bobbythegoose
TDPRI Member
As the title says, I'm wondering if any of you were pleasantly surprised by a particular Telecaster (T-style) that seemed to be fairly basic. Please share your thoughts and pics of possible.
Which Telecaster Exceeded Your Expectations?
- Thread starter bobbythegoose
- Start date
BuckNekkid
Tele-Holic
Well, "fairly basic" covers a multitude of sins, but my Classic Player Triple Telecaster checks all the boxes for me. And I didn't expect it to. Designed by Todd Krause (Fender Custom Shop master builder), the guitar features three angled Nocaster single coil pickups and a five-way selector switch. I call it my Tele-Strat-Or, because it plays like a Tele. And it plays like a Strat! And it cost less than many.
fishermike
Tele-Meister
My avatar guitar - G&L ASAT Classic. Incredible guitar, particularly the quality of workmanship and the pickups. MFDs are something special. Very jazzy clean with the tone rolled back, country with the tone up around 8 or so, and full-on rock 'n' roll when you add a little gain.
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Dismalhead
Doctor of Teleocity
Traded for this guy about a decade ago. It's an '06 American Series Tele in ash. Other than the wood type there is absolutely nothing special about it, totally stock. Wouldn't change a thing on it, pickups are fantastic. For me it's my perfect Tele. When I first got it I played it and only it for almost a year (until I got my first Strat). It's quite possibly the best guitar of any type I've ever owned.
Define "fairly basic": Body shape; wood types; pickup types/wiring; if pickup mods are OK are B or G benders?
See the dilemma? if ONE exception is OK....???
See the dilemma? if ONE exception is OK....???
For me, it was the one that was shoved into my hands at a jam some 30 years ago, and I remember no details other than butterscotch. It was the first time I had ever played a Tele, and I actually looked down on them at the time, thinking if you didn't sport a Les Paul or Strat that you just weren't serious enough about music to fit into my narrow vision of what music was and what it should be even though I didn't even own a LP or Strat, myself. Then...I started playing it and it was as if the missing ingredient to my music life had been added, and I am thankful today that I had the wisdom that one time to just shut up and play.
IrishBread69
Tele-Holic
I took it to mean stock and non CS.
Every one of them--when played by someone besides me.
monkeybanana
Tele-Afflicted
LOL. And I have some nice ones!
I've liked any Tele I've ever owned.
But in November, I sold my 2004 MIM Standard ( it was just too heavy, and I'm too heavy- so it wasn't getting played!)
to buy this wonderful Squier Tele Thinline
I always loved loved the look of the original '69, so this was a great way to get one I could afford.
Lightweight, very comfy neck/frets and pickups are nice and musical- bright, not harsh.
But in November, I sold my 2004 MIM Standard ( it was just too heavy, and I'm too heavy- so it wasn't getting played!)
to buy this wonderful Squier Tele Thinline
I always loved loved the look of the original '69, so this was a great way to get one I could afford.
Lightweight, very comfy neck/frets and pickups are nice and musical- bright, not harsh.
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burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
By no means do I think it was basic, but my AV64 far exceeded my expectations. It was the best non-Custom Shop guitar I have ever owned. I have frequently stated my opinion that is the finest production guitar that Fender has made in at least the past 30 years. Great feel, great finish (even if it was fragile), great fit and great tone. I should have never sold it but I had my CS 63 NOS so it was redundant.
BramptonRob1958
Tele-Holic
I've owned many Tele's from Squire to FCS and everything in between. The 2 that stand out the most are in no particular order, in my arsenal now
A Road Worn 50's Vintera Tele and
Jimmy Page Mirror Tele.
The Page I bought when they first came out and ended up selling it to fund something else that I've probably since sold as well lol. However, it was the one Tele I regretted selling.
As circumstance would have it, I happened across a used one a couple of months ago. it had a chip in the paint on by the strap button on the bottom and the previous owner had actually installed the gawd awful mirrors!.
Aside from the chip, the guitar appeared to have seen very little playing time if any. I was able to pick it up for half the price of new. So it was a no brainer. I'll get the mirrors off over the winter. In the meantime, I'm just glad I was able to correct my original mistake of selling off my original Page!
A Road Worn 50's Vintera Tele and
Jimmy Page Mirror Tele.
The Page I bought when they first came out and ended up selling it to fund something else that I've probably since sold as well lol. However, it was the one Tele I regretted selling.
As circumstance would have it, I happened across a used one a couple of months ago. it had a chip in the paint on by the strap button on the bottom and the previous owner had actually installed the gawd awful mirrors!.
Aside from the chip, the guitar appeared to have seen very little playing time if any. I was able to pick it up for half the price of new. So it was a no brainer. I'll get the mirrors off over the winter. In the meantime, I'm just glad I was able to correct my original mistake of selling off my original Page!
bigbean
Tele-Afflicted
At a store where I worked we had a Squire Master series made in Korea tele with a satin finish that
took five years to sell so I played it a bunch. That was an amazingly great guitar. I would have bought it but I didn't for the same reason that nobody else bought it. It said "Squire" on the headstock not Fender.
Ndavis1971
TDPRI Member
Do Esquires count?
superjam144
Tele-Afflicted
Am pro 18' with rosewood neck. Still obsessed with it. Great rig. I put original vintage pickups in it though. The vmods sounded muted to me. The surf green has grown on me but sometimes I wish it was white. 
WingedWords
Friend of Leo's
My avatar. A MiM Standard bought very cheap as shop damaged stock in about 2017. I'm not sure if it counts, since I've changed pretty much everything except the woodwork, but from day 1 it just felt right and it's been my favourite ever since. This is how it looked back then. Can you see the lovely subtle figure in the neck?
And first time I picked up this Edwards (ESP built for the Japanese homemarket) I knew it was coming home with me. It's a little heavy and the neck's a sort of spray tan colour, but it feels great. The original pickups were rubbish and I was thinking Esquire right from the beginning. An ill judged Bigsby addition lasted about 6 hours, but at least it's only left a few small screw holes.
And first time I picked up this Edwards (ESP built for the Japanese homemarket) I knew it was coming home with me. It's a little heavy and the neck's a sort of spray tan colour, but it feels great. The original pickups were rubbish and I was thinking Esquire right from the beginning. An ill judged Bigsby addition lasted about 6 hours, but at least it's only left a few small screw holes.
AndrewG
Friend of Leo's
Cort-Manson Classic TC. Designed in England by luthier Hugh Manson who builds for the likes Steve Howe, John Paul Jones, Martin Barre, Matt Bellamy (Muse) etc. I especially like the neck profile and compound radius fretboard. Mine came with locking Gotoh's and stock Manson-designed pickups. It's just different enough to not be a clone and sounds very good. My current main squeeze is the Noventa Telecaster which even more basic than an Esquire, but with the MP90 has the 'grunt' of a Les Paul Junior. It's rapidly becoming a favourite.
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proxy
Tele-Meister
I picked up a used Wildwood AVRI in Inca Silver - what a monster guitar. The wood selection was excellent, pretty light and resonant overall, with Twisted Tele pickups, and a beautiful finish. Seemed easily on par with the best guitars I’ve played from the Custom Shop.
Sparky2
Poster Extraordinaire
Used 2014 MIM Standard Telecaster.
My only Fender Tele now.
Bought from a pawn shop for $299.
It just works.
Everything about it is gig-ready, and that's good, because we have less than a month to get ready for a fairly big one.
My only Fender Tele now.
Bought from a pawn shop for $299.
It just works.
Everything about it is gig-ready, and that's good, because we have less than a month to get ready for a fairly big one.
First ‘real’ electric I bought was a 1996 MIM black label Tele, in a shop on the corner of Charring X Road / Denmark Street. I’d been trawling around for a couple of hours trying out anything in my price range. Everything was awful and I had became very despondent. Went in to the shop and couldn’t believe that I could, apparently, buy a Fender for the ticket price. Played it, loved it, bought it, still play it, still love it. Looking at the pic., which really shows the wear on the board, does, I think, prove how much I love it!
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