Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

[Nashvillebound]

I want to buy a set of Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele pickups but first I need a platform to install them on. I have researched and listened and am fairly certain on the pickups I want but am always open to suggestions.
The purpose of this post is to get suggestions on the Telecaster I should buy (I am also checking for answers on TDPRI).
So I guess the options cross a broad range, like
-American $1500 to $astronomical
-MIM $600
-Squier
--Classic vibe $400
--Affinity $180
That's the options as I see them. I would really like an Ash body but those seem hard to find. Obviously I don't care about the installed pickups becaaause I'm going to replace them.
Whata ya think folks?

 

[jtougas]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

I would go the Classic Vibe route (mostly because that's what I'm doing on my Tele build).

Or buy the appropriate parts from Warmoth/USACG/etc. *shrug*

 

[VinceT]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

Are you locked in to Fender? There are many other T-style makers that are arguably equal/better at similar price points.


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[VinceT]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

Case-in-point - Reverend Eastsider T http://www.reverendguitars.com/instrument/pete-anderson-eastsider-t/ - only problem there is that sound so good, you might not want to swap out pickups.

My gut says that you should aim at any of the Classic range as best bang for buck in the Fender range given you plan immediate mods.


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[Funkfingers]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

G&L Tribute Series ASAT Classic. (You will want new pots, selector switch, jack socket and machineheads.)

If you want a sensible volume balance between neck and bridge position pickups, I strongly suggest the STHR-1N Hot Rails for Telecaster, neck position. Like dis. http://www.chapmanguitars.co.uk/guitars/ml-3-rc/

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

Another option on the cheap end is a Yamaha Pacifica Telecaster. The ergonomics are very high quality.

 

[Nashvillebound]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

Case-in-point - Reverend Eastsider T http://www.reverendguitars.com/instrument/pete-anderson-eastsider-t/ - only problem there is that sound so good, you might not want to swap out pickups.

My gut says that you should aim at any of the Classic range as best bang for buck in the Fender range given you plan immediate mods.




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Nice guitar but hard to find any for sale and for $900 doesn't quite fit into the plan.

 

[Nashvillebound]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

G&L Tribute Series ASAT Classic. (You will want new pots, selector switch, jack socket and machineheads.)

If you want a sensible volume balance between neck and bridge position pickups, I strongly suggest the STHR-1N Hot Rails for Telecaster, neck position. Like dis. http://www.chapmanguitars.co.uk/guitars/ml-3-rc/

Now that is without any doubt the most beautiful T style guitar I have ever seen. But I can't find any for sale and am wondering what a masterpiece like that would cost - guessing +$3000. Looks like Italian design kind of a Ferrari Telecaster.

 

[Hoosier-Rocker]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

That's a great pickup set. I just got the little 59 for my mim 2014 Tele. It's only day 1 but I already love it


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[elelpe]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

Ash body?

Lite Ash Tele
Classic Series '50s
Road Worn '50
Classic Player Baja

Maybe you can find used one with a bargain.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

I've got an Affinity that I got new on sale for about $125. I totally dismantled it, stripped it to bare wood, refinished, new pups, pots, tuners, bridge, switch plate, filed and polished fret ends. It's neck is a bit thicker than most Teles, but it feels very comfortable and is easy to play (and I have very small hands).

That guitar sounds and plays like a dream now. Every bit comparable to a $2000 guitar. My total cost was less than $400.

My point: even a "cheap" guitar can be made to sound and play like a much more expensive guitar and be very satisfying.

 

[Nashvillebound]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

I've got an Affinity that I got new on sale for about $125. I totally dismantled it, stripped it to bare wood, refinished, new pups, pots, tuners, bridge, switch plate, filed and polished fret ends. It's neck is a bit thicker than most Teles, but it feels very comfortable and is easy to play (and I have very small hands).

That guitar sounds and plays like a dream now. Every bit comparable to a $2000 guitar. My total cost was less than $400.

My point: even a "cheap" guitar can be made to sound and play like a much more expensive guitar and be very satisfying.

Thank you Yoda. An Affinity would be great because of the price and I guess I could live with the alder body.

Does anyone have an opinion on the Affinity? All I need to hear is if the neck and body would be a good platform. All the rest of the parts I can replace as required.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

Squier Affinity series instruments are kinda random. Most are precisely what you would expect for so few Dollars. The occasional example is easily the equal of items far higher up the Squier/Fender pecking order. Try lots. Spot a good 'un.

The Squier Vintage Modified series and G&L Tribute Series are made in Cort's Indonesian factory. Consistency is higher. Throw in some American pickups and you should be home and dry. (Some of the G&L models have in-house American pickups as standard.)

The US-made G&L instruments are the ones with the four figure price tags … and rightly so!

 

[Nashvillebound]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

How about if I built the Tele around the pickups? Would something like this be a good start?
http://www.guitarfetish.com/XGP-Professional-Tele-USA-Swamp-Ash-Body-2-Humbuckers-Clear-Gloss_p_18924.html
Then add a neck, hardware, electronics and finally load it up with the Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set.

 

[regan]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/BodyBuilder.aspx?style=2

 

[Nashvillebound]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/BodyBuilder.aspx?style=2

Why Warmoth and not Guitarfetish?

 

[regan]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

Why Warmoth and not Guitarfetish?

I've never used guitarfetish so can't comment objectively,I've used Warmoth and IMO their parts are at least comparable to US fender.
They're machined perfectly no knots or misaligned routs/holes etc.
It's not a hard and fast rule but the old adage 'you get what you pay for' has remained in common vernacular for a reason.

( cue dozens of happy Guitarfetish customers :cussing::rant

 

[AlexR]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

GFS are budget. You can get some good stuff, but its all pricepoint oriented.

Warmoth are quality oriented, so the wood stocks are more consistent, and I think the choices are wider.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

You can find amazing deals in the Warmoth 'Screamin Deals' section. But if you are buying anything already built with the intention of swapping things, don't go any more expensive than the Classic Vibes. Those are nice, and a great candidate for mods.

 

[Nashvillebound]

Re: Telecaster platform for Little '59 & Vintage Stack Tele - Set

OK, I bought a Squier Classic Vibe and it sounds pretty darn good but I want a red hot Telecaster. I'm gonna jump over to the pickup forum and see if I can get some tips ya know maybe the '59 & Vintage Stack Tele set isn't the best plan. I think it probably is but I'll check it out anyway. Thank you every body for the help.