It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:32 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: More of a Bluesy sound
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:00 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:33 pm
Posts: 233
Location: Mass.
I am in the market for a new (my first) Tele. I really love the Strat sound, but love the look and feel of a Tele. I am leaning toward the Highway One. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I know the rule of thumb... Play, play, play... I am just wondering which models I should try.

Thank you


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:29 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Posts: 733
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Good general advice for buying guitars is that you buy the best instrument you can possibly afford. This rule, however, is fraught with exceptions. If you're looking at the Highway 1, I would also take a look at the (less expensive but still eminently playable) MIM Teles, and maybe even the American Standard.

Don't let the model name distract you from a good instrument. The MIM Teles can be really excellent guitars -- I should know, I've got one -- even with their lower price tag. Indeed, virtually any guitar bearing the Fender name is going to be a good instrument. Consequently, I think you're onto the right track: play every tele they've got in your price range and pick the one that you like best. Also, make sure not to let a bad factory/store setup spoil a good instrument. If you like a guitar but think it's set up poorly, make sure the store does it for you before money changes hands. Then play it again and, if you still love it, spend that money! Good luck!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:30 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Posts: 733
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Oh, I forgot to add that one advantage the American and Mexican teles have over the Highway 1 is the six-saddle bridge. While the three-saddle bridge is perfectly fine and, in fact, beloved by many, I prefer the six-saddle version because I find it is easier on my right hand. I doubt I'd put a great instrument back on the shelf just because it has a certain bridge, but it's definitely something to consider.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:25 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:33 pm
Posts: 233
Location: Mass.
Thank you for your help Vulkan, I will keep all of it in mind.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:47 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:05 am
Posts: 85
More cheap advice.

Where ever you're going to look at Tele's, go at a quiet time. (Not Guitar Center on a Saturday night!)

Whatever you're looking at, play it several minutes or more *before* plugging it into the amp.

Odds are, if it doesn't sound good acoustically, the pickups and electronics will never be able to make up for it.

Also playing it without and amp allows you to concentrate on the neck, action, frets, etc., all the things you should be paying attention to first before you start dinking with the volume, tone, switching on the guitar and being distracted by the controls on the amp.

And you do know to try it in a couple different amps, right?

Now, we demand pictures when you make your choice!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:44 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:33 pm
Posts: 233
Location: Mass.
Thank you all for the great advise... But, maybe I should have explained myself a little better. This would not be my first guitar... This would be my first Telecaster. I am curious to find out if there is another model, besides the Highway one, that sounds a little "warmer" than the typical Tele? I have an opportunity to try a G&L Bluesboy, but I would really like to stay with the Fender brand name if at all possible.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:30 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Posts: 733
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Sorry for the confusion. As I said earlier, every guitar is different, even if they are the same model from the same year and the same series. It's best to play them all and see what appeals to you. And to be frank, Telecasters aren't typically known for their "warmness"; "twang" and "spank" are more typical virtues of a good Tele sound.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:05 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:10 pm
Posts: 143
Vulkan wrote:
And to be frank, Telecasters aren't typically known for their "warmness"; "twang" and "spank" are more typical virtues of a good Tele sound.


with few exception, ie the 72 tele thinline or deluxe, given their duel humbucker settup

my thinline has a real nice warm sound to it. I love it.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:42 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25353
Location: Witness Protection Program
I'd suggest checking out the Baja Tele also! :wink:

These are great sounding Telecasters and prices are very reasonable for what you are getting :

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TeleCPBjDS/

Good luck! :wink:

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:33 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:33 pm
Posts: 233
Location: Mass.
Thank you! I never even thought of the Thinline!! I have tried the Baja and you are right it's a great Tele! It's a top of the line MIM Custom Shop. I'll have to give it another go around and give the Thinline a shot.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:49 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:10 pm
Posts: 143
make sure you try the 72 (as opposed to the 69) being I think the sound is more due to the dual humbuckers than the semihollow body, though I'm sure that helps too.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:46 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:05 am
Posts: 1400
Location: Australia
If he's after a more strat like sound, would perhaps a Nashville model be more suited to him? I've never played one myself but would the strat pickups give a warmer tone or am I just confusing matters here.

_________________
_______________________________________
Image
MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:03 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:55 pm
Posts: 44
I just picked up a FMT HH Tele. Made in Korea. It is a great Guitar especially if you have a limited amount of money to spend. With two Seymor Duncan's and a coil tap you can get the warm blues type sound or pull up the coil tap on the neck pup and get the tele twang. A very versitile guitar. Be sure you have it set up by a good shop or Luthier as mine came with huge strings (.!3's maybe) and really bad action but once it was set up it is the Sweetest Guitar I own. :D

07 Epi Les Paul Silverburst
07 Strat HSS
08 Tele FMT HH


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:46 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Posts: 733
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Congratulations on the new guitar! I hope it's everything you imagined and that your quest for tone is much further along! See if you can get some pictures up...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:17 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:33 pm
Posts: 233
Location: Mass.
Thanks Recsec... I'll look into those. I wasn't really thinking Korean, but it may just be what I'm looking for.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: