Fender professional telecaster V Fender original 50’s telecaster.

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markjmarkj Frets: 911
edited November 2018 in Guitar
I’m after one of these guitars but will only be able to get and try one next Saturday. Does anybody on the forum have one or experience of either guitar. The original appeals more with it being a nitro finish over the poly finish of the professional, but it’s down to how it sounds and plays.
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Comments

  • TenebrousTenebrous Frets: 1332
    edited November 2018
    I don't have either, but the Troublemaker I have has the exact same neck dimensions/frets as the American Pro, and for someone that's primarily played acoustic over the years, I find it to be the most comfortable electric guitar neck I've ever played in my life. It just feels so good in the hands, so I expect the current Am Pro model will likely feel just as excellent.
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  • NikcNikc Frets: 627
    I bet they will both play and sound great - tough choice have fun making it :)
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  • chris78chris78 Frets: 9166
    They’re very different beasts. For me, a blackguard tele is pretty much perfect and the 9.5 radius and taller frets make it much more payable. The pickups are decent. If you’re at a store, check out a baja too and maybe a custom shop model. Second hand nocasters are pretty cheap at the moment. You can pick one up for around £1800.
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  • markjmarkj Frets: 911
    Fender Original 50’s coming my way this weekend. Tried the two but this is the one.
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  • paulnb57paulnb57 Frets: 3044
    edited November 2018
    Congrats! I have the Original 50's Strat which is the best guitar I have ever had, the Fat Vee to C neck is sublime, the pickups were apalling, but now they are changed its perfect.....
    Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole - Just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock 'n' roll

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  • The Fender original series has 9.5” radius fingerboards. What’s original about that? Just sayin.
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  • chris78chris78 Frets: 9166
    The Fender original series has 9.5” radius fingerboards. What’s original about that? Just sayin.
    Some blackguards had 9.5 radius. Read “the black guard book”
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  • markjmarkj Frets: 911
    If it had a 7.5 radius I wouldn’t have bought it.
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  • paulnb57paulnb57 Frets: 3044
    markj said:
    If it had a 7.5 radius I wouldn’t have bought it.
    Me neither....
    Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole - Just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock 'n' roll

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  • HenrytwangHenrytwang Frets: 470
    edited November 2018
    chris78 said:
    The Fender original series has 9.5” radius fingerboards. What’s original about that? Just sayin.
    Some blackguards had 9.5 radius. Read “the black guard book”
    Didn’t know that,haven’t read the book but I did own Telecasters and Stratocasters made in the late 50s/early 60s and they all had 7.25” radius boards. Furthermore I’ve never seen a pre CBS Stratocaster with a 9.5” radius board. I’m pretty sure that the vast majority of Fender guitars made in the 50s/60s had 7.25” radius boards, I may be wrong but I tend spend more time playing guitars rather than reading about them. To me the Fender “Original” series just looks like another sales hype. If you play one and like it buy it but don’t expect it to be much like an “Original “.
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  • equalsqlequalsql Frets: 6084
    My 52 AVRI Telecaster is my  'number one' solid body guitar. I love the fat neck, the 7.25 radius and the skinny frets. I even left in the original neck pickup bass voicing as it's super handy when looping. I've played and owned quite a few Teles over the years and then shifted them on, but the AVRI is a keeper.
    (pronounced: equal-sequel)   "I suffered for my art.. now it's your turn"
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  • Gerz6558Gerz6558 Frets: 761
    Henrytwang said:
    To me the Fender “Original” series just looks like another sales hype. If you play one and like it buy it but don’t expect it to be much like an “Original “.
    This is effectively a vintage reissue 52 but with a 9.5 radius neck; which is what a lot of people seem to want from the custom shop. So there are many that are quite happy with the fact they can get this spec below custom shop prices.

    Aren't there many stories that there were examples of those famous 50's and 60's fenders which were effectively 9.5 radius, either due to the loose "by hand" construction process or having been refretted that many times it started to alter the radius over time. 

    I think these are great. Close enough to nocaster spec for a great price.
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  • Strat54Strat54 Frets: 2331
    edited November 2018
    chris78 said:
    The Fender original series has 9.5” radius fingerboards. What’s original about that? Just sayin.
    Some blackguards had 9.5 radius. Read “the black guard book”
    I'm thinking that most members here wouldn't spend £200 + on a book   But you are right, the Broadcasters were typically 9.5"  This series was in response to the dying sales of the Pure Vintage series with 7.5" and the dreadful flash coating that came off in lumps. 
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  • markjmarkj Frets: 911
    Picked up the new guitar yesterday. I can honestly say its the best tele I've had, a shade over 7lbs of loveliness.
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  • chris78chris78 Frets: 9166
    chris78 said:
    The Fender original series has 9.5” radius fingerboards. What’s original about that? Just sayin.
    Some blackguards had 9.5 radius. Read “the black guard book”
    Didn’t know that,haven’t read the book but I did own Telecasters and Stratocasters made in the late 50s/early 60s and they all had 7.25” radius boards. Furthermore I’ve never seen a pre CBS Stratocaster with a 9.5” radius board. I’m pretty sure that the vast majority of Fender guitars made in the 50s/60s had 7.25” radius boards, I may be wrong but I tend spend more time playing guitars rather than reading about them. To me the Fender “Original” series just looks like another sales hype. If you play one and like it buy it but don’t expect it to be much like an “Original “.
    You’re spot on. Most did have the 7.25. Nacho has measured all the original necks and lots of the first ones have 9.5 which seems to have changed to 7.25 as the design got finessed. The blackguard book is amazing if you’re a nerd. Probably better to just play the damned things!
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  • chris78chris78 Frets: 9166

    Strat54 said:
    chris78 said:
    The Fender original series has 9.5” radius fingerboards. What’s original about that? Just sayin.
    Some blackguards had 9.5 radius. Read “the black guard book”
    I'm thinking that most members here wouldn't spend £200 + on a book   But you are right, the Broadcasters were typically 9.5"  This series was in response to the dying sales of the Pure Vintage series with 7.5" and the dreadful flash coating that came off in lumps. 
    It was about £90 when I got mine as they still had stock. I’m justifying a silly purchase by claiming it was a Christmas present from my Dad. 
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  • chris78 said:

    Strat54 said:
    chris78 said:
    The Fender original series has 9.5” radius fingerboards. What’s original about that? Just sayin.
    Some blackguards had 9.5 radius. Read “the black guard book”
    I'm thinking that most members here wouldn't spend £200 + on a book   But you are right, the Broadcasters were typically 9.5"  This series was in response to the dying sales of the Pure Vintage series with 7.5" and the dreadful flash coating that came off in lumps. 
    It was about £90 when I got mine as they still had stock. I’m justifying a silly purchase by claiming it was a Christmas present from my Dad. 
    I have to admit that I was a bit shaken when I looked up the price of the blackguard book, the most I’ve spent on a guitar book is £25. I guess that such a specialist publication has a limited market but maybe somebody might publish a more affordable edition, I’d certainly buy it!
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