John 5 Custom Tele & Showmaster Flathead Tele

[tele.vision]

Well I was wondering ya'lls opinion on this was. Fender Recently came out wit something called a flathead tele. It comes with 2 active EMG pickups, no gloss paint, and no pickgaurd. all of its hardware and paint is black except the strings. My friend thinks this is stupid because telecasters are not for metal. He also says the same with the John 5 Guitar. I think both of them are pretty cool because I like how people are recognizing how good a tele sounds w/ or w/o humbuckers. Back to the Flathead model. I kinda like the idea of using a tele for metal even though it sounds awkward. I mean, most of the metal guitars out theere are pretty mucht he same body shape (strat/ibanez.) That is why i like to play on teles, prs, gibson. Please tell me your opinion boout this.

-tele.vision

p.s. John 5 also plays blue grass. I have put some cideos on here to show u.
(the sugarfoot rag one (its not john 5, but its the song) is played on a flat head fender.)

 

[tele.vision]

sry if the vids dont load, here are there links

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DkrkJJiF0Jo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=imnYOUT4G3w

 

[esteban]

It's kinda love/hate with the J5 around here. I like it. Check this thread to see two of 'em. Nasonm modded his, looks quite nice.

Being someone who listens to a lot of metal/hard rock, I like Teles being used for that kind of music. People always preach about the versatility of the Telecaster, and this just only builds upon that. You don't have to play only country to appreciate this guitar, despite what the purists say!

 

[tele.vision]

flat head here
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john 5 tele down here

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[tele.vision]

i was thinking of getting the flat head but i kinda dont like the emg's cuz they arent very versatile so im probably gonna get a prs or j5 tele.. i like hard rock myself

 

[Jellecaster]

First, what your friend thinks doesn't matter - what do you think? Teles are not traditionally associated with metal, but who cares? It doesn't get a lot heavier than Rob Zombie and John 5 seems to do pretty well in his band.

I haven't tried a Flathead (although I want to), but I like my J5 Triple Deluxe. It is heavy as hell and the middle humbucker makes finger picking difficult, but it sounds great. What I can't believe is how well the trem stays in tune. I'm used to using a Floyd Rose, but you can dive bomb with the J5 and it doesn't go out!

My only issue is that I am very anal about my guitars and if you even look at this one it needs polishing!

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[Nogbad]

J5 ? Its a shovel! Thats a yuk! from the UK

 

[tele.vision]

O yeh thats a erally nice guitar. Yeh i wanted to try the flathead but i cant seem to find it in guitar center. I think i would rather have the j5 than the flathead...

but i recently put seymourduncans in my bridge postion of my tele, its a single coil, but it puts a whole lot warmer and darker sound, plus i put in the 4 way switch so i can make the sound of a humbucker. and i painted it all black

 

[Jellecaster]

I can't find the Flathead on the Fender site at all - I wonder if it's been replaced by the Jim Root?

 

[GilmourD]

I can't find the Flathead on the Fender site at all - I wonder if it's been replaced by the Jim Root?

View attachment 4678

I think it may have been. I actually like the Jim Root better as it gives a sort of traditional twist on the idea.

 

[DakineTX]

I have two Flat Head teles and am here to tell you they are AWESOME!

Now, the EMG's are abit love/hate but I can do blusey rock EASY with them!

The Flat Heads were all Custom Shop and discontinued last year.

I found two and after buying the first snapped the other up quick as knew would be probably last chance, they are THAT sweet.

The ebony board is sublime. The rear cut-out and neck heel are great and the simplicity of single vol. knob is wonderful!

They have a beautiful v 12" radius neck and near as ***** play themselves.

I have now ordered a Highway 1 Texas tele solely due to it's 12" radius neck really (for beating around and more tonal variety also).

 

[neocaster]

Anybody who tells you that Teles aren't for metal deserves a T-shirt that says "Nobody knew I was ignorant until I told on myself"

A friend told me that he wouldn't use a Tele for metal, but encouraged me to try and get the sound I like from whatever guitar spoke to me. Fender isn't pushing the flat head anymore, (You're correct, the Jim Root seems to have replaced it.) but they're probably still around. If you like them, look around. They were fairly unpopular and you should be able to find one New Old Stock that a dealer took on and hasn't sold yet.

 

[WNC Bill]

hell metal was invented on a tele IMO ( zep I ) I love the J5 tele and my 18 yr old son thinks I'm nuts because of it LOL

 

[Jellecaster]

Metal was created on a left-handed SG by a guy from Birmingham... but let's not get into that debate!

 

[WNC Bill]

Metal was created on a left-handed SG by a guy from Birmingham... but let's not get into that debate!

well, thats a strong case for sure, it was on P90s anyway so singlecoils rule for metal!

 

[nasonm]

The J5 tele is a winner all around. As a fellow J5 owner, I agree with jellecaster. What you're friend thinks doesn't matter one bit.

Heck, Almost everyone here hates the J5 Tele, and I still bought one

Yes, I did switch the neck, but it was due to wanting a maple FB, not a rosewood. If the paddle headstock has a maple FB, I'd still have it.

 

[bherg]

I think a telecaster with humbuckers are awsome for metal. It will sound diffrent than a ibanez, prs and so on.

When i was a metal shredder i used a 7 string ibanez, today i would use a tele with humbuckers. But i dont play metal anymore, and now i want my teles with singel coils.


CHeers

 

[GilmourD]

All I know is that I weird people out by playing metal on this.
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[UTJeffC]

All I know is that the J5 tele probably weighs close to 20 lbs and I wish it had a regular tele headstock.

 

[bherg]

Uhh?!!!

20 lbs??!

are you kidding?

thats to damn much to be hanging around you shoulders!


Take care!