First Tele, any suggestions?

[MiniMoose234]

Hi, i just joined the board, excelent source of gas and information haha

Im mainly a bass player (never really clicked with guitar, played a bass and loved it, have several and im gettin respectably good at playing) but i recently got a good acoustic to play, and started playing my old Ibanez ART300 electric again, and something must of happenned in the past year and a half, things are workin and im lovin it!

Now im planning on getting a vox ac4tv (based on reviews from the forum, thanks :D) so i have something good and nice to have (i have a really bad line 6 amp, and want something more..real)

so now i have the dilema of finding a tele...ive loved almost every tele ive played, they just really seem to fit me and feel right. I dont have a lot of money to spend, because being a 15 year old sucks. So im trying to find the best deals. I want something insanely versitile, since i play jazzy stuff, to blues, to funk, to more modern stuff like recent red hot chili peppers. ive looked into all the humbucker equipped teles, and i cant get a sound i like out of them. so i think im just gonna stick with a basic tele.

SO any suggestions for not too expensive (about $400 at most) teles availiable used?

sorry about the huge wall of text, i rant too much sometimes >.<


(also, has anyone heard of or know anything about these? http://stores.ebay.com/MJT-Aged-Guitar-Finishes they have deals for $375 for a custom finished nitro body, and i would love a nitro finish so it would wear over time as i played it. i could get a neck off ebay or somewhere, ut its just another idea. i could save up some more to do this)

[ADK Teleman]

I would say start out with a MIM Standard Tele...you can get deals at AMS on them...They are IMO great guitars...I own one and play it..I also have a gorgeous HWY 1 Tele...another great guitar!

[Shiro]

Originally Posted by ADK Teleman

I would say start out with a MIM Standard Tele...you can get deals at AMS on them...They are IMO great guitars...I own one and play it..I also have a gorgeous HWY 1 Tele...another great guitar!

+1 I gig the same two guitars. My Hwy1 in standard tuning and the MIM Std. in open G. They are great guitars that either could be had used for the money you have. There are alot of people here that say the Classic Vibe is the bomb at 350.00 or so new.

[Tiednbound]

I got a VOX AC4TV a few months ago and am very pleased with it. I don't even think I've plugged my Telecaster in my G-Dec, yet.

You just missed a couple of months of good Fender-Friday sales for new guitars ..... The good news is expect some good sales approaching and just after the winter holidays. The MIM Telecasters are very nice and regulary sell for about $500 street price, before any extra sales promotions. There will be variations in the neck profiles of some models, so it's still good to try out the different ones.

[MiniMoose234]

im lookin for some used ones, to save some money. any models tolook out for thatocassionaly endup on ebay or craigslist in the free-$400 range? haha

[doster]

You can find decent MIM Teles on Craig's List for $250, sometimes cheaper, they can be really nice guitars. I've got a friend with a CV and I've played it a lot, that's a killer guitar, they can even be found for $250 here and there. Take your time and play it if you can first.

[Rumblebones]

Fender standard (MIM) is what you want. Squier CV is an option. Some Best Buy stores have musical instruments. You might find a new MIM for under $400 there. (I've seen new '07s for $375 at my local Best Buy this past summer.) Craigslist is another option. TDPRI classifieds. I also suggest parental advice as well.

'09 MIM had some minor changes. A nicer version of the Fender Standard.

Partscasters are cool, but can pricey if your not careful.

[timmer114]

Howdy,

Grats on clicking with your acoustic..

I think your on the right track with a Tele, all the music styles you describe are quite doable with the tele. That said, I think the other posters are right on with the Mexi-Tele. I really love mine and out of the box they are a nice instrument and a good value.

Another nice thing is that there is no end to the options or upgrades you can do to the MIM Tele down the road if the tele bug really takes a big bite =)

[Ortho]

Ditto on the MIM Standard, a gigworthy instrument STOCK. A more versatile Tele IMO than the Classic Vibe for ALL types of music.

I do NOT recommend the Classic Vibe (Stratish-necked Tele) as a first Tele stop precisely BECAUSE of the vintage pickups (however great though not all great sounding at this point) as well as the vintagey vulnerable bridge. Recent reviews vary.

I would also not recommend even the 52 RI as a first stop Tele. BTW, I know some people, including myself who PREFER the stock neck pickup on a MIM Standard to the neck pu on the Reissue )modern wiring). I find it somewhat "gooey."

The allegedly crappy stock pu's on the MIM Standard will serve you better with higher gain stuff...Bakersfield type Tele country...a woodier jazz...classic funk.

[redcurtis]

+1. MIM standard used. Even in the great white north we see those used for ~400, and they are great axes.

[Ortho]

A Big BTW: test each guitar unplugged FIRST. How does it sound acoustically? Strings in unison and with chords. Strings SEPARATELY (the MOST important). A sense of string separation is KEY to a good sounding Tele. Upand down the neck. Do you get a sense of resonance and life in the neck? Stores that have blaring music overhead can make this impossible as well people your own age and some adults riffing with heavy distortion. Go to the acoustic room a quiet place or corner. No need to "fit in" with the clueless.

You will find that this is usually associated with WEIGHT: not too heavy, not too light, around 7 pounds (bring a scale, lol) is great, IMO. Don't be fooled by what can seem like the bigger sound of a truck. Sometimes there's not a lot inside of that truck...just essentially one package.

There are NO amount of upgrades or mods that will a make guitar that sounds so-so unplugged sound great. Don't let anyone esp. a sales associate try to tell you otherwise. And don't let ANYONE rush you, including friends and family...or make color the deciding fator.

Frankly, in the case of the MIM Standard, some of the obsession on mods would be better focused on improving one's playing...from taking the time to adjust the pu's and the amp.

[Ronkirn]

Wellll..

I noticed all the above posts are chatting about gear…. And gear is great… but great gear never did anything but take up floor space. It’s not the gear, it’s never going to be the gear, it is always the 6 inches of grey matter between your ears. You wanted a suggestion….

My suggestion is, at 15, you have the world at your finger tips… do not, ever, ever, think of yourself as a guitarist, consider yourself a musician…. One that uses the guitar. . . Then become one….

To do so you must study music. Learn to read music, become fluent in the language of music, and use the guitar to express yourself.

To do that you must find a good music instructor, and accept the fact that to get to where you want to go, you will have to endure hours, days, weeks, months, years of playing those boring scales and arpeggios.

Do that, and in a few years you will be so far ahead of your contemporaries, there will be no compitition. Fail to do so and you will almost certainly never be a musician. The best you will achieve is becoming a technician. Technicians can memorize, and repeat, but contribute nothing. When the band leader says, “Take it” you will be wondering what’s he want me to take?

Oh yeah.. do not get hung up in searching for the utopian guitar.. first, it doesn’t exist, second, if you DID find it, you will be looking for something else in a relatively short time. Just getcha a good guitar, and don’t be “seduced” by names and labels, good is always good, and you’ll know it when you find it. And remember, if your fingers don’t hurt, you ain’t practicin’ enough. The best guitarists on the planet typically practice more in a week than most “wannabees” do in a year, so who do you want to play like?

Ron Kirn

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by Ortho

A more versatile Tele IMO than the Classic Vibe for ALL types of music.

I do NOT recommend the Classic Vibe (Stratish-necked Tele) as a first Tele stop precisely BECAUSE of the vintage pickups (however great though not all great sounding at this point) as well as the vintagey vulnerable bridge.

Say WHAT??...

"More VERSATILE than the Classic Vibe"??? "Stratish-necked Tele"??? "Vintage Pickups"??? "Vintagey vulnerable bridge"???...

Sorry, Ortho, but I'm guessing that you don't own a Squier Classic Vibe with strange and misleading comments like that. I'd also go as far as to suggest that you might even be confusing the Classic Vibe with some other Tele model? Because those comments don't in any way resemble my own CV, or any of the many others I have seen and played.

I don't think it is fair to the OP to hijack the thread and enter into a sub-discussion on the nuances of the Squier Classic Vibe, so please let's not get into an argument about it here.

The OP asked for suggestions about what he MIGHT buy, rather than what he should NOT consider, and in that respect I wholeheartedly agree with you that the MIM Standard is well worth considering as a start-up Tele. Heck - some folks wouldn't ever want to buy anything else!...

However, as well as taking this chance to offer a warm "Welcome" to the TDPRI, MiniMoose234, may I also humbly suggest that you weigh up all the suggestions here, then go and TRY a few of the most obvious - remember, when all is said and done this is going to be YOUR Telecaster, so don't discount ANYTHING just because someone ELSE has a personal dislike.

In defence of the Squier Classic Vibe, which was introduced in the middle of last year, there are already over THREE HUNDRED members of this forum who own them. They are a superb guitar, and I would recommend them alongside the MIM Standard without any hesitation. Having played both, if I had to choose right now it would be a pretty difficult decision!

Don't take my word for it - see what the other guys have to say for it on THIS THREAD (click for link).

Also, here is a little head-to-head demo against a USA Standard Telecaster:



Good luck with whatever you choose!

['56Teleman]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

Wellll..

I noticed all the above posts are chatting about gear…. And gear is great… but great gear never did anything but take up floor space. It’s not the gear, it’s never going to be the gear, it is always the 6 inches of grey matter between your ears. You wanted a suggestion….

My suggestion is, at 15, you have the world at your finger tips… do not, ever, ever, think of yourself as a guitarist, consider yourself a musician…. One that uses the guitar. . . Then become one….

To do so you must study music. Learn to read music, become fluent in the language of music, and use the guitar to express yourself.

To do that you must find a good music instructor, and accept the fact that to get to where you want to go, you will have to endure hours, days, weeks, months, years of playing those boring scales and arpeggios.

Do that, and in a few years you will be so far ahead of your contemporaries, there will be no compitition. Fail to do so and you will almost certainly never be a musician. The best you will achieve is becoming a technician. Technicians can memorize, and repeat, but contribute nothing. When the band leader says, “Take it” you will be wondering what’s he want me to take?

Oh yeah.. do not get hung up in searching for the utopian guitar.. first, it doesn’t exist, second, if you DID find it, you will be looking for something else in a relatively short time. Just getcha a good guitar, and don’t be “seduced” by names and labels, good is always good, and you’ll know it when you find it. And remember, if your fingers don’t hurt, you ain’t practicin’ enough. The best guitarists on the planet typically practice more in a week than most “wannabees” do in a year, so who do you want to play like?

Ron Kirn

MiniMoose234, read this, then read it again.

[Mark N]

if you look hard enough you will find a good deal on a used MIM 50's classic tele...sweeet guitars!!!!

[danajohnhill]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

...
My suggestion is, at 15, you have the world at your finger tips… do not, ever, ever, think of yourself as a guitarist, consider yourself a musician…. One that uses the guitar. . . Then become one….

Ron Kirn

It's no surprise, but Ron Kirn is right on the money about this.

You can think of a guitar and amplifier as an investment, but the biggest investment you can make is in yourself. Fifteen is a pretty good age to have music start making sense. I was lucky to come from a family of trained musicians, but, even if you aren't, there are plenty of people who can teach you.

Learn the language of music. You're playing rock and roll, so you don't have to worry about Köchels and andantes and whatnot, but make sure that whenever you're playing with other people, you know what key you're in, what the I, ii, iii, IV, V, and vi are in that key, and have a feel for where the music is going. That last part is a rather nebulous concept, but once you have been playing for a while, you will just get it.

As for guitars, I tend to believe that it's easier to learn when you're playing a good instrument. But, Kirn's right that that is secondary to learning music.

Good luck.

[Shiro]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

Wellll..

I noticed all the above posts are chatting about gear….
Ron Kirn

Maybe that's because of what the OP's question was.

[beep.click]

Originally Posted by MiniMoose234

started playing my old Ibanez ART300 electric again,

ive loved almost every tele ive played, they just really seem to fit me and feel right

SO any suggestions for not too expensive (about $400 at most) teles availiable used?

Well, you've got an electric guitar, so you're not desperate. You've liked almost every Tele so far, so you have a good sense of what you're getting into.

Taking those things into consideration, I'd say -- play every bargain that comes your way. Sooner or later, ONE guitar is going "leap out at you." Sooner or later, you'll find yourself saying, "THIS one is special." That's the one to buy.

If you focus on finding some specific model or feature, you stand a good chance of missing The Special One.

[Fogboundturtle]

I love my MIM Telecaster. Great instrument that can last a lifetime.

[Ronkirn]

Maybe that's because of what the OP's question was.

You may want to note the title... "First Tele, any suggestions?" with specific attention toward the little curly thing at the end. That is a punctuation mark, specifically a question mark, indicating a question preceded it.

any OTHER questions?

Ron Kirn

[boris bubbanov]

Being 15 does not suck. Trust me, I was there once and now I understand.

Play the guitar you have often; sample more and more Teles were-ever you can..........................

Until you start liking some Teles more and others less.

Don't buy a Tele until 2-3 seem better suited to you, then get one of those best suited for you. Buy the fattest neck you can stand, because in time you'll want that, anyway.

[falconer]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

Buy the fattest neck you can stand, because in time you'll want that, anyway.

+1

[Ortho]

Originally Posted by Fatmanstratman

Say WHAT??...

"More VERSATILE than the Classic Vibe"??? "Stratish-necked Tele"??? "Vintage Pickups"??? "Vintagey vulnerable bridge"???...

Sorry, Ortho, but I'm guessing that you don't own a Squier Classic Vibe with strange and misleading comments like that. I'd also go as far as to suggest that you might even be confusing the Classic Vibe with some other Tele model? Because those comments don't in any way resemble my own CV, or any of the many others I have seen and played.

I don't think it is fair to the OP to hijack the thread and enter into a sub-discussion on the nuances of the Squier Classic Vibe, so please let's not get into an argument about it here.

The OP asked for suggestions about what he MIGHT buy, rather than what he should NOT consider, and in that respect I wholeheartedly agree with you that the MIM Standard is well worth considering as a start-up Tele. Heck - some folks wouldn't ever want to buy anything else!...

However, as well as taking this chance to offer a warm "Welcome" to the TDPRI, MiniMoose234, may I also humbly suggest that you weigh up all the suggestions here, then go and TRY a few of the most obvious - remember, when all is said and done this is going to be YOUR Telecaster, so don't discount ANYTHING just because someone ELSE has a personal dislike.

In defence of the Squier Classic Vibe, which was introduced in the middle of last year, there are already over THREE HUNDRED members of this forum who own them. They are a superb guitar, and I would recommend them alongside the MIM Standard without any hesitation. Having played both, if I had to choose right now it would be a pretty difficult decision!

Don't take my word for it - see what the other guys have to say for it on THIS THREAD (click for link).

Also, here is a little head-to-head demo against a USA Standard Telecaster:



Good luck with whatever you choose!

So much for not hijacking the thread. Next time around, feel free to take your own advice. But hey since we're both unable to control ourselves...

I DID say that for a vintage type guitar the Classic Vibe would be the choice. What more do you want? How many members own one...great. I've owned 52 Reissues, American Standards various Strats,Les Pauls and several Martins. Big deal.

If part of the "religion" is to also profess undying devotion to a particular model Tele, please let me know. But frankly, I don't think most forum members ultimately see it that way. And more recent reviews of the Classic Vibe Tele are let's say more variable though generally positive.

I am talking about my experience of playing various Classic Vibe Teles initially and very recently. I do NOT have to own one to be able to have an opinion. I think they are great when they are great, but for a long haul guitar I side with the MIM and even did NOT recommend the 52 Reissue. And I do recommend the MIM as versatile in the long haul, and I'm sticking to that. Also, get back to me after a year of heavy gigging with that bridge in the Classic Vibe, not after a year of living room noodling.

It's nice to get the juices flowing and I can certainly learn more and I enjoyed YOUR post believe it or not. It helps me challenge my own opinions...in short, peace.

At the end of my post I in some ways anticipate the fleshed out advice of that mate who advocates focusing on learning music and improving one's playing.

And to do a side by side, if you could really play, you could gig with a good MIM stock no problem. "You" meaning anyone.

When songs and music matter the most, it isn't "My guitar can beat up your guitar" or "Hey, don't talk about my guitar. That's my girlfriend."

Seriously, you're great and this is a great forum.

[Shiro]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

You may want to note the title... "First Tele, any suggestions?" with specific attention toward the little curly thing at the end. That is a punctuation mark, specifically a question mark, indicating a question preceded it.

any OTHER questions?

Ron Kirn

Excuse me. It looked like he wanted a suggestion of what Tele to get. Not A lecture of mucisianship oh Great Lord of the Telecaster kingdom. Just because you make a nice guitar doesn't make you the say all end all of Guitar advise. Get over yourself.

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by Ortho

So much for not hijacking the thread. Next time around, feel free to take your own advice.

Ortho - thank you for the response. I deliberately DIDN'T want to hijack the thread, hence the reason for saying (quote): "so please let's not get into an argument about it here". I'm really sorry, but I cannot find where you said "For a vintage type guitar the Classic Vibe would be the choice" anywhere - did I miss something?...

Originally Posted by Ortho

I've owned 52 Reissues, American Standards various Strats,Les Pauls and several Martins. Big deal.

But you haven't owned a CV. My point exactly - I believe that you were wrong to say (quote): "I do NOT recommend the Classic Vibe" - I was just concerned that you were probably not in the best position to make such a statement. I TOTALLY respect - and agree with - your recommendation regarding the MIM Standard - I just don't think you should have gone as far as saying bad things against the CV. All I am saying is - in hindsight, don't you think it would have been better to have left that bit out and let the OP decide for himself?

Originally Posted by Ortho

Also, get back to me after a year of heavy gigging with that bridge in the Classic Vibe, not after a year of living room noodling.

Sure will. And you too? Will you get back to me after a year of heavy gigging with YOUR Classic Vibe? - because then we both really WILL be in a position to make substantiated recommendations (or criticisms) in respect of the CV to the OP, won't we?...

I've played quite a few AVRI 52s - but as I don't own one I don't feel I'm sufficiently knowledgeable to recommend (or otherwise) that anyone should/shouldn't buy one....

To the OP, MiniMoose234 - my sincere apologies for taking up space in your thread. I hope that you can see that I was simply trying to encourage you to keep an open mind; to try as many different guitars as you can, and base your final choice on your OWN experiences of each of those guitars.

At the end of the day, its all about opinions! Good luck!

[falconer]

Originally Posted by Shiro

Excuse me. It looked like he wanted a suggestion of what Tele to get. Not A lecture of mucisianship oh Great Lord of the Telecaster kingdom. Just because you make a nice guitar doesn't make you the say all end all of Guitar advise. Get over yourself.

Looks to me like someone's got an ax to grind.

[Shiro]

Nope. No Ax to grind. Once again I was caught up in Forum land. I really don't think I deserved the response I got from R.K. I returned an equally snotty, meaningless response. That's all. Just another Pissin match I spose. No Big. Except there goes my chance of winning the giveaway. LOL!

[falconer]

Originally Posted by Shiro

Nope. No Ax to grind. Once again I was caught up in Forum land. I really don't think I deserved the response I got from R.K. I returned an equally snotty, meaningless response. That's all. Just another Pissin match I spose. No Big. Except there goes my chance of winning the giveaway. LOL!

I've got no dog in this fight, but your chronology omits an event that sorta turns the table on just who responded to what.

That's all I've got to say here, except we've all had bad moments.

[Ronkirn]

It looked like he wanted a suggestion of what Tele to get.

That sentence, leads in another direction, one of interpretation. For instance, is it a definitive statement? Was there a poll to determine what everyone else thought the OP was asking? Who conducted the poll, was is a Scientific Poll, or was other methodology used. When is it said, “It looked like. . .” was that relative to the one making the statement, or is it just assumed that how he perceived the OP’s post is how everyone else perceived it?

Or, can it be interpreted as revealing the one making the statement’s perception was that the OP wanted a recommendation as to what Telecaster to buy? But, and here’s the quandary, the OP’s title suggests he already has one.

Even the OP’s title can be interpreted several ways.. “First Tele, any suggestions?” Was he addressing the “First Tele” as in an ensemble of Telecaster playing musicians, of which one has been honored by the designation “First Tele”?

Or was he indicating the he has now “arrived” he owns his first Telecaster; now what would those with some meaningful experience suggest? Who determines what’s “meaningful” and what’s not?

The point is, this is an open Forum. Paul establishes the rules. With, in excess of 50k members, world wide, it is entirely possible; there may be differing interpretations of any statement and/or question posed. It would take a real “intellectual giant” to jump in and “diss” anyone’s contribution, be it a contribution or not, because the “giant” didn’t think it addressed the tenor of that posed.

“Get over myself” ?? heheh that one is cute. Thanks for the chuckle…

Ron Kirn

[Ortho]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

That sentence, leads in another direction, one of interpretation. For instance, is it a definitive statement? Was there a poll to determine what everyone else thought the OP was asking? Who conducted the poll, was is a Scientific Poll, or was other methodology used. When is it said, “It looked like. . .” was that relative to the one making the statement, or is it just assumed that how he perceived the OP’s post is how everyone else perceived it?

Or, can it be interpreted as revealing the one making the statement’s perception was that the OP wanted a recommendation as to what Telecaster to buy? But, and here’s the quandary, the OP’s title suggests he already has one.

Even the OP’s title can be interpreted several ways.. “First Tele, any suggestions?” Was he addressing the “First Tele” as in an ensemble of Telecaster playing musicians, of which one has been honored by the designation “First Tele”?

Or was he indicating the he has now “arrived” he owns his first Telecaster; now what would those with some meaningful experience suggest? Who determines what’s “meaningful” and what’s not?

The point is, this is an open Forum. Paul establishes the rules. With, in excess of 50k members, world wide, it is entirely possible; there may be differing interpretations of any statement and/or question posed. It would take a real “intellectual giant” to jump in and “diss” anyone’s contribution, be it a contribution or not, because the “giant” didn’t think it addressed the tenor of that posed.

“Get over myself” ?? heheh that one is cute. Thanks for the chuckle…

Ron Kirn

Agreed, which is why my sense of the WHOLE question included some recommendations about trying out several guitars and FIRST acoustically, unplugged.

I still cannot see what I said "bad" about the Classic Vibe Tele, as if ANY negative comment is verbotten. Don't the positive reviews contain some negative elements? Again, didn't Leo Fender himself have concerns about the design of his original?

Much of this forum consists of people buying even dream guitars which they often then proceed to mod to make them even more of a dream. "Hey, don't raise a concern about the bridge of my dream guitar or one of the pickups. Could you please pass me that Callahan? I mean, after I put in the Seymour Duncan."

It is also news to me is that someone cannot have an opinion about a particular guitar model if they do not own that guitar. If they have tried out 5-10 fairly well is that OK? Do I first have to buy a bad guitar to have an opinion of it? When I select a good one out of a bunch of so-so guitars should already own that guitar?

I have to say that Tele fundamentalism serves no one, nor does literalism in discussions.

BTW, it is in fact, somewhat against the tide of those more than 300 strong (actually not that many out of total membership) that I responded within the scope of the question in a way that I felt was justified. But was I totally against that tide or simply providing a proviso? These aren't one phrase answers. And another big BTW, more recent reviews are NOT all glowing. The more recent crop is a little spoiled by success and deadline? Maybe.

Frankly I played several Classic Vibes before reading ANY reviews (that's how out of the loop I am, lol) and formed my own opinion. Shocking.

Another BTW, I have played Classic Vibes clean with better results than in that demo. It sounds like absolute crap there. In short, that demo IMO is not the best promo of either guitar and our bearded friend seems to try to deliberately balance the equation with amp settings and limited equally "humble" comparisons...

[mlipping]

Seth and Amy would say: "Really?"

[Fogboundturtle]

Looks like this thread got hijacked from Harmony-Central. Can I reminds people that this is TDPRI ?

There is nothing wrong with the CV, American Standard, Mexican Standard or even SX STL50 one. They are all telecaster which is the purpose of this site.

[Lerb21]

Just a reminder, let's try to be civil folks.

Let's get back to the OP and quit arguing, okay?

[Fatmanstratman]

I'm really sorry Ortho, but I've made my point very simple and very clear, and if you want to keep missing that point and trying to find a conflict that doesn't exist, then that's a problem you'll just have to sort out yourself.

Out of respect to the original poster - who must by now be wondering what sort of a forum he has just joined - I'm out of this thread.

[Ormond]

My experience is that the CV comes much better set up than the MIM. Lower action, better intonation. some of those MIM's (like at Guitar Center) are set up so horrendously they are impossible to play. You won't even get off the ground. Tone is not what you need to be concerned with right now. If you cannot afford to have a pro set up your MIM go for the safety of a Custom Vibe. Your fingers will thank you.

[olaftheholy]

I'm a luthier by trade...
I just bought a classic vibe 50's strat to see what all the fuss is about!

These things are going to (eventually) ruin my business since i had a good thing going building one-offs for about the same price as those classic vibes...

Dangit!

[telemania]

Hmmm, not sure the OP has much to work with anymore. How about this MiniMoose - do yourself a favor an make sure your first Tele purchase is something you can hold in your hands and play. EBay is a wonderful source for used gear, but if you are just starting off you don't want to be hit with any surprises. Second, the talk about how good a guitar should resonate unplugged is totally correct...whatever the price it should sing and resonate unplugged. Lastly, spend $300-350 on the guitar and spend the rest on a quality set up. A detailed set up will take a good guitar and make it great - and a detailed set up is just that, detailed!

Your price range is going to get you a MIM, a Squire CV, or a decent partscaster. Whichever one you pull the trigger on should sing to you more than the others. RK is right in the sentiment that sooner or later you will have to pull the trigger on an axe, and it will not be the holy grail of all guitars - because no single guitar ever is.

Happy Hunting.

[telemania]

actually a good set up is going to cost you more that $50-100, so I hope you don't mind that I just upped your budget!!!!

[bajabuster]

Originally Posted by Ortho

So much for not hijacking the thread. Next time around, feel free to take your own advice. But hey since we're both unable to control ourselves...

I DID say that for a vintage type guitar the Classic Vibe would be the choice. What more do you want? How many members own one...great. I've owned 52 Reissues, American Standards various Strats,Les Pauls and several Martins. Big deal.

If part of the "religion" is to also profess undying devotion to a particular model Tele, please let me know. But frankly, I don't think most forum members ultimately see it that way. And more recent reviews of the Classic Vibe Tele are let's say more variable though generally positive.

I am talking about my experience of playing various Classic Vibe Teles initially and very recently. I do NOT have to own one to be able to have an opinion. I think they are great when they are great, but for a long haul guitar I side with the MIM and even did NOT recommend the 52 Reissue. And I do recommend the MIM as versatile in the long haul, and I'm sticking to that. Also, get back to me after a year of heavy gigging with that bridge in the Classic Vibe, not after a year of living room noodling.

It's nice to get the juices flowing and I can certainly learn more and I enjoyed YOUR post believe it or not. It helps me challenge my own opinions...in short, peace.

At the end of my post I in some ways anticipate the fleshed out advice of that mate who advocates focusing on learning music and improving one's playing.

And to do a side by side, if you could really play, you could gig with a good MIM stock no problem. "You" meaning anyone.

When songs and music matter the most, it isn't "My guitar can beat up your guitar" or "Hey, don't talk about my guitar. That's my girlfriend."

Seriously, you're great and this is a great forum.

I've had my C.V. for almost a year now, gigging two or three times a week. I'm not sure what you're speaking of, when you mention the bridge... Brass saddles, but with grooves so that they keep the strings aligned.. Is that a bad thing??

[telefunken]

Suier Classic Vibe!!!