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Post subject: What makes a Tele model "classic" or "vintage" style?
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:30 pm
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What are the features or characteristics that would make a new model of Telecaster be labelled as a vintage or classic style?

At the moment I have a Fender MIM standard Tele and a Squier Classic Vibe Custom, both new in the past couple of months. I generally prefer the sound of the MIM standard model for general playing. The CVC sounds brighter, thinner, more cutting. I assume that difference in sound is part of the "classic" label. I'm not experienced enough yet to state what feels different between the two - they feel quite similar to me, although not identical. I haven't developed a preference for either one in the feel department.

It seems that I like Telecasters above all others, initially based on looks, but also then on feel and sound. My other guitars are a Godin Redline and a Squier Classic Vibe 50s Strat - I don't enjoy playing them as much.

Anyway, any pointers to the difference would help me as I watch for other Telecasters to add to my collection. Thanks.

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Fender FSR Black Paisley Telecaster, Fender Blacktop Telecaster, Fender Lite Ash Telecaster, Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom, Fender Standard Telecaster, Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '50s.


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Post subject: Re: What makes a Tele model "classic" or "vintage" style?
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:45 pm
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the sound youre getting from your squire CV tele could be because the pickups are one of the main areas that money is saved. i have a MIM fender 72 custom, the bridge pickup is thin, tinny and lifeless, because its crap. ive seen many people with the same opinion as me on this pickup. saying that, as you are aware a tele should have a twangy pickup, but its being able to tell the diference between twangy and rubbish which is difficult.

as for what makes it classic or vintage design, its mostly down to the neck. modern necks, like on your fender std tele, are thinner, the neck shape is more uniform, the fretboard is flatter and the frets are bigger. all modern 'improvements' to help you play quicker basically. off the top of my head the CV series is named so because it basically takes the look of a classic guitar, and gives it the playability of a modern guitar. which is probably why they feel quite similar to you.

i have a fender MIJ 62 custom tele, which is a proper 'vintage' recreation. has an old shape neck, small vintage frets and a 7.25" radius fretboard. feels very, very different to my modern guitars, its very noticable. i think smaller frets like on my 72 and 62 teles are much better when you're chording and playing rhythm.


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Post subject: Re: What makes a Tele model "classic" or "vintage" style?
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:54 pm
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Thanks for your reply. I appreciate the info you posted.

I am a bit surprised to hear negative comment on the pickups of the CVC. Everything I read about this guitar said it is a good guitar as shipped from the factory. A long time expert player that I trust told me that his is great. He didn't have to upgrade the pickups.

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Fender FSR Black Paisley Telecaster, Fender Blacktop Telecaster, Fender Lite Ash Telecaster, Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom, Fender Standard Telecaster, Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '50s.


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Post subject: Re: What makes a Tele model "classic" or "vintage" style?
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:51 pm
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sorry thats down to my interpretation of your comments of "bright, thin, cutting". to me thin and cutting is how i would describe a cheap pickup, like the one in my 72 custom bridge.

of course we all have different ears, and its well known that the classic vibe series is very, very good quality for the money.

the other big difference that makes a guitar 'vintage' is the sound of the pickups. pickups can be constructed to offer sounds from vintage guitars, or more modern sounds, fatter sounds, thinner sounds, less bass etc etc etc the list is endless.


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Post subject: Re: What makes a Tele model "classic" or "vintage" style?
Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:44 pm
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I have a Vintage Modified Thinline Telecaster and I have to agree that some of the hardware is not the best, but for what I have paid I can't expect much at all like anything Mexican or American made.

However, the 'Duncan Designed' pickups are great.. Lots of character. They were designed to put a quality pickup in low cost guitars instead of the Chinese rubbish you used to get 15-20 years ago. Lots of character and chime.. I love them :)

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