Help Me Choose...50's Classic, 60's Classi, or Hwy 1 Tele

[gidcumb73]

Hello everybody. I wanted to get everybodies advise on my future guitar purchase. I have been wanting to get a tele bad for the last couple of months and have been hanging out in this forum trying to get some ideas. I have narrowed it down to either a MIM 50's Classic, American Hwy 1, or MIM 60's Classic.

I am leaning towards a rosewood fretboard, but it is not set in stone. I can get a Hwy 1 for $495, but it has a maple fretboard (white blonde or sunburst). I can get the 50's classic for $550 (white blonde or two-tone sunburst, both with maple fretboards) and at another store I found a beautiful 60's classic w/rosewood fretboard for $635. The same store also had a White Blonde Hwy 1 w/rosewood fretboard, but the lowest I could get them down to was $575.

What is your opions on maple vs. rosewood? My strat has maple, but I have always dug a nice dark rosewood fretboard. What is a fair price for the 50's, 60's and H wy 1 guitars? Should I pay the extra money at the other store and get the Hwy 1 w/rosewood? I am also holding out because I am going to the 2004 Winter Guitar show in Columbus, Ohio and I am sure there will be plenty there to try out....but I am wanting a new guitar bad. I hope I can hold out to this weekend.

Thanks

Joe

[Mark Davis]

I have owned both the 50's and 60's Classics.

The 60's Classic sounded better to me 100% stock than the 50's Classic did. It has a richer sound and for me the pickups in it were fine.

The HWY1 uses all the same pickups and hardware as the 50's and 60's Classics do so its not much different except for the finish.

I'd choose one of these 3 Teles if I was gonna buy a new one right now.

50's Classic
60's Classic
Muddy Waters

[hippietim]

Those are all good guitars. You can't go wrong with any of them. Here's my take:[*]I like the looks of the 50's the best[*]the feel of the neck on the 50's is the best but it has itty-bitty little frets I can't hang with - I ended up replacing the neck on mine - a lot folks love 'em so I'd suggest you put your hands on it[*]the 50's sounded great but I ended up replacing the pickups because I replaced the neck with a baritone conversion neck tuned to low A and the stock pickups didn't handle that low A very well - sigh.[*]the 60's is very cool - sounds good, the neck feel is different, not bad just different - it also has the itty-bitty little frets - also the 60's is alder vs. ash with the 50's[*]The Highway has an alder body too - they sound really good too.[*]in the end, I'd probably go with the Highway because it has jumbo frets

As for pricing, expect to spend between 450-650 depending on new/used and discounts.

Another model that I'd consider is the Muddy Waters Tele. It's the same price as the Classic series - very nice configuration IMO.

http://www.fender.com/gear/gear.php?partno=0138500

[Matt Hesley]

Hey Joe,

The 50's classics are great. Like the guys said above, if you were to find a good one you'd love it.

BUT it sounds to me like you'd really rather have the rosewood board. If you don't plan to buy another one for awhile after this, then I think I'd save up the extra bucks and get that 60's. You'll be more satisfied in the long run if you have the guitar you really really want. 8)

Just my 2c. Good luck! Let us know what you wind up with!

Matt

Joe:

Play them all and pick the one that "speaks" to you. Really. The one that feels best and sounds best and plays best and looks the best is the right one for you, no matter what anybody else thinks about rosewood or maple or maple syrup.

If none of them feel quite right, keep looking. The world won't end if you don't get a Tele this week or this month. Play as many Telecasters as you can, of all different types, and you'll know the right one when you feel it in your hands.

And I know money is always an issue, but the difference between $495 and $635 won't matter much a few years from now -- especially if you've been playing a guitar you're really happy with that whole time. Whether the guitar costs a little more or a little less is not nearly as important as enjoying it. Some of my favorite guitars, basses and amps have been ones I paid very little for, and some have been really expensive.

Sorry for the non-answer, but that's the way it's always worked best for me. Best of luck, and have fun shopping and getting to know the TELECASTER. :-) CS

ETA P.S. Wow, you guys are fast! There were several answers added above while I was typing mine -- and they're all good advice. :-)

[tlw]

I had been looking at the same guitars plus the 69 Thinline reissue. I was all set to get either the 69 or the 50s, and then I tryed a G&L ASAT Classic Tribute (the ash bodied version). IMHO, it had twice the tone of any of the Fenders. I like the feel of the necks on the 69 and 50s better, but the sound of the G&L was overwhelming. It may be worth if for you to check out the G&Ls.

[btubbs]

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the ones you're looking at. I have a 50's... I love the sound and the feel, and I figured for my first Tele I might as well get as close as I could to everything that was cool about Teles in the first place. On the other hand, neither of your other choices was available a couple years ago. My next one will probably be a 60's, for some contrast.

One major area of difference between the 50's/60's and the Hwy1 is the neck. The Classics have a chunkier shape, a 7.25" radius, and vintage (small) frets. Some people are put off by that. The Hwy1s are modern style, with 9.5" radius, and bigger frets. One of these is going to feel more comfortable to you. Price difference isn't that much.

[KC]

since you're going to replace the pickups anyway, if you hang around here long enough -- is how you feel about vintage frets / vintage radius. and this is something I don't think will be particularly obvious in a ten-minute showroom-floor tryout. I'd try to work out with a modern-feeling neck like the Highway 1 for a while, then really give the vintage frets / radius on the 50's & 60's teles a chance. you may decide -- as I did -- that you like the vintage feel better, at which point you can pretty much buy 'em for the colors.

this is entirely a matter of personal taste -- how your hands fit the neck. I can do albert king bends anywhere on a vintage neck and not fret out. some people like big frets and flat necks and some people don't -- worth finding out which kind you are, if you can, before you buy the guitar.

and just to complicate things further, do check out the '69 thinline reissue -- gig guitar of the gods, and a great player -- if you like a vintage feel. good luck. my bet is you're going to love whatever you get. it's a great time to be shopping for mid-price fenders.

[Colo Springs E]

....though I normally like larger necks, flatter radius, and larger frets, sometimes I'll pick up a guitar that has none of those, and love it!

I had a 60s Tele that I loved, and I don't really care for small vintage frets. But that one played like a dream. Go figure

-Eric

[lenny]

yea. everyone has different sized hands, and preferences, which amount to what feels right. all of those are good guitars. get the one that looks and feels the coolest

[Bill Beck]

And the Hwy. 1 was the one for me...way more resonance, lighter, spank, plus I hate vintage frets/radius...It spoke to me. $550 out the door at GC.
The stock p/u's are fine too.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by Bill Beck

And the Hwy. 1 was the one for me...way more resonance, lighter, spank, plus I hate vintage frets/radius...It spoke to me. $550 out the door at GC.
The stock p/u's are fine too.

Bill, I agree! I did enjoy the neck on my Hiway 1. Given a choice between the 3... I'd probably opt for a Daphne BLue Hiway 1 like Inertian's.... MAYBE with a maple board, I just can't decide!!

-Eric

[ye olde fretmonkey]

A buddy of mine's got a 69 Thinline Reissue that's a really sweet playing, jangly sounding guitar.

My only gripe about it is that it's actually a little too light, to the point where it feels neck heavy and fragile. [/u]

[sticko]

Loving my white MIM 60's Classic Croppercaster over here!

But I agree that the guitar that says, "Hello! I am YOUR guitar" is the one that you should go with.