Telecaster choices

Mr. Presentable

Man, I'd love a nice Tele, but

Which one?

There's teles from USA, Mexico, Japan, by Fender.
There's Squiers, by Fender
There's Tele copies by several others, then,
there's Tele Classic
Tele Thinline
Tele Lite ash
I mean, aaargh!

I want a Tele that sounds like Bruce, or Sumner or Quo. What do I want? Please advise. Is there a sound difference between the various solutions, or is it a snobbery? The prices vary wildly.

Bod1

for all tele answers go to www.tdpri.com, it's the premier source on the net.

Bruce Springsteen plays esquires and vintage tele's. Status Quo use modified 60's telecasters. There are a couple of custom builders who make copies if that's your bag.

Fender US instruments are perceived as being better constructed than Mexican, Japanese instruments are seen as being consistently well made but ultimately it boils down to finding an instrument which feels good to you and your budget. US instruments are more expensive typically than Japanese, with Mexican instruments being cheaper again.

Squire Instruments are mande in Korea, and use cheaper components, the bodies are not soild ash, alder etc but a laminate.The Pickups are not as good and the fit and finish can vary. That said the guys on the TDPRI forum are raving about the new "classic vibe" squire which is retailing for 200 dollars.

To get the low down on various models look at the fender website, pick ups vary, fret size varies as does the wood type used in construction.

Thinline, has a hollow body, lite ash refers to the body material and classic is just that, approximate to the original specs.

For a classic sound, look at the 52 or 62 reissue. US, Mex or Japanese. Don't get hung up on a model or country. A classic tele sound or "twang" comes from the single coil pick ups with the selector set to the bridge pick up. and a "clean" amp setting.

Bottom line go to a guitar shop plug some in and play. Don't get hung up on the specifics.

Dord

Sounds like you want a Tele with humbuckers. The Deluxe is perfect for that kinda sound. Not so much twang, more of a full on rock guitar.




I believe there's one for sale on adverts....

<_<

>_>

Johnny Storm

Dord wrote: »

Sounds like you want a Tele with humbuckers. The Deluxe is perfect for that kinda sound. Not so much twang, more of a full on rock guitar.




I believe there's one for sale on adverts....

<_<

>_>

Subtle

johnboy8

i had a baja tele,great sound especially with the s1 switching,great choice of sounds,and great pickups,vintage styling.mexican made so cheaper than the us ones,think i paid 550 new for it.

BarryCreed

you see ESP teles for sale from time to time. supposed to be very good.
chuck prophet plays an old jap squier.
and i remember an ESP hybrid a few years back, though it may not sound like a tele...

Denalihighway

might be a bit expensive for starting off but this is what I play. I adore it ... http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_72_telecaster_custom_mn_bk.htm

cracking tele sound from the bridge setting and the humbucker option for heavier lines, so great versatility too...

thats pretty much all I can say, a lot of the advice you get will be down to personal taste and experience so try decide the sound you want and play a load of them through a clean amp and build your profile

Neo#

Denalihighway wrote: »

might be a bit expensive for starting off but this is what I play. I adore it ... http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_72_telecaster_custom_mn_bk.htm

cracking tele sound from the bridge setting and the humbucker option for heavier lines, so great versatility too...

thats pretty much all I can say, a lot of the advice you get will be down to personal taste and experience so try decide the sound you want and play a load of them through a clean amp and build your profile

I have one like that except its a japanes model and not a mexican. Its gorgeous! Its sexual chocolate:D I got it off ebay which was a risk which turned out well. You can mix the sound from heavy grunge to that twangy tele sound which I dont care too much for. You can a great sound by mixing the two volume knobs on each and obviously the tones from both.

Neo#

They had a Mexican one in musician inc last time I looked.

Mr. Presentable

In the end, this is what I bought.

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/fender-telecaster/1020

A Mexican Standard Tele. Mine's chrome red. €400.00 including delivery. I presume it'll need setting up - anyone know who or where would do that for me?

brendansmith

I always hated the sight of telecasters but recently completly changed my mind? Think it might have been seeing john 5's collection.

Thinking about gettin one to as all i have is a jackson flying V. My god they are awkward things, picked it up at a bargain though!

BostonB

I always wanted a tele plus back in the 80's. Always out of my budget though.

Don1

G&L ASAT Deluxe. I love mine. Can't wait to be re-united after 4 months away this weekend.

Anywho, great guitar. Can rock the crap out of it, or click the mini toggle to switch to single coils and twang it up. Lovely tone. Superb build and finish etc.

Have it any day over a Fender, partially just for the sake of being different.

brendansmith

http://www.musicswopshop.com.au/images/stockImages/DSCN1458-MSS%206637.JPG


might think about gettin this so.

good guitars ay?

kranog

I have the '52 reissue and it's just an awesome guitar...


I also have a yamaha pacifica telecaster that I've done up and it too looks and sounds just amazing too!

Johnny Storm

kranog wrote: »

I also have a yamaha pacifica telecaster that I've done up and it too looks and sounds just amazing too!

What did you do to that cat ???? :eek:

kranog

Ah...it was a gradual thing...it started off just finding a set of gotoh black tuners in Musician Inc...they gave them to me for only 20 blips....and it went from there...
I decided to buy a black top loader bridge piece, black carbon nut and string tree (for the headstock), black knobs, black strap locks, black pickuprings and two seymour duncan white invaders (just for the contrast of it!)....got them all on eBay!
I found the Bettie Page decal on eBay aswell as (ya can't see it, but...) the neck plate holding the neck on...is a custom laser made Bettie Page neck plate...I found the strap in Perfect Pitch...altogether...it just sorta came together...
I replaced the pots to 500K pots aswell to get the most out of it....and the final piece is a hand traced "Bettie" autograph on the headstock where the Pacifica logo was scratched off.....that came off really easy...which is sorta scary...

So all in all....a pacifica that cost me 250 blips originally....I've upgraded to all pro parts...it holds up against my other guitars (Les Paul, PRS, Tele, Schecter)

I can't imagine my chosen customisations would be for everyone though!

brendansmith

Emmmmm

Think he might have been refering to your strap and its similarity to a cats tail protruding from beneath you guitar there.

kranog

it took the hydes of 4 adult cats to make my strap....I'll hear none of your nay-saying...it's disrespectful to the sacrificed cats! They make a fine strap so they do!

Mr. Presentable

nipplenuts wrote: »

In the end, this is what I bought.

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/fender-telecaster/1020

A Mexican Standard Tele. Mine's chrome red. €400.00 including delivery. I presume it'll need setting up - anyone know who or where would do that for me?

The guitar arrived damaged. The packaging was all unmarked - so it was packed that way :eek: I contacted them yesterday by email with a photo, and received a replacement today. No questions asked - top quality customer service.

brendansmith

nipplenuts wrote: »

The guitar arrived damaged. The packaging was all unmarked - so it was packed that way :eek: I contacted them yesterday by email with a photo, and received a replacement today. No questions asked - top quality customer service.

Really?:eek:
top quality customer service
bottom quality original service

Thats bad form that they should originally send you a damaged guitar man!