My first Tele - Classic '60s upg. or Classic Baja

[screamer04]

Hey folks,

I'm GASing on my first telecaster after years of strats and les pauls.
I guess the Fender MIM classis series are a bang for the buck.

I actually would prefer the baja because of the pickups, the beautiful blonde finish, the maple fretboard and the versatile switching system - especially the neck-bridge serial option seem to be nice.

My "problem" is, that I'm offered a used classic '60s Telecaster in olympic white with some very nice upgrades - matched CTS Pots and a set of handwound Leosound vintage 60`s Pick Ups Leosound website - click.
The Guitar was handselected by a brilliant musician (playing in a nice band since 1964!).

Although i would prefer the baja at some points, the classic '60s has a big advantage - it's got to be a good sounding tele!
So there's no "risk" in getting a poor one.
The rosewood fretboard wouldn't be bad at all (i have only guitars with rw) and olypic white looks pretty nice, too.
Updating a 4-way switch for the nice brige/neck-serial position would be pretty easy.

What would you do?
I would appreciate some opinions on that :).

regards,

Toby

[BritishBluesBoy]

Hi Screamer04,
Well, both of those guitars are highly regarded by many here. Personally I'd be very tempted by that 60's Classic... If you have a chance to try out a few Bajas perhaps you can A/B them side by side and pick the one that calls to you the most... Also, I believe the Baja has a flatter radius neck and bigger frets than the 60's Classic (I like a 7.25 radius with vintage style frets myself)... Something to think about perhaps...??

[51tele]

I prefer the 60's classic-----but I don't think you'll go wrong either direction-----my experience with teles is you have to try a few or maybe a bunch before you find the right one for you--it will stick out like a sore thumb

[screamer04]

Wow,
rapid replies!
Really great forum, I feel comfortable straight away.

At the moment, I tend to buy the classic '60s, too.
The baja will be still there, if I don't like the '60s - but the used offer isn't available for a longer time.
The vintage frets + 7,5" should fit my liking.
I pretty much like every radius .

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by BritishBluesBoy

Hi Screamer04,
Well, both of those guitars are highly regarded by many here. Personally I'd be very tempted by that 60's Classic... If you have a chance to try out a few Bajas perhaps you can A/B them side by side and pick the one that calls to you the most... Also, I believe the Baja has a flatter radius neck and bigger frets than the 60's Classic (I like a 7.25 radius with vintage style frets myself)... Something to think about perhaps...??

Like BBB says, it's very much a question of vintage neck vs. modern neck. Personally I prefer the vintage features, but you might feel different. I also don't care for the S-1 system, but the Baja is nevertheless a quality instrument and a great looker.

But in your case the 60's Tele is probably the safest buy, if you don't have a chance of A/B'ing them.

[FredDairy]

I have a heavily modded 60s classic that I love. One of the things I modded on mine was an upgrade in the pickups, and it looks like the one you have a chance at already has that step done.

The 60s classic neck is a thing of beauty when set up correctly. Those vintage frets feel so good on that rosewood board. The Baja is great guitar. But you either like the bigger frets and flatter radius or you don't.

[Mark Davis]

The 60's Classic to my ears is one of the rare occasions where nothing needs to be changed at all.

Any pickup changes to me would be a downgrade as the stock ones sound perfect.

Id ask if the person still had the stock pickups for the 60's Classic.

[FredDairy]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

The 60's Classic to my ears is one of the rare occasions where nothing needs to be changed at all.

Any pickup changes to me would be a downgrade as the stock ones sound perfect.

Id ask if the person still had the stock pickups for the 60's Classic.

It's funny, I was totally let down with the stock pickups, and they had such great reviews from some respectable people here. Maybe there was something wrong with mine, I did buy it online.

[boris bubbanov]

Pickups can be changed on either guitar; you don't seem strongly in the maple or the rosewood camps, I guess like me you'll play either.
So the biggest unspoken element is the Classic Baja's neck girth is pretty substantial compared to the Classic 50's, and in turn the Classic 60's is smaller than that. The Only Thing between me and the 60's is the neck is too lacking in chunkiness; now it ain't thin, it just isn't thick enough.
You need to try both and see how you feel about that, I'd say.
Most US guys have not tried the Leosounds; so I can't compare them to anything but I do like the Baja pickups, especially the neck Twisted Tele.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by FredDairy

It's funny, I was totally let down with the stock pickups, and they had such great reviews from some respectable people here. Maybe there was something wrong with mine, I did buy it online.

They have to be adjusted to sound their best.

Im the 1st guy to change anything that doesnt feel or sound right but to me and my ears the stock 60's Classic was perfect. I did replace the flat top knobs with the 50's style heaver knurled dome knobs but other than that saw zero reasons to change anything.

[BritishBluesBoy]

This thread just promted me to go and play my 60's Classic for a little while. It really is a sweet guitar...

[FredDairy]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

They have to be adjusted to sound their best.

Im the 1st guy to change anything that doesnt feel or sound right but to me and my ears the stock 60's Classic was perfect. I did replace the flat top knobs with the 50's style heaver knurled dome knobs but other than that saw zero reasons to change anything.

It's gotta come down to a difference in taste and ears then.

I did adjust the hell out of the pickups though. Infact, the neck pickup I could have left in. I've been toying with the idea of going back to it.
My problem was with the bridge pickup. I didn't get the bite I needed to cut through when playing live. I guess it sounded alright in my basement by myself, but when I had the tone wide open it sounded to my ears sort of like Steve Cropper's Telecaster when he'd have his tone rolled down a bit.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by FredDairy

It's gotta come down to a difference in taste and ears then.

I did adjust the hell out of the pickups though. Infact, the neck pickup I could have left in. I've been toying with the idea of going back to it.
My problem was with the bridge pickup. I didn't get the bite I needed to cut through when playing live. I guess it sounded alright in my basement by myself, but when I had the tone wide open it sounded to my ears sort of like Steve Cropper's Telecaster when he'd have his tone rolled down a bit.

Mine sounded like the original Suzy Q. It had an excellent blend when in the middle position.

Different amps strings and playing styles can make alot of difference.

Here is something Ive found out after buying over 25 new guitars since 1992.

The ones you have to mod to sound right to you sometimes never end up sounding right no matter what you do. Others you are perfectly happy with bone stock continue to sound good and even better the more they are played.

I have 7 guitars now and only 1 of them is modded in any way the rest are all 100% stock. The one thats modded I changed the body on my Strat to a color I liked more and got a 6oz lighter body. All the rest of the parts on it are stock I just swapped out the body.

[FredDairy]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Mine sounded like the original Suzy Q. It had an excellent blend when in the middle position.

Different amps strings and playing styles can make alot of difference.

Here is something Ive found out after buying over 25 new guitars since 1992.

The ones you have to mod to sound right to you sometimes never end up sounding right no matter what you do. Others you are perfectly happy with bone stock continue to sound good and even better the more they are played.

I have 7 guitars now and only 1 of them is modded in any way the rest are all 100% stock. The one thats modded I changed the body on my Strat to a color I liked more and got a 6oz lighter body. All the rest of the parts on it are stock I just swapped out the body.

Truer words were never spoken. I've never modded any of my guitars. I don't get the idea of buying something with the intent to make it better.
This 60s classic was a special case for me. It didn't sound right stock, it weighed too much and wasn't the right color either, so I also replaced the body along with the pickups. I figured what did I have to loose? I wasn't really happy with the way the body was reacting with the neck. Anyway, now I've got something that I think is closer to Bloomfield and Cropper's Teles which is why I bought the 60s classic in the first place. It still has the 60s hardware and neck so it feels like a 60s classic, but just has hotter pickups and weighs about 6.75 lbs.

Anyway... All said and done. I'd still recommend to the original poster to try the 60s classic, see how it weighs, and feels in your hands. Had my 60s body been lighter I wouldn't have had to change much on it to be really happy.

[dan79]

I've no experience with the baja but I love my 60's Classic. Its all stock and I wouldn't change a thing - maybe consider consider buying a brand new one stock? Sounds great and really confortable to play.

Anyway to help you decide...........

[jazztele]

get the 60's classic...

a stock baja will still be around, but this particular guitar sounds like a one shot deal--get it before it's gone...

they're both very cool in my opinion, but for the music i play, the S1 switching on the baja is superfluous...

and let's face it, you've been bitten by the tele bug...you'll need a maple necked one eventually...

[screamer04]

Thanks for your advices, opinions and the nice pics!
I'm getting the classic.

I'll report you my impressions as soon as the beauty arrives.
I guess I'll take the classic to the next store and compare it with a baja as soon as possible.
But intuition says that the classic could be a real keeper!
(Who knows - if the "tele bug" bites again, I might take the baja with me, too )

kind regards

Toby

[dan79]

Good luck and post pics as soon as you get it!

[BritishBluesBoy]

You won't regret that choice!!

Mine:

[kingofdogs1950]

Good choice in going for the 60's Classic. I own one and like it a lot.
A great guitar stock or modded.

Mark

[J-man]

I owned both - I A/B'd them, and the Baja kicked ass, no contest at all.

My 60's Classic was unmodded of course.

[boris bubbanov]

I'm delighted for you either one you choose.

There's another thread, Am Se vs. Highway One. Hey, I'll take the MIM Classic series guitars over either of those guitars any day. You will be impressed.

[dinosteve]

Originally Posted by dan79

I've no experience with the baja but I love my 60's Classic. Its all stock and I wouldn't change a thing - maybe consider consider buying a brand new one stock? Sounds great and really confortable to play.

Anyway to help you decide...........

that is.... absolutely gorgeous