Just got my Classic 50's Tele and here's what I have to say

Blaster · April 25th, 2003, 06:42 PM

Just got my Classic 50's Tele from Sam Ash.

Here's the good:

The Tele is finished with a Mary Kay finish and it does look good. The neck is chunky and has a slight flame to it. The neck wasn't as vintage tinted as I would like but it still looks ok. The neck in the body fits real tight. The hardware appears to be pretty good quality. The neck pickup is very full sounding and seems to have good sustain.

The not so good:

The Tele weighs about 8 lbs. It is about 1/2 lb heavier than I would have like it to be. The bridge pickup is thin and ice pick sounding and doesn't match the fullness of the neck pickup. I really don't care for the vintage frets, but I can live with them.

Overall, I have 45 days to test drive it and I will see if it is a keeper. Anyobne else have one and other comments

The Snowman · April 25th, 2003, 07:46 PM

I would try to lower the bridge pup if ya don't like it soooo icepicky...I personally love the sharpest tone I can get and the icepick tone is what I love....anyway, lower the bridge pup and then adjust the neck for the volume level ya want to achieve....it should mellow out the bridge pup....but what I do is live on the middle position...and when I solo...I'll switch either way to accent a phrase...I ride the switch constantly...sooo for me, Icepick gives me great tone in the mid position.....good luck....oh, as far as weight goes...it aint sooo bad 7 1/2 - 8 is about average.....don

Mark Davis · April 25th, 2003, 08:38 PM

The bridge pickup in this model does sound too thin and ice picky. Almost everyone who bought one has changed the pickups.

My 50's Classic was 6.5 lbs take it back and get a lighter weight one from Larry @ Music One.

Blaster · April 25th, 2003, 11:58 PM

I have Harmonic Designs V+ on my other 2 Teles and they sound full and fat. The pickup on the Classic 50's sounds to bright no matter even when I adjusted the pup. The pup also has little body and sounds thin.

Due to the 45 day trial period I will wait to swap out the pups.

***Also, does anyone have the neck that is finished with a vintage tint? My neck looks like a MIM Std neck that was polished. It's pretty white.

I may decide to try out another Classic 50's if this one doesn't turn out.

Colo Springs E · April 26th, 2003, 05:55 AM

....some are too "orange," look kinda funky.

Mine was beautiful. Mine did not have flame to it though. Mine was an absolute BOAT ANCHOR, Les Paul heavy (9 lbs, 14 oz!). Nearly ten pounds, heaviest Tele (by far) I've ever owned!! But it sounded and played great, so I didn't really mind the weight that much.

-Eric

Blaster · April 26th, 2003, 11:46 PM

Not sure what I feel about this guitar. For one thing I don't care for the pickups and I also don't care for the bright neck. I would have prefered a vintage amber neck. The bad thing about buying sight unseen like mail order is that you never know.

Scotland · April 27th, 2003, 06:46 AM

Changed the bridge pickup for a AV 52RI. Neck pickup is a keeper. Tint is just the right vintage.
If I was you, I'd return it and get another one. Yours sounds like a "mail order" can't sell it from the shop type. There are loads of light ones around and they are fantastic guitars generally. You don't sound happy with this one so you would regret it after a short while and would put you off the series completely which would be a crying shame.

April 25th, 2003, 06:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Blaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Down in Western Colorado Age: 51 Posts: 421	Just got my Classic 50's Tele and here's what I have to say Just got my Classic 50's Tele from Sam Ash. Here's the good: The Tele is finished with a Mary Kay finish and it does look good. The neck is chunky and has a slight flame to it. The neck wasn't as vintage tinted as I would like but it still looks ok. The neck in the body fits real tight. The hardware appears to be pretty good quality. The neck pickup is very full sounding and seems to have good sustain. The not so good: The Tele weighs about 8 lbs. It is about 1/2 lb heavier than I would have like it to be. The bridge pickup is thin and ice pick sounding and doesn't match the fullness of the neck pickup. I really don't care for the vintage frets, but I can live with them. Overall, I have 45 days to test drive it and I will see if it is a keeper. Anyobne else have one and other comments

April 25th, 2003, 07:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
The Snowman Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philly Pa Posts: 763	I would try to lower the bridge pup if ya don't like it soooo icepicky...I personally love the sharpest tone I can get and the icepick tone is what I love....anyway, lower the bridge pup and then adjust the neck for the volume level ya want to achieve....it should mellow out the bridge pup....but what I do is live on the middle position...and when I solo...I'll switch either way to accent a phrase...I ride the switch constantly...sooo for me, Icepick gives me great tone in the mid position.....good luck....oh, as far as weight goes...it aint sooo bad 7 1/2 - 8 is about average.....don __________________ it ain't nuttin but the bluez....

April 26th, 2003, 05:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Colo Springs E Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 4,903 5 Photos	Mine had a beautiful vintage amber color..... ....some are too "orange," look kinda funky. Mine was beautiful. Mine did not have flame to it though. Mine was an absolute BOAT ANCHOR, Les Paul heavy (9 lbs, 14 oz!). Nearly ten pounds, heaviest Tele (by far) I've ever owned!! But it sounded and played great, so I didn't really mind the weight that much. -Eric __________________ Now his hat is on backwards He can show you his tattoos He is in the music business He is calling you "DUDE!"

April 26th, 2003, 11:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Blaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Down in Western Colorado Age: 51 Posts: 421	Yeah - I will give it the try out for 45 days Not sure what I feel about this guitar. For one thing I don't care for the pickups and I also don't care for the bright neck. I would have prefered a vintage amber neck. The bad thing about buying sight unseen like mail order is that you never know.

April 27th, 2003, 06:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 54 Posts: 6,288 3 Photos	Mine is 5.5 lbs. Changed the bridge pickup for a AV 52RI. Neck pickup is a keeper. Tint is just the right vintage. If I was you, I'd return it and get another one. Yours sounds like a "mail order" can't sell it from the shop type. There are loads of light ones around and they are fantastic guitars generally. You don't sound happy with this one so you would regret it after a short while and would put you off the series completely which would be a crying shame. __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

April 25th, 2003, 08:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 11,803	The bridge pickup in this model does sound too thin and ice picky. Almost everyone who bought one has changed the pickups. My 50's Classic was 6.5 lbs take it back and get a lighter weight one from Larry @ Music One.

April 25th, 2003, 11:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Blaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Down in Western Colorado Age: 51 Posts: 421	I have Harmonic Designs V+ on my other 2 Teles and they sound full and fat. The pickup on the Classic 50's sounds to bright no matter even when I adjusted the pup. The pup also has little body and sounds thin. Due to the 45 day trial period I will wait to swap out the pups. ***Also, does anyone have the neck that is finished with a vintage tint? My neck looks like a MIM Std neck that was polished. It's pretty white. I may decide to try out another Classic 50's if this one doesn't turn out.