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Which do you prefer?
First Telecaster on the clip (Mexican Std) 33%  33%  [ 3 ]
Second Telecaster on the clip (Custom Shop) 22%  22%  [ 2 ]
Third Telecaster on the clip (American Std) 44%  44%  [ 4 ]
Total votes : 9
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Post subject: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 4:35 am
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Right lets see who can tell a Mexican Standard, An American Standard and a Custom Shop Telecaster apart.

I have recorded three sound clips all one with each of my Teles, the same tele plays rhythm and lead, rhythm on the left channel lead on the left, there is also a mexican standard jazz bass on there.

Each part was recorded using the same preset in Garageband all were on the bridge pickup all had the volume and tone wide open..

You get the first tele, then a break, second tele then the third.

Also now without the bass and the rhythm track only.

https://soundcloud.com/ian-robinson-66/telecaster-shoot-out

https://soundcloud.com/ian-robinson-66/telecaster-shoot-out-no-bass

https://soundcloud.com/ian-robinson-66/telecaster-shoot-out-rhythm-1

Have a listen and tell me which of the three telecasters is which and which do you prefer.

The following three teles were used:

A stock 2012 Mexican Standard maple neck in Candy Apple Red;
A stock 2012 American Standard in Natural;
A Custom Shop Duo Tone Tele with Abbi handwound pickups in Sunburst.

Image

So which do you prefer and which is which.

Answers tomorrow.

Ian


Last edited by the sordid sentinel on Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:08 am, edited 3 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:05 am
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Give me the American Standard.
It's the ugliest of the bunch[*], but I am partial to rosewood fingerboards, being able to easily adjust relief, adjust intonation per string, not getting sympathetic ringing from the B and E string above the nut, the neck not being too small, and having a 22nd fret (I play a lot in D).

IMO, the CS is made for those who want to recapture a piece of the past; often their own youth and their heroes from that time. It's like buying a replica of a '59 Corvette - it will never truly satisfy, even if better made than the real thing, because it will always be a replica. Even if others don't know, you will.

Oh, and I'm not voting until you put descriptive text for each choice.

[*] De gustibus non est disputandum, but in my view, an unstained wood finish calls for a nitro or satin finish. Clear poly on top of wood looks like the plexiglass covered tables at cheap diners. I halfway expect to find business cards of local merchants embedded.


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:36 am
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A couple of things. First, and I'm not trying to bag on you. The bass was distracting. It was mixed too heavy and eq'd so that it didn't sit with the drums at all. I found myself trying to block it out. It was tubby, but not with good rich fundamentals under it. Sorry, I know that's not the point of the exercise, but I think it took away from the overall purpose of this. Which was to judge the lead tones. It might only be me, and it may be because I'm a bassist, though. Again, sorry.

On to the Teles. Hmmmmm... I liked the way the first guitar sat in the mix best to be honest. However, it was a bit to much in the highs for my tastes. Not that highs aren't what you use a tele for, but at points they seemed brittle, and not smooth. However, the fact that it was thinner on the low end are probably why I like that mix better as it doesn't add to the boominess of the bass track. The second and third teles were much smoother overall. They seemed to have a richer tone across the spectrum, but the output didn't seem as strong. I want to say the 3rd was my favorite as it had the smoothest and richest sounding mids, but the highs also seemed "choked" for some reason. Like the guitar was having to fight to get them out. I don't know. I'm a bassist so I'm probably not hearing it the way a guitarist might.

I have no opinion as to what Tele is which. I could probably tell through a tube amp, but through something like garage band it probably doesn't even matter.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:52 am
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Sorry about that I'm not much of a bass player, I have now put it up without bass and with the rhythm guitar only


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:20 am
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I actually liked the work on the bass fine, just the eq and tone was a bit much. Without the bass I can hear it completely differently and the difference is huge. In terms of what I like best:

For lead... 3,2,1
For rhythm.... 2,3,1

The first lead guitar sound sat better in the mix with the bass track in there, but once it was out the guitar sounded harsh and not pleasing to my ear. Not sure what order you used them in, and like I said. I'd have no way of knowing as I can only speak to what I like. Not really anything about what a Tele is "supposed" to sound like.

The second guitar had less output than the 1st and 3rd in terms of rhtythm tones, but I think it still kept that tele jangle. Where as the 3rd guitar was very driven in the mids. Almost like it was "too aggressive" for a tele in that range on rhtyhm. For leads I liked that better though. It was smoother and more commanding in the mids. Whether that is what is supposed to be there I don't know.

So for me if I was playing lead I'd go with the 3rd guitar. Rhythm the second. The first guitar without the bass in there seemed to be more aggressive and have more output, but not necessarily in a good way. It seems harsh. I don't think I would ever pick it up to play cleanly. However, I bet it gets a killer distorted tone as that kind of thing would actually help you there.

I will be interested to hear what the pecking order was in terms of which guitar is which. Again, it might be easier to tell through an actual amp in terms of tonal nuances, and I can't really speak to which is which. Only what I like.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:42 am
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Hello Ian. That's a fun experiment, thanks for taking the time to put it up.

Slightly to my surprise, I did have a preference regarding the rhythm-only version. I definitely liked Cut 1 the best and Cut 2 the least.

Far as the lead line is concerned, I found it very hard to choose between them. Perhaps I also liked Cut 1 the best, but I wouldn't go to the barricades over it.

I don't mind which guitar Cut 1 turns out to be: I have no axe to grind (pun intended) in that debate. Off the wall, I would choose your MIM Tele because I like maple fingerboards on purely cosmetic grounds, and of course everyone knows red guitars go faster. Though my own Tele has a natural finished ash body, like your MIA, so I'm not even consistent when it comes to looks! :D

How long will you let this run before you tell us which guitar was which?

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:50 am
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Planning on posting the answer tomorrow


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:53 am
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the sordid sentinel wrote:
Planning on posting the answer tomorrow

Excellent - standing by. 8)

Cheers - C

PS: I haven't voted because I have no shame in saying I haven't any idea which guitar is which, far as listening is concerned.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:57 am
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Oh, based on looks I would definitely go with left to right. As I also prefer a maple neck. For the best combo I think a maple neck on that natural body would be absolutely killer, though. The body on the middle tele just looks like it's ready to work.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 12:30 pm
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Is that Custom Shop Tele really from the custom shop? I've never seen one with a 3-piece body before.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 12:52 pm
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It is from the custom shop it's a duotone and the body is an ash core with alder wings.

It is supposed to have some of the characteristics of both ash and alder.

It's very light weight and very resonant.

It also has Abbi handwound pickups, a compensated bridge and staggered tuners.

Mid 60s neck, 9.5" radius neck and medium jumbo fret wire.

It's a relic, but it doesn't have any wear patches, although the body has some nice checking.

I played a few to find one I loved and got it for a fantastic price. It's not the prettiest, but looks better in the flesh.


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:17 pm
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Hello,
Thanks for taking the time to record and post!!!

Well I'll give my preferences too:
Rithm I preferred 3 much more than 2, I did not like 1.
Lead I preferred 3 and 2 over 1.

Now I just hope that 1 is not the CS :-)
Alberto


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:35 pm
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This was a cool test 8)
I liked the 1st most... had good mids... the other two were thinner and more treble heavy.
Look forward to seeing which guitars were which!
Rock-n-Roll

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:48 pm
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Strat-Slinger wrote:
This was a cool test 8)
I liked the 1st most... had good mids... the other two were thinner and more treble heavy.

Huh? Were you listening to the same clips as me? In all cases, #1 was the most treble biased and least precise. My guess it's the CS.


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster Shootout Mexican Vs American Vs Custom Shop
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:39 pm
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Strat-Slinger wrote:
This was a cool test 8)
I liked the 1st most... had good mids... the other two were thinner and more treble heavy.
Look forward to seeing which guitars were which!
Rock-n-Roll

yep... and I stand by what I said :wink:

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