How good is the Fender 50's Tele made in Mexico?

[JohnnyCashShow]

Hello everybody! I'm planning to buy a Fender 50's Tele for 549.00€. My question is: How good is this guitar? I want to play Country music, especially Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Is an Esquire maybe better? I mostly play Johnny Cash, the Luther Perkins sound. I know that Luther always played a Esquire, but Bob Wooton, the guitarist of Johnny after Luther's dead played a Telecaster.

At the moment I have a Squier Tele and a Fender Frontman 65R.

 

[BluesBrother]

I cant say, since I havent played them.

But they generally get good reviews. And pepole often say that they're worth the price.

By the way, here's one for 480 € + shipping. And since you live in the EU you dont pay any toll I think.

 

[JohnnyCashShow]

Thanks for the fast reply!
And also thanks for the info!

 

[obergfey]

I used to have one, and they're excellent in my opinion. besides finish and electronics, the neck and body are on par with US made models.

Yannick

 

[Fatmanstratman]

Love mine - one of the nicest Teles I own. Superb quality, great fit and finish.

I swapped out the pups for a set of the Original Vintage pups, fitted GlenDale compensated brass saddles, put on a bakelite guard and changed the jack socket for an Electrosocket, but none of those upgrades were "must do".

Which colour are you looking at?

 

[skillet]

I have a 50s Classic Telecaster and it's a good guitar for the money. I also have a AVRI62 which has Seymour Duncan pickups in it and a warmer sound (though it can rock with some overdrive); the 50s Classic has a lot more of the classic Tele Twang sound (it is all stock, original pickups and wiring) -- lots of twang and if you switch to the bridge pickup and increase the gain, it wails like a banshee (very trebley). The neck is a Medium C shape; it isn't Nocaster thick, but it isn't skinny either (the neck on my 62 is very skinny). The fit-and-finish is fairly good, although the frets on mine need a dressing as they're kind've sharp on the edges. Just looking at one and holding it, you do not get the feeling it is of low quality build-wise or parts-wise. It's a good instrument.

 

[JohnnyCashShow]

Thanks for the replies! I plan to buy a white one. What about an Esquire? Is it maybe better for country?

 

[Space-o-Caster]

Hello,
i think the classic 50 Tele is really a great guitar, you should change the pickups and the saddles. I have one at the moment, like it very much, changed the pickups to Fender CS Nocasters and the saddles to brass. I once owned a Custom Shop Tele and i would say there is nearly no difference in sound and playability. Another great guitar is the classic player baja tele, she has allready american vintage pickups, brass saddles, a 4way switch and a s1 switch.

 

[Caffeine Patrol]

Thanks for the replies! I plan to buy a white one. What about an Esquire? Is it maybe better for country?

I'd go for a Tele. A couple of years ago, I recorded all the electric guitar for a local band doing a Louvin Brothers tribute, and I used the neck pickup for a lot of it. With the right amp & pickup, you can dial in a close approximation of a Gretsch tone, which can come in handy. I owned a '50s Esquire for awhile, and it wasn't long before I put in a neck pickup. Just my opinion. I know some folks swear by Esquires, but to me there great if you have a two-pickup Tele as well.

 

[Robbo]

I bought a used 50s Classic and was surprised that its previous owner was willing to let it go. It sounds good, the body is nice and resonant, and I REALLY like the neck shape. I'm not all that keen on the pickups, though, so I picked up some Fender CS Nocaster pickups and a Glendale bridge with brass saddles that I'm going to try to get on it in the next couple of weeks. (Note that the saddle swap isn't a necessity, I'm just trying to get it a little closer to the traditional Tele sound, and supposedly the Glendale bridge plate adds some volume and sustain.)

 

[jazztele]

very good guitars for the money-- i like mine a lot, and it serves as a nice backup to my main tele.

i'd always go tele over esquire, but that's personal preference--i feel there's just so much more versatility, and there's sounds you just can't get with an esquire--but there's some big esquire fans on this board, so YMMV

but you'll never catch me on a guitar without a neck pickup...now, no bridge pickup, well....

 

[harlycarly]

I own both the 50's Classic Tele and the 50's Classic Esquire. If you are already zeroed in on the Tele then GO for it. By the sound of your request for a "country" tone I'm thinking that you may also want the versatility of the neck pickup. Now mind you, the tone on the Esquire is killer but somehow I think you might be a bit disappointed with what they refer to as "the woman tone" of the Esquire in the neck (non existent) position. Just guessing, is all. Luther Perkins did the majority of the earlier Johnny Cash stuff with an Esquire, but I can't help but think you are gonna like the Tele just a bit more. You'll have a bit more versatility, I think, but again, there are some days when my Esquire makes the hair stand up on my arms.

They are BOTH just great guitars, lot of love around these parts for 'em.

Just my 2 cents, let us know what YOU decide on.

 

[Gary in Boston]

They capture, in my opinion, much of the essense or spirit of Teles from the 1950's in form and function.

Gary

 

[JohnnyCashShow]

Thanks so much for all these replies! I think I'll go for a sunburst 50's Tele. I just saw it yesterday in a big music store and I really loved it. Now it's only the thing with money... I'll let you know when I buy it. Thanks again!

JCS

 

[winny pooh]

Get it man! The only initial swap needed is the bridge pickup for a hotter darker one, you might even enjoy putting a black guard on one, one of the best necks ever!

 

[Momotoro]

It's all about the necks on those. They are a nice balance between the sizes offered; not Nocaster huge and not modern flat c.

 

[Jack Wells]

They are very good. In fact, you might call them a Classic.

 

[stantheman]

I was actually checking to see if Dr.Davis posted so I could have just "+1'd".
Evidently The Doctor is elsewhere at the moment - SO, I own two MIM Classics, a 1950's Strat and a 1960's Tele - and...they are breathtakingly sweet Instruments.
Not using a Pick (Snooks Eaglin,Albert Collins,Albert King,Wes Montgomery, and Jeff Beck are Influences) I've never had to do squat to the electronics in the way of switching out Pots or Pickups - when it's Flesh On String that's pretty much "the game".
You're gonna love the MIM Classics regardless because They're Built By The Cousins Of The People Who Worked For Leo Fender.
Viva Ensenada!!!!! Mexico...Mexico...Mexico!!!

In other words if You were to offer up two American Standards for mine I'd thank You for Your generousity and say "thanks - but no".