John 5 Telecaster

[Heather Anne Peel]

I am really intrigued by this model. It looks cool, and I bet it sounds cool, but I haven't seen one in person yet. I know John is a HUGE Tele player and collector, and he seems to really know his stuff when it comes to Teles. I'd be interested in hearing of anyone's experiences with this guitar. I know there's two models, one with a Bigsby and one without. BTW, the headstock is really cool, too!
8) Heather

[jwells393]

Heather....... Heather ........Heather ........ your taste in headstocks .......

[Heather Anne Peel]

When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?"

Yep! But it looks like a cool guitar.

[0le FUZZY]

Watt my Mamma said ---------

[jwells393]

I like the black and chrome but personally I'd prefer the Big Block.

[Ryan]

Doesn't he have a model that has a Bigsby stock as well?

Edit- Opps I saw you already said that in your original post.... forgive me, I'm dumb.

[Coyote]

Originally Posted by jwells393

I like the black and chrome but personally I'd prefer the Big Block.

Seconded. The headstock on that J5 or whatever looks like crap.

[Ryan]

He had an interview in Guitar Player where he said he chose the big headstock so that he could have lots of space between the nut and the tuners. Supposedly wood is carved out to make it easier to do behind the nut bends.

[tdu]

When you see one in person, the headstock looks even uglier heh. I saw one last time I was in Toronto.

[WickedGTR]

I believe it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wrong.

[Heather Anne Peel]

I think the John 5 Tele is a good step forward, a nice variation on a 50 year old design. I understand that John is quite a Tele collector, and he has a Tele from every year they have been in production. Good for him! He seems like a really cool guy, and a serious pro.
8) Heather

[mellecaster]

SOoooooo....I just ain't gonna say Nuttin :?

[tdu]

Originally Posted by Heather Anne Peel

I think the John 5 Tele is a good step forward, a nice variation on a 50 year old design. I understand that John is quite a Tele collector, and he has a Tele from every year they have been in production. Good for him! He seems like a really cool guy, and a serious pro.
8) Heather

That is still no excuse for that headstock :) . It just goes against design principals in general, not just guitar design.

[Heather Anne Peel]

And for me it is Hannukah.

8) Heather

[Colo Springs E]

.....except the headstock. I really wish he'd just stuck with the traditional design.

Otherwise, pretty cool rock 'n roll axe.

[bug music]

Nothin' that an AllParts neck, and a can of "Hi-Gloss Black Krylon" couldn't fix. :).
Just my $.02.
-Jay

[tiktok]

I can understand and respect the long string length behind the nut to facilitate behind-the-nut bends, but not trimming off the unused headstock behind the tuners brings up images of the Swinger, or those other parts-bin mutants from the CBS era.

[nedray]

I think the headstock is one Fender used on a previous 12-string model Tele, not something invented for or by John. In fact, the current 12-string Strat has a similar one. I think it's sorta ugly too, but the amateur psychologist in me wonders if this guitar would get more traction if they did it for James Burton. Hmmmm.

[Ryan]

It is the 12-string Tele headstock, I read about that in Guitar Player.

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by nedray

I think the headstock is one Fender used on a previous 12-string model Tele, not something invented for or by John. In fact, the current 12-string Strat has a similar one. I think it's sorta ugly too, but the amateur psychologist in me wonders if this guitar would get more traction if they did it for James Burton. Hmmmm.

When it has twelve strings on it, I'm all for it.

[tdu]

Originally Posted by nedray

I think the headstock is one Fender used on a previous 12-string model Tele, not something invented for or by John. In fact, the current 12-string Strat has a similar one. I think it's sorta ugly too, but the amateur psychologist in me wonders if this guitar would get more traction if they did it for James Burton. Hmmmm.

I think John 5 is a great player actually. It doesn't matter who's signature model this was, I'd still find that headstock brutal looking. Other than that I think it's a cool looking guitar. I like the placement of the pickup switch too.

[threejohntwo]

While doing a web search for more information about him, I ran across this interview in which he describes his approach to playing and instruments, with special mention of telecasters:

http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/000172.html

[Rowdy Time]

well if you look at john 5 he aint so pretty either. so its only fitting to have the ugly ol 12 string headstock. lol

BTW the bigsby version has a different bridge p/u. im sure u all knew that but i thought id throw er in.

[RichardL]

Current CIJ Strat 12


CS Telecaster 12


Fender XII

[jwells393]

I'd always thought the J-5 was just a 12-string neck drilled for six tuners but it looks like that is not the case.

[frogger]

I think the John 5 model is stepping back to the stone age in design..........come on Fender you guys can do much better. It's just butt-ugly and belongs along side the Gibson Marauder or Peavey T-60.