Player Telecaster vs Vintera 60s Modified

[ronmail65]

I'd like to get another Tele, but I'm on the fence with these 2 models.

Equal - Both have the modern C neck profile that I like
Equal - Neither comes with a case (the Fender gig bag with the Vintera is worthless IMO)
Equal - Finish - I've always liked the Butterscotch Blonde which the Player has - but the Lake Placid Blue looks great too
Equal: - Country / quality - both are MIM


Fretboard: + Vintera: I like the PF as a darker - and maybe warmer sounding material (my other Tele is maple). This is also available on the Player, but not with color combinations that I'm looking for
Neck Finish: + Player, it's Satin vs Gloss
Frets: + Player - 22 vs 21
Tuning Keys: + Player. I like the more modern die cast tuning machines over the vintage
Bridge: not sure... I feel like the brass barrel on the Vintera are superior, but I don't know.
Electroncs: not sure... I believe the Vintera pickups are higher output and would appeal to me more. Plus Vintera has the advancing switching positions / S1 stuff (not sure I care about this - maybe I should).

Without being able to play / compare these anywhere nearby, that is my assessment. And, also important, the Vintera is $300 more expensive.

So, what other considerations should I have? And do the advantages of the Vintera support the higher price?

 

[Twang Deluxe]

I would get the Vintera or a used Baja. I prefer guitars with vintage style tuner and bridges

 

[Blues Twanger]

It's simple, ignore all the pros and cons and ask yourself:

Which one sparks more joy?

In seriousness, I've passed on guitars I wanted because other guitars were a better deal or had what I perceived as better features. In the end I usually ended up taking a loss and going back to the one I wanted and not the one I talked myself in to buying instead. Pros and cons are secondary to what makes you happy.

 

[ronmail65]

It's simple, ignore all the pros and cons and ask yourself:

Which one sparks more joy?

In seriousness, I've passed on guitars I wanted because other guitars were a better deal or had what I perceived as better features. In the end I usually ended up taking a loss and going back to the one I wanted and not the one I talked myself in to buying instead. Pros and cons are secondary to what makes you happy.

Good advice - thanks!

 

[adjason]

not much help here but I far prefer the vintera/classic 50's-70's strats to MIM standard strats-better feel, better pickups, higher resale value- but I like the vintage feel.

 

[Fenderdad1950]

What people say, and what you feel holding and playing a guitar, are two different things.

 

[mimmo]

I would get the Vintera or a used Baja. I prefer guitars with vintage style tuner and bridges

^^^^ this!

 

[ronmail65]

There's a third horse in the race... which seems to be more satisfying on paper relative to what I'm looking for. That would be the American Performer - specifically the one with the humbucker in the bridge, satin neck, 22 frets, and rosewood fretboard.

 

[ronmail65]

What people say, and what you feel holding and playing a guitar, are two different things.

I agree. I'm just working from 'data' and other people's opinions before I order something to test. There's nothing locally to play.

 

[ronmail65]

Having created this thread nearly a year ago, I haven't lost my fascination about the Vintera 60's Telecaster Modified and finally decided to order one. I've yet to find one in any LGS to play.

For my tastes, I dropped the idea of getting a Player Series many months ago, and struggle with the price tag of the Performer Series. More important, I think the unique elements of the Vintage Modified will be more to my liking in terms of tone. Can't wait to check it out.

I'm also coming to the conclusion that a Telecaster can do anything. Ironically, it is the simplest-designed and earliest production model of any electric guitar. Yet, for all the thousands of guitars that have come and gone since, it remains relevant and populate. Sure - I know it has gone through some changes and I'm looking at a modified version - but it is quite interesting when I think about it. Even in terms of aesthetics and design... how has it even remained 'in fashion' for so long with so much competition? I'm probably making a fairly obvious observation.... Personally, it took me about 25 years to come around to a Tele and I'm feeling really puzzled about it. Anyway...

 

[IrishBread69]

You won't regret it. The Vintera 60s modified telecasters are killer guitars.

Regret getting rid of mine. Will probably get another.

 

[unixfish]

Post pictures when it arrives. What color did you order?

 

[Twang Deluxe]

Having created this thread nearly a year ago, I haven't lost my fascination about the Vintera 60's Telecaster Modified and finally decided to order one. I've yet to find one in any LGS to play.

For my tastes, I dropped the idea of getting a Player Series many months ago, and struggle with the price tag of the Performer Series. More important, I think the unique elements of the Vintage Modified will be more to my liking in terms of tone. Can't wait to check it out.

I'm also coming to the conclusion that a Telecaster can do anything. Ironically, it is the simplest-designed and earliest production model of any electric guitar. Yet, for all the thousands of guitars that have come and gone since, it remains relevant and populate. Sure - I know it has gone through some changes and I'm looking at a modified version - but it is quite interesting when I think about it. Even in terms of aesthetics and design... how has it even remained 'in fashion' for so long with so much competition? I'm probably making a fairly obvious observation.... Personally, it took me about 25 years to come around to a Tele and I'm feeling really puzzled about it. Anyway...

Good decision

 

[Martocaster]

Having created this thread nearly a year ago, I haven't lost my fascination about the Vintera 60's Telecaster Modified and finally decided to order one. I've yet to find one in any LGS to play.

For my tastes, I dropped the idea of getting a Player Series many months ago, and struggle with the price tag of the Performer Series. More important, I think the unique elements of the Vintage Modified will be more to my liking in terms of tone. Can't wait to check it out.

I'm also coming to the conclusion that a Telecaster can do anything. Ironically, it is the simplest-designed and earliest production model of any electric guitar. Yet, for all the thousands of guitars that have come and gone since, it remains relevant and populate. Sure - I know it has gone through some changes and I'm looking at a modified version - but it is quite interesting when I think about it. Even in terms of aesthetics and design... how has it even remained 'in fashion' for so long with so much competition? I'm probably making a fairly obvious observation.... Personally, it took me about 25 years to come around to a Tele and I'm feeling really puzzled about it. Anyway...

i totally agree with this and wonder if it’s how many people feel. I’d been playing 24 years before picking up a Tele, not sure why it took me so long.

I tried out a Vintera Road Worn earlier today, it was super versatile, the pickups were great and it really responded well to volume/tone control tweaks. I’m sure you’ll love the Vintera modified.

 

[ronmail65]

The 60's Modified arrived yesterday. Gave it a quick inspection and played for about 20 minutes.

First of all, seems very well made - fit, finish and fret edges are great! I haven't played loud yet - so maybe that's why - but I'm not hearing a significant difference in using the S-1 (which I believe only applies to positions 2 and 4) and position 4 (series / parallel). What I'm hearing I like - just more subtle than I expected. Neck is very smooth and the profile feels great!

I few things I noticed - pictured below... 1) the finish has a sparkle / metallic quality - great color, but the sparkle was unexpected, 2) there's a small mark on the headstock - it's in the wood / under the finish - that's not an issue at all, just unusual, 3) set up needs a little work - the neck looks great, 4) I'm trying out those beer bottle washers for strap locks that were recommended in another thread, and 5) my finger tips are really dirty from playing - which I've experienced with other non-maple fretboards - is this simply cleaning / oiling thing or do I just have to wear it off?

Looking forward to playing it a lot more!

 

[ronmail65]

Now that I've played the guitar more with some volume, I am liking it even more - Except - the high E string continues to dramatically drop out of tune. It seems too extreme to be a nut or a string tree issue, but I could be wrong. Any thoughts?

 

[mimmo]

Congratulations, that is a very fine looking telecaster.

Recently I have bought another MIM Telecaster and the maple neck has a similar small mark as you describe in #2, but I am fine with it.

Re: high E string out of tune. The first thing I' do would be checking the nut out, it is the usual suspect IME.

 

[Slim Chance]

Beautiful guitar. Try stretching the string by tugging it out from the guitar. Retune and see what happens. If you can lube the nut that might help, too. If the string still goes out of tune, try another string. If these steps don’t work, then I’d start to suspect the nut slot. Good luck.

 

[ronmail65]

Thanks for the input! I have lubed the nut and stretched the strings considerably - above and below the nut,and played with them inside and outside of the string tree. Same issue.

I'm going to change strings and smooth out the nut slots with some 1500 grit sandpaper. Hopefully that will do the trick!

 

[Geo]

5) my finger tips are really dirty from playing - which I've experienced with other non-maple fret boards - is this simply cleaning / oiling thing or do I just have to wear it off?

Cleaning - I've had it also several times. Going over the fret board several times with a white cotton
washcloth with light dabs of furniture oil gets rid of it. It seems to be graphite or carbon dust.