New Guitar advice, Telecaster?
Discussion
Am after a new guitar 
I currently have a Ibanez Rg350DX with active Seymour duncan pickups. This plays really nice for heavy metal, but anything softer does not sound right.
I also have a "legend" Fat Strat, which i really enjoy playing, and plays amazingly well considering it only cost me £20 10 years ago.
But fancy a new toy!
I play a complete variaty from powerful clean sounds to full rock, both rhythm and Lead.
Im thinking i want Humbuckers in at least bridge position.
I never use the tremolo bar, so hard tail is just fine.
Budget, i best not spend much more than £600 really...
My Ibanez is white (with pearl guard), and strat is sunburst, so would prefer something different...
Have come across these custom telecasters which look a bit different:
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/electric_guitars_det...
Are these pretty similar to a strat to play?
Do they hold value well, like the strat's?
Any advice or other reccomendation would be great.
I currently have a Ibanez Rg350DX with active Seymour duncan pickups. This plays really nice for heavy metal, but anything softer does not sound right.
I also have a "legend" Fat Strat, which i really enjoy playing, and plays amazingly well considering it only cost me £20 10 years ago.
But fancy a new toy!
I play a complete variaty from powerful clean sounds to full rock, both rhythm and Lead.
Im thinking i want Humbuckers in at least bridge position.
I never use the tremolo bar, so hard tail is just fine.
Budget, i best not spend much more than £600 really...
My Ibanez is white (with pearl guard), and strat is sunburst, so would prefer something different...
Have come across these custom telecasters which look a bit different:
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/electric_guitars_det...
Are these pretty similar to a strat to play?
Do they hold value well, like the strat's?
Any advice or other reccomendation would be great.
I think teles are a lot more in fashion than strats... Not that that matters but they will always retain resale values. If you buy used you won't loose any money and you'll be able to get a higher spec.
For around your budget you'd be able to get a Japanese tele which would be a beauty! I'd prob take a Jap tele over a US one?!
If you want humbuckers have you looked at the 72 deluxe models? Telecaster's with 2 humbuckers and Les Paul controls, that been said the bridge sound with a tele is SO classic it seems a shame to loose it. The neck sound is great but not as iconic so could swap that out? I've just finished building a tele with a single coil in the bridge and a TV Jones in the bridge... Sounds sweet as!!!!
The final option is something along the lines of a Warmoth or USGC, this is the tele I've just finished, as long as you're not expecting to sell it the quality of instrument you end up with is so much higher plus it's completely to your spec.
Good luck , can guarantee you'll love it ??
For around your budget you'd be able to get a Japanese tele which would be a beauty! I'd prob take a Jap tele over a US one?!
If you want humbuckers have you looked at the 72 deluxe models? Telecaster's with 2 humbuckers and Les Paul controls, that been said the bridge sound with a tele is SO classic it seems a shame to loose it. The neck sound is great but not as iconic so could swap that out? I've just finished building a tele with a single coil in the bridge and a TV Jones in the bridge... Sounds sweet as!!!!
The final option is something along the lines of a Warmoth or USGC, this is the tele I've just finished, as long as you're not expecting to sell it the quality of instrument you end up with is so much higher plus it's completely to your spec.
Good luck , can guarantee you'll love it ??
Edited by dojo on Monday 28th March 09:01
Thinline Tele is nice, comes in 2 versions, one with single coils, t'other with buckers.
Or you could go for the Baja Tele; although it comes with SCs there is a 4-position switch which gives you an extra setting, both pickups in series, so you get the best of both worlds.
(Although TBH it is fairly easy to add a pull/push switch that would achieve the same thing, to any standard Tele.)
Or you could go for the Baja Tele; although it comes with SCs there is a 4-position switch which gives you an extra setting, both pickups in series, so you get the best of both worlds.
(Although TBH it is fairly easy to add a pull/push switch that would achieve the same thing, to any standard Tele.)
I bought my first ever Tele last year;
have various other guitars (American EC Strat, Les Paul, Ibanez etc etc) and, like you , fancied something different.
eBay being my friend offered up a nice American Tele, with Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Andy Summers Pickups. all for around £400 - and in mint condition.
I can now, after many months of living with it, honestly say this is the guitar I play the most.
Very, Very versatile, lovely feel - a guitar you can really 'dig into' to get so much expression out of it.
Not sure if its the pickup combo but the breath of sound is astounding for four positions on the selector !
try and play one - you may find you like it...
have various other guitars (American EC Strat, Les Paul, Ibanez etc etc) and, like you , fancied something different.
eBay being my friend offered up a nice American Tele, with Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Andy Summers Pickups. all for around £400 - and in mint condition.
I can now, after many months of living with it, honestly say this is the guitar I play the most.
Very, Very versatile, lovely feel - a guitar you can really 'dig into' to get so much expression out of it.
Not sure if its the pickup combo but the breath of sound is astounding for four positions on the selector !
try and play one - you may find you like it...
I have one in the black cherry ,nice very versatile with the coil splitting option. Good looking too and for the money
A bit of a bargain . They are made in malaysia though so if a usa built guitar is top priority its a no no . I have small hands and its a good fit for me might be a bit cramped for someone with larger mitts . Best try before you buy . Oh and its not a bolt on neck either .
A bit of a bargain . They are made in malaysia though so if a usa built guitar is top priority its a no no . I have small hands and its a good fit for me might be a bit cramped for someone with larger mitts . Best try before you buy . Oh and its not a bolt on neck either .
timmartin said:
audidoody said:
Get a 1983 JV (Japan Vintage) Tele. Well within your budget and MUCH better than anything under Fender Custom Shop.
hmm the JV's are pretty good but I love the custom shops (see pic - first two custom shop nocaster and third is and '82 JV). I was thinking of putting on some better pups on the JV to improve it.OP - what amp do you use? having a good amp is a good investment. A good guitar through a crap amp will sound crap. but a crap guitar through a good amp will sound a lot better. maybe spend your hard earned there? FYI i use a Fender Twin (all valve 100w from mid '90s) and its a tone monster. The controls actually do something too. ... oh and its FFFFING loud! you could get a used one for about £700 on ebay.
Get one made to your own requirements
http://www.chrislarkinguitars.com/
ETA: sorry, missed the budget in the OP
http://www.chrislarkinguitars.com/
ETA: sorry, missed the budget in the OP
How about a Gibson SG Special?
http://www.andertons.co.uk/Products/Products.asp?keyword=gibson+sg+special&type=search&attributeXML0=
USA made and hold there value very well.
http://www.andertons.co.uk/Products/Products.asp?keyword=gibson+sg+special&type=search&attributeXML0=
USA made and hold there value very well.
red997 said:
I bought my first ever Tele last year;
have various other guitars (American EC Strat, Les Paul, Ibanez etc etc) and, like you , fancied something different.
eBay being my friend offered up a nice American Tele, with Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Andy Summers Pickups. all for around £400 - and in mint condition.
I can now, after many months of living with it, honestly say this is the guitar I play the most.
Very, Very versatile, lovely feel - a guitar you can really 'dig into' to get so much expression out of it.
Not sure if its the pickup combo but the breath of sound is astounding for four positions on the selector !
try and play one - you may find you like it...
Similarity story :-) bought an unloved gumtree American Tele last year, fitted a seth lover humbucker at the neck, Jerry donahue at the bridge, and a 4 way selector - and I haven't touched my Strat since. All the tones are great, and it just feels really direct and responsive, whereas the Strat is a bit more isolated. There is just sooo much more wood between the bridge and neck on a tele than a strat- I used to think the Strat was an evolutionary improvement, now I see them as quite different animals... oh, and all in for under £600, even after I stripped off the polyester and refinished her in graffiti yellow ;-) have various other guitars (American EC Strat, Les Paul, Ibanez etc etc) and, like you , fancied something different.
eBay being my friend offered up a nice American Tele, with Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Andy Summers Pickups. all for around £400 - and in mint condition.
I can now, after many months of living with it, honestly say this is the guitar I play the most.
Very, Very versatile, lovely feel - a guitar you can really 'dig into' to get so much expression out of it.
Not sure if its the pickup combo but the breath of sound is astounding for four positions on the selector !
try and play one - you may find you like it...
Thanks Guys, Very helpful.
I sort of decided i would be best with single coil pickups on the telecaster in the end, as TBH my other guitars are there for the heavy stuff, and want the Tele for the lighter stuff.
Ive been to my local guitar shop who had both a 70's Tele remake, and a Standard Tele.
TBH i couldn't really tell the difference, and the sales guy pretty much said for my needs the standard Tele would be perfect.
So i have ordered a Standard Tele in Candy Red for £440, and should be ready for me to collect on Saturday
Its one of these:
I decided i would rather pay a bit more for something new, rather than risk eBay etc, and know it will be genuine and not damaged!
Good news is i am way under my budget, so have cash ready for my next
(probably a les paul)
Amp wise, I'm using a Vox AD30VT which I'm rather impressed with for the price, and more than loud enough for my needs. I only play at home.
Oh and I'm sure i can add a more Vintage Tele to my collection in a few years
I sort of decided i would be best with single coil pickups on the telecaster in the end, as TBH my other guitars are there for the heavy stuff, and want the Tele for the lighter stuff.
Ive been to my local guitar shop who had both a 70's Tele remake, and a Standard Tele.
TBH i couldn't really tell the difference, and the sales guy pretty much said for my needs the standard Tele would be perfect.
So i have ordered a Standard Tele in Candy Red for £440, and should be ready for me to collect on Saturday
Its one of these:
I decided i would rather pay a bit more for something new, rather than risk eBay etc, and know it will be genuine and not damaged!
Good news is i am way under my budget, so have cash ready for my next
(probably a les paul)Amp wise, I'm using a Vox AD30VT which I'm rather impressed with for the price, and more than loud enough for my needs. I only play at home.
Oh and I'm sure i can add a more Vintage Tele to my collection in a few years
If you want to spend the rest of your budget on something, there's a lot of internet love for the "Harley Benton" brand sold by Thomann - http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_550_para... for example
Never actually played one myself, but might have to grab one to take a look, video review here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkxldCft_mU
Must say, they look pretty nice. They do Tele models too, along with strat, PRS etc
Never actually played one myself, but might have to grab one to take a look, video review here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkxldCft_mU
Must say, they look pretty nice. They do Tele models too, along with strat, PRS etc
maturin23 said:
Great guitars but I seriously doubt you'll find a JV Tele for under a grand!
I hope you're right. I have a 1983 JV tele that was worth around £360 last time I checked.OP: congrats on your new Tele. Now spend some of what you've saved on a quality wiring harness with upgraded caps and tone and volume controls that actually work. The original wiring in that grade of Tele is not the best.
http://www.hoaglandcustom.com/product/standard-tel...
Edited by audidoody on Saturday 2nd April 13:14
timmartin said:
Lucas CAV said:
A Fender Twin is ridiculous for home use - they weigh a ton and need a stupidly high volume to get them working well"!
quite agree - I dont use at home, only for gigs -the OP didnt indicate what he does with his music, at home for practice I tend use Garage band through headphones or a smaller transistor amp. I only mentioned, as an example, as a lot of people make the mistake of spending a lot on guitars and pedals chasing a sound whilst putting it all through something that spoils it. Yes twins are loud, i did a pub gig last week and only had it on 1.5 channel volume but it does have a 'low output' switch which makes the volume managable if needed.It was far too much amp for any room they ever played in, which included 10,000 capacity arenas once or twice. In fact, for a few gigs on the arena tour the guitarist used a Fender Blues Jr. which has all of 15w - most of the rest of the time he was using a Hot Rod Deluxe which was 45w and fine for anything up to a 300 capacity venue without a PA.
Get the smallest amp possible, lugging a full Marshall stack around is even less fun than you might imagine.
davepoth said:
Get the smallest amp possible, lugging a full Marshall stack around is even less fun than you might imagine.
Agreed. I've got an early 80s JCM800 100w head, and it's completely pointless me owning it as it's never been turned up more than 1.5...I still won't part with it though.
Well after having her a couple of days, i am VERY impressed
The sound is so smooth, it sounds great, and so easy to play.
Im also very impressed with the pickups, the single coil bridge can make some very powerful sounds!
It also seems to be able to cope with any style of sound, very versatile.
Its a Mexican made one, and came setup perfect.
The sound is so smooth, it sounds great, and so easy to play.
Im also very impressed with the pickups, the single coil bridge can make some very powerful sounds!
It also seems to be able to cope with any style of sound, very versatile.
Its a Mexican made one, and came setup perfect.
HarryFlatters said:
davepoth said:
Get the smallest amp possible, lugging a full Marshall stack around is even less fun than you might imagine.
Agreed. I've got an early 80s JCM800 100w head, and it's completely pointless me owning it as it's never been turned up more than 1.5...I still won't part with it though.
Plus they look so cool.
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