[sw686blue]

I'm kind of thinking about picking one up. What are your opinions and experiences with this Tele?

Thanks,
Nick

[Mike_C]

I can't say that I'm familar with that particular model but I will say that a good tele is loads of fun. Good luck with it.

[Mobster]

I haven't played that particular model (maybe I'll check one out this weekend so I can post an opinion of that particular model).

All I can tell you on this is to play as many different model Fender Teles as you can. Fender has some real hidden gems in the Tele and Strat dept now, so don't overlook ANYTHING they make.

Case in point: the new Light Ash Series Teles and Strats. Korean made, great guitars. The tele has the vintage style 3 saddle bridge, nice maple neck, and sounds great.

[Brewmaster]

Mobbie is correct, don't lock yourself into a particular model, play a bunch and take home the winner.

BTW The Highway 1 pickups I don't care for, they sound a bit brittle to me. Everything else was fine on the ones I have played and I kind of like the matte finish as well.

[sw686blue]

Mobbie, I'd love to hear your opinion on it. If you do get a chance to check it out, please let me know. Thanks.

Dan, can you tell me more about the low-gloss finish? What exactly does that mean? What are the benefits and disadvantages? From the photos on the Fender website, it looks quite nice. As far as pickups go, they will do exactly that...GO! If I get it I will replace them with either Rios (Muy Grande) or SDs. Not sure which SDs would get me the tone I'm looking for. I'm looking for a Tele for some cool rock stuff...no chicken pickin', country twang crap! Oops, sorry Mobster!!! No disrepect meant, but I just don't like it! 8)

Nick

[Mobster]

Ah.....I'm on the way out of my Country band (I don't like dictatorial lead singers, call me crazy!).....!

No worries there, back into metal and rock.

[sw686blue]

Ah.....I'm on the way out of my Country band (I don't like dictatorial lead singers, call me crazy!).....!

No worries there, back into metal and rock.

That's my boy!

mm/ mm/

[Hamer95USA]

Ah.....I'm on the way out of my Country band (I don't like dictatorial lead singers, call me crazy!).....!

No worries there, back into metal and rock.

Hey mobster,

I feel you about that one. I'm having problems with my co-guitarist in my Judas Priest tribute band being a control freak. I know that situation too well. When it's time to bounce, it's time to bounce. No need to stay on a sinking ship and drown.

Guitar George

[Brewmaster]

Mobbie, I'd love to hear your opinion on it. If you do get a chance to check it out, please let me know. Thanks.

Dan, can you tell me more about the low-gloss finish? What exactly does that mean? What are the benefits and disadvantages? From the photos on the Fender website, it looks quite nice. As far as pickups go, they will do exactly that...GO! If I get it I will replace them with either Rios (Muy Grande) or SDs. Not sure which SDs would get me the tone I'm looking for. I'm looking for a Tele for some cool rock stuff...no chicken pickin', country twang crap! Oops, sorry Mobster!!! No disrepect meant, but I just don't like it! 8)

Nick

The low gloss finish just gives a more vintage look is all. I think Fender did a better job than Gibby did with the faded series. The woods look nice, it's smooth, and I haven't seen an ugly one.

I was tempted to buy one of the Highway 1 Strats (Red) but I would only end up changing the pups and the neck. I was going to put a Warmoth neck (Boatneck) on it.
It wasn't cost effective so I dropped the idea.

[Mobster]

OH! I didn't know the matte finish was the highway one series!

I've played several of the strats...I LOVE the finish!

[Hamstd]

Ah.....I'm on the way out of my Country band (I don't like dictatorial lead singers, call me crazy!).....!

Mobbie I heard a rumor that it wasn't due to problems with the singer it was that you kept getting colds from having to wear the ass-less Chaps on stage. .....LOL

Just kidding. You know I love to rib you on the Country music thing. Especially after hearing you crank the Pantera in a packed truck full of guys going to see a shred fest.

Peter

[Mobster]

Mobbie I heard a rumor that it wasn't due to problems with the singer it was that you kept getting colds from having to wear the ass-less Chaps on stage. .....LOL


Peter

That would clear the room VERY quickly if I subjected anyone to that.

[pesocaster]

Tried a couple Hwy 1 Teles when I was on my Tele Hunt a couple years ago... not bad...

I played about 40 tele's in the greater Seattle area before finding "the one" it was / is a NOS 2000 Fender American Standard Ash /Maple.. On sale / blowout... would have paid 3x what I did ..... There are also some great Mexi-teles out there as well....

Might also look for a used Robin... HUGE bang for the buck....

like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/...ssPageName=WDVW

Kinda like shopping for Les Pauls it's hit and miss .... play MANY ...

Oh and I can go from Dwight Yolkam to Slayer with mine... Killer axe

Good luck

[sw686blue]

Had another question concerning this guitar. I've always played guitars that had rosewood fingerboards and the Tele that I'm looking at has a maple board. Should I be expecting a big difference in sound? I know that a lot of people go crazy over the types of fingerboards available, i.e, brazilian vs east indian vs macassar, etc, but, realistically, do you hear a big difference between a maple neck w/rosewood vs a maple neck w/maple?

Keep in mind that I'm looking for a Tele that would be my "rock 'n roll" guitar.

Thanks again for your input.
Nick

[tomteriffic]

I think the difference is as subtle as the variations you'll find between individual guitars of the same model. On the whole, maybe a bit snappier, faster attack. But really, were talking a number or two on your treble knob. Far more different is the feel of an unfinished vs. finished fingerboard. OTOH, if you play the crap out of it for 30 years, it becomes a moot point! :wink:

[Brewmaster]

I had always favored rosewood more for feel than anything else. I A/B'd
my Fender Strat with Rosewood board to my maple G&L Legacy and they are real close, a notch on the treble control on the G&L. The 50-60's pickups in the Fender are real close to the Stock G&L pups so I think the test was valid.

[Mobster]

I always favored rosewood, mainly because most (except for the old Charvels) of the maple board guitars I played had that thick lacquer finish on them that I can't stand.

However, I LOVE unfinished maple, like Ernie Ball, Jackson, some old Hamers, and Nik Huber use. They are great feeling fingerboards.

All I really care about is the feel. I think people WAY overestimate how much the fingerboard wood affects the tone-I think the neck wood has a much bigger effect.

Now, I just grab what I think feels right. I've got no more maple fingerboards (at the moment), but I do have Snakewood, Ebony, and Rosewood, and I'd grab any of them and be happy.

[JackButler]

Ah.....I'm on the way out of my Country band (I don't like dictatorial lead singers, call me crazy!).....!

Mobbie I heard a rumor that it wasn't due to problems with the singer it was that you kept getting colds from having to wear the ass-less Chaps on stage. .....LOL

Just kidding. You know I love to rib you on the Country music thing. Especially after hearing you crank the Pantera in a packed truck full of guys going to see a shred fest.

Peter

Peter...you just remember who you were snuggled up to in the back of that truck!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!! I can close my eyes and still smell your cologne!

[Smakutus]

All I really care about is the feel.  I think people WAY overestimate how much the fingerboard wood affects the tone-I think the neck wood has a much bigger effect.

I don't.. I think the fretboard wood is more important to the overall sound (At least on bolt on electrics..) than the body wood. I had a mid 80's Japanese Strat with a rosewood board that played and sounded really good. I had no complaints with this guitar. But I had a maple fretboard Chandler neck scallopped, and wanted to try it before buying a whole body for it etc.. etc.. So I stuck it on this Strat. The difference was major. It was a whole new guitar sound wise.

Outt..
Jeff.

[sw686blue]

Well, the deal fell through. It was sold as I was mulling it over. Easy come, easy go. Last night I visited a couple of local guitar shops as I was trying to get a feel for a Tele or Strat. I'm looking into Fender or G&L. The G&Ls were really nice but I was a bit turned off by the 2 holes that are plugged in the back of the guitar (1 on the headstock and one on the body near the edge). I guess they are used to hold the guitar during manufacturing. Kinda disappointed to see that on a G&L. Finishes, build quality was fantastic. I tried out a MIM Fender Tele (I think it was a '60s reissue) in tabacco burst that I fell in love with. Very nice but at $1100 Canadian, I'll pass.

I'll keep looking.

Nick

P.S. Do you know if Strat or Legacy tremelos can be locked so that they essentially become hardtail bridges or do I have to resort to a block of wind jamming the tremelo?