Which Telecaster?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Unsprung
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Unsprung

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I'm trying to decide which Fender Telecaster, between their Powerdyne & U.S. Special Highway One models. I've tried the U.S. Special Highway One Tele, versus a $350 buck Standard Tele, and the differences are noticeable. Unfortunately, the guitar store didn't have any Powerdynes, so I couldn't make that comparison.

Matt
 
Last week I bought a Hwy1 Tele in sunburst. I thought I wouldnt like the satin finish, but that Tele is the best playing and sounding of the 4 Teles I have owned (1 Am, 2 Mex, 1 Jap). I am really happy with it, especially for $539 new!

The only complaint I have about them is that the frets aren't finished like the other American guitars are. But I have a luthier friend who owes me a few favors and he's going to finish the frets and roll the edges for me so it feels more like the other Americans.

But as far as the Tele tone, it's all in there!

H2H
 
I just bought a 72 reissue Telecaster Deluxe 3 color sunburst and can't get enough of it. The tone is fantastic. If someone stole it from me, I would cry like a fucking baby and then go buy another one. Thick tone...not very Telecaster like actually, but you can get a slightly more Tele sound by using only the bridge pickup. Very Keith Richards-like tone. Also, Radiohead's Thom Yorke plays one on OK Computer (and probably ever album after that). You can hear it's signature tone on several of their tunes.
 
Hard2Hear said:
The only complaint I have about them is that the frets aren't finished like the other American guitars are. H2H

I didn't even notice anything about the frets. Then again, between a Squier P-bass, Squier Fat Telecaster, Ibanez AG75TBS and Johnson acoustic/electric bass, I'm probably not gonna be too picky, on the frets. Unless I can get a chance to test drive a Powerdyne Tele, it looks like the Highway One Tele will be my next axe.

Matt
 
btw...I played both the Standard & U.S. Special Highway One Teles unplugged, and could tell the difference in sound and tone. Guess I shoulda plugged 'em in, huh? If I can find a Vox T-25 bass combo or Peavy TransTube 285EFX to plug into, I should have a good idea what to expect, when I get it home.

Going on leave, next week, though. It'll be the middle of September before I'm ready to buy...will have to make due with my Ibanez, till then.

Matt
 
I bought a Japanese '50s reissue used 3 years ago and it is the nicest playing Tele i've ever played. It has the "V" shaped neck, Duncan Pick-ups and a two tone sunburst with a white pickguard. Nice tone and feel. An ash body would be better than the bass wood but for $450.00 I couldn't complain. It sure beats $1200 for the '52 reissue that doesn't play as well.
 
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