Can a Tele be "too pretty?"

[Pickalittle]

I've been on a search for another Tele and have been looking around at some customs as well as the Fender line. I've seen some beautiful Tele's but part of the draw of a Tele to me is it's simplicity and raw nature.

Is having an AAA Maple top Tele, um, missing the point?
I like wearing jeans and a casual shirt, but I don't wear them with Tuxedo shoes. Know what I mean? That just isn't right.

I have an incredibly beautiful AAA Godin Artisan Signature ST. It is the prettiest electric guitar I've ever owned. Plays well too. Not many of them around. Guess what? It sits in the case and I always seem to pull out my 60th anniversary sunburst Tele! I feel a connection with my Tele, and I feel squat with my Godin, pretty thought it may be.

What do you think?

[cbnutt]

well ina way i think they do need to be a little plain, nothin like a old black guard for a cool great look ! id posted on the collings forum that mabe they could make a tele, they make a nice looking LP copy, most people there thought the tele didnt need to be that fancy, sometimes simplicity is a thing of beauty.

[voided3]

I used to feel that way about my Gibson SG Special when I got it in 7th grade. It was the most expensive (and still is) instrument that I had ever owned; prior to that my main guitar was a modified $50 Les Paul copy. I was afraid to let it see the light of day and when I would finish playing it, I would clean it with guitar polish and a soft T-shirt. Then I bought a Squier Bullet used for $80 with a super thin plywood body and cheap hardware, but I found myself playing the snot out of it because I wasn't afraid of consequence with it (it even sounded pretty dang good!). That Squier and me got a lot of mileage and I still use its neck on a parts Strat I built.

I now have owned that SG for almost ten years and it has seen semi-frequent use, mostly because I have begun to lean more towards the Fender sound; my MIM 50's Esquire is my current #1. I came to realize something though; albeit it is a semi-fragile $700 instrument, it also is a replaceable, mass produced, and common guitar. Parts are everywhere for them and I have become good at doing my own setup and repair work so if it does have a falling out, it can be fixed. It has some small dings in it here and there, but I still store it and transport it in a hardshell case and clean it off from time to time (those Gibson gloss neck finishes like to gunk up and I hardly sweat, yet still gets dirty...).

Moral of the story: these are working man's guitars, not Stradivarius violins. If you spend more time cleaning and preserving the instrument than using it, you'll never play it as intended. I stuck some strap locks on my SG as insurance and I just play it. It might get bumped into by a bandmate's guitar, maybe a music stand will fall on it eventually, but it'll survive. I don't plan on selling it ever anyway.

As for a fancy Tele, once again, just play it. Would you buy it if it only was pretty and sounded/played bad? I hope not. It's meant to be used and if you're afraid to use a guitar it probably isn't the right one for you. Even fancy Teles are still bricks; they tend to damage what they fall on! I baby my Esquire I bought new last year, but it gets played daily and transported on my back in a sturdy, well padded gig bag to and from classes. Once again, put on some strap locks, set it up so it plays optimally, and just let 'er rip! The thing is a slab of Ash with a one-piece maple neck and is much more robust (read: practical for heavy use) than my SG, too, but I still use the SG in the same fashion.

As for your Godin, adjust it so it's as close to perfect as possible and restring it. My SG wasn't cutting it for a while either and I found it was because it sat so much I never paid close attention to its basic setup outside of checking the neck to make sure it's straight. I adjusted the pickup heights on it while it was plugged in so it would get good p/u balance and I cranked down the stop bar tailpiece for more string downforce and it's better than ever and I find myself playing it and liking it more. If the Godin still doesn't click with you, you might want to look for something else; it's aesthetics should help sell it!

[ChicknPickn]

Originally Posted by voided3

Moral of the story: these are working man's guitars, not Stradivarius violins. If you spend more time cleaning and preserving the instrument than using it, you'll never play it as intended. I stuck some strap locks on my SG as insurance and I just play it. It might get bumped into by a bandmate's guitar, maybe a music stand will fall on it eventually, but it'll survive. I don't plan on selling it ever anyway.

I'm not sure whether there are any "deeper meanings" to it, but it makes me unhappy when I ding one of my guitars. I don't care as much about my amps. But I hate to see a gouge, dent, or chip in any of my babies. As long as a good repair is possible, it's okay. Future value doesn't mean anything to me, at least not for the guitars I have now. They're all going to my nephew one day, anyway.

[thekillingjoke]

Binding, AAA maple tops, flamed maple, yadda yadda. All that fancy mess completely misses the point of the Telecaster. Alder Teles shouldn't even exist.

It's meant to be a slab of ash with a big maple stick attached. It works, and there's no need to fix it.

[CIM]

Originally Posted by thekillingjoke

Alder Teles shouldn't even exist.

I think that deserves one of these

[stephent2]

Alder Teles shouldn't even exist.

Originally Posted by CIM

I think that deserves one of these

I'll second that emoticon.

[wierdOne]

Originally Posted by stephent2

Alder Teles shouldn't even exist.



I'll second that emoticon.

mehh.... wood is wood.... I think all tele's should be made out of Plywood....


just kidding.... the bridge should be metal.... but really folks.... cmon...

I've NEVER been a fan of gaudy guitars... I LOVE simplistic designs.... and the telecaster is the king in my book..... I think face dot's on the neck clutter up an otherwise perfectly designed guitar.... so on all my teles, i've got necks with no face dots.... they're very simple yet elegant at the same time...

I used to play some extremely beautiful archtop guitars on my dinner jazz gigs... and people would come up to me all the time and comment on how beautiful my guitars were..... when i switched to my telecaster... people would come up to me and tell me how good I sounded.... only the guitar players say anything about how beautiful my guitar is now.... Tele's are beautiful.... in a simple sort of way...

as it stands right now.... I, personally, would never willingly purchase a "Paul Reed Smith" quality flame maple topped telecaster.... but that's just me.... and my opinions are subject to change....

I was told long ago the K.I.S.S. rule.... and i stand by it.. mainly because I am stupid.... ;)

[neocaster]

They make em because they think somebody will want one. If they're right, they keep makin em. SOMEBODY is buying these things. I vote we let em. One man's trash yadda yadda...

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by thekillingjoke

It's meant to be a slab of ash with a big maple stick attached.

That's the internet party line wisdom these days, lightweight ash and big fat neck.

You forgot to say it also has to be nitro finished, 13-72 strings, just guitar, cord and amp.

[telechaser]

I don't mind pretty but wouldn't intentionally look for or build a 'pretty' Tele. But... if I happen to find a Tele, Tele body, Tele neck that feels really nice for a good price; I would get it.

All my Teles are simple. Would I like binding, I wouldn't mind if I find a bounded Tele body. Would I put extra effort or spend extra for it? No. The only fancy Tele shaped that I would like to have is that custom hollowbody Gretschy Tele.

Most of my efforts are concentrated on playing/learning now. I do like to put together partscasters, but would avoid doing the finish if I can. I'm more interested in tone and feel.

[ChicknPickn]

Originally Posted by Durtdog

That's the internet party line wisdom these days, lightweight ash and big fat neck.

You forgot to say it also has to be nitro finished, 13-72 strings, just guitar, cord and amp.

LOL.

Yeah, and don't forget Klusons, but only the ones with the slotted posts.

[Preacher]

I think the Tele is the ole "trusty rusty", you know that "old" tool that you have had forever that always gets the job done even though there are newer and more technical pieces out there available.

The tele is simplicity at its best.
I have nothing against a "pretty" tele, but it would be like buying a really expensive hammer and being afraid to drive a nail with it.
I think the prettiest teles are the ones that have been played hard and put away wet...

[BroadMaster]

Originally Posted by thekillingjoke

Binding, AAA maple tops, flamed maple, yadda yadda. All that fancy mess completely misses the point of the Telecaster. Alder Teles shouldn't even exist.

It's meant to be a slab of ash with a big maple stick attached. It works, and there's no need to fix it.

+1.

[odiemann]

I have been playing with the idea of doing a fancier tele, and every time I come close, it just doesn't sit well. I guess I kinda agree.

[Trimmed&Burnin]

Originally Posted by Pickalittle

I've been on a search for another Tele and have been looking around at some customs as well as the Fender line. I've seen some beautiful Tele's but part of the draw of a Tele to me is it's simplicity and raw nature.

Is having an AAA Maple top Tele, um, missing the point?
I like wearing jeans and a casual shirt, but I don't wear them with Tuxedo shoes. Know what I mean? That just isn't right.

I have an incredibly beautiful AAA Godin Artisan Signature ST. It is the prettiest electric guitar I've ever owned. Plays well too. Not many of them around. Guess what? It sits in the case and I always seem to pull out my 60th anniversary sunburst Tele! I feel a connection with my Tele, and I feel squat with my Godin, pretty thought it may be.

What do you think?

So,, Who here thinks of your wife or girl friend as "she's aint to pretty,,, but she's got a heart of gold"? Who would leave your beautiful wife or girl friend home and take a plain woman with you?? Which one of us would choose a plain woman because a beautiful one just does'nt look right with our blue jeans?? Does anyone ever feel over dressed when they're with their beautiful wife or girl freind?? Granted beauty comes from within as in the sound of a well made guitar,,, and beauty can in some cases be only skin deep as in the case of a guitar poorly constructed out of beautiful wood with no structural integrity or character,,,,, But if it is stunningly beautiful wood and has that inner beauty,,, an inner beauty that cant be found in other guitars,,,man,,, whats wrong with that?? The beauty of or lack thereof has nothin to do with what I'm wearing. The thought of wearing a guitar like a piece of fashion had never occured to me.
Genuine beauty, is never out of place whether it's in a plain Tele or a breath taking flame topped Tele, genuine beauty can be found in both if they were built with care, skill, superior wood and components,,,,and more than a little bit of passion.
Respectfully,

[CDKopf]

Just like a pickup truck - I will never buy a brand new, off the shelf, mint condition one. Because I am one of those guys that is just tough on EVERYTHING. Guitars, trucks, clothes , boots, tools, wives ( just kiddin) If I own it it better be heavy duty and ready to work it's ass off. I can't be worryin about little scratches and dings here and there. My current Tele was given to me by a close friend under one condition...that I use and abuse and play the living H*** out of it!....mission accomplished...
I think Pretty Teles are beautiful works of art, I do enjoy gawking at them. They have there place, somewhere...just not in my hands

[woodman]

Originally Posted by Durtdog

That's the internet party line wisdom these days, lightweight ash and big fat neck.

You forgot to say it also has to be nitro finished, 13-72 strings, just guitar, cord and amp.

as long as it has heavy knurled knobs!!!

to me, no Tele can be too pretty or too ugly as long as it plays well and sounds good. underneath all the cosmetic concerns, isn't that the point of a musical instrument?

[Trimmed&Burnin]

We all wear and age,,, no matter how pretty we are ,,,,or were! Why cant a beautiful guitar be played like any other guitar??
I hear ya about old trucks, beater guitars, and all that. My everyday driver is a 52 Chevy panel truck driver but it has a built 283, automatic tranny, and heated seats,,

[Rich Rice]

Play what you like, and to hell with what other people think.

[superchicken_VI]

I don't think anything can be too pretty.

"Gee, dear, don't wear that lingerie, it's too pretty to get all wrinkled."

Nope. I like pretty things, but pretty doesn't have to mean fragile.

[jonitkin]

i think there's a difference between "pretty" and "gaudy." I think a nice blackguard with a maple neck and some grain showing is a beautiful thing. My MIM 69 thinline was beautiful, with the f hole, pearloid pickguard and that great mahogany body. had to sell it for my dream tele though...

for me, simplicity is a big part of beauty. i'd take the girl with no makeup who looks fantastic in those jeans over the self-tanned, makeup-drenched bleach blonde covered in jewelry.

but that's just me of course...