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Post subject: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele?
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 12:43 am
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Hi All,
I am really hoping to get the most accurate answer here from this Forum. The Internet, as we all know too well, is full of incorrect information across every field imaginable; however, the answer my son & I are desperately looking for will surely be found here! Thanks from Kevin and Finn in advance, cool?
So, long story short: After 30 kidney surgeries every average Telecaster wears me out..too heavy to lift. Also, my son, who is 9, also lost a kidney and is terribly frail, as well. But, he put his 2 years into Violin Lessons and 2 years Piano...so you know, right? Got him a Road Worn in June; wasn't playing it much. And, this Kid is the Junior President of his Social Distortion Fan Club (wants Ness and 2-Bags to sign his Fender at this coming March Portland Gig; if anybody out there knows "a guy who knows a guy." I realize Asher and Gibson...).
Finally, back to question: Lightest-Weight currently made US Tele is what? I just ordered one of the 2016 White (Tortoise) Lite Ash ($1999) models, but son really wants Butterscotch or Blonde or Desert...as do I. But felt one and super easy to pick up. But, is there another model out there in different colours? Or, can you order special super light-weight models direct from Fender if for medical reason? All, thanks much! Kevin; Toronto. Email: kevintmckinley@hotmail.com if possible, contact our email as we are in Hospital often and don't search online.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2017 9:39 am
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Just throwing this out... there is a discontinued Fender Tele that is made from Paulownia, or Empress wood. This wood is very light and would make for a very lightweight Tele. It was called the Empress Tele, I think, and was part of the Fender 60th anniversary "Telebration" range...which would make it 2010, or thereabouts.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2017 10:35 am
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With some searching, you'll find 'normal' Teles close to 6.5 lbs, even below - just aks the seller.
Since Fender doesn't make guitars to a certain weight class, it's hard to specify a series where all guitars would be X lbs.

You might consider something a bit out of the box; something like a '69 Thinline.
Or even a Mustang; especially your son might benefit from the shorter scale, and many players have proved it spans to some quite heavy sounds in spite of the light weight.
Plus, if you're comfortable with the 1999$ price class, you can get a custom made (semi)hollowbody Tele from many luthier companies way below that. Or have any Tele carved out smuggler style under the pickguard.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2017 11:22 pm
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jmattis wrote:
Since Fender doesn't make guitars to a certain weight class, it's hard to specify a series where all guitars would be X lbs.

There is one notable exception to this: The Select series from a couple of years back. The bodies all had to weigh less than 5 lbs.

I can recommend the Telecaster Select Chambered HH (as I own one). It is surprisingly light due to being chambered, and a belly cutout and back routing reduces the weight even further.

However, with a two-tone malaysian blackwood (a luxury variant of ebony) top with a shiny clear nitro finish and no pickguard, it may not be a good choice for a 9 year old.

Image

I still recommend it for its awesome sound and light weight. It's quite a bit lighter than a Tele Thinline (I have one of those too).


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:27 pm
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Also check out the American Elite Thinline Tele - yes, they are about the priciest USA Tele (along with the vintage reissues) but I've seen a bunch of them coming it at right around 6 lbs - give or take an ounce or two; but you do have to ask the dealers about them because I've also seen some come in at more like 7.5 lbs. Unforutnatly they are only made in 3-color sunburst, mystic ice blue, or natural, so they don't fit your color preference. Willcutt Guitars in Lexington, KY has one right now in 3-color burst that they have weighed at 5 lbs 11 oz - which is the lightest one that I have ever seen on any dealer site.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 3:32 am
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Around 2004-2006 there were special editions made using chambered bodies.
Try a Reverb search for American Spruce Top Chambered Ash Telecaster. Several versions with different necks were made, colors including Cherryburst and BSB are mentioned in the topic here.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7401.

Another possibility could be a chambered body from Warmoth.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:33 am
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Thinline Tele.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 11:42 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Thinline Tele.

No, they are not as light as you think. My Thinline '72 RI weighs over 50% more than my chambered Tele Select, and more than my Tele Standard too.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:14 pm
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arth1 wrote:
stratele52 wrote:
Thinline Tele.

No, they are not as light as you think. My Thinline '72 RI weighs over 50% more than my chambered Tele Select, and more than my Tele Standard too.



Can we said all Thinline and all Standard Tele are same as yours ?


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:17 pm
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'72 Teles are heavier than '69 Teles - of course, that's generalizing and doesn't apply to every individual guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:55 pm
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jmattis wrote:
'72 Teles are heavier than '69 Teles - of course, that's generalizing and doesn't apply to every individual guitar.

Indeed, the variation can be huge, as wood differs.
(Except the few guitars where weight was a criterion.)

Also keep in mind that Fender may be using the wood that's too heavy for other solidbodies for the Thinline, so they won't have to make unsellably heavy guitars or take a loss on the wood.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:50 am
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Sweetwater lists the weight of every guitar they sell. You can try browsing their extensive inventory of tele's and may very well find one that appeals to you.

Hope this helps.

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Its a lifestyle.....

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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:27 pm
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Another vote for the American elite thin line. Lighter than air. Neck Playability is awesome. Got mine yesterday and I'm just amazed.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 5:13 pm
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John C wrote:
Also check out the American Elite Thinline Tele - yes, they are about the priciest USA Tele (along with the vintage reissues) but I've seen a bunch of them coming it at right around 6 lbs - give or take an ounce or two; but you do have to ask the dealers about them because I've also seen some come in at more like 7.5 lbs. Unforutnatly they are only made in 3-color sunburst, mystic ice blue, or natural, so they don't fit your color preference. Willcutt Guitars in Lexington, KY has one right now in 3-color burst that they have weighed at 5 lbs 11 oz - which is the lightest one that I have ever seen on any dealer site.


Just quoting myself to say that the 5lb 11oz Elite Thinline must have sold as it's no longer on their site, but 2 of the four the have left are just a couple of ounces over 6lbs.


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Post subject: Re: Medical Reason for needing Lightest-Weight USA-Made Tele
Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 3:53 pm
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Hi Frankieaustin,
I'm sorry to hear about the health difficulties that you and your son are experiencing.
There has been a lot of great advice above, but I thought that I would present a different option.

Since you already have one or more Telecasters that are apparently too heavy, I thought you might be interested in using the neck and parts from one of those Telecasters, and replace the body with a lighter body.
Warmoth Custom Guitar Parts is a well respected manufacturer of custom guitar parts.
Warmoth makes "chambered" guitar bodies that are reduced in weight.

Image
This might be a great project for you and your son to tackle.
It requires only modest soldering skills, attention to detail, and a little reading on how to setup the string height and action of the guitar.
You could of course have someone setup the guitar, or do the entire build.
As a guide to what this may involve, you may wish to Google "Complete Telecaster Build Pictorial," where you should find 2 pictorial presentations of Tele style guitar builds that I have posted in the Fender Lounge.

Here is a list of Warmoth's "lightest" chambered Tele style guitar bodies that are available for sale as of 02/25/2017.
All of these guitar bodies are drilled to accept a traditional Telecaster bridge secured by 4 screws.
I think that these guitar bodies would meet you and your son's general color preferences:

1) Chambered, Swamp Ash on Swamp Ash (2 lbs., 13 oz.) $253 Unfinished / $448 Butterscotch Finished
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... LIXdeQzXIU

2) Chambered, Swamp Ash on Swamp Ash w/ "F" cut (3 lbs., 0 oz.) $379 Black-Brown-Yellow, three color Burst front & back
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... LHoKuQzXIU

3) Chambered, Alder on Alder (3 lbs., 0 oz.) $233 Unfinished / $428 Butterscotch Finished
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... LHmlOQzXIU

4) Chambered, Alder on Alder (3 lbs., 1 oz.) $233 Unfinished / $428 Butterscotch Finished
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... 9&i=T5424#

5) Chambered, Black Korina on Black Korina (3 lbs., 2 oz.)$473 Tobacco Burst front / Transparent Brown back
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... LHnt-QzXIU

6) Chambered, Swamp Ash on Swamp Ash w/ "F" cut (3 lbs., 3 oz.) $379 Tobacco Burst front & back
http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... LHn2eQzXIU


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