Newbie looking at a Telecaster

Chris Quinn · May 26th, 2006, 06:13 PM

Hi,

I am new to electric guitar. I've been playing guitar, banjo, mandolin and acoustic bass for around 20+ years and am interested in buying a Telecaster; always loved that sound. Don Rich is a hero of mine.

I have a line on a used U.S.A. built 1998 American Standard. It's in brand new condition and appears to be all original. Do any of you good folks have any thoughts on this model of Telelcaster?

Telemarkman · May 26th, 2006, 06:51 PM

Never had an AmStd, but I had an AmSeries,which is very similar, for about a year. Though they are good guitars quality wise, I don't see them as the ideal Teles for doing Don Rich stuff.
They can have a great bite and some punch, but they don't have that typical traditional Tele Twang. (Maybe due to the 6-saddle bridge, maybe the modern pickups).

You should probably look at a MIM Classic 50's Tele, it's ideal for Don Rich and Roy Nichols kind of stuff IMHO. :D

maestrovert · May 26th, 2006, 06:57 PM

Welcome !

you'll probably find quite a few recommendations for:
play as many different Teles as you can, regardless of price, Pups, origin etc, and choose that which sounds and/or feels best to you....
you might even decide to gather the components and put one together for yourself !
Good Luck on the quest

Bones · May 26th, 2006, 08:24 PM

Welcome Chris, I agree with the two above posts. Gotta get out there and try a bunch, but not sure that one you are looking at will fit the bill for you.

vincentspades · May 27th, 2006, 12:06 AM

I've found that the tone of the american series varies greatly from tele to tele. I own an american that is a great twang guitar, however i had to go through three guitar stores worth of tele's to find the one i wanted. You just gotta keep trying 'em out until you find the one that sounds the best, then think on it a couple days, try 'em out again. I was kind've disappointed that the tone of the one i liked was a blonde... because i really wanted a nice color. Ah well.

Tdot · May 27th, 2006, 12:56 AM

If the price is fair, and you like the feel, buy it. Try it for awhile, you can change pickups if you like, or sell it.

Once you get used to it, you'll have a better idea if you like it or what you would like in the next one. Any USA model has to be a good starting point. :D

Chris Quinn · May 27th, 2006, 02:38 PM

Thank you all for your thoughtful advice! Before I go any further, I do want to let you all know that I appreciate that much of the tone and and sound will come from the player's hands and I know I have a long way to go before I can pull the right sounds out of a Telecaster; I just want to start with the right guitar in order to save money in the long run. As I have said; I am shooting for that classic country twang! Don Rich, James Burton, Danny Gatton, Buck Owens, Brent Mason.

I have a few more details to consider and any help is appreciated.

-The price I am looking at for this '98 American Standard is $977.00 Canadian. What do you think?

- I am having some trouble finding much info on this guitar. It has a greyish-blue body, a maple neck and a rosewood finger-board. Should I expect that this guitar is ash?

- The tailpiece has six separate adjusters instead of the three piece. Any major differences here?

- I don't really know what kind of pick-ups it has. I do know that they are not Humbuckers and the bridge pick-up is not staggered. Does anyone know what the factory issued pick-ups were for a '98 American Standard.

- My thoughts are that I should go for it and learn how the guitar will sound and then if I want to go to another pick-up system that places me closer to that twangy country sound, I can opt for changes. My concern is, will putting in new pick-ups bring me the sound I am looking for and will the total costs be greater than just going out and getting the Danny Gatton model or a '52 Reissue?

collinsman · May 27th, 2006, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

Never had an AmStd, but I had an AmSeries,which is very similar, for about a year. Though they are good guitars quality wise, I don't see them as the ideal Teles for doing Don Rich stuff.
They can have a great bite and some punch, but they don't have that typical traditional Tele Twang. (Maybe due to the 6-saddle bridge, maybe the modern pickups).

You should probably look at a MIM Classic 50's Tele, it's ideal for Don Rich and Roy Nichols kind of stuff IMHO. :D

Ditto, go for the 50's style bridge, also I think the lite ash Tele has that type of bridge with Duncan pups.

TG · May 27th, 2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Quinn

Thank you all for your thoughtful advice! Before I go any further, I do want to let you all know that I appreciate that much of the tone and and sound will come from the player's hands and I know I have a long way to go before I can pull the right sounds out of a Telecaster; I just want to start with the right guitar in order to save money in the long run. As I have said; I am shooting for that classic country twang! Don Rich, James Burton, Danny Gatton, Buck Owens, Brent Mason.

I have a few more details to consider and any help is appreciated.

-The price I am looking at for this '98 American Standard is $977.00 Canadian. What do you think?

- I am having some trouble finding much info on this guitar. It has a greyish-blue body, a maple neck and a rosewood finger-board. Should I expect that this guitar is ash?

- The tailpiece has six separate adjusters instead of the three piece. Any major differences here?

- I don't really know what kind of pick-ups it has. I do know that they are not Humbuckers and the bridge pick-up is not staggered. Does anyone know what the factory issued pick-ups were for a '98 American Standard.

- My thoughts are that I should go for it and learn how the guitar will sound and then if I want to go to another pick-up system that places me closer to that twangy country sound, I can opt for changes. My concern is, will putting in new pick-ups bring me the sound I am looking for and will the total costs be greater than just going out and getting the Danny Gatton model or a '52 Reissue?

Howdy.

I can't help you on the price. :)

I think the 90s USA teles were alder.

Dyed-in-the-wool tele fanatics prefer the original 3 saddle bridge with the 3 raised edges (and then they argue about the merits of steel saddles vs. brass...) and there is talk that having 2 strings per saddle pressing down is better for tone, etc., etc.....
Hard to say what the reality is. I like the 'vintage' bridge with 3 brass saddles, myself, and I always do the 'Danny Gatton' notch in the lower flange.

The pickups would be the standard Fender ones of the time. Not raved about, but not terrible either.

The Fender 'Original Vintage' pickup set will get you towards that old classic Fender sound you're looking for, and they are pretty reasonably priced.
Put 'em in the guitar you like and you'll probably be happy.

Unless you're in a hurry I'd shop around more, if I were you. Unless you really like that guitar.
If you do want a 'vintage' type tele look into the Mexican Classic series teles. 50s Classic and 60s Classic. With a pickup upgrade and a decent setup (rarely ideal from a shop) you'll be in the same general ballpark as the 52RI.
See what you think of the different necks first, though. (I love the 60s necks but I've a hard time with the 50s ones.)

telemandan · May 27th, 2006, 10:22 PM

"PLEASE HELP HIM HE'S FALLIN',,,,,IN LOVE WITH TELES, CLOSE THE DOOR TO ALL LES PAULS,,,DONT LET HIM WALK THROUGH,,,,BUY THAT BRASS BRIDGE MY DARLIN,,IM BEGGIN YOU TO,,,SPANK THAT NEW TELE THE WAY THAT I DO"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....rrrrrr!

Chris Quinn · May 30th, 2006, 09:18 PM

Well, I got a new Fender Telecaster. It's a Mexican 50's Classic and looks exactly like the one at this link, http://www.fender.com/products/searc...tno=0131202303

Upon closer inspection, and thanks to input from folks here, I discovered that the American Standard I had been considering wasn't the guitar for the sound I was after. It lacked the fat twang I found in the 50's Classic. I will take the time necessary to learn this guitar as it is from the factory and only after I have explored it a great deal will I consider any changes; if any are to be made.

The guitar has a couple of tiny flaws in the finish on the back and was accordingly marked down. It sounds really good to my ear and I believe I will get a lot of enjoyment out of it. I got a Roland Micro-Cube amp, a 12’ 1/4" cable, a strap, two sets of strings and the guitar for $845.00 Canadian. (Currently, that’s what, $700.00 U.S.?) Not bad!

Thank you all for your enthusiasm and for sharing your wealth of knowledge. It has been very informative and a great pleasure to read your posts.

SteveY · May 30th, 2006, 10:45 PM

Good score. Glad it worked out.
You're on your way!

The MIM '50's and '60's are classics to be.

Honga Man · May 30th, 2006, 10:58 PM

Congratulations Chris, and a belated welcome.

I think you made a great choice. Even if you don't *nail* that Don Rich tone (and you probably will), you have a great Tele with a superb neck, classic tone, and very good resale value.

Telemarkman · May 31st, 2006, 06:10 AM

You made the right choice for the tone you were after. 8)

Now, be happy ! :D

Chris Quinn · May 31st, 2006, 02:48 PM

Once again, thank you for your help. I'll be back with more questions, I am sure! For now, I'll be exploring. See ya when I surface.......

nichol · June 1st, 2006, 09:13 AM

Hey Chris, Nichol here. Sounds like a cool guitar you got there. If you ever need it tweaked gimme a shout. BTW, my banjo's sounding great.

May 26th, 2006, 06:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chris Quinn NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 9	Newbie looking at a Telecaster Hi, I am new to electric guitar. I've been playing guitar, banjo, mandolin and acoustic bass for around 20+ years and am interested in buying a Telecaster; always loved that sound. Don Rich is a hero of mine. I have a line on a used U.S.A. built 1998 American Standard. It's in brand new condition and appears to be all original. Do any of you good folks have any thoughts on this model of Telelcaster? __________________ Sincerely, Chris Quinn

May 26th, 2006, 06:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Telemarkman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 61 Posts: 4,645	Hi Chris, and welcome ! Never had an AmStd, but I had an AmSeries,which is very similar, for about a year. Though they are good guitars quality wise, I don't see them as the ideal Teles for doing Don Rich stuff. They can have a great bite and some punch, but they don't have that typical traditional Tele Twang. (Maybe due to the 6-saddle bridge, maybe the modern pickups). You should probably look at a MIM Classic 50's Tele, it's ideal for Don Rich and Roy Nichols kind of stuff IMHO. :D

May 26th, 2006, 06:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,488	Welcome ! you'll probably find quite a few recommendations for: play as many different Teles as you can, regardless of price, Pups, origin etc, and choose that which sounds and/or feels best to you.... you might even decide to gather the components and put one together for yourself ! Good Luck on the quest __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 27th, 2006, 12:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
vincentspades TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 70	I've found that the tone of the american series varies greatly from tele to tele. I own an american that is a great twang guitar, however i had to go through three guitar stores worth of tele's to find the one i wanted. You just gotta keep trying 'em out until you find the one that sounds the best, then think on it a couple days, try 'em out again. I was kind've disappointed that the tone of the one i liked was a blonde... because i really wanted a nice color. Ah well. __________________ I'm drinkin' some George Jones, and a little bit of Coe Haggard's easin' my misery and Waylon's keepin' me from home Hank's givin' me those high times - Cash is gonna sing it low

May 27th, 2006, 12:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tdot Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Back of the Wasatch, UT Posts: 3,681 55 Photos	If the price is fair, and you like the feel, buy it. Try it for awhile, you can change pickups if you like, or sell it. Once you get used to it, you'll have a better idea if you like it or what you would like in the next one. Any USA model has to be a good starting point. :D __________________ And now for some feedback: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

May 26th, 2006, 08:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bones Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,921 1 Photos	Welcome Chris, I agree with the two above posts. Gotta get out there and try a bunch, but not sure that one you are looking at will fit the bill for you.

May 27th, 2006, 02:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chris Quinn NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 9	Thank you all for your thoughtful advice! Before I go any further, I do want to let you all know that I appreciate that much of the tone and and sound will come from the player's hands and I know I have a long way to go before I can pull the right sounds out of a Telecaster; I just want to start with the right guitar in order to save money in the long run. As I have said; I am shooting for that classic country twang! Don Rich, James Burton, Danny Gatton, Buck Owens, Brent Mason. I have a few more details to consider and any help is appreciated. -The price I am looking at for this '98 American Standard is $977.00 Canadian. What do you think? - I am having some trouble finding much info on this guitar. It has a greyish-blue body, a maple neck and a rosewood finger-board. Should I expect that this guitar is ash? - The tailpiece has six separate adjusters instead of the three piece. Any major differences here? - I don't really know what kind of pick-ups it has. I do know that they are not Humbuckers and the bridge pick-up is not staggered. Does anyone know what the factory issued pick-ups were for a '98 American Standard. - My thoughts are that I should go for it and learn how the guitar will sound and then if I want to go to another pick-up system that places me closer to that twangy country sound, I can opt for changes. My concern is, will putting in new pick-ups bring me the sound I am looking for and will the total costs be greater than just going out and getting the Danny Gatton model or a '52 Reissue? __________________ Sincerely, Chris Quinn

May 27th, 2006, 10:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
telemandan Banned TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 42	tele buy "PLEASE HELP HIM HE'S FALLIN',,,,,IN LOVE WITH TELES, CLOSE THE DOOR TO ALL LES PAULS,,,DONT LET HIM WALK THROUGH,,,,BUY THAT BRASS BRIDGE MY DARLIN,,IM BEGGIN YOU TO,,,SPANK THAT NEW TELE THE WAY THAT I DO"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....rrrrrr!

May 30th, 2006, 09:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
Chris Quinn NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 9	Well, I got a new Fender Telecaster. It's a Mexican 50's Classic and looks exactly like the one at this link, http://www.fender.com/products/searc...tno=0131202303 Upon closer inspection, and thanks to input from folks here, I discovered that the American Standard I had been considering wasn't the guitar for the sound I was after. It lacked the fat twang I found in the 50's Classic. I will take the time necessary to learn this guitar as it is from the factory and only after I have explored it a great deal will I consider any changes; if any are to be made. The guitar has a couple of tiny flaws in the finish on the back and was accordingly marked down. It sounds really good to my ear and I believe I will get a lot of enjoyment out of it. I got a Roland Micro-Cube amp, a 12’ 1/4" cable, a strap, two sets of strings and the guitar for $845.00 Canadian. (Currently, that’s what, $700.00 U.S.?) Not bad! Thank you all for your enthusiasm and for sharing your wealth of knowledge. It has been very informative and a great pleasure to read your posts. __________________ Sincerely, Chris Quinn

May 30th, 2006, 10:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
SteveY Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Age: 58 Posts: 1,422	Good score. Glad it worked out. You're on your way! The MIM '50's and '60's are classics to be.

May 30th, 2006, 10:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
Honga Man Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 576	Congratulations Chris, and a belated welcome. I think you made a great choice. Even if you don't nail that Don Rich tone (and you probably will), you have a great Tele with a superb neck, classic tone, and very good resale value.

May 31st, 2006, 06:10 AM	#14 (permalink)
Telemarkman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 61 Posts: 4,645	Congrats... You made the right choice for the tone you were after. 8) Now, be happy ! :D

May 31st, 2006, 02:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
Chris Quinn NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 9	Once again, thank you for your help. I'll be back with more questions, I am sure! For now, I'll be exploring. See ya when I surface....... __________________ Sincerely, Chris Quinn

June 1st, 2006, 09:13 AM	#16 (permalink)
nichol TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 35	Hey Chris, Nichol here. Sounds like a cool guitar you got there. If you ever need it tweaked gimme a shout. BTW, my banjo's sounding great.