Fender '62 Reissue Custom Telecaster

Mine is a 2005 crafted in Japan model (TL62B-75TX). All the features of a regular tele, Alder body, rosewood fretboard, 21 fret neck with a gloss finish and double binding on the body. I got a 3 tone sunburst model. It is a very nice looking guitar, the sort of guitar you see and you say "man, that's a nice looking guitar..."

The first thing i noticed when i picked this tele up and strummed an open E chord was how much the body resonated. It is a very 'alive' feeling guitar. plugged in it sounds amazing. Quite full sounding for a tele. the pickups are slightly higher output compared to other teles i've tried. It's still bring and twangy though. The Alder/rosewood combination is more commonly associated with the stratocaster, with the typical classic combination for the tele being ash/maple. I'd say this wood combination has a lot to do with it, and it's definately a good thing.
I'm using it with a Fender 78 vibro champ and a pro junior. Many reviewers below have commented on the pickups, saying they should be replaced. Personally i have absolutely no problems with them and would reccomend getting a better amp before changing pickups.

Before i bought my vibro champ i was using a solid state peavey with a modified yamaha guitar. I'd changed the pickups and everything and it generally sounded pretty good. since buying the vibrochamp and later the pro junior and generally becoming a tube amp convert i guess i'm more inclined to suggest a good tube amp for anyone looking for good tone. pickups and effects will only improve what is already fundamentally good. start with a good guitar and a good amp before you think about anything else.

so to summarise, in my opinion these pickups are very good. but feel free to disagree, i'm just offering my opinion here.

setup from the factory was ok, action was a bit too low and intonation was a little out. not perfect but it didn't take long to fix. bookmatching is ok you can see the joins pretty clearly. there is something else which is annoying but doesn't affect the guitar as far as i can tell. the plate which secures the neck to the body is VERY slightly off center. it's not crooked or anything just a tiny bit off. i didn't notice it for about a week after i got the guitar and like i said it doesn't seem to affect the sound or playability but it's just a bit annoying really!
while i'm at it with the annoyances i wish the decal said 'custom telecaster' like it should instead of just 'telecaster'. i'm sure that one extra word would improve the sound immensely!

i've already used it live and will continue to do so. it feels very solid and is quite heavy. i could depend on the guitar, but you can't always depend on strings. i'd use a backup just for security, although i'd be annoyed as i like this guitar so much better than my others.

ok i've never dealt with fender, so i'll base this on the service i got from Ishibashi music. i got this from the ishibashi web shop in japan, as it's not an export model. They were very helpful, Noriko answered all of my questions within a day and the guitar arrived 4 days after i made the payment. i was a little uncertain about buying over the internet and sending money to this place oversees so i had heaps of questions for them and they answered everything. I would definately buy off them again, maybe a '52 next time...!

Been playing for 9 years now. i really like this guitar, it's awesome. love the look (the binding baby!) and the sound of it. I compared it to an American Highway 1 tele (well not really i played a HW1 and didn't like it so i gambled with this based on the positive comments i'd heard) they aren't available outside of Japan so you kinda have to take a gamble. I did and it payed off big time! the reviewer below said that the American teles are just a little too modern and not 'tele' enough. i couldn't agree more. this guitar definately has more of a vintage vibe. the neck is gloss finished and a bit chunkier compared to the modern, slick satin finish on the americans. i prefer the chunky gloss but i know many guitarists prefer the feel of a slimmer satin neck so take that into account if you're considering this guitar.
For me this guitar is really quite perfect.

All the features as previously stated. Alder, three tone sunburst, double binding, crafted in Japan 2004 model, Kluson tuners and ashtray three saddle bridge, 21 thin frets, one volume and one tone control. Mine came with a Fender deluxe gigbag. It's a tele...not big on features but it does the job.

This tele suits the type of stuff I play. I play a lot of rhythm in a rock/pop covers band and also some lead and I find the tele ideal. I use it with a valve (tube) Laney LC2 30 watt amp and it sounds fantastic. I use a Boss OS2 overdrive distortion and a Boss CS2 chorus.

The guitar was set up perfectly for me as it came. I put a set of my favourite 10-46 strings on and it felt like home...
The finish on this guitar is beautiful....there must be joins in the wood but it is bookmatched well and I can't see them.
There were no flaws that I could see...all in all a beauty!!

I think this guitar will last forever....well built and it's a tele...what else can you say?

Never had to deal with them....

My overall rating is 10. It will tell you how much I rate this crafted in Japan tele when I tell you that I traded an American series Ash two tone sunburst for it!! IMHO the Japan 62 is exactly the tele I was looking for. The American series was just too modern and not "tele" enough for me. As soon as I played this one I knew I had to swap....and I love this one to bits....which I never got to with the American series. I would say check out the Japan made Fenders and you won't be dissapointed..

I bought this guitar new in 02-2005. The features where mentioned before, so it does not make sense to repeat all that again.

The only feature, that's not so positive about the 1962 Telecaster Reissue Japan is, that the neck has to be removed from the body to reach the truss rod.

The guitar was offered without a case.

Beeing used to Gibson Les Paul und Patrick Eggle Guitars, I first thought, that the Telecaster sounds "thin", but after a while I started to love the sound of this guitar.
It's a pleasure to play distorted chords, because the chords still sound clear and it's great to play solo too.
The longer I play this guitar, the more I feel, how it makes me play better, somehow.

Actually I bought this guitar for the looks in the first place - fortunatly it plays and sounds great too.

Setup was done fine in the store - Musik Schmidt in Frankfurt, Germany - the neck plays fine, always stay in tune and looks great.

The guitar is black with white bindings - looks great.

Everything is fine so fasr

No need so far

It's a beautiful guitar, that's a lot a fun to play with, it sounds great and you get a lot of value for the money.

I would buy it again in no time - so it's highly recommended.

MIJ '62 reissue, beautiful guitar. You all know what it looks like

Original pick ups are not very good. I have modified the neck pick up cavity to accommodate a humbucker (SD '59)and changed the pickguard for nice parchment 3 ply from a dealer on ebay. It sounds rich and fat, just like me! I find it has lost a little twang in the neck and dual positions, but the sound is a little creamier and I think i really like it. Sure is purdee, too. It is a little less noisy now too. I can still get some twang out of it with my playing style.

Well put together, this one is. The aging toner on the neck is real nice now. This guitar was made in '86, so its pushing 20 years old. The binding has turned a nice creamy color, to go with the sound of the neck pick up!!

Solid as a rockabilly. You can depend on it as much as you can depend on anything, and then some. Kinds goes outta tune, but i will change the tuners soon. Saw some nice mini schallers on ebay!

huh?

Great guitar. I think it would look really cool with gold hardware! If lost or stolen, i would as Bruise for another one!

jap made, 21 fret,you know all this from the other reviews...beautiful 3 tone sunburst, gorgeous cream binding setting this apart from any other tele i've ever sen.maple neck, old style bridgewiththe barrels (ie each string doesn't sit in it's own thingy-m-bob.through body trings,kluson tuners, came with gig bacg, no strap/ashtrey/strap locks etc unforunately...it was bought over the interet (blasfeme i know!!SORRY!!) rated it at 8 coz i knew wht i was getting, but it didn't come witha fender gig bag, it came with brandoni, and to my understanding fdenders came with their own branded fender cases etc

i am inspired heavily by john frusciante, hence 62 re-issue, but i also play foo fighters,muse, clpton and anythign i like the sound of basicaly.i upgraded the saddle son the bridge with bras ones which improved the sound slightly...well...not so much improved...made itmore what i was looking for.thisone camewith american custom teleick up's in it, and they do the job just great!!i playt an ibanez artist with setmor duncans 59's and wantedthis for vcariation, whichi have certainlyfound.they go hough a gibson GA15rv valve amp (clean) and a fender jnr 12w vlalve amp (driven) with a miriadofpedals fordistortiondriven wah wah sounds.

the came amazingly well set up. i told the shop iwanted a medium low action as i like like to get rightinto playingand can get a bit carrid away, and they set it upacordingly.thefinish was perfect, a few marks in the lacour that giveit character, not so much dings or imperfections, just anomoys, little marks you can see but not feel...if tha tmakes sense....

n/a apart i re-stringregularly and never had onesnap at a gig yet.

never needed it as such...they are very good at answering any questions i may hae though

the uimate question is, "if someone stole it wouldi buy anotherone?" damn right, it wa hard to track one down,it is jap made withamerican pickup's and i got an amingprice on it, but i love this tele, i may get one in candy apple red withthe cream binding as they look nice to, but i'd change the pick up's for variation in soundto justify havin gtoo '62 re-issues. this was a 21st b-day present so it is special tome anyway, but it is a lovly guitar and i am so proud to own it, and it is suchan eye catcher, everyone wants to see it and ask about it.

Mines is a 2004 Japanese model, with 21 frets, its the same as everyone elses here... Cost me #500 new. The binding really sets this guitar apart from any i've seen, as a result, looks wise, it kicks any other fenders ass. I believe John Frusciante uses something similar. Its 3 tone Sunburst (nice grain) with a rosewood neck and of course DOUBLE BINDING!

It seems quite 'twangy', but still its a nice guitar. The pick ups aren't as good as the ones on my other guitar (a les paul studio lite), but there a step up from my mex strat. They feel as if they lack power, but not to the extent that their crap by any means! I used it with my Marshall DSL 40 and the feedback of this thing when its distorted on the neck pickup is not very nice, so best stand WELL back!

The action was fine and there was no flaws in the building of the guitar, it feels solid!

I think this guitar will stand up to a lot of punnishment everything seems solid and trustworthy. I probabily would use a backup as its to much hassle taking two guitars plus an amp to gigs since I dont drive, anyway you can always ask politely to use someone elses.

N/A

I've been playing about five years and also own a Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite, a Fender Mexican made Strat and Jazz Bass, a Washburn acoustic and a wee Spannish one (it was my first). Amps wise i've got a Marshall DSL 40, a Fender 112 Deluxe Plus, and an old H/H 100 Watt Bass amp, as well as a 25 Watt practice Bass amp.
This Tele's best feature is the binding its beautiful!

This is a 1986, MIJ, 21 fret custele, beautiful 3 tone burst. I dont know if it is a solid top or laminate. Japs were pretty good with wood during this time frame, using very good wood since they had cornered the market and hoarded the wood in the seventies. Regular controls. Great feeling neck, nicely aged finish, rosewood board and frets are very tasty and comfortable. The pick ups suck big time. I think the make and model of the pick ups are Nippon Crappee. Passive, for sure! The binding is really nicely done and has aged to a nice creamy color. The guitar is not too heavy, and it is lively sounding unplugged. Bridge is the crappy vintage tele bridge that cannot stay intonated to save its life. Tuners are ok. The neck is kinda on the thin side, but very cool. It came with a cheesy gig bag.

Like i said, the pick ups are pure crap, I even doubt they were the originals, i think the dealer swapped them for a set of crap pups, because i have heard a similar tele with originals, and it sounded much better than these. i have since changed them for a set of Tom Anderson tele pups with monster poles! Anyone for some power chunk funk? I have changed the bridge for a six saddle up market unit, and have changed the pickguard for a pearloid. Everyone who looks at this guitar drools. I changed the tuners for a set of old vintage Kluson Deluxes i had lying around, just for fun, they look cool and work fine. This guitar sounds fantastic, now. I give it a 10 now, 7 when i got it.

Set up sucked from the dealer. They said they looked it over. The jack did not even work when i got it!!! nice job looking it over guys...The finish on this guitar is first rate. No FLaws. I like my frets a little bit bigger, but these are ok too.

Feels pretty durable. It is almost 20 years old and looks fine except for a few dings.

Customer what?

Been playing 25 years, own lots of gear. About 26 guitars and 5 amps. If this one were lost or stolen, i would find another. They (Tele's) are fine guitars, and the custom is a pretty finish. I like the way it feels on a strap, nice balance, weight.

2003 Crafted in Japan. Fender "Telecaster" logo not "Custom Telecaster," but that's what it is, with the 3 tone burst, double binding, 3ply mint guard, Kluson Tuners, rosewood board, vintage saddles, etc. Modern controls (with flat top knobs,) the logo, and the poly (not nitro) finish are the only differences between this and an original as far as I can tell. The volume knob has a kinman-esque treble bleed cap, which I was thrilled to see on a production guitar. The finish looks and feels beautiful. The body is a nice looking alder 3piece. The neck is perfect. Like butter. The nicest neck I've ever played on.

The only complaint I have about the guitar out of the box are the Texas Special pickups. They are fine, but I will be swapping them out for Kinmans when they arrive. Once I put those in, I am sure this will be the nicest guitar I've ever owned. Unplugged the guitar is very loud(for a solidbody), resonant and musical.

I have had this guitar 2 days and I am in love. This is a keeper. Workmanship everywhere is of the highest quality. Considering the deal I got from ishibashi and their fantastic service, I will most likely never buy an american made fender ever again. Fender Japan is the way to go! The setup was very well done, and the intonation was excellent, amazing considering the straight three saddle bridge. I like low action, so I will change that, but I was expecting to. They have it set up stock for blues/rock players who bend a lot, with the action medium-high.

Rock solid.

Ishibashi is absolutely the best. They were quick to answer every email right away, and I received the guitar from Japan in less than a week!

I've been playing for 5 years, and I am a music major in college. I've owned about 5 or 6 before this , but I feel like I've found one here that I will play for the rest of my life! I'm thrilled!

Judging by the serial number and the "Made in Japan" decal as opposed to "Crafted in Japan" this would have been made in '85-'86.
Basswood body with a gorgeous 3 color sunburst finish. Not sure if Nitrocellulose lacquer as the original or the current US made reissue model has but it's nicely done (not too thick)

Neck maple has a superb grain and the rosewood 'board is nice and dark-has a great feel to it. This particular guitar seems to have a slighly thicker neck-not a "club" but not as thin as the US made '62 Reissue I tried at a local shop. I like the extra thickness-better for (my idea of) good tone. Tuners are Kluson look alikes-work ok, but a couple are a little slippery. Will be replacing them with real Klusons.

I play a variety of styles (whatever I can handle-would rather work that not) but mainly alt.country and power-pop. I use a Vox AC30 for clean to slighly dirty sounds and Tech 21 Trademark 60 with a variety of pedals for more processed sounds.
This Tele is comparable in noise level to my '52 Reissue model and I.M.H.O. it's reasonable in noise level for a Tele.
Like any stock Tele they're not as big for tonal variety as a Strat, etc. but that's no problem for me. Use those volume and tone controls!
The lead pickup is actually a little hotter than my '52 reissue.

I bought the guitar used (private sale) and the previous owner set things up very well. I did switch from .009's to .010's and raised the action just a bit. As a guitar that's almost 20 years old it has a few expected dings and scratches, but nothing serious. All electronics, frets, etc. are in fine shape.

I would use this just as much as any guitar without a backup...that is I would not, but that has nothing to do with any fault of this instrument. Hey, strings break and I'd rather just get through the tune and be able to switch off to a backup.
As most all Tele users would agree, they're built as solid as can be. I'll give it 9 only because of the tuners that I'll replace.

N/A

I love the looks, the feel and really everything about this guitar. If I'm going to split hairs I suppose cloth wiring would have been nice and if this isn't a lacquer finish then that would have been nice as well. But all in all this is a finely made guitar at a very good price.

Features: 9

This is the Fender Custom Telecaster that where built in Japan between 1984-96. Purchase included the vintage tan tweed case.

Rosewood fretboad, kluson tuners, three-way pickup switch. Vintage chrome tone and volume controls, 'top hat' pickup switch. Three sadle bridge, 'ash-tray' bridge plate. 21 frets. Candi-Apple red finish, with white bonding on sides.

Body is made from Basswood, and is pleasingly light-weight.

The only accessories is the 'ash tray' bridge cover. I replaced the original white pickguard with a 3 ply black pickguard, which really makes the contrast between the red finish and chrome parts (including the bridge cover) look even more spectacular.

I gave 'Features' a 9 because this is a Telecaster, what more does it need?

Sounds: 10

Rating the 'sound' of this guitar is totally subject. I currently own a new VOX Pathfinder 15R. On clean settings this Telecaster and VOX amp perfectly compliment each other, sounding both bright and twangy. The bridge pickup, with the volume control set to max, provides more than enough bark to produce a crunchy distortion with this or any amp.

The neck pickup is suitably warm, nice for 'Travis style' finger-picking tones. The bridge pickup absolutely SCREAMS. I've A/B'd this Telecaster with a friend who owns a Nashville Deluxe, and this one that I own clearly is brighter with a more 'raw' twang to it.

I gave 'Sounds' a 10 because for me it has that legendary 'raw' Telecaster 'bark and twang' which is the tone I was looking for. This guitar is not capable of producing a 'mellow' tone, even the neck pickup has a 'raw' edge to it. I love the sound of this guitar.

Action, Fit & Finish: 9

I bought this guitar in a small guitar shop in 1990. I've never had to mess around with the setup or intonation at all. I raised the action slightly, that's the only adjustments I've ever made.

The neck is very slim, and very easy to play. No fret-buzz or choked notes anywhere on the neck (except when I screw-up...can't blame the guitar for that:).

The only flaw at all is occassionally the pickup switch shorts out...rememdied by gently toggling it. I consider it a minor nuisance.

Reliability: 9

This guitar looks and feels rock-solid. I polish it regularly to maintain the finish. As I said above, there's a minor problem with the pickup switch. If it gets more persistent I'm sure it's a simple fix to replace.

Customer Support: N/A

I've never dealt with Fender Customer Support. I did mail in the original warranty card when I bought this guitar, but I doubt there's any warranty coverage for a guitar almost 20 years old.

Overall Rating: 10

I bought this guitar new in July 1990 (McKenzie River Music, Eugene,OR), but it sat unused in a closet until about a year ago, when I finally found the time to learning how to play it. Seeing what the new Fender Custom Telecaster Reissue's go for this days, I got a bargain for $500 which included the vintage tan tweed case.

I?ve tried out several different models of Telecaster's, and in terms of vintage tone, feel, weight, and looks, this one is just perfect. Perhaps it was the 'luck of the draw'. The bottom line is I love every feature of this guitar, and to me it is irreplaceable.

Of all the different makes and models of the Fender Telecaster, the 62 Custom (reissue), in my humble opinion, is the coolest looking, and best sounding if you're looking for that raucous Tele bark and twang. This guitar is definitely a rare gem I'll keep forever.

lr**
Michael Behuniak
Seattle, WA
Jan 30,2003