My friend wants to buy his first Tele, with a good budget.

[OddSilas]

Question: does he want to go “toward“ a Tele but keeping in line with what he already has (open up humbuckers, t-types, etc), or does he want your opinion on what to get for a “pure” Tele experience? Two different itches to scratch…

 

[Burlington Dave]

Hey y'all.

I have an old friend of mine who's played on a 1970s Les Paul Deluxe his whole life. He also has a modern Fender Strat but it sits most of the time. He came to me to ask what model he should look into because I'm "the tele guy" in the group of musicians I'm in.

I told him it's all about preference. Everyone can have different opinions about how it feels, plays, and sounds. But he was asking because apparently in his 30 something years of playing, he only got to play on a Tele like a couple of times.

So with that, I let him try my American Standard from 2014, which has that common "C" profile. He loved it and wanted to know more. I asked him what his budget was, which was enough to get any Fender below custom shop. So I told him maybe the Professional II is one to look at, but again it's all about preference. Not sure the point of this post, maybe I'm nervous I pointed him in the wrong direction but he told me he'd try it before he buys it, whatever he's interested in. We'll see haha

Why not go with him to a shop that has a wide variety of Teles and have him play a bunch. That way he buys the guitar that speaks to him, not the one at the top of his budget.

 

[AKBluesDude]

I'm a big fan of Glendale Guitars t-style. Most of them are under 6 pounds - and as I get older I appreciate the lighter weight. There's a nice one on Reverb right now with a humbucker in the neck. I've been tempted by it, regretfully traded a Fender Custom Shop tele once upon a time with the Seth Lover in the neck . . . sweet guitar.

 

[Napa Mac]

As a long-time Gibson guy, I never thought I'd get along with Fender-scale guitars even after trying to love Strats for years. That all changed when I got my first partscaster Tele with jumbo frets. Off-the-rack Fenders don't work for me, but as others have said, it's all about personal preference.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I remember a world, 35-40 years ago, where you couldn't turn around without hitting a Stratocaster and sure, I agree, I didn't buy one or play one then because I didn't like all the "me too" stuff.

Me too I’m a vocalist anyway but play some guitar when it’s needed but I avoided Strats because so many people played one. Then I tried one for a couple of weeks and understood why. Now though a Telecaster is what i more often play.

 

[Old Verle Miller]

After reading through this, I have a question based on the "he's the Tele guy..." comment: What's their (the group's) sound? Who's their target market, as in, paying audience?

IMHO, the difference between a Tele in a band and a Strat is the Tele player plays the music differently. The two don't translate right for most bands.

If they want to add classic country to their cover set lists, yes, they do need a Tele player. But handing one to a Gibson/Strat player doesn't make things happen immediately.

 

[NoTeleBob]

Since he plays a Norlin boat anchor already, I think it will be all about the neck. Weight won't matter. Body carves are irrelevant.

Depending on whether he has an early 70's or later 70's neck, he might have a relatively thick neck or a "slim taper". The Gibson mid 70's slim-tapers tend to be as thick as a thick Fender up around 12 but fairly skinny at the first fret like a modern slim. The earlier thick necks can get fairly hefty. Exact neck shape depended on the person finishing it out in those days. So that would be a consideration for him.

Gibson frets in this era are low and wide. Some of the people leveling and crowning them took them down almost as low as the "fretless wonders" - right out of the factory. So narrow and tall frets of some Tele's will be very different for him

That's not to say he couldn't enjoy the exact opposite for both. Variety is fun for some of us. But he should know about the options and differences.

 

[HootOwlDude]

I have never played an American Original or a Custom Shop telecaster, but I say save some money and go for an Ensenada-built telecaster. From my experience with my Vintera tele, you get a high-quality, retro-vibey, great sounding instrument, stock. The finish is polyester, but it is perfectly done. Beautiful guitars.

 

[takauya]

He liked the modern C shape neck of your American Standard, so it shouldn't be hard to find one he likes if he just tries a bunch at the shop.
Only he can tell what's comfortable for him to play.
And, yes I'd suggest him to try a bunch of MIMs. Even the Player Teles seem to be good enough.

 

[G Stone496]

How about an American Performer with a humbucker in the neck?

^^^That's the facts Jack!

 

[Deed]

Teles are simple guitars. I´d look for the late MIM models (both Vinteras and Road Worns are very good choices). I´d also give a try to the partscaster way. Some SX "Vintage Series" (specially the ones with truss rod adjustment in the heel) can be a very good choice for the money (and excelent platform for customization/upgrades). MIJ from the´80s and early´90s, such as Fernandes and Squiers can also be very good deals.

 

[Hibernian]

Another for the Am Pro II... great implementation. Mine is pine and light. Fantastic.

 

[WalATX]

Your friend should try every single Fender Telecaster he can get his hands on. Used, new, all of them.
Mexican, American, Japanese, all of them.

One of them will feel right, play right, and sing to him.

This. This is the way.

I’ve played excellent (and poor) Japanese and Mexican Fenders, and tried some American. Some great, some not.

I would be trying to hitch a ride with him when he goes shopping. I get nearly as pumped when a friend is getting a new axe as when I get a new one.

Are we sticking with Fender brand only? I have a G&L ASAT that I love.

What about Nashville-style teles?

FGN and Sire make great teles as well.

 

[jvin248]

.

Get a typical 50s style for the bigger neck carve, standard Tele pickups, mod with a 4-way switch for a stealth LP Junior.

That Vintera 50s might be the target.

.

 

[burntfrijoles]

These questions are impossible to answer. The only way to select a guitar is to play one. As the OP states, it's about "preference". I hate thick necks. As a result, a 52 AVII Blackguard wouldn't be my choice nor would the 50s Vintera, etc.

Try it before you buy it.

 

[TelePickler]

With that budget, the Ultra Luxe is in play. It has a couple specs that might appeal to him as a LP guy. Flatter fretboard (10-14 compound), and noiseless pickups. The neck is listed as a D profile, but I feel more C than D in mine, very comfortable regardless.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I have 3 Telecasters and I think overall my favorite is an American Original 60’s. Comfortable neck and it’s a 9.5 radius, which I prefer

 

[Singin' Dave]

I played an LP '73 Deluxe for many years. Actually I had 2 of them. If your buddy can find an avri 52 Hot Rod Deluxe he will freakin love it. It has a nitro finish, and it has a mini hambucker in the neck that he will love. If he really wants to go the next step, with an SD Little 59 in the bridge and he'll never go for his LP Deluxe again.

This is a great recommendation, but I'd take it one step further and say look for a "good year" '52 ReIssue, not Hot Rod. He'll get hooked into our club quick.

 

[acstorfer]

This is a great recommendation, but I'd take it one step further and say look for a "good year" '52 ReIssue, not Hot Rod. He'll get hooked into our club quick.

The reason I specifically went with the Hot Rod is because of the mini humbucker in the neck. It will give him some familiarity with his mini humbucker LP. However, a lot of teles do have a cavity that will fit pretty much anything under the pick guard so I guess it doesn't necessarily have to be a Hot Rod. Still, I LOVED my avri Hot Rod.

 

[paperman]

I’d look for a MIM “Classic Series” or a MIA “American Vintage”/“American Original”.
50s, 60s or 70s specs depends on personal preference.