Telecaster Deluxe Club

Seriously, no Telecaster Deluxe original 70's owners here?:eek:

Oh yeah, and a very happy one!

Yeah, I have two USA made ones and also a fairly rare 1983 Japanese JV serial Deluxe as well... :cool:

1973 Deluxe
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderUSA1975TeleDeluxe_5.jpg

1978 Deluxe
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderUSA1976TeleDeluxeWhite_4.jpg

1983 MIJ JV Series Deluxe
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/FenderMIJ72RITeleDeluxeNatural_1.jpg

Boy, they must be rarer than I thought! I've got a 1976 Telecaster Deluxe black-on-black, with genuine "relic" marks I put on it myself back in the days when I toured the Midwest and New England with it (and my trusty Martin D-35). I recently reacquired this guitar from my good friend and best man-he financed a trip with him to Daytona Beach in 1979 in exchange for this guitar (what can I say-I was young and stupid and had different priorities than I do now). Photos on the way...

RI's dont count? If so, exclusive club!

'73 here. Simply awesome guitar I got for a song as it had non original case, a few little non original parts etc (output jack, strap buttons, switch tip, a few pots) and a rout under the PG.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/Singin_Dave/TeleDeluxe013.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/Singin_Dave/TeleDeluxe001.jpg

If your accepting us RI owners, I can't put down my 2009 '72 Delux in Walnut . My Standard is getting jealous. My camera sucks but it in mint like this one.
http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/guitars/0137702392_xl.jpg

Seriously, no Telecaster Deluxe original 70's owners here?:eek:

If ReIsssues are accepted....here i am with my '72 Telecaster Deluxe RI in Walnut...
Any mods on your 72er???

Sold mine in '81 or so, basically to survive. I was kinda living out of my car and sofa surfing at friends' and relatives' places, and I was desperate. It was the best axe I had for a long long time, and I still miss it. It resurfaced online (Folkway Music, Guelph) a couple of years ago, looking a lot like the one posted by Bajomano above, gig-worn and mojo laden, and priced way beyond my means. We established it had been mine because I could ID a ding or 2, and my ID was still under the pickguard. I was heartbroken.

When I gigged in the '70s with the Deluxe, I had a matching Tele bass (with the neck humbucker) and matching 6 string lapsteel. The first 2 gone for survival reasons, the lapsteel gone because I'm basically an idiot.

I am considering getting the reissue. I know it's not quite the same thing, but maybe I can be consoled.

How pathetic is this, a wannabe Deluxe Club member.

Peace, Mike.

Sold mine in '81 or so, basically to survive. I was kinda living out of my car and sofa surfing at friends' and relatives' places, and I was desperate. It was the best axe I had for a long long time, and I still miss it. It resurfaced online (Folkway Music, Guelph) a couple of years ago, looking a lot like the one posted by Bajomano above, gig-worn and mojo laden, and priced way beyond my means. We established it had been mine because I could ID a ding or 2, and my ID was still under the pickguard. I was heartbroken.

When I gigged in the '70s with the Deluxe, I had a matching Tele bass (with the neck humbucker) and matching 6 string lapsteel. The first 2 gone for survival reasons, the lapsteel gone because I'm basically an idiot.

I am considering getting the reissue. I know it's not quite the same thing, but maybe I can be consoled.

How pathetic is this, a wannabe Deluxe Club member.

Peace, Mike.

A true love story....
maybe with a '72 ReIssue you can get a "happy end".

A true love story....
maybe with a '72 ReIssue you can get a "happy end".

Thanks. Funny how it takes guitars from our youth to steal our hearts. In the intervening years I've had lots of nice guitars, but just to have that one again would tie up some loose ends in my heart.

Peace, Mike.

Oh yeah, and a very happy one!

I think it's a '73 or '74. It was Mocha but came down with a skin (finish) condition and a lot of it flaked off.

mine is a 74 natural ash, ordered it that way, now it's well worn and looks like one of the new ones that they bang up and git a lot of money for. Still has the little ash tray for the strat bridge. It now has a Duncan customcustom in the bridge with a coil splitter switch and a master volume pot. Good tele..

'72 Deluxe RI here. Just getting ready to mod it a little. Great player and it sounds great unplugged but the neck is a little muddy as others have said. I'm pretty sure I can fix that up lickity-split like. :)

Mine's a walnut but I am thinking of doing a re-fin. Anybody strip one down yet and do a natural finish? I may do that or go for a lightly relic'd black look.

Here's my '74:

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/bigtimecharlie/Fender%20Telecaster%20Deluxe%201974/CIMG3377.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/bigtimecharlie/Fender%20Telecaster%20Deluxe%201974/CIMG3380.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/bigtimecharlie/Fender%20Telecaster%20Deluxe%201974/CIMG3384.jpg

Proud owner of a Reissue in sunburst here. I'm actually a fan of the pups, but then I've never had the privilege of hearing the originals in person. I'm taking this one on deployment with me, so I'm hoping to get a nice patina on her while I'm gone. Just happens to be the guitar that "does it" for me right now.

Nice thread with nice pics! Did Fender change much on the Deluxe during the time it was made?

I have a walnut colored RI as well. I have to say the originals pictured above are beautiful especially the '73 imo.

yes i have 2 '78 models, that i LOVE... but it seems i'll be forced to sell them soon... :(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/Pacafeliz/Guitars/DSC06797.jpg
sunburst, all-original

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/Pacafeliz/Guitars/DSC06485.jpg
black, with modded '91 AVRI strat neck - plays like a dream!

Pat.

Here's my '75 Telecaster Deluxe. I've just finished refinishing it (replacing an older refin) alongside installing an original pickup in the bridge (it came to me with reissues in). Amazing guitar. I did think about relicing it but I'm just gonna gig the hell out of it, the nitro's pretty thin and won't take long to wear nicely.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/TheUnknownlive/IMG_4482.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/TheUnknownlive/IMG_4476.jpg

This thread makes me drool.

mine's a RI, a recent craigslist bargain. I'm gonna replace the pots with 500k, but a pretty nice guitar as.....

http://a.imageshack.us/img251/6133/dscf0026sm2.jpg

Mine is a 78 that was refinished black.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/701687/Gear/P1040353.JPG

I stripped off the black to reveal the original blonde underneath.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/701687/Gear/P1050118.JPG

After a lot of chipping away, acetone, and wet sanding, it is now pretty much restored to it's original finish.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2cq4McIYRUE/TM2mI1H_8MI/AAAAAAAAAMo/PzzPRBop1J8/s640/1288545694982.jpg

dear god this thread is right up my alley! The first pic of an old sunburst model looks like it has blocked quite a few beer bottles!!!! I'll hafta settle for my walnut RI until i can get an old one.

Here's my '72 RI. I replaced the black pickguard with a red pearl one

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9480/img00115201010151638.jpg

i played a ri in sea foam green today, nice.

here is my 72 RI (roadworn) just picked it up at matt uminov guitars on bleeker street... i am so much in love with it... but pickup and pot swaps are a neccesary mod for sure...
but once that is done i feel i can get it to state to rival a vintage usa deluxe?
that nitro finish is boss as hell!!!!!
sorry about the crappy iphone pics
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/doriangreyskull/IMG_0850.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/doriangreyskull/IMG_0852.jpg

Yeah, I have two USA made ones and also a fairly rare 1983 Japanese JV serial Deluxe as well... :cool:
1973 Deluxe
1978 Deluxe
1983 MIJ JV Series Deluxe


Triple Wow... :shock:
Gorgeous, all of them.

I just picked up a '78 in natural (faded nicely to almost butterscotch) and thought the knobs were aftermarket until I saw yours, Pacafeliz.
I lifted the guard to find the bridge volume pot had been replaced with a Dimarzio 500k at some point... grrr. For the price I got her, I cannot begin to complain. I am on the Hunt for an original 1978 CTS 1 meg split to get her back to herself. Please let me know if you have/ come across one!

Hey everyone I just picked up this highly modified made in USA deluxe.

I finally own a Tele!

Most of the mods address the typical problem with other fenders (Strats) I've owned.. The ability to stay in tune for more than 48 bars.

This guitar won't win any "all original" contests but I love the sound it's pure Telecaster !!

This one appears to be factory routed for the Strat Tremolo system does anyone know if that means it actually had a factory tremolo? Or did they router every body the same?

Why oh why do I click on threads about lovely guitars I don't own!

I was cured until 5 mins ago. Now I got it bad and it's you guys fault!:razz:

just picked up this 78, and had it restored back to original specs. It came with a MIJ neck pup and didn't have the originals pots. I am blessed to live in the same state with the one and only TELENATOR, so I brought it to him and restored it back to the original spec pots and neck pup, rebuilt out of existing vintage parts and hand wound it to original spec. I also had him set it up and sprinkle magic lutier dust on it and this guitar sounds incredible!!
I've been a fan of Tele Deluxe's for about 9 yrs now and bought a 72 reissue in Walnut back in 04, I've played these guitars exclisively for the last 7 yrs and will probably play them til the day I die! I love these guitars!!!

SO I have an RI BUT I am also looking to buy an original I just found yesterday to become my main guitar and the RI will become my back-up. All I know is that since I was shown the light of the 72 Telecaster Deluxe I have never really wanted to play anything else... A friend I used to work in the ER with was helping me decide on a new Electric guitar and as I was describing the things I wanted/liked he just stoped me and said "so you've never seen a Telecaster Deluxe have you???" SO I went and found one at a shop and it was love at first play... I LOVE THEM. SO much so I'm actually e-mailing the guy who's gonna sell me his original RIGHT NOW and get the ball rolling so I can check out the differences between mine and a Vintage Original. Can anyone tell me what to expect versus my 2000-something RI???

I'll go so far as to call the TD the most under-appreciated guitar and one of the best tonal values in the entire Fender catalouge. I've heard people say "those AREN'T Tele's, they're bastardized Fender's made to be Gibsons back when Gibson was killing Fender in sales..." (seriously those exact words have been uttered several times in refernce to my guitar) BUT then I hear something like what the guy said the other night during our set-break at a gig... the sound guy walked up and squinted at my guitar and said "I thought that's what I was hearing... I had one of those back in the day and after hearing that thing tonight I think it's time to get another one...how are those Re-issues??? You're sure making that thing SING!!!" I thought that was both a neat compliment to my playing AND to the guitars magical tonal qualities. Yeah, they don't quack like a standard Tele, but then I'm not playing the type of music where that's an assett...

OT Rant, but it's semi-related to this thread:
Gotta love the SEARCH function on these sites :rolleyes: I searched the EXACT title of this thread and it was still the 10+ thread down the list. Others included things that have NOTHING to do with the amazing guitar that is the Tele Deluxe.

Anyway, here's my baby: 72 Telecaster Deluxe MIM RI - Walnut stain:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j309/4x4Rescue/The%20Telecaster/JPG-NewTele1.jpg

...and this is a really cool picture my Fiance took of me PLAYING the Tele-D:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j309/4x4Rescue/The%20Telecaster/MeandtheTele000001-Negative1-cropped2.jpg

...Me playing "the guitar of all guitars" at an early gig with my band Chautauqua.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j309/4x4Rescue/The%20Telecaster/JohnsTavern12-8-11_002.jpg

...And a little "nod" to Woody Guthrie with a modern twist (espescialy suited to Portland OR) It says: "This guitar kills hipsters" HAHAHAHAHA (Woody's said This guitar kills fascists" come to think of it, that will ALWAYS be relevant aye...)
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j309/4x4Rescue/The%20Telecaster/111THeTele-ThisGuitarKillsHipsters-Resize.jpg

Cheers

Dave

Here's my '72 RI. I replaced the black pickguard with a red pearl one

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9480/img00115201010151638.jpgOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH now THAT is pretty aye!!!!!! Not gonna lie, I'm not a huge fan of the "pearlescent" stuff, but it just WORKS on this guitar. Very good looking guitar mate, I love it.

It's making me re-think having a black one around as a (would be) 3rd Back-up. There sure seem to be alot of the Black RI's on Craigslist quite often. I always feel like e-mailing the sellers and telling them to stop before they do something they regret. I know I'm a bit "over the top" in love with these guitars (for good reason I think though) but I can't see ever having one and WANTING to let it go. now admitedly a few of the add's say something to the effect of "I wish I didn't have to sell this but..." . But just as many or more say something to the effect of ",,,just don't like the tone this guitar gives..." or "not my style... or: it's too much guitar for me" which boggles my mind seeing as you can get SO MANY great tones out of this thing... Even more when you get into modding it (something these guitars seem to have been MADE for, more so then many other guitars). TO me it has all the positives of a Les Paul and/or and SG but none of the problems (weight-LP, innotation problems with the set-neck, trouble staying in tune-SG's mostly). Plus astheticaly I think they're just strikingly awesome guitars. Tele body+Strat neck and "belly cut" + Dual wide-ranges = one sexy machine. I will admit though, the controls can get a LITTLE much to handle for me on stage sometimes. I have put a small rubber band on the volume controls so that they turn together (think of a tank tread connecting the two wheels/knobs) so I don't have large volume spikes when I go from the neck to the bridge and blend positions (or when I accidentaly play to "WILD" and hit the switch...ok that's another potential "not to great" thing about the guitar but that's true of ANY 4-dial guitar with the switch on the upper bout...)

bah, I'm rambling again. BEAUTIFUL guitars guys. I ESPESCIALY love the "natural finnish" 77 up there... VERY pretty aye. (the 73 I'm looking at is the "not what I would choose" sunburst I belive... I think it may get "Nash'd" ;) ) I've already confirmed that they'll take one on as a custom one off if I suply the guitar.... I go to check it out on thursday. Then I have a gig on Friday night so HOPEFULLY I'll be playing my "new" Original 73 Tele-Deluxe... Fingers crossed aye...

Cheers

Dave

Here's one I bought back in 98... They dont build them like this any more!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender2001.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender2009.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender024.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender030.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender022.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender019.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender015.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender031.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b138/triggerlocks/Telecaster%20Deluxe/Fender034.jpg

Hi !!!
This is mine ; I'm totally in love.

http://img.audiofanzine.com/image.php?lang=fr&identifier=image&size=normal&module=user&userPhoto_id=242436

http://img.audiofanzine.com/image.php?lang=fr&identifier=image&size=normal&module=user&userPhoto_id=242433

http://img.audiofanzine.com/image.php?lang=fr&identifier=image&size=normal&module=user&userPhoto_id=242434

I have just one little question... I would want to change the tuners.
Can you tell me what kind I could buy ?

i own a '73 model... i have never been able to set the string height to my liking.. just can't seem to get the action comfortable... any suggestions??

i own a '73 model... i have never been able to set the string height to my liking.. just can't seem to get the action comfortable... any suggestions??

Sorry but it's a professionnal who cares of my guitar, so I haven't any idea for the action.
And for my problem of tuners he's not able to help me...

Just wanted to add my git fiddle to the bunch of beauties being strummed and picked here. 2011 60th Anniversary Butterscotch Blonde American Deluxe Ash...

122408

122409

Proud new owner of a stock 2007 '72 Tele Deluxe RI. All black. It is the Tele I've always searched for.

That's my boy! 72 Deluxe ftw!

I picked up a '76 Deluxe (Ash body) many years ago that had been refitted with EMG Humbucker Dual Mode Pickups and push/pull volume knobs.

I was getting a new nut put on my Guild 212XL at a Luthier and a little voice seemed to call out "Look at me." I turned around and there it was, $500.

Never played my Strat again.

Heres my new '74 almost-all-stock Deluxe (tuners swapped to american standards / sadly > pickups swapped to Bill Lawrence USA / refret to bigger wire)

I bought a '72 Custom Fender Tele RI, new, recently and it has quickly become one of my favorite guitars, if not my favorite guitar. I like the variety of tones thru all of my amps, from clean Fender HRDx Tweed Ltd Ed, '65 DRRI, to my high gain Vox VT30 and Marshall JMD-1 two twelve Celestions combo.

I like the look of the antique vibe sunburst and the weight doesn't bother me. The maple neck/fretboard is very playable and I dig it.

Because I like this RI so much I'm thinking of getting one of the '72 Telecaster Deluxe models. The pictures here of the walnut look really nice. I have a Squier standard tele modified with vintage noiseless tele pickups that looks very cool itself. I'm not sure though, the antique sunburst vibe and the all black look are also very nice. I would get the all black version I suppose.

So, I'll probably be joining the club with a RI before too long. I think this will be my next guitar. I like the sound of the stock pickups but can appreciate the fondness that many here express for their originals and other versions.

I really like the black refinish job the one dude did on his. The neck has a deep amber tint to it that I am wondering how he achieved that particular tinted look. Does the shoe polish method yield a really cool neck tint like that or is it something altogether different.

I don't think I've seen a picture of a guitar with a shoe polish tint to the neck/fretboard. Does anyone have a picture of one, and does it provide a long lasting, durable finish; or is it cool but short lived and turns blotchy quickly?

My '72 Custom Tele RI has a decent tint to it and is not bleached white like the neck on my Squier Telecaster Custom II P90, all black; which is, by the way a very cool guitar in my opinion, with a great P90 set of pickups that are noise cancelling in the middle switch position but sound great in the middle switch position.

There are some beautiful guitars shown in this thread. Congratulations to all of you. Even that pearl red on the black looks great to me.

I scored a LEFTY CIJ RI a few weeks ago, in black. The previous owner put a Lollar in the neck position, but left the stock bridge pick up. The Lollar is a little hotter, of course, but my local tech redid the wiring (which was a shambles, out of phase, etc) so that the output for the two pickups is the same now. Great shape, great player. Got lucky.

I just placed my order for a new Fender '72 Telecaster Deluxe RI in three tone sunburst, same finish as my '72 Telecaster Custom. I got a very good deal on the guitar.

I have not had time for the anxiety to build up yet, but the place I ordered it from usually has stuff to me the day after the order is placed. I am hoping to get it Wednesday and will take some pictures and attach them.

As with any internet order, I will be going over the new guitar with a fine tooth comb. My 72 Tele Custom I bought at a music store near me, off the shelf and it was set up beautifully with low action and no string buzz. I just changed the strings to Ernie Ball "Cobalts" which started out a little gritty but are now very slick and slinky. I like the Cobalts a lot. Hopefully all I'll have to do with the Tele Deluxe is put new strings on it. If it needs a set up there is a dude at an across town uptown music store that will set it up for me for a minimal charge. Since I take lessons from him at this point he may just do it free. He is probably the fore most blues guitarist in this region of the state. He actually has a signature model of the LP copy "Heritage" guitar named after him - the "Kahuna" model some of you may have heard of, now discontinued.

The new RI will be a modest guitar compared to some of the awesome old school versions seen in this club.

I'm not sure if I will do the pot mod or upgrade the pickups. I played my 72 Custom yesterday on the neck pickup and paid close attention to it thru my Vox VT30 practice amp and I really like the sound I got some great tones out of it.

I did, however, email a small scale pickup maker known for making excellent pickups at a very reasonable price. He told me that he has actually made replacement WRHB pickups from scratch and that he can make me some that will sound great and not be muddy. I may try this route in the future but based on my satisfaction with my neck pickup in my 72 Tele Custom, I'm going to play it in the stock form for some time.

Another concern I have heard mentioned is that some people are not impressed with the stock tuning machines. I actually like the stock ones and will probably keep them. I did notice, however, that Shaller or one of those companies makes a copy tuner that is of premium quality. A set of those could be in the future if these are not nice and smooth. The ones on my Custom hold tune very well and are smooth, so hopefully I'll be happy.

I should soon be a member of the club. I'm looking forward to that.

Attached is a picture of the headstock of my '72 Telecaster Custom's headstock. I like the slightly tinted color that the neck is on it.

http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/yy330/1Duffy1/Guitars%20plus%209%202012/IMG_0061-Copy-Copy-Copy-Copy.jpg

Also my walnut stained tele with Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups that I should change the pots to 500k on to reduce the bassy boominess. I suppose that is the problem anyway. It sounds very dark and has an overwhelming bass boominess. It sounds decent but I think it can be improved with 500k pots. What do you think? Just change out the volume pot to 500k and leave the tone pot at 250k, or change both to 500k?

http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/yy330/1Duffy1/Guitars%20plus%209%202012/DSC_0208-1.jpg

I have had a 73 black deluxe since 78 second owner.

I had an all original, beautifully aged 78. It sounded great but I eventually sold it since it was heavy as hell and , quite frankly, a badly made guitar. I was reluctant to sell it since it was my first decent guitar and a real beauty at that. However I'm glad I got rid of it so I could concentrate on playing the once I really like.

Being here in this forum making a statement like that kinda reminds me of a time in the late 70s when a buddy of mine was at a biker rally and said Harley Davidson was a bad quality motorcycle. Careful...

Chantre??

My recently purchased new '72 Deluxe and '72 Custom are heavy guitars. I like them heavy and have a few light guitars as well; but these two Fenders are really well built.

Yours was built right in the middle of the CBS era, so there could be some debate as to the influence that may have played in the condition of your guitar. Also, expanding on the Harley parallelism, Harley motorcycles went, debatedly, way down hill during the period of time that the company was owned by American Machine and Foundry (AMF). Some of these Harleys have been called "bowling ball" Harleys.

You may possibly want to try out one of the new reissues and see if they are as badly built, in your opinion. That would be informative, at least from your subjective point of view.

I did, however, recently receive a Gibson Tribute '70s humbucker Les Paul studio gold top that had a major manufacturing defect involving an off center set neck. Quite ridiculous that it got thru QC. I sent it back and didn't get another one. My other Gibson Studio brown faded maple top is great, no problem there.

What are you playing that you like a lot better?

Well, besides being heavy it had a sloppy neck pocket and a significant lack of resonance. I now play an MIJ tele -96, a really cheap, but well made Yamaha SA500 and a 1981 Burny Firebird. The tele has a Lundgren hot vintage in the bridge position, the Yamaha has SD Antiquity humbuckers and the Burny is stock.

My American Deluxe Ash

149644

Here's mine. CIJ, bought it this summer.

I certainly enjoy my '74 Tele deluxe w/ factory tremolo. Rarely goes out of tune after cranking on that arm.

152999

I certainly enjoy my '74 Tele deluxe w/ factory tremolo. Rarely goes out of tune after cranking on that arm.

152999

Wow! Thats hot!

My recently aquired Vegas Gold sparkle RI. Got a free pair of sunglasses with it. :cool:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8076949961_685cf24bf4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40882030@N00/8076949961/)
Fender FSR '72 Deluxe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40882030@N00/8076949961/) by shambeko (http://www.flickr.com/people/40882030@N00/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8093460461_345ecf246d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40882030@N00/8093460461/)
Fender FSR '72 Deluxe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40882030@N00/8093460461/) by shambeko (http://www.flickr.com/people/40882030@N00/), on Flickr

After years of yearning for one, I bought a sunburst '72 re-issue.
I've played for more years than I care to admit, own too many electrics, and have now played enough gigs on the '72 re-issue to have an experience-formed review.

It is the Classic Player Tele® Deluxe w/ Tremolo (2010)

Bought online (for a good price), I've done my own setup work on it over the past month.

First impression was that it is heavy, about 12 pounds. Not a big deal. I figured the alder body was a dense one with the trem and the Strat headstock adding to the weight.
I was pleased in the balance of it. You put it on and it hangs there in perfect position. It doesn't feel all that heavy.

I had read all sorts of horrible things on here about the WRHBs so I was prepared for the worst. They were somewhat lifeless, but like typical HBs in most respects. I tried the Fender setup with them the recommended 4/64ths away from the strings. I played that night with them like this and found it added to the harshness of the bridge pickup and the muddiness of the neck PU. I seriously desired the 500K pots to cure this. Back to the drawing board.
I went back and lowered both pickups, then balanced the two to where the neck pup was almost as loud as the bridge. This way solos on the neck would be usable. I then compensated for the lowering by raising the screws in the pups as high as possible and adjusted them for balance with them going down from the E to the G and the D going down to the E. This brought them to life! Problem solved for now. I still might swap the pots out and send the pups somewhere to be reconditioned, but it is now not an urgent need.

I adjusted the trem to where the string and spring pressure is equal, lubed the saddles and used powdered graphite on the nut. While it basically held tune, certain strings (G and D didn't). I lubed up the string trees and this helped some. I then took the G and D out from under the string trees and it was perfection.
I used the trem heavily on a Saturday night, went to a benefit on Sunday. The other guitar player and I hit a G chord and we jammed without me even having to tune it up. It was still perfectly in tune.

The neck: I absolutely love the 12" neck. The width and depth are perfect for me. String bends are a snap with the extra room. The frets (med. Jumbo) are fine.

Is it a perfect guitar? No. The time and expense of having the pups reconditioned along with the pots is a real downside.
To be called an authentic re-issue, Fender could have done a better job of trying to copy the sound of the originals. If the Creamery, Novak, and Telenator can do mods, Fender, with all their resources could have done a lot better than just sticking typical HBs in and covering them with original-looking covers.
Being a MIM I was wary of the quality, but the fit and finish are excellent.

All in all, for the price, I'm happy with the guitar. It took some time, thought, and tinkering to get it where it is, but I'm happy with it and alternate carrying my Tele and Strat along to gigs as backups so that says a lot.
If you use a trem on the Strat, don't buy one of these without one. It's well worth the little extra the trem costs..

mine doesn't really count but I love it. Wish I had an original, but I had one built with a licensed neck and body and I love the feel and mojo, wish I had the original CuNiFe buckers, but the reissue will have to do. I prefer a tele headstock too, guess I am bastardizing it, but what the hell:
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz331/baldy5000/Shoreline%20Gold%20Tele%20Deluxe/DSC03064.jpg
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz331/baldy5000/Shoreline%20Gold%20Tele%20Deluxe/DSC03069.jpg
armadillo bridge1:
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz331/baldy5000/Shoreline%20Gold%20Tele%20Deluxe/DSC03067.jpg
#2 (final choice):
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz331/baldy5000/Shoreline%20Gold%20Tele%20Deluxe/DSC03172.jpg
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz331/baldy5000/Shoreline%20Gold%20Tele%20Deluxe/DSC03068.jpg

I just got a black on black 72 RI on trade for a bunch of records!
I have some 500K pots and a varitone switch that Im having put in, and will post some pics when its all modded up!

I just got a black on black 72 RI on trade for a bunch of records!
I have some 500K pots and a varitone switch that Im having put in, and will post some pics when its all modded up!

Sounds nice. My brand new one is a vintage sunburst with a black pickguard and stock pickups that I think sound really great. They are not muddy and sound brighter than a typical LP. I won't be putting in 500k pots. This is one of my favorite guitars I have ever owned.

Maybe Fender used some updated pickups in these new ones, but I don't have any muddiness at all and in fact the neck pickup is the one I use possibly most of the time. I really like the way it sounds. The bridge pickup sounds closer to a typical traditional tele pickup that you would think. Definitely not like a typical PAF bridge humbucker in a LP type guitar. But I'm partial, I really like this guitar.

It also sounds different from my new '72 Custom Telecaster. The neck pickup is not muddy on the Custom but doesn't sound the same as on the Deluxe. The Deluxe is a year newer and it is possible that Fender installed the new WRHB in the newer guitar. Both pickups, however, sound great to me stock.

If I upgrade the Custom I will buy a pickup from Telenator. I already discussed it with him and I might even have a Telenator put in my G & L Tribute ASAT in the neck position. That would be a very cool guitar in my opinion. I should get on that project. I need to order a new pickguard, probably black for the G & L.

Looking forward to seeing the guitar with the new switch. I really like all forms of the '72 Deluxe Telecaster.

Chris Shiflett signature Tele Deluxe owner...1st one from Sweetwater. They used my guitar for all their photos

http://www.sweetwater.com/images/items/1800/TeleHHCS-xlarge.jpg

Heres mine:

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w427/Jalpow/DSC08263_zpsee00ce2a.jpg

A 2010 model, all stock except for an electrosocket jack, a bone nut and I did the simple and reversible 'Lindy Fralin mod' to the neck pickup, which cured alot of the low end muddiness.

I just got a black on black 72 RI on trade for a bunch of records!
I have some 500K pots and a varitone switch that Im having put in, and will post some pics when its all modded up!

Here are the pics. I had some 500K Pots from my SG (with toggle switch attached) So I put those in and they sound more full to my ears.
I also put in a BIG D Varitone in where the old toggle was to get some different sounds out of it.
I had a friend rout out a little wood "under the hood" to make room and do the install for me.

There wasn't really anything wrong the way it was, I just like the versatility of this set up for what I'm doing.

Hi all,

I am recent owner of a great 1977 tele deluxe after a swap for a...silvertone 1448...not bad eh?
all original and -not common, blonde finish
The sound of the pickups is really awesome...and my only complain would be that is freakin´heavy!!!
a part from that, neck is like new and body has a nice aged relic
for those owning the vintage ones, i think is a good investment as prices are rising quite rapidly (i ve seen three of them in a store in germany for around 3700-3900 euros)
First i was planning to sell it...but after playing it i falled in love...it is a very unique guitar with a unique palette of sounds...
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