Tele F Hole?

[Diminished Triad]

Does it make much of a difference....and if so what would that be?
Warmoth offers two F holes if desired.
My guess is a chambered guitar body would go far enough and I would not get much more out of an F hole and maybe would have a little trouble with feedback when cranking up the volume.

What say you all? F hole or no F hole?

 

[Adieu]

Re: Tele F Hole?

YES. And - it sounds cool. Fender 69 Reissue had no feedback issues, at least the Deluxe MiM (or whatever it was called) $700 version they had like 10 years ago.

Got jacked for it by an ex-girlfriend's buddies - well more like they bought it but never did pay in full, only part of the way, and then disappeared on me... still miss it occasionally.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele F Hole?

The F hole is essential on a 'cello-bodied fully acoustic guitar. When people began adding pickups to this type of guitar, it became the accepted norm. It remains expected that a "Jazz" guitar should have F holes.

Later, some trouble maker decided to add a solid centre block before, eventually, arriving at a fully solid body design. (Remember, this was still a "Jazz" guitar.)

In a Thinline Telecaster, the chambers will make their contribution, regardless of whether there are holes cut through the top.

Personally, I prefer my Telecasters to have thousands of tiny air chambers between the fibres of the wood. Fender USA NoCasters, Cabronita and Old Growth Redwood Teles weight next to nothing.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Tele F Hole?

The F hole is essential on a 'cello-bodied fully acoustic guitar. When people began adding pickups to this type of guitar, it became the accepted norm. It remains expected that a "Jazz" guitar should have F holes.

Later, some trouble maker decided to add a solid centre block before, eventually, arriving at a fully solid body design. (Remember, this was still a "Jazz" guitar.)

In a Thinline Telecaster, the chambers will make their contribution, regardless of whether there are holes cut through the top.

Personally, I prefer my Telecasters to have thousands of tiny air chambers between the fibres of the wood. Fender USA NoCasters, Cabronita and Old Growth Redwood Teles weight next to nothing.

So unlikely any real problem with feedback on telecasters with 1 F hole? 2 F holes? Wow glad I asked!!!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele F Hole?

IMO, on a Tele Thinline, the F hole is just there for show.

Last year, I decided to obtain a Tele body to mate with a Warmoth neck that I already had. I did briefly consider ordering something semi-hollow, chambered mahogany back, solid spruce top, in Sunset Orange, routed for 'Trons.

In the end, I chickened out and ordered one of their clearance/discounted off-the-peg examples instead. Solid Alder, Dodge Charger Green 1PU Cabronita. Tres Dweezil!

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Tele F Hole?

IMO, on a Tele Thinline, the F hole is just there for show.

Last year, I decided to obtain a Tele body to mate with a Warmoth neck that I already had. I did briefly consider ordering something semi-hollow, chambered mahogany back, solid spruce top, in Sunset Orange, routed for 'Trons.

In the end, I chickened out and ordered one of their clearance/discounted off-the-peg examples instead. Solid Alder, Dodge Charger Green 1PU Cabronita. Tres Dweezil!

So two F holes no real change to sound of tele?

 

[JaySwear]

Re: Tele F Hole?

I have a Warmoth carved top Tele body with 2 f-holes, and I don't plan on leaving the gain off my amp. I'll let you know how it sounds! Still haven't gotten the thing wired up yet.

Edit: a picture

 

[Adieu]

Re: Tele F Hole?

So two F holes no real change to sound of tele?

69 reissue sounded WAY different than the Highway 1 and MIM solidbodies I inevitably compared her against. Had these somewhat muffled (I guess?) lows, but with pretty strong mids - best I can describe it - basically, this raunchy overdriven rock (or even metal! on single coils no less) sound that was as if the tone control was rolled back in certain frequencies, but dialed up to 11 in others.

Just...different.

Not sure which part was the F-hole itself, which part the chamberedness, and which the beefy-ass U-profile maple neck.


It changed the frequency curve? Oh yes. Feedback? NOPE. none. seriously could play hairmetal rhythm stuff on it. and did.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Tele F Hole?

Thineline Teles are very cool indeed. And feedback can/is a result of a few underlying issues. First off Telecasters in general are more prone to feedback then lets say a Les Paul or Strat. This is due to the bridge pickup being mounted into a metal bridge and they can feedback. Usually what I do is remove the pickup and wax pot it. Problem solved! With a Thinline potting the pickups will reduce feedback tremendously, but volume & gain can become a factor. I have a Thineline Costom made Telecaster, that is more like a 335. It is a Mahogany body with a flame maple cap, a Jazz humbucker in the neck & a 59 Humbicker in the bridge. Its an awesome sounding guitar, but sounds more like a 335 then a Tele( I love 335's). The pickups have been potted & I have a piece of Foam in the hole to minimize the movement of air, but its all good it sounds great!

With this guitar feedback has never been too much of a problem but with my "stock" Tele it was, but once I waxed the pickups all was good!

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Tele F Hole?

Thineline Teles are very cool indeed. And feedback can/is a result of a few underlying issues. First off Telecasters in general are more prone to feedback then lets say a Les Paul or Strat. This is due to the bridge pickup being mounted into a metal bridge and they can feedback. Usually what I do is remove the pickup and wax pot it. Problem solved! With a Thinline potting the pickups will reduce feedback tremendously, but volume & gain can become a factor. I have a Thineline Costom made Telecaster, that is more like a 335. It is a Mahogany body with a flame maple cap, a Jazz humbucker in the neck & a 59 Humbicker in the bridge. Its an awesome sounding guitar, but sounds more like a 335 then a Tele( I love 335's). The pickups have been potted & I have a piece of Foam in the hole to minimize the movement of air, but its all good it sounds great!

With this guitar feedback has never been too much of a problem but with my "stock" Tele it was, but once I waxed the pickups all was good!

Cool stuff! Would you guys happen to know if the "Carved Top" option or style Warmoth offers is pure aesthetics and looks or does it change the play and tone of the Tele in any noticeable way? Thanks again and I'll let you know which model I choose but very interested in the 2 F hole sound!

 

[Bludave]

Tele F Hole?

It really depends on what you want. Yes I think the carved tops are going to sound thicker but it also has a lot to do with the wood it's made from. A carved Tele body made from mahogany will sound similar to a Les Paul not exactly because of the bolt on neck. If it were made from ash it will sound brighter. If you are looking more for a "Tele" tone just go with the thin line and see what you get

 

[CTN]

Re: Tele F Hole?

I have a Warmoth carved top Tele body with 2 f-holes, and I don't plan on leaving the gain off my amp. I'll let you know how it sounds! Still haven't gotten the thing wired up yet.

Edit: a picture

that's a thing of beauty. the top almost looks like spruce.