(soon to be) Tele Newbie Checking In

cvansickle · July 29th, 2005, 01:37 PM

Hi gang! This is my first post on this board. I've been using a few others Like The Gear Page and Huge Racks Inc.

Anyway, I'm on the verge of buying a new Telecaster, maybe as soon as tomorrow. I'm a long time Gibson player, but I also own a Fender Strat and Danelectro 12 string. The sound that is missing from my pallette is the Tele.

This won't be a full time instrument, so I don't think I want to spend a lot of money. A few weeks back, I tried a pedal at the local GC with a MIM Tele, and I was amazed at how good the guitar played and sounded! Now, I wish I had bought that guitar on the spot, it was that good! It was the Blue Agave finish, so it was pretty too.

I've been reading a few of the threads about MIMs here. It seems that many of you swap out the pickups, something I have done on almost all guitars I have owned. If I were to do this to a MIM, I would want to retain the classic Tele TWANG - a Dwight Yoakam/Pete Anderson sound. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks for letting me play!

xStonr · July 30th, 2005, 08:00 AM

I picked up a Standard Tele last week at GC. I came in with very low price I found online and they matched it. Got a good deal on the other accessories I needed. I really like this guitar a lot. My other guitars feel neglected. As does the wife.

cvansickle · July 30th, 2005, 07:25 PM

Here's my update:

I went to the local GC today, and the selection of Teles was very sparse. Apparently, Northeast Atlanta isn't Tele town. I need to check the big GC, which is down I-85.

Anyway, they had a few MIM Teles, and not a single one of them was in playable condition. It really sucks that a store won't do a setup on the budget priced guitars.

So, I decided to try out the higher priced models, all the way up to the $1300 52 Reissue. Again, I found the action and playability below acceptable on just about all of them. The one that played the best (and that's not saying much) was the Highway 1 model. Unfortunately, it had too many sharp screws and points at the bridge, it practically cut my hand.

One thing I did determine though, I must have something with the vintage style bridge, you know, the one with the sidewall. (Is that what they call the "ashtray" bridge?) This bridge was perfect for my playing style, where I can hold the side with my pinky.

I haven't given up on Teles yet. I just know I need to find a dealer that gives a crap about their inventory.

radarman · July 30th, 2005, 07:41 PM

get an MIM std tele of your choice and replace the bridge with a Fender 52 Vintage style bridge,.... they are pretty inexpensive and a direct bolt-on replacement for the MIM std tele bridge... 4 bolts I did it, and I like the result.

cvansickle · July 30th, 2005, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radarman

get an MIM std tele of your choice and replace the bridge with a Fender 52 Vintage style bridge,.... they are pretty inexpensive and a direct bolt-on replacement for the MIM std tele bridge... 4 bolts I did it, and I like the result.

Good plan. I just need to find a MIM that's playable!

July 29th, 2005, 01:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
cvansickle Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 741 5 Photos	(soon to be) Tele Newbie Checking In Hi gang! This is my first post on this board. I've been using a few others Like The Gear Page and Huge Racks Inc. Anyway, I'm on the verge of buying a new Telecaster, maybe as soon as tomorrow. I'm a long time Gibson player, but I also own a Fender Strat and Danelectro 12 string. The sound that is missing from my pallette is the Tele. This won't be a full time instrument, so I don't think I want to spend a lot of money. A few weeks back, I tried a pedal at the local GC with a MIM Tele, and I was amazed at how good the guitar played and sounded! Now, I wish I had bought that guitar on the spot, it was that good! It was the Blue Agave finish, so it was pretty too. I've been reading a few of the threads about MIMs here. It seems that many of you swap out the pickups, something I have done on almost all guitars I have owned. If I were to do this to a MIM, I would want to retain the classic Tele TWANG - a Dwight Yoakam/Pete Anderson sound. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks for letting me play! __________________ Death Or Glory - Who Dares Wins!

July 30th, 2005, 07:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
cvansickle Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 741 5 Photos	Here's my update: I went to the local GC today, and the selection of Teles was very sparse. Apparently, Northeast Atlanta isn't Tele town. I need to check the big GC, which is down I-85. Anyway, they had a few MIM Teles, and not a single one of them was in playable condition. It really sucks that a store won't do a setup on the budget priced guitars. So, I decided to try out the higher priced models, all the way up to the $1300 52 Reissue. Again, I found the action and playability below acceptable on just about all of them. The one that played the best (and that's not saying much) was the Highway 1 model. Unfortunately, it had too many sharp screws and points at the bridge, it practically cut my hand. One thing I did determine though, I must have something with the vintage style bridge, you know, the one with the sidewall. (Is that what they call the "ashtray" bridge?) This bridge was perfect for my playing style, where I can hold the side with my pinky. I haven't given up on Teles yet. I just know I need to find a dealer that gives a crap about their inventory. __________________ Death Or Glory - Who Dares Wins!

July 30th, 2005, 07:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
radarman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 319	you could.. get an MIM std tele of your choice and replace the bridge with a Fender 52 Vintage style bridge,.... they are pretty inexpensive and a direct bolt-on replacement for the MIM std tele bridge... 4 bolts I did it, and I like the result. __________________ One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork. Edward Abbey

July 30th, 2005, 08:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
xStonr Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down in the Boondocks Posts: 1,231 4 Photos	I picked up a Standard Tele last week at GC. I came in with very low price I found online and they matched it. Got a good deal on the other accessories I needed. I really like this guitar a lot. My other guitars feel neglected. As does the wife.