I've Decided on My Next Guitar

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zaphod B
  • Start date Start date
Zaphod B

Zaphod B

Raccoons-Be-Gone, Inc.
It will be a Telecaster.

In my mind, there are only two Fender guitars: Strats and Teles. I have a nice Strat, and by acquiring a Tele I will have covered the entire Fender universe.

(Unfortunately, that will still leave Gibson and other universes to conquer.)

So now the choice is, which Telecaster? In my mind's eye a Tele will always be blonde with a maple neck and fretboard. But for playing I really prefer rosewood fretboards. So I'm undecided there.

Fender and Gibson are playing the same confusion game in offering multiple versions of the same guitar. Teles run the gamut from Mexican-made instruments with poly finish and questionable hardware, to the American-made '52 reissue and the 60th anniversary model, with in-betweener American models. Prices range from ~$500 to ~1,300.

I'm gonna have to think on this. :cool:
 
Pick up a Nashville Power Tele. (picture in avatar) Amazingly versatile, won't break the bank.

3 mag pickups w/ Strat switching, + fishman powerbridge pickup. Stereo or Mono output.

Made in Mexico...Contrary to prior post, mine & others I've played are very well made.
 
jfrog, is the Fishman an under-the-bridge piezo pickup?
 
I have both 'Made in Mexico' and 'Made in USA' Fenders and I can tell you the MIM are every bit as good as their California counterparts.

Fender should say "Assembled in Mexico" because they both have a lot of the same parts, some manufactured in USA and other from overseas. The difference in cost is mostly labor and California's clean air rules won't let the same finish materials be used. The factory in Ensinada takes great pride in competing with their brothers in Corona to see who puts out the best products.

Best to check it out for yourself and go for the best value and what turns you on.

As for a Tele, I have had the '52 Reissue for several years and it has that great old vibe and tone you expect from a Tele.

Good hunting.
 
Get an MIM 60's Classic Tele. Great bang for the buck. The other alternative is to shop around Ebay for a Japanese Tele. I have 2, and they are both fantastic instruments.
 
Tulago said:
The difference in cost is mostly labor and California's clean air rules won't let the same finish materials be used.
Click to expand...
Seems to me that anyone who's either pro-labor or pro-environment would see this statement as a good reason to buy the American version, not the Mexican.
 
Zaphod B said:
In my mind, there are only two Fender guitars: Strats and Teles. I have a nice Strat, and by acquiring a Tele I will have covered the entire Fender universe.
Click to expand...

Hey! :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
Zaphod B said:
jfrog, is the Fishman an under-the-bridge piezo pickup?
Click to expand...

Yes. It's got a separate volume control from the mag pickups so you can blend the 2 sounds together. It adds some punch to the mag p/u's. Or, if you plug in a stereo plug, you can separate the mag p/u's from the peizo p/u.

Unfortunately, the peizo doesn't have it's own tone control.

It's pretty cool stuff, though.

There's also a version of the Tele with the 3 pickups but without the peizo. It's a little bit cheaper.
 
OK, I checked out the Fender web site and read about the Nashville Power Tele. It looks like a very versatile guitar.

It's definitely on the short list.
 
My absolute favorite tele is the 69 thinline. They're gorgeous.
 
"Seems to me that anyone who's either pro-labor or pro-environment would see this statement as a good reason to buy the American version, not the Mexican".

I agree....I was just letting the guy know that MIM is a good guitar.

You can buy American if you need to be politically correct, or you can buy Mexican if you want value. Either way, you're supporting someone's job somewhere.
 
zacanger, I love the Thinlines, too. They're beautiful.


Matty, are you referring to a standard two-pickup Mexican Tele?
 
I just bought a Tele. My advice: go shopping, don't buy on the 'Net. I was fully prepared to dish out $1k-ish for one of the Americans, but every one I saw in a configuration I wanted was badly flawed, as in, not worth owning at any price.

I ended up with a Lite Ash, which are available in Vintage White and transparent (gotcher Blonde sorta covered), and sounds spectacular with it's Duncans (once set up right). I added a milled jack socket, a Switchcraft jack, a set of compesated saddles, and cut a new nut (mainly because I just bought nut-making tools, and have been throwing a new nut on anything in my house worth less than $1k), and flipped over the control panel. If the 1/16" doesn't bother you, these are great. Mine weighs a feathery 6lbs 12oz, but one other sample (out of 3-4 I've seen recently) weighed the same as a typical solidbody guitar. Also, I got it for about dealer cost, for some reason.

http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450002571/17.JPG

Nice neck joint, major problem on the USA's I looked at.

http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450002571/20.JPG

http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/450002571/21.JPG
 
Ermghoti, that is one beauty of a Tele, great grain on the body, and the neck as well. One question, what is the advantage of flipping the control panel 180 degrees? I'm so used to the switch being nearest to my right hand I'd be lost with it at the other end, by the output jack.. :confused:
 
Anfontan said:
Ermghoti, that is one beauty of a Tele, great grain on the body, and the neck as well. One question, what is the advantage of flipping the control panel 180 degrees? I'm so used to the switch being nearest to my right hand I'd be lost with it at the other end, by the output jack.. :confused:
Click to expand...

you know, i dont understand that either. btw, i love your avatar. i know his body double from the film.
 
I'm completely satisfied with my Fender Standard Telecaster (a 2005 model I bought earlier this year)...at least nearly completely. Being one that can't leave well enough alone, I've got a Custom Shop Parts Hot Rod Bridge, and Hot Rod Control Plate for it, along with a Fender 4-way switch, and am planning to add DiMarzio Twang King pickups to the mix. My strap for it is a Levy's "seatbelt" strap.

Matt
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top