What the??? How can this one be lighter??

holndav · February 13th, 2004, 11:42 PM

...and be more resonant???

Just got my MIJ Esquire (probably gonna remove the extra pup but that is another story).

Weren't these all made from either Basswood or Alder?

If so, how can it be lighter and more resonant than my homebrew tele in light ash? Seriously, this thing is a feather...could it be ash too???

Second mystery....

I had always assumed that the tight neck joint was critical (or at least desirable)...but this guitar has a gap and a much looser (looking) neck pocket than my others. Does this mean that a tight neck pocket doesn't matter that much so long as it is a good fit and quality woods...?

I should really say too that I thought it would be hard to top the feel of my homebrew (MIJ neck with custom body) but this guitar is phenomenal! If I weren't so dang happy I wouldn't say this.

Amazing! Less than six bills and it looks/feels like I paid 3x that much!

David

Walter Broes · February 14th, 2004, 05:27 AM

I have a made in Japan "50's tele" and it's also one of the lighter teles I've played, and it's supposedly basswood too. Great guitar, whatever it's made of!

TeleGeir · February 14th, 2004, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holndav

Second mystery....

I had always assumed that the tight neck joint was critical (or at least desirable)...but this guitar has a gap and a much looser (looking) neck pocket than my others. Does this mean that a tight neck pocket doesn't matter that much so long as it is a good fit and quality woods...?

Tight neck pockets are a sign of good craftsmanship, I guess. (Or rather a good CNC program these days.) But I never understood why it would matter to sound. After all the neck is screwed to the body thorugh the back, not the sides. There is no pressure to talk about between neck and sides around the pocket, so it should not matter to sound.

Another unsubstantiated myth, IMHO...

Geir :)

sneakyjapan · February 14th, 2004, 09:29 AM

my MIJ 1989 Esquire is not my lightest tele and I think it is made of sen. Plays great though, terrific neck. Sounds good to boot. Won`t be selling it any time soon.
Oh yeah, its kinda of a babybarf... somebody put too much milk in the... butterscotch yellow.

timgreene · February 14th, 2004, 10:36 AM

Bass wood should be lighter than ash. At least the basswood I know of, it is very light and soft.

Colo Springs E · February 14th, 2004, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timgreene

Bass wood should be lighter than ash. At least the basswood I know of, it is very light and soft.

I agree with this, at least in my experience. Isn't the JD MIJ Tele basswood? I had one once that I swear couldn't have weighed 6 pounds, it was literally a featherweight.

-Eric

February 13th, 2004, 11:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
holndav Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 1,316 44 Photos	What the??? How can this one be lighter?? ...and be more resonant??? Just got my MIJ Esquire (probably gonna remove the extra pup but that is another story). Weren't these all made from either Basswood or Alder? If so, how can it be lighter and more resonant than my homebrew tele in light ash? Seriously, this thing is a feather...could it be ash too??? Second mystery.... I had always assumed that the tight neck joint was critical (or at least desirable)...but this guitar has a gap and a much looser (looking) neck pocket than my others. Does this mean that a tight neck pocket doesn't matter that much so long as it is a good fit and quality woods...? I should really say too that I thought it would be hard to top the feel of my homebrew (MIJ neck with custom body) but this guitar is phenomenal! If I weren't so dang happy I wouldn't say this. Amazing! Less than six bills and it looks/feels like I paid 3x that much! David __________________ "If we can't be free at least we can be cheap". FZ

February 14th, 2004, 09:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
sneakyjapan Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nippon Posts: 2,493 3 Photos	my MIJ 1989 Esquire is not my lightest tele and I think it is made of sen. Plays great though, terrific neck. Sounds good to boot. Won`t be selling it any time soon. Oh yeah, its kinda of a babybarf... somebody put too much milk in the... butterscotch yellow. __________________ quasi mojo

February 14th, 2004, 10:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
timgreene Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,257 10 Photos	no mystery. Bass wood should be lighter than ash. At least the basswood I know of, it is very light and soft.

February 14th, 2004, 05:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Walter Broes Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Age: 38 Posts: 473	I have a made in Japan "50's tele" and it's also one of the lighter teles I've played, and it's supposedly basswood too. Great guitar, whatever it's made of!