Tele?

[tonefix]

Ok, I have a Heritage 150(jazz neck,JB bridge), and a Amer. Strat(Fender Texas sp. singles coils). For what I like to play, classic rock, ZZ, Zep, blues, SRV, I feel like I have the bases covered.
Still, I am gassing for a Tele. I don't want to drop alot of bucks, what do you guys think? Fender, G&L, other, wood, pickup config, rosewood board, bang for the buck.
What comes to mind?

Bill

 

[stonabus]

Re: Tele?

hey, welcome!
if you dont want to buy another gweet altogether, and you want a tele sound you could try a different pup wiring config in your strat. or you could try a APST-1 twang banger, maybe in the bridge. if you are jonesing for a tele, check out e-bay. you might find one cheap. beware, they are screaming to be messed with, mod-wise. also, the difference in the body contour could mess with you, as it did me.

about the different wiring, i have a strat with lipstick tubes in 'er. i have the wiring set like this:
1 all three
2 neck/mid
3 neck/bridge
4 bridge/mid
5 bridge
in the neck/bridge spot, its has a glassy tele like sound. it sounds more like a tele, than my current tele. (my tele isnt yer average run of the mill tele)

good luck.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Tele?

I have a few Teles. The one that I feel is the closest to a real Tele is a MIJ 52 RI. The electronics have all been upgraded, I replaced the switch and I put a vintage '54 in the neck and a Jerry D in the bridge. It is an awesome sounding guitar. I also have a California Tele. This has a Strat PUP in the neck and a Tele PUP in the bridge. Its kind of in between a Tele and a Strat. Good sounding guitar also. I would go with a Fender. The MIJ are really good guitars. If $ is more of a concern to you a MIM Tele would be good also with some electronic upgrades it would be a good guitar. I like Alder bodies over the ash and for a real traditonal look/sound a maple board.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Tele?

Can't go wrong with a good used MIA Tele. I love mine. It's a 1991 model and plays so well I can't believe it's as old as it is. I'm wondering if it is Ash though because it has some weight to it, more than my Strat, which is Alder.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Tele?

first off go used if at all possible to save $'s!

secondly, i'd look for a Highway 1 or MIJ for good bang for the bucks!

also keep an eye out for Hamer T-51's and ESP Vintage Plus teles...and Schecter USA models...very, very good and usually flyin under the radar!

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Tele?

I'd definitely try to grab a used MIA tele. In fact, I'll probably do just that, once I get a couple of other guitars out of the way.

 

[dani]

Re: Tele?

+1 on what hoss said about the mij and hw1 fenders. do check out g&l tribute series as well. although mik, they play surprisingly well for the money.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Tele?

also keep an eye out for Hamer T-51's and ESP Vintage Plus teles...and Schecter USA models...very, very good and usually flyin under the radar!

Totally!

I love my Schecter USA Tele...a 2003 model that I got barely used in early 2004 for $800 or $900. Someone else paid A LOT more for that & took a hit.

IMO though, a "real" Tele has a bridge with 3-brass saddles.

The 6-section bridge on the Am Std's & some other models REALLY changes the tone and since the pickup bolts right to the bridge...well...it's a different animal.

Change the bridge & the whole guitar changes, more so then a Strat or a Paul or whatever...

 

[Hoss]

Re: Tele?

true...and i really am a tele fan although not a purist fan i suppose...i'm not really not crazy about the 3 saddle bridge and i like buckers and middle strat pups and sorts of heresy! LOL!!! but the shape and feel of teles are second to none imho of course!

 

[jayK]

Re: Tele?

OK, if you're not a gearsnob, I've got the absolute best tele you might ever play at any price, and it can be had for $229.

It's called a Tradition JR model.

The JR is not for "Junior", this is a full sized, beefy tele.

It's got a tappable humbucker at the neck, a vintagey sweet single bridge coil, maybe slightly on the hot side, but not super hot. Solid mahogany body, this thing is a slab o' guitar, you gotta man up to play this thing!

This thing just drips tele vibe & tone, it is beautifully constructed and sounds and looks fantastic. The humbucker dishes out amazing tone, incredible.

Mine is a cherry sunburst with cream binding, maple neck (very flat, wide neck, perfect for blues).

Tradition is not a well known brand, they are typically stocked smaller local guitar shops, so you might have to do a little digging to find a dealer.

Their website is traditionguitars.com that has a dealer list.

IMO this is this best value in a guitar you could ever find, this is a fantastic guitar at any price.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Tele?

i got a (gently) used tokai copy of a 52ri for a little over $300 ... a little over $125 for new pups and electronics ... a little setup TLC and she's a total player that i have no problem taking into a bar

you could do the same with a decent fender MIM (play a bunch to find a good sounding slab of wood)

good luck
t4d

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Tele?

As for wood... you should try a swamp ash wood (usually with maple fretboards) amzing tele sound... I don't like the northen ash wood for teles (alder is always great).

And if you go for something not too expensive try the Warmoth showcase... if you can paint it yourself you might get buy with your own design of a telecaster for 700$... your choice of pickups, wood, etc...

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Tele?

sounds like you'd dig the hell out of a nashville