should i buy a telecaster?
i own a couple ibanez's geard towards hard rock and am thinking of getting something different. i was thinking about a strat or a music man axis or something, but then i was watching crossroads (the movie) last night and i though - hey, why not something real different - like a tele!
i used to think they were the lamest guitars around but as i get older, im craving less gain, a more bluesy tone.
what do you guys think? what are they like if you are used to a shred guitar? the standared teles are only $400, are they decent? are the american teles that much better?
and what the dif between alder and ash?
i used to think they were the lamest guitars around but as i get older, im craving less gain, a more bluesy tone.
what do you guys think? what are they like if you are used to a shred guitar? the standared teles are only $400, are they decent? are the american teles that much better?
and what the dif between alder and ash?
Comments
Good luck!
Generally you hear that the bridge pup is the source of tele \"twang\" - some think the standard neck pup is almost useless (I agree) - it's often replaced by a strat single or a bucker.
The common thinking is \"maple neck, ash body, tele bridge pup, brass saddles= TELE MOJO\". I don't think you need all those pieces, since many of the big names in telecaster deviate from that formula. Ash does have a bit more \"spank\" than alder, but there's overlap, as with all things wooden.
Personally, I got a used Yamaha Pacifica 302 that works well for my limited tele needs (for country tunes).
could you expand on the differences you see/hear?
97 model, silver, with the mother of toilet seat pickguard....
Bought the guitar shipping charges included for $600 on Ebay..
Guitar is in MINT condidtion.. with hard shell case
If you're going to buy brand new, I guess I could see spending $500 or $600 at GC, on a Mexican, rather than the $950 for the American Standard. But if you check around EBAY I'll guarntee you that a nice tele can be had in the $500 to $600 range. While Mexicans, go anywhere from about @250 to $400. Like I say, if used get the American for sure. I believe you'll be happier with it..
As for Tele's......
Man...
What is it with you guys???
The bridge P/U IS the TELE sound... 8)
The front lipstick P/U is gives you that nice clear bell tone, with all the groovy harmonics. And then when you want that Tele TWANG, you got it in spades with the bridge P/U... 8) 8)
Man if you want a Tele, get a Tele. No humbuckers, and I'd get the maple fingerboard as well. That hard maple really gets those strings ringing.
I own 9 guitars now. I had to have the Tele for that sound that only a Telecaster can deliver.. 8)
Tal's reccomendation..
Shop for a used American Standard on Ebay...
Get the original P/U's..(No humbuckers)
Maple fingerboard (No rosewood)
Sit back and let her rip...
Aint nothing like a TELECASTER!!!!! :shock:
Here's some guys doing work on their Tele's that should give you sufficient TELE GAS..
Here's a group I just love called the \"HELLECASTERS\"..
Sweet Tele work.. 8) .
A member of the \"HELLECASTERS\" (Jerry Donahue) showing the proper way to pick the living crap out of a tele. (Notice that bell tone) 8) .
Here's a couple of meagre attempts to play a TELE from my Sound Click site. Recorded using the GNX4 and Patches. Might give you an idea how the Tele and GNX products match up..
\"Rockport Mississippi Rag\"
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=495855&songID=4082184
\"TELE JAM\"..
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=495855&songID=3839052
Sorry about the lengthy post but I love my TELE. I don't know that if I only could keep only one of my guitars it would be the TELE, but as an additional guitar for tone purposes, that that TELE sound is awesome.. 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
It's been about 8 months since i shopped but from what i recall.
I see glue coming out under the frets.
I see cheaper, smaller frets.
I see cheaper Pickups, you will hear the difference
I hear no fret buzz on an American made.
I see better finish choices on Americans.
I see better resale on Americans.
Americans feel better to play.
If you pick both of them up and can't tell the difference then maybe you aren't ready for a decent guitar.
Don't be surprised if the neck pick up sounds a little bassy, that's normal especially the 52 re-issue models.
Check out the Fender forum listed in another thread titled \"does anyone know a good Strat forum\" there is one chapter dedicated to MIM Fenders.
I am very happy with my MIM Strat, I have no issues with poor finish, in fact I have recieved very nice comments on the sunburst paint. No glue issues, no fret problems, pots are still quiet, and it sounds just like a Strat when played through my Peavy Classic 100 tube amplifier, geesh maybe I was lucky. I did change the pick guard from white to black, but that is just a personal preferance. I do my own set up and intonation too. According to the serial number mine was manufactured in the year 2000, so it's six maybe going on seven years now.
This is not an acurate portait of the Mex Teles. I own both an Am Se and a 2006 Mex. The new 2006 Mex Tele is vastly impoved over previous versions - pickups, shielding, MedJumbo frets are a few of the improvements. As in all lines of guitars - you start paying a lot more for incremental improvements as you start moving up in price - it is not always proportional. The Am Tele is a better guitar - but the new Mex Teles just took a big step closer.
http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=495306&lastpost=2006-09-0112:43:51
For what it's worth I have heard many people say that there really no difference in sound from Fender's Squire Teles and the \"proper\" ones. Only difference being a few hundred bucks!!! Also, I visited a friend recently who had bought a Dean Tele copy with a basswood body, he put an alnico SC p'up in the bridge and this thing now sounds like a s**t hot Tele!!! What's even more amazining is that he picked the Den up from a pawn shop for under £100.
TY
shando
as long as its keepin you rawkin and sounds great who cares where its made but as soon as I want more I usually step up in make....now I am gonna definatley step up soon and get a Mex..then either customize that one or if I find its my main fiddle and the stars all aline properlyand I win the lottery I will step up to the USA model...see that way you get to enjoy them all.
Tele's are ultra cool. 8) ..
You're starting to give me GAS...But that's okay...
I'm Broke...
better just enjoy the one I got ....fer now :twisted:
I have secretly jonesed for this one, but I am financially embarressed at the moment, or as far as this magnificent axe goes....Probably forever.
http://www.vintageguitar.com/classifieds/item_detail.asp?ItemID=125079
The original 1952 model had the 3 piece saddle as well but in Brass...
Here's a 52 reissue...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Vintage-52-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=510062
But never fear my Brother!!! 8)
This is the Tele for you.. 8) 8) 8) ..
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Nashville-BBender-Tele-Electric-Guitar?sku=511007
Notice the Strat P/U in the middle position and comes with the ultra-Cool B bender..(B bender is an add on you can buy to give your Tele those cool Steel guitar licks)
To get a better idea of how the B Bender works check out this amazing video of Authur Lee...Not only does he have a studio to die for, but he puts on an amazing demo of the Telecaster B bender system and explains how it works...
Dammn't 0DB....Stop it...I'm starting to get gas for your axe..
Ya just gotta love new toys!!
I had two Tele's. I always thought they were one of the most butt ugly guitars ever made. BUT, I do like them, and even play mine sometimes. I am a Strat picker, and I fell in love with them as soon as I had my first crappy Jap 10,000 lb Strat copy.
I put in two Mexican Strat pickups.. one at the neck and a center one. The bridge is a duel winding shector. At 6K it sounds like a Tele. When the 12K coil is in, it rips like a chainsaw. Lots more midrange and power.
I used a pot between the center tap and the full winding so I could get everything in between.
I used my Tele for a song I called \"Tele Spanking\" {It's really \"Long Tall Texan\" on steroids .... so I kinda lied. } For that, the Strat just didn't quite cut it.. Too much string pulling.
But that was when I was young and dumb, and I couldn't afford my GAS. It's now in the same place my '72 ES355, '65 ES345, and '79 Ibanez Musician all are - NOT in my possession!
I reckon choosing a Tele is a pretty personal thing, like all guitars I guess, and spending more money doesn't always mean a better sounding Tele. I own 3 Teles including a G&L Leo Fender Asat Classic, a Godin Tele Deluxe and a mid 90's Fender Mex Tele Deluxe. The Asat has the classic twang and that really good ringing bottom end. the Godin has 2 HB's and is a bit 'different', nice to play though. But the Tele I use the most is the Fender Mex. Its got a HB neck/Single bridge combo with a 5 selector switch, TBX and you can coil tap the neck pickup.
I've done some mods to it over the yeas - locking tuners, various pickups and a thicker Wilkinson bridge (highly recommended) which is great for more sustain and ring. However before I bought it, I tried out at least 10 different US standards and they were all disappointing. They all sounded a bit flat and boring to me so thats why I went for the Mex Tele - it just sounded better. Sorry to all those US standard owners out there!! I think Teles remind me a bit of Les Pauls in that each one seems to have a unique sound and you have to play a stack of them before you find one you really, really like. When you find that special one though, NEVER SELL IT - you'll always regret it, just ask me!!