Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
This thread reminds me, I need to put mine back together again...
This thread reminds me, I need to put mine back together again...
NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
- Thread starter Butch Snyder
- Start date
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
I really like the out-of-phase tone when the pickups are in parallel to each other. I think Fender added a cap or resistor to that circuit. It sounds very Stratty. Not quite neck/middle or bridge/middle on a Strat; more like a mix of both. The out-of-phase tone with the pickup in series is honky and doesn't sound as good to my ears. It's like having a Nashville Tele without the bane of the middle pickup. I guess it's like a faux Jerry Donahue Tele.
That's all I play....:biglaugh:
I really like the out-of-phase tone when the pickups are in parallel to each other. I think Fender added a cap or resistor to that circuit. It sounds very Stratty. Not quite neck/middle or bridge/middle on a Strat; more like a mix of both. The out-of-phase tone with the pickup in series is honky and doesn't sound as good to my ears. It's like having a Nashville Tele without the bane of the middle pickup. I guess it's like a faux Jerry Donahue Tele.
That's all I play....:biglaugh:
toneseeker74
New member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
That is soooo pretty!
I played the regular, not gold, version last week at my local shop. Had high expectations, but I thought it did not sound like a Tele at all. In ANY of the pickup selector positions. Was darned disappointed because I really wanted to like that guitar.
That is soooo pretty!
I played the regular, not gold, version last week at my local shop. Had high expectations, but I thought it did not sound like a Tele at all. In ANY of the pickup selector positions. Was darned disappointed because I really wanted to like that guitar.
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
Not quite in the same league, but Guitar Center occasionally marks these down to $89.99:
Also available in metallic black and 2TSB. The metallic orange is really cool though, I picked up a couple of them.
Not quite in the same league, but Guitar Center occasionally marks these down to $89.99:
Also available in metallic black and 2TSB. The metallic orange is really cool though, I picked up a couple of them.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
While those are cool, I want one in the traditional Tele configuration. Even considered the Squier Affinity Special in Butterscotch.
Not quite in the same league, but Guitar Center occasionally marks these down to $89.99:
Also available in metallic black and 2TSB. The metallic orange is really cool though, I picked up a couple of them.
While those are cool, I want one in the traditional Tele configuration. Even considered the Squier Affinity Special in Butterscotch.
jimijames
New member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
Do what I do and buy parts... A neck here, a body here when you see one on sale. It usually takes 2-3 years to buy everything but once you do they come together quick.
About the twisted tele neck pickup - can't you just take the cover off? I imagine it would sound a lot more strat-like if you did.
I've tried endlessly to get strat sounds out of covered neck pickups and IMO there's really no way to get there with a cover. You can get good sounds certainly, but they won't be strat sounds.
Honestly the closest I've gotten has been in the bridge position with an ep style boost lol.
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Do what I do and buy parts... A neck here, a body here when you see one on sale. It usually takes 2-3 years to buy everything but once you do they come together quick.
About the twisted tele neck pickup - can't you just take the cover off? I imagine it would sound a lot more strat-like if you did.
I've tried endlessly to get strat sounds out of covered neck pickups and IMO there's really no way to get there with a cover. You can get good sounds certainly, but they won't be strat sounds.
Honestly the closest I've gotten has been in the bridge position with an ep style boost lol.
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ErikH
Well-known member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
I've thought about that too. I have a Strat neck, a loaded Tele control plate, jack plate, neck plate and screws. All I really need is a body, bridge and pickups.
I've thought about that too. I have a Strat neck, a loaded Tele control plate, jack plate, neck plate and screws. All I really need is a body, bridge and pickups.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
Cool. Thanks for the pic. It looks pretty hot both ways.
Cool. Thanks for the pic. It looks pretty hot both ways.
jimijames
New member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
Strat neck pockets and tele neck pockets are slightly different is your only problem. IIRC the strat is rounded but if it's a 22 fret neck you can use it in a tele body without having to see the gap. Pretty sure though it doesn't work the other way around.
You can get a tele ashtray bridge for like $15-$20 if you know where to look and wait for a deal. Heck, on ebay you can get a bridge/pickup combo for a tele for like $50 or $60.
The body might be more complicated. Cheapest would be a used finished tele body but if you're OCD like me you'd probably want one with a strat neck pocket. Either way plan at least $100 for a body unless you get one of those guitarfetish used seconds, in which case you will need some luthier skills because there's no way you can guarantee everything will fit.
At any rate the rabbit hole goes a long way haha
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Strat neck pockets and tele neck pockets are slightly different is your only problem. IIRC the strat is rounded but if it's a 22 fret neck you can use it in a tele body without having to see the gap. Pretty sure though it doesn't work the other way around.
You can get a tele ashtray bridge for like $15-$20 if you know where to look and wait for a deal. Heck, on ebay you can get a bridge/pickup combo for a tele for like $50 or $60.
The body might be more complicated. Cheapest would be a used finished tele body but if you're OCD like me you'd probably want one with a strat neck pocket. Either way plan at least $100 for a body unless you get one of those guitarfetish used seconds, in which case you will need some luthier skills because there's no way you can guarantee everything will fit.
At any rate the rabbit hole goes a long way haha
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ErikH
Well-known member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
Yeah. I'm aware of the neck pocket differences. Strat on Tele is OK. Tele on Strat is not.
The bridge I like is the Wilkinson compensated one with brass saddles. GF sells it for around 30. For pickups, they would definitely be Duncans.
GF also has what they say are higher grade bodies for cheap, made of alder, ash or poplar. The pics look nice but that does t always mean anything.
It's an option but other things need money thrown in their direction first.
Yeah. I'm aware of the neck pocket differences. Strat on Tele is OK. Tele on Strat is not.
The bridge I like is the Wilkinson compensated one with brass saddles. GF sells it for around 30. For pickups, they would definitely be Duncans.
GF also has what they say are higher grade bodies for cheap, made of alder, ash or poplar. The pics look nice but that does t always mean anything.
It's an option but other things need money thrown in their direction first.
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jimijames
New member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
Understood - Duncan's tele pickups IMO are massively underrated. I didn't mean for my post to sound like I didn't think you know what you're doing, I just have a few failed projects of my own and wanted to share that (even though it's already common knowledge)
At any rate good luck with things and hopefully your other guitars can tide you over until tele time.
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Understood - Duncan's tele pickups IMO are massively underrated. I didn't mean for my post to sound like I didn't think you know what you're doing, I just have a few failed projects of my own and wanted to share that (even though it's already common knowledge)
At any rate good luck with things and hopefully your other guitars can tide you over until tele time.
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beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
I have a Duncan Broadcaster in my Highway 1 Ash-body Tele and it is the sound for Tele, and it's quite versatile for all kinds of styles. It's my gigging guitar when I'm playing covers or sitting in with other musicians and the set list will be a wide variety of music. IMO it's the most versatile Duncan pickup I've used.
Nice score. I've wanted a Baja as a backup for my Highway 1 for quite a while now.
I have a Duncan Broadcaster in my Highway 1 Ash-body Tele and it is the sound for Tele, and it's quite versatile for all kinds of styles. It's my gigging guitar when I'm playing covers or sitting in with other musicians and the set list will be a wide variety of music. IMO it's the most versatile Duncan pickup I've used.
Nice score. I've wanted a Baja as a backup for my Highway 1 for quite a while now.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
Yeah, the 3 I have are doing the trick. 2 are made by me and the other is my prized Kramer Baretta, which I don't play as often. I'm tempted to try one of those GF Pro bodies. For $70, why not? I have no problem making any small modifications if I have to.
Yeah, the 3 I have are doing the trick. 2 are made by me and the other is my prized Kramer Baretta, which I don't play as often. I'm tempted to try one of those GF Pro bodies. For $70, why not? I have no problem making any small modifications if I have to.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
What?!? Mine sounds like a Tele all day long. After all, it is based on a 50s model Tele with a few modern upgrades, 4-way switch, 9.5" radius fretboard.
What?!? Mine sounds like a Tele all day long. After all, it is based on a 50s model Tele with a few modern upgrades, 4-way switch, 9.5" radius fretboard.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
That's nuts. How much experience do you have with Teles if you think a Baja doesn't sound like a Tele with any setting?
That's nuts. How much experience do you have with Teles if you think a Baja doesn't sound like a Tele with any setting?
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
Here's a good demo of a Baja. Sounds like Tle to me....
Here's a good demo of a Baja. Sounds like Tle to me....
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: NGD - Fender Special Edition Baja Tele in Vegas Gold
I just played one of these Tele's at a local GC, gold sparkle and all. I have to say it is one of the nicest Tele's I've ever played. The custom shop pickups are amazing. That Broadcaster is so snarly with even light drive. Get some heavy drive going and it still stays clear and gets rude. I could easily have one of these as a main player. Good thing they didn't have one in butterscotch. I would've been in trouble.
And it sounds every bit a Tele as a Tele should. I don't know where the comment that it doesn't sound like one came from.
I just played one of these Tele's at a local GC, gold sparkle and all. I have to say it is one of the nicest Tele's I've ever played. The custom shop pickups are amazing. That Broadcaster is so snarly with even light drive. Get some heavy drive going and it still stays clear and gets rude. I could easily have one of these as a main player. Good thing they didn't have one in butterscotch. I would've been in trouble.
And it sounds every bit a Tele as a Tele should. I don't know where the comment that it doesn't sound like one came from.
