Which Tele?

jamieb · Post by **jamieb** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:27 pm

Ok, I want to buy a Telecaster, but which one? I'm kind of stuck between the following (they're roughly in order of current preference):

A) '62 RI

B) Deluxe

C) Baja

D) Highway1

I'm interested in all replies/responses, especially from those who own those particular modelz; I'd be interested to know why you chose what you did etc, how happy/unhappy you are and so on. In fact, the only replies I'm not interested in are:

A) OMG TELECASTERS ARE FOR GAYZ BUY A *insert alternative here* AND PUT .13s ON IT RAWWWWWWWWK

B) STFU FAGGOT (or similar)

Thanks in advance as always...

euan · Post by **euan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:30 pm

Baja then 62 RI then 72 Custom

Post by **Mike** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:30 pm

I have the Classic Player Baja Telecaster and the '72 Telecaster Deluxe Reissue. I think they're both great instruments, and steals for the price - particularly the Baja - but they sound very different.

They both have some common aspects in that they have glossy maple chunky necks, the Deluxe being chunkier.

The Baja has more of a spanky Telecaster sound with single coils and the classic 3-saddle bridge with brass saddles.
The Deluxe is more of a thunky sound which is full and dark stock, the pickups benefit from a switch of the pots from 250K to 500K or 1meg to add top end.

I have video demos of each if you're interested.

I would steer clear of the Highway 1, no experience with a '62 I'm afraid.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:33 pm

Is this the '62 you mean:
http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0106200857

euan · Post by **euan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:40 pm

Mike wrote:Is this the '62 you mean:
http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0106200857

There is a CIJ version and I think they maybe did a MIM version.

jamieb · Post by **jamieb** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:40 pm

Mike wrote:Is this the '62 you mean:
http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0106200857

Yes, the one I was looking at was a CIJ though...

Mr Mustache · Post by **Mr Mustache** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:41 pm

OMG TELECASTERS ARE AMAZING BUY A *BAJA*AND PUT WHATEVER GAUGE YOU WANT ON IT RAWWWWWWWWK.

IMHO The Baja is the best bang for the buck, great sounding guitar with a great feel.

best try try some out first if you can

BobArsecake · Post by **BobArsecake** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:42 pm

I'd hit the '62, can't beat the 3 brass saddles, rosewood fretboard and bound body, hubba hubba hubba! (the spanking Telecaster single coils go without saying). Can't lose with a Tele.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:42 pm

'62 specs wrote:American Vintage â€˜62 TelecasterÂ® Custom
(806) Black,
(857) Surf Green,
(Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)
Body Alder
Neck Maple, â€œCâ€� Shape,
(Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)
Fingerboard Rosewood, 7.25â€� Radius (184mm)
No. of Frets 21 Vintage Style Frets
Pickups Two â€˜62 TeleÂ® Custom Single-Coil Pickups (Neck & Bridge)
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Neck Pickup with Tone Control (Bright Vintage Circuit)
Position 3. Neck Pickup with No Tone Control (Dark Vintage Circuit)
Bridge Original Vintage Style Tele Bridge with 3 Threaded Steel Saddles and â€œAsh Trayâ€� Bridge Cover
Machine Heads Fender/GotohÂ® Vintage Style Tuning Machines
Pickguard 3-Ply Mint Green
Width at Nut 1.650â€� (42 mm)
Unique Features Bound Top and Back,
â€œTop Hatâ€� Switch Tip,
â€œCâ€� Shape Maple Neck,
Synthetic Bone Nut

'52 Specs wrote: American Vintage â€˜52 TelecasterÂ®
Colors (850) Butterscotch Blonde,
(Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)
Body Premium Ash Body
Neck 1-Piece Maple, â€œUâ€� Shape,
(Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)
Fingerboard Maple, 7.25â€� Radius (184mm)
No. of Frets 21 Vintage Style Frets
Pickups 2 American Vintage TeleÂ® Single-Coil Pickups
Pickup Switching 3-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Neck Pickup with Tone Control (Bright Vintage Circuit)
Position 3. Neck Pickup with No Tone Control (Dark Vintage Circuit)
Bridge Original Vintage Style Tele Bridge with 3 Brass Saddles and â€œAsh Trayâ€� Bridge Cover
Machine Heads Fender/GotohÂ® Vintage Style Tuning Machines
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard 1-Ply Black
Scale Length 25.5â€� (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.650â€� (42 mm)
Unique Features â€œUâ€� Shape Maple Neck,
Black Dot Position Inlays,
Vintage styling,
Synthetic Bone Nut

Post by **Mike** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:42 pm

BobArsecake wrote:I'd hit the '62, can't beat the 3 brass saddles, rosewood fretboard and bound body, hubba hubba hubba! (the spanking Telecaster single coils go without saying). Can't lose with a Tele.

It costs Â£600 more than the Baja which has everything but the bound body.

Mr Mustache · Post by **Mr Mustache** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:43 pm

Mike wrote:
BobArsecake wrote:I'd hit the '62, can't beat the 3 brass saddles, rosewood fretboard and bound body, hubba hubba hubba! (the spanking Telecaster single coils go without saying). Can't lose with a Tele.
It costs Â£600 more than the Baja which has everything but the bound body.

and the baja has 3 brass saddles aswell

jamieb · Post by **jamieb** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:44 pm

Mr Mustache wrote:OMG TELECASTERS ARE AMAZING BUY A *BAJA*AND PUT WHATEVER GAUGE YOU WANT ON IT RAWWWWWWWWK.

IMHO The Baja is the best bang for the buck, great sounding guitar with a great feel.

best try try some out first if you can

Yup, I've thrashed about on the '62 and the '72 Deluxe but not the Baja or Highway 1. Not many people own Bajas

.

BobArsecake · Post by **BobArsecake** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:44 pm

Mike wrote:
BobArsecake wrote:I'd hit the '62, can't beat the 3 brass saddles, rosewood fretboard and bound body, hubba hubba hubba! (the spanking Telecaster single coils go without saying). Can't lose with a Tele.
It costs Â£600 more than the Baja which has everything but the bound body.

Wah Wah ;p I'd still tap it, repeatedly.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:47 pm

Mr Mustache wrote:
Mike wrote:
BobArsecake wrote:I'd hit the '62, can't beat the 3 brass saddles, rosewood fretboard and bound body, hubba hubba hubba! (the spanking Telecaster single coils go without saying). Can't lose with a Tele.
It costs Â£600 more than the Baja which has everything but the bound body.
and the baja has 3 brass saddles aswell

Hence why I said it had everything but binding. Didn't realise AC had cited Rosewood fretboard as a plus point? That's plainly wrong.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:48 pm

jamieb wrote:
Mr Mustache wrote:OMG TELECASTERS ARE AMAZING BUY A *BAJA*AND PUT WHATEVER GAUGE YOU WANT ON IT RAWWWWWWWWK.

IMHO The Baja is the best bang for the buck, great sounding guitar with a great feel.

best try try some out first if you can
Yup, I've thrashed about on the '62 and the '72 Deluxe but not the Baja or Highway 1. Not many people own Bajas .

Baja neck = Deluxe neck but slightly less full profile.

BobArsecake · Post by **BobArsecake** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:51 pm

I like rosewood and maple.

euan · Post by **euan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 5:54 pm

Maple necks give you zing, rosewood give you a chunk. I like both. I've excited when I finish my take on the '62 Tele Custom.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:13 pm

haha aparently after reading the first post im not alloud to reply in this thread? nice!

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:22 pm

'62 Japanese reissue

jamieb · Post by **jamieb** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:25 pm

robroe wrote:haha aparently after reading the first post im not alloud to reply in this thread? nice!

I did say I only wouldn't be interested in them; it wasn't prohibitive.

Hmm, I feel I may regret pointing that out.