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Post subject: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:20 pm
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I just got back to playing guitar after a 20 year hiatus, and I have the bug again. I have a lot of musician friends and they have been bugging me to get another axe and play. I'm pretty freaking terrible, but I'm coming along. I went out and bought me a Blacktop Jazzmaster at GC, needless to say, it was kind of an impulse buy.

I grew up on Dinosaur Jr, My Bloody Valentine, the Cure, Television, etc. So when I saw a Jazzmaster sub-$500, I jumped, and regretted it once I started playing it more and more. It was poorly set up, action too high, bridge in shambles. I had it set-up at the local neighborhood shop, (a shop in which I sadly discovered after the fact). It's been nothing but problems. It's playing better, but I know it's not the guitar I want to re-enter the world of playing music with.

Anyway to get to the point, I'm about to trade it for a Telecaster. I love the necks, I haven't picked up one that I haven't liked. The tones are exactly what I'm looking for, it seems like I can cover any sonic ground I want, from Radiohead to Wilco, from Johnny Cash to Mogwai.

I'm in the $800 range. I fell in love with an American Special that I tried out, and that's where I'm leaning. I love that it's USA made, and I dig the tones, and the neck fits like a glove. That said, aesthetically, I am really into the 72 RIs(the MIMs). EIther the Deluxe or the Custom. I lean to the Custom because I'm not sure I want to abandon the idea of having a Tele with an Ashtray Bridge Pup. Another one I keep hearing some of my friends talk about is the Baja Tele, and a couple have suggested it, although I'm not crazy about the colors, the variety of switching seems appealing, and there is a lot of hype about it.

I live in the DC area, and I have not been able to find a Baja or a72 RI to test out. I'm almost set on the Special, but I want to make sure I make the right choice. I'm looking for a do it all Telecaster that can handle my variety of musical tastes. I'll probably play mostly indie/shoegaze kind of stuff, but would still like to be able to get into some twang every now and then, with the Alt-Country crowd. What do you guys think?

Unfortunately, when I ask the stoner behind the counter at a GC or local shop, they are trying to sell me something I have no interest in like some off-brand Strat wannabe. Any help or opinion is appreciated, Sorry for the long winded post. Thanks.


Last edited by paulitik on Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:58 pm
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Personal recommendation is one done; in '00, bought an American Standard after watching for sale at big box store (GC outside Chicago).

You will never regret NOT COMPROMISING. Another thought, maybe look for a gently used American Standard. They really are that much better...in a bunch of subtle ways whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Best of fortune.


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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:03 pm
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JSJH wrote:
Personal recommendation is one done; in '00, bought an American Standard after watching for sale at big box store (GC outside Chicago).

You will never regret NOT COMPROMISING. Another thought, maybe look for a gently used American Standard. They really are that much better...in a bunch of subtle ways whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Best of fortune.

Thanks man. I had such a bad experience at Guitar Center, I'm trying to support my little local shop, so I've been limited in what I've been able to try out. I'll see if they can get used ones. The other mom and pops I've been too, don't have very good fender selections. I pretty much use GC to test stuff out. The wife will wring my neck if I hit the grand mark, so used may be the way to go. I'll check out a standard.

Appreciate it.


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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:58 am
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Just wanted to add that I'm also into all the bands you mentioned in your post. I play lead guitar in an indie rock/americana band and use a 72' tele that's had a little work done on it. The bridge p/u was replaced with a texas special. I absolutely love this guitar for indie rock and alt country. It covers all the sounds you need and it cuts through the mix really well in the 5 piece band I play in. I don't think you could make a better choice than a tele.

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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:14 am
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david.tele wrote:
Just wanted to add that I'm also into all the bands you mentioned in your post. I play lead guitar in an indie rock/americana band and use a 72' tele that's had a little work done on it. The bridge p/u was replaced with a texas special. I absolutely love this guitar for indie rock and alt country. It covers all the sounds you need and it cuts through the mix really well in the 5 piece band I play in. I don't think you could make a better choice than a tele.



Yeah, as far as looks go, I am totally into the 72 Custom, it's definite;y the coolest looking. I've played an AVRI, but I haven't tried one of the MIMs. I'm not sure how they compare. The guy at the store acted like he's had issues with them and has been kind of pushing me toward the Am Special. I actually ordered a used MIM 72 from GC and it showed up broken, which is how I ended up just grabbing the BT Jazzy. I just grabbed it off the wall and bought it.

Is yours a MIM?


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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:08 am
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Mine is actually an original MIA 72 tele. The paint is all cracked and the guitar looks beat to hell, but it plays and sounds amazing. Believe me I paid top dollar for that thing. But it's my favorite thing I own. More than my car, my computer, etc.

If your price range is around 800 I would hold out and find a good deal on an american made used instrument. You really can't beat the quality of american made. It's takes a bit of searching though. When you hold it in your hands you'll know.

What kind of band are you playing in now? Do you have any recordings?

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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:06 pm
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david.tele wrote:
Mine is actually an original MIA 72 tele. The paint is all cracked and the guitar looks beat to hell, but it plays and sounds amazing. Believe me I paid top dollar for that thing. But it's my favorite thing I own. More than my car, my computer, etc.

If your price range is around 800 I would hold out and find a good deal on an american made used instrument. You really can't beat the quality of american made. It's takes a bit of searching though. When you hold it in your hands you'll know.

What kind of band are you playing in now? Do you have any recordings?


Nothing yet. I played a little Bass and Guitar in my late teens and early 20s, and that was mostly with buddies in Atlanta, Macon, and Athens Ga, where everyone was in 10 different bands. I mostly just practiced and jammed. I've only gigged a couple times and it was pretty bad. Once at a bar called Tasty World with a buddy in Athens, and a couple dives in Macon. I've barely picked up a guitar since. I'm 37 now, and I'm pretty terrible. I've been using Gargage band, and getting my fingers and technique back playing Rocksmith and playing easy stuff from tabs I've found on the internet. But I'm not quite ready for public consumption. I have some buddies down in GA and in Virginia Beach that I jam a little with that are helping me. They are in bands called Suburban Key Party(Va Beach) and Egobox (in Macon, I think Egobox is changing their name). I'm no where near the point of feeling like I'm ready to gig. It'll be about a good year until I'm that comfortable.

I'm just trying to find a nice midrange guitar that I want to actually play. I'm at my wits end with the blacktop. Of all the guitars I've played with, the teles I've tried have been the most comfortable, and I adore the tones. I figure, it would be a smarter investment to get something I could actually resell if I get to a point where I need to upgrade. I guess I'm having my midlife crisis, and I regret never doing more with music considering most of my friends are musicians, and I lived in such vibrant music scenes.


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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:05 pm
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I would hunt around for used American Special or Hwy. 1 Telecaster. You should be able to pick one up for under 600.00 or so, and you will be happy.

Hell, for that matter, wait until a Big Box sale (presidents day is around the corner) and pick up a brand new one for around that price.

You really can't go wrong with any American Made Tele. You can however go wrong with one made anywhere else. The Mexicans aren't bad. But they aren't great either.


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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:53 pm
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Hello Music has a black American Standard for $800 new right now. Won't last long!

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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 9:14 am
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paulitik - It's never too late to get some music in your life. You're doing the right thing by playing with people who are better than you. That's how I've always been able to make improvements in my playing most quickly.

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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:23 pm
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Powdered Toast Man wrote:
Hello Music has a black American Standard for $800 new right now. Won't last long!

I saw that. My refund hasn't come in yet. I'm going to run by GC today and see if I like one. If I do and my check goes through this weekend, I might go that route. I'd prefer to go through my local store, but a good deal is a good deal.

I also found a Baja for $600 at a store about 20 miles up the road I'm going to test out. He also has a used 72 deluxe. Hopefully I'll have tested everything out by monday. I'm so ready.


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Post subject: Re: A little help for a noob. Which Tele?
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:29 pm
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david.tele wrote:
paulitik - It's never too late to get some music in your life. You're doing the right thing by playing with people who are better than you. That's how I've always been able to make improvements in my playing most quickly.

I agree. I have a ridiculously talented group of friends, and I'm lucky. I lived in Nashville, Athens, Atlanta, and Macon before I settled up here in the DC area, it's awesome to be exposed to so many artists from so many styles. It can only help. The only issue, with such a diverse group, you get a lot of confusing advice on which equipment to buy. I figure the right guitar will speak to me, the tough part is finding the guitars adn actually getting to play with them.


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