Fender "Richie Kotzen" Telecaster... Has anyone played one?

[TrueTone500]

I'm thinking about getting a Richie Kotzen Telecaster, so I want to hear from those of you who either own one, or have experience playing one. I don't care about the signature aspect... I'm interested in tone, weight, balance, neck contour, etc... I've never owned a Tele, so any advice will help. I know it has a 12" radius fretboard, but that's about it.

 

[ibenhad]

Awesome awesome guitar but the neck is seriously fat/thick. It makes a 50's neck on a Les Paul seem small. I have one of the original MIJ ones and love it. Plays and sounds great. Real sweet tele IMHO.

 

[TrueTone500]

Awesome awesome guitar but the neck is seriously fat/thick. It makes a 50's neck on a Les Paul seem small. I have one of the original MIJ ones and love it. Plays and sounds great. Real sweet tele IMHO.

Not into overly thick necks... Could I sand the neck down without damaging the side markers?

 

[kasperjensen]

Awesome awesome guitar but the neck is seriously fat/thick. It makes a 50's neck on a Les Paul seem small. I have one of the original MIJ ones and love it. Plays and sounds great. Real sweet tele IMHO.

Not into overly thick necks... Could I sand the neck down without damaging the side markers?

I really wouldn't recommend that, unless you are incredibly skilled at such things.

Have you looked into the Select Telecaster? They are amazing.

 

[mystixboi]

I had one for a day but I couldn't get used to the neck. It's a freakin Louisville Slugger of a neck!!! I wanted to love this guitar as Kotzen is one of my heroes but it wasn't worth it for me. I got it at a great deal and I thought that was a bit steep for the guitar. It felt kind of cheap to me. Something about the neck. Didn't feel right.

 

[TrueTone500]

Awesome awesome guitar but the neck is seriously fat/thick. It makes a 50's neck on a Les Paul seem small. I have one of the original MIJ ones and love it. Plays and sounds great. Real sweet tele IMHO.

Not into overly thick necks... Could I sand the neck down without damaging the side markers?

I really wouldn't recommend that, unless you are incredibly skilled at such things.

Have you looked into the Select Telecaster? They are amazing.

Should I be looking at the Thinline Tele, or the chambered?

Dammit! The Select's have a compound-radius neck.

 

[polaris20]

I really want a Tele too, because of Kotzen's tone. But I think in the long run it'll end up being another Warmoth, not a Fender.

 

[thenine]

I had the seafoam tele. Youre right the neck was like a Louisville Slugger. I did sell it off, but I regret that. The gold hardware was kinda gawdy for me. Sounded great tho.

 

[reverymike]

Great guitar! I've had mine since 2007. It's a killer straight up rock tele. The neck is a baseball bat, but love it. Tonally, it has the ability to rock but instill retains that telecaster snap and twang. It's also extremely versatile.

 

[kasperjensen]

Awesome awesome guitar but the neck is seriously fat/thick. It makes a 50's neck on a Les Paul seem small. I have one of the original MIJ ones and love it. Plays and sounds great. Real sweet tele IMHO.

Not into overly thick necks... Could I sand the neck down without damaging the side markers?

I really wouldn't recommend that, unless you are incredibly skilled at such things.

Have you looked into the Select Telecaster? They are amazing.

Should I be looking at the Thinline Tele, or the chambered?

Dammit! The Select's have a compound-radius neck.

I believe mine is chambered. It's a heck of a guitar.

I love the way it feels, because it's right in the middle. It also has a contoured back and heel.

It just happened to be the one i really liked, although I can't say I haven't played a tele that i didn't like. They are just real solid instruments. And consistent.

 

[gbsmusic]

I have one and I love big necks, I actually wish the neck was bigger. I love mine SO MUCH. I did change out the pots and switch and it made an incredible difference. Great great guitar!!

 

[reverymike]

What pots and switch did you go with? I'm curious - how did it make a big difference?? Tone??

 

[Schaf]

I'm thinking about getting a Richie Kotzen Telecaster, so I want to hear from those of you who either own one, or have experience playing one. I don't care about the signature aspect... I'm interested in tone, weight, balance, neck contour, etc... I've never owned a Tele, so any advice will help. I know it has a 12" radius fretboard, but that's about it.

They have one of the electrodyne tele's at the guitar center in Fairview heights, IL. It's very cool. Black, thinline body, Dual humbuckers though. DiMarzios I think? Neck's pretty thin on it. It MIJ. I think they want 500 for it.

 

[TrueTone500]

Can't say I'm impressed with the gold hardware, but it does look better on the K-Tele compared to the Strat.

 

[gbsmusic]

What pots and switch did you go with? I'm curious - how did it make a big difference?? Tone??

I bought a pre-wired set up from a guy on the Les Paul forum. Its just high quality pots with a paper/oil cap and a 4 way switch. The 4 way is 1-neck, 2-series, 3-parallel, & 4-bridge. the change made the guitar louder and so much fuller. I had read the electronics weren't the best in these and after doing the swap I agree. When it's on #2 it's like having a half cocked wah, one of the coolest sounds. I never though I'd ever like a Tele as much as I do but it's one of the best guitars I've ever owned!!