1952 Fender Telecaster

by J.P.
(West Virginia)

1952 Fender Telecaster, Ser.# 0422, stamped on bridge. Neck dated on butt end, written in pencil, TG2-19-52. No cracks in wood. Brass bridges. Has a "D" stamped on the end of the neck and on the body neck cavity, but not sure what it means. Original hardware, wiring. Body and neck might have been re-painted or perhaps a custom color (?). Original thermometer case in good condition.

ANSWER

Hi, J.P.--

The serial number indicates that your guitar was made at the Fullerton Plant (Fender - Pre CBS Era), USA in 1954.

The neck and the body do appear to have been redone--the body painted, and a new neck. As you can read in the following general information, the guitar originally had a maple fingerboard and was available only in a blonde finish:

TELECASTER (FENDER MFG. 1951-1964) Add to Collection
- single cutaway ash body with routing channel between the pickups, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, "Telecaster" logo on headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, STB anchored bridge with three paired-string adj. saddles, black pickguard, two single coil pickups, two knobs (v, tone) and a three-way switch mounted on a metal plate, chrome hardware, available in Blonde finish, mfg. 1951-1964."

**Custom colors did not become available until mid 1956.

Here is the pricing info:

1954 Black P/G

Mint $75,000
Exc.+ $50,000
Exc. $30,000
Avg.+ $24,000
Avg. $19,000
General $15,000

**The non-original finish and neck will diminish the price considerably--probably down to average or general. Not that this is not a beautiful guitar--it is! It is just that collectors are demanding original finish and neck.

Lynne