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Post by guitarman1 on Feb 15, 2006 10:27:22 GMT -7
I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a '50s Tele Fender is making, but I can't find one to play locally. They're selling for around $660.00. Has anybody tried one? Opinions please.
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Post by billyguitar on Feb 15, 2006 12:04:37 GMT -7
I've played them at the stores here in KC and they seem as good as any other Fenders. I didn't critically evaluate the electronics or the tone too closely, though. Check Harmony Central?
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Post by zdogma on Feb 15, 2006 12:18:13 GMT -7
It's a good guitar IMO. I have played a couple. The hardware is so so, and the jacks and pickups are just average. It also has a 7.25 radius neck, which sometimes can take a bit of time to adjust to.
However, as a stating point for a modded tele it would be good. With some callaham bits, a switchcraft jack and some lollar pickups...
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Post by Curt on Feb 15, 2006 14:57:34 GMT -7
I played three different '50's Esquires at the same store a few weeks back..two I would not own, heavy and funky, but the third one was a KILLER Guit, light, great feel, etc. Did not plug in, really no need as I would yank all the stock electrics..I'd of slapped down cash quick except it was a week after layin' down $2,100 on a Tom Anderson !!
Bottom Line, I would NOT mail order one, too much variation.
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Post by billyguitar on Feb 16, 2006 6:38:37 GMT -7
One guy on harmony Central said the same thing, don't order one, pick it out for yourself. Wide variance in quality control. How about a Highway 1 tele? Thin finish and modern neck.
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Post by tele1962 on Feb 16, 2006 13:28:54 GMT -7
They're Ok , some of them...not great but OK. What you'll do, and what most guys do is replace hardware and electronics, so there goes the"deal". This applies to both the Highway One and the MIM's. A suggestion, if you're on a budget, is to check out any MIJ Tele. I've been stunned by the build quality on these and to me they're almost an investment, as they are now also going up in value.
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Post by billyguitar on Feb 16, 2006 15:53:34 GMT -7
No free lunch. Low price is always a compromise.
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Post by guitarman1 on Feb 17, 2006 8:06:40 GMT -7
Thanks for all of the help guys. Afetr all of your advice, I think I'd do better grabbing a used G&L ASAT Classic.
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Post by tele1962 on Feb 18, 2006 15:08:09 GMT -7
Billy is right on the money. No free lunch, even on a compromise sandwich. The ASAT Classic is a fine instrument.
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Post by Curt on Feb 21, 2006 20:40:55 GMT -7
Thanks for all of the help guys. Afetr all of your advice, I think I'd do better grabbing a used G&L ASAT Classic. FWIW, I have a CIJ '62 RI Tele for sale, upgraded electronics, very solid quality guitar. It in the for sale thread and there is a pic in the guitars thread under post a pic of your Guit. LPB/Rosewood 'board. Curt
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Post by tele1962 on Feb 26, 2006 8:58:25 GMT -7
Curt, that's a very credible guitar, even when compared to a LOT of MIA's. The only thing I may buy over that one you've got for sale is maybe a CS, or the real vintage guitar itself, but that's dollars notwithstanding. The CIJ's are great workmanship and detail. I do not fear them at all!!
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Post by Curt on Feb 26, 2006 17:54:08 GMT -7
Curt, that's a very credible guitar, even when compared to a LOT of MIA's. The only thing I may buy over that one you've got for sale is maybe a CS, or the real vintage guitar itself, but that's dollars notwithstanding. The CIJ's are great workmanship and detail. I do not fear them at all!! +1, You are absolutely correct. I have a CS '67 relic, and other than being lighter than the CIJ, the CIJ win's in playabilty, etc. with the electronics upgrades it is a KILLER guitar. I am surprised no one has grabbed it for the $$?!?! I guess I will re install the factory electronics, which sound dern good too) and FleaBay it. I really have my sights on getting just one real vintage Tele, so I need to move a few, I currently have 5 Tele's, a strat and a Lester.
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Post by tele1962 on Feb 28, 2006 9:46:17 GMT -7
Quick, someone buy this guitar before he puts the original electronics back in! Not that the originals are bad, but the upgraded ones make this a better guitar and a better deal!!
Let's get this auction going!
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Feb 28, 2006 18:45:57 GMT -7
FWIW, I have a MIA 52 RI Tele, an '03 MIM 50's Classic, and (for the sake of quality comparison) a very nice 94 MIJ 50's Reissue Strat. I play the MIM 50's Classic almost all the time. I did upgrade the bridge pickup with an OC Duff wound to my specs, and I replaced the saddles. I snagged it off eBay for $325 from a high volume seller who thought it was an MIM Standard Tele(!).
It's lighter than my 52RI and it plays every bit as nicely. I see no appreciable difference in overall quality between it, the 52RI, and the MIJ Fender. I guess I'm in the minority of thinking that a more expensive guitar isn't always better, and while I've always appreciated a fine instrument they're just tools when it comes down to it (at least the way I see it).
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Post by Curt on Mar 1, 2006 12:14:26 GMT -7
Very well put, and accurate. I mentioned toward the top of this thread about a MIM Esquire I played, shoulda bought it ! a FINE Guitar, I have a MIM Jimmie Vaughn Strat that's just killer IMO, and that model comes with all american electronics ! snagged mine @ a Pawn Shop for $340 out the door !! was not lookin' for a Strat but I knew it was a keeper and cold not pass it up.
either way..ya just gotta try them with out regard to wher it's made.
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Post by tele1962 on Mar 1, 2006 13:19:29 GMT -7
I might agree that there are some decent MIM's to be had out there. I've played a few. I've handled myabe 150 of them altogether maybe? Soem have come to me for adjustments or upgrades as well. Here's their plague. Inconsistency. Whether it's a neck that's shifted, or a nut that's not glued in quite right, frets that are too high or too edgy or any other small deficiencies. But almost always guys will replace electronics in them. Same story..." I got this thing for x$ and it was such a good deal!" Then we get done with it, and they want air , cruise and tilt ya know... so by this time we're looking at some very rich dollars for a guitar that will never appreciate in value. The proof of that is how cheap guys buy them for in the first place!! Meanwhile the MIJ's and CIJ's are more consistently of great build quality, and therefore are enjoying some gains in value. Some of this is IMHO fellas, but a lot of it comes from the workbench. Here's another set of lines I get from young players...you'll enjoy this: " Yea, but for a total of $720, once I put in good electronics, etc. etc.!" I got a really good "player" here!" What he meant was " For $720, I'm married to this thing, cause I'm smart enough to know I'll never get my money back on it...ever!" You see, what he didn't get is that for that same $$, a CIJ or MIJ in today's silly market is going up anually between 5 and 10% in some cases, depending on what it is. I don't understand how they do math! Must be new math! Don't mean to be controversial on this, my friends, but this is what I hear and see...and not sharing it doesn't help anyone, the way I was taught!
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Post by billyguitar on Mar 1, 2006 13:52:36 GMT -7
I don't like modifying guitars unless I have in mind that it's a project and I know what'll happen to the resale. I have a heavily modified '52 reissue Tele. These mods were the only way I had to find out for sure whether or not I could get along with a Tele. I found I could. The last thing that bugs me about it the thick finish. I heard someone say it's easier to buff the finish off of these than any other way. Any thoughts on that? No matter what it will never shoot my Tom Andersons out of the saddle.
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Post by Curt on Mar 1, 2006 16:51:43 GMT -7
Yea, the finish is just silly, was gonna strip mine..but now it's got BW and Millsaps signatures on it so It's just fer lookin' at again. Mine too ('52 RI) is heavily modded, was when I got it, but plays and sound great..a lil heavy and like you #1 is now a TAG.
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Post by garyh on Mar 1, 2006 16:52:20 GMT -7
I bought a MIM strat just to have those sounds for recording. However, it seems to have replaced my PRS which has been my main guit for a long time. I suppose the Z acquisition had something to do with that though. The strat just sounds so good through my Maz.
Sorry, I don't have a tele (yet). Don't mean to hijack the forum, but I do find the quality of the strat quite good. I did replace the pickups though.
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Post by billyguitar on Mar 1, 2006 19:24:55 GMT -7
I find a Tele hangs on me better. The Strat hangs more to my right which make me pick right over the neck pickup and end of the neck. If I move my right hand more towards the bridge then my wrist is too bent and doesn't work right. I see a lot of Strats with pick wear on the end of the neck so I guess I'm not the only one with the geometry problem. I guess it doesn't bug some people. We're all built a little different. Actually I'd prefer a Tele to have more distance from the bridge to end pin. I think that's one reason that a 335 feels so good, all that distance between the bridge and the end pin force the neck further to the left.
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Post by Curt on Mar 3, 2006 20:01:59 GMT -7
My problem with a Strat Billy is my pick hangs up in the middle pick up...that's just rioght where my hand sits, I have to lower the mid pup to be able to play them....I'm just a Tele guy no way around it, started on a Lester but they seem odd to me now.
I guess if I started from scratch it'd be a Tele body, neck, bridge and bridge pup with Strat control lay out, neck pup and middle pup if it could be off set just enough so I did not tangle in it...seems that would work just fine for me...love the #2 & #4 of a Strat ya know?
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