Help! Recommend me a Fender Tele

[bsteff666]

I haven't had regular stock Fender Tele in years....and I know I will need one for some parts on an upcoming studio session...so I bought a used (barely used, like-new) Fender USA Highway 1 Texas Tele.

I like it a lot. It has a nice light ash body...all vintage style hardware (the bridge with the 3 brass saddles is important for the real tele tone in my opinion)....but the best part is the neck...Its got a nice chunky profile, heavily rolled fretboard edges, a 12 inch radius, and medium jumbo frets. Plus the finish on the neck (and the body too) is thin & satiny.

My usual gripe with Fenders is the necks...(always too heavily finished & glossy..with tiny frets...and a really rounded radius...all of which prevent you from being able to really grip & bend strings)....But this one is really nice...even to a Charvel guy like myself.

Pickups are a little bit hotter than typical vintage stuff (to me that's a good thing)...but they still twang very well & sound like a tele should.

Mine is really a well-built guitar...Great fit & finish...No issues...and other than very minor set-up adjustments....it is very gig-worthy right out of the box. No tweaks needed. Very nice. Check one out.

[CharvelRocker]

I really like my Koa Tele. Unique looks to it for one, a lot of them have killer rosewood boards, and they are a bit warmer than your normal Tele, plus they have a Satin finished neck. I also liked the Baja, and thought it had more bite than the Koa, but the neck on it felt like a Louisville Slugger. Some of the Baja tops have a bit of figure as well. I would also consider a newer Highway 1, though I have never played one, a new H1 Strat I played recently was killer. The finish jobs on them are a nice touch as well.

[mr426]

I was looking at Tele's a few weeks ago. I tried about 15 in one store. Mostly American Fenders, but the sales guy says, I know it's weird, but check out this squire...I swear it sounden better than the $2000 Teles I was playing. It had a nice raunchy tone. Very rockabilly meets dirty blues...I should have bought it. Come to think of it, maybe I'll go back for it...

[DonP]

What type of stuff do you play on a TRADITIONAL Tele? I was curious about a Tele, but my history with single coils isn't too hot. I have a very nice MIM Strat bought in 1998 and it sits in the closet.

Do people play metal with these?

[Ben...]

What type of stuff do you play on a TRADITIONAL Tele? I was curious about a Tele, but my history with single coils isn't too hot. I have a very nice MIM Strat bought in 1998 and it sits in the closet.

Do people play metal with these?

Some people seem to (I would if I could find a nice one, there weren't any at the music store today). Jari Maenpaa from Wintersun can be seen doing mad sweeps on a Tele in many videos.

[mr426]

I wanted a tele for a more traditional rock tone.Not so much Metal...I got that covered..But you could do Metal.

[heartfielder]

Japanese Heavy Metal Tele !!! If you can find one that is ...

[nhspike]

Japanese Heavy Metal Tele !!! If you can find one that is ...

Arrrrrrrrgh!
You're killin' me Paul!

[donf]

There are a lot, Highways good. If you're looking for a traditonal Tele sound, stay away from the Tele HS. It has the hum at the neck postion can do a lot of other things, but not that real twang you may be looking for.

[Big D]

American Deluxe. Great values at around $1,200-$1,300. Replace the bridge p/u with a Dimarzio Chopper T and you're ready to rock...or whatever.

[chrisolson]

Yeah, the Chopper T is a killer p'up for teles. Now they make a Tone Zone and Super Distortion too. Teles are far and away my favorite guitars.

FWIW, there's nothing wrong with a MIM tele - just give it a Dimarzio bucker in the bridge - life is good!

[mr426]

Damn....Now I want a Tele even worse....Damn all you GASSERS!!!

[Ben...]

Damn....Now I want a Tele even worse....Damn all you GASSERS!!!

Sorry.

[nhspike]

Hmmmm
Big D may have a point there.

[VitaminG]

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.

you are correct. A local store were advertising the Deluxe Mexi Teles alongside the Mexi Deluxe Player Strats & I must've taken a big leap in logic to assume the Teles were Deluxe Players too. Can't find any reference to a Deluxe Player Tele anywhere.

I still maintain that my imaginary Tele is just what you are after though....