No longer gassing for a Tele

Sombras · December 17th, 2009, 02:00 PM

I've been gassing for a butterscotch telecaster. Nothing wrong with my 08 AmSt Strat, but those teles are so pretty and have a great vibe.

So I swing by a local shop to try out their '52 Reissue Telecaster and...

I could not get out of my own way on that thing. Blown licks, buzzy chords, fumbling fingers--it was BAD! I had no clue how accustomed I'd become to my strat. Everything about that tele was odd for me--the chunky neck, medium-high action, skinny frets, hard body edge. When I did finally manage to pull something off it sounded great, but I had to work at it.

I ended up grabbing a strat before I left just to make myself feel a little better.

I now have a heightened respect for you telecaster masters. My hat's off to you.

flatout9 · December 17th, 2009, 02:39 PM

So sorry to hear about your experience. I didn't like teles for a long time but it was like I was finally ready for the tele and now I would rather play it over a strat. What's that saying the 'the teacher appears when the student is ready' or something like that.

nvilletele · December 17th, 2009, 03:49 PM

Sombras - maybe your problem was with the 7.25" fretboard radius? Give the Vintage '52 Hot Rod Tele a try . . . it is 9.5"

musicalmartin · December 17th, 2009, 04:04 PM

There are so many different spec Teles by Fender and others that maybe you should look at you actually want from one spec wise .Sounds like you need a Strat

imsilly · December 17th, 2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sombras

I could not get out of my own way on that thing. Blown licks, buzzy chords, fumbling fingers--it was BAD! I had no clue how accustomed I'd become to my strat. Everything about that tele was odd for me--the chunky neck, medium-high action, skinny frets, hard body edge. When I did finally manage to pull something off it sounded great, but I had to work at it.

Something tells me that the Telecaster you played probably needed a proper setup.

I think Telecasters have a reputation of being hard to play, but I have never noticed it. I definately have my action higher on my Telecaster then on my Les Paul, but that is because I like the way it feels and sounds like that. As for the hard body edges, well can't do much about that, but at least it isn't pointy like this:

dburns · December 17th, 2009, 04:45 PM

I can relate. I didn't like teles at all when I was younger. And I do think strats play a little easier (for me). I wouldn't give up tho...When you find the right tele it will be worth it. It may have been the set up on that particular guitar, but maybe not. I can remember struggling with the '52 RI as well. Just keep an open mind, try some more out. And if you still can't bond with one, no big deal. Nothing wrong with being a strat guy ('bout to barf lol). Just kidding obviously.

Sombras · December 17th, 2009, 05:15 PM

Oh, please don't take me wrong. It was beautiful guitar and it did have a nice sound, but I just wasn't prepared for the difference from my strat.

When I was younger I couldn't play a strat to save my life because I was so accustomed to my Gibson Explorer. Now the strat is my go-to guitar. Go figure.

roadrider502 · December 17th, 2009, 10:27 PM

If you want to compare the 08 strat to a tele then pick up an 08 tele for comparison. IMO you picked up the wrong tele and were let down by rewinding the clock 50+ years.

telideli · December 17th, 2009, 10:46 PM

That tele you played probably wasn't set up right.

robt57 · December 17th, 2009, 10:49 PM

Maybe go back and try a Highway 1 Texas Telecaster...

ruger9 · December 18th, 2009, 06:42 AM

The 52 RI isn't a "normal" tele. I've never played a 52 RI that I liked, and I LOVE my AmStd tele. Plus, it probably did need a setup.

Sombras · December 18th, 2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadrider502

If you want to compare the 08 strat to a tele then pick up an 08 tele for comparison. IMO you picked up the wrong tele and were let down by rewinding the clock 50+ years.

Yah, I think you're right about that. There's an 09 AmStd tele hanging right next to the '52 that I'm gonna try out. I haven't given up. I could tall the '52 was sort of "niche" guitar, but it did sound nice.

Hiker · December 18th, 2009, 12:12 PM

Sombras, your 08 AmSt Strat is an excellent axe, I have no doubt...

Why don't you pick up a butterscotch or two next year, and you might just find IT!

December 17th, 2009, 02:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sombras TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 72	No longer gassing for a Tele I've been gassing for a butterscotch telecaster. Nothing wrong with my 08 AmSt Strat, but those teles are so pretty and have a great vibe. So I swing by a local shop to try out their '52 Reissue Telecaster and... I could not get out of my own way on that thing. Blown licks, buzzy chords, fumbling fingers--it was BAD! I had no clue how accustomed I'd become to my strat. Everything about that tele was odd for me--the chunky neck, medium-high action, skinny frets, hard body edge. When I did finally manage to pull something off it sounded great, but I had to work at it. I ended up grabbing a strat before I left just to make myself feel a little better. I now have a heightened respect for you telecaster masters. My hat's off to you.

December 17th, 2009, 10:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
robt57 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nashville Age: 53 Posts: 10,633 27 Photos	Maybe go back and try a Highway 1 Texas Telecaster... __________________ Leo's Great, Leo's Good, let us thank him for our... Twang! _____________________________ **Exercise the Thumper Doctrine!!

December 18th, 2009, 06:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
ruger9 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 2,279	The 52 RI isn't a "normal" tele. I've never played a 52 RI that I liked, and I LOVE my AmStd tele. Plus, it probably did need a setup. __________________ "I've got callouses, from all those nights, spent playin' a Telecaster, 'till my fingers bled Bud Light" - Travis Tritt

December 18th, 2009, 12:12 PM	#13 (permalink)
Hiker Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,276 5 Photos	Sombras, your 08 AmSt Strat is an excellent axe, I have no doubt... Why don't you pick up a butterscotch or two next year, and you might just find IT! __________________ Hammer On!

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December 17th, 2009, 02:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
flatout9 Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston, TX Age: 33 Posts: 575 3 Photos	So sorry to hear about your experience. I didn't like teles for a long time but it was like I was finally ready for the tele and now I would rather play it over a strat. What's that saying the 'the teacher appears when the student is ready' or something like that.

December 17th, 2009, 03:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
nvilletele Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California Age: 52 Posts: 1,129	Sombras - maybe your problem was with the 7.25" fretboard radius? Give the Vintage '52 Hot Rod Tele a try . . . it is 9.5"

December 17th, 2009, 04:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
musicalmartin Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Norfolk UK Age: 62 Posts: 1,926	There are so many different spec Teles by Fender and others that maybe you should look at you actually want from one spec wise .Sounds like you need a Strat

December 17th, 2009, 04:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
dburns Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: glenolen, pennsylvania Age: 33 Posts: 927	I can relate. I didn't like teles at all when I was younger. And I do think strats play a little easier (for me). I wouldn't give up tho...When you find the right tele it will be worth it. It may have been the set up on that particular guitar, but maybe not. I can remember struggling with the '52 RI as well. Just keep an open mind, try some more out. And if you still can't bond with one, no big deal. Nothing wrong with being a strat guy ('bout to barf lol). Just kidding obviously.

December 17th, 2009, 05:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sombras TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 72	Oh, please don't take me wrong. It was beautiful guitar and it did have a nice sound, but I just wasn't prepared for the difference from my strat. When I was younger I couldn't play a strat to save my life because I was so accustomed to my Gibson Explorer. Now the strat is my go-to guitar. Go figure.

December 17th, 2009, 10:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
roadrider502 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PA Age: 42 Posts: 287	If you want to compare the 08 strat to a tele then pick up an 08 tele for comparison. IMO you picked up the wrong tele and were let down by rewinding the clock 50+ years.

December 17th, 2009, 10:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
telideli Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manhattan, Kansas USA Age: 48 Posts: 938 8 Photos	That tele you played probably wasn't set up right.

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