Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 856
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Post by Ryder on Dec 24, 2023 13:34:43 GMT -5
I only have one telecaster which is the Vintera II Nocaster Telecaster. I like it a lot but I need two teles that are quite a bit different than each other. Maybe a used Elite or something like that. And I also have a G&L Fullerton deluxe asat classic...not sure if its a Bluesboy or not. The shop I bought it at didn't say it was. It does have the seth lover humbucker in the neck.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Dec 24, 2023 14:01:21 GMT -5
8ve had several over the years and now I'm down to one: The Baja Telecaster.
Why do I like it? 1st, it looks good. Butterscotch with black pickguard. I love the S1 system, the 9.5 neck, ash body, and it stays in tune! And that's the name of the game
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Post by Leftee on Dec 24, 2023 14:17:45 GMT -5
I don't have a "brand" Tele. This build is my go-to, though. Nice beefy neck. I dig CBS headstocks. DiMarzio True Velvet Ts. Plus I love the way it looks.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Dec 24, 2023 16:54:40 GMT -5
Best Teles I've played have light bodies (some even were pine), thicker than usual necks, and hotter pickups. The best ones are approaching lap steel sounds with the bridge pickup. Country Western guys of the time wanted them brighter and brighter sounding which is why the winding on the pickups went down, but the earlier ones were pretty darn hot. I kinda like some of the modern variations of the three barrel brass saddles, like when they get string rests in there. It seems to be the best compromise between "twangy one trick pony" and "swiss army knife", the two variations of the Tele.
Some of the best ones have the signature twang sound, but are somehow totally smooth... it is hard to describe. "Twang" and "smooth" should be mutually exclusive/opposite ends of the spectrum, but the best ones do both. Years ago I played an original nocaster, and that is what stood out to me about it.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Dec 24, 2023 17:26:16 GMT -5
I have 3 Telepartscasters, all are configured with tradition Tele single coil pickups. One is a thinline that has a neck route for a P90, but I've gone back. All have chunkier necks. One has A3 pickups, another A5's. I had Fender Pure Vintage 59's in the thinline but the non-RWRP operation bugged me. Plus I loved the neck pickup but wasn't crazy about the bridge pickup. So I custom ordered a bridge pickup from Tone Hatch that combines A2 magnets on the treble strings and A5 magnets on the bass side, and operates quietly in the middle position. I really like that setup.
Not sure what you're specifically after as a 2nd Tele. I think if I were to build another Tele (doubtful) I'd go for a dual humbucker, mahogany thinline body with a Strat neck with a big headstock. Been favoring the Teles lately though I still love my Strats.
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 856
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Post by Ryder on Dec 24, 2023 19:01:20 GMT -5
Some years ago, I had a Baja Tele I really liked but for some stupid reason I sold it (probably just to try something different) I didn’t have the money to keep it too. I also had an American vintage Tele thinline that was really vintage sounding. Should have kept that one also.
I do think I want hotter pickups in the next one although I’m really tempted to get one of those two I had before. Afraid the magic wouldn’t be there and I’d be sorry. i don’t play out anymore so it’s just for my own ears…which it kinda always was.
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jtheissen
Wholenote
Montana lurker, mostly🎸
Posts: 202
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Post by jtheissen on Dec 24, 2023 19:02:00 GMT -5
I have a "unique" one. Jim Adkins model Fender Telecaster. Ash body, single F hole, laurelwood fretboard with two Seymour Duncan P90s. Set neck or whatever it is called with no bolt on screws. Monster🎸
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Post by markfromhawaii on Dec 25, 2023 11:24:05 GMT -5
I have a Shijie “tele”. Best thing about it is its control cavity is completely shielded. Its volume pot started having issues so I swapped out the controls with a Mojotone pre-wired set. Added the correct switch tip and knobs and it’s a clean machine.
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Post by Leftee on Dec 25, 2023 12:26:17 GMT -5
I’ve recently started shielding cavities in my builds.
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Post by LeftyMeister on Dec 25, 2023 16:16:10 GMT -5
I also own three teles, all with different personalities. The red one is a gutted Mex with Seth Lovers. The tone is reminiscent of a 52RI. The copper is a build with slightly hotter Tonerider pups and a P90 in the neck. The G&L is the newest. I love the neck on it. They all get plenty of playing time.
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Post by Pinetree on Dec 25, 2023 21:46:51 GMT -5
American Nashville B Bender Tele.. most expensive guitar I have.
Extremely well made and does the Tele thing perfectly.
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Post by HenryJ on Dec 26, 2023 9:57:28 GMT -5
I own only one Telecaster, but I love it.
Fender Player HH Telecaster. MIM. I love it because I play it better than any of my other guitars.
It's HH. I might not be a real Tele person, because it also has an arm cut, a belly cut, and a 6-saddle bridge. But it's my Telecaster and I love it.
I'd probably love it even more if it had a single-coil bridge pickup and was in a different color.
But I'm a bedroom player, and "it speaks to me," as so many have said about their Telecasters.
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Post by samspade on Dec 26, 2023 15:53:09 GMT -5
I have a B-bender 97? The neck is probably one of my favorites, almost feels U, and has med-jumbo frets. The pickups, probably stock Am Std, but it's an amazing guitar. Dropped in a parking lot, so a nice ding, but it prevails
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chucksmi
Wholenote
Posts: 174
Formerly Known As: Offshore Angler elsewhere
Age: I saw Jerry Live
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Post by chucksmi on Dec 27, 2023 16:03:13 GMT -5
Years ago Squier made a set-neck Tele with a carved top and humbuckers. Once sorted they are fabulous. Add a push-pull for splitting and you can make a ton of money with one.
They still show up on Reverb from time-to-time for under $500. Great guitars.
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tomcaster
Halfnote
Posts: 91
Formerly Known As: strat-hacker
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Post by tomcaster on Jan 3, 2024 16:29:47 GMT -5
I have an old growth redwood tele. Lightest Telecaster I've ever had and just sounds terrific. Started getting a little noisy and brought to a new guitar tech that has a great reputation. Not exactly a people person and opinionated. I went to pick it up and he says-"I don't like Fenders and I definitely don't like Telecasters, but this guitar is special."
I feel lucky to have gotten it and will never let it go.
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Post by jazzguy on Jan 4, 2024 3:00:10 GMT -5
I've never owned a Tele or any solid body for that matter, my first guitar was a Yamaha flattop in the 70s and it's been pretty much all archtops my whole life. Then maybe 35 yrs ago I went to friend's house that was a vintage Fender nut. When I got out of my car I could hear him inside playing a guitar through an amp and it sounded incredible. Turned out it was a '53 Tele through a '59 Fender tweed Super amp. He was playing all this chicken pickin stuff near the bridge like Danny Gatton, I'll never forget that sound! You can hear Danny and Roy Buchanon playing their early Teles on some YouTube videos.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 4, 2024 9:30:03 GMT -5
An old friend/bandmate sent me a link to a video a few years back of his band playing at a club in East Lansing, MI. They were a jam band with a front man who'd makeup lyrics and melodies on the spot. The video was shot by amateur film makers and the whole thing kind of blew me away. My buddy was playing the same early 70s Tele he's had since he got it new. Fender custom shop could well use that thing as a model for their relic stuff, it was beat to hell from decades of honest work. Even back when we played together in the mid-late 80s I was always kind of envious of that guitar because it was the exact same year/color of my first real guitar that I foolishly let go in the 70s for a God awful black Strat. I was so taken by the video that I endeavored into my first attempt at a relic build with the intent to sort of replicate my first Tele had I kept it. Blonde/maple/white guard. It probably fell far from the mark but with Aaron's custom wound pickups from Rumplestiltskin is one of 2 or 3 guitars that I'd run into a flaming house to rescue. It just does the Tele thing perfectly.
There's something unique about Teles that no other guitar does for me. I'm sure its a mixture of musical preference, muscle memory and nostalgia. But throughout my days I have always had a Tele or 3 even though I shifted over to Strats as my main gigging guitar.
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sirWheat
Wholenote
For a better future, play Stevie Wonder for your children.
Posts: 319
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Post by sirWheat on Jan 4, 2024 19:27:51 GMT -5
I have one, the only one I've ever had, a '96 MIM Fat Tele, which now sports different pickups and neck. It is a very comfortable guitar for me, one that always feels like home after ignoring it for months. While I do like the looks of them I do sometimes see one and can't help but think about how positively homely they are. I mean, it looks like it was designed by a grade-school kid with crayons. But simple and no-frills often times is the way to go. My first scratch build will likely be a tele.
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Post by bluzcat on Jan 4, 2024 20:12:42 GMT -5
I am an unashamed Strat guy, but I have a MIM Wine Red Tele that was my dad’s. When he had it I didn’t think a lot of it, but now that he’s gone I enjoy playing it in his memory. If I were to buy one it would be some sort of blackguard style.
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Post by guildx700 on Jan 5, 2024 21:18:53 GMT -5
I have an old JB Player budget import that I loaded with Fender Nocaster electronics/pups, it has an amazing neck and a lovely ash body, been a keeper for near 20 years now.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Jan 5, 2024 21:24:38 GMT -5
The closest I have to a Telecaster is this Warmoth creation. It's a chambered body so very light weight. Dimarzio Area-T noiseless PUPs. Did I mention, the really great playing flame maple neck. Warmoth Tele by Larry Madsen, on Flickr Flame not as intense as some out there, but it does look a bit better to the eye in front of you. Warmoth Tele flame neck by Larry Madsen, on Flickr I'm not certain Tele Paul qualifies. but this is one incredible guitar. Another Warmoth creation. Tele Paul by Larry Madsen, on Flickr Mahogany body and neck. Tele Paul back by Larry Madsen, on Flickr
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Post by Leftee on Jan 6, 2024 9:38:44 GMT -5
I just finished a build that is truly stellar. It sounds like an early Tele better than anything else I've built or bought.
Black Limba body and a AAA flame maple Warmoth neck - fat back profile. Pickups are DiMarzio True Velvet Ts. The guitar weighs in at 6lbs. 11oz. It does that early Tele growl extremely well through my Marshall SV20H.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 6, 2024 14:27:49 GMT -5
Here is my hideous but arguably best sounding/playing Telecaster. A few aberrations from "vintage" are the recessed strap locks and aluminum E/A saddle. I wasn't particular happy with Mohawk "Blonde" which turned out more "earwax yellow" than anything. I've pondered taking this one back to sawdust and starting over like I recently did with my Mary Kaye Strat build, but I dunno....think I'll just play the dang thing.
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Post by Leftee on Jan 6, 2024 14:32:49 GMT -5
That's a great looking guitar Larry!
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 6, 2024 14:36:25 GMT -5
I assume you mean Larry M ^, nothing great looking about my abomination😂
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Post by Leftee on Jan 6, 2024 14:41:52 GMT -5
I meant you, brother!
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Ryder
Wholenote
Butterscotch Blues
Posts: 856
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Post by Ryder on Jan 8, 2024 16:20:44 GMT -5
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Post by Larry Madsen on Jan 8, 2024 17:30:15 GMT -5
nothing great looking about my abomination Larry, I agree with the previous opinions. That Tele has wonderful character and looks like it should "play/sound" great. It looks like it has "been there and done that".
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Post by langford on Jan 9, 2024 8:41:32 GMT -5
Here is my hideous but arguably best sounding/playing Telecaster. A few aberrations from "vintage" are the recessed strap locks and aluminum E/A saddle. I wasn't particular happy with Mohawk "Blonde" which turned out more "earwax yellow" than anything. I've pondered taking this one back to sawdust and starting over like I recently did with my Mary Kaye Strat build, but I dunno....think I'll just play the dang thing. I like it just fine, Auf. If it needs a home....
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Post by Larry Madsen on Jan 9, 2024 9:03:31 GMT -5
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