Fender American Vintage Reissues?

SimpleSimon · December 2017

Fender have so many lines these days im a little confused. Im after a nice vintage style Telecaster and Strat, one of each. Are these the real deal vintage appointed models or do i need to move up to Custom Shop? Having been a 50's Baja fan is the '52 a real step up? Simarlarly would be after a v shpe maple neck strat so presume the '56 over the '59. I presume these both have a nitro finish too?

richardhomer · December 2017

I had a Rosewood board 59 American Vintage Strat - the ‘flash coat’ finish was unbelievably delicate. Looking at it would chip it - yet the neck was very heavily finished and somewhat ‘sticky’.

Overall, it was a nicely made guitar - but didn’t sound particularly great. I ended up part-exing it for the 2006 CS 56 Relic in my profile pick - which is a fantastic guitar in every respect.

The difference in price between ‘Used CS’ and ‘New American Vintage’ is not huge. And a used CS guitar holds its value, should you decide it’s not for you...

Funkfingers · December 2017

All of the Fender vintage re-issue instruments that should have nitro-cellulose finishes do. Most of the CBS-era re-issues are polyurethane (and plenty of it!).

The one deviant from historical accuracy that I have experienced is the AVRI '72 Telecaster Custom. For reasons known only to Fender, this is of the wrong outline and finished in nitro-cellulose when it should be poly. I shall not rekindle the WR humbucker debate here.

antifash · December 2017

I can’t recommend early MIJ Fender Strats and Teles enough. Would save you some pennies too!

Funkfingers · December 2017

As usual, this will be a case of try a bunch and buy the one(s) that satisfy you the most.

Koa · December 2017

Used USA vintage Reissue guitars are usually a great buy, for some reason they aren’t surrounded by the same hype as the MiJ reissue guitars and consequently go for reasonable prices. Best used bargain out there, don’t let anyone tell you CS is better, it’s not, just different and neither model is an original vintage guitar. Side by side there’s not much in it....

SimpleSimon · December 2017

Hmm migt be case of getting down to see Mark @guitars4you then....

meltedbuzzbox · December 2017

I've never been a huge fan of the avri series for various reasons (I do really like the neck profiles though).
@richardhomer pretty much hit the nail on the head with used CS prices

RandallFlagg · December 2017

I have a 2015 AV52 Tele and it's really good. I much prefer it to the Baja I had. It also feels more authentic than some of CS models as it has 7.5 radius and smaller frets, many of the CS models have flatter radius and bigger frets. Not sure how important that is, but for a proper vintage Tele feel it is essential for me and I wouldn't change it. You also get a repro strap, lead and leaflet that is an exact copy of the 50s one that came with the guitars back then apparently.

The neck pickup on the post 2012 AV52 sounds really good. The neck was a little sticky feeling at times for the first few months but that soon passed.

Funkfingers · December 2017

RandallFlagg said:

The neck pickup on the post 2012 AV52 sounds really good.

That is because it is a custom shop Alnico III Nocaster pickup.

Strat54 · December 2017

Koa said:

Used USA vintage Reissue guitars are usually a great buy, for some reason they aren’t surrounded by the same hype as the MiJ reissue guitars and consequently go for reasonable prices. Best used bargain out there, don’t let anyone tell you CS is better, it’s not, just different and neither model is an original vintage guitar. Side by side there’s not much in it....

Sorry...I'm going to tell you....the Custom Shop guitars blow those flash coated sticky neck lacquer vintage re-issues out the water. They do have nice case candy though....

Panama_Jack666 · December 2017

I love my 52 AVRI. I'm looking for the strat equivalent now.

I don't think it sounds any better or worse than the custom shop equivalents I've played. I ended up getting this because I wasn't keen on heavy relic's and all the Nocasters I saw at the time look like they were in a timeshare between Rory Gallagher and the Ramones.

I must echo what @richardhomer said...

The thin skin nitro flakes off at the slightest bump. It wears more like really thin poly than nitro!

It's pretty accurate to an original one even using the same screws!

https://i.imgur.com/RhAqj54.jpg

Panama_Jack666 · December 2017

https://i.imgur.com/0NeGAAs.jpg

Schnozz · December 2017

Apparently the 12th fret inlays on the '52 are actually those of a '53 and for that reason, I would be out. The numbers on the knobs of the Jazzmaster are also the wrong way round!!

On a serious note, I've owned the older '57 Strat and '62 Tele and I've found Tokai's TST and TTE Models to be the same, if not better. The poly vs nitro discussion falls a bit flat with me, as it has little effect on a well built instrument.

Schnozz · December 2017

...

RandallFlagg · December 2017

Panama_Jack666 said:

I love my 52 AVRI. I'm looking for the strat equivalent now.

I don't think it sounds any better or worse than the custom shop equivalents I've played. I ended up getting this because I wasn't keen on heavy relic's and all the Nocasters I saw at the time look like they were in a timeshare between Rory Gallagher and the Ramones.

I must echo what @richardhomer said...

The thin skin nitro flakes off at the slightest bump. It wears more like really thin poly than nitro!

It's pretty accurate to an original one even using the same screws!

https://i.imgur.com/RhAqj54.jpg

I bloody love it when you post that pic!

RandallFlagg · December 2017

Funkfingers said:

RandallFlagg said:

The neck pickup on the post 2012 AV52 sounds really good.

That is because it is a custom shop Alnico III Nocaster pickup.

Is it? I didn't know that, never really been able to find out much about the change in the AV52 pickups at the 2013 refresh.

unknowingly I must really like alnico III as my Custom Shop Les Paul has alnico III custom buckers and I love the neck pickup on that too.

RandallFlagg · December 2017

All this talk of 52 style Teles...I need to go pour over Nacho's The Blackguard Book now with some Kleenex...

RandallFlagg · December 2017

@SimpleSimon to answer your question, it seems you should really try out the American Vintage and Custom Shop guitars. They are all very consistently well built but have a different feel and specs. It will come down to your personal preference. Or get both!

GavRichList · December 2017

Hinted at above, but post 2012 American Vintage series are a noticeable step up from those previous. Generally lighter, nicer fit and finish, better sounding pickups, more accurate paint jobs. The neck profiles are also far more accurate and individual to each model, instead of a generic C. I too found it a bit sticky, but I cut the finish back on them as a preference anyway.

RandallFlagg · December 2017

RandallFlagg said:

Panama_Jack666 said:

I love my 52 AVRI. I'm looking for the strat equivalent now.

It's pretty accurate to an original one even using the same screws!

And the AV52 had the matte and shiny finish on the bridge plate either side of the pickup just like the originals too, which is a nice attention to detail.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Fender American Vintage Reissues?

Comments