Baja owners club

[Flaneur]

Greetings from sunny New Zealand. I have just acquired MX17969100 a very nice clean example of the Baja. Only one fly in the ointment was the weight which was well over the 8lb mark. My weight loss program involved the installation of a Squier Thinline body and resulted in a 6lb guitar. Neck dive is avoided by installing a strap button next to the selector switch - it works.
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I've been reading through the posts on this forum and I've read lots about changing the electrics and swapping out the pickups. Comments on the standard setup seem to be limited to the occasional "love it" and that's about all. So I'm off on a voyage of discovery to see if I can sort out what sounds this guitar is capable of. I have my trusty old American Ash to use as a base sound and look forward to finding out what I have just bought. In the mean time feel free to pitch in comments on just why you like your Baja with the standard set up to help flesh out the overall picture.

Hi Bill,
I reckon modders are going to mod- but the stock pickups in a Baja are much superior, to previous Mexican Tele options. That was part of the appeal, initially and why similar sets quickly found their way into stock American Standard Teles, a while back. The extra grit of the 'hot vintage' Broadcaster pickup and the Stratty Twisted Tele neck pickup, give a lot of warmth and middy girth, compared to many lower wound, '52 types. I find the stock set work with all my gigging amps, including a Twin, a '69 Bassman head, a Peavey Classic 30 and a '76 WEM Dominator.
I recommend them- and suggest you give them an extended workout, before moving on.

 

[barnaclebill]

Thanks Flaneur that's the sort of thing I was looking for. So far my Quilter Superblock US is producing some very nice sounds from the 4 selector settings. Not so keen on the S1 but the Blues Cube seems to handle that OK so far. Much more research to do.

 

[Malleyjam550]

Hey all! Just found this board and just identified my Tele as a 2015 Baja! This is pretty pathetic but I had no idea that the button existed on the knob that changes the tone! What a discovery!

Can anyone explain in layman’s terms what all the features are on this guitar?

Also, for some reason my high e string keeps popping out and sliding to the side of the neck. Is this a known issue?

 

[DustyMike]

New entry for the list:

MX10291879 Lou Moffatt, Canada, 8lbs, Desert Sand

The serial number dates it as 02/2011
So definitely, among the very last Bajas in Desert Sand.

 

[Flaneur]

Hey all! Just found this board and just identified my Tele as a 2015 Baja! This is pretty pathetic but I had no idea that the button existed on the knob that changes the tone! What a discovery!

Can anyone explain in layman’s terms what all the features are on this guitar?

Also, for some reason my high e string keeps popping out and sliding to the side of the neck. Is this a known issue?

This excellent diagram was posted in another thread, today. You basically have the options of hearing your pickups in series, or parallel- and also in, or out of phase.
Your string issue would be sorted with a setup- it's not a common problem at all, with Bajas- or Teles, in general. My first thought, was that your guitar may have a nut, cut for 9 gauge strings and is too tight a fit, for the gauge you prefer....... That would be the place I would start trouble shooting.

 

[Lies&Distortion]

Hey all! Just found this board and just identified my Tele as a 2015 Baja! This is pretty pathetic but I had no idea that the button existed on the knob that changes the tone! What a discovery!

Can anyone explain in layman’s terms what all the features are on this guitar?

Also, for some reason my high e string keeps popping out and sliding to the side of the neck. Is this a known issue?

The saddle for that string is very low compared to the rest. Not putting enough tension in the string to hold it down?

 

[Bbsevenflat5]

Just got this last month and really happy. 2017. I was interested in all the tone options with the extra switching etc. and I love that but also was so impressed with the pickups that came stock. So much better than other Teles I have had. May move into go to fav guitar.

 

[Bbsevenflat5]

8 lbs even

 

[LoneScout]

Just picked mine up yesterday for a steal. $650 with a well loved hardshell case.

MX14560983, made in 2015 according to Fender.

It's in great shape. Just one small ding in the finish on front edge near the lower strap button, and a warped pickguard.

I'll probably do some minor tweaks: bakelite pickguard, maybe a matching arm rest, and some compensated saddles.

But, so far, I love this guitar.

 

[jimmyjoe]

I always wanted to try this. I had a Baja 60s neck that I loved but I never warmed up to the pickups in the 60s body. Then I got a great deal on a butterscotch 50s Baja but the thick neck was just too unwieldy for me (it's up for sale). Put the 60s neck on the 50's body and I'm in love:

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I did the same with mine. Bought a Classic 60's PF neck, sold the maple one. Love the result! The maple neck was great, just not for me - I got used to thin necks over the years and my left hand started telling me "this hurts".
Here's mine after the neck change. Bigsby is also a latest addition that I love.

 

[takauya]

Bajagsby!? Cool. The top grain looks killer too.

 

[Fretting out]

I did the same with mine. Bought a Classic 60's PF neck, sold the maple one. Love the result! The maple neck was great, just not for me - I got used to thin necks over the years and my left hand started telling me "this hurts".
Here's mine after the neck change. Bigsby is also a latest addition that I love.

Did you use the bigsby angled aluminum shim? For the neck that is

 

[jimmyjoe]

Did you use the bigsby angled aluminum shim? For the neck that is

No, a wooden shim is there. Bigsby aluminum shim costs like it was made of gold.

 

[yundi]

NGD for me, thrilled to join the club!

I saw this guitar for sale and the deal was too good to pass.
Maybe it's too soon to have a completely unbiased opinion, but right now I am absolutely in love with this piece of wood. So far, I find the 4th switch position very useful and I haven't been using the out-of-phase option that much.

The guitar had been sitting on its gigbag for more than 6 years, so the strings were very rusty and the hardware was a little noisy due to the dust. I took to a local luthier and it is like brand new: part of the money I saved on the deal went to the luthier, which I consider a good investment.

Everything on the guitar is stock, but the color of the pickguard puzzles me. The former owner and the luthier both said that it's original, but it looks yellowish to me (which I love). According to the previous owner the guitar wasn't exposed to the sun, so I don't know why the pickguard has that aged look, any thoughts? (here is a link to what I believe was the original color of the pickguard).

 

[Flaneur]

part of the money I saved on the deal went to the luthier, which I consider a good investment.

I agree with you. A smart decision.

Great looking guitar!

 

[Ivorytooth]

2016 - Last year for rosewood.

 

[Bedroom Thrasher]

Hey all! Just found this board and just identified my Tele as a 2015 Baja! This is pretty pathetic but I had no idea that the button existed on the knob that changes the tone! What a discovery!

Can anyone explain in layman’s terms what all the features are on this guitar?

Also, for some reason my high e string keeps popping out and sliding to the side of the neck. Is this a known issue?

Your E string is not under the circular string tree retainer. There’s a groove underneath for the string to sit in. This will stop the string from popping out of the nut.