Neck tints on Telecasters, which one do you prefer?

[KrenarCilku]

Alright, I need to know what the general consensus about this topic is.

Do you guys like the vintage amber tint necks on telecasters or the really pale maple necks?

For some reason, I just can't fall in love with any telecaster or strat for that matter that has the pale maple neck and fretboard going on.

Seeing how most people spec their custom shop pieces with the amber finish on the maple, one would assume that the majority of guitarists like that but yet again, there are a lot of telecaster out of production lines without that tint which insinuates a demand for that as well.

I'm genuinely interested to see the outcome of this thread. Tell us your preference and let us know why you like one over the other.

Cheers!

Photos for reference:

 

[Si G X]

I'd be in the 'don't really mind' camp.

Maybe one or the other would look better with different coloured bodies? With the butterscotch example, I would probably prefer the lighter as a bit of contrast.

 

[TC6969]

I usually don't care, but somehow my brain sees that amber tint and equates it with higher quality even though I know its the same neck.

 

[schmee]

Some ambers are just too yellow. But yes, I prefer amber over that plain look. I dont even know how they do that. Many finishes result in an amber-ish tone all on their own, yet those Fender necks seem awful white to me.
Brush on thin poly finish over alder body, no stain:

3 heavy coats of UV protected spar varnish over white cedar Ceiling)

 

[boris bubbanov]

I think these 2 FMIC images above are too poor to be of any real help. Dunno what FMIC is thinking.

I don't like ultra white looking maple, except on "contemporary" themed Teles and I don't buy or play those as a rule.

But I also find the heavy orange or yellow tints to be goofy. Even if barflies smoked all night, every night out and that's "authentic" somehow to the lungs of folks in the past, I'd rather not be reminded that that stuff happened.

So, moderation please, with heavier tints on guitars with older specifications and slightly lighter tinting for guitars with faster necks and larger fretwire and so on. I love what's shown directly above my post, for instance.

 

[TwangerWannabe]

All depends, and think it looks better with certain colors. If it's a butterscotch body and there's no tint on the neck it's been programmed into my brain that this looks cheap, because back in the day the 52AVRI had a tinted beck, while the Squier that had a butterscotch body had no tint on the neck.

I have a Classic 50's Precision bass in black that has a tinted neck and it looks decent, leaning on the side of being a bit too orange.

I will agree with the post above that somewhere in the middle works best. No tint at all looks cheap, a really orange-y tint looks overdone. I also like a neck with no tint that has has several years to darken just a bit naturally.

 

[Rufustelestrats]

By definition tint implied application of color, but pale maple is the lack of tint.

 

[Sax-son]

I prefer the amber tints, but that in itself would not be a deal breaker if the guitar plays great. That is what is most important.

 

[AAT65]

Pale pale pale for me please! I find the amber tints almost as annoying as a sunburst finish

 

[Footsore]

I don't mind a pale neck at all. I prefer timbers to show their natural colours and age naturally.

 

[itstooloudMike]

My preference is roasted maple with no finish. Looks great and feels awesome.

 

[Dismalhead]

I like both, but I checked the pale maple box, hoping that one day with natural aging it yellows a bit.

 

[jays0n]

I have both and like both. As other said, it depends on the guitar and other colors involved.

 

[Willie Johnson]

Alright, I need to know what the general consensus about this topic is.

Do you guys like the vintage amber tint necks on telecasters or the really pale maple necks?

For some reason, I just can't fall in love with any telecaster or strat for that matter that has the pale maple neck and fretboard going on.

Seeing how most people spec their custom shop pieces with the amber finish on the maple, one would assume that the majority of guitarists like that but yet again, there are a lot of telecaster out of production lines without that tint which insinuates a demand for that as well.

I'm genuinely interested to see the outcome of this thread. Tell us your preference and let us know why you like one over the other.

Cheers!

Photos for reference:
View attachment 972652 View attachment 972653

On that guitar, I like the tint. On a black or white guitar, I'd rather have the natural pale maple.

 

[Witcher]

I like the amber tints, but it's not a deal breaker. It's interesting to note though, that Fender changed the lacquer finish on the Brad Paisley Esquire to amber-ish, instead of the pale white on the Telecaster.

 

[Witcher]

All depends, and think it looks better with certain colors. If it's a butterscotch body and there's no tint on the neck it's been programmed into my brain that this looks cheap, because back in the day the 52AVRI had a tinted beck, while the Squier that had a butterscotch body had no tint on the neck.

I have a Classic 50's Precision bass in black that has a tinted neck and it looks decent, leaning on the side of being a bit too orange.

I will agree with the post above that somewhere in the middle works best. No tint at all looks cheap, a really orange-y tint looks overdone. I also like a neck with no tint that has has several years to darken just a bit naturally.

that's gorgeous!

 

[Wrighty]

Alright, I need to know what the general consensus about this topic is.

Do you guys like the vintage amber tint necks on telecasters or the really pale maple necks?

For some reason, I just can't fall in love with any telecaster or strat for that matter that has the pale maple neck and fretboard going on.

Seeing how most people spec their custom shop pieces with the amber finish on the maple, one would assume that the majority of guitarists like that but yet again, there are a lot of telecaster out of production lines without that tint which insinuates a demand for that as well.

I'm genuinely interested to see the outcome of this thread. Tell us your preference and let us know why you like one over the other.

Cheers!

Photos for reference:
View attachment 972652 View attachment 972653

Either are OK but the real white ‘IKEA’, on Bullets and Affinity’s, look as if they aren’t treated with anything and scream ‘cheap’ to me.

 

[Si G X]

look as if they aren’t treated with anything and scream ‘cheap’ to me.

No tint at all looks cheap

This is so interesting.

I think the opposite, tinted necks look cheap to me .. a cheap poor quality neck trying really hard to look expensive and 'vintage'

 

[Tele-friend]

I have a Performer Telecaster in BSB and I like the pale maple neck because of the contrast with the body.
The amber neck however wouldnt be a dealbreaker as long as the guitar plays and feels good.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I just got a cheap Squier Tele Thinline, and dig this amber tint- sometimes it's looks almost as dark as the body ( tinted Sapele body)