Fender Telecaster.....Japanese made though.

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endserenading81

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Ok I'm gonna shoot straight. I don't have much money, and this is only my second guitar. So I'm not looking to spend a $1000 on a new one right now. My budget is around $500. But the praise for the AMERICAN made guitars is sometimes overwhelming. Level with me people, will the Japanese come through for me, both in quality AND tone? The Telecaster looks sweet, I have to really try it out though. And there are some others too, like the Tornado, which I've heard is a great value. Oh oh, I play indie rock music by the way. I need rock n roll ditortion AND sweet, clean, beautiful tone.
Thanks everyone,
Rob
 
I've actually heard that Fender Japan's stuff is better quality than the stuff made in the USA. It's pretty subjective, I guess, but from what I read the construction of the MIJ guitars is more consistent then either the MIMs or the stuff made here.

You're probably better off playing it before you buy it, though. It wouldn't surprise me if there were plenty of quality MIMs floating around, too. You might be able to get one for even cheaper then.

Oh, but avoid Squier like the plague.

~Jordan
 
If you like it buy it. The Japanese Strats are excellent, I have a Jap reissue '61 strat and a MIA 1986 which is my main axe but I use the Jap frequently and have no complaints.
 
If you want a MIJ then as I understand things, you will be looking at s/hand as last I heard, Fender ceased Japanese production a few years ago and only do MIA or MIM. The MIJ gear is frequently compared favourably to the MIA Fenders.

We recently bought an MIJ '88 Precision Lyte in "as new" condition for the studio and I honestly can't fault it. Personally, I wouldn't touch a MIM Fender but that's just my opinion........I figure with over 40 yrs of playing behind me I'm entitled to an opinion or two.
 
I have an 86 MIJ 62 Reissue Tele that I'll stack up against any American made model any day of the week. It's incredibly light and resonant, and twangs for days. That was the first electric I ever bought, and I haven't looked back since. There are usually several on Ebay at any given time. They make great players, and the collector value is starting to rise as well.
 
I can recommend early 80s Tokai fender replicas. I think they did a tele, I've got a strat.

I recall stories about Tokai being the first company making replicas to be sued by Fender because they saw the quality as threatening their own area of the market.
 
they're pretty nice actually. i have a MIJ '75 fender jazz reissue and shes a beaut to play
 
gvarko said:
They have these at Sam Ash & Guitar Center for $599 very sweet for the money. Not sure if they are USA or not, but who cares. Ash body and birds eye maple neck. I am planning on getting one soon....

http://www.fender.com/misc/winternamm2004/other/Lite_Ash_Tele.html
Click to expand...
yeah these are an amazing deal, if you want to spend an extra hundred bucks, you will not be disipointed. im planing on getting one, well i sortof already have one, i just cant bring it home from work yet. (its stashed under my desk till i have the cash to buy it)
 
Made in Mexico

Yeah, it's the Standard Telecaster, NON U.S.A. I think THOSE are made in Mexico, sorry everybody!
Thanks for the replies everyone,
Rob
 
Japanese Teles are fine. Mexican teles are fine, some of the time. Some of them aren't. For the same price as the MIM tele, you can get a highway one that is assembled in the US of Japanese and Mexican parts. Mine is just fine. There is nothing worse on Earth than a Chinese Squier Tele.-Richie
 
Kevin DeSchwazi said:
I can recommend early 80s Tokai fender replicas. I think they did a tele, I've got a strat.

I recall stories about Tokai being the first company making replicas to be sued by Fender because they saw the quality as threatening their own area of the market.
Click to expand...


Those Tokais are very desireable. Heck, even SRV used a Tokai Springy Sound Strat, which is their copy of the 50's strats. I am a strat guy, but I have been looking to get a Les Paul to gig with. I cant pay Gibby prices so I started looking around. Tokais is out of Japan and back in the 80's they were making awesome Fender and Gibson replicas that I have read out did the originals. Yeah they got sued big time. MIJ is the way to go!!
 
gvarko said:
They have these at Sam Ash & Guitar Center for $599 very sweet for the money. Not sure if they are USA or not, but who cares. Ash body and birds eye maple neck. I am planning on getting one soon....

http://www.fender.com/misc/winternamm2004/other/Lite_Ash_Tele.html
Click to expand...
They're made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in Korea. The workmanship is better than the typical Corona Telecasters, but there are some things I would have done differently.
 
Clive Hugh said:
If you like it buy it. The Japanese Strats are excellent...
Click to expand...
The Fender Japan domestic instruments made by Fujigen Gakki for the Japanese market are unquestionably the best-built production Fenders. The export Japanese Fenders are not quite the same.

If you want them, they are easily ordered through Ishibashi. Ishibashi has by far the best reputation I have ever heard of for a web seller. In several years, I have never heard a single complaint about them and probably a couple of hundred raves.

Here's Ishibashi's Telecaster page.
 
Get a Tokai Tele BreezySound even the drummer in our music shop loves to play ours!:) Your safe with Tokai but get it form a reputable shop if you can.
 
He may have worked something out in the four years since this thread was started.
 
bongolation said:
The Fender Japan domestic instruments made by Fujigen Gakki for the Japanese market are unquestionably the best-built production Fenders. The export Japanese Fenders are not quite the same.

If you want them, they are easily ordered through Ishibashi. Ishibashi has by far the best reputation I have ever heard of for a web seller. In several years, I have never heard a single complaint about them and probably a couple of hundred raves.

Here's Ishibashi's Telecaster page.
Click to expand...

Yup, excellent site.
 
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