info about telecaster baja vs. thinline 72

[thuwie]

hello my tele friends.

I have a problem
i am going to buy a new tele and i am not shure which one to buy.

i love the baja in desert sand and the thinline in sunburst
but looks aren't everything the sound is the most important.

who can tell me something about playability and the sounds of the 2 guitars.

is it true the baja sounds darker?is the baja more versatile? can you play clean with the thinline humbuckers?


people who own one of these guitars please help me out here .

[VWAmTele]

Welcome to the forum! I never played a Thinline but own a Baja and couldn't be happier. It is the best combination of old/new features with a large spectrum of sounds. If you do a search here on 'Baja' you'll find lots of feedback - 99% very positive.

[Jeru]

Just IMO, and keping in mind that I do not own either of these guitars (though I do have a MIM '69 RI thinline and a custom with a neck bucker)..:

I dare say that the Baja will do things that the 72 won't, that is, the thinline RI with the buckers and that bridge won't spank and twang the same way the baja will. Also, baja has the features to cover a LOT of tonal ground, many sounds in there to be had..

Definitely play both. Get the one that speak to you. On stats and features alone, and especially if this is your first tele (you didn't say), I'm leaning heaviliy towards recommending the baja.

All the best,

JR

[fungusyoung]

I'd also strongly suggest you play both. In my experience, there are some GREAT Baja Teles out there, and some real dogs with issues ranging from heavy weight to bad fits & finishes & just general lack of quality control.

There's several threads here on both guitars- do a search & read on for days.

Personally (I'm obviously biased), I'd suggest a Thinline!

[Jake D]

I've played many Baja's and I own a '72 Thinline.

I really like the neck on the Thinline. There is an almost Gibson-like margin for error on it. It frets really easy. These are oninions that are really particular to me, however, so YMMV. The pickups sound great clean, IMO. I use them pretty close to clean all the time and I use a lot of delay for a pretty wet sound (rockabilly slapback sound).

That said, the Thinline has really bright pickups and not a broad spectrum of tones available. Also, there isn't a lot of options out there for pickups unless you want to get a pickguard that is routed for Gibson sized humbuckers or get your pups rewound.

I think you obviously should have one of each, but I LOVE the Thinline. I mostly play rockabilly these days and it is great for that. My other single coil equiped tele is used for blues. So. . .as always. . . play them and let your left hand decide.*


*Unless you're a lefty, then let your right hand decide.

[scottocaster]

thuwie,
The 72'ri Thinline is a great guitar, sounds great plugged right into the amp or through pedals. I own this guitar along with a 52'ri and a Muddy Waters. I have grabbed a number of Baja off the racks at GC, most were too heavy and poorly setup to keep me interested.
See if you can try a MW, you might like it alot.
Scott

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by thuwie

is it true the baja sounds darker?is the baja more versatile? can you play clean with the thinline humbuckers?

Nothing particularly dark about a Baja. The S-1 makes an extremely versatile guitar even more so, but the switch is the only fragile part on the whole guitar. Bajas can be heavy, please buy yours in person after serious examination. Get the blonde if you can. I have 7 of the Desert Sands, and they get kinda boring to look at sometimes; a thin black pickguard will help.


Clean with the Thinline pups? Maybe a little; the Thinline is a snazzy escape from the usual rules of the Telecaster, and it is playable if you like fairly thin necks, but I find it isn't quite a Tele, sound wise. It reminds me of a childhood pal who was all hopped up to buy a new big block Camaro and came home somehow with a beautiful 68 Corvair. Neat little car, but I didn't know that was what he wanted.

[thuwie]

so the most of you are saying i should get a baja

but i have to be ware of its weight


tho i really like the thinline model its re'ally cool





is the thinline better distorded?

[fungusyoung]

I don't think the heavy weight of some Baja's is their biggest issue at all, but the ones I've loved tended not to be boat anchors.

Both of these guitars are very versatile. A big factor to consider in your decision is maybe the type of music you play or tone you're going for. If you want a more traditional Tele twang sound, the Baja may be a better fit... whereas Thinlines are great for rock and blues.

As long as you get a good Baja you really can't go wrong either way, but again... I'd strongly encourage you to play both guitars before buying.

[Frank B]

The two a fairly different. My thinline has become my #1 player and I never expected that. I really like it a lot.
Again, like my fellow members here, I say play them both and figure out what you intend to play with it.
baja = twang
thinline = no twang

[nrps]

Thinline :