thanks, yes, I've already done that and await their reply.

Quote:
December 2012 and it has the CS PU's, SN 12272721

Thanks, that's a useful reference point. Mine is US12237593 so older and could still be before or after the pickup change.

I will wait for Fender's reply.


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:06 pm
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I had a reply from Fender. Incredibly helpful as always.

For the benefit of anyone else with a similar question, it turns out my Tele was built in September 2012 (based on serial number) and has the new-spec custom-shop pickups (Twisted Tele® Neck Pickup, Broadcaster Bridge Pickup as noted in an earlier reply).


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:30 pm
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Congrats scott-uk! Great acquisition :) Now... do you have any pictures???

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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:09 am
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Lightnin MN

I love your black Telecaster!


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:45 pm
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reno2atlanta wrote:
Lightnin MN

I love your black Telecaster!


Thanks ! :D

It's out of Indonesia - a Fender FSR Custom Telecaster HH w/ EMG Active Humbuckers.

It has a carved Mahogany Top w/ cream binding, modern Mahogany Body w/ Belly Cut, 22-fret Mahogany Set Neck, Rosewood fb w/ cream binding.

Image

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Very un-Tele like actually. It has a short scale and small radius, w/ mahogany body and mahogany set neck... it's much like an LP.

Feels great, plays great, sounds great, excellent Fit & Finish. Weighs in about the same as a 'heavy' Telecaster would, but it's very well-balanced.

I got this new for under $300 because the store I went to w/ my Bro-in-Law (a surgeon) in OH was owned by one of his patients. In gratitude, the owner gave me his price on it.

Normally it's under $400 street-price. A lot of guitar for the money IMHO.

I really like it alot !! 8)

cheers!

_________________
Image

'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


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Post subject: Re: Another happy "my first telecaster..." post!
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:12 am
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Congrats scott-uk, and Lightnin MN, your black Tele is da bomb. :)


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