Vintage Reissued V52/62 Electric Guitar

Body - Alder
Neck - Hard Maple, bolt-on
Fingerboard - Maple(V52) Rosewood (V62), 22 Frets
Scale - 648mm
Tuners - Wilkinson Deluxe WJ55S Chrome
Bridge - Wilkinson WTB intonatable, 3 brass saddles, Chrome
Pickup - Wilkinson single coil * 2 (N) MWTN (B) MWTB
Hardware - Chrome
Controls - 1*volume, 1*tone, 3 way pickup selector

New for 2009 from Vintage Guitars, and proving to be a popular addition to their 'Reissued' range of classic guitar designs, the V52 and V62 are excellent versions of Fenders Telecaster.
Based on the designs of 1952 and 1962 respecively, the 52 features a Maple neck and fingerboard, the 62 a Rosewood fingerboard. And at just £179 for either of these 2, excellent value for money.
Also recently introduced to Vintages 'Icon' range, are 2 magnificently distressed versions featuring authentic looking rusty parts and chipped paint.
The headstock is slightly oversized, the 52 having a golden lacquer, the 62 a more natural pale Maple finish. The back of the headstock has a single row of 6 chrome Kluson style machine heads, all connected, with small chrome vintage style buttons.
The neck feels wide and shallow, a broad D profile, nut width is 42mm. The rear has the same finish as the headstock, the 52 having a glossy feel, against the satin of the 62, both have a Rosewood strip running down the centre where the truss rod has been fitted.
The fretboard of the 52 is Maple, golden in colour, with a slight gloss finish, though not lacquered to any extent. The 62 is Rosewood, both have dot position markers and 22 Nickel frets all well dressed.
The neck is bolted to the Alder body, joining at the 17th fret on the bass side, and 21st on the treble, so no upper fret access problems here.
Fairly weighty but not as heavy as some Tele's I've played, the bosy feels solid and gives good resonance. The front has a large scratchplate, black on the 52, white on the 62, both have the same hardware, the long Chrome control plate with the 3 way selector switch, single tone and volume control. All very simple.
The neck pickup is a Wilkinson 'lipstick' style, with an open single coil slanting across the 'ashtray' bridge. The strings pass through body and over 3 brass saddles, although the bridge is set up for stringing direct, not through bady as well.
The guitar plays very nicely, a good comfortable playing position, bright and clean tones. Plugged in, it's everything you'd expect from this style of guitar, plenty of jingle jangle, great for country, pop and blues, turn to the overdrive channel and the guitar turns into a sonic beast, punk, rock and power pop come out with loads of clarity and grunt.
The Icon range are heavily distressed versions of the 52 and 62. All of the Chrome parts, bridge, controls, tuners and strap buttons are authentically rusted, and the paintwork is properly chipped off, no sanding here, and they've added some wear and tear to the fingerboard. An excellent job, certainly the best 'distressed' version around unless you start spending 3 or 4 times as much money. Well recommended.
An excellent addition to Vintages popular electric guitar range, all classics are represented, the Tele has been a long time coming but it's been well worth the wait!

From £199