innerdreamrecords.co
TrippyVinylologist
My friend wants to buy his son a Telecaster with a rosewood board for around $700.00 - American made. Is there such a beast? He wants a new one.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
- Thread starter innerdreamrecords.co
- Start date
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
innerdreamrecords.co
TrippyVinylologist
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
Okay cool thank you! I did suggest the Highway 1.
Okay cool thank you! I did suggest the Highway 1.
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
Guitar Center also do it at the same price as Amazon - at least that way, he could try it out before buying,
Guitar Center also do it at the same price as Amazon - at least that way, he could try it out before buying,
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
a friend has an american special... its not rosewood, but just for your information: i dont think it's worth the money, it plays no better than mexican variants.
a friend has an american special... its not rosewood, but just for your information: i dont think it's worth the money, it plays no better than mexican variants.
Matt42
New member
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
I agree. If you look around a bit you can find an MIM that will be just as nice as most modern MIA's. The only down fall is that I don't believe they have a Mexican model that comes with an ash body.
I agree. If you look around a bit you can find an MIM that will be just as nice as most modern MIA's. The only down fall is that I don't believe they have a Mexican model that comes with an ash body.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
Uh, a used one?
There are no $700 new USA Telecasters.
Uh, a used one?
There are no $700 new USA Telecasters.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
He said "around" $700. The Highway 1's qualify at $730.
He said "around" $700. The Highway 1's qualify at $730.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
My bad - didn't know those were USA made.
My bad - didn't know those were USA made.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
highway 1. just got mine. Love it.
btw I don't think all am. specials are as bad as the one Astro's friend had. The one I played was pretty great, I wouldn't say it "smoked" the MIM ones I pitted it against but it was clearly a more complex, more classic tele tone, but with some balls from the pickups.
highway 1. just got mine. Love it.
btw I don't think all am. specials are as bad as the one Astro's friend had. The one I played was pretty great, I wouldn't say it "smoked" the MIM ones I pitted it against but it was clearly a more complex, more classic tele tone, but with some balls from the pickups.
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
Another +1 for the highway 1. I haven't had any experience with the Teles, but the Highway 1 Strat I had was an exceptional guitar. Too bad I just couldn't bond with the neck.
Another +1 for the highway 1. I haven't had any experience with the Teles, but the Highway 1 Strat I had was an exceptional guitar. Too bad I just couldn't bond with the neck.
innerdreamrecords.co
TrippyVinylologist
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
I think he want's American made for several reasons and would consider used he said. I'll pass all the info on from this thread. Thanks everyone! Now I want a Highway 1! :scratchch
I think he want's American made for several reasons and would consider used he said. I'll pass all the info on from this thread. Thanks everyone! Now I want a Highway 1! :scratchch
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
It was an american special. Why was I unimpressed?
I base my opinions on the quality of a guitar on the quality of it's construction and craftsmanship. Why? Because electronics are easily changed. However, if you find yourself having to do something like swap out a neck for another one or something, what's the point of buying the guitar? make one instead...
That being said, there's a reason why I love my Fender Jaguar HH.
I can set it up to be ridiculously comfortable: neck almost as straight as an arrow, the actionat the 17th fret is 3/64 bass side and 2/64 treble side.
the neck joint is amazing: no screws are needed to keep the neck and body together.
all the hardware is GOTOH. Some people will argue on what that means in terms of quality, but it is all well made and has served me very well with very minimal degradation through my guitars years of use gigging.
What did the american special tele have over the other ones? not much..
I could only lower the action so much before it buzzed. My jaguar buzzes sometimes, but it's very very minimal and you can't tell through the amp.
the pickups were texas specials.. which I guess if you don't want to swap anything out ever, it's cool... but that doesn't impress me at all.
it had the 3 saddle tele bridge with brass saddles., that's nice.
but the tuners are the same ones as the standard mexican tele!
i mean what are you really paying for?
If I can't get it to play any easier and the features are barely any better, how can you justify such an increase in price?
MIM standard $500
Features
Body: Alder
Neck: 1-Piece Maple, Modern "C" Shape, (gloss finish)
Fingerboard: Maple,
Fingerboard radius: 9.5" Radius (241mm)
No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
Pickups: 2 Hot Standard Tele Single-Coil Pickups (Neck & Bridge)
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Switching:
3-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups
Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge: Standard 6-Saddle String-Thru-Body Bridge
Machine Heads: Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Hardware: Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
Scale Length: 25.5" (648mm)
Width at Nut: 1.650" (42mm)
Unique Features: Vintage Styling, Fender Transition Logo, Parchment Plastic Parts
Strings: Fender Super 250L, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: (.009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042), p/n 073-0250-003
Finish: Polyester
American Special Telecaster $899
h
Series: American Special
Finish: Gloss
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple
Modern C shape
Fingerboard: Maple
Radius: 9-1/2"
Frets: 22 jumbo
Pickups: 1 Texas Special Tele Pickup (bridge), 1 Texas Special Tele Pickup
(neck)
Controls: Master volume, master Greasebucket tone circuit, (rolls off highs without adding bass)
Pickup switching: 3-position blade: Position 1-bridge pickup; Position 2-bridge
and neck pickup; Position 3-neck pickup
Bridge: Original vintage-style Tele bridge with 3 brass saddles
Machine Heads: Fender standard cast/sealed tuning machines
Hardware: Chrome
Pickguard: 3-ply black/white/black
Width at nut: 1-11/16"
Unique features: Greasebucket Tone Circuit, 3 Texas Special Pickups, large
'70s-style decal, black pickup covers and plastic parts, brass bridge saddles, black dot position inlays, "barrel" switch tip
I mean are you really going to pay $400 more for some "improvements" that are barely noticeable?
It was an american special. Why was I unimpressed?
I base my opinions on the quality of a guitar on the quality of it's construction and craftsmanship. Why? Because electronics are easily changed. However, if you find yourself having to do something like swap out a neck for another one or something, what's the point of buying the guitar? make one instead...
That being said, there's a reason why I love my Fender Jaguar HH.
I can set it up to be ridiculously comfortable: neck almost as straight as an arrow, the actionat the 17th fret is 3/64 bass side and 2/64 treble side.
the neck joint is amazing: no screws are needed to keep the neck and body together.
all the hardware is GOTOH. Some people will argue on what that means in terms of quality, but it is all well made and has served me very well with very minimal degradation through my guitars years of use gigging.
What did the american special tele have over the other ones? not much..
I could only lower the action so much before it buzzed. My jaguar buzzes sometimes, but it's very very minimal and you can't tell through the amp.
the pickups were texas specials.. which I guess if you don't want to swap anything out ever, it's cool... but that doesn't impress me at all.
it had the 3 saddle tele bridge with brass saddles., that's nice.
but the tuners are the same ones as the standard mexican tele!
i mean what are you really paying for?
If I can't get it to play any easier and the features are barely any better, how can you justify such an increase in price?
MIM standard $500
Features
Body: Alder
Neck: 1-Piece Maple, Modern "C" Shape, (gloss finish)
Fingerboard: Maple,
Fingerboard radius: 9.5" Radius (241mm)
No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
Pickups: 2 Hot Standard Tele Single-Coil Pickups (Neck & Bridge)
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Switching:
3-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups
Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge: Standard 6-Saddle String-Thru-Body Bridge
Machine Heads: Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Hardware: Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
Scale Length: 25.5" (648mm)
Width at Nut: 1.650" (42mm)
Unique Features: Vintage Styling, Fender Transition Logo, Parchment Plastic Parts
Strings: Fender Super 250L, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: (.009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042), p/n 073-0250-003
Finish: Polyester
American Special Telecaster $899
h
Series: American Special
Finish: Gloss
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple
Modern C shape
Fingerboard: Maple
Radius: 9-1/2"
Frets: 22 jumbo
Pickups: 1 Texas Special Tele Pickup (bridge), 1 Texas Special Tele Pickup
(neck)
Controls: Master volume, master Greasebucket tone circuit, (rolls off highs without adding bass)
Pickup switching: 3-position blade: Position 1-bridge pickup; Position 2-bridge
and neck pickup; Position 3-neck pickup
Bridge: Original vintage-style Tele bridge with 3 brass saddles
Machine Heads: Fender standard cast/sealed tuning machines
Hardware: Chrome
Pickguard: 3-ply black/white/black
Width at nut: 1-11/16"
Unique features: Greasebucket Tone Circuit, 3 Texas Special Pickups, large
'70s-style decal, black pickup covers and plastic parts, brass bridge saddles, black dot position inlays, "barrel" switch tip
I mean are you really going to pay $400 more for some "improvements" that are barely noticeable?
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
the am special jumbo frets, the fender texas special pickups, the nut width, and most importantly the body wood and the finish (am specials are polyurethane, not polyester like mim stds) are specs I'd pay another 400 for, assuming you find an am. special that was put together just right and sounds good to you.
I'm not saying all american specials kick all MIM std's asses. But I'm saying I notice the differences, some other people might as well, and when you find a good am special it really might be worth it, especially if you play it after playing a bunch of MIM stds that just didn't have the resonance.
Fender grades their wood like any big manufacturer does and I you can find some nice bodies and necks in the am. specials. I did. That alone is worth it to a bunch of people because like you said, you can change all the hardware and electronics so in the end those don't really matter.
the am special jumbo frets, the fender texas special pickups, the nut width, and most importantly the body wood and the finish (am specials are polyurethane, not polyester like mim stds) are specs I'd pay another 400 for, assuming you find an am. special that was put together just right and sounds good to you.
I'm not saying all american specials kick all MIM std's asses. But I'm saying I notice the differences, some other people might as well, and when you find a good am special it really might be worth it, especially if you play it after playing a bunch of MIM stds that just didn't have the resonance.
Fender grades their wood like any big manufacturer does and I you can find some nice bodies and necks in the am. specials. I did. That alone is worth it to a bunch of people because like you said, you can change all the hardware and electronics so in the end those don't really matter.
Left_Hand_Strat
New member
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
I would love to know why the prices have gone up for no reason...
anyways, I say Highway 1, just after the good stuff said about H1's on this forum and also in several internet reviews and the odd video I have read and watched. The General opinion is that they give a fair bit for the buck you pay, some people I have read from wanted to buy American deluxe tele's and ended up with a H1 same with the Strat's too. That has to say something.
I would love to know why the prices have gone up for no reason...
anyways, I say Highway 1, just after the good stuff said about H1's on this forum and also in several internet reviews and the odd video I have read and watched. The General opinion is that they give a fair bit for the buck you pay, some people I have read from wanted to buy American deluxe tele's and ended up with a H1 same with the Strat's too. That has to say something.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
The reason a lot of people buy American Teles is resale.
The resale price is generally a higher percentage of the initial purchase price.
In other words, they depreciate less, regardless of quality.
The reason a lot of people buy American Teles is resale.
The resale price is generally a higher percentage of the initial purchase price.
In other words, they depreciate less, regardless of quality.
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
i sure like the Specials... only mod i'd do is either a modern bridge swap or a 3 brass compensated saddle swap... but the necks bodies and hardware all are quite nice!
HWY1's are good too... but i like the Special's a little more...
i sure like the Specials... only mod i'd do is either a modern bridge swap or a 3 brass compensated saddle swap... but the necks bodies and hardware all are quite nice!
HWY1's are good too... but i like the Special's a little more...
Kramer Guy
New member
Re: Best American Fender Telecaster around $700.00 new?
He can get a new Highway One ,but only on E-Bay. It seems that retailers such as GC and Musicians Friend have stopped selling it now.
He can get a new Highway One ,but only on E-Bay. It seems that retailers such as GC and Musicians Friend have stopped selling it now.