"True" Tele Requirements
- Thread starter ratherdashing
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Re: "True" Tele Requirements
Interesting thread, cuz there are so many Tele variations out there now. Double bucker tele shape etc. to me a real tele has to have the bridge sc in the metal plate bridge, to get that twang. I love my tele, but it has a mini bucker in the neck which sounds incredible, but I wonder if Im missing the true tele experience of not having the single in the neck like they do. But I get great leads in the neck and still get my tele bridge tone
Interesting thread, cuz there are so many Tele variations out there now. Double bucker tele shape etc. to me a real tele has to have the bridge sc in the metal plate bridge, to get that twang. I love my tele, but it has a mini bucker in the neck which sounds incredible, but I wonder if Im missing the true tele experience of not having the single in the neck like they do. But I get great leads in the neck and still get my tele bridge tone
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
I gave some more think to this question, and have an answer that is pretty much the same as the last one.
This is my tele. The Godin Radiator I have listed on my personal info. It's got two fat single coils with quite a jangly vibe, a hardtail, a single cutaway and a maple neck. It'd be a thinline, as the body is mostly hollow under the pickguard. The neck pickup really bumps and the bridge pickup has a good amount of snap to it. The strings are dead, and I want to rearrange the electronics in there a bit by adding a switching system, but...yea.
Anyway, the tele vibe is pretty wide-rangin, but I think the 2 pickup/single cutaway/single coils parts are necessity. I see those carved-top teles in the Sweetwater catalog and think about how not tele-like they are, and I think it stems from the carved top and the humbuckers.
Someone reminds me; which came first, the LP or the tele?
I gave some more think to this question, and have an answer that is pretty much the same as the last one.
This is my tele. The Godin Radiator I have listed on my personal info. It's got two fat single coils with quite a jangly vibe, a hardtail, a single cutaway and a maple neck. It'd be a thinline, as the body is mostly hollow under the pickguard. The neck pickup really bumps and the bridge pickup has a good amount of snap to it. The strings are dead, and I want to rearrange the electronics in there a bit by adding a switching system, but...yea.
Anyway, the tele vibe is pretty wide-rangin, but I think the 2 pickup/single cutaway/single coils parts are necessity. I see those carved-top teles in the Sweetwater catalog and think about how not tele-like they are, and I think it stems from the carved top and the humbuckers.
Someone reminds me; which came first, the LP or the tele?
Jocelyn
New member
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
Not a tele in IMO. But a very nice looking ( and I am sure a very Nice sounding and playing) guitar. Godin makes fine guitars.
Not a tele in IMO. But a very nice looking ( and I am sure a very Nice sounding and playing) guitar. Godin makes fine guitars.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
I am thoroughly dumbfounded by the fact that 27% of voters believe that any Fender Teles since 1968, with the exception of AVRI and some Custom Shop models, are not "real" Teles, just because of a technical detail that makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to the tone or basic feel of the instrument. And that's only speaking within the Fender brand. There are plenty of copies that are mighty "real" Teles in terms of feel and tone (and even looks) that also don't use a lacquer finish. Those results are nuts. I love a nice lacquer finish myself, and I will always pick it over poly if I have a choice. But I don't fool myself into thinking it has any effect on tone, let alone any part in what makes a "real" Tele a "real" Tele.
I am thoroughly dumbfounded by the fact that 27% of voters believe that any Fender Teles since 1968, with the exception of AVRI and some Custom Shop models, are not "real" Teles, just because of a technical detail that makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to the tone or basic feel of the instrument. And that's only speaking within the Fender brand. There are plenty of copies that are mighty "real" Teles in terms of feel and tone (and even looks) that also don't use a lacquer finish. Those results are nuts. I love a nice lacquer finish myself, and I will always pick it over poly if I have a choice. But I don't fool myself into thinking it has any effect on tone, let alone any part in what makes a "real" Tele a "real" Tele.
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Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
I think a lot of people end up forgetting that a finish well-done is a very good finish, regardless of the material. I'll take a great poly-finish over a crap nitro finish any day of the week, but like you said: It is (going by poll results alone) still more of a "true" tele if it has a crap nitro finish than an equal guitar with a great poly finish. I think that is just silly of some people.
I'm thinking the voters may have selected such an option because in their minds, the most "true" telecaster are the originals, and originals can easily be associated with the nitro finish; possibly explaining the votes. But I think that reasoning may be a very literal way of thinking in the given context.
I think a lot of people end up forgetting that a finish well-done is a very good finish, regardless of the material. I'll take a great poly-finish over a crap nitro finish any day of the week, but like you said: It is (going by poll results alone) still more of a "true" tele if it has a crap nitro finish than an equal guitar with a great poly finish. I think that is just silly of some people.
I'm thinking the voters may have selected such an option because in their minds, the most "true" telecaster are the originals, and originals can easily be associated with the nitro finish; possibly explaining the votes. But I think that reasoning may be a very literal way of thinking in the given context.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
Just go for the features and sound you like the best.
Why try to please the cork sniffers?
Just go for the features and sound you like the best.
Why try to please the cork sniffers?
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Laughing Kookaburra
New member
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
As some of you may know, I am a big fan of the Blackguard era Fender instruments. In threads about Telecasters, Broadcasters, Nocasters and Esquires, I generally waffle on about stamped steel bridges, brass saddle and so forth.
Why, then, am I so enamoured of the Brown's Canyon/Old Growth Red Wood Tele-bration model? It breaks almost all of the Tele formula rules and yet sounds fan-****ing-tastic.
As some of you may know, I am a big fan of the Blackguard era Fender instruments. In threads about Telecasters, Broadcasters, Nocasters and Esquires, I generally waffle on about stamped steel bridges, brass saddle and so forth.
Why, then, am I so enamoured of the Brown's Canyon/Old Growth Red Wood Tele-bration model? It breaks almost all of the Tele formula rules and yet sounds fan-****ing-tastic.
shawn7oh
New member
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
I agree someone who can play it. Body alder or ash, note tommy tedesco used an ash tele among other instruments, he was the most prolific studio guitar player in the world. But i have personally heard him state the best guitar is the one you are personally most comfortable with. I actually prefer alder.
What about the bridge plate material? The original teles had zinc bridgeplates. For imports, they are available from alanedenmart on ebay for under 20 bucks, probably $50 up for real teles.The sound is less solid, a little nasalier than steel. I know this for a fact because i recently put a zinc bridgeplate on tele, and realized it was a mistake, because i wanted a more modern sound. Dont overlook the cheap ass zinc bridgeplate if you want an honest to gosh original tele sound. Also, a fat round neck radius makes for an overall telier sound. Ive played other peoples vintage teles in the 80s, real 50-60 teles were still common, and i hated them. But they had that sound. Personally i like the thinner flatter neck teles with a steel not brass or zinc bridgeplate, and a rails pup in the bridge, but thats not a real tele. Its an ass kickin guitar, lol.
Stamped steel bridgeplates and brass saddles are not original tele. But lots of people like, i don't. I like stamped steel with 6 individually adjustable saddles, string through body. Thats my fave tone at the moment, good for recording... nothing against brass by the way, probably good for metal and clean, its just a bit too true and brittle for me. I may experiment and grow into it some day.
I agree someone who can play it. Body alder or ash, note tommy tedesco used an ash tele among other instruments, he was the most prolific studio guitar player in the world. But i have personally heard him state the best guitar is the one you are personally most comfortable with. I actually prefer alder.
What about the bridge plate material? The original teles had zinc bridgeplates. For imports, they are available from alanedenmart on ebay for under 20 bucks, probably $50 up for real teles.The sound is less solid, a little nasalier than steel. I know this for a fact because i recently put a zinc bridgeplate on tele, and realized it was a mistake, because i wanted a more modern sound. Dont overlook the cheap ass zinc bridgeplate if you want an honest to gosh original tele sound. Also, a fat round neck radius makes for an overall telier sound. Ive played other peoples vintage teles in the 80s, real 50-60 teles were still common, and i hated them. But they had that sound. Personally i like the thinner flatter neck teles with a steel not brass or zinc bridgeplate, and a rails pup in the bridge, but thats not a real tele. Its an ass kickin guitar, lol.
Stamped steel bridgeplates and brass saddles are not original tele. But lots of people like, i don't. I like stamped steel with 6 individually adjustable saddles, string through body. Thats my fave tone at the moment, good for recording... nothing against brass by the way, probably good for metal and clean, its just a bit too true and brittle for me. I may experiment and grow into it some day.
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shawn7oh
New member
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
The most intelligent thing i've ever heard about finishes re poly vs nitro is that the thickness of the finish has as much impact as the material. Its totally true, and that goes for speaker cab finishes, tolex, fuzz, wood, etc.
Anyway, if a finish coat is very light or worn, you'll get more wood tone. Not everyone can hear these differences by the way, and there are many who could care less. These subtler cork sniffing lol aspects apply much more to cleaner playing styles, and less processed signals of course.
The most intelligent thing i've ever heard about finishes re poly vs nitro is that the thickness of the finish has as much impact as the material. Its totally true, and that goes for speaker cab finishes, tolex, fuzz, wood, etc.
Anyway, if a finish coat is very light or worn, you'll get more wood tone. Not everyone can hear these differences by the way, and there are many who could care less. These subtler cork sniffing lol aspects apply much more to cleaner playing styles, and less processed signals of course.
shawn7oh
New member
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
My last on this. I agree with everything the poll poster has except they overlooked the bridge material. Also, i wouldnt hesitate to put any duncan product, from antiquity on, into a tele. I know it would sound great. Lastly, i once heard a duncan designed i think oversized lipstick tube tele neck pup in a throw away import $200 knock off that positively quacked like a giant duck, more tele than tele, for real. Dont overlook the oversized lipstick if you want that sound... its a way cool sound... were the original tele pickups not encased in honest to gosh lipstick tubes? That little factoid always blew my mind... everything else has probably been a dilution since.
Here's one you never heard, because i discovered it myself. A fender twin reverb's dimensions are almost exactly to scale with an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper. The angled speakers were the only way to fit them in that box. I loved leo fender before i noticed the dimensions, God rest his soul, but when i realized he designed the amp on a piece of notebook paper i loved him more!
My last on this. I agree with everything the poll poster has except they overlooked the bridge material. Also, i wouldnt hesitate to put any duncan product, from antiquity on, into a tele. I know it would sound great. Lastly, i once heard a duncan designed i think oversized lipstick tube tele neck pup in a throw away import $200 knock off that positively quacked like a giant duck, more tele than tele, for real. Dont overlook the oversized lipstick if you want that sound... its a way cool sound... were the original tele pickups not encased in honest to gosh lipstick tubes? That little factoid always blew my mind... everything else has probably been a dilution since.
Here's one you never heard, because i discovered it myself. A fender twin reverb's dimensions are almost exactly to scale with an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper. The angled speakers were the only way to fit them in that box. I loved leo fender before i noticed the dimensions, God rest his soul, but when i realized he designed the amp on a piece of notebook paper i loved him more!
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L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
I'm open to a fair amount of variety in Tele features and specs, but I've kinda had it with people calling something a "Tele" when the only unique Telecaster feature it has is the upper bout (and maybe the headstock). I saw something recently that was basically a Strat -- Strat trem, three single-coils, five-way knife switch, Strat knobs, Strat forearm cut -- that was considered a Telecaster, apparently because of the shape of the upper bout. C'mon.
I'm open to a fair amount of variety in Tele features and specs, but I've kinda had it with people calling something a "Tele" when the only unique Telecaster feature it has is the upper bout (and maybe the headstock). I saw something recently that was basically a Strat -- Strat trem, three single-coils, five-way knife switch, Strat knobs, Strat forearm cut -- that was considered a Telecaster, apparently because of the shape of the upper bout. C'mon.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
No option for what I wanted...
Fender or Squier brand, Tele shape.
No option for what I wanted...
Fender or Squier brand, Tele shape.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: "True" Tele Requirements
Do any of you guys realize that the Telecaster isn't a concept, it's a design by FMIC?
Do any of you guys realize that the Telecaster isn't a concept, it's a design by FMIC?