It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 2:31 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 45 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Telecaster frets
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 11:28 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:54 am
Posts: 95
I purchased a new Tele Modern Player last week that's in a shop at present getting a set up. I didn't realize it till this morning while reading the specs that the neck has jumbo frets on it, where most, if not all other Tele's have medium jumbo. I spoke with one of the guys at the shop a little while ago and he mentioned that I shouldn't have any issues with how it plays. He said that he was a Tele player himself - looked at my guitar while talking and, as I mentioned said that I should be fine with it.

Any thoughts regarding jumbo frets? In case your wondering, I did play it a bit in GC before purchasing, but I didn't spend a whole lot of time with it or focus on things like the size and number of frets etc.

Thanks guys.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 7:02 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 12:28 pm
Posts: 25
You couldn’t feel the difference jumbo frets make, but you’ve read about them and now you’re worried. It just goes to show you that a little knowledge can be dangerous. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, just enjoy the guitar and play it…


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 2:42 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:14 pm
Posts: 2561
damesandhotrods wrote:
You couldn’t feel the difference jumbo frets make, but you’ve read about them and now you’re worried. It just goes to show you that a little knowledge can be dangerous. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, just enjoy the guitar and play it…


+1 :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol:

cheers!

_________________
Image

'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 4:25 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:54 am
Posts: 95
Thanks guys. I must say that I was somewhat concerned that it might affect my playing. I appreciate the feedback.

Cheers


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 8:35 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:47 am
Posts: 1256
most of the time, you can easily adjust to larger frets esp if you're already used to mediums.

unless you're drawn to a guitar that happens to be fitted with vintage frets, which are very thin.

I had a really nice 57 time machine strat, it sounded great, and it was beautiful, (blonde with a gorgeous birdseye maple neck).. But the vintage frets and me, just never got along..

Thought I'd eventually be able to adjust but, it just wasn't for me. Traded it out for a 02 LP Standard, (I admit that I'm 75% a Les Paul guy. I love my fenders too, they just gotta have more "modern" frets)

I think you'll do just fine. the only issue would be if you have a real heavy fretting hand..


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 11:06 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:46 am
Posts: 1019
Location: State of Confusion
I may be very much in the minority, but I have not been able to properly adjust to my tele. It's not for reasons of fret size, as it's the same mediums as my other guitars ( which are all Gibson knockoffs/wannabes + a Schecter Vintage Solo). I'm blaming the scale giving a very different feel to the strings. How can 3/4" more make such a difference??? I've standardized on .010-.046 strings, so that's not the issue. The tele feels "springy" for lack of a better word to describe it. Anyone else have this problem, or am I alone??

The sound is great, especially when someone else plays it, but I can't seem to adjust. I guess the point of my comment is that I'd expect more difficulty in adjustment to a longer scale (if such is the case referencing your other guitar(s)) than to different fret size.

_________________
The quintessential sound of 60/70's R&R:
Fender Tube Amps
Gibson Guitars


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:48 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:35 pm
Posts: 807
Location: Just East of Event Horizon
F-Stop wrote:
I purchased a new Tele Modern Player last week that's in a shop at present getting a set up. I didn't realize it till this morning while reading the specs that the neck has jumbo frets on it, where most, if not all other Tele's have medium jumbo. I spoke with one of the guys at the shop a little while ago and he mentioned that I shouldn't have any issues with how it plays. He said that he was a Tele player himself - looked at my guitar while talking and, as I mentioned said that I should be fine with it.

Any thoughts regarding jumbo frets? In case your wondering, I did play it a bit in GC before purchasing, but I didn't spend a whole lot of time with it or focus on things like the size and number of frets etc.

Thanks guys.

The GC advice that you received is pure salesman nonsense designed to stop you from returning the guitar.
Unbelievably, some of the people on this thread buy into such nonsense:

damesandhotrods wrote:
You couldn’t feel the difference jumbo frets make, but you’ve read about them and now you’re worried. It just goes to show you that a little knowledge can be dangerous. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, just enjoy the guitar and play it…

Jumbo frets may assist a beginner to produce cleaner sound.
However you will not be a beginner for long, and those jumbo frets will forever be uncomfortable speed bumps.
I would return the guitar, refuse to pay for the set up if demanded, put a little more money up, and order an American Standard Tele, or a Deluxe Nashville Tele, if you are really into the middle pickup.
If they give you any problem, demand your money back and order one on line.

http://www.fender.com/guitars/telecaste ... 02509.html

http://www.fender.com/guitars/telecaste ... 02309.html


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 8:52 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:54 am
Posts: 95
MickJagger wrote:
F-Stop wrote:
I purchased a new Tele Modern Player last week that's in a shop at present getting a set up. I didn't realize it till this morning while reading the specs that the neck has jumbo frets on it, where most, if not all other Tele's have medium jumbo. I spoke with one of the guys at the shop a little while ago and he mentioned that I shouldn't have any issues with how it plays. He said that he was a Tele player himself - looked at my guitar while talking and, as I mentioned said that I should be fine with it.

Any thoughts regarding jumbo frets? In case your wondering, I did play it a bit in GC before purchasing, but I didn't spend a whole lot of time with it or focus on things like the size and number of frets etc.

Thanks guys.

The GC advice that you received is pure salesman nonsense designed to stop you from returning the guitar.
Unbelievably, some of the people on this thread buy into such nonsense:

damesandhotrods wrote:
You couldn’t feel the difference jumbo frets make, but you’ve read about them and now you’re worried. It just goes to show you that a little knowledge can be dangerous. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, just enjoy the guitar and play it…

Jumbo frets may assist a beginner to produce cleaner sound.
However you will not be a beginner for long, and those jumbo frets will forever be uncomfortable speed bumps.
I would return the guitar, refuse to pay for the set up if demanded, put a little more money up, and order an American Standard Tele, or a Deluxe Nashville Tele, if you are really into the middle pickup.
If they give you any problem, demand your money back and order one on line.

http://www.fender.com/guitars/telecaste ... 02509.html

http://www.fender.com/guitars/telecaste ... 02309.html


I appreciate your help here by saying that for beginners the jumbos are fine, but then later they will feel like speed bumps. I'm not a beginner, and at the same time I'm also not a truly accomplished player. I've been spending some time with the guitar, and I have to say I'm not experiencing any difficulty whatsoever with the frets. Although, I'm planning on taking it back to the luthier as he has lowered the strings a touch too far. A very slight buzzing while playing in the first and second fret positions. Nothing major, just needs a bit of tweaking.

I've been thinking of changing out the strings to extra light chromes by D'Addario. The smallest they come in is 10 through to 48. I'm planning on leaving the G string that's on there now (9), and replacing the rest of the strings with chromes starting with B (10) and working up to the E string (38). I've always played using flatwounds, and love the way they feel. Since I have to take it back to the luthuir, I'll have the strings changed at that time just to make sure the set up is right for them. Anyway, here's a couple of videos of the Modern Player. Based on these videos, I don't think having the jumbo frets make any difference. Well lets put it this way, they certainly aren't affecting their playing.





Cheers

Edit: I've watched that second video a few times and I just noticed that he mentioned the tele Modern Player has medium jumbos, when in actual fact they have jumbos.


Last edited by F-Stop on Fri May 01, 2015 11:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 10:47 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
MickJagger wrote:
uncomfortable speed bumps

Try telling that to Yngwie Malmsteen, his signature model Strat has super jumbos and scallops...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 5:38 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:35 pm
Posts: 807
Location: Just East of Event Horizon
jmattis wrote:
MickJagger wrote:
uncomfortable speed bumps

Try telling that to Yngwie Malmsteen, his signature model Strat has super jumbos and scallops...

....And so I suppose you think that you, or anyone else on this thread, is Yngwie Malmsteen....
That form of playing is not relevant to the discussion.
Get Real!!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 6:15 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:35 pm
Posts: 807
Location: Just East of Event Horizon
F-Stop wrote:
I appreciate your help here by saying that for beginners the jumbos are fine, but then later they will feel like speed bumps. I'm not a beginner, and at the same time I'm also not a truly accomplished player. I've been spending some time with the guitar, and I have to say I'm not experiencing any difficulty whatsoever with the frets.

...Based on these videos, I don't think having the jumbo frets make any difference. Well lets put it this way, they certainly aren't affecting their playing.

Different strokes for different folks.
You asked for opinions, but I guess you were really only looking for opinions that would support jumbo frets, which I hate.
There is a reason why Fender puts jumbo frets on it's least expensive Telecaster.
It is because the guitar is marketed to beginners.

Fender has only two other Telecasters that I am aware of, that come with with Jumbo frets.
These are "nitche market" limited run guitars: The Special Edition Custom Telecaster, and the Limited Edition Sandblasted Telecaster.
In addition, I don't believe that there are any Artist series guitars that have Jumbo frets.

In 1983, the American Standard Teles came with Jumbo frets, which was the "new" thinking at the close of the CBS era, when things were falling apart at Fender.
My first electric guitar was a 1983 American Standard Tele which I bought for $383.00.
Fender was to begin producing all electric guitars in Japan, so I was happy to get a USA model.

I played the guitar exclusively for many years.
While I had noticed how my fingers would occasionally hang-up on the frets when playing lead runs up or down the neck, I didn't think much about it.
When I eventually got another guitar with medium jumbos, I couldn't believe how much better it felt, and was kicking myself in the arss for playing jumbo frets for so long.
Finally I got an American Vintage '52 Tele with vintage frets, which I like best.

So all I can say is good luck with the jumbo frets.
Ten years from now, I hope you aren't kicking yourself in the arss....
Don't say I didn't warn you.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 1:16 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
MickJagger wrote:
jmattis wrote:
MickJagger wrote:
uncomfortable speed bumps

Try telling that to Yngwie Malmsteen, his signature model Strat has super jumbos and scallops...

....And so I suppose you think that you, or anyone else on this thread, is Yngwie Malmsteen....
That form of playing is not relevant to the discussion.
Get Real!!

I was merely pointing out the main aspect on big frets since you seem to miss it totally:
You adjust your playing style to softer touch -> your hand will be more relaxed -> you eventually play licks faster and easier. IMHO, that is right on relevant.
And to that part of blaming someone of imagining to be someone else, check your forum alias...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 12:38 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:54 am
Posts: 95
jmattis wrote:
MickJagger wrote:
jmattis wrote:
MickJagger wrote:
uncomfortable speed bumps

Try telling that to Yngwie Malmsteen, his signature model Strat has super jumbos and scallops...

....And so I suppose you think that you, or anyone else on this thread, is Yngwie Malmsteen....
That form of playing is not relevant to the discussion.
Get Real!!

I was merely pointing out the main aspect on big frets since you seem to miss it totally:
You adjust your playing style to softer touch -> your hand will be more relaxed -> you eventually play licks faster and easier. IMHO, that is right on relevant.
And to that part of blaming someone of imagining to be someone else, check your forum alias...


You might just have a point there regarding a softer touch. I not long got back from GC. I returned the acoustic I purchased for my wife. She preferred my Tele. I thought that I might give her my Modern Player and get another for myself. I picked up and tried the Nashville Tele because I like that third Strat PU in the middle, and I might just go back and pick it up. You mentioned softer touch. I played rhythm guitar before and I have to say that playing chords on my Modern Player-Errr, wife's modern player now, feels so effortless to me. I don't rightly know if its because of the great setup recently done by the Luthier, or perhaps a combination of setup and fret size. All I know is that it plays really nice, and that's basically what its all about. I'm trying to decide between another modern player or the Nashville.

Before going to GC this morning, I took my Tele back to the Luthier for a little tweaking. There was slight buzzing in the first two frets. Now it's perfection.

Cheers


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 10:35 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:35 pm
Posts: 807
Location: Just East of Event Horizon
jmattis wrote:
MickJagger wrote:
jmattis wrote:
uncomfortable speed bumps.....
Try telling that to Yngwie Malmsteen, his signature model Strat has super jumbos and scallops...

....And so I suppose you think that you, or anyone else on this thread, is Yngwie Malmsteen....
That form of playing is not relevant to the discussion.
Get Real!!

I was merely pointing out the main aspect on big frets since you seem to miss it totally:
You adjust your playing style to softer touch -> your hand will be more relaxed -> you eventually play licks faster and easier. IMHO, that is right on relevant.
And to that part of blaming someone of imagining to be someone else, check your forum alias...

Your reference to Yngwie Malmsteen and scalloped fretboards is not relevant to this discussion, unless you wish to qualify your statement by acknowledging that the form of the speed metal, tapping style of playing that you are describing, may be an exception to the general rule that Jumbo frets are generally an impediment to faster and easier guitar playing if you are not a beginning player, or a player with very limited skills.

BTW, glad you like my user name. :twisted:


Last edited by MickJagger on Sun May 03, 2015 10:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Telecaster frets
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 10:56 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:35 pm
Posts: 807
Location: Just East of Event Horizon
F-Stop wrote:
....Before going to GC this morning, I took my Tele back to the Luthier for a little tweaking. There was slight buzzing in the first two frets. Now it's perfection.

Cheers

Glad that you are enjoying Jumbo frets, however I would be surprised if that doesn't change over time.
If you get a buzz at the top frets again, there is no need to take the guitar to a guitar tech.
Simply turn the truss rod in the head-stock with an Allen key, 1/4 turn or less, counter-clockwise.
This adds a small amount of relief to the neck.
Repeat if necessary.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 45 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users 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: