You guys will be proud - I finally "get" Teles

[Garrett Bagby]

Maybe I just had to mature, but I used to HATE Teles, especially ash/maple Teles. They were like the fat ugly older sister of the Strat. But over the last couple years, I've become more and more smitten with the Telecaster. I finally gave in today when I found a nice used '04 Deluxe Nashville model.

It's honey blonde ash with one-piece maple neck and tortoise pickguard. Hands-down the best value Telecaster out there, IMO. For the most part, I'd say the fit and finish is on par with the US-made models I've seen. I A/B'd it with a '99 Am Std Tele (which cost nearly twice as much), and the Nashville just killed it.

This guitar has a very wide frequency range. It can get a bit bright, but I actually use the TONE CONTROL, something I rarely feel a need to utilize on other guitars. The Tex-Mex pups actually sound quite good, too.

I'm also impressed at how much the sound changes just by where I play over the pickups. I know this affects any guitar, but it is particularly effective here. It's such a complex guitar, full of many great sounds even without switching pups.

My only real gripe is not with the quality, just the Tele design: There's too much obstruction of the picking path! The combo of ashtray bridge, middle pickup and 4-ply pickguard make it a little uncomfortable to pick.

The ashtray is particularly annoying. What do you Tele nuts do to work around it? Or, is there a good replacement that doesn't have the "walls"?

[scottlr]

I guess you just get used to it. I pick just in front of the bridge, so it isn't a problem. A traditional Tele has no middle pup, so I don't have that to deal with. First go round, the low strings on the body/guard take getting used to. After awhile, it became a normal feel for me

[thefishingline]

I don't use the ashtray anymore got rid of it

[nickreynolds]

Originally Posted by thefishingline

I don't use the ashtray anymore got rid of it

I'm assuming your talking about the "ashtray" cover that goes over the bridge?

That gets in the way big time lol, but the OP seems to be talking about how the bridge has lips that get in the way of palm muting and picking that would be normal on a strat.

[hamfist]

Garrett,
Strangely, after playing for well over 20 years, I too have just started to appreciate teles. In fact, I bought my first tele yesterday. An American std. I certainly did consider the Nashville, but the USA std. won over in the end.
The USA has a more modern flat, bridge plate, with no "side ridges". These are freely available as aftermarket accessories for quite reasonable prices. Try ebay - loads there, eg. http://cgi.ebay.com/CHROME-Telecaste...QQcmdZViewItem
Good luck in getting it sorted to your satisfaction !

[thefishingline]

Originally Posted by nickreynolds

I'm assuming your talking about the "ashtray" cover that goes over the bridge?

That gets in the way big time lol, but the OP seems to be talking about how the bridge has lips that get in the way of palm muting and picking that would be normal on a strat.

Good point..that takes some time to get used to

[fierce_carrot]

Tele players are a group all unto themselves. The first thing about owning a tele is learning to play one like a tele, they just aren't like other guitars.

[randuro]

Tele's are like women....finicky, quircky, hard to get used to...but, when you find the right one, she will steal your heart away. And even if you cheat on her, you'll always come back to her.....and regret your moment of weakness Oh and another thing, play it hard, they like that....

[Brett Valentine]

I've been jonesing after a Tele for a while. Concerning the bottom half of the ashtray bridge piece, didn't I see one that didn't have the raised side edges sometime back (or was that on a copy)?

Brett

[fierce_carrot]

Brett


yes there are ashtrays without the raised edges available.

[DejavuDave]

Congrats and welcome to the brotherhood. I own a few exceptional guitars but my Tele's No. 1. Don't tell me wife.

[tonedaddy]

Originally Posted by Garrett Bagby

My only real gripe is not with the quality, just the Tele design: There's too much obstruction of the picking path! The combo of ashtray bridge, middle pickup and 4-ply pickguard make it a little uncomfortable to pick.

The ashtray is particularly annoying. What do you Tele nuts do to work around it? Or, is there a good replacement that doesn't have the "walls"?

As mentioned previously, there are many aftermarket bridges that address the issue of the bridge sides, to some extent.

As I believe the 3 saddle bridge is a big part of Tele tone, you may want to look at some of these:

Callaham Tele bridges have lower sides and a single cutaway on the bottom:
http://www.callahamguitars.com/
http://www.callahamguitars.com/partstel.htm
http://www.callahamguitars.com/brdge_T.htm




Glendale offers both single and double cutaway versions of their vintage stainless steel and American Standard replacement bridges:

http://www.glendaleguitars.com/bridgeplates.htm
http://www.glendaleguitars.com/Bridge.htm
http://www.glendaleguitars.com/americanstandard.htm






And don't forget, you can just grind down the sides of your existing bridge for free.
:AOK


Of course, if you settle on a 3 saddle bridge and decide on bridge style and material (magnetic/non-magnetic), then you can decide on what kind of saddles you want, the the material, and then pickups, and then...
http://www.glendaleguitars.com/saddles.htm

Then when you finish your first Tele, then you can start on your second.
Oh yes, there will be a second one......

[ABKB]

Originally Posted by randuro

Tele's are like women....finicky, quircky, hard to get used to...but, when you find the right one, she will steal your heart away. And even if you cheat on her, you'll always come back to her.....and regret your moment of weakness Oh and another thing, play it hard, they like that....

What he said :AOK, but always well worth the effort of understanding them. A Tele inst everybody's guitar, but they can do things no other guitar can do! My band prefers my LP, so I have to fight to get the Tele in whenever I can lol.

[Jon Silberman]

Originally Posted by randuro

Tele's are like women....finicky, quircky, hard to get used to...but, when you find the right one, she will steal your heart away. And even if you cheat on her, you'll always come back to her.....and regret your moment of weakness Oh and another thing, play it hard, they like that....

randuro, you get my vote for "post of the month." :AOK

[Todd Lynch]

Originally Posted by Jon Silberman

randuro, you get my vote for "post of the month." :AOK

Amen!