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Post subject: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:27 am
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Hi - just joined and wondering what the differences between the Standard and Deluxe models of the Telecaster are. As far as I can see, it's the componentry and wood used, the finish I don't know if there is a difference, and of course the prices are different.

Any other differences I don't know about ie tone, sound etc? Is it worth spending more on a Deluxe model? Being left-handed, my choice is limited of course, but could go up to a Custom Shop model you see. Thanks ...

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2013 Squire Telecaster CV50s BSB
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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:42 am
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There are some significant hardware differences in the American Standard and American Deluxe that will affect playability and tone; I hate to be this way but you really should find somewhere to try them out side-by-side to see which you like better.

The American Deluxes have a compound radius neck - that will impact the feel. Some folks love this style neck, others do not. The biggest tone differences will come from the pickups - again, some people love the sound of the noiseless pickups, others prefer the sound of the regular pickups on the American Standard.

I know - not a lot of help, but I would even suggest that if you can't find a dealer with both in stock you could order both guitars from some place that gives you a 30-day trial like Musician's Friend so you could put both through their paces then send back the one you don't like.


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:17 am
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That's very helpful John C thanks, as you can tell I've never had a Tele before but always wanted one. As you have suggested, a try out of both models will answer my questions! I am in the UK so unless MF ship over here, I won't be eligible for a 30-day try-out, but what a great idea that is.

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1998 Fender Telecaster US Standard 3 Tone Sunburst
2013 Squire Telecaster CV50s BSB
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Yeah I'm left-handed, so what?


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:26 am
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The Deluxe also has S-1 switching but your talking about 3 different guitars. Moving up to a Custom Shop Tele will also be a big jump in price.

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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:54 am
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Yes but being left-handed does come with limitations of choice ....

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1998 Fender Telecaster US Standard 3 Tone Sunburst
2013 Squire Telecaster CV50s BSB
-----------------------------------------
Yeah I'm left-handed, so what?


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:16 pm
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Lefty Addams wrote:
That's very helpful John C thanks, as you can tell I've never had a Tele before but always wanted one. As you have suggested, a try out of both models will answer my questions! I am in the UK so unless MF ship over here, I won't be eligible for a 30-day try-out, but what a great idea that is.


Oops - sorry, I didn't realize you were in the UK. In all honesty very few USA dealer have that liberal a policy - Musician's Friend, Guitar Center, and only a few others. I would say about 75% of USA dealers only offer 48-72 hours to demo a guitar.

At any rate, try to find the most liberal demo policy since you're looking at leftys and they are hard to find. Don't they also still make the American Vintage '52 as a lefty?


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:41 pm
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There are UK dealers that offer 'trial periods' - you just need to ask. I bought an Ibanez semi some years back from Johnny Roadhouse Music in Manchester. They didn't have the colour I wanted (sunburst) but let me take the cherry one they had in stock until they could order mine in. Then I got the choice of which one to keep - the other went back on the shop wall. Good service!

Last year I was after a new Custom Deluxe Strat and found what looked like the ideal one at Peach Guitars, in Braintree, Essex. I live over 200 miles north of there so it was going to be quite a drive to try it out, but over the phone they offered to ship the guitar to me on a 7-day trial. If after that time, I decided I didn't like/want it, they would arrange for the courier to collect it and give me a full refund. As it turned out, I loved the guitar so I didn't need to take advantage of this kind offer, but you can't knock it, can you?

So ask around. The worst they can say is 'no' - in which case ask someone else! There are a lot of dealers out there with stock they'd love to shift but (as I understand it) Fender won't let them sell for less than the standard discounted price, so they have to offer a flexible service to make the sale.

Good luck, and happy hunting. Mind you, if it were me I'd probably end up ordering all three and then keeping all of them... :-)


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 3:32 pm
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hey thanks Stiggie, I was actually born in Braintree funnily enough so I do know the dealer you're suggesting. I shall have a word with them and go from there. A seven day exchange thingy might be all I need to decide. thanks ....

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1998 Fender Telecaster US Standard 3 Tone Sunburst
2013 Squire Telecaster CV50s BSB
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Yeah I'm left-handed, so what?


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 8:21 am
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John C wrote:
Oops - sorry, I didn't realize you were in the UK. In all honesty very few USA dealer have that liberal a policy - Musician's Friend, Guitar Center, and only a few others. I would say about 75% of USA dealers only offer 48-72 hours to demo a guitar.

At any rate, try to find the most liberal demo policy since you're looking at leftys and they are hard to find. Don't they also still make the American Vintage '52 as a lefty?


John can you tell me what the vintage has, standard or deluxe components? Or are the Vintage bits different again?

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1998 Fender Telecaster US Standard 3 Tone Sunburst
2013 Squire Telecaster CV50s BSB
-----------------------------------------
Yeah I'm left-handed, so what?


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 3:06 pm
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Lefty Addams wrote:
John C wrote:
Oops - sorry, I didn't realize you were in the UK. In all honesty very few USA dealer have that liberal a policy - Musician's Friend, Guitar Center, and only a few others. I would say about 75% of USA dealers only offer 48-72 hours to demo a guitar.

At any rate, try to find the most liberal demo policy since you're looking at leftys and they are hard to find. Don't they also still make the American Vintage '52 as a lefty?


John can you tell me what the vintage has, standard or deluxe components? Or are the Vintage bits different again?


It's a completely different model made to the specs of a Tele from 1952. They are only maple fingerboard, ash body, and (outside of an occasional FSR run in other colors) currently only made with the butterscotch finish. The hardware is all vintage also - split-post tuners, vintage-style "box" bridge with 3 saddels, vintage style pickups and wiring.

Vintage wiring is kind of different - it was set up so that position 1 (switch pointing toward the back of the guitar) was the bridge pickup, position 2 was the neck pickup, and position 3 was the neck pickup with a treble-roll-off capacitor engaged (think that kind of tone Steve Stills got for the solo on "Wooden Ships"). The tone control only worked in positions 1 and 2. You do get instructions on how to rewire it to "modern" wiring where position 1 is the bridge pickup, position 2 is both pickups, and position 3 is the neck pickup (and the tone control works for all 3 positions).

Here is Fender's spec page on the lefty version:

http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0100222850


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:15 am
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The American Deluxe Ash model is the modern version of the AVRI52.

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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:20 am
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John C wrote:
The American Deluxes have a compound radius neck - that will impact the feel.


Ash Telecasters also came with a regular 4-bolt neck plate and a slab body.

Only the alder-body versions feature the Stratocaster-like comfort contours, bound top and the beveled neck heel.


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:57 am
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My Ash Deluxe actually has a thicker neck than the Alder Deluxe.

You can look and compare online at Fender's website. I have two Standards and one Deluxe. Off the top of my head, the differences are:
Am Dlx has locking Tuners
Am Dlx has compound radius neck
Alder Am Dlx has binding and tummy and heel contours
Am Dlx has N3 noiseless pickups (mine are dead quiet)
Am Dlx has S1 switching
Am Dlx has billet saddles, Am Std has bent steel saddles
Am Dlx has Strap Locks
Am Dlx has slightly better case candy

I like them both, they do sound and feel different.

John C is incorrect, the Ash Dlx also comes in BSB with a maple neck just like Chromeface's photo and the one that is hanging in my music room.

Good Luck!


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:01 am
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Ok guys so what exactly is a 'compound radius neck' and in what way does it feel different to other necks?

_________________
1998 Fender Telecaster US Standard 3 Tone Sunburst
2013 Squire Telecaster CV50s BSB
-----------------------------------------
Yeah I'm left-handed, so what?


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Post subject: Re: American Tele Standard vs Deluxe - custom shop?
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:36 am
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerboard


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