Making Of Bruce Springsteen's new 2012 Tele

[DrBeezus]

Pics aren't in order. Bigjed, saw your post on BTW and no they didn't put petillo pups in there, they put bardens in... I asked

[bigjed]

who are you on BTX?

[idjster]

Originally Posted by tap4154

Man, they sure have a messy work bench.

You said it! I mess things up bad enough when I'm working on a clean bench. I can't imagine what I'd do by accident on a bench like that!

[Teledelphia]

The pyramid crowned frets are really interesting. I know they are the late Phil Petillo's unique design. Does anybody here have any experience what they are like to play? I may have read something on another guitar/gear site from someone who had them on their own guitar and didn't care for them (said they impeded sliding up and down the fretboard because of the pointed crown) however the frets on Springsteen's new guitar look just rounded enough that smooth sliding wouldn't be a problem.

[Rolling Estonian]

Thanks for posting! Those pyramid frets are interesting.

M

[Shoshin]

Bruce has earned the right to do anything he wants. I can see him wanting to recreate his old TelEsquire. In my way of thinking, that old TelEsquire is probably one of the few guitars in the world that was actually worn right out. Not abused, not broken, not damaged, burnt, stolen, lost or dropped in The River (pardon the pun!)


Just worn right out. Why not make another like it if you can afford to? And I'm guessing he probably can.

[bigjed]

Originally Posted by Shoshin

Bruce has earned the right to do anything he wants. I can see him wanting to recreate his old TelEsquire. In my way of thinking, that old TelEsquire is probably one of the few guitars in the world that was actually worn right out. Not abused, not broken, not damaged, burnt, stolen, lost or dropped in The River (pardon the pun!)


Just worn right out. Why not make another like it if you can afford to? And I'm guessing he probably can.

There were discussions with Fender about a limited run of replicas, I think Springsteen said something along the lines of "one is enough."

[bossaholic]

Followed this on Dave's FB page.

Quite awesome.

[bossaholic]

Originally Posted by Power_13

I notice the decal is an Esquire one. Is this likely going to be a replacement for the famous Esquire if/when it's retired?

The Esquire was used in the "We Take Care of Our Own" video and pics for the CD packaging but it looks as though it's been retired. I saw it up close at the RnR HOF and it's pretty beat up. The neck has been reworked so much the side dot markers are fingerboard level now.

It's on display (along with the contents from the RnR HOF exhibit) in Philadelphia at Constitution Hall as part of an exhibit on the First Amendment.

When I saw him in Cleveland last month, he played a couple of teles, but his main guitar seemed to be a heavy reliced one, which similar wear marks to his Esquire.

[iau69]

Originally Posted by TurtleFang

Hmm.... let me think on that, it might mean me but I'm not sure yet.

Like I said, anything non-positive about Bruce on a Tele forum is a guaranteed to get push back from the Bruce-can-do-wrong faithful...

"Nobody puts baby in a corner"

How dare someone have a comment on a internet forum, get him!

I got the feeling you held a grudge against Springsteen and this had nothing to do with him wanting a guitar looking like his trusty Esquire.

Bruce hasn't been using the Esquire on stage for many years, except occasionally. I believe Tunnel of Love Tour in 1988 was the last tour it got the heavy use. Other than that he has used other Telecasters. In interviews he has mentioned that the guitar means a lot to him and that it can't stay in tune for long. Not sure what that means, but I got the impression that it couldn't be fixed completely without changing all the major parts. So instead of doing this (making it a new guitar in parts), he has new guitar build to look and feel like it.

If you feel that is wrong of him to do, just say so, but is has nothing to do with doing the wrong thing.

[telepath]

In a slightly different direction - ;)

It seems odd that Mr S never came across another good ol' honest workin' mans guitar upon his travels to take up where the old girl left off.

i.e. something 'authentic' with a few miles on it, but not a 'museum' piece.
He must have come by a few over the years - and he might have even managed to get used to the neck by now .. ;)

[alexborn2run]

You got a link to where this was posted?

[jjpish68]

Originally Posted by TurtleFang

Wait, what? This makes me sad.

Bruce, don't fake it till you make it.... guitar wise.

Now this is some funny stuff yea come on Bruce earn your guitar wear the honest way like this guy on the Telecaster Forum....

Is what you are seeing in the original post really relicing or is is it taking the tool he uses for his job and modifying to what he needs and wants??? I think it is just that. I am pretty sure he has earned the right to do whatever he wants to his guitar and to even comment on it in a negative light is just plain silly.

[Elias Graves]

What are those frets? Just unfinished or what?
Very cool to actually see it being made. That's slick.

[Power_13]

Originally Posted by bossaholic

The neck has been reworked so much the side dot markers are fingerboard level now.

That's...pretty amazing! That said, for a guitar that was a workhorse even before Bruce bought it, I guess it's inevitable.

It seems odd that Mr S never came across another good ol' honest workin' mans guitar upon his travels to take up where the old girl left off.

i.e. something 'authentic' with a few miles on it, but not a 'museum' piece.
He must have come by a few over the years - and he might have even managed to get used to the neck by now .. ;)

He used to have a '54 I think (seen on the music video for Rosalita) and I think the "Naked Lady" Telecaster was a '67 or something similar. My guess is that he wants the feel of old wood but the reliability of new wood. Not that Telecasters are known for losing stability when they age, but...well...it's just a theory. Either that, or he didn't feel right making all the modifications to a vintage guitar (or an even better theory, he felt more secure starting from scratch on an unmodified modern Telecaster than working around any changes made on a vintage).

[FrankMc]

I'm loving this thread, thanks guys!

[Elias Graves]

Lotsa folks go custom so everything is "just so."

[51Nocast]

Oh my gosh, I hope Bruce doen't see this thread where someone is "raining on his parade" even before the parade started.

As Sonny and Cher sang......"the beat goes on"

Lol

[Sea Devil]

The frets are Duncan 158s. I recently refretted my Tele with them, and they're great.

[elmicko]

Dang, I sanded the gloss off of the back of the neck on my MIM so it would be smoother to play. I didn't realize it made me a poser. Crap, and I tried to avoid being a poser all these years. *sigh* *depressed*