School me on Telecasters

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vultures

vultures

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So.. I've been dying to get into some alternative rock or pop music, and as much as I love my Ibanez, I've been GASing for a nice Telecaster to give me some different tones :D I've got some questions, I don't know much about the Fender world or Tele's

Brands? I'm looking specifically at Fenders, I might be open to different companies if the headstock is similar
Models? What Fender models should I be looking for or stay away from? I think I want MIA (Or other brands if above applies) I'm looking really hard at the Fender Road Worn Tele, but idk what they go for used
Great pickups for rock? Looking at Dimarzio Chopper-T for bridge, probably leave it stock in the neck
Woods? Swamp Ash, Alder? Not too stuck on this, but wondering what would give me the best tone for rock
Hardware? Saddles? 3-Saddle or 6-Saddle? Bar or Standard? Compensated or no? Don't mind upgrading them, it's not too expensive

Parts guitar? Looking at some Warmoth bodies or stuff on Ebay, thinking about pairing that with a nice Fender MIA Tele Neck?

I'm going to have anywhere between $500-700 to spend I'm open to used, dead set on a Maple fretboard, and colors I'm open to sunburst, cherryburst, white, blue, a tasteful red, maybe others.

Really looking to just talk this out with some of you guys, steer me in the right direction :)


Edited a couple more ideas in
 
I am a tele guy, I use them everyday for a living. I have an American Standard w/ Fralin 'Stocks' in it and a Road Worn with Lollar 'Special Ts'. Both are incredible. the AS with Fralins is slicing and dicing all the way, killer for the real Tele thang! The Raod Worn with Lollars is one the greatest guitars I've ever heard. 3D and alive, bigness. If you're gonna get a Tele buy a Fender, it's classic and the real thing. For the rock thing the RW with Lollars is incredible.
 
James Lugo":3mbstzv2 said:
If you're gonna get a Tele buy a Fender, it's classic and the real thing.
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+1

That's what I was going to say.

The standard American Tele is where it's at. So awesome! I have always wanted the 70's style deluxe with the Strat headstock too.
 
I think the American Special is a great bang for the buck Tele, I bought one in white, maple neck, great feel, vintage style bridge with brass saddles, decent size frets(hate those tiny frets) and the stock pups are pretty rockin, I think it was in the 800.00 area, new.
 
G&L's are just as good, if not better, than Fender. Don't overlook them.
 
I have been a T-style player for 15 years. I'll have to post a pic/profile of my custom T, but there is NOTHING like a GREAT tele bridge pickup for that SPANK.

Funny though, I have never been a fan of the Tele neck pickup, I typically go with a humbucker or a mini humbucker in that position.

keep an eye out for a Zion T-style, sometimes you can get a great deal on an amazing guitar, because most people don't know what they are.
 
I'll get a road worn for my first tele....... I've heard AWESOME things about them
 
What amazes me with the tele is that it will do just about anything and do it well. I have a Suhr tele and it is just an absolute workhorse. I agree though, you can get an off the shelf American standard for half the price and it will be a great guitar. I was picky about the color ( I wanted surf green) and wanted a humbucker in the neck so I got a Suhr. I could have gone custom shop from Fender but it was actually about the same price as the Suhr and I think the consistency is better from Suhr. Just try before you buy. Don't overlook the squier classic vibe series, seriously. Great guitars, and not just "for the money". The telecaster is an amazing instrument. Here's a link to mine, just because I like showing it off. http://gallery.me.com/suhrguitars#10159 ... olor=black
 
Find a used Fender Hot Rod tele. Should be able to find one for about a grand. Awesome neck, bigger frets, 9,5 radius, light, and will twang it up or rip your head off....And only Fender makes a Telecaster.

Or, if you are going to get spendy, many other options..

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Oh, yeah! Is there anything sexier in the guitar world than binding on a tele?
 
This thread is killing me. For years, decades, I've despised the way a Tele looks. Can't stand 'em.

Over the last few years, I've been secretly yearning for one... But I still (in my forefront of thoughts) can't stand 'em. It's like this sick compulsion of mine.

I hate them but want one :doh: WTF is that called as a mental illness?!?!?!

I'm never going to admit this publically again :lol: :LOL:

Avagoodnight Cats :thumbsup:
Mojo
 
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
 
steve_k":3pslanoz said:
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
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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??
 
Ventura":299pdksx said:
steve_k":299pdksx said:
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
Click to expand...
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??
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neck scale and BIG metal plate under bridge Pup.

simple physics.
 
Ventura":2xxkqp1c said:
steve_k":2xxkqp1c said:
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
Click to expand...
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??
Click to expand...

The bridge is the main thing that gives a tele it's tone. The pickup is unique too, but the style of bridge will ultimately decide what that tele's going to sound like. A 6 saddle big heavy bridge (like on my American from 2000) will yeild a big good rock sound and still retain alot of that classic twang. The 3 saddle ashtray on my other tele twangs no matter what pickups I throw at it. I have another with a 3 saddle Wilkinson compensated and that also sounds different, kinda in between. I swapped bridges around and the inherent tone did go from guitar to guitar (between the Wilkinson and the ashtray).

To the OP:

On the cheap, you could go with a Squire CVC and throw a Lil 59 in the bridge, get some brass compensated saddles (from Stew Mac for $15) and throw a mini or full size humbucker in the neck (the body is already routed out for it). Not a bad guitar for some good rock tones for little cash. You may catch some shit for playing a Squire but hey.

Out of all the new teles I've been playing at the store, I keep going back to the road worn. There's something about them that just feels right to me. I actually prefer it over the new Americans myself. I liked the beefiness of the Baja's neck, but playing it back to back to the road worn - no contest.
 
I LOVE my Fender Richie Kotzen Telecaster. It somehow manages to be a fat rock tone machine, but still retains the twangy/snappy qualities you want in a Tele.
 
reverymike":1dpxkkyr said:
I LOVE my Fender Richie Kotzen Telecaster. It somehow manages to be a fat rock tone machine, but still retains the twangy/snappy qualities you want in a Tele.
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Yup, great clean tone and a great gain tone. Tele's are very versatile guitars, for looking so simple.
 
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