Tele Deluxe '72 RI

The Mexican one, I'm thinking of buying, what do you guys think?

Try to play one in a show setting; either the Deluxe or one of the other 2 Reissue '72 models with these alnico 'WRHB' pickup substitutes. Listen and decide if you think these pickups are getting the mail delivered - many guys are concerned about them.

Me? Before I even get to the pickups, I'm not happy at all about the tuners. I cannot get an E string over .050 inches to load in the post; and I don't like the action on these tuners and they wear out too fast and there's no "premium" replacement tuner you can upgrade to that won't leave the headstock sort of scarred up.

Sorry. These sure are handsome and I wouldn't mind having a genuine one from the 1970s (even with the tuner issues).

I agree with Boris, they look great but sound really... meh...
The rhythm guitarist in our band has two, I keep trying them out but they seem really lifeless - just can't seem to get them to either zing like a tele should or rock like a Gibson-type guitar, neither one thing or another, just kind of.... hmmm....

I love mine and lots of people use them with great results.
That being said, I did replace the pickups with Lollars, a lot of folks like the stock pickups, I found them to be dull and lifeless even with the upgraded 500k pots.
I don't see any problems with the tuners, build quality is fantastic, the neck is great as well, chunky modern c shape but not too fat or too skinny.
Another thing I did was rewired to standard Tele master volume and master tone, I just prefer this setup and think it improves the tone.

Interesting, I usually run .10s and play bluesy rock. Pickups and pots can always be swapped. I just love the look of these, they have a good chunky neck. On paper, my ideal axe.

I have a MIM '72 Thinline. I really like the pups...they are unique. The tuners, not so much

I love mine and lots of people use them with great results.
That being said, I did replace the pickups with Lollars, a lot of folks like the stock pickups, I found them to be dull and lifeless even with the upgraded 500k pots.
I don't see any problems with the tuners, build quality is fantastic, the neck is great as well, chunky modern c shape but not too fat or too skinny.
Another thing I did was rewired to standard Tele master volume and master tone, I just prefer this setup and think it improves the tone.


I did the same, Lollar Regals, new 500k pots all around, .015 cap in for the neck pickup and .022 cap for the bridge, totally different guitar from stock.

I started looking for one of these in January. Looked on the Kansas City craigslist and found 3 of them but didn't have any money. I sold some gear and started saving some bonus money from work and got 500 bucks put aside and I can't find one to save my life. I've looked as far as Tulsa. If I do find one they're always in that walnut stain color and I want either the all black or Olympic White color (which is pretty rare) I've heard demos on youtube and they seem to have the exact sound I'm looking for when they have the upgraded pots. I'm playing 90's covers and I have a Highway One Tele that I LOVE but it's just not 'thick' enough for a lot of the stuff we're doing. I want a bright jangly tone for stuff like REM but we also do some heavier stuff like Bush and the single coils on my current Tele just aren't cutting the mustard for those tunes. Plus the Deluxe Teles just LOOK cool!

Go for it - just be prepared for the possibility that the reissue WRHB will sound terrible to you and you will want to replace them. Fortunately there are many good replacement and modification options out there now for this type of pickup.

Alas, I'll chime in too. Loved it's looks. The controls/wiring on mine were really ... uh .. not good. Then I hated the buzz in the bridge, and replaced it with a SD noiseless; that REALLY messed with it. Then one of the pots went south. Then I replaced the saddles. Then I hung it on the wall until I put all the stuff back as it was and sold it -- and then had to send the guy $25 refund because the toggle was hosed when he got it.

BUT ... I really like the concept. So now I'm having one built (there's a thread, I'll not bore you), using Warmoth body and neck (big fat one .. forgot to mention I didn't like the thin little neck on the 72RI), Lollar Regal for the WRHB, CS Texas Special in the bridge, Armadillo bridge (in case I wanna 5-string Keeferize it), 500K pots on the Lollar. And oh yeah, so it doesn't look like a copy ... all white. I bought all the parts, Tony Mellichampe here in MD is doing the cooking-up.

By the time I'm done I'm gonna have $800 plus Tony's work. So it'll be probably as much as the new MIA 72Custom, but less than the Telebration. I'm good with that. I'm never gonna part with it.

This is good info. I was looking at a '72 RI but from what I've read here and other places, I think I'll pass for now. I would love to try out a real '72 deluxe.

Best, most underrated guitar in Fenders lineup... I play an MIM RI (in walnut) and I've done the 500k pot mod. Its my "#1" and while Im looking for another more "traditional" Tele for some different sounds(and better slide setup), but. my 72 Deluxe (and the vintage 73 deluxe that's on its way to me) will always be my #1...its a truly "unique" Tele, and some poopoo them as "not a REAL Tele, but those people just don't know what they're missing... My next step is a set of Telenators "cunife"upgrade pups, but despite what folks will say, the RI WRHB's are not a bad pup as they are stock. I CONSTANTLY have older guys at my shows come check out "that wierd Tele "and they're always real complimentary of the sounds I can get out of her... I even had a guy with a really nice vintage LP at a blues jam this week ask to play my rig and he handed it back with a huge grin on his face saying "Im getting me one'a them FOR SURE..." Then I told him how cheap you can find them 2nd hand, showed him a couple CL adds on my DROID and he called right then ans there to set up a time to check one out... called me.this evening to tell me he bought one and he's already hooked on it... I was pointed to them by a friend I worked in the ER with cause he thought it'd be a good guitar.for me and the minute I picked up like the 3rd one I looked at my fiance looked at me and just said "Thats your guitar baby... it just looks like you've known eachother your whole life..."Then. Go out and try as many of them as you can (yes they're all SUPPOSED to be the same but for whatever reason. EVERY guitar is different like people... )

Happy hunting bro,hope you get to meet "your" guitar soon aye...agencies

cheers

Dave