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Post subject: The Tele "Butt Crack"
Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 6:43 am
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Hi folks,

I was talking to someone on another Fender forum last week about the fact I have a beloved Baja tele with a noticeable pickup route gap either side of the bridgeplate, which he hilariously recognised as the tele "butt crack" and stated that many vintage style teles have this due to the curved edges of the pressed bridge plate. I consider the Baja to be nigh on the most perfect affordable tele in rip-off Britain. But "almost perfect" as opposed to "perfect". Finding a flaw like the "butt crack" is like finding out your angelic ideal woman is actually the village bike - not necessarily a deal-breaker but certainly it tarnishes the pleasure a wee bit and you (briefly) question yer desire :)

I have a number of questions:

1. Is it really that common? I've never noticed it before and vintage teles, strats, jaguars and Gretsches are my "thing".

2. Is there any way of disguising the gaps or making them less noticeable short of replacing the body (don't really want to but hate the gaps/different bridge plate?

3. Can anyone justify having 2 Bajas (1 in each colour etc :lol: )?

Cheers guys.


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Post subject: Re: The Tele "Butt Crack"
Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:34 am
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1. Yes the butt crack is common on Teles with a vintage style bridge. My Baja has it too. I never noticed it before until someone brought it up on another forum a couple of years ago. Now I see it on many genuine vintage and vintage styled Tele. The gap on vintage ones varies since the tolerances were much looser than today's CNC routed Teles. I agree with you that it makes a Tele appear imperfect though. But it's a quirk I don't mind.

I recall a very good article online about the Tele butt crack, but I cannot find it. I put 'Tele butt crack' in google to search for it, but most of the results had nothing to do with guitars for obvious reasons :shock:

2. Nothing you can do about the gap. Tele players have been dealing with it just fine for the past 60 years.

3. Uh, sure I guess so. You need a backup in case of emergencies, right? :lol:

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:43 am
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My Highway One has this "butt crack" issue and I have always wondered about it as well. It has it more so on the lower side than the upper but it is noticeable on both sides. And YES I can say it is justified to have 2 Baja Teles! It's a great guitar!

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 1:05 pm
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yes, lots of vintage telecasters have the butt crack. for what its worth, every baja ive ever seen has had one. its also unusually common with 62 custom ri's both the squier classic vibe and the japanese fender. ( ive never tried an american 62) anyways i wouldnt worry about it, it gives an already characterful guitar even more "mojo" as it were. and yes, buy another baja. hell, buy three!

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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 3:10 pm
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Cheers guys, you've just made me very happy - I like quirks and imperfect is good, just don't like sloppy. Glad there's no sloppiness here lol. Thanks.


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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 5:49 pm
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I looked today and my American Vintage 52 Hot Rod has it it ^^

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:25 am
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A certain manufacturer makes slightly wider bridges that cover the "butt crack" can't remember who was it tho.

Here is a really big one:

Image


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:08 pm
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If the 'butt crack' made a sonic difference I would be concerned. But my Baja has it and I still love it. And it sounds great.

Here's my butt crack Baja:
Image

This GE Smith model has its 'pants down':

Image

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Post subject: This GE Smith model has its 'pants down':
Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:10 am
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I have not laughed so much in weeks; don't think blowing coffee down my nose endeared me to the missus! :lol:


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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:44 am
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Restless Native -

As a guy who owns about 15 Tele's, I'll tell you that yes, there is always a valid reason to own another Tele, or even two (or more) of the same issue. I can't imagine why it's even a point of contention! :lol:

As for the butt crack - I live in SW Oklahoma, so unfortunately I see butt cracks everyday - on both guys and gals. And believe me, walking through the local WalMart and seeing the butt crack of the average female WalMart shopper is NOT a pretty sight. :shock:

As for hiding the butt crack on my vintage bridge Tele's, I simply install an ashtray bridge cover - kinda like putting on a pair of pants and pulling them up.

Go do it! Get yourself a second Baja and buy it a bridge cover!

Cheers,

RickyD

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:23 am
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hahahaha you guys are nuts :lol:


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 11:49 am
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http://www.peopleofwalmart.com :shock:


n.


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