Help ... I hate my Tele.

[Lazarus1140]

A Strat is my weapon of choice but I since I bought my first Tele I've always kept one for their vibe which no other guitar can emulate.

Several years ago I bought Hwy 1 Telecaster from an online dealer that was going out of business. It was great right out of the box ... the best neck and fret job of any new guitar I have ever owned ... and it was alive. It breathed tone. After keeping it stock for a couple of years I routed the neck slot for a Phat Cat, installed a 4-way switch, swapped in a Wilkinson bridge with compensated saddles, and refinished it. It became the guitar in my avatar and it was a monster. Anyway, it was stolen along with some other property this past January.

When the insurance company paid off the first thing I wanted to replace was the Telecaster, but the Hwy 1 series is no longer produced, so I bought what I believed to be its successor, the Baja Tele.

I don't like it for so many reasons. First, it is not resonant and alive like the Hwy 1 was. The pickups are not to my liking (I had installed a JD in the bridge of the Hwy 1). The 4-way switch is there but I'm not satisfied with any of the tone selections. It has Fender's "Grease Bucket" circuit. I'm not sure what that is or what it's supposed to do. To top it off, the neck just doesn't feel right to me.

Here is the problem: I am not absolutely sure what elements contribute to my dissatisfaction with the tone. I am concerned that it may be the Ash body whereas the Hwy 1 was Alder.

I could start changing pickups, get rid of the thick urethane finish (Hwy 1 was nitrocellulose lacquer), and so on, but if I still don't like it I've wasted money and a fair amount of effort. What would you do ... sell it as is in brand new condition with no mods ... or experiment?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

The quality of the body wood on the MIM Baja is inferior to that of the US-made H1.

Either buy a better body or sell as is.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

If you really aren't bonding with it, part with it.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

Sell it. Find one that sings.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

The quality of the body wood on the MIM Baja is inferior to that of the US-made H1.


Either buy a better body or sell as is.

The finish is the bigger issue, IME.

The MIM Teles with Nitro sound quite good for the $. Compared with the HWY1 nitro finished versions they are in the same ballpark on average.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

I thought the Hwy 1 was basically built and finished in Mexico with electronics installation and final assembly in the US. Are you saying it may not be the difference between Alder and Ash, but rather the grade of Ash?

Does anyone own a Tele with Ash body wood that resonates well?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

The Baja Tele I played recently at GC Fort Worth rang like a bell and sounds amazing to boot. Could be that specific one.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

The Baja Tele I played recently at GC Fort Worth rang like a bell and sounds amazing to boot. Could be that specific one.

It's the luck of the draw then. I have only three functional guitars right now and two are sporting dead wood.

BTW, thanks for the inspiration. I'll go over there and try a few myself. How did you like the neck shape?

 

[greekdude]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

Sell it as soon as possible. Most likely you will never like it.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

Does anyone own a Tele with Ash body wood that resonates well?

I don't own one, but I've sure as hell played them. My friend's Japanese Light Ash Telecaster, and the '52 RI American Vintage Telecaster both come to mind.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

It's the luck of the draw then. I have only three functional guitars right now and two are sporting dead wood.

BTW, thanks for the inspiration. I'll go over there and try a few myself. How did you like the neck shape?

I know the feeling. I have 3 but really use two regularly. Thankfully all 3 are lively. Hoping this next build is too.

The one I played there was the gold sparkle finish. I compared it with a few others Tele's, not specifically Bajas, and it was the liveliest one.

I love the neck shape. I have big hands so it works for me and is very comfortable. With a fatter neck I feel like I have better control.

I bet if you swapped the Fender Broadcaster for a Duncan JD it would solve a lot. Heck, swap the whole control plate for one with traditional working and keep the stocker aside.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

I know the feeling. I have 3 but really use two regularly. Thankfully all 3 are lively. Hoping this next build is too.

The one I played there was the gold sparkle finish. I compared it with a few others Tele's, not specifically Bajas, and it was the liveliest one.

I love the neck shape. I have big hands so it works for me and is very comfortable. With a fatter neck I feel like I have better control.

I bet if you swapped the Fender Broadcaster for a Duncan JD it would solve a lot. Heck, swap the whole control plate for one with traditional working and keep the stocker aside.

My hands are on the small side of medium so the neck would take some getting accustomed to, but I can live with it. I think I'll order a new body from Tommy at USGA and switch everything over to it before applying the finish. This body just goes "clunk" when you hit a string. It's hard to imagine how it can sustain so little. In all fairness, maybe it is more of a thud than a clunk. I need the charang.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

My hands are on the small side of medium so the neck would take some getting accustomed to, but I can live with it. I think I'll order a new body from Tommy at USGA and switch everything over to it before applying the finish. This body just goes "clunk" when you hit a string. It's hard to imagine how it can sustain so little. In all fairness, maybe it is more of a thud than a clunk. I need the charang.

Yeah. Sounds like bad wood for sure, or too thick paint.

Check the web specials. He's always got some nice bodies there.

 

[Oinkus]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

I t most likely is not the wood , it is an ELECTRIC guitar. Look at it , I mean realy look at it and figure out what is your real problem.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

He should probably call the power company.

 

[Bodeanicus]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

As stated earlier, it's luck of the draw. Higher priced models have higher quality materials and attention to detail, but you may still get a dog. You're going to have to go to a store, and put your hands on them until you find one you like.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

sell it. Only buy your next tele in person.
For some, any tele will do. For you, no. You gotta find another "alive" one.
Look for alder. Sounds like you dig the alder body vibe.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

sell it.
build a warmoth.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

The wood type does make a difference BUT...I've heard some pieces of ash that are darker than some pieces of alder (as well as vice versa as well of course...I usually find ash to be brighter though). Having owned many Strats and a few Teles over the years I will have to say up front that there are just too many variables...got to try them in person. Don't get me wrong anything will work but for me if I'm not happy with the tone I just don't focus as much on the playing as I do it not sounding 'right'.

BTW condolences on the loss of your prized Tele. I had a highway one tele (with a floor shop A2 broadcaster in the bridge) and it was one of the best I've ever played.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Help ... I hate my Tele.

I had a '56 RI Custom Shop Mary Kaye that I didn't bond with either and that was an ash Strat. I learned quickly that ash bodies and maple necks are not my thing. They're plinky, bright and hard sounding to my ears so if I'm going to choose a Fender it's going to be an alder body with a maple neck/rosewood fingerboard. I had a '62 AVRI Fender Strat with that combo that was great and a '63 RI Custom Shop Fender Tele with that combo that was arguably the finest guitar I've ever owned alongside my Gretsch. YMMV.