New Guitar Time - Telecaster or Sg

Citizen_Erased

Right then, time for a new guitar. Which one?

The two I have in mind are the fender Telecaster and the Gibson Sg. My max money is about 1200e and I would prefare a pre 1990 model. Can you let me know what you would or have choosen and also I am open to differant guitars if you want to suggest any.

Little Wing

Doctor J

They're very different guitars. What sort of pickups are you looking for, single coils or humbuckers?

Citizen_Erased

Well you see my preferenc4e would be humbuckers which would mean the Sg but I have seen telecasters with humbucker - its a simple mod.

bombidol

SG Without a doubt

Doctor J

Have a look at the Fender Japan range on Ishibashi - particularily the 72 Thinline Reissue and this one - should be less than €500 each, though shipping from Japan will be about €150. Still, the Japanese Fenders are top notch, generally better build quality than the USA models.

Edit - > also check out http://www.chrisguitars.com/gibson.html for cheap second hand SG's

Citizen_Erased

I know about the jap casters Ive been running one for 4 years now. I dont know if the neck on the sg is fast enough for my liking

daram

Jap reissues arent really up to much. If you could get your hands on an old school thinline back when the jap teles and strats had that sweet curved fretboard. Those guitars are the business. I've no idea how much one would cost though. Id go with a tele before an sg though, but thats just me.

Doctor J

daram wrote:

Jap reissues arent really up to much.

I would strongly disagree. The chances of getting an original thinline are next to nought, they are definitely the next best thing. The price of them too makes them very hard to beat. Fender Japan are doing great, great things at the moment.

mr_angry

To be honest, as the owner of an SG at the moment, I'd actually advise you not to get one. The stuff that Gibson are churning out at the moment just isn't up to scratch. There are all sorts of imperfections, and they seem to use plastic wherever possible these days, which really degrades the quality of the guitar.

In short, go for the Telecaster.

ferdi

there is no point in moding a tele and putting in hums....the thing abouy a tele is its unique sound, if you change that sound there is no point in getting one, get the SG.

feylya

mr_angry wrote:

To be honest, as the owner of an SG at the moment, I'd actually advise you not to get one. The stuff that Gibson are churning out at the moment just isn't up to scratch. There are all sorts of imperfections, and they seem to use plastic wherever possible these days, which really degrades the quality of the guitar.

In short, go for the Telecaster.

Ok, that's just set off my bull**** meter. It makes it seem that you own a Gibson SG instead of a cheaper copy. Gibsons stuff at the moment is quite good, not the best ever but still very good. Personally I'd go for an SG and installed coil taps if you want the single coil sound as well. I'd also think about LP's but that's a personal preference. And think about other brands beside Fender and Gibson. There are superior and cheaper ones available.

daram

good call

feylya

There's also thiswhich is quite nice for ?1100

Citizen_Erased

I did say I was open to other brands...

About the gibsons , I think their new stuff is falling behind I was think more an older Sg vs a probably a new telecaster.

The black Esp is quite a nice piece and a good price but I usually like to try guitars first so I dont know...

feylya

Get you to Instrumental in Dublin so!!! they've loads of higher end LTDs and ESPs. Might have an EC 1000 too.

Doctor J

The current thinking among people in the know is that Gibsons at the moment lack build consistency - ie: some are very good, up there with the old ones, but most are not and some are truly shocking. Therefore, if you get a Gibson, get it second hand from someone you can trust, would be my advice to you.

If you want to try other brands, Chris guitars has the following super deals

for $950, a Hamer Mirage Maple top


for $750, the classic Rickenbacker 360

feylya

I think this is a first. I don't either of those guitars

Paladin

Choice between a Tele and an Sg is a strange one.
Might I suggest a kick-ass alternative...
Get a strat with humbuckers in the neck and single coil in the bridge?
You have close to the high twang of the Tele and you can get that humbucker growl like from an SG.
Also its cheaper than getting 2 guitars.

As a personal side-note, I hate the balance and feel of SG's. Its the shape doesnt feel comfortable hanging on a strap off me shoulders, whether its gibson, epiphone or whatever.
Thats just my own little dislike though

mr_angry

feylya wrote:

Ok, that's just set off my bull**** meter. It makes it seem that you own a Gibson SG instead of a cheaper copy. Gibsons stuff at the moment is quite good, not the best ever but still very good. Personally I'd go for an SG and installed coil taps if you want the single coil sound as well. I'd also think about LP's but that's a personal preference. And think about other brands beside Fender and Gibson. There are superior and cheaper ones available.

Eh, hang on a second there. Before you go off on a rant, you should know that I spent a lot of time looking at the Gibson version of the SG when I was buying mine. It was very poor quality workmanship, and wasn't a patch on the Gordon Smith, which was half the price almost. As you said yourself, there are superior and cheaper makes available.

feylya

Yet that post seems as if you're talking about owning a Gibson SG. I'm talking about the build quality on a Gibson Les Paul and a Gibson Explorer, both of which I have examined at great length on multiple occasions.

feylya

Harley Benton Tele

Might be worth a look. Probably not but ya never know :P

Doctor J

feylya wrote:

Probably not

You said it man.

feylya

Just pimping the HB man. You know I have to

Doctor J

I know you do, but it never stops the hurt

feylya

Wait til you see what I do to mine when I get the wood I need for it!...

Doctor J

Anyway, back to business, make sure you check out G&L ASAT guitars, refined and evolved by the guy who designed the Tele in the first place. These are amazing guitars, all under a grand here

the first one especially, but they're all good

http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=578940



http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=579652

http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=513693

http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=561217

http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=573785

http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=544190

http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=521549

Citizen_Erased

Thanks for all the suggestions,

I have decided on a Telecaster or there abouts. I probably take a trip to Dublin or Belfast and scan the shops.

Little Wing

ferdi

to many ****ing telecasters being played in ireland at the moment, they must be 'in'...

Citizen_Erased

Well it gives us all a break from the Sgs

Doctor J

This 86 SG has just come off hold on www.chrisguitars.com - $799

As the man himself says "1986 Gibson SG Standard, black, fantastic 80’s SG with quality well above current models in my opinion, and with the small pickguard it retains the look of the original 60’s model rather than the huge guard used in recent years. Normal player’s wear but no breaks or repairs and an excellent setup. Replacement Grover tuners, otherwise original. Includes your choice of black case pictured or standard brown case."

feylya

Nice but I'd take an LP over that any day.

Doctor J

Says the king of Harley Benton mountain

feylya

Just cos I prefer a different shape of guitar!

And I'm trying to flog the HB amp to get a Behringer.

red_ice

noone can tell you what guitar to get... its really down to what style you play and how you want to progress with the guitar you are buying. I have a us strat which i chose over an SG simply becasue the sg imo is about image more than posture and playability. Sure the neck on the sg is nice, but if you want to play more tech stuff, move on to other types of music.

IMO the strat is a better all round guitar - ive played many a guitar over the 11 years im hammerin away, and when it comes to classical, rythem, blues, rock, funk or what ever your style is - the strat will have a grip in all styles.

I am in no way saying the SG is any different. But, in my experience, the strat is a much more 'playable' guitar. 80% if not 90% of the guitars on the market are modled around the strat for a simple reason... i need not explain.

As i said, it really is up to you, noone can tell you what guitar is better because its all down to personal preference. If you've been playing on a cheeper jap strat or what not, a move to a US of even Mexican will be heaven for you.

so on that note... get the strat ;p

Nah, just take your time when choosing.

Doctor J

There is no way on Earth a Mexican strat is better than a Japanese one. Make no mistake, a Mexiacan strat is a huge step down from the Japanese models and will be anything but heaven. Current Japanese build quality rivals the American models and in many cases outstrips them completely.

As for "SG simply becasue the sg imo is about image more than posture and playability" - that is just nonsense. No offense man, but that is just not true at all. Two SG players who immediately spring to mind are Tony Iommi (plastic fingertips) and Angus Young (very small hands) who have no trouble playing great things on their SG's. The SG is a fine guitar and will accomodate every style and technique you can think of.

feylya

Don't forget Frank Zappa!!!

I played an 80's Jap Squire a while back. It was one of the nicest feeling guitars I've ever played.

Doctor J

and Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton

John

Didn't Hendrix dabble on an SG from time to time?

Paladin

Doctor J wrote:

There is no way on Earth a Mexican strat is better than a Japanese one. Make no mistake, a Mexiacan strat is a huge step down from the Japanese models and will be anything but heaven. Current Japanese build quality rivals the American models and in many cases outstrips them completely.

I beg to differ...

http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0139202

Own this. Trust me, its american quality. If you're in cork sometime youre welcome to try it out
However this might well be the exception! And probably is, but hey, Im not gonna complain that mines the only great mexican

Doctor J

From the many reviews I've read it is the exception. The JV strat gets massive reviews, but as a general rule a standard strat, for example, would pale in comparison to it's Japanese counterpart. Don't get me wrong, the Mexican Fenders are decent guitars, but the Japanese ones are totally underrated for no logical reason. Plus, they now have the freedom to make their own designs, which is why the likes of the 'Bottom Master' (Jaguar to the scale of the Fender VI) - called the Jaguar Baritone in the States and the Aerodyne Jazz Bass have come into existance. Plus they're insanely cheap but the quality is top notch. To suggest a Mexican strat is a step up from a Japanese one is... well, misguided and bad advice IMO.

Citizen_Erased

I'm with the doctor - every single mexican tele I have played in a shop has had a lump or a dent somewhere along the neck. But the jap strats are miles ahead -
each one including my own have perfect necks it just the damn pickups!!

Doctor J

The higher end Japanese ones have started putting Fender USA pickups in them

Citizen_Erased

Ill watch out for them, then

fitz

I've got some gear for sale that might be of interest to you L_W. Have a look here:

http://muppet.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=184577

Citizen_Erased

I have changed my mind again I can no longer live without humbuckers. I'm getting a custom guitar made up in my friends dads workshop so itll will be cheap and personalised.

feylya

Cheap? Hmmm. What's done in your friends dad's workshop?

Doctor J

You might live to regret that. Why not get a warmoth tele neck and body and put it together with humbuckers yourself? At least then you'd be sure of having a quality guitar and not one with slightly inaccurately positioned frets on a neck as bendy as overcooked spaghetti.

Please check these links

Tele Bodies and compatible necks and there's a load of cheap humbuckers on Chris guitars

Citizen_Erased

Do you know of Fitz Howard, its his workshop. A telecastor with humbuckers is the design I had in mind. Yes , Is cheaper but you need a workshop and someone with the know how.

feylya

No, I'm not familiar with him. Is he a luthier. Considering you can get a tele with hummers for ?400, it'll be about the same from his shop probably...

Citizen_Erased

Fitz makes acoustic guitars but I suppose theyd be more famous with older ones. 400e sound about right but I can have it put together by a pro and how you put it together is the most important part of a good guitar guitar.

feylya

When you say "put together" do you mean assembly or construction?