Your #1 Telecaster

[Volcanicash01]

Let’s talk about your #1 Telecaster. What makes it your workhorse? Any upgrades? Please give details and show a picture if available. Thanks!

I have never gigged my American Series Sunburst Tele. I did put a Joe Barden bridge pup in years ago, but it remains in pristine condition in it’s case. I will leave it to my dog!! My 1980’s Kramers do all the hard yards onstage!

 

[Steve Lan]

My number 1 Tele is this 2006 Wildwood Thinskin 52 AVRI. It's all stock with a lightweight swamp ash body, U shape 7 1/4" radius neck with narrow tall frets. Stock Fender original vintage pickups with modern wiring. It's really comfortable, lightweight and just sounds great and feels right to me.

 

[PixMix]

My #1 are these two: a 52 AVRI and a Classic Series '50s.

My #2 is this one, a parscaster I put together.

 

[Whitebeard]

My 99 AM Standard has been my #1 since the day I bought it new. I've had a few come close to taking the crown but it still remains. It just feels and sounds right to me. Few cosmetic changes but basically stock.
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I have a VSA too. Great amp built by a great guy.

 

[trandy9850]

This one.

Swamp ash body….Surf Green nitro finish…USACG mahogany neck with Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard….Callaham left-handed bridge…Duncan Custom Shop Jazz in the neck….Duncan Vintage Stack in the bridge (originally had the pictured Duncan little 59er’))…K-T-S titanium saddles….Kluson tuners…24-3/4” scale.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Fender Tex-Mex Telecaster Special (MX 1996), brown sunburst, 1 Tex-Mex humbucker (neck), 1 Tex-Mex Telecaster single-coil (bridge), 5-way Strat-style pickup switching (neckbucker splits), master tone and volume controls, poplar body with ash top, named "Brownie."

Along with my Peavey T-60, perhaps my most versatile axe.

 

[henge]

A 2021 AM PRO II deluxe in Mercury. Splittable VMod 2 pickups, great neck carve, belly cut, compensated 3 brass saddle bridge, large headstock and the best rosewood board I've seen in a long time. Adjusted pickup height, added locking tuners and I'm very happy! Sounds killer imo. Sorry for the crap picture. "Del" looks way better in person

 

[Fendereedo]

Beautiful OP, just beautiful!

 

[Stratocast]

I've got four pretty nice Teles but when all is said and done this be the one. 08 American Standard with a Warmoth mahogany/ebony neck. After the neck swap once I gave her a proper set up she plays like a dream and though some may disagree I consider the pickups and wiring to be the bench mark of Fender Tele tone for that for that era.

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Ooh. No fret markers ? You must be really good if you can tell where you are at on the neck in a dark lounge with the guitar facing away from you.

 

[toadman1335]

While was attending Roberto-Venn luthiery school, my apartment had a fire, and I lost some of my favorite guitars. Purchased this hand-built Twangbanger from one of my instructors, Matt Baker from Walt Guitars. I’ve owned and built dozens of Teles, and this is my “go to the grave guitar”! The Lollar 52’s with the reverse slant bridge pickup are perfect for me!

 

[Stratocast]

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Vintera road worn Tele Deluxe. I won it on this site in the 2020 drawing.. 3 days after I bought a membership!

I thought memberships here were free ?

 

[gilmour681]

Let’s talk about your #1 Telecaster. What makes it your workhorse? Any upgrades? Please give details and show a picture if available. Thanks!

I built this one last year in July, it’s approaching the one year anniversary. Picked up mostly fender licensed parts and hardware, used Seymour Duncan pick ups and a custom wiring scheme. Picked up a Parsons Green b bender and managed to put it together for about $1400. Comparable guitars are going in the $2500+ price range. Quickly became my new number one. That being said I do have several other teles, including an 89 American standard with a Hipshot be bender and three pick up set up, along with several other variations including a 52 reissue and a fender FM pick up neck through model.

 

[BuckNekkid]

I can never just point to one guitar and say, "That one." Every time I pick up a guitar, I think to myself, "This one is my baby." If I didn't think that, I'd get rid of it, I think. So, out of my five Teles (four Fender, and one G&L), the one that's currently not sitting in its case is...

Which I find personally hilarious, because a) I object to humbuckers on Teles, for the most part, and b) the controls are so very well placed for my playing that the typical Fender placement I find awkward.

(The P-90s on this ASAT are custom-designed by Paul Gagnon for this guitar, and they are SWEET).

 

[76standard]

Let’s talk about your #1 Telecaster. What makes it your workhorse? Any upgrades? Please give details and show a picture if available. Thanks!

I only have one Tele, a ‘05 MIM. Multiple upgrades…Wilkinson compensated saddles, bone nut, JS Moore custom pickups, blackguard, RS Guitarworks pots and caps, locking tuners and Shaller strap locks. Installed and wired for four-way switching. Action and feel is as good as an American made version.

 

[76standard]

I only have one Tele, a ‘05 MIM. Multiple upgrades…Wilkinson compensated saddles, bone nut, JS Moore custom pickups, blackguard, RS Guitarworks pots and caps, locking tuners and Shaller strap locks. Installed and wired for four-way switching. Action and feel is as good as an American made version.

Forgot to mention the old bridge pup was a Seymour Duncan Donahue pup. Good but JS Moore pup is superb.

 

[mmannaxx]

This is my #1. Basically I wanted to build a guitar similar to my CS Nocaster. I used an MJT swamp ash body with an Allparts neck, both relic’d with other aged parts, Nocaster pups, Rutter saddles and a bridge plate from a 60s Tele that a friend gave me. I used a 4 way switch for extra versatility. Weighs 7.5 lbs. Total cost was around $1000 ten years ago. I have since sold the Nocaster, which I regret somewhat. But this guitar is so versatile and actually has a beefier neck than my old Nocaster so it has become my go to. Kind of a creamy white that has an aged yellow tint in some light. Actually I think the front has yellowed more than back or sides due to greater exposure in playing outdoor gigs during last 10 years! It is all nitro finish.

 

[SixShooter]

my first home brew turned out killer...

everyone who has played it wants to keep it...

the black 83 beside it is a killer Tele as well....

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Cool guitar. What type of wood is that- Douglas Fir?

 

[trev333]

yeah,,an old rafter..

 

[Festofish]

I thought memberships here were free ?

Free to join but only paying members are included in giveaways. It’s also a great way to support our good old TDPRI. I was a free member for years.

 

[BigRiver]

This one.

Swamp ash body….Surf Green nitro finish…USACG mahogany neck with Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard….Callaham left-handed bridge…Duncan Custom Shop Jazz in the neck….Duncan Vintage Stack in the bridge (originally had the pictured Duncan little 59er’))…K-T-S titanium saddles….Kluson tuners…24-3/4” scale.

Love it, but why the lefty bridge?