What Tele? advice please

[RichCI]

Originally Posted by overdriver

Squier CV and MIM Classics are great guitars hard to find a classic in Canada for 500.. What gets me about all this stuff is many forum people still go out a mod the shit out of a 52RI as well. Like glendale bridge and comp saddles 200$ there abouts .Then Mare super dupper pups Etc. Etc. And some people like 2 dark aren't even after a trad tele .
Just as the Jumbo frets could turn a personoff, the small vintage 52 RI frets could as well. Also the radius. Most LP players like the 9.5 to 12 offered on various teles rather than the 7.25. 2 dark want a P-90 in the neck .

My 52 RI is one guitar that has not been modded in any way except for changing the switching to regular bridge/bridge + neck/neck and the guy who did it also set the circuit so treble wouldn't drop with the volume knob. Every time I think about trying different pups (at least the neck) in that guitar, I change the strings and then forget about it. My 57 RI Strat, on the other hand, has a few mods - pups (Don Mare!), Callaham trem block (arm broke in the original) and a Surh noiseless back playe.

As far as frets, I like them small because I tend to be rather heavy handed and bend the strings over the frets causing those strings to go sharp. That's why my LP Custom with shorter frets works great for me rather than what you'd find on a Standard.

[2dark2c]

You're right, it's completely true that these debates on what is the best guitar for the money can go on forever and ever as it really should read "What is the best guitar for $500 that will fit ME?". And really only I can answer that question.

I guess my real point in asking a question like this, is so that I'm not flyin blind when i go to make my purchase. I do the reading and research myself, and if I'm not totally confident (like now, then I ask to make sure my logic is correct.

When I first got interested in Les Pauls I went to a small dealer, not to far away, who I found out sold some Les Paul style guitars. When I got there they looked pretty cool, the store owner told me he could sell me one for $400 without a case and $475 with a case. I was actually thinking of buying one and decided I should go check out the internet before I purchased. I ended up at MLP that night for the first time and well... I was educated.

The guitars he was selling were Epi. Les Paul Special's. Now I'm not putting down that fellow for trying to make a buck, his family has to eat to. But, I am glad I found out that for my $400 - $500 a lot more could be had.

Another good reason for the $500 price limit is the wife. She's funny that way. I can buy a $300-$500 guitar every month of two if I want and she won't care even a little bit about what I bought. But, If i spend $600 or more even once in a year .. I'll never hear the end of it. It's kinda my way of flyin under the radar.

After all the help from MLP and from guitarscanada.com I think I've come up with a real win win plan of attack. I can buy a Classic Vibe right now for around $400 including some minor upgrades. Then I can keep a close eye on the forum classifieds and ebay and kijiji....etc. And, slowly (many months) buy the pieces that I want to ideally have in a telecaster, and parts build my own. Over the months the Classic Vibe will give me a good feel for the tele's and I'll have a good idea of what would best fit me. Good plan? Bad plan? Who knows.. but it sounds logical to me

I will keep my eyes open for a MIM classic 50 as well, but I only seem to see them listed in the US right now for good prices.

Anyway, thanks again guys for all your help. It's much appreciated.

[jonesy]

Sounds like a good plan to me bro, if I can be of any help please feel free to PM me. The only other thing I might suggest is make sure you play an American Tele and see if you can feel/hear a big difference. If so maybe put one on layaway and take a couple of months to pay it off. That may or may not fly with your wife but then again she may understand? And when/if you get that new Tele we will be looking forward to seeing lot's of pics

[TeleDog]

I love Teles, they're one simple, solid, incredible guitar!

The Squier is a beast, great for the money and you'll get a taste of what the Tele's are about. It's not junk, it may not have that Fender logo but it plays better than many Teles I've tried in the past!

[Kate033]

Sounds like you've got a good plan
I have a Squier CV50's Strat. I havn't played the Tele, but if it's anywhere as good as the strat, then I'm sure it's a great guitar. I just upgraded the pots/switch/pickguard (only because I had spare in the drawer) this weekend on mine and it's a sweet little player. I'm not sure it would be the "ultimate guitar" for me if I was a huge strat aficionado, but for what I need, it's perfect.
The most important thing is to find the one with the set of specs that best fits you!

Personally, for my tele I went with a partscaster that I found already built on ebay. Had the solid ash body, nitro, warmoth neck, vintage hardware, etc. exactly as I wanted for less than it would of cost me to build it myself. (I lucked out to find it!) I ended up upgrading the pickups to Don Mare's and I have a killer guitar for far less than a MIA Fender, and to my exact specs.

If you have some free time, be sure to check out the "do it yourself" section over at the tdpri forums.

The DIY Channel - Telecaster Guitar Forum

Lots of great ideas for putting together partscasters or even just upgrading/modding...might give you some ideas for what you'd like to add/change/build down the road.
Oh, and the $100 telecaster challenge builds are a lot of fun to look through!

[RichCI]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Here is one I put together using a graphite neck and fender parts..

That is totally badass! Love it!

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by RichCI

That is totally badass! Love it!

Thanks glad you liked it bro. That was my very first Tele that I put together and actually how I got on this forum. Loaded Six String asked if he could post a thread here at MLPF and I joined shortly afterwords.

[blackbuddha]

I recommend highway one tele strongly!! Awesome guitar!!

[DrakeZero]

Sounds like you have made up your mind. If it was me I would take the drive and check out the highway one. I use to have one till I traded it in for a strat highway one because I couldn't afford to keep both. I still think about my old tele sometimes. Very nice guitar and will get one if I see one at a good price.

[2dark2c]

Well, I did order myself a Classic Vibe, and had the shop set it up with 10s before they send it out. It should be here Monday or Tuesday. But, I just seen that Highway 1 again and am thinking of throwing an offer at it anyway. Ya never know, might get an even better deal.

Then I could make a very informed assessment of what i like better . And if I prefer one over the other, it won't be too hard to trade/sell either one. Both are fairly sought after teles.

I'll keep you informed. And thanks for the advice.

[jonesy]

Be sure to post up some pics when you get it home

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Be sure to post up some pics when you get it home

Just joking Dave

Ya 2 dark, going tele crazy now are ya. Good luck guy. That logan site has some good stuff. I guess its all a matter of what a
persons looking for I guess.

IMO take your time enjoy that ya get for a bit. Say what else ya got for a guitar ? and amp?

[overdriver]

IMo throw a 400 dollar offer at the H1 all he can say is no.

[2dark2c]

lol.. ya i do tend to get a bit of tunnel vision when I decide I like something. Tele's have sparked something in me and my brain's telling me I need to give them a good try.

I have a hard time letting good deals pass me by. I know the smart thing to do is to let the Highway 1 go, but if I could get it for $400 with a hard case... that's just too hard to pass by. I mean it's damn near mint. The guy has only had it for a short time, so there is only minor playing marks.

I am about 99% sure I'll let the highway 1 go (mostly because he won't accept my offer lol), and just play the CV to get a feel for what I really want. Then piece my own parts tele together. But, it's so damn fun searching for deals and buying new toys lol.. it's a huge part of the guitar appeal. I love it.

[SpinWheelz]

I can see that you're up in Canada, so I don't know how this will fare for you, but Musician's Friend has been having some mega sales on Fridays with their Fender Friday offers. You're looking at sales in the 40%-50% off regular price range. Two-thousand dollar Teles going for a grand. $800 Teles going for $399, that sorta thing. You never know what they're gonna list, but that's the thrill of the chase, innit.

Take a visit to the TDPRI site if you haven't already and do a search for Fender Friday threads - the members there have been very helpful in listing what Fenders (not just Teles) are sale that given day and for how much. It should give you an idea on the type of savings you're in for.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by blackbuddha

I recommend highway one tele strongly!! Awesome guitar!!

I have one, I'm not terribly impressed; it'll be for sale when eBay prices get back to a reasonable level, otherwise I'll part it out.

[jimmypage14]

I think this one is a pretty sick deal


Buy Fender Standard Telecaster Ash Electric Guitar With Vintage Noiseless Pickups | Solid Body Electric Guitars | Musician's Friend

[Grand Pappy in Chandler]

Everyone needs a Tele in their arsenal. I have the Baja Tele.

[2dark2c]

Well, the CV showed up on Tuesday. And I honestly have to say that I have never had so much fun playing. I am having a blast playing this guitar. And it really does sound fantastic.

In fact the only reason I've put the guitar down since Tuesday was to hold my other new addition... my brand new baby boy .. born on Oct 27


He really enjoys the CV also Puts him to sleep every time I play. The wife loves how it sounds also.

I had the store put on 10s before they shipped the guitar and do a minor set up on it as well. I'm not sure if it is the set up or if the CV just naturally plays really well, but I absolutely love the feel of the neck on this guitar and the action is just perfect.

The sounds I'm getting out of my new Daisycutter 18w are fan frikin tastic also. I'm gettin way more range outta this amp from the CV than I was before (and i thought it was amazing b4). I never realized how nice the cleans can be from this amp. I'm loving it.

Now on to my next tele .. already searching for parts lol.

[overdriver]

Congrats on all of it. Glad to see you have a fine baby boy there. I told ya those CVs where nice!