Help! Recommend me a Fender Tele

[SouthernXer]

I used to own a Model 7 years ago but sold it like an idiot. I am now jonesing for a Fender Tele. I have looked around at the local GC and am still up in the air as to what to look for. I don't need a B-bender or anything like that but would like to add that Tele twang to the group.

I have a preference for the USA Tele's but understand the MIM quality is great, too.

Let me have it... which one would you choose and why?

[Ben...]

Mindreader! I'm actually looking at buying one this Saturday myself. I was actually gonna create a thread just for this. I got an old bass collecting dust and I want something different.

So what does the peanut gallery recommend? (Sorry if this comes out as a thread highjack)

[SouthernXer]

Not a hijack at all!

I am hoping for some good info and direction.

[Larz]

I like the American Deluxe Series for a reasonably priced USA tele. Has some cool looking body binding, abalone dot inlays, the c shaped neck, maple or rosewood, some classic finishes.

I have the James Burton artist series that has the S-1 switching as well and the paisley flame paint job but its sort of a different animal.

[Blazer]

Go for a Baja, by far the best tele I tried and I probably would one myself right now if I didn't have a BC Rich Mockingbird coming my way.

http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0141502389

It has a versitile four way switch, modern feeling neck and looks that are sub zero cool.

[markD]

i just bought an MIM tele. it was $349. i played 5 or 6, and ended up getting the one i felt was best in the store. it is white. i changed the pickups to duncan quarter pound tele's, put on a black pickguard and a white di'marzio cliplock strap. i think i was out the door with all that stuff for less than $500. that guitar is my main recording guitar. it is used over usa jacksons, custom shop charvels, PRS's, usa hamers...that tele smokes.

i'd recomend playing a bunch of mexi's and seeing what you like....

[SouthernXer]

i just bought an MIM tele. it was $349. i played 5 or 6, and ended up getting the one i felt was best in the store. it is white. i changed the pickups to duncan quarter pound tele's, put on a black pickguard and a white di'marzio cliplock strap. i think i was out the door with all that stuff for less than $500. that guitar is my main recording guitar. it is used over usa jacksons, custom shop charvels, PRS's, usa hamers...that tele smokes.

i'd recomend playing a bunch of mexi's and seeing what you like....

Hey Mark, was this at GC?

[JACKSONFREAK]

The Hot rod tele seems to be selling tons for us. We couldn't keep them in stock. Its basically resembling a 52 tele in butterscotch blonde finish. Has a ore modern C shape neck medium jumbo frts and a mini hum in neck. Cool looking and not to pricey. If ya want ore versatility go for a deluxe with the S1 switching. The cherry sunburst dls tele is awesom looking and it has some body contours not typical found on a slab body tele.
Gil

[VitaminG]

I dig the MIM Deluxe Player series. Cool looks, gold hardware, medium-jumbo frets & a 12" radius.

I believe Joe has one of the Strats

[metalchurch79]

I vote: Build your own, buy a stripped Mexican Tele body, put a Jackson or Charvel neck on it, and call it a Model 7.
That's what my plans are this winter. Another one is to buy an alder Epiphone LP body, and put a Jackson Fusion neck on it.

But back on topic, I'd say go w/ a Taco Tele, the most you'd need to change would be the pickups. The quality and fit are still very nice.

[toejam]

I dig the MIM Deluxe Player series. Cool looks, gold hardware, medium-jumbo frets & a 12" radius.

I believe Joe has one of the Strats

I did have a blue Deluxe Players Strat, but I don't think the specs are the same on the Deluxe Tele models. AFAIK, the only Tele with a 12" radius is the Jim Root model.

[SouthernXer]

I'm liking the looks of the Baja... may have to find one and see what it looks like in person.

[shobet]

All depends on how much you want to spend? There's a lot to chose from in the Fender range. Squires, MIMs, USAs all the way up to the top end CS planks.

There seems to be a law of diminishing returns the more you spend on a guitar, eg a CS guitar costing 10 times more than a MIM is not 10 times a better playing guitar. However it has that something extra to it that quality woods and components bring. I can't explain it better than that I'm aftaid as I couldn't tell you exactly why I find them better, I just do.

Good luck with your choice!

[Grandturk]

I plucked on a Jim Root tele at a Sam Ash the other day - not a traditional tele at all, but it was kind of nice. Needs regular strings and tuning and it shouldn't be too back. Didn't sound like a tele, of course.

[markD]

Hey Mark, was this at GC?

no, a smaller local shop. i try NOT to go to GC or sam's ass unless i HAVE to.