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Post subject: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:55 pm
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I have always liked that telecaster "twang" and recently started looking for one. I went to the local music shop ....... and dang how many of these things do they make (not counting colors of course)? I was looking for what I assumed was the ordinary 2 pickup, single coil tele's. So discounting the humbuckers models (I do like the 52 hot rod reissue but that's a little out of my price range) there a LOT.

And price ranges from a few hundred to several thousand. You have american, deluxes, specials, mexicans, baja's, fsr's, highway one's, delta tone circuits, regular tone circuits, grease buckets, 3 way switches, 4 way switches, ............. it goes on and on. Did I mention bridges?

How can one simple looking guitar get so complicated?

How can I pick just one tele to start off with? Besides playing them all that is?

I'm leaning towards the Standard (mexican) one as a good beginner guitar for electrics. Any comments or ideas?

Thanks
Tony


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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:06 pm
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mexicans are pretty good. The owner of my local guitar shop and i were talking and we pretty much agreed that mexicans were pretty bad and the quality could be terrible with multiple problems or with only one or two. Fender though now has their act together and started making mexicans better.

If i were you i would go for the standard Ash there about 500 bucks and the sound and feel amazing. My friend has one and i was playing it one time and i honestly thought it was an american.


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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:28 am
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Location: In a house....unless I'm at work....then I'm in a shop.
I would suggest that you look at the standard Telie (The MIM one) as the quality of the newer ones coming out of the Mexican plant are, IMHO just as good as there American made counterparts.

Now as to the electronics, they can really use an upgrade, but the basic guitar is a good solid unit to upgrade upon.

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 5:48 am
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Find one that has good string spacing (check the nut) and doesnt have any issues that can't be fixed easily. Pickups are an easy swap. Make sure that it stays in tune all the way up the neck with no buzzes or dead notes.

If you look hard enough, you can find a very nice pre-owned Tele for $500 or less.

Good luck!

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:24 am
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Telecaster experts are "walking on the moon" ! What are doing the "Police" ?
8) (after Sauterne 1986 wine-tage and Mercurey 1er cru 2003 wines)

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:11 am
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How can something simple get so complicated? Marketing. Anyway, the best beginner electric is any electric, find one that sounds good and plays the way you like in a price that doesn't hurt and you'll be set. If the Mexican tele satisfies that criteria then by all means go ahead. Don't dwell on the first guitar too much, being a guitarist you'll always want another guitar no matter what you buy. ^^

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:29 am
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Teles are addicting. I bought and sold 5 in the past 1 1/2 years until I played an American Deluxe. Once I played it in the store I knew it was what I was looking for. All I can say is, try as many as you can before you buy one. When you find the right one you`ll know it.

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:54 am
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Yup, it can be daunting but no more so than buying a new car. Look at how many options you can chooses from when buying one of those! Unless you're buying a Bugatti Veyron!

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:49 pm
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If Price is a problem: I'd recommend a CV(custom Vibe) Squire.

For More money Try the CV Classic Squire.

The Fender Standard Teles are really good and MIM.

I love the Classic Players, the best MIM Teles on earth. I'm partial to the Baja, But all of them are good. But I got mine new for $700 in 2007. They are more expensive now.

These are the best bang for the bucks Teles I know. If they can't do it then get an American Standard and spend a lot of money. But you'll have just as much fun and more bank with these basic models.

Just another thing...You only need one good Tele and it will reward you over and over. Here's mine: :)
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Check this link, right here on this forum!: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=47406

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Last edited by qblue on Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:12 pm
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I have an '04 MIM Tele and it's a superb guitar,it plays great,feels really comfortable in my hands,sounds incredible and the fit and finish is second to none.It's Midnight Wine and it really looks rich,it still has the original pickups and I will never be changing them as she sounds just great with the stock ones.Whether I play her through my old Bassman,Blues Jr.,AC30 or one of my old JCM 800s she has the spank that's unmistakably Tele.The quality of MIM Teles now is way above that of many guitars from other companies that cost hundreds more.

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:04 am
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I got an '09 Deluxe Blackout Tele, which is made in Mexico, and the quality is nothing less than perfect. Compared to the American Standard a close friend of mine plays, we both agree that the Blackout feels no different. And whatever the specs on Fender's "Vintage Wound Single Coils", these are some of the best sounding pickups I've ever had the pleasure to play through. I have gone through many guitars over the last several years, many much more expensive, but none have compared to the feeling this one gives me when I play it. So if it's a Tele you're set on, go down to your local music shop and play as many as you can that are within your price range. You'll most likely be able to find exactly what you're looking for. Good Luck!

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:19 am
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Thanks for all the comments. It appears that picking a tele isn't any easier than picking an acoustic :lol: . I did find one this weekend that I really liked. Being a noobie this might not be entirely correct. I bought it used. It is a FSR Natural Ash 2008 - 2009 MIM. It appeared to be in great shape except for some pickguard marks.

I have spent the last several days setting it up a little better. It had strings that were heavy tops and 10's on the bottom. I restrung it with 10's and went to work setting it up as per the fender manual. After adjusting the neck truss rod, adjusting the bridge height to set the strings, and setting the intonation. It plays great.

I had heard that the MIM's were routed for a humbucker in the neck. I did find that it is indeed routed for a humbucker in the neck position, as one of my original thoughts was to change out the neck pickup for a sd minihumbucker. But after playing it a little bit I think I'll leave it as is for now.

Only thing I have a little problem with is setting the pickup height. I followed the fender recommendation on setting the neck and bridge pup's they are not balanced as the bridge pup is significantly louder if set the same height from the strings. So I did my best to get the output the same by ear. Don't know if that is right or not?

Again thanks for the comments.


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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:01 pm
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Depends.....are you looking for a high end instrument or something to beat around on? If you can afford one, buy the American Vintage 52 Reissue. That will satisfy ALL of your Telecaster hunger. But I do agree that the Mexican Fender's are good quality, and have nearly always been good. I've owned mexican fender's from the early 90's to a 2003 model. I still would advise you play a few, even if you decide to go with the mexican, and pick out the one that you like best. $499 is still a lot of money :D But the BEST bang for your buck could be one of the new Fender American Special tele's or a Highway One model. USA made and under $800!!!!!!


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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 3:35 am
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shotgunone wrote:
Only thing I have a little problem with is setting the pickup height. I followed the fender recommendation on setting the neck and bridge pup's they are not balanced as the bridge pup is significantly louder if set the same height from the strings. So I did my best to get the output the same by ear. Don't know if that is right or not?


That would be the right way to do it. When it comes to pickup height, it's really a matter of preference, and unless you adjust too close to the strings (which will cause the magnet of the pickup to affect sustain and string vibration in general) it's really all about how you like it, and how it sounds. I adjust all my guitars to have even volume across all the pickups. Sometimes it requires a few different adjustments to get it precisely how I like it, but it's worth the work.
BTW...Congrats on the ne guitar, and enjoy!

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Post subject: Re: Where are the telecaster experts?
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:50 am
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TimDrakeMusic wrote:
shotgunone wrote:
Only thing I have a little problem with is setting the pickup height. I followed the fender recommendation on setting the neck and bridge pup's they are not balanced as the bridge pup is significantly louder if set the same height from the strings. So I did my best to get the output the same by ear. Don't know if that is right or not?


That would be the right way to do it. When it comes to pickup height, it's really a matter of preference, and unless you adjust too close to the strings (which will cause the magnet of the pickup to affect sustain and string vibration in general) it's really all about how you like it, and how it sounds. I adjust all my guitars to have even volume across all the pickups. Sometimes it requires a few different adjustments to get it precisely how I like it, but it's worth the work.
BTW...Congrats on the ne guitar, and enjoy!


Tim said it best...it's all up to YOUR liking.
The Fender recommendations for setting these up are just that, recommendations. Personal preference should be your guide. I fiddle with mine every now and then trying to find that "tone". Ever elusive... :wink:

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