What telecaster to get?

Re: What telecaster to get?

If you're going with new models I would recommend the aforementioned Baja, Classic 50's, Classic 60's, or the Nashville. The Standards are okay, but if they still have the same pickups as the older ones I have they're not the greatest
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

I'd go with a used MIM & some aftermarket pickups, there's always tons of them for sale online for very reasonable prices. Then just take what you saved by buying it used & get yourself a set of Duncan's or something???

Hopefully you'll end up with a great player that sounds exactly the way you want it to (providing you find the right set of pickups for it) & all for less than a new MIM would run you from M.F., G.C., Etc....


I currently have three Telecasters & a A.S.A.T Classic Tribute. I've had several others in the past, half a dozen or so USA Fender's, a Shur, & G&L USA models but this is hands down the best Tele I've ever owned!!!

image.jpg
Please excuse the twisted picture....

This guitar was a gift from my wife so technically the guitar didn't cost me anything, but she bought it for me as a store demo from a local music shop for $499? I absolutely loved the way it played but the stock puppies kinda sucked so I went ahead & bought a used Duncan STL-2 Lead for the bridge & then a Duncan A2 Rhythm for the neck. These were both pickups that I'd used in the past & was already pretty familiar with so I basically already knew that I'd like them. Still once they were in & the guitar was done it just came alive!!!

I've also completely re-wired the entire thing top to bottom & changed the tuners to some locking ones. All totaled the pickups & parts cost me less than $80 & I've got less than $600 into it altogether, which is about what new MIM's are going for these days!!! I wouldn't hesitate to put this thing up against any $1,000-$3,000 Tele on the market!!! It's definitely one of those guitars that I'll play into the ground before I ever sell it!!!
 
What telecaster to get?

Here's my MIM....all stock, except for the Callaham compensated saddles and I reversed the control plate. The pickups are pretty beefy for rock but being SC, they are noisy under gain. At some point I'm going to swap them out, I'm just not in a hurry at the moment since this guitar isn't my #1:

e28a325765f765c7db71ef0ea2f9329a.jpg
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

Overall I agree with going used American for ~$600 (or G&L Tribute.) But... Here's an odd-ball choice of mine: I have an early nineties MiM Fender "Squier Series;" stock alnico pickups that sound great (snappy, thick, twangy like a Tele should,) an excellent neck, just an overall great guitar for less than a couple hundred. One "drawback," it's not string-through but I don't feel that matters much (though there is a difference, both can sound good.

IMG_2174.JPG
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

I don't know how anyone can sort through all the Teles Fender makes (or has made) and make a choice without playing at least one cheap one, one middle-range one, and one super-top sirloin one. Set your budget, don't go over it, and also look at reasonable used nicer ones within that budget.
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

Mincer said:
I don't know how anyone can sort through all the Teles Fender makes (or has made) and make a choice without playing at least one cheap one, one middle-range one, and one super-top sirloin one. Set your budget, don't go over it, and also look at reasonable used nicer ones within that budget.
Click to expand...

Yup...that's s exactly what I did. I tried a few Squier, Affinity, MIM, and AM. I get that for the price/features the MIM was the winner for me.
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

Thanks for the great advice everyone! Really appreciate it. You guys are passionate when it comes to telecasters :)
Yes I'm going to look at the classic 50's or baja telecaster and probably compare them to a USA. But specs aside, it will come down to how it feels, plays and sounds of course!
Unfortunately used USA fenders sell for over 1000 rather than 600 here so its a little bit over my budget but maybe they can make me a good deal who knows?

This is the kind of sound I'm going for. Trying to get close to it of course since this is a custom shop. I forgot the video where he plays it clean, but the tele is so versatile its amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ridpQktozw Regular beefy sound 00:52
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5PX4Fl6Mu4 For heavier stuff 08:36
 
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Re: What telecaster to get?

One Tele? It sounds like you're new to this...

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Re: What telecaster to get?

I have one custom built by Brian Holbrook. AKA Phreek. She's a beast! If you're interested let me know and I'll send pics.


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Re: What telecaster to get?

My suggestion is to drive around town and look for one that explodes midrange when you play it.
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

High end mim or cij and change the electronics either Duncan cs or more boutique winds such as fralins, creamery or Brierly. Or if you feeling like it build a Partscaster to your taste.

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Re: What telecaster to get?

Tomorrow is the day, I'll post what I end up with here. This thread has got me thinking of what would be a smarter investment.
I kinda have my eye on the USA standard tele with maple neck now. It has a sticker on it that says its loaded with custom shop pickups. Also I am a sucker for 2 tone sunburst and if it plays/sounds as good as it looks it might be something really good. Probably a much better guitar than the baja but who knows... besides, the deal could still go sour if the shop isn't willing to drop the price a little bit.
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

Set your budget and don't be tempted to go over it. You are the one with the power...you have the $$ that they want.
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

Mincer said:
I don't know how anyone can sort through all the Teles Fender makes (or has made) and make a choice without playing at least one cheap one, one middle-range one, and one super-top sirloin one. Set your budget, don't go over it, and also look at reasonable used nicer ones within that budget.
Click to expand...

This is probably the best peice of advice in this thread. Teles vary widely in their characteristics.

Play a bunch of 'em. Get one that you really connect with. If I had to pick one off the rack it'd be an American Deluxe or a Elite. Those are out of the range you're looking at, but a used MIA one with a good neck and hardware can likely be had for under a grand.
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

Well I came back from the store empty handed but I did play a bunch of different tele's over a bunch of different amps and learned a lot more on what I like and what I don't.
Clear winner was the 2017 Fender American Professional Telecaster, great neck, great pickups and overall very comfortable unfortunately it was also the most expensive one. It had balls and sting for days. They couldn't go down far enough on the price for me to justify the deal.
The Baja was nice but the neck left me a bit underwhelmed, I don't mind big and chunky but it just felt cheap compared to the USA models.
Unfortunately they didn't carry the usa standard telecaster anymore so i didn't get to try it out.
Need to let it all sink in a bit and see what ill do but yeah the pro series are killer guitars!
 
Re: What telecaster to get?

Well, it isn't an empty hand...you learned something, and that is worth a lot. Much better than taking a stab in the dark.
 
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