Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

[Fresh_Start]

I stopped in my local music shop yesterday to buy some strings for my acoustic - my Mom's here through Christmas and my music room has turned back into the guest room.

Anyway, this nice kid who works there practically starts jumping up and down saying "there's this guitar you've got to play..." She's a pretty blonde Tele, with a beautiful birdseye maple fingerboard and Seymour Duncan pups. It's a 2-piece body, and the tone was just great. The neck felt like bare wood, but smooth as silk. Brass saddles on the bridge too, and medium jumbo frets. I haven't played 100 dfferent Tele's or any old ones, but this was the sweetest new Tele I've played by a long shot.

Ok, Musician's Friend is selling this model for $599, so I just put the name in the title. Lord, I hate "Lite" anything, but this was one fine guitar. Might just be the magic one, but you ought to check one out if you're in the market for a Tele. If I didn't have all the parts for a Tele-clone just about ready to put together, I don't think I could keep this Tele out of my house!

Chip

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

the one i played was not as nice, i played one a little while ago and it was great except the frets needed work. play before you buy.

 

[Ez74]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

i've owned 1 for a few months now and couldnt be happier. When I was looking for a tele i tried the Highway 1s, the lite ash tele, and a G&L model and i liked the lite ash series the best.I don't know why they call it Lite it seems really heavy to me.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

the use of the word 'lite' is to indicate color, not weight ... i've read that quality of these is all over the place so if you snag one that feels / sounds / looks good, it's probably a safe purchase ... i played one that was 'ok' (too thin neck profile, not great unplugged resonance) and ended up with a (barely) used tokai 52ri that i am pretty happy with for half the $$ ... i was fully ready to buy one and i bet i wouldve if i had played one as nice as the one chip is describing

cheers
t4d

 

[Mincer]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

i gotta say, the ones i tried were some of the heaviest fenders i have ever played.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

like most of fender's stuff...it's hit and miss...i've played really good ones and one's that weren't so good...if i didn't hate fender so much right now i'd look for a used one that was a real player someday!

you're better off building that that traditional style single cut guitar on your own...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

I played two in the same shop. Ragged fret ends and ice-picky treble frequencies were the problems I found.

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

like most of fender's stuff...it's hit and miss...i've played really good ones and one's that weren't so good...if i didn't hate fender so much right now i'd look for a used one that was a real player someday!

you're better off building that that traditional style single cut guitar on your own...

or having blueline build you one.

hoss we still need to get together after christmas so you can play the tele Aaron made for me, and i will have a little suprise for you too

 

[Hoss]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

or having blueline build you one.

hoss we still need to get together after christmas so you can play the tele Aaron made for me, and i will have a little suprise for you too

sounds good man...we'll definitely do that!

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

I own one. In fact, if you look it up on Musician's Friend, the one on the picture is mine. Anyway, it's a really great Tele -- and this coming from a Tele-guy.

And for under $600 new.... how can you lose?

 

[tone4days]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

evan, did you swap new pups into it?

if so, whatcha put into it?

what about new tuners, bridge, or pots/cap?

cheers
t4d

 

[Mephis]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

Hey some people from indiana, Whats up! i live down in martinsville. Anyway, if you are going to spend $600 on a guitar why dont you buy something of consistant quality? Ive still found the more exotic (washburns, B.C. Rich, etc) to be some of the best playing and sounding guitars around, even if they have a wild body. And yea, tele's are great and all... But if you wana spend that kinda money why not just throw in a few extra $$$ and get yourself a real american tele?

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

I have heard of lots of neck issues with these. I have a GC buddy who has told me they have had to send a bunch back because of it. The ones I have played I have really liked, but those were the good ones left. I would want hands on before buying one.

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

Hey some people from indiana, Whats up! i live down in martinsville. Anyway, if you are going to spend $600 on a guitar why dont you buy something of consistant quality? Ive still found the more exotic (washburns, B.C. Rich, etc) to be some of the best playing and sounding guitars around, even if they have a wild body. And yea, tele's are great and all... But if you wana spend that kinda money why not just throw in a few extra $$$ and get yourself a real american tele?

where is martinsville in relation to Indianapolis?

sorry to get off topic but...


i have found that all manufacturers have their great guitars and their duds, even for 500 dollars. my motto is: play it before you buy it, unless it is custom made for you.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Korean Fender "Lite Ash Telecaster"

evan, did you swap new pups into it?

if so, whatcha put into it?

what about new tuners, bridge, or pots/cap?

Funny you should ask. This guitar is currently on Seymour's bench. He's routing out the neck pickup slot to accept an SM-1n Vintage Mini-Humbucker. He's also replacing the plastic three-way switch for a vintage style. He's putting on beefier brass saddles, a Les Paul-style output jack (so it can take right-angle cables). I'm not sure what he's doing with pots and caps, but he's changing those out too.

I had already replaced the lead pickup (APTL-1) with an STL-2 Hot, my favorite Tele pickup.

He's had it for quite a while -- it's not high on his priority list. But that's OK. I'm borrowing one of his Strats until he gets the Tele back to me; and I have to say, it's one of the sweetest Strats I've ever played.