School me on Telecasters

[D-Rock]

This is my Tele. It's a MiM from 2004. Only changes are a black pickguard and a Dimarzio Chopper T in the bridge. It can do anything. Great guitar for the price.

 

[Ventura]

There's loads of better T-type guitars than a new Fender Tele, just depends on your budget. Its a slab of wood and easy for luthiers to get a one-up on current production.

Steve

Exactly.

So why it is these sound so unique when compared to most other guitars? Is it the 'ashtray' that gives it its twang? I know the argument about the wood, the neck, the SC pups, but why doesn't a strat or any other SC style guitar have the twang and cut like that of a tele??

neck scale and BIG metal plate under bridge Pup.

simple physics.

Appreciate the answer, but don't kid yourself - in the case of tone, physics is never 'simple'.

Great thread. Loved the black on black tele clip - that axe looked tolerable

I may have to do some closet-case tele shopping in the near future.

 

[killertone]

I love Teles.

Picked one in Japan when I was there last year. Killer guitar with a unique six saddle bridge. Intonates great and is twangy as all fuck. I threw in the Bareknuckles Piledriver set in it and it is killer for rock and chicken' pickin'. With a roll of the volume knob you can literally go from one style to another with ease. Best Tele pups ever.

 

[mobyp]

I've seen and played road worns and cheaper tele's. There as close as you can come to playing a 2 x 4 with chicken wire - which is kind of the point of the tele. It's a man's instrument. No where to hide. Which is probably why I don't own one. If I did, I'd want it to be something like this.

 

[ashesofphoenix]

I am personally not a fan of Fender Teles. IMO I feel like you get a much better sound/playable instrument if you go w/ Suhr, Tom Anderson, etc. On the cheap, I used to have and absolutely loved my old SX Tele, as dumb as it sounds I tested bothe the SX and the Fender and the SX felt more comfortable and and IMO sounded better. But this is all personal preference. A buddy of mine built one from Warmoth and it is way too much fun to play.

I'll admit I secretly want another Tele style again (just don't tell my Ibanez's lol)

 

[Ventura]

I've seen and played road worns and cheaper tele's. There as close as you can come to playing a 2 x 4 with chicken wire - which is kind of the point of the tele. It's a man's instrument. No where to hide. Which is probably why I don't own one. If I did, I'd want it to be something like this.

Maybe if they ever do a remake of 'Deliverance' they'll use a Tele instead of the banjo

 

[vultures]

This is my Tele. It's a MiM from 2004. Only changes are a black pickguard and a Dimarzio Chopper T in the bridge. It can do anything. Great guitar for the price.

GAS WINS, a Tele will be bought. As much as I'd like to own/try a Suhr or TAG, I just can't afford something in that price range. Right now I guess I'm looking at the Roadworn, American Special and American Standard in that order, but any ideas as to what these guitars go for on the used market?

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I've owned several...and my hands down favorite favorite was a Trussart Dlx Steelcaster. That thing had tone for DAYS and played like butta.

They are pricey though...

 

[TeleBlaster]

Be uber careful about the RW's, tone-wise they are all over the map. Seriously, some of the Mex guitars do sound great but also there are really crappy sounding bodies out there.
The other potential problem is the vintage (super-wide) string spacing which can cause string alignment problems. This coupled with the rolled edges on the neck creates a situation where the high E string pulls off the neck on the higher frets.
The good news is that you can buy a drop in bridge with narrower string spacing.
Fender had an early run of the RW Strats where virtually every one had this problem bad, IMO the bridge drill was off a little but they corrected that on later runs.
Rule of thumb on the Mexican models is to play it first.
I would have no problem buying a CS or American without playing it first but with the Mexican models you have to sort through them somewhat.

 

[TeleBlaster]

Oh, yeah! Is there anything sexier in the guitar world than binding on a tele?

 

[Even Bigger D]

Personally I find fender teles to need a lot of work before I'm happy with them. Problem #1 is the bridge - as far as I'm concerned the right choice is a compensated 3-barrel bridge, which fender doesn't offer. 6-saddle is for strats and sounds kind of thin on a tele, and 3-barrel without compensation means you're out of tune all the time. Both unacceptable for me.

The fender pickups also do nothing for me. I really like the EMG T (or TX) set - they're quiet and very much tele-sounding. Lots of Nashville guys use them, especially for stage guitars. If you're going to go vintage style, Fralins are nice but expensive for what they are.

If I was going to build a medium-price tele right now, I would go with a used American standard in swamp ash/maple - focusing on the neck playability, swap the bridge for a Callaham, swap the pickups for an EMG TX set, and call that good. More like $1000 than $700, but at least close to your price range.

 

[jlbaxe]

There's loads of better T-type guitars than a new Fender Tele, just depends on your budget. Its a slab of wood and easy for luthiers to get a one-up on current production.

Steve

Exactly.

So why it is these sound so unique when compared to most other guitars? Is it the 'ashtray' that gives it its twang? I know the argument about the wood, the neck, the SC pups, but why doesn't a strat or any other SC style guitar have the twang and cut like that of a tele??

neck scale and BIG metal plate under bridge Pup.

simple physics.

Appreciate the answer, but don't kid yourself - in the case of tone, physics is never 'simple'.

Great thread. Loved the black on black tele clip - that axe looked tolerable

I may have to do some closet-case tele shopping in the near future.

Yeah I think I remember you saying something similar about an Axe-Fx unit

 

[Ventura]

There's loads of better T-type guitars than a new Fender Tele, just depends on your budget. Its a slab of wood and easy for luthiers to get a one-up on current production.

Steve

Exactly.

So why it is these sound so unique when compared to most other guitars? Is it the 'ashtray' that gives it its twang? I know the argument about the wood, the neck, the SC pups, but why doesn't a strat or any other SC style guitar have the twang and cut like that of a tele??

neck scale and BIG metal plate under bridge Pup.

simple physics.

Appreciate the answer, but don't kid yourself - in the case of tone, physics is never 'simple'.

Great thread. Loved the black on black tele clip - that axe looked tolerable

I may have to do some closet-case tele shopping in the near future.

Yeah I think I remember you saying something similar about an Axe-Fx unit

Dem FIGHTIN' words, m'man

Quite right, as for the Axe-II, sure, they're still a mess - I've already had one come and one go, never even opened the box to look at it - just got it, sold it, see ya later...

But this thread has definitely created some Tele gas. All black with maple neck and board, 3 post bridge, oldschool, DAMN IT!! I may have to give this a shot JUST so I can say I tried 'em and I still hate 'em

 

[Even Bigger D]

I've owned several...and my hands down favorite favorite was a Trussart Dlx Steelcaster. That thing had tone for DAYS and played like butta.

They are pricey though...

Those things sound great, but in the same vein I much prefer the "Liquid Metal Guitars" take on it - better hardware for starters. Slightly different vibe though.

 

[jlbaxe]

There's loads of better T-type guitars than a new Fender Tele, just depends on your budget. Its a slab of wood and easy for luthiers to get a one-up on current production.

Steve

Exactly.
Great thread. Loved the black on black tele clip - that axe looked tolerable

I may have to do some closet-case tele shopping in the near future.

Yeah I think I remember you saying something similar about an Axe-Fx unit

Dem FIGHTIN' words, m'man

Quite right, as for the Axe-II, sure, they're still a mess - I've already had one come and one go, never even opened the box to look at it - just got it, sold it, see ya later...

But this thread has definitely created some Tele gas. All black with maple neck and board, 3 post bridge, oldschool, DAMN IT!! I may have to give this a shot JUST so I can say I tried 'em and I still hate 'em

yeah I got the Axe II opened the box to get my invoice out, listed it evil bay and got to play it for 4 days luv'd it and can't wait for mine to come in from TM. I have been working 7 days a week and not getting home til late with no energy for guitar

I have been looking for the perfect Fender Tele. Thought about a Suhr,Anderson or other brand but I think the Tele is the one thing Fender did right. Now if I don't do something stupid like go out and buy this '82 orangish vette this week I might buy a Tele

 

[Ventura]

There's loads of better T-type guitars than a new Fender Tele, just depends on your budget. Its a slab of wood and easy for luthiers to get a one-up on current production.

Steve

Exactly.
Great thread. Loved the black on black tele clip - that axe looked tolerable

I may have to do some closet-case tele shopping in the near future.

Yeah I think I remember you saying something similar about an Axe-Fx unit

Dem FIGHTIN' words, m'man

Quite right, as for the Axe-II, sure, they're still a mess - I've already had one come and one go, never even opened the box to look at it - just got it, sold it, see ya later...

But this thread has definitely created some Tele gas. All black with maple neck and board, 3 post bridge, oldschool, DAMN IT!! I may have to give this a shot JUST so I can say I tried 'em and I still hate 'em

yeah I got the Axe II opened the box to get my invoice out, listed it evil bay and got to play it for 4 days luv'd it and can't wait for mine to come in from TM. I have been working 7 days a week and not getting home til late with no energy for guitar

I have been looking for the perfect Fender Tele. Thought about a Suhr,Anderson or other brand but I think the Tele is the one thing Fender did right. Now if I don't do something stupid like go out and buy this '82 orangish vette this week I might buy a Tele

You must be my alter-ego or something... This is crazy, practically 'parallel lives' m'man... Cosmic!!

ANYWAY, I wanted to let you know, actually let everyone know (and this is by no means a hijack to the thread), that this thread has more or less successfully pushed me to the brink of looking into buying a Tele JUST so I can make my mind up if I hate 'em or not. I'm not looking into an Anderson, or a Suhr...I'm going to keep this real, legit, oldschool. I am going to take the plunge, and the reassess just what I can do with one of these. I'm seeking maple fingerboard, old-style 3 barrel bridge (compensated) and preferably not a piss-yellow colour. I've noticed a lot of standard stock models are around $1000, and the Custom Shop stuff $2000. What's the difference?? I'm a complete Tele luddite.

There it is - I've officially 'come out'

 

[vultures]

All y'all better stay the hell away from all the good Tele's on the classifieds

 

[Milerky2]

All y'all better stay the hell away from all the good Tele's on the classifieds

YOU STARTED IT!

 

[SFW]

Go pick up a used MIM tele and swap out the pickups. If you don't want any tawng at all, I highly recommend the Duncan Quarter Pounder. I currently have my tele loaded with a Duncan Broadcaster and vintage neck. Even though they are "vintage" output pickups, it still brings the rock with authority. Teles are wonderful guitars. They are only limited to what you can put into your playing. If I didn't have such a love affair with Les Pauls, I could easily be a full time tele guy.

 

[Scuba200ft]

I love tele's of all flavors...my above traditional ones, and these too....