Telecaster.... which one?

[Juan_M]

Hi!

I'm starting to look for a Tele and there re so many out there that I don't know which one is best. Let's say my budget is $1200 and that I play country and rock.... what would you go for?

 

[noisedude]

I'm a big fan of the G&L stuff (Leo Fender's more recent company). The Korean range and the USA range are both great ... the Korean ones use the exact same pickups as the USA ones too. Look into them.

Other than that ... for rock I'd probably get something with a hotrail at the bridge (so you keep the angle for that Tele brashness) and then stick a push-pull coil tap on the tone knob for your country sounds.

Obviously you can't go wrong with Fender and for $1200 over here you could just about get a USA Tele, but if prices are more favourable over there then you should see which one grabs your eye!!!

Nik

 

[Juan_M]

Thanks! I'll check G&L out!

The problem I have is I'm no expert on guitars and I'm overwhelmed by the amount of options when it comes to necks, pickups, etc.... specs just leave me dizzy!

I was looking into this yesterday and some teles caught my eye. Of course, I think you can't go wrong with any of these but I was curious to read anyone's comments on them.

American Vintage '52

American Tele

60th Anniversary

power nashville tele

 

[mikemorgan]

I own G&L teles, Fender teles, Washburn teles, and Fernandes teles. I like teles. If I could only have one, and could only spend $1200, and were forced to play country, hmmm........American Nashville tele w/parsons-green b-bender. Although the pickups are pretty weak, there are three of them, and there are some cool wiring mods out there. If you plan on playing country, you MUST have a b-bender these days, or you can't play half the licks on any given record ala Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley. There is a custom shop Brent Mason model, but I think it goes a little higher than $1200.

 

[Clive Hugh]

Personally, I'd steer away from the '52 re-issue, obviously a personal thing but they will have narrow fret wire and a modern one with wider wire makes for easier playing, same goes for me having a maple neck rather than a rosewood fretboard. But it's a personal choice, try a few and the one that grabs you- get it.

 

[Juan_M]

great info guys! Thanks a lot.

I'm liking the American Nashville Tele, probably what I need. Mike, since the pickups are no good, would you recommend changing them? Which ones would you use?

 

[Zaphod B]

If you plan on playing country, you MUST have a b-bender these days, or you can't play half the licks on any given record ala Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance - what is a b-bender?

 

[nkjanssen]

I play country and rock and tried pretty much every tele out there before falling for an American Ash Tele. For me, it was the perfect combination of old-style features and new.

 

[ch2os7]

nashville tele

I think the Nashville Tele would give you the best all around tonal possibilities. The 3 single coil configuration should allow you to get both Strat and Tele sounds. The piezo should add another dimension. One thing that could make it better would be switching that would allow neck and bridge combo and all 3 pickups at once. I believe Fender offers this on some Strats. I've had my eye on the Nashville Tele for some time. IMHO it seems like a logical choice. Good luck on whatever you choose.

 

[jfrog]

Nashville Power Tele

I think the Nashville Tele would give you the best all around tonal possibilities. The 3 single coil configuration should allow you to get both Strat and Tele sounds. The piezo should add another dimension. One thing that could make it better would be switching that would allow neck and bridge combo and all 3 pickups at once. I believe Fender offers this on some Strats. I've had my eye on the Nashville Tele for some time. IMHO it seems like a logical choice. Good luck on whatever you choose.

Nashville Power Tele

I have a Strat & a PRS...but a few months ago I purchased a Nashville Power Tele with 3 pickups (+ a Fishman power bridge pickup) & 5-way strat pickup selector switch. I absolutely love it. It's way more "punchy" (i.e., it cuts thru the mix better...better sustain) than the strat without being as heavy as the PRS. Like the strat & PRS, it's very verstile. I would highly recommend checking one out.

Note that there's 2 similar models - the Nashville Power Tele and the Deluxe Nashville Tele. Both have 3 pickups and strat switching. The only difference, I believe, is a Fishman power bridge pickup in the Nashville Power Tele model. (Ok, so that's 4 pickups). The powerbridge pickup, by itself, sounds sort of acoustic-y...but it's real beauty is that you can blend it with the magnetic pickups to brighten the sound. It's got a separate volume. Try it out & see if it's worth the extra $100 or whatever to you.

 

[stonepiano]

You'll have to excuse my ignorance - what is a b-bender?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-Bender

http://www.wdmusic.com/unfinished_b_bender_bodies_13483_ctg.htm

http://www.hipshotproducts.com/video bender.htm

I wasn't sure either so I looked it up.

 

[hixmix]

American Deluxe.

 

[mrplow]

I own an 83 American Tele (Dan Smith Era I think) with the toploader bridge that I like a lot. If you can find one used I highly recommend it.

For something new, I second the American Ash tele.

For something unique, ie a very mid-rangey hot "overwound twang" sound, check out a Japanese All-Walnut Body '68 Tele Reissue. Were made for the Japanese domestic market only, so may be difficult to find- I got mine off eBay.

 

[hixmix]

If you can find one used I highly recommend it.

Yes. Got my Deluxe used, in "as new" condition, for $800.00.

 

[hixmix]

You'll have to excuse my ignorance - what is a b-bender?

Another name for ball buster.

 

[freshmattyp]

AV 52 RI all the way, but that's just me.

 

[Middleman]

If you are going to record a lot. Nashville Tele all the way. Very versatile soundwise.

If its for live, keep it simple, get the American RI. You won't need all those sounds options live unless you want to impress musicians.

 

[Juan_M]

I do mostly recording so it looks like the NAshville is going to be the winner...

 

[gvarko]

Below your price range

Here is a new one that is below what you want to spend, but one damn nice Tele:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=517890

 

[notCardio]

Why just one?

For $1200, I'd think you could get more of a plain-jane Tele for country (ack-ptooey! - sorry, had a little something in my throat there ) and something else for rock. That's just the way I'd look at it. Now if you were just in love with the sound of a RI or a Nashville, then I could see spending the jack. If you're bound and determined to get one Tele for both, it seems the obvious choice would be a Nashville, which for some reason seems to be kind of scarce around here right now. Maybe I'm just visiting the wrong places. You might try Reno's.

Can you tell it's one of those days when I'm bored and just want to hear myself yap?

Happy hunting.