Two Tone Burst VS. Three Tone Burst? What gives?

[richedie]

What is the difference and why is 2-tone more expensive? I have been checking out a few 2012 Telecasters and noticed the 2-tone American Standard Telecaster costs more than the slightly darker tones 3-tone American Standard Tele.

Newbiw questions????

Thanks!

 

[xtrajerry]

2 tone doesn't have the red in them, IMO looks better too. Not sure what the justification for the up charge is, would guess they select bodies with nicer grain since the grain is more visible.

 

[kmacaster]

3 tone Am. standards are alder, 2 tone are ash.

 

[Gareth John]

2 tone have ash bodies. they charge extra for "special wood requirements" Ie grain attractiveness and sealing coats. 3 tone has the red in it and is an alder body, cheaper and easier to work with. The 2 tone ash was found on the earliest strats, and the 3 tone on later strats. As for Teles, the 2 tone wasn't really a tele colour in the 50's, and 3 tone came on the Custom. I'm sure there were exceptions though.

 

[waparker4]

Sweetwater perhaps mistakenly says all the US Standards are alder, whereas Guitar Center's website says that the natural, trans red and 2 tone sunburst are ash. I'm inclined to agree with GC

 

[richedie]

3 tone Am. standards are alder, 2 tone are ash.

Actually that is false. I checked with Fender. They have two tone alder American Standard Telecasters.

 

[richedie]

Does anyone have documentation proving the two tone is ash only? Maybe my Fender contact was incorrect. I need to know before I place an order. Thanks.

 

[KevinB]

The two-tone sunburst AmStd Tele sure looks like ash to me (look at the grain)....and I think that's the reason for the upcharge.

 

[EsquireOK]

Guitar companies will often charge different amounts for different finishes.

Ash bodies are often preferred with two-tone sunbursts, as people are trying to get the early '50's look. That may be the justification for the price difference.

 

[richedie]

Thanks guys, I am a big fan of alder so I just ordered a 2012 American St. Tele in 3-tone burst. I will have it in August. $850 out the door. I will give a review. Thanks for the big help!

 

[toredown]

richedie

I have this same guitar--LOVE it above any tele I've ever owned, mostly for the neck and the pickups, but the 3-tone burst is a pretty good reason, too.

 

[boris bubbanov]

Thanks guys, I am a big fan of alder so I just ordered a 2012 American St. Tele in 3-tone burst. I will have it in August. $850 out the door. I will give a review. Thanks for the big help!

Congrats!

Yeah, I don't know of any alder body 2 tone sunburst Americans.

Something about Ash, the hue of it, it looks best in 2 tone, while the alder (instead of silver-blonde) has that salmon/tan aspect to it and "needs" to be three tone. Needs that red/yellow toning to it, like this:

The ash body responds to finish by looking pale yellow automatically, you don't need that red aspect:

 

[pulteney]

Actually that is false. I checked with Fender. They have two tone alder American Standard Telecasters.

Like this one, perhaps? https://reverb.com/item/7061790-200...ndard-telecaster-hundreds-in-premium-upgrades

 

[shooter1952]

3 tone Am. standards are alder, 2 tone are ash.

Yep, that is the reason.

 

[Gibsonsmu]

If you have ever finished a body that is a porous vs non-porous wood you would get the up-charge Although I bet they are more talented than me

 

[BorderRadio]

Dead threads walking

 

[shooter1952]

I have a 2001 Am Std 3-tone burst (purchased new). It has an alder body. When buying it, there was a 2-tone burst with an ash body in the store also. Everything else being equal I opted for the 3-tone burst because it was about $150 cheaper and I was trying to save a few dollars. I don't regret that decision because I still have that Tele and it is definitely a player. All this being said, every 2-tone Tele I've seen had an ash body.

 

[Tonemonkey]

Dead threads walking

Awww Man! I wondered why he was ordering an old new guitar!

I wonder how it worked out!

 

[Gary in Boston]

I never liked the Fender three tone bursts, they looked hard and garish

Gary