American Vintage series serial numbers. This is most apparent when looking at the AV '52 Tele versus the AVRI '52 Tele - the older AVRIs just had a number (no letter prefix) and the AVs have the V12xxxxx, V13xxxxx, etc. On all the other AVRI models the number after the V prefix is just the serial number, and as we know they aren't sequential due to how Fender used them. Fender Guitars - Telecaster - 52 Reissue - Guitar Review Demo. Telecaster - 52 Reissue - Guitar Review Demo YouTube; Fender Baja Tele vs American Vintage '52 Tele Reissue vs 1952 Tele.
more... Pro Advice • Gear • Amps • Gear Blog • Gear Galleries • Guitars • Vintage Vault • T-Style • Fender
In the late 1940s, Leo Fender began work on a no-nonsense solidbody electric guitar. Introduced in the fall of 1950, the result was the Broadcaster. Production continued through a name change in late 1951 (Fender’s name conflicted with Gretsch’s Broadkaster drum set) and a factory relocation in 1953.
For many guitarists and collectors, a 1953 “blackguard” Telecaster is considered the Holy Grail of all Teles. Whether it’s because more were made than in the previous years due to the new factory’s increased production capabilities, or because three years had been spent perfecting building techniques, a large number of legendary Tele artists were known to favor ’53s. Some of the most famous of these players include James Burton, Roy Buchanan, and Danny Gatton.
The well-worn 1953 Telecaster pictured here has the classic features most often associated with that year, including a one-piece, bolt-on maple neck, a round string tree on the headstock (rectangular by ’56), an ash body with see-through butterscotch blonde finish (after the mid ’50s, the blonde finish became whiter and eventually more opaque), a black Bakelite pickguard (changed to white in late ’54), the serial number on the bridge plate (moved to the neck plate by late ’54), outer brass bridge saddles that were notched on the bottom to allow for lower saddle adjustment, and a bridge pickup with flush level pole pieces (staggered by the end of ’55).
For many guitarists and collectors, a 1953 “blackguard” Telecaster is considered the Holy Grail of all Teles.
![52 Reissue Telecaster Serial Number 52 Reissue Telecaster Serial Number](https://imgix.ttcdn.co/i/product/original/0/21611-dbbf5bc268b94dd9b769f5691c1feb04.jpeg?q=100&auto=format%2Ccompress&w=1000)
The Telecaster’s 1953 list price was $189.50. The current value for one in excellent, all-original condition is $25,000.
The amp supporting this Tele is a wide-panel Fender Deluxe from the same year. Scotty Moore used one much like it on his earliest recordings with Elvis. It is equipped with a Jensen P12R 12' speaker and powered by two 6V6GT tubes. The amp is capable of about 10 to 14 watts of output power.
In 1953, the list price for the Deluxe was $99. The amp’s current value is $2,500.
Fender Telecaster 52 Reissue Serial Numbers
Sources for this article include The Blackguard by Nacho Banos, The Fender Telecaster by A.R. Duchossoir, Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years, by John Teagle and John Sprung, and The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps, by Tom Wheeler. If you’re interested in delving into blackguard Tele and tweed amp lore, you’ll find plenty to explore in these books.
ELECTRONICS
BRIDGE PICKUP: American Vintage '52 Single-Coil Tele
NECK PICKUP: American Vintage '52 Single-Coil Tele
CONTROLS: Master Volume, Master Tone
SWITCHING: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
CONFIGURATION: SS
NECK PICKUP: American Vintage '52 Single-Coil Tele
CONTROLS: Master Volume, Master Tone
SWITCHING: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
CONFIGURATION: SS
HARDWARE
BRIDGE: 3-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele with Brass Saddles
HARDWARE FINISH: Chrome
TUNING MACHINES: Single Line 'Fender Deluxe' Vintage Style
PICKGUARD: 1-Ply Black
CONTROL KNOBS: Knurled Dome
SWITCH TIP: Black
NECK PLATE: 4-Bolt Vintage-Style
HARDWARE FINISH: Chrome
TUNING MACHINES: Single Line 'Fender Deluxe' Vintage Style
PICKGUARD: 1-Ply Black
CONTROL KNOBS: Knurled Dome
SWITCH TIP: Black
NECK PLATE: 4-Bolt Vintage-Style
MISCELLANEOUS
STRINGS: Fender® USA 250R NPS, (.010-.046 Gauges)
OTHER FEATURES: Slightly lighter Butterscotch Blonde finish; Large maple neck with re-sculpted U-shaped profile and comfortably rolled edges; All-new pickups wound to period-correct specs and sound; 'Barrel' switch tip and knurled chrome domed control knobs
OTHER FEATURES: Slightly lighter Butterscotch Blonde finish; Large maple neck with re-sculpted U-shaped profile and comfortably rolled edges; All-new pickups wound to period-correct specs and sound; 'Barrel' switch tip and knurled chrome domed control knobs
![52 reissue telecaster serial number search 52 reissue telecaster serial number search](https://imgix.ttcdn.co/i/product/original/0/21611-56ba045d4449437da86dded7c1c6db33.jpeg?q=100&auto=format%2Ccompress&w=2000)
Fender 52 Reissue Telecaster
ACCESSORIES
CASE/GIG BAG: Updated Deluxe Vintage Tweed
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: Vintage '52 Tele Strap, Cable, and Cloth; Vintage Wiring Kit, '50s Tele Information Kit, Bridge Cover, Owner's Manual, Saddle Height Wrench
CASE/GIG BAG: Updated Deluxe Vintage Tweed
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: Vintage '52 Tele Strap, Cable, and Cloth; Vintage Wiring Kit, '50s Tele Information Kit, Bridge Cover, Owner's Manual, Saddle Height Wrench