My Road Word Tele review pics added

[Blue4Now]

I have sat quietly on the sidelines durring all of the RW discussions and debates. Personally, I really like relics and have drooled over the custom shop stuff for years. In particular I have always loved the way a worn well used Tele has looked. I have had a few new ones from a Baja, Am Standard (did not like) and most recently an AV 62 Custom which I just sold because , for me, it did not twang like a Tele should.

I also have a "thing" for two tone burst Teles with maple necks. Sooooo, a recent trip to my favorite little local shop revealed a fresh shippment of new Fenders and a spankin new RW Tele burst right our of the box.

I have seen and played a few at GC and thought they were nice but none jumped out at me as a real gem in the bunch.

This one did. Picked it up and it is light, no more then 7 pounds by feel and very likely under 7. Two peice, center seam, alder body that is beautifull. Do many these have two piece bodies? I alswas thought it was rare to find a two peice body unless specifically speced like on my EJ Strat.

The wood has the prettiest grain I have ever seen outside of the custom shop. Lots of character and mineral streaks in the wood. Looks like old wood. No joke. It has so much prominent grain, with a well matched center seam, which I like. Set up out of the box was perfect. The frets were absolutely gorgeous. Perfectly finished and level with no fret sprout.

The guy at the shop said "you like it, 750 bucks its yours"

Now we kid around a lot and have gotten freindly at the shop but he sounded serious although has was clearly frazzaled as he had just unloaded what looked like a hundred fender boxes of the truck.

I went home that night without the guitar, but it kept me awake for a good coupel of hours. I debated weather I should hold out for the blond ash body. But the incredible look of this particualr guitar had me spell bound. I also knew there was just something unusually well cared for in the construction of this piece.

I went back the next day, played it one more time and new it was clearly a special guitar. The relic job on this this particuar expamle was really convincing. The neck was even better than I have seen on other RW's. Not quite so fake looking.

Again, I was struck by how light this guitar. I was at Lark Street this past weekend and played a few Custom Shops Tele's and really really thought this one help up every bit.

So I said 750 bucks really!!! He got a bit nervous and said be should not have said that becuase he had not even checked the prices as it was the first RW they got in. He could not do 750, and I knew he couldn't. But hew was cool and we settled on 800, which I felt was a good deal.

Got it home last night and played it for an hour. It needs no modifications as all to be a stellar Telecaster. After an hour of playing. the neck has already darken in spots from my hands. The area behind the neck of the first few frets (cowboy cords hey I like em) looks nice and broken in.

The pickups sound great. The hardware, even though import suff, works and feels stellar. I never had a tele that honked before, but this one does!!!!

The bridge pickup bites and growles. The neck pickup is smooth and does blues very well. I don't find it muddy at all.

What can I say. I am totally taken with this Road Worn Tele. I am leaving it bone stock. In the past I tended to immediately change things. I usually know its going to be a good fit with a guitar if I have no immediate urge to change a thing.

I will post picks tonight when I get home.

[gkoelling]

Congratulations on finding a guitar that fits you so well. I look forward to your pics.

[itkindaworks]

Sounds good. I'd love to see some pics.

[Blue4Now]

Pics to follow tonight.

This is the look I LOVE and what kinda pushed me to the burst. I know, not quite the same thing thing but hey, a fraction of the price. And maybe 90% of the vibe. For me at least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O669...eature=related

[Gas-man]

That's pretty much the same way I feel about mine.

[musicofanatic5]

Good for you! You sampled a few, and found the good one of the bunch! This is the kinda GP post I like to read!

[ESPLTD200FM]

I want a RW Tele so bad!!!!!

[m@2]

add me to the "I love my RW (strat)" club.

everyone that has played mine is blown away by the value, and assume it's custom shop work

[Webfoot]

Congrats.

I have a RW sumburst also. Very light weight and it is a easier guitar for me to play standing up with the bigger neck, bigger frets and 7.25" radius. I have a mia 2007 tele and while a prettier sounding and more traditional sounding tele, I am always missing notes because of the small neck. The RW because of the bridge and shallow break angle also makes string bending easier for me.

This roadworn will probably be my #1 gigging guitar. Will also probably try different pickups... who can resist?!

[Bikedude]

Exactly the same experience i had before i took home my Ash/Maple RW. Played about half dozen of the first runs, none of em did much for me. Stopped in to GC for a couple of mic cords, and grabbed another RW and this one just talked to me much like your experience. Got it for 10% of asking price and like you say, I'm leaving it stock (electronically), as I have changed the guard for a "proper" black bakelite guard. Very under rated and misunderstood guitar. It's a PLAYAH!

[robelinda2]

Congrats!

[SgtThump]

Picked up the ash/blonde RW Tele last night. I absolutely love the neck and tone from the guitar! May take a second to get used to the fretboard radius, though.

[Blue4Now]

bump for pics:

[Blue4Now]

A few More:

[Eric Thomas]

It's good to know that there's some good ones out there....

I played two at GC earlier this week and both were terrible. Both had very high action, were heavy, and had strings that were misaligned with the neck. The strings did not run parallel with the fretboard and on both the low e-string was virtually hanging off the edge of the neck at the 21st fret.

I'd love to pick up one of these and put a humbucker or a P90 in the neck position. Still may do it some day, but I'll never buy one without trying it first unless I take a chance on a great deal on a used one. The white RW Strats look cool too.

Your's looks cool. Enjoy!