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Post subject: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 2:32 pm
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Hey all, first post here. I'm a newbie to all this stuff, and am considering my first electric guitar. I've had my eye on the Koa Telecaster - based primarily on aesthetics. Since they're discontinued, the price is coming down. I think I can get one brand new unplayed Koa for about $1850 shipped. That's the best deal I can find at the moment. Does that sound reasonable? I found a demo for about $1650, but it has a scratch and a ding on the back, which would drive me crazy on such a beautiful guitar.

Also, I noticed there is a blackwood select SH version (which has a humbucker pick up).

Will there be a huge tonal difference between the SS version vs. the SH? I plan on playing some funk and rhythm guitar primarily.

Thanks in advance.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:29 pm
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Spumoni wrote:
... there is a blackwood select SH version (which has a humbucker pick up).

Will there be a huge tonal difference between the SS version vs. the SH? I plan on playing some funk and rhythm guitar primarily.

Thanks in advance.


Welcome !

Yes... the SH will sound very different from the SS. The SS is the Telecaster sound.

The Selects are very pretty instruments... dangerously bordering on Furniture Guitars.

Most of what you pay is for the aesthetics... they really don't sound $$$ better.

I looked hard at the Selects, but decided against it. My fear is I'd be worried about playing it, leaving it on a stage, scratching it, bumping it, etc.

I went with one of the Telebration Telecasters (Empress) instead. Still a premium offering, but one I'm less inclined to Baby..


cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:47 pm
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Lightnin MN wrote:
Most of what you pay is for the aesthetics... they really don't sound $$$ better.


I beg to differ, and must ask whether you have a Select?
I own and play both a 72 Thinline RI and a Select Chambered HH, both with wide ranger humbuckers. And they sound as different as night and day. Where the 72TL is bright and simple, the Select HH is deep and with a sustain that exceeds what I have on any other guitar. The neck is noticably stiffer, and the chambered wood more resonant than the thinline.
Even if it had been plain painted, I'd still take the Select over anything except some of the more expensive Custom Shop models. Because it plays and sounds so well.


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:55 pm
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arth1 wrote:
Lightnin MN wrote:
Most of what you pay is for the aesthetics... they really don't sound $$$ better.


I beg to differ, and must ask whether you have a Select?
I own and play both a 72 Thinline RI and a Select Chambered HH, both with wide ranger humbuckers. And they sound as different as night and day. Where the 72TL is bright and simple, the Select HH is deep and with a sustain that exceeds what I have on any other guitar. The neck is noticably stiffer, and the chambered wood more resonant than the thinline.
Even if it had been plain painted, I'd still take the Select over anything except some of the more expensive Custom Shop models. Because it plays and sounds so well.

What makes the neck stiffer?

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:32 pm
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cvilleira wrote:
What makes the neck stiffer?


Quartersawn birdseye maple.
This makes the neck stiffer, but also more brittle.


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:44 pm
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arth1 wrote:
cvilleira wrote:
What makes the neck stiffer?


Quartersawn birdseye maple.
This makes the neck stiffer, but also more brittle.


Yep... neck breaks weren't something usually associated w/ Fenders, until they started offering quarter-sawn necks.

My Git store just took a warranty exchange on an Eric Johnson - cracked neck.

W/ truss rods, do the benefits of QS outweigh the liabilities..??

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:09 pm
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Lightnin MN wrote:
arth1 wrote:
cvilleira wrote:
What makes the neck stiffer?


Quartersawn birdseye maple.
This makes the neck stiffer, but also more brittle.


Yep... neck breaks weren't something usually associated w/ Fenders, until they started offering quarter-sawn necks.

My Git store just took a warranty exchange on an Eric Johnson - cracked neck.

W/ truss rods, do the benefits of QS outweigh the liabilities..??


Dunno, but it sure has incredible sustain and great hand feel. With the plain tele, the whole neck vibrates if I hit an open E or A, but not so with this one.
Time will tell how well it lasts, and whether the trade-off is worth it, I guess!


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:25 pm
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Thanks for all the info everyone.

I've been on YouTube going back and forth between the difference between SS and SH model, but right now I'm leaning towards the SS, since it is more true to the original. But I must admit Humbuckers are really pleasant sounding. But the best deal I can find right now is still for the new Koa select SS.

Does $1850 seem like a fair price considering it's discontinued?

Hopefully I won't have to worry about the neck breaking....!!!

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:39 am
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This is an old thread now but I'll just add my 2 cents.

I have a 2012 Fender Select maple top.
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After trying many Tele's and just not finding anything special, this is the one I kept. There's just something about the feel of it, and the pups are so much better then the older 2011 American standard I had before it. I actually use both pickups in this guitar equally as much and on other tele's that just wasn't the case. Does it have pretty woods? obviously. You either like that sort of thing on a tele or you do not. But there is no denying that of the production line guitars, the selects feel, play, and sound better then the rest that I've tried.

Now as for price, yeah do not pay MSRP. Once you get into the +2k range you have to start comparing to Custom Shop. I Paid under 1900 overnight shipped (shipping to me is very $$$ yet alone next day air)

My only compliant of the Selects is the finish. It's sticky. Goes away some after time. But I am not a huge fan of Fenders sticky Nitro. If you go Custom Deluxe the poly feels much better. I'm sure the stickiness varies from guitar to guitar though.

Now that I have one, I don't even consider looking at a American Std or Deluxe anymore. The Selects are unique and different while maintaining a wonderful sound. I don't like paying for a guitar that looks like 5 million other identical ones. Besides, if you want to step up from a American std, but you don't like the noiseless pups in the Deluxes (strat or Tele) then this is the way to go.


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 2:29 pm
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Beautiful guitar... and congratulations!

I've since purchased and traded in the Koa. I posted pics here:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=92591&start=15

In case anyone else is asking the same question, YES I agree they're worth the money if you can find them new for under 2k. The main reason I returned mine was because it didn't have a pick guard, and I tend to play lots of rhythm guitar... the finish was too pretty to mess with.

They took it back on trade towards a custom shop.

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CS 55 Precision bass
1966 Precision Bass
2013 Martin HD35
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Post subject: Re: Telecaster "select series" worth getting?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:21 am
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Yeah I agree about the price. I would not pay over 2k for a Select. Any of them. But under 2k they are a nice guitar.

Over 2k, I'm looking at other entirely different guitars - not Fender.

congrats on CS.


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