I want a tele

[scottish]

Im thinking about picking up one of the cheap xaviere teles since they are meant to be a good bang for the buck albeit can be hit or miss. I just really love the way teles look and feel yet i have never been able to really bond with one in the past.

I want to make myself and i dont want to drop major coin on one. Figure if i buy one of these i may be writing off $180. if i buy a fender mexi or USA then im probably writing off at least the same money on resale.

Thoughts?

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: I want a tele

Check it against a Squier. Maybe a classic vibe would be better?

Chances are you'll probably have to spend extra on the tuners and saddles... Electronics too if you're fussy like that... Possibly even pickups.

180 isn't bad though. Set your budget at like 250 (guitar +upgrades) and you've got yourself a damn good player

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: I want a tele

+ another for Squier

 

[Bludave]

Re: I want a tele

Don't buy it just because you want it. Go to a shop and play a bunch. I now have 5 Teles but when I was buying my first one I had my heart set on an American Standard. But when I went to GC I just couldn't bond with it. I found another Tele that was a California Tele that I didn't want but it just felt so good in my hands. I fought it but eventually gave in and bought it. It has a Strat pickup in the neck and Tele in the bridge. It was about 300 less also. I still have it 10 or 15 years later and it is still one if my favorite Teles

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I want a tele

I LOVE my SX Tele. A lot.

I sold my PRS SE and my Epiphone Les Paul Custom recently, but I'm not selling my SX Tele.

I put a TUSQ nut on it, I know you know how to swap a nut.

It sounds good and plays really well.



edit: holy crap, I played a lot better back when I played every day :laughing:

 

[scottish]

Re: I want a tele

The one thing that has always put me off the rondo stuff is all the descriptions state jumbo frets. I hate jumbo frets.

I've played a Xaviere before with their medium jumbo frets and I know I can deal with those

 

[scottish]

Re: I want a tele

Don't buy it just because you want it. Go to a shop and play a bunch. I now have 5 Teles but when I was buying my first one I had my heart set on an American Standard. But when I went to GC I just couldn't bond with it. I found another Tele that was a California Tele that I didn't want but it just felt so good in my hands. I fought it but eventually gave in and bought it. It has a Strat pickup in the neck and Tele in the bridge. It was about 300 less also. I still have it 10 or 15 years later and it is still one if my favorite Teles

I totally agree with this advice. But i really dont want to end up bonding with something that costs in the 400 upwards range. I dont think a tele will ever become my main axe, I love my strats and equator too much for that to happen. But i do want one to cover that niche.

Im not sure yet, this thread is kind of me thinking out loud right now. Normally your advice is exactly what i give other people, lol.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I want a tele

The one thing that has always put me off the rondo stuff is all the descriptions state jumbo frets. I hate jumbo frets.

I've played a Xaviere before with their medium jumbo frets and I know I can deal with those

Oh yeah, pass then. The frets are really big.

 

[esandes]

Re: I want a tele

it's all in how playable the guitar is. if it feels and sounds good, why not. i find the chances increase with US built.

 

[jtougas]

Re: I want a tele

I've got a black Squier Tele that I really like, but that I don't really *need* (the one I put together from parts fills the niche just fine), which is why it's up for sale. There's a pic of it near the end of the Show Your Tele thread...

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: I want a tele

I totally agree with this advice. But i really dont want to end up bonding with something that costs in the 400 upwards range. I dont think a tele will ever become my main axe, I love my strats and equator too much for that to happen. But i do want one to cover that niche.

Im not sure yet, this thread is kind of me thinking out loud right now. Normally your advice is exactly what i give other people, lol.

Ok I actually built my own Tele to my specs but I also thought my Tele wouldn't be my main player as I'd. Just end up selling it to a friend or something.... Little did I know.... From the moment I plugged it in I was a changed man! I still try to play each of my guitars at least once a week but the Tele definitely gets the most play time! This is coming from a dude whose previous guitars only had humbuckers in them

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: I want a tele

My experience with Teles is similar to my experience with all Fenders. On the cheap end you have to play a lot of them to find that one gem that came off the line in tolerance and intonation good and decent block of wood, etc. Otherwise, they don't start becoming good sounding and good playing until you put a little coin in, like >= $700 USD. But that is just my experience. If you hunt hard, you can find a good cheap body and start replacing hardware and electronics until you get a player, but you might break $600 by the time you do. (Think tuners, bridges, pots, switches, several pickup combos, and boom.)

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: I want a tele

Three words for you: Used, used, used.

You live in NJ - there should be a massive used market there. Buy a MIM Standard at $250-$300 and if you don't end up liking it in the long run you can resell it for what you paid. Don't buy new unless there's some specific model or specs you want because you immediately take a hit with depreciation on ANY brand new gear.

 

[Hairmail]

Re: I want a tele

I say +1 for used. If you were to get a new one it up to you to decide where you want to keep it. If you're gonna resell it anyways find a real fender one.

For new guitars I'd suggest a G&L, the import tribute series. I've never played one but I hear they blow most MIM teles out of the water. A bit cheaper would be the vintage line. Its a guitar brand. I think you can find them in the US, and they have ridiculous value for money, along with having real wilkinson parts and pickups but they will take a hit if you're gonna resell them.

http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html

 

[chadd]

Re: I want a tele

I played a bunch of the Squier thinlines and I was impressed by the quality and consistency of them. I agree with the guys that say "play 'em" and buy the one you like. My two favorites are my MIJ thinline and a mahogany parts-tele that I got for $125 back in the mid 90s.

 

[ErikH]

Re: I want a tele

I'm in the same boat. I like Tele's (though it took years for me to appreciate them) but I've sold every one I owned, though it's not many. The best one I had was a 1991 MIA Tele that was bone stock and sounded amazing. The problem was the neck profile was a bit weird and messed with my hand so rather than swap the neck and risk ruining the way it sounds, I sold it.

I think the only way I'm going to get one that works for me 100% is to assemble one myself. The neck won't be a problem because I know what I like there. I plan on making the body myself out of a chunk of walnut that my father-in-law has. There's enough for 2 actually, one for him and one for me.