It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:43 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Which to buy: '05 USA standard or 2014 USA special tele?
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:41 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:43 pm
Posts: 173
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
I'm torn between buying an American Standard Tele for $1100 (Australian $) or an American Special Tele for the same price.
Firstly is that too much to pay for a second hand tele? From pictures and what the seller tells me it's 99% spotless, sunburst (with Swamp Ash body) plus it has a hard case Vs the USA Special Tele which only has a soft case and Alder body. The other unique thing about the '05 Tele is the body shape is original style instead of contoured.
Any advice?
:mrgreen:

_________________
"A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey no less" - Rodriguez


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Which to buy: '05 USA standard or 2014 USA special tele?
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:13 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
If you can, try them both and see which you like better; the pickups are different.

I've never cared for the alnico 5 pickups in the older American Standards/American Series; I have a 2013 American Standard with the CS Twisted Tele/Broadcaster pickups and I like them a lot better than the old pickups, which I always found somewhat bland. Granted mine is the alder body version, and I've mostly played alder versions instead of ash versions.

An America Special will not have the back contour, and will have CS Texas Special Tele pickups. I didn't get a chance to play one of them before I bought my American Standard, but it does have the vintage-style bridge which will impact the tone as well - it will be twangier and hotter than the old alnico 5s in a 2005 American Series.

The hard case Fender was using in 2005 isn't that great; it's a made in China fitted-style. I've owned 2 Fenders over the years that came in that case, and one of the cases was damaged beyond repair in shipping and was replaced with a different Fender case.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Which to buy: '05 USA standard or 2014 USA special tele?
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:56 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:43 pm
Posts: 173
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Unfortunately, i stupidly thought $1100 was a good price (considering its evidently excellent condition) and made myself sound a bit more keen than I should have -i'm thinking now. He's even taken his local advert down because i said I have the cash and am keen to come and look. Which kind of makes me feel VERy obligated to now buy it. It is a very nice looking guitar though, and when i take into consideration the great condition, the ash body and the hard case (plus Australia's higher pricing than the USA -a new 2014 USA standard tele retails for $2399 +$200 for Ash body but i have seen them for sale at $1699 here) it doesn't seem like such a bad deal.
I already own a 2012 USA Special Strat and i know the Texas Specials in that are great so if they equally as good on the Tele maybe the Special Tele is worth more consideration. As you can tell, I'm still torn between the two!
Maybe i should just go with the Standard and try to knock a few $ off the price. It's the ash body that I'm mostly impressed with.
Thanks though for your opinion, much appreciated!
:mrgreen:

_________________
"A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey no less" - Rodriguez


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Which to buy: '05 USA standard or 2014 USA special tele?
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 11:25 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
Dan999 wrote:
i said I have the cash and am keen to come and look. Which kind of makes me feel VERy obligated to now buy it.

You shouldn't, if you haven't answered a clear "I'll buy it" to the seller's offer.
Until that point you're only evaluating your choices.

Sorry I can't give you advice on which to buy; I agree with John C here, try both. My guess is that one of the guitars will be a clear favorite.
And don't hurry, if neither of these clicks, there will be other Teles to come. :wink:


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Dickey clapton and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: