Thoughts On '72 Tele Deluxe RI?

[pitseleh]

This guitar doesn't seem to be very popular! I've looked for some clips and reviews online, and all I can find are the standard HC reviews and some generally underwhelming Youtube clips.

How do you guys feel about this thing? I'm thinking of picking up one in walnut because I just love the vibe/look of it, and it seems to sound pretty nice (even if I do have to swap the pickups or pots), but I'm still on the fence. The 12" fretboard radius kind of turns me off and the lack of information does as well. You'd think these guitars would be more popular than they are, but it seems like they're one of Fender's least popular guitars! There's not even much discussion about them on here.

[Lance]

These are the big dual bucker ones, and it seems the only color they come in is black, right? Yeah, my buddy has one. They are very heavy! Like more than a Les Paul. Pups don't sound that great. Not terrible, but not great. Playability and action are fine, but they just don't resonate that well. It's like playing a body made of poured concrete. Solid....as a rock.

[Boris Bubbanov]

People don't mention this much, but the stock "F" repro tuners are just awful. Had to pass on a number of these (new and used) simply because I can't evaluate the guitar with those on there.

Very fashionable guitar in certain circles. They tend to be a little more expensive than I would like, given what I'll then spend to get it where I want it.

[pitseleh]

Interesting. I had heard the tuners were lackluster, but those can be changed. Not happy to hear that they're so heavy, but then I hadn't heard that before.

But they come in more colors than black. I was thinking about moving on this one, but just didn't feel like I had enough info on them: http://cgi.ebay.com/72-Fender-Deluxe...#ht_500wt_1182

$500ish is a very reasonable price though, imo, although I agree their retail is stupidly high. Remember when the Mustang RI was like $600 new? I can't believe they're coming up on a grand now.

[Beng2040]

They're not all that heavy, and some of them are actually really good guitars. I had a limited run white one for a while, to gig with instead of taking my 78 out when these were going up in value like crazy. I have to say that the 70's were very hit or miss also, but once I got a good one (which took 3 tries) it quickly became THE guitar for me.

[Southern ILL]

This one I used alot.......Changed the pots and sunk the neck pickup somewhat......Rock solid and mine was about 7.5 pounds.....Postin' this pic. makes me want to build one for myself.....No tunings problems on my end.....though I replaced the nut PDQ.

[jojogun1957]

I have had my eye on one of these for a while.My local guitar center has had a black one for about a year,and every time I go in there I pick it up and plug into the bogner alchemist they have.
It makes me want to play black crowes and stones songs.It also sounds good for funk,blues and roots rock.The tuners do seem to be cheap,and the one they have has to be close to 9lbs,but I still want one.
Also check out the pro guitar shop demo of it,as well as the demo for the new thinline deluxe tele.

[Thepilot]

i had a thinline for a while- same everything else.

it had 250k pots in it that made it really dark. switched them to 500k and put in orange drops- thing came alive. wondering why it is i sold that guitar.....

[strat6866]

I just purchesed one used and it is not that heavy at all. Well built, nice neck, tuners are a weak point as they were with the 72 RI Thinline i owned.
I like the bridge pup alot but the neck is a little dark and muddy. I will try adjusting them tonight but a pot change to 500k may be what it needs.
Overall a decent guitar.

[strat6866]

Do you change just the tone pots or all pots?

Originally Posted by Thepilot

i had a thinline for a while- same everything else.

it had 250k pots in it that made it really dark. switched them to 500k and put in orange drops- thing came alive. wondering why it is i sold that guitar.....

[Boris Bubbanov]

Originally Posted by strat6866

Do you change just the tone pots or all pots?

First thing I would change is the tone pot on the bridge pickup, to 500 K.

Then I'd probably change the bridge volume pot, or the neck tone pot, 500 K.

I would not rule out a 1 meg pot, for the bridge tone control. Open that little sucker up!

++

Meanwhile the '69 MIM has 1 meg pots, on a single coil'd guitar. Buy both guitars, exchange the pots! :^)