Should I get a bender?

[mel_jr]

I love teles. I love the bender sound. But I have one tele (52RI) already. If I get a bender, can I use it for my primary tele? That is, can I also play the like a regular tele? I was thinking of installing a bender in my 52 ri... but won't do it if I can't use it for normal tele work. What say you benders? Do I need two teles, or just a bender?

Thanks!

Mel_jr

[Snailhand]

Actually, you're gonna need at least four Telecasters. You'll need to get a Nashville model, cause it has three pickups (for Str@t type sounds). You'll also need a Fat Telecaster, for that soulful neck pickup. And you'll need a Pete Townsend double humbucker Tele for those balls to the walls Rock and Roll songs. Wait, that's five.........I haven't even gotten to the Esquire, the double-bound, the Gatton model, and the F-HOLE!!!

[Silverface]

To answer the question - a bender Tele plays "normally". The bender is there when you need it - and the biggest problem with a new bender player is the tendancy to overuse the bender just because it's there.

No problem. If you can only have one Tele, there's no reason not to go with a bender.

[mel_jr]

Believe me, I don't need another guitar.. :lol:

OK. Who should I get to install the bender? I think the parsons-white bender is what I want.

thanks for your replies!

[John Harrison]

I'd recommend Larry Milletich, of Music One Workshop, in Kalispell, Montana. Larry's very helpful, loves to talk guitars, as many will attest to, here. He's also been very supportive of this site. Larry's a "Gold Level" Fender tech and is a helluva bender player, to boot!

[TomK]

Go for the bender. Sometimes I forget it's in there, and other times I should forget it's in there.

[Silverface]

Call Mike at Stringpull Guitar Shop about bender installation. His work is stellar, his prices are better than most and he doesn't fluff up things by creating his own "precious metal" setup levels...and the associated charges that go with them.

Just an honest guy who does wonderful work.

[Rick Towne]

I have a MusicOne Parsons on my Zion (Larry does lefties, and Stringpull doesn't; same price), a Glaser b ASAT Specail and a Glaser b/g ASAT Classic. All have strat middle and neck pickups, and all are suitable all-around guitars. For another provider, look to Bill Bores at the Bender Guitar Shop in Houston, who did some great aftermarket work on my Glaser b/g bridge replacement. Stringpull's work, which I've seen in person, tends to favor the Clarence White replica look and feel. I don't know his prices. Glaser has the longest wait time (usually less than a year). MusicOne was two weeks portal to portal for a Parsons-White install, Bill was about four weeks because he had to do some machining work on the new bridge. Excellent work from both. BTW, JS, isn't the "Gold Level" one of those Fender trademarks..............

[BrianF]

still does installations www.stringbender.com

[Silverface]

BTW, JS, isn't the "Gold Level" one of those Fender trademarks..............

"Authorized Fender Gold Level Service and Warranty Center" is an official Fender certification, but "Gold Level Setup" is a made-up marketing tool with no connection to Fender.

Stringpull's work, which I've seen in person, tends to favor the Clarence White replica look and feel.

That's just the "Nashville West" models. He does some amazing flamed-maple top and other finish guitars as well, including some cool Gretsch-Orange colored ones.

[mel_jr]

What's the difference between a long throw and short. I'm thinking the long throw would be cool becuase it is what Mr. White used. But truely I don't know the difference. Opinions?

Thanks!

mel-jr.

[Boxelder]

i'm guilty of over use of my bender.

:D

[Rick Towne]

I use the Glaser for those short routes over the middle and the Parsons for the long down the sideline touchdown bombs....

[JohnnyAtomic]

i'd vote for the bill bores at steelbenderinnovations.com . it's the smoothest bender ride i've ever played (and i've played a lot of 'em). he's VERY quick, reasonably priced, and top notch work. in my book, the first and only choice.
johnny atomic

[Silverface]

Short throw is 5/8" at the strap pin. Long throw is 1 1/8".

I prefer the longer throw in most cases, as it's more "musical" with legato bends and easier to pull off crossing double stops with a bend included. It seems like it'd be a real pain to use, but after a few minutes of playing one I realized all the "Clarence" stuff was MUCH easier on the long-throw.

The "regular" (or short) throw is fun for quickie-pull slurs in the Nashville chicken-pickin' style, but often the bender actually just gets lost in the shuffle of fast runs. I use my short throw for the same stuff as the long throw when I just want a change of pace - I tired of playing the speed-country stuff long ago.

But they all are good. The only comments I'll make about the Glaser, though, is some folks (me included) think the guitar hangs at a weird angle with a Glaser. I find them uncomfortable, while the PW-types are second nature to me. But I've been playing PW's for almost 30 years. I'd suggest trying a Glaser before buying one (or a Shelton - same idea)...but the're hard to come by.