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Post subject: Something about a Tele
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:18 pm
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I know that this will sound silly...but ever since my gorgeous wife bought me my 1st Tele...I can't get enough of them. I used to be a die hard Strat man...since I got my Tele...well my Strat is sitting in its case. She just ordered me the HWY 1 the other day...I am so into Teles...I think that they will pretty much stay as my main guitar from now on...am I the only one like this???


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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:26 pm
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You ain’t alone Bro. Let me tell you the story about me and my Tele’s.

Since I was about 9 years old I knew I wanted to own a Strat. I think it was 1967 when I got to hold my uncles Strat for the first time and I knew I’d have not one, but a bunch. Someday.

About 5 years ago I started playing a bit and collecting my gear. I started off with a couple of used Strat’s and figured that’s all I would need.

One day, walking through one of the Pawn shops outside the gate at Ft Sill, I found a slightly beat burgundy MIM Tele. Nothing fancy about her. Not in bad shape, just a couple of chips out of her finish. I took her home with me, played her a bit, and then a funny thing started to happen. I’d reach for her over the Strat’s almost every time I started to practice. It just got to the point where she felt right. She just seemed to fit me and the music I was trying to make better than the others. I was starting to get hooked.

Later, I was browsing one of the local Mom and Pops and found a pretty little Honey Blonde Deluxe Nashville Tele with a maple fretboard. I picked her up, played around with her for a bit and through her middle pup she called for me… ”Take me home Ricky D, take me home.” So I did.

Well, you know how it is if your wife has a cute sister and/or cute friends and you kinda enjoy it when they all come over to the house and talk and laugh and have fun? Well, that’s how it was with these two Tele’s. I just liked having them around. They were fun, played well and I liked them.

After a while, a third Tele joined the club. This one was a CIJ Classic 60’s; candy apple red, double white binding, rosewood fretboard w/ a Bigsby. Pretty sweet looking. She just told me that if I could have Strat’s hanging around with “handles” hanging from their bridge, then she could hang around too. Who am I to argue with a pretty girl? She’s mine.

Well, now these girls would get together, laughing and having fun, and I overheard them talking about their little sister from Mexico. She was beautiful. Arctic White with a 3 ply white pick guard and a maple fretboard. She was just a phone call away at American Musical Supply. I called and they said she could be here in three days. And she was. When I unwrapped her I just about fell over. Pure white. Virginal and innocent. What she needed was some love, so she’s getting dressed up with hand engraved hardware and a bridge cover from El Dorado guitar. Scroll to the bottom. http://www.eldoradostraps.com/products-over.htm I’m also thinking she’s getting a Hot Nocaster pup in the bridge and a Custom Shop Twisted Tele pup in the neck. (Thank God for eBay, 'cuz you can't get one anywhere else.) She’ll get a new nut and tuners too. She’ll be a classy looking, sweet, rockin’ little gal when I’m done with her.

Thinking I had my jonesing for another Tele cured for awhile, I was out and about last week looking for a used amp when I stumbled across a used Deluxe Nashville POWER Tele. She was an older gal, about 10 years old, but I had to pick her up and take a look. As I scanned her from top to bottom, I realized she was flawless. And I mean flawless. Not a nick, scrape, dent – nothing. 10 years old and looked brand new. We starting talking and played a little Johnny Cash together. You know how sometimes an older gal can have it all over a younger chick? This gal had it. Candy Apple Red, rosewood fretboard. Very classy. Well – this Tele told me that if I took her home, that with her Fishman Power Bridge, she could rock my world with music and tones that none of the other girls could hope to make. Who am I to resist against an argument like that?

So – that’s five. And I’m not even close to what all I want. I heard them talking last night about a friend of theirs that’s a little down on her luck. They said she’s kinda beat up and “Road Worn”, and she really needs somebody to take her in and love her. I’m thinking I just might. And then there’s another just down the highway from here. Hiway One. I probably need to go for a drive and look at her as well.

You know, I’ve always had a thing for older gals. I was born in 1958. I hear there’s an American Vintage ’52 that would like to meet me as well. I should probably go look her up. She’s another Blondie. And a classic.

And then there’s a pretty little Japanese one dressed in Pink Paisley and she has a sister that’s dressed in a Blue Floral print… and the list goes on and on…

So – I’ll update as the story continues. But no, Brother Airborne, you ain’t alone when it comes to Tele's…

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Old age and treachery will win every time over youth and enthusiasm.

"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer


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Post subject: Re: Something about a Tele
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:59 am
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airbornestrat wrote:
I know that this will sound silly...but ever since my gorgeous wife bought me my 1st Tele...I can't get enough of them. I used to be a die hard Strat man...since I got my Tele...well my Strat is sitting in its case. She just ordered me the HWY 1 the other day...I am so into Teles...I think that they will pretty much stay as my main guitar from now on...am I the only one like this???


Same thing happens to me - I keep on buying guitars, I got a US Strat, a Les Paul, an SG, a Raven West - but every time I look down, it's my Tele I'm playing.


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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:10 am
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I think I've reached the point where I don't bash Strats anymore (maybe I have, maybe I haven't) after owning quite a few of them...but I declare myself a Tele man.

For someone who doesn't know how to play very well, a Strat can seem like a de facto more versatile guitar. It IS more forgiving as they say than a Tele, though not that forgiving. For someone who DOES play well, a Strat is indeed great...playing well always helps...but generally they DON'T cut through except when people step aside and leave sound space...which is why deliberate sound space is in the music for even bands like U2, Red Hot Chile Peppers...which is why lead guitar..and even the whole Rock Guitar Hero thing is very much attached to Strats...they need space and a spot light to shine. Listen even to Pete Townsend playing rhythm/lead with The Who where even the "big" sound of the Strat seems somewhat submerged compared to Tele rhythms he has played. I do not look to SRV for the typical Strat sound or even Hendrix but the conservative competent Strat of Eric Clapton (midboost required) on Lay Down Sally seems more typical...have Tele players refered to Strats as sounding somewhat wimpy? That's a bit unkind. They have a drier character...more middy..I'm not talking here about distortion or efffects...played clean...a Tele is more versatile IMO, closer to the versatility of an acoustic guitar.

To put things in perspective, 9's on a Tele sound great and very recently for me the rediscovery even better than 10's...another unpopular opinion.


The upgraded MIM Tele's are great gigworthy instruments.


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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:38 pm
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I've been palying Strats in bar bands for 30 years.....I love 'em....it's that volume control within range of my pinky finger....Strats are the Chevy SS Supersport of guitars....

However, sorry Fender, but my ULTIMATE ax is my Rickenbacker 360-12....it is a work of art....the sound of Angels..

HOWEVER, again.....I want a surf green maple neck Tele REAL BAD......

Teles are the simplest, most elegant electric ax made, and whenever I get a chance to play one, I rip the varnish off the neck.....country licks that I never get to play, and did not even know that I could play, flow out of me....plug a Tele into a Big Muff, or a Tube Screamer, and blues riffs rain outta me.....I'm Jeff Beck in the Yarbirds playing "Shapes".....

Leo's finest work.....an American legend....and think of it....one of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded or PLAYED, Jimmy Page's "Stairway to Heaven" solo, was played on a Telecaster.....yep....tru DAT....


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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:28 am
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Same thing to me.. But I came from a washburn wi64 idol. I tell you it's the smell of the guitar that drives our passion... Try to listen the smell first and then the tone... Funny
:D

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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:35 am
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Wow. Great stories. I have similar experiences regarding Strats. For years I avoided them and just bought humbucker guitars. Then one day there was a sellout of a HighWay One Strat at my local music dealer. So I bought it, and was severly hooked. Started to build Strats from parts and was even more hooked.

I had a feeling I shouldn't have put together my latest build, but yeah... This has gotten nearly all playing time lately:

Image

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:27 am
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GoranS,
beautiful guitar my friend!!! Finally my HWY1 Tele is going to be here today! I will post pics for you guys later on once it gets here!!


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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:49 am
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My first Tele possessed me, and it did not stop until I had about 10 Teles, some with various PU configurations, some are the same cause I just like them so much...

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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:49 am
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groovy man...!!!
8)

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Totally sick w/ my new Tele!!!


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:19 pm
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My newest Tele arrived today...a 2009 Fender HWY 1 Tele in Honey Blonde with Maple neck...it is gorgeous.,..at this point...I really doubt if I will touch my strat for a while...


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