<FOUND> Time for the latest iteration of my "WTB Tele" thread

[Feynman]

I've got, say, $1500.

I like my Teles to say "Fender" on them, and to have been made in the United States of America. Custom Shop is even better, especially at my desired price range. Mint condition is great, and I want all of the stuff it comes with. It doesn't matter what it sounds like, as long as it looks cool.

Despite the asinine level of pickiness I seem to possess, these threads have been very good to me in the past.

Some helpful considerations:

Good, but not mandatory: bigger frets, flatter boards, rosewood, binding, black,white, butterscotch

Models I am drawn to:

62 AVRI Custom (thin skin for the preferred neck stuff would be super)

Hot Rod 52

Thin Skin 52 AVRI

American Deluxe

Masterbuilt Feynman Signature

[murkat]

I'll build you one

[serial]

This one looks, plays and sounds great, but might not be what yer looking for. AVRI 62Custom Tele converted to Custom Esquire.

[tomteriffic]

Mitch

"Good, but not mandatory: bigger frets, flatter boards, rosewood, binding, black,white, butterscotch"

I know you like your Teles to say Fender on 'em, but what you're describing there is a T-51 except for the binding.

[kizanski]

I know you like your Teles to say Fender on 'em, but what you're describing there is a T-51 except for the binding.

I don't know...

There's something very UN-Telecaster about every T-51 I've ever played.

[bubs_42]

I love my T-51, but hey if the guy wants a Fender, let him have a Fender.

[Feynman]

Yeah! Stop trying to introduce logic.

Edited to add that I know I'd LOVE a few of those G&L models too, but I can't seem to overcome my biases. I can accept my limitations though.

[rj2858]

I know you like your Teles to say Fender on 'em, but what you're describing there is a T-51 except for the binding.

I don't know...

There's something very UN-Telecaster about every T-51 I've ever played.

Perhaps the fact that they intonate perfectly?

[velorush]

Was there anything in particular that caused you to sell the blue one? It was pretty much as you describe, yet it left... rather quickly...

[kizanski]

I know you like your Teles to say Fender on 'em, but what you're describing there is a T-51 except for the binding.

I don't know...

There's something very UN-Telecaster about every T-51 I've ever played.

Perhaps the fact that they intonate perfectly?

Yeah, maybe that's it.

It's just the thing that I had always hated about Page's work on Led Zep I - the intonnation.

[Feynman]

Was there anything in particular that caused you to sell the blue one? It was pretty much as you describe, yet it left... rather quickly...

See my comment earlier about logic. I'd certainly take that one back in a heartbeat, but I don't think Joe would make that mistake twice.

[serial]

I'm the same way. My Telecasters MUST say Fender on them. I dont care how good a T-51 is, I'm not interested in one-it's too close to being a Tele while not being close enough. Silly, perhaps, but that's the way I feel about Teles and Strats.

[hardheartedbill]

I thought you had a blue one?

[kizanski]

I thought you had a blue one?

LOL!

Someone needs to catch up.

Must have a life or something.

[Feynman]

You mean this one?! Thanks for rubbing it in. I screwed up - okay? Are you happy now!?

Edited to add: Baby, I was wrong - please come back...

[hardheartedbill]

Lord. I distinctly remember posting "keeper" like last month

[Feynman]

Bill, there have been three guitars since that one. I'm sick, but I'm trying to get better.

[murkat]

You mean this one?! Thanks for rubbing it in. I screwed up - okay? Are you happy now!?

Edited to add: Baby, I was wrong - please come back...

Um.... my Mitch quotes?

Yeah, you fucked up on that one bro.

Like a Brunette that never says no.

damm

[killerteddybear]

+1 on the Fender logo.

I've had a couple G&L ASATs go through my herd (I still have a MIK one) but Fenders, for reasons that defy logic, just feel right. Especially with a maple board.

Having said that, no number of Strats would inspire me to replace my G&L Legacy.

[cloakerz]

best tele I ever owned was a nash with lollar pickups, and yes i sold it but made $400 on the transaction.

[harry65]

t-51's are the greatest "tele" i've ever played , my fave hamers , that's why there's vanilla and chocolate.............

[rj2858]

I know you like your Teles to say Fender on 'em, but what you're describing there is a T-51 except for the binding.

I don't know...

There's something very UN-Telecaster about every T-51 I've ever played.

Perhaps the fact that they intonate perfectly?

Yeah, maybe that's it.

It's just the thing that I had always hated about Page's work on Led Zep I - the intonnation.

Glad you've obviously never had a problem with the old barrel style saddles, I guess all those folks with questions about intonation problems for years at Telecaster.com weren't as lucky, and Callaham just wasted their time with compensated saddles 'cause they had nothing better to do.

[Toadroller]

I've got, say, $1500.

dibs

[kizanski]

I know you like your Teles to say Fender on 'em, but what you're describing there is a T-51 except for the binding.

I don't know...

There's something very UN-Telecaster about every T-51 I've ever played.

Perhaps the fact that they intonate perfectly?

Yeah, maybe that's it.

It's just the thing that I had always hated about Page's work on Led Zep I - the intonnation.

Glad you've obviously never had a problem with the old barrel style saddles, I guess all those folks with questions about intonation problems for years at Telecaster.com weren't as lucky, and Callaham just wasted their time with compensated saddles 'cause they had nothing better to do.

Intonation. Here we go again.

You're right. I never had a problem with the old barrel saddles. Not on any of my Nash Teles, or my vintage Fender Tele's. In fact, I'll quote the One and Only Muse: "If it ain't got barrel saddles, it ain't a Telecaster."

But since you brought it up, good for Callaham that he could market these parts that no one really needs, all the while convincing them that they do.

If I could find a way to make everyone believe that they needed to buy one of my new ultra-engineered garbage pails, I would sell as many as I could.

That is not to say that the offset saddles don't do anything. They make a minute adjustment between the D and G strings, but that's not the point.

"Intonation" is just one of those subjects.

I submit that, apart from the rare player like Eric Johnson or Danny Gatton (the exception that proves the rule, in other words), most people that make a fuss about intonation can't play in the first place, and they make these infinitesimal adjustments or "improvements to their instrument" in an attempt to gain "cred" (there's that word again) with those that can.

Like Platzer always says, "Try adjusting the intonation an old Martin sometime."

All of these micro adjustments are just busywork: a waste of time that will do next to nothing as far as making a positive contribution to "your sound."

To that point, I'll put an old light weight wraparound bar tailpiece on a Junior against anything that has been "engineered" since as far as delivering the oft-mentioned "tone."

Next thing you know, we'll be getting that utterly useless Buzz Feiten setup on our Telecasters. I mean why not? Otherwise, how can you really be sure (even with a six saddle bridge on your Tele) that your intonation is just right?

Pitch that nonsense to Leslie West and he'll bop you over the head with a prosthetic leg.

I guess what I'm saying is that, although technically these offset barrels, six saddle bridges, and yes, even the old BADDASS bridges serve a purpose in design, they don't offer anything that you can hear.

That and Intonation is for pussies.

[MCChris]

I guess what I'm saying is that, although technically these offset barrels, six saddle bridges, and yes, even the old BADDASS bridges serve a purpose in design, they don't offer anything that you can hear.

Sure you can hear it. When you're rocking out in Madison Square Bedroom without the peripheral din of, oh, drummers, bass players, keys players, horn players, singers, audiences....things like that.

On the subject of audiences, sometimes when you actually play in front of one, you get an adrenaline rush from the energy coming back at you that causes you to dig into your instrument and squeeze a bit harder with your fretting hand in the octave area. When that happens, you've fucked up your precious intonation beyond what even a Buzz Lightyear System can correct.

Fortunately, said audience does. not. care.