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Average Price: $1,675
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$400
$1001+
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Description
Step back in time with the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster, a stunning tribute to one of the most iconic instruments in music history. This electric guitar combines the elegance and simplicity of the early 1950s with modern craftsmanship, delivering a classic experience for today's musicians. The ash body resonates with rich tones, while the single-ply black pickguard and thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish pay homage to its vintage roots.
The deep maple neck features a "U"-shaped profile, promising comfort and ease of playability. This Telecaster is equipped with meticulously voiced pickups that capture the authentic twang and bite that made the original a legend. The vintage-style bridge with three brass saddles ensures precise intonation and sustain, while the recessed-top "barrel" switch tip and knurled chrome domed control knobs offer tactile authenticity.
Whether you're a seasoned player or a vintage guitar enthusiast, the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster is more than just a guitar; it's a piece of musical history brought to life. Its commitment to vintage accuracy, from the neck radius to tuner spacing, reflects Fender's dedication to preserving the legacy of its illustrious past while paving the way for new musical adventures.
Key Features:
- Ash body with thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish
- Deep maple neck with "U"-shaped profile
- Recessed-top "barrel" switch tip
- Vintage-style bridge with three brass saddles
- Knurled chrome domed control knobs
- Meticulously voiced pickups for authentic sound
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | American Vintage '52 Telecaster |
| Finish | Black, Butterscotch Blonde, Copper |
| Year | 1990s |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Ash |
| Body Shape | T-Style |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | String-Through |
| Color Family | Black, Gold, Yellow |
| Finish Style | Gloss, Metallic |
| Fretboard Material | Maple |
| Fretboard Radius | 7.25" |
| Model Family | Fender Telecaster |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 21 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Nut Width | 1.65" |
| Offset Body | Non-Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | SS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Series | Fender American Vintage |
| Wood Top Style | Plain |
FAQs
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What is the neck profile of the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster like?
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The Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster features a U-shaped neck profile, which provides a substantial feel that is comfortable for players who prefer a thicker neck.
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What kind of tones can I expect from the pickups on the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster?
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The '52 Telecaster is equipped with single-coil pickups that deliver a bright, twangy tone, ideal for country, blues, and rock genres, offering clear highs and a punchy midrange.
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Is the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster suitable for beginners?
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While the '52 Telecaster is a high-quality instrument favored by professionals, its straightforward design and playability can also make it a suitable choice for dedicated beginners who are serious about their music journey.
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What finish options are available for the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster?
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The Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster is available in Black, Butterscotch Blonde, and Copper finishes, each providing a classic aesthetic that reflects the guitar's vintage heritage.
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Does the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster have a bolt-on neck construction?
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Yes, the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster features a bolt-on neck construction, which is typical for Telecasters and contributes to its distinctive tone and easy maintenance.
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What is the fretboard radius of the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster?
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The fretboard radius of the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster is 7.25 inches, offering a vintage feel that is comfortable for chord playing and traditional techniques.
Videos
Guitarist
Fender American Vintage Series '52, '58 & '64 Telecaster demo
Fender American Vintage Series '52, '58 & '64 Telecaster demo
Guitarist
Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster
N Stuff Music
Fender American Vintage 1952 Telecaster Demo | Fender
Fender
Fender American Vintage 1952 Telecaster • Wildwood Guitars Overview
Wildwood Guitars
Fender American Vintage '52 Reissue Telecaster Overview | Full Compass
Full Compass
Fender Telecaster AVRI 52 Reissue from 2012 presented by Vintage Guitar Oldenburg and Tobis Hoffmann
Vintage Guitar Oldenburg
2005 Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster
GregsGuitars
2015 American Vintage '52 Fender Telecaster Demo & Teardown
Jabroni's Guitar Show
2009 Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster, butterscotch
GregsGuitars
Reviews
PROS
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Authentic vintage sound captures the essence of the original '52 Telecaster.
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Lightweight, resonant, with a rich harmonic profile and classic Telecaster "snap."
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High-quality American components, including pickups, neck, and one-piece ash body.
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Vintage C-shaped neck offers comfortable playability, even for larger hands.
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Distinct tone changes between switch positions provide versatile sound options.
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Impressive relic finish enhances aesthetics and reduces weight.
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Comes with a unique 50s wiring scheme for a vintage experience, with optional modern conversion.
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Iconic design revered by legendary guitarists, adding to its allure and value.
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Excellent intonation and playability straight out of the box.
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Classic look with butterscotch blonde finish and black pickguard.
CONS
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Some models reported with poorly cut nuts affecting tuning and playability.
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Pickguard screws occasionally misaligned, detracting from build quality.
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Small frets not ideal for players accustomed to modern big bends.
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster.
Build quality
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The 2012-2017 models are noted for a thin finish that reveals wood grain, distinct from earlier "pumpkincasters."
Source -
Some owners note that the AVII line uses a poly base coat, which is less desirable for achieving authentic '50s specs compared to the thin nitro finish of the 2012-2017 AV models.
Source
Comparisons
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The 2012-2017 AV52 Teles are considered more desirable than earlier models due to finish and lack of neck tint.
Source -
The AVRI models (1998-2012) have a thin polyester base coat, similar to Fender's mid-60s style, while the AV (2012-2017) features a thinner finish with plasticizers.
Source -
The AVII '51 Tele is considered by some to be less authentic in finish compared to the 2012-2017 AV '52, which is favored for its closer adherence to vintage specifications.
Source -
The '63 Tele's neck pickup offers a Strat-like sound, appealing to players inspired by Mike Bloomfield and Steve Cropper.
Source -
The '52 Tele features a classic Tele sound with a fat neck, providing a versatile pickup tone reminiscent of P90s.
Source
Features and functionality
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The 2014 AV52 Tele comes with a crushed red case interior, preferred by some over the orange from other years.
Source -
The 2012-2017 AV line is one of the few production Fender lines with an actual nitro finish, distinguishing it from other models with poly base coats.
Source -
The '52 Tele bridge pickup is noted for its bite, although some find the neck pickup less appealing.
Source
User experience
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It's noted that the thinner nitro finish on the 2012-2017 AV models chips more easily, which some view as a desirable vintage characteristic.
Source -
Preferences for neck radius and fretboard material (maple vs. rosewood) are noted as crucial factors in decision-making between '52 and '63 models.
Source
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 7 Reviews and 54 Ratings
498
A True Classic
The look, the tone, the twang! This version embodies what was born out of Leo Fender's concept Espquire. It is a beautiful reissue, authentic in every way. I'm attempting to learn some country picking but I also enjoy looking for that Roy Buchanan tone playing blues. When you look at the pedigree of players who have chosen this guitar at times over the years - Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Roy B., Rick Vito, Vince Gill etc... you know you're in good company!
78
An Absolutely Gorgeous Guitar
I can't attest to Fender's production of the guitar itself. In winter of 2017, I set out to produce a replica of the guitar from scratch. Mixing modern parts with the look of the classic '52 Tele, I finally accomplished my goal in spring of 2018. To me, the Telecaster is one of the most beautiful guitars, and I couldn't ever think of getting rid of mine. Sentimental value aside, It's a wonderful conversation starter and centerpiece, and plays as well as any guitar could, if not better.
307
Great quality, small frets and '50's wiring scheme is odd
This is a classic, iconic guitar. The butterscotch blonde is gorgeous when paired with a black guard, having been seen played by the likes of Keef, the Boss, and other people with only one name. That said, the small frets do not lend themselves well to big bends a modern player might be used to.
The '50's wiring scheme, with the usual "neck" position replaced by a pseudo-bass setting, the "neck" setting shifted to the middle notch, and no setting for both pickups, is downright weird, but the guitar comes with a "conversion" kit to change the settings to the usual 3-way of neck, both, bridge. I left mine stock though, the weirdness is kind of endearing, and you can get both pickups if you position the selector at "2 1/2" in between the middle position and the bridge setting.
41029
its not the frets giving you trouble but the very rounded vintage fretboard radius.... try raising the action
776
A+++++++
This guitar means the world to me!
Mine is from 1995, so it's slightly different but overall pretty much the same. The neck action feels just right...it's a really solid axe. So gorgeous :')
Artist usage
Add artist
"I got the sound going, it's 52' Fender Telecaster... and uh, an early 90's Dual Professional." He mentions how he had to pay a “considerable amount to get it out of the person’s hands”, which likely means it is a real 1952 Telecaster , rather than an AVRI 52 as listed above.
For the 1987-90 and 1994 world tours David would use a stock 52 Fender Telecaster, with a butterscotch body and maple neck. The guitar was used for Run Like Hell on both tours, with a drop D tuning. A second, identical guitar, was also used for Astronomy Dominé in 1994, with a standard tuning.
"I also have a ’52 refinished Fender Telecaster."
In this photo, Bruce Springsteen can be seen playing a Telecaster.
Adam Young's studio has six Fender guitars. The sixth is an American Vintage Telecaster.
One of Paisley’s guitars is a 1952 Reissue Fender Telecaster. Fortunately, one copy of this guitar survived when Paisley’s equipment was flooded, “but it’s a great guitar, good, this one couldn’t have worked out any better. I honestly thought this would be the hardest one to replace and it was the first one replaced,” Paisley’s tech says at (1:54).
Alex Trimble uses this Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster Electric Guitar in the "Something Good Can Work" music video.
Noodle can be seen in this picture using the Telecaster.
El Hefe uses this guitar since that he become to play with NOFX. Is the classic Fender american vintage '52 telecaster, but he change the pickups for an EMG's pickups, for have a really heavy sound
In this video, Mark Foster can be seen playing a Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster guitar in a live performance with Foster the People.
Dylan Carlson frequently uses his Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster during performances, as evidenced by a photo taken at his show in Mexico City on October 8th, 2011.
According to Rich Robinson’s tech at (8:17), the Fender 1952 Reissue Telecaster, “was our main guitar for a while. It's one of the first ones we got after the flood. We got it from our friend Teddy at Make'n Music in Chicago. It's just a '52 Fender reissue Telecaster. I put an Arcane pickup in it. We found the Arcane pickups...James Trussart was using them. We really liked what Rob did, so Rich had me put them in every guitar.”
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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