Opinions on Eleca Telecaster

[jaybones]

I was cruising eBay and came across this (link removed). I emailed the seller and asked for measurements on the neck pocket and bridge dimensions. He emailed back about a day later and said he was just the reseller and didn't have access to that information.

Did a web search on this guitar, and found one fairly positive review on ultimate-guitar Guy said it sounded like "Hendrix, then turn the knob and its Panterra!"

Obviously not as mature a player as I and others on this forum.

Always thought an American Flag telecaster would be cool, and if a standard Fender neck would fit (Mighty Mite probably) and/or the bridge was of insufficient quality that I wanted to replace it with a better piece I could.

So, withholding the China bashing and save your money to buy an MIM or Squier, does anyone have any experience with this company or even this particular guitar.

 

[jaybones]

More online research on this exact model tells me the body is ash. And from what I've read about Eleca its either a low end guitar (I knew that) with good quality, or a cheap POS.

More reviews call it a good quality low end than a POS. Those calling it a POS were comparing it to obvious quality brands. One guy even said he thought it was as nice as his MIA Telecaster. Even said the electronics were far better than expected.

 

[joeford]

i came here to tell you that you misspelled "electra"... only to find that "eleca" IS the brand

i can't offer any help here... i've never heard of this. never. i've been swapping used guitars on craigslist for years... and never so much as seen a listing for an "eleca" the neck heel looks pretty authentic... so i would guess a tele neck could be stuffed in there. but its taking quite a gamble. thankfully, since we're gambling with your money instead of mine, i say go for it

on a side note, if you DO get it, let me know the schematic for this hendrix/panterrrrra switch. i obviously need this!

 

[jaybones]

Yeah, I purposefully left in his misspelling of Pantera.

I thought it was indicative of his naïvete that he would use Hendrix (when talking about a tele) and Pantera in the same sentence. Believe me, some of the responses to his review pretty funny! Cruel, in a funny way, or funny in a cruel way.

And yeah, its pretty cheap so I won't be risking a ton of dough.

 

[joeford]

curiosity got the best of me, so i looked up the review:

review for rebel flag tele

pull up a comfy chair and cook some popcorn... it's a great read. and to think, he didn't even get paid for that poetry!

 

[Manolete]

curiosity got the best of me, so i looked up the review:

review for rebel flag tele

Um.... Wow....

My style is bent on rock. This guitar gives you a perfect Hendrix sound but with the twist of a knob, you think, "Pantera!" I run it through a Kustom Quad 100 DFX and a DeltaLab pedal. There is no hum and no agitating fuzz while you play. One feature I love is its clean song when its unplugged. Its got a banjo/ acoustic sound. Then you plug it in and WOW! Such a difference! Its not to bright and not dull in the least, between a grenade and an atomic bomb sits this beauty. I play mostly Van Halen and it complies with the Brown Sound. Taps, harmonics, slides, etc. This guitar will blow your mind! And the sustain that seems to course through the thing is rockin! I did eventually edit the pickups to experiment with the sounds I could get. I put a cheap Epiphone Les Paul body pickup in the neck position and the sound is almost complete. Now all I hope to add is a sustainer to elongate the already mind-blowing tones.

 

[joeford]

Um.... Wow....

right? poetry... a wordsmith if i've ever seen one...

he manages to make those single coils humbucking... and has the hendrix/pantera control on his guitar. i've checked online for the schematics to no avail

somewhere between a grenade and an atomic bomb...

 

[vintage clubber]

I have an Eleca Goldtop HH Les Paul copy I picked up over 10 years ago for about $150. It was a keeper! I added a Bigsby/Vibramate rig to it. It currently has a set of Dimarzio EJ Customs.

 

[jaybones]

I have an Eleca Goldtop HH Les Paul copy I picked up over 10 years ago for about $150. It was a keeper! I added a Bigsby/Vibramate rig to it. It currently has a set of Dimarzio EJ Customs.

Well, that's quite a vote of confidence! Bigsby and pickups probably cost more than the guitar they went on. Heck even the Bigsbies I've priced lately are at least $150.00

Was actually looking at one of their LP copies. Especially like the parallelogram inlays on your neck! Always loved the look of those on a Paul, the black tuxedo look comes to mind first. But it sure does look pretty on a goldtop also!

Now I've got to decide which one I need more. Telecaster or Les Paul copy...

 

[joeford]

I have an Eleca Goldtop HH Les Paul copy I picked up over 10 years ago for about $150. It was a keeper! I added a Bigsby/Vibramate rig to it. It currently has a set of Dimarzio EJ Customs

another awesome guitar from vintage clubber... jeebus. i wanna see a family photo of all your gear sometime! the finish on that thing looks fantastic. it does kinda blow that american flag tele outta the water, doesn't it jaybones?

 

[jaybones]

Yeah, it does. But the American Flag tele has a certain juvenile appeal.

Sort of like a Union Jack Casino, although that is definitely a cooler and much better guitar!

 

[vintage clubber]

another awesome guitar from vintage clubber... jeebus. i wanna see a family photo of all your gear sometime! the finish on that thing looks fantastic. it does kinda blow that american flag tele outta the water, doesn't it jaybones?

thank you!

I'm a sucker for cheap guitars that I can turn into players...

 

[jaybones]

I'm a sucker for cheap guitars that I can turn into players...

Yeah, me too. Spend a small amount and end up with a decent collection over time.

 

[jaybones]

E-mailed the company and they sell through various eBay stores, and have a 30 day return policy with everything they sell. Looking better and better.

Going to go for it! Now just have to free up the money...

 

[Five Aces]

FWIW....
Check out pg 11 of catalog http://www.elecaamps.com/e-catalog/2013.html

I have the Eleca "Tele" (3T Sunburst, same basic guitar) I picked up used years ago for $50. I knew of them because a local music shop use to sell them new (priced equal to Squiers). When I looked at them, I was impressed by its finish, solid build & feel, and when I played it unplugged, it resonated better than my Gibson LP Studio guitar!
So, I've had it over 5 years now and I replaced the pickups with some GFS pickups. It Improved the sound and I don't think I'd ever get rid if it!
Many have asked about it because they liked the sound (and looks) and since the original owner sanded off the headstock name, everyone always asked what make it was! I just called it a noname "PartsCaster" and let it go at that!
It's the sound that matters!
Yes, it's a China/Korea made guitar, and yes it's not a Fender, but for the price I think they were way better than Squiers or many other cheap brands.
Of course, mine was made aprox. 2000 (?) and they were with the old classic Tele type bridge. I haven't seen any new ones in years so I can't say how they make them now......

 

[joem789]

I once went into a local pawn shop that had a handful of Eleca guitars. One was a natural sunburst and looked good. So I took it and tried playing it. Keep in mind I used to play professionally on the road for many years with my high priced Fenders. So I didn't have any expectations on this one. But I was shocked at how well it played. I remarked to my brother that "this thing plays as good as my Strat Deluxe!" It didnt feel cheapish at all. I think it was around $50. Too bad I was broke that day. Would have bought them all!

 

[Five Aces]

I once went into a local pawn shop that had a handful of Eleca guitars. One was a natural sunburst and looked good. So I took it and tried playing it. Keep in mind I used to play professionally on the road for many years with my high priced Fenders. So I didn't have any expectations on this one. But I was shocked at how well it played. I remarked to my brother that "this thing plays as good as my Strat Deluxe!" It didnt feel cheapish at all. I think it was around $50. Too bad I was broke that day. Would have bought them all!

That's exactly how I felt when I first tried one of these Eleca guitars. I'm no pro, as you may be, but I was familiar enough with good strats to compare!
Mind you, I've had this guitar for a few years and I swear it hardly ever goes out of tune! The best find I ever had for $50!

 

[ChipTracy]

I was looking all over for an American flag tele and was on the verge of just making my own until just before Christmas when I found the Eleca. I couldn't pass up the price, with the idea that I would have some money left over for upgrades. However, I haven't done a thing to it yet, 6 months later. It does not feel cheap at all. The weight is right. Feels like my Fender. It resonates unplugged. Tuners are low end but hold fine (what would be on a Squier standard). The neck is nice and solid. It's chunkier than a modern tele neck. The only gripe I have with the neck is that it does have a layer of clear coat. I always sand these down with a little steel wool anyway. The hardware on the body is nicer than you would expect. The pickups sound good. Again, I would say mid-level Squier quality. The pickups are likely the only things I will replace (personal preference). Unfortunately, I can't back up the Hendrix to Pantera claim, but they do sound good, are not tinny or noisey. Vintage style bridge is nice. The set-up on mine out of the box was perfect. Not too low, not too high, intonation spot on. The bridge is radiused to match the fretboard. Nut slots were cut clean and to the right level. Considering what I paid for it, I've been impressed every time I've played it. I would recommend it if you are thinking about getting one. Of course, at this price level, I always try to temper my expectations based on consistency issues. However, hopefully mine is the rule and not the exception.

 

[ChipTracy]

After posting this, I realized I need to update my profile picture to reflect my sweet new American flag Eleca.