Tele Custom And Deluxe RI Comparison

Heather Anne Peel · June 28th, 2006, 02:25 PM

Since I have both, and use them regularly, I felt a comparison was in order. The Custom and the Deluxe RIs look a lot alike, but there are major physical differences. The most obvious is the Deluxe has a Strat-type neck, a countoured back, 2 Wide Range humbuckers and a Strat-style bridge. Both guitars share the Tele body style and pickgaurd, control layout and neck humbucker. The Custom has a Tele neck, a Tele bridge and standard Tele bridge pickup. Although there are many similarities, the Custom and the Deluxe sound, play and feel differently. Not drastically, but definitely noticeably. The Deluxe, as expected, produces more Gibson-like tones with it's dual humbuckers. But, the bridge humbucker is capable of greater brightness than a Gibson humbucker, and thus the Deluxe can sound more like a Standard Tele, if desired. The Custom's single coil bridge pickup ensures that it's sounds are classic Telecaster, but mixing the neck humbucker with the bridge single coil yields some really cool hybrid tones, which definitely evoke Keith Richards, as I think he must have used this setting a lot when the Custom was his main guitar. Both the Custom and Deluxe are fairly weighty, but not overly so. In short, these are two models of Telecasters that, while similar, are both very unique and distinctive. I love both of them equally, but I end up playing my Deluxe more.

Heather

jwells393 · June 28th, 2006, 02:34 PM

Why don't you have a Deluxe for your avatar?

roth · June 28th, 2006, 02:35 PM

I have had my Custom for 4 days now (3-tone burst/maple board) and have played it every chance I get (which is not easy with a 3 month old at home). I LOVE this guitar. It has tone and sustain for days. It is my first "glossy" neck (for lack of the proper term - someone help me out) and I will never buy any other type of neck ever again.

Glad to hear there are enough differences between this and the Deluxe to still justify buying one of those too...

...in a few years

...

I wonder how they compare to the '72 Thinline...

bek · June 28th, 2006, 02:38 PM

So Heather, do you use your Paisley Strat more than those Teles, or what?

Heather Anne Peel · June 28th, 2006, 10:18 PM

My Avatar is a Tele Custom because I had that first. I use my Tele Deluxe and Tele Custom more than my Strats, but I love all of my 21 guitars!
Heather

June 28th, 2006, 02:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	Tele Custom And Deluxe RI Comparison Since I have both, and use them regularly, I felt a comparison was in order. The Custom and the Deluxe RIs look a lot alike, but there are major physical differences. The most obvious is the Deluxe has a Strat-type neck, a countoured back, 2 Wide Range humbuckers and a Strat-style bridge. Both guitars share the Tele body style and pickgaurd, control layout and neck humbucker. The Custom has a Tele neck, a Tele bridge and standard Tele bridge pickup. Although there are many similarities, the Custom and the Deluxe sound, play and feel differently. Not drastically, but definitely noticeably. The Deluxe, as expected, produces more Gibson-like tones with it's dual humbuckers. But, the bridge humbucker is capable of greater brightness than a Gibson humbucker, and thus the Deluxe can sound more like a Standard Tele, if desired. The Custom's single coil bridge pickup ensures that it's sounds are classic Telecaster, but mixing the neck humbucker with the bridge single coil yields some really cool hybrid tones, which definitely evoke Keith Richards, as I think he must have used this setting a lot when the Custom was his main guitar. Both the Custom and Deluxe are fairly weighty, but not overly so. In short, these are two models of Telecasters that, while similar, are both very unique and distinctive. I love both of them equally, but I end up playing my Deluxe more. Heather

June 28th, 2006, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,210 101 Photos	Why don't you have a Deluxe for your avatar? __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

June 28th, 2006, 02:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
roth Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Age: 30 Posts: 314 36 Photos	I have had my Custom for 4 days now (3-tone burst/maple board) and have played it every chance I get (which is not easy with a 3 month old at home). I LOVE this guitar. It has tone and sustain for days. It is my first "glossy" neck (for lack of the proper term - someone help me out) and I will never buy any other type of neck ever again. Glad to hear there are enough differences between this and the Deluxe to still justify buying one of those too... ...in a few years ... I wonder how they compare to the '72 Thinline...

June 28th, 2006, 02:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
bek Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: California Posts: 555	So Heather, do you use your Paisley Strat more than those Teles, or what?

June 28th, 2006, 10:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	My Avatar is a Tele Custom because I had that first. I use my Tele Deluxe and Tele Custom more than my Strats, but I love all of my 21 guitars! Heather