Teles - what should I know?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bob Savage
  • Start date Start date
Chubtone":24zk9ax0 said:
I don't even know what forum I am on anymore. :confused:

;)
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:D

yngzaklynch":24zk9ax0 said:
Bob this might be another job for Lance
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It may be... heck, I ought to just send him all the cash I have right now and get a Tele and an SG and be done with it. :)
 
Chubtone":22hvb65j said:
I don't even know what forum I am on anymore. :confused:

;)
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If it's any consolation to you, my friend, I'm picking up my Custom Shop Charvel from Dan tomorrow - all done and ready to rock! :D

Steve
 
yngzaklynch":26l5de8l said:
Yes but they are funny looking and therfore worth posting :D
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I like the butcher block, it's just not a tele.
 
how about a Jeff Beck inspired Tele-Gibby?
beck_tele-gib-323x569.jpg
 
Have you thoiught about a Baja tele? I did a bunch of research on them and everyone seems to love theirs. They tend to sell quickly used as well. Very affordable, they are Messican. Come with ash body, brass saddles, good pups and the S1 switching system. I was worried that the neck would be too chunky but I played one at a music store before purchase to see and it is chunky but somehow very comfortable. I really like mine, thats my recommendation, Baja Tele.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...3.m570.l1313&_nkw=baja&_sacat=33034&_from=R40
 
thenine":2ssa5lli said:
Have you thoiught about a Baja tele? I did a bunch of research on them and everyone seems to love theirs. They tend to sell quickly used as well. Very affordable, they are Messican. Come with ash body, brass saddles, good pups and the S1 switching system. I was worried that the neck would be too chunky but I played one at a music store before purchase to see and it is chunky but somehow very comfortable. I really like mine, thats my recommendation, Baja Tele.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...3.m570.l1313&_nkw=baja&_sacat=33034&_from=R40
Click to expand...

Those look nice. Thing is, they're going for about $800 new and I can get an American Standard (Alder) for under $900... probably about $935-$950 with tax and shipping.

Is there a difference between the Baja and other MIM Teles or are all MIMs made in Baja?
 
Bob Savage":242ugw0e said:
thenine":242ugw0e said:
Have you thoiught about a Baja tele? I did a bunch of research on them and everyone seems to love theirs. They tend to sell quickly used as well. Very affordable, they are Messican. Come with ash body, brass saddles, good pups and the S1 switching system. I was worried that the neck would be too chunky but I played one at a music store before purchase to see and it is chunky but somehow very comfortable. I really like mine, thats my recommendation, Baja Tele.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...3.m570.l1313&_nkw=baja&_sacat=33034&_from=R40
Click to expand...

Those look nice. Thing is, they're going for about $800 new and I can get an American Standard (Alder) for under $900... probably about $935-$950 with tax and shipping.

Is there a difference between the Baja and other MIM Teles or are all MIMs made in Baja?
Click to expand...

Yes they are diff. The Baja teles are a particular model Fender put out. They were/are "Custom Shop Designed" which really means Chris Fleming did the specs on these models. This includes the broadcaster bridge pup, twisted tele neck pup, shape of the neck and the S1 switching system (4 way switch with a push button for some coolio out of phase tones in pos 2 and 4). I would think twice about going with alder. I believe you said you wanted classic tele - that would be ash with 3 brass saddles IMO.
 
thenine":2tx46xxi said:
Yes they are diff. The Baja teles are a particular model Fender put out. They were/are "Custom Shop Designed" which really means Chris Fleming did the specs on these models. This includes the broadcaster bridge pup, twisted tele neck pup, shape of the neck and the S1 switching system (4 way switch with a push button for some coolio out of phase tones in pos 2 and 4). I would think twice about going with alder. I believe you said you wanted classic tele - that would be ash with 3 brass saddles IMO.
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Thanks for the info.

Fender has been using Alder bodies since the mid-50's except for blonde/translucent finishes, so I'm confident I'll get that vintage tele tone with Alder. Still, I'll take a closer look at the Baja. I like Baja style tacos so who knows.
 
Mexican made Fender Esquire with some hardware and pickup upgrades of your choice. It is route for a Tele, so you can do what you want with it. I put in a RS Guitarworks kit, Callaham hardware and Dimarzio pickup. I got the neck and body used and have a ridiculously awesome guitar for $600. If I were going to buy new I would probably get something like one of the following and do the same. I have the top now.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Esquire50SB/

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TeleRW502SB/
 
thenine":1gck82ht said:
Have you thoiught about a Baja tele? I did a bunch of research on them and everyone seems to love theirs. They tend to sell quickly used as well. Very affordable, they are Messican. Come with ash body, brass saddles, good pups and the S1 switching system. I was worried that the neck would be too chunky but I played one at a music store before purchase to see and it is chunky but somehow very comfortable. I really like mine, thats my recommendation, Baja Tele.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...3.m570.l1313&_nkw=baja&_sacat=33034&_from=R40
Click to expand...

Those look cool, but I would be concerned about the neck. I have read a few reviews and a common theme seems to be a baseball bat type neck. I am a 'thin' neck guy. I wonder if since they Baja is MIM if they are pretty cheap on the used market....
 
blackba":1t6eftd7 said:
thenine":1t6eftd7 said:
Have you thoiught about a Baja tele? I did a bunch of research on them and everyone seems to love theirs. They tend to sell quickly used as well. Very affordable, they are Messican. Come with ash body, brass saddles, good pups and the S1 switching system. I was worried that the neck would be too chunky but I played one at a music store before purchase to see and it is chunky but somehow very comfortable. I really like mine, thats my recommendation, Baja Tele.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...3.m570.l1313&_nkw=baja&_sacat=33034&_from=R40
Click to expand...

Those look cool, but I would be concerned about the neck. I have read a few reviews and a common theme seems to be a baseball bat type neck. I am a 'thin' neck guy. I wonder if since they Baja is MIM if they are pretty cheap on the used market....
Click to expand...


Yeah I alluded to that in my first post. I was worried too as I am a Charvel/Jackson guy. I also had a Kotzen tele (the only other tele Ive owned beside this baja). But go play one, thats what I did. Maybe its the shape or the fret size but I like it. I also play a little different on this than my stratheads and pointys I guess. They are cool teles, quite universally liked guitars I think. A great deal used esspecially. The couple Ive played have all sounded good. Fatter than you might think - at least me. Lots of different tones with the S1. Check um out.
 
The MIM tele's I like are the Baja and the Road Worn. Road worn felt nice to me, but I would have preferred it with the Baja sized neck. I would change the saddles to brass on the Road Worn.

Check out a Squire 50's classic vibe tele too. Body is pine. Those are seriously nice tele's for no cash if you're not hung up on the name on the headstock.

My tele is a 2000 American Standard ash/maple combo and I love mine. All I did was upgrade the pickups and electronics and it can go from clean twang to crunch very nicely. A good tele can cover a lot more ground than many people think. One of the keys is to know you have a tone control and that you will use it. Tele's can be unforgiving as far as technique, but I think they make you a better player in the long run.

I played Strats all my life and have a couple of nice ones. I rarely pick them up these days. My tele just does it for me.
 
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