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Post subject: Help a Noob Picking Out a New Tele
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:33 am
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I’m new here and this is my first post.

I know I want a Telecaster but could use some insights in picking out the right one. First, a little about me:

- I’m only an average player and play mostly alone for my own pleasure
- I enjoy playing a broad variety of music: rock, country, folk, etc.
- My only other guitar right now is a Gibson Lucille
- I have a small Fender Princteon Chorus amp that I now mostly use for vocals as I prefer a Peavey Vyper 120 tube amp (a modeling amp) for guitar

As versatile as the Gibson is, it doesn’t give me that great country twang (think Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, etc.) as well as something that gives me slightly brighter/richer jazz tones so I started shopping telecasters. I’m willing to spend about $1k and would spend more if I have to to get what I’m looking for. I’ve gotten down to a short-list of four guitars, but none of them seem to give me everything I want so I’m trying to juggle the trade-offs:

- American Standard Tele – I love the playability of this guitar, the availability of an ash body, the color choices (red transparent body w/maple neck :D ), a hard case, and the gloss neck front and back. The only downside to this guitar for me is that I struggle to get that twangy spank I’m looking for.

- Deluxe Nashville Tele – The tex-mex pick-ups deliver that twangy sound real easy. I also like the variety of sounds that come with that third pick-up. It’s pretty inexpensive and though not as beautiful as the American Standard at least offers some color selection. Not crazy about the darker neck and especially the fact that it’s finished in satin both front and back; I’d really like gloss. It also feels a little cheap (which is reasonable given the price).

- Deluxe Nashville Power Tele - The only guitar on my list that I haven’t been able to try because no one stocks it. I guess it’s safe to assume that it sounds much like the non-power tele but with the addition of acoustic tones. The Fender site doesn’t specify whether the neck is satin or gloss and I don't know whether the guitar will feel less cheap for the extra $400. Unlike the American Standard at a similar price, this guitar comes with a soft case. It also offers even fewer choices of color than the non-power version. I’ve heard spotty things in general about the reliability of Fender’s electronics and between the three pick-ups, 5 way switching, and with the addition of the Piezo, I’m wondering if this guitar won’t become problem prone.

- Deluxe Blackout Tele - This guitar was a pleasant surprise for me. Just like the Nash Deluxe, great twangy tone comes very easily and it’s pretty cheap (though it also feels it). Only one color choice (the same black as my other guitar; it’d be nice to have something different) and only satin for the neck. Though the pick-ups are different, this guitar sounds very much like the Nash Deluxe to me.

In summary, I wish I could have the American Standard’s wonderfully comfortable and glossy neck, build quality, and the color choices but prefer the spankiness as well as the variety of tones that I get from the much less expensive Blackout or Nashville Deluxes. So maybe the Nashville Power is the compromise? But for the money, it’s a bit less attractive and I’m not sure whether or not it actually has better build quality and possibly it’s electronic complexity even lead to problems over time?

What to do, what to do?


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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:31 am
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Not long after posting that message, I began thinking about what should have been the obvious solution; an American Standard with a different set of pick-ups installed. So now, two new questions?

- Do I order this guitar as a Fender Custom or do I order the standard guitar and a few pick-ups and have the swap done after market?

- It's a little intimidating to drop the $'s without getting to hear how the finsihed product is going to sound. There are Tex-Mex Tele pups, there's the Texas Special; thoughts on how to ensure that I'm installing the right pups for me?

Thanks.


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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:47 am
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If I were you I'd get the MIA Standard and switch out pups if you want. You can always put it back to original condition and a Custom Shop model is going to cost a lot more but if money is not a problem it's hard to beat a CS guitar. So, not knowing if you'd like the CS before buying I say go MIA Standard. This is only my humble opinion and I'm sure you'll get more of them. Good luck!!


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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:52 am
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Go for a Highway One model and you'll be all set. If you want something a little bit more versatile the Deluxe Blackout is one you simply cannot go wrong with.

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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:46 am
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Nevin1985 wrote:
American Vintage '52 is the one. 8)



No doubt a good one Nevin!! :wink:


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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:28 am
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Yeah, a '52 RI might be just the ticket here.

To the OP - for what it's worth, American Standards are routed for a middle pickup under the pickguard, so you could easily add a third pickup to an AS to get the tones you like in the Nashville and Blackout.

Quote:
It's a little intimidating to drop the $'s without getting to hear how the finsihed product is going to sound. There are Tex-Mex Tele pups, there's the Texas Special; thoughts on how to ensure that I'm installing the right pups for me?


Buying pickups is always a bit of a crap shoot. Seymour Duncan has sound clips on their website which might help:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/au ... aguar_and/


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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 11:41 am
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Thanks everyone for the insights. I did take a look at a 52 AV but I'm not digging the neck; I prefer the shallower grip of a C shape. The guy at Guitar Center recommended getting an AS and for no more money (hopefully less), order something like the 52 nocasters to replace the pick-ups. Hmmm, sounds like a plan. Though I think I'm going to take a little more time to conisder the Texas Special pups, too; they sound pretty good on some of the YouTube videos I've been checking out.


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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 1:51 pm
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You could go the route I did and get a 52 Hot Rod, but that's if you like a mini-humbucker in the neck ^^ I find the mini-bucker to be quite nice for jazz/blue tones while the bridge pup delivers the twang teles are famous for, plus it has the the C shape 9.5" radius neck with medium-jumbo frets. I bought mine from my local shop new for $1450 (gotta love a good deal ^^).

Also of mention is the Baja Telecaster, probably the best twang for the buck you can get. Both have ash bodies and and are excellent instruments. Finding one to play in a store is hard though because they aren't usually stocked o_O

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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 3:11 pm
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Have you tried very many American Standard Teles?There can be significant tonal variations just among American Standards alone and if you try several you may find one with the appropriate spank to suit your needs.I tried several Strats on my last guitar hunt and of the 8 or 9 I tried I got 8 or 9 different tonal fingerprints-all with the trademark Strat quack but some with more than others.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:10 am
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guitslinger wrote:
Have you tried very many American Standard Teles?There can be significant tonal variations just among American Standards alone and if you try several you may find one with the appropriate spank to suit your needs.


I'm hoping this will be what I find. I think the only ones the store had an alder body and mine will be ash which I'm told will help me with the sound I'm looking for. It should ship in about a week so we'll see!


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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 4:47 pm
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Ash will definitely give you more pronounced highs and more sustain than alder,that should take care of your needs-Good Luck with it.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:05 pm
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BlackCatBone wrote:
Go for a Highway One model and you'll be all set. If you want something a little bit more versatile the Deluxe Blackout is one you simply cannot go wrong with.


+1 My fellow Highwayman BCB is right on IMO!
ABS :D


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:48 pm
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My American Standard has a satin finish on the back of the neck and a gloss finish on the front.

I can get all the twang I need.


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