Callaham or Glendale Tele?

[utrguitar]

Anyone out there playing a Callaham or Glendale telecaster?

I know these guys are some of the best when it comes to telecaster parts so I wondered what their complete guitars are like.

Pics would be great!

[Hulakatt]

There are several threads about this already. "search" is your friend

[snod911]

Actually, there aren't a ton of threads on this. I had a similar dilemma recently and went for the Callaham T, as my Callaham S is seriously one of the most amazing musical instruments I've played. I'm sure the Glendale stuff is also wonderful (although I haven't played one), but Bill really knocked it out of the park with my T: ash body, fat 54 maple neck. I'm amazed how versatile this guitar is. Until now, I never quite got how folks were able to "do it all" with a Tele. Now I get it. Thanks, Bill.

[utrguitar]

Anyone?

[Joe L]

I have a Callaham bridge on my Tele and 335 and am very happy with the tonal improvement.

[Boris Bubbanov]

Actually, there aren't a ton of threads on this.

+1

Over time, access to older threads goes away and there's been little talk about these two brands' finished guitars lately.

Seems like a great time to buy a custom guitar; my impression is there is STILL a line for Callaham Guitars. While the individual parts ship real fast. Actually both guys ship parts super fast.

Here's some hints: Both guys make superb stuff. One is a fantastic guitar player and outside the box thinker and the other is one of the best if not the best engineer in the Tele business. One offers a variety of answers to the "what shall I order now?" while the other strives to make the one most perfect part for your guitar whether you like the way it looks or not. Sure these are gross generalizations, and I continue to order from both guys because they make great stuff that makes a difference on my guitars.

If I win the lottery tho, the first thing I do is order a Callaham T and S.

[utrguitar]

Man, if I won the lottery I would order a tele from both of them and then compare!

[Kmaz]

I've read nothing but solid reviews on both of these makers' guitars. You probably can't go wrong, although I understand that there can be quite a wait with Callaham. I've read reviews where fellows have waited two and three years for their instrument.

[tweedfix]

I've got a Glendale Tele, nice and light pine body, great, comfortable, big V neck, Amalfitano pickups close to the strings can dial in classic Tele tones, just rolling back the volume and tone knobs. Smoking little sunburst # 27.

[utrguitar]

Any pics?

I've got a Glendale Tele, nice and light pine body, great, comfortable, big V neck, Amalfitano pickups close to the strings can dial in classic Tele tones, just rolling back the volume and tone knobs. Smoking little sunburst # 27.

[Hulakatt]

Actually, there aren't a ton of threads on this.

I recently went through this question as well while searching for good hardware to put onto my pine tele. I remember reading through several different threads on the subject. Most were basically "is Callaham as awesome as it sounds?" with the general answer being yes and some other people sharing good/better/different results with Glendale. The consensus seems to be that

a.) Nothing really comes close to Callaham strat hardware
b.) They make ridiculously good tele hardware but the bridge lends itself more to sustain than twang. General consensus seems to be that it is a property of the thicker bridge plate on the Callaham. It is very as-described by the maker.
c.) Glendale also makes ridiculously good tele hardware that is more traditional and has more twang to it.
d.) other people make cheaper hardware that isn't as good but still does quite well.
d.) there is good fan support for the 3 saddle Fender bridge. Not the best construction but it has The Tone, Man!

In the end I went for a mix of Fender, Callaham and Glendale hardware and settled with Glendale for the bridge. Glendale also came through for me and made a worn tele control plate when they don't offer it for sale. They went out of their way to help me out and I appreciate it. Top notch dudes there! I'm still waiting on a neck so the pine tele is still in pieces but I should be ordering a Fralin neck in a few days!

Not a lot is mentioned about the neck plates on bolt-on guitars so...
I ordered one of the super fat ones from Glendale on a lark and bolted it onto my P-Bass. Damn! makes a solid difference. I went ahead and ordered another for the aforementioned tele :)

[tweedfix]

Any pics?

I got this in a trade whith cbstrat, these are his pics. The color is a bit softer in person. http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i6/cbstrat/Glendale/
The only way I'd part whith mine is if someone had a Cool Jazzmaster:Devil

[odelay8503]

I would never part with my Glendale. Truly an elite instrument...and anyone I've shown it to agrees. Super lightweight with excellent sustain and a chuncky but very easy to play neck. It's the single most piano-like tone I've ever heard from a guitar. I can promise that your search for a tele will end with Glendale. And Dale is an excellent dude to deal with.

BTW sorry for the huge pic...I'm too lazy to use photoshop.

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/claytondcain/Glendale/IMG_1453.jpg

[tapeworm]

Glendale all the way. Parts and Tele's.

[odelay8503]

and here is a little neck porn...

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/claytondcain/Glendale/IMG_1456.jpg

[rhinocaster]

Can't go wrong with either. I've owned Glendale and pine just wasn't my thing. I'm sure I'd still own it if it was ash. Callaham made one of the finest Teles I've ever played. I didn't own it. I wish I did.