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Paul G. · October 6th, 2005, 07:32 PM

Thanks to Churchplayer here at the TDPRI (hi Jake!), I finally got a Sunburst, Double-bound tele. This one is a US Vintage.

Good part--this is one gorgeous guitar. Perfect weight, great neck, thin finish on the neck is lightly tinted and feels great. Guitar hangs perfectly, neck is straight and stiff.

More good--Yow, this is one twangy, wiry, nasty (in a good way) sounding tele. Through my Princeton Reverb I am in a very tough neighborhood, which is why I pick up one of these canoe paddles in the first place. I was planning to do some "upgrades" and change out to compensated saddles. Maybe not so much. It's hard to believe something so pretty can sound so ratty.

Bad news--this guitar must have spent most of its life with a real cowboy. Frets 1-5 have noticeable wear, fret 6-21 are rough and tarnished. At first I was having some trouble moving around, but I've been playing only my Les Pauls and ASAT for the last year or so, so I decided part of it was the small frets.

Good news--After a couple of hours, I've come to terms with the frets. I'll give them a nice polish tomorrow, but otherwise, I'll leave them alone for now. It's a little more work to wiggle the strings, but that's just part of the charm.

I'm not personally thrilled with Fender's corporate policies these days, but they still can make a fine guitar.

Photo is courtesy of Churchplayer.

P

yegbert · October 6th, 2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul G.

I was planning to do some "upgrades" and change out to compensated saddles. Maybe not so much. It's hard to believe something so pretty can sound so ratty.

Beautiful guitar! It appears to have compensated saddles already.

Lyle Caldwell · October 6th, 2005, 09:28 PM

Yup. A "Twang" set, looks like.

Paul G. · October 6th, 2005, 10:42 PM

Standard threaded saddles on it now.

They do sound good though, kinda sproingy.

P.

Nick Fanis · October 7th, 2005, 04:06 AM

wait till you refret her with some proper & nice JUMBO fretwire,the playability & tone will skyrocket!

Why Fender still uses this useless "vintage" fretwire is beyond me....

Telenator · October 7th, 2005, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Fanis

wait till you refret her with some proper & nice JUMBO fretwire,the playability & tone will skyrocket!

Why Fender still uses this useless "vintage" fretwire is beyond me....

I'm with you on that one! Although I do kinda like the sound of the little fret wire. I just can't play it.

October 6th, 2005, 07:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul G. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 904	US Vintage '62RI, good news, bad news, good news. Thanks to Churchplayer here at the TDPRI (hi Jake!), I finally got a Sunburst, Double-bound tele. This one is a US Vintage. Good part--this is one gorgeous guitar. Perfect weight, great neck, thin finish on the neck is lightly tinted and feels great. Guitar hangs perfectly, neck is straight and stiff. More good--Yow, this is one twangy, wiry, nasty (in a good way) sounding tele. Through my Princeton Reverb I am in a very tough neighborhood, which is why I pick up one of these canoe paddles in the first place. I was planning to do some "upgrades" and change out to compensated saddles. Maybe not so much. It's hard to believe something so pretty can sound so ratty. Bad news--this guitar must have spent most of its life with a real cowboy. Frets 1-5 have noticeable wear, fret 6-21 are rough and tarnished. At first I was having some trouble moving around, but I've been playing only my Les Pauls and ASAT for the last year or so, so I decided part of it was the small frets. Good news--After a couple of hours, I've come to terms with the frets. I'll give them a nice polish tomorrow, but otherwise, I'll leave them alone for now. It's a little more work to wiggle the strings, but that's just part of the charm. I'm not personally thrilled with Fender's corporate policies these days, but they still can make a fine guitar. Photo is courtesy of Churchplayer. P __________________ Listen to your mother

October 6th, 2005, 09:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lyle Caldwell Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 535	Yup. A "Twang" set, looks like. __________________ "Everybody sings about Memphis, but nobody ever does anything about it."

October 6th, 2005, 10:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Paul G. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 904	Nope, twang set stayed with seller. Standard threaded saddles on it now. They do sound good though, kinda sproingy. P. __________________ Listen to your mother

October 7th, 2005, 04:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
Nick Fanis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Athens-GREECE Posts: 1,826 15 Photos	wait till you refret her with some proper & nice JUMBO fretwire,the playability & tone will skyrocket! Why Fender still uses this useless "vintage" fretwire is beyond me.... __________________ "Hit him again Jack,he is crazy!" Hunter S.Thompson www.myspace.com/nickfanis

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