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Post subject: A Simple Request
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 10:59 am
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Posts: 28
I would like to buy a new Telecaster, I currently own a 2008 Am Std and have owned a 2004 Highway One.
What I would like:
*1 11/16ths nut width ( 43mm or 42.8 depending on where you read the specs)
*9.5 " or 12" radius fingerboard
*2 3/16ths vintage bridge string spacing
*Rosewood fingerboard
*Vintage tuners
*American made at least Am Std quality
*NO S-1 Switching
*2 pickups in the traditional configuration (humbucker in the neck preferred)
*Blond, White or black body preferred, 3 burst ok

There is no production Telecaster currently being offered wth a 1 11/16ths nut and vinatge string spacing except:
The Nashville which is made in Mexico and has 3 pickups.

Why is there no higher quality production Telecaster with a 1 11/16ths nut, vintage string spacing, rosewood board with 9.5 radius ?

There are plenty of 1 5/8ths nuts and vintage spacing.. I cannot play 1 5/8ths.
There are some 1 11/16ths nut widths with the new age (ridiculously narrow) 2 1/16ths
string spacing at the bridge...

Why no 1 11/16ths nut and vintage bridge string spacing.

I am offing my 2008 Am Std, not becaue I don't appreciae the quality or the sound, but because of the narrow bridge spacing.. which CANNOT be corrected with another vintage spaced bridge without considerable, irreversible, damage to the guitar.

This is a gross oversight in my opinion, and could be corrected easily and cheaply.
Simply combine the right body and the right neck, part A and part B.. not so difficult.

Having heard and read dozens of complaints and concerrns about this, seems time to do it. Just how many 1 11/16ths nuts with narrow bridge spacing does Fender need to offer.
And the standard nut width on the MIM is 1 5/8ths.. too narrow.. again the only exception, the Nashville. I prefer a higher quality.

A simple request I have made annually to Fender Customer service by phone for perhaps 5 years.. still no response, no change.

I will also apply this to Strats and the main reason I have not purchased one.

I am certain there will be someone who will say just order one.. while I can afford it..at a quoted upcharge of $700 to switch an off the shelf neck to an off the shelf body, do-able but unreasonable, if not absurd.

I have considered a G&L. They offer 4 necks including a 1 11/16ths or a 1 3/4 ( even better) at an upcharge of a couple hundred and a 2 month delivery. But, I want a Fender Telecaster.

Others would say, just get a Tele you like and order an aftermarket neck... why when Fender has all the necks and bodies at hand and could simply add the parts together
and produce a true simple TRADITIONAL AMERICAN STANDARD. Not the new age
narrow spaced unit I currently own which in my opinion is misleadingly named the American Standard.. no it is NOT the American Standard.. it is the NEW AGE Am Std..

Just a simple request. Adult fingerpicker width nut and bridge spacing,9.5 radius,rosewood, American Made, 2 pickups,vintage tuners, no S-1, with Blonde, white, black or 3 burst.

Not an outrageous request, but borderline outrageous there isn't one in the production line up. The true Traditional American Standard.


Last edited by bohemian46 on Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: A Simple Request
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:54 am
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Location: Kansas
Not sure why you're calling the current guitar the "misleadingly named American Standard" - American Standards/American Series/"new" American Standard Teles have had the narrower "modern" string spacing since 1986 - this isn't something that started in 2008. Why do they do this? You would have to ask the designers what they were thinking back in mid-80s. Don't forget that string spacing isn't just the nut spacing, it is the bridge spacing as well.

If you're dead set on a Fender then you're looking at having the Custom Shop do something for you like a reissue with a wider neck. Fender production isn't going to do this for you; they aren't set up to be a custom shop - they are going to send you to the CS. Otherwise you'll have to go away from Fender; if you do I would suggest bypassing G&L and going for something like a Suhr or Grosh.


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Post subject: Re: A Simple Request
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:19 pm
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I specified nut width as well as bridge spacing.

Fender Consumer Service conceded by phone a few times ( and today) that the
2 1/16th bridge spacing is a designed for "the modern style of play" and is not really the American standard. The standard according to them (Fender) is vintage and 2 3/16ths
string spacing. The 2 1/16ths is a departure from standard.

So to carry that a step further, the Am Standard is not standard but is a variation to accomodate the "modern style of play" their words. Ergo misleading.

Back to the core of the topic... There is only one production telecaster with 1 11/16ths nut width and vintage 2 3/16ths string spacing and that is a Nashville made in Mexico with 3 pickups.
'There is no American made production Telecaster with 2 pickups and the wider nut and bridge spacing. Not made.

I mentioned that it is absurd to go to Fender Custom and have them pick a neck already offered and a body already offered and put them together and call it custom and levy an upcharge on the scale of what I was quoted by phone...per Fender's suggestion.,,
I have contacted Wildwood in Colorado to get a quote on a simple
bolting on a stock neck to a stock body. I can afford a custom shop guitar.. but paying for something that should be in production, or paying up and waiting for component A and component B to be bolted together does not seem such a difficult, time consuming or expensive thing to do.
As mentioned G&L will do it quickly and conveniently at a modest upcharge.

Suhr or Grosh are good suggestions and great guitars,, but neither are or were FENDER.
And my needs do not warrant that level of expertise or expense. Just a simple wide nut and bridge in combination, not a boutique item. If I wanted a true custom, I'd go up the road a couple miles and chat with John Page.

Thanks for the reply.


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Post subject: Re: A Simple Request
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:11 pm
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Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
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I understand where you're coming from; I honestly can't remember the string spacing on G&Ls but that might be the only way to get what you want short of rolling your own (through Warmoth or some other supplier) or going to a custom builder - although I thought John Page was only doing his own designs these days but obviously he would also be a great source. And don't forget John Suhr was a Master Builder at Fender briefly after his tenure with Bob Bradshaw/Custom Audio Electronics and before starting his own company - but as you say they arent "Fender".

I guess that I'm in the camp that doesn't see an issue with the current Fender model - they went for an "update" of the classic Leo design for what was condisered the "modern style of play" when that guitar was originally designed in 1986 - and it appears they hit the mark for a lot of players. Don't forget this guitar was replacing a model that had a 1.7" nut width, 12" radius, very thin neck and top loading bridge that CBS was pushing out in 1983/84 - not sure of the string spacing on them because I simply hated the feel of the at first strum but that sucker certainly had a "modern" (at least for 1983) neck. I'll have to agree to disagree with you on that one - Fender made their decision that this was their direction for their "updated" guitars.

Sorry for adding to the pain; it appears Fender is going their way, which is not what you are looking for - and that is a shame; best of luck finding your ideal model.


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Post subject: Re: A Simple Request
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:55 pm
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Of the dozens of Strats offered:
there are NO Strats with wide nut and wide bridge...none. Some one ,some the other.

In Telecaster , of the dozens of models there is one, the Nashvillle, no American made.

How many more 1 5/8ths nut width (narrow) and vintage/wide models do they need
How many more 1 5/8ths nut width new age 2 1/16th bridge space do they need.
How many more 1 11/16ths nut narrow bridge spacing models do they need.
How many more MIM do they need?

It is plain to me that this segment of wide and wide is an oversight and would be simple to correct. Car companies, surfboard makers, appliance companies and guitar manufacturers thrive off of new models.. so how's about a new model that actually offers something not new.. and a simple process of grabbing part A and part B and putting it together. Wide and wide.. tres simple? non ? il est evident....

John Page is/was also building some avant garde furniture.. busy guy and a great craftsman/ artist.


Last edited by bohemian46 on Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: A Simple Request
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 8:59 pm
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Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:53 pm
Posts: 109
I feel your pain, hence my throwing my hands in the air and just having a guitar built THE WAY I WANT IT...I'm having a double bound, b bender equipped, Jim Rolph loaded,nitro covered, 1 pickup Esquire tone machine with most importantly MY CHOICE of neck contour,fretboard radius and string spacing. NO poly, NO S1, NO built for the "modern" player. Warmoth is even more ridiculous. Look at their instock Tele necks. The majority are 10-16" compound radius!!! If I wanted that I would buy a Ibanez RG, not a telecaster. I swear I think these companies only listen to 14 year old kids. Same way with amps. Did the world really need another crappy effect loaded amp line?


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