Fender Telecaster: Question for those who have had them.

2-feign-reluctance · January 2020

brianlux said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

OP, I bought one this summer, rather I traded in my Epi Riviera for this one:

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-guitars/telecaster/player-telecaster/0145212513.html

Dude, it plays SO smooth. I've never owned a telecaster before and I had a hankering to go back to Fender. Best decision ever. I also played a Tele that was roughly double the price of the one I ended up with and I didn't hear any difference. It's light to wear, frets easily and just fucking' sings man. I'll try to post a quick video of me playing it from last month.

Wow, that's a beauty! I was wondering about the Player Tele. I'd noticed they are very reasonably priced. Next time I'm down at Nickleson's in Folsom I'll see if they have any. Thanks for the tip!

Oh, and sorry, I'm not on instagram so I couldn't view the video. I'll see if I can get someone at work to bring it up.

Ah, I just now remembered my account is private, so you won't be able to watch. Sorry!

brianlux · January 2020

2-feign-reluctance said:

brianlux said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

OP, I bought one this summer, rather I traded in my Epi Riviera for this one:

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-guitars/telecaster/player-telecaster/0145212513.html

Dude, it plays SO smooth. I've never owned a telecaster before and I had a hankering to go back to Fender. Best decision ever. I also played a Tele that was roughly double the price of the one I ended up with and I didn't hear any difference. It's light to wear, frets easily and just fucking' sings man. I'll try to post a quick video of me playing it from last month.

Wow, that's a beauty! I was wondering about the Player Tele. I'd noticed they are very reasonably priced. Next time I'm down at Nickleson's in Folsom I'll see if they have any. Thanks for the tip!

Oh, and sorry, I'm not on instagram so I couldn't view the video. I'll see if I can get someone at work to bring it up.

Ah, I just now remembered my account is private, so you won't be able to watch. Sorry!

No worries (although if you have another way to post it I'd love to hear it). But again, thanks for the tip. Much appreciated!

2-feign-reluctance · January 2020

brianlux said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

brianlux said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

OP, I bought one this summer, rather I traded in my Epi Riviera for this one:

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-guitars/telecaster/player-telecaster/0145212513.html

Dude, it plays SO smooth. I've never owned a telecaster before and I had a hankering to go back to Fender. Best decision ever. I also played a Tele that was roughly double the price of the one I ended up with and I didn't hear any difference. It's light to wear, frets easily and just fucking' sings man. I'll try to post a quick video of me playing it from last month.

Wow, that's a beauty! I was wondering about the Player Tele. I'd noticed they are very reasonably priced. Next time I'm down at Nickleson's in Folsom I'll see if they have any. Thanks for the tip!

Oh, and sorry, I'm not on instagram so I couldn't view the video. I'll see if I can get someone at work to bring it up.

Ah, I just now remembered my account is private, so you won't be able to watch. Sorry!

No worries (although if you have another way to post it I'd love to hear it). But again, thanks for the tip. Much appreciated!

Super happy to get something up on YouTube and post it here for ya'!

brianlux · January 2020

2-feign-reluctance said:

brianlux said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

brianlux said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

OP, I bought one this summer, rather I traded in my Epi Riviera for this one:

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-guitars/telecaster/player-telecaster/0145212513.html

Dude, it plays SO smooth. I've never owned a telecaster before and I had a hankering to go back to Fender. Best decision ever. I also played a Tele that was roughly double the price of the one I ended up with and I didn't hear any difference. It's light to wear, frets easily and just fucking' sings man. I'll try to post a quick video of me playing it from last month.

Wow, that's a beauty! I was wondering about the Player Tele. I'd noticed they are very reasonably priced. Next time I'm down at Nickleson's in Folsom I'll see if they have any. Thanks for the tip!

Oh, and sorry, I'm not on instagram so I couldn't view the video. I'll see if I can get someone at work to bring it up.

Ah, I just now remembered my account is private, so you won't be able to watch. Sorry!

No worries (although if you have another way to post it I'd love to hear it). But again, thanks for the tip. Much appreciated!

Super happy to get something up on YouTube and post it here for ya'!

Excellent! Will look forward to it!

WB Daze · January 2020

Hey Brian. I am currently shopping for my first Tele also and found this article to be helpful;

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/thehub/how-to-choose-the-best-telecaster

brianlux · January 2020

WB Daze said:

Hey Brian. I am currently shopping for my first Tele also and found this article to be helpful;

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/thehub/how-to-choose-the-best-telecaster

Hey, thanks WB. Will check it out!

pjpjpaul · January 2020

I recommend playing a few and really feeling the differences between the necks, fretboards, tuners, pickups, nut, saddles... Tele's vary a lot so you want to make sure to find one within budget that is aslo to your liking as far as playability, tone, looks...

benjs · January 2020

Holy cow, how did I miss this!? I've been playing my Highway One Tele for several years now, but I think they've discontinued it. It's the classic bent metal plate style with a low-gloss sunburst slab. It was a great value prop at the time.

As has been said, there's a lot of variance within the Tele world so definitely worth picking up and playing.

If I didn't have emotional attachment to mine (and live in Canada), I'd gladly sell you mine, as I'm on the market for a new one for myself for my 30th birthday (all I needed was a good excuse)!

JF116983 · January 2020

I suggest Getting an American version if you can they are smooth like butter and sound great

gimmesometruth27 · January 2020

i just went and played that jimmy page tele again. it is on sale for $600 off. i almost bought it. then i had a closer look. it isn't the same one I had played before. it had a crack on the pickguard near one of the screws, the headstock had some black stuff on it from the hanger that would not wipe off, and the pickup selector was missing the top hat. i played it and the frets on the 12 fret up were sharp. i was not impressed with quality control so i left it there. the roadworn was $700 less and i liked it better, just didn't like the pickups. the search continues....

brianlux · January 2020

gimmesometruth27 said:

i just went and played that jimmy page tele again. it is on sale for $600 off. i almost bought it. then i had a closer look. it isn't the same one I had played before. it had a crack on the pickguard near one of the screws, the headstock had some black stuff on it from the hanger that would not wipe off, and the pickup selector was missing the top hat. i played it and the frets on the 12 fret up were sharp. i was not impressed with quality control so i left it there. the roadworn was $700 less and i liked it better, just didn't like the pickups. the search continues....

Sorry to hear about the poor Q.C.! Hope you find a good one.

I'm hoping to get down to Folsom to look and see what they've got down there tomorrow, time permitting.

gimmesometruth27 · January 2020

good luck brian! hope you were able to get there and check out some teles.

brianlux · January 2020

gimmesometruth27 said:

good luck brian! hope you were able to get there and check out some teles.

Hey, thanks man!

I went to Nicholson's in Folsom and they usually have a good selection of gear but it turns out they had just recently done a trade show and are very low on inventory right now. Will have to check it out again in a month or so.

bbiggs · February 2020

I have a question for you more seasoned guitar players. I hope it keeps thread integrity as it is a Tele related question. I'm a beginner. Started playing just over a year ago. I have a Strat that I love. I've always been a bit partial to Fender I suppose, which has me eyeing a Tele to add to the collection. It's between a Tele and LP. I know this is purely subjective, but in very general terms, do you feel I will get what I need out of a Tele for the type of music I enjoy playing the most (as I continue to learn)? This would include the likes of PJ, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Soundgarden, AIC, Tom Petty to name a few. I know there are no canned answers as it relates to this, but will the Tele give me the versatility needed to play some of the crunchier, hard rock, tones that I'll want at times (not always)? I've played both and can hear the differences in both, of course, but thought I'd run it by you fine folks to get some opinions. Thanks in advance.

brianlux · February 2020

bbiggs said:

I have a question for you more seasoned guitar players. I hope it keeps thread integrity as it is a Tele related question. I'm a beginner. Started playing just over a year ago. I have a Strat that I love. I've always been a bit partial to Fender I suppose, which has me eyeing a Tele to add to the collection. It's between a Tele and LP. I know this is purely subjective, but in very general terms, do you feel I will get what I need out of a Tele for the type of music I enjoy playing the most (as I continue to learn)? This would include the likes of PJ, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Soundgarden, AIC, Tom Petty to name a few. I know there are no canned answers as it relates to this, but will the Tele give me the versatility needed to play some of the crunchier, hard rock, tones that I'll want at times (not always)? I've played both and can hear the differences in both, of course, but thought I'd run it by you fine folks to get some opinions. Thanks in advance.

I'll be interested to hear what gimmesometruth27 says here. I think I can guess but I'm not as seasoned in electrics (most of my playing over the years has been acoustic.)

gimmesometruth27 · February 2020

brianlux said:

bbiggs said:

I have a question for you more seasoned guitar players. I hope it keeps thread integrity as it is a Tele related question. I'm a beginner. Started playing just over a year ago. I have a Strat that I love. I've always been a bit partial to Fender I suppose, which has me eyeing a Tele to add to the collection. It's between a Tele and LP. I know this is purely subjective, but in very general terms, do you feel I will get what I need out of a Tele for the type of music I enjoy playing the most (as I continue to learn)? This would include the likes of PJ, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Soundgarden, AIC, Tom Petty to name a few. I know there are no canned answers as it relates to this, but will the Tele give me the versatility needed to play some of the crunchier, hard rock, tones that I'll want at times (not always)? I've played both and can hear the differences in both, of course, but thought I'd run it by you fine folks to get some opinions. Thanks in advance.

I'll be interested to hear what gimmesometruth27 says here. I think I can guess but I'm not as seasoned in electrics (most of my playing over the years has been acoustic.)

i've always been a les paul guy. but the older i get i am super intrigued by the idea of a tele. it is a simple guitar with single coils and you can play any style of music with it. i used to think they looked funny, but the older i get i think they look timeless.

you can get all of those sounds of all of those bands with a tele. as a rhythm player that just kind of holds it down with the bass i just prefered les pauls. also, because i am a big guy that likes having a big heavy guitar, i liked how the les paul feels more substantial hanging on my shoulder.

les pauls are a little darker and throaty sounding to me, but a tele can really cut through a mix with the single coils.

bbiggs · February 2020

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

bbiggs said:

I have a question for you more seasoned guitar players. I hope it keeps thread integrity as it is a Tele related question. I'm a beginner. Started playing just over a year ago. I have a Strat that I love. I've always been a bit partial to Fender I suppose, which has me eyeing a Tele to add to the collection. It's between a Tele and LP. I know this is purely subjective, but in very general terms, do you feel I will get what I need out of a Tele for the type of music I enjoy playing the most (as I continue to learn)? This would include the likes of PJ, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Soundgarden, AIC, Tom Petty to name a few. I know there are no canned answers as it relates to this, but will the Tele give me the versatility needed to play some of the crunchier, hard rock, tones that I'll want at times (not always)? I've played both and can hear the differences in both, of course, but thought I'd run it by you fine folks to get some opinions. Thanks in advance.

I'll be interested to hear what gimmesometruth27 says here. I think I can guess but I'm not as seasoned in electrics (most of my playing over the years has been acoustic.)

i've always been a les paul guy. but the older i get i am super intrigued by the idea of a tele. it is a simple guitar with single coils and you can play any style of music with it. i used to think they looked funny, but the older i get i think they look timeless.

you can get all of those sounds of all of those bands with a tele. as a rhythm player that just kind of holds it down with the bass i just prefered les pauls. also, because i am a big guy that likes having a big heavy guitar, i liked how the les paul feels more substantial hanging on my shoulder.

les pauls are a little darker and throaty sounding to me, but a tele can really cut through a mix with the single coils.

Good feedback and thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

samosan · March 2020

I also have a player telecaster guitar, the same model as already someone mentioned before in this thread, but it is white with maple neck, I guess it is similar as the one you tried in the 80s. :-)

Well, my experience with this tele is really good, I have it now for 2 years, it is played very smoothly and I think it sounds great. I think you would have love it

whoanelly15 · March 2020

brianlux said:

Several years ago I walked into a music store in Petaluma, CA and fell in love. No, not that way- I already had a girl friend- no, I sat day and played a white Fender Telecaster and it was love a first strum of the 6 strings. It was one of those weird times where you bond almost instantly with a guitar. Problem was, even though I'm pretty sure it was an affordable Mexican made model, I was fairly young and broke and no way could afford that guitar.

So now, jump ahead several decades and I had this dream about a white Tele a couple of nights ago. Then today, forgetting I'd had the dream, I wore this white Telecaster pin I've had for years... and now I'm thinking, OK, it's time to find that long desired Tele. High time!

The problem is, there are so darned many of them these days. I really want something fairly classic. But even there, the choices are tough. The American Professional Tele looks great but at over $1500 I'm just not sure my chops are good enough to sink that much money into yet another guitar (I already have 6- 3 acoustic, 3 electric- and I mostly play one or two of them). The lower end Player Telecaster at $675 is much more reasonable for my budget these days but I wonder if I'd be cutting myself short.

So I just thought I'd throw this out and see what kind of feedback some of you players might have that way- what you like, what you don't like, that sort of thing. Thanks a bunch in advance!

opsopcopolis said:

just go play as many as you can. I played a mexi tele for years and I still love it. Don’t judge a guitar by its price tag. There are plenty of expensive duds and really killer cheap guitars

Self-admitted tele nut here - can’t believe I just found this thread. Advice from @opsopcopolis is spot on. There are expensive, American made lemons and budget gems. You should play them all.

In my opinion, the single-most important feature of a guitar that needs to work for you is the neck. Thickness, shape, frets, material, finish. There is variation in these at different price points. But playing them (and for a while) is the only way to find what you like. Personally, I’m not super fussy, but have played enough to know that I prefer a thicker, curvier fretboard (vintage 7.25” to 9.5” radius, and narrow frets. They can be short, vintage or narrow-tall, anything in between. I don’t like jumbo, even medium jumbo frets, and don’t like flat fretboards. I can play skinny-neck guitars, but it’s just not my preference.

Next thing the guitar has to do is to make the sound you want it to. As you probably know, you can find Teles with single cool pickups, humbucker a, P-90’s, TV Jones and every other pickup. Pickup heights are adjustable, which makes a huge difference, and if you sour on them, they can be switched out easy enough. On cheaper models, this is reasonable and can be fun.

Others have recommended the Road Worn - I think this is among the better values out there. Unique neck with vintage radius but taller frets. Nitro finish. Hotter pickups.

The Classic Lacquer series is also discontinued now, but like the road worn, can be found used for even better value. More true to vintage spec.

Don't dismiss Squier either. The Classic Vibe range is pretty consistently awesome. Pre-2019 were made in China - better pickups in my opinion, but thinner necks and medium jumbo frets. The current line is made in Indonesia. Vintage tall frets. All have a thick poly finish.

I think that the American Vintage line, between 2012-2017, represent the very best production-line guitars that Fender has made - possibly ever. Also now discontinued, but can be found used for 12-1300. Again, very vintage spec-wise. There are also Thin Skin versions of that line, special runs through Wildwood in CO and Dave’s one Wisconsin, that are a postmodern take on vintage specs, but are the best instruments I’ve ever played. The American Original line out there now was based on the success of these. If I were in the market, I’d be keeping an eye out for a used one of these...

They are gorgeous, have a neck and specs I like, and the Fender Pure Vintage 64 pickups in then, which I think are as good as you can find (stratty neck pickup).

The other thing id encourage you (and anyone else still reading this novel) to check out TDPRI.com - there are several lifetimes worth of knowledge there for all guitar enthusiasts, tele or not, from luthiers, techs, amp builders and players of all levels from all over the world. Pretty cool stuff.

Good luck! Let us know what you end up with (with pictures).

brianlux · March 2020

whoanelly15 said:

brianlux said:

Several years ago I walked into a music store in Petaluma, CA and fell in love. No, not that way- I already had a girl friend- no, I sat day and played a white Fender Telecaster and it was love a first strum of the 6 strings. It was one of those weird times where you bond almost instantly with a guitar. Problem was, even though I'm pretty sure it was an affordable Mexican made model, I was fairly young and broke and no way could afford that guitar.

So now, jump ahead several decades and I had this dream about a white Tele a couple of nights ago. Then today, forgetting I'd had the dream, I wore this white Telecaster pin I've had for years... and now I'm thinking, OK, it's time to find that long desired Tele. High time!

The problem is, there are so darned many of them these days. I really want something fairly classic. But even there, the choices are tough. The American Professional Tele looks great but at over $1500 I'm just not sure my chops are good enough to sink that much money into yet another guitar (I already have 6- 3 acoustic, 3 electric- and I mostly play one or two of them). The lower end Player Telecaster at $675 is much more reasonable for my budget these days but I wonder if I'd be cutting myself short.

So I just thought I'd throw this out and see what kind of feedback some of you players might have that way- what you like, what you don't like, that sort of thing. Thanks a bunch in advance!

opsopcopolis said:

just go play as many as you can. I played a mexi tele for years and I still love it. Don’t judge a guitar by its price tag. There are plenty of expensive duds and really killer cheap guitars

Self-admitted tele nut here - can’t believe I just found this thread. Advice from @opsopcopolis is spot on. There are expensive, American made lemons and budget gems. You should play them all.

In my opinion, the single-most important feature of a guitar that needs to work for you is the neck. Thickness, shape, frets, material, finish. There is variation in these at different price points. But playing them (and for a while) is the only way to find what you like. Personally, I’m not super fussy, but have played enough to know that I prefer a thicker, curvier fretboard (vintage 7.25” to 9.5” radius, and narrow frets. They can be short, vintage or narrow-tall, anything in between. I don’t like jumbo, even medium jumbo frets, and don’t like flat fretboards. I can play skinny-neck guitars, but it’s just not my preference.

Next thing the guitar has to do is to make the sound you want it to. As you probably know, you can find Teles with single cool pickups, humbucker a, P-90’s, TV Jones and every other pickup. Pickup heights are adjustable, which makes a huge difference, and if you sour on them, they can be switched out easy enough. On cheaper models, this is reasonable and can be fun.

Others have recommended the Road Worn - I think this is among the better values out there. Unique neck with vintage radius but taller frets. Nitro finish. Hotter pickups.

The Classic Lacquer series is also discontinued now, but like the road worn, can be found used for even better value. More true to vintage spec.

Don't dismiss Squier either. The Classic Vibe range is pretty consistently awesome. Pre-2019 were made in China - better pickups in my opinion, but thinner necks and medium jumbo frets. The current line is made in Indonesia. Vintage tall frets. All have a thick poly finish.

I think that the American Vintage line, between 2012-2017, represent the very best production-line guitars that Fender has made - possibly ever. Also now discontinued, but can be found used for 12-1300. Again, very vintage spec-wise. There are also Thin Skin versions of that line, special runs through Wildwood in CO and Dave’s one Wisconsin, that are a postmodern take on vintage specs, but are the best instruments I’ve ever played. The American Original line out there now was based on the success of these. If I were in the market, I’d be keeping an eye out for a used one of these...

They are gorgeous, have a neck and specs I like, and the Fender Pure Vintage 64 pickups in then, which I think are as good as you can find (stratty neck pickup).

The other thing id encourage you (and anyone else still reading this novel) to check out TDPRI.com - there are several lifetimes worth of knowledge there for all guitar enthusiasts, tele or not, from luthiers, techs, amp builders and players of all levels from all over the world. Pretty cool stuff.

Good luck! Let us know what you end up with (with pictures).

Thanks for good tips, whoanelly. Looks like guitar shopping will be put off for some time now.

Oops, forgot to hit "post comment" yesterday but it was saved.

Fender Telecaster: Question for those who have had them.

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