Which Fender Telecaster for Jazz?

[nopedals]

About ten years ago I had a neck made by USAGC for a frankenstein jazzmaster. It had a large strat headstock without a decal, but it bolts on to any tele/strat/JM body. They let you spec everything to a 32 of an inch. I tried to dial in a Johnny Smith profile with a compound radius. It is a fantastic neck that plays effortlessly up to the last fret. Didn't waste a lot of money on fancy woods, etc., so it only cost a few hundred bucks.

Over the years, I have moved it to a number of guitars when I got in the mood for a change. If I get a yen for a telecaster, I just camp out for a few weeks on the normal for sale forums until I spot an inexpensive guitar that someone else has already upgraded with US electronics/expensive pup/ etc. (folks always lose money when they create frankensteins). Then I buy the frankenstein, sell the frankenstein neck, sell my old guitar body, and bolt my USACG neck on the frankenstein.

Personally, I think that the body wood is the least important part; really, my guitar with the custom neck and USA electronics and pup feels and plays as well or better than a custom shop model. And I'm not taking a loss when, on a whim, I move on to another body style.

[jazzrat]

I think the Baja is a good bet.
Tim Lerch has a video review of the newer RoadWorn 50's Tele that has me interested.
Sounds like a budget NoCaster.

Also...If you can find one...The Highway One "Texas Tele" is terrific. Nitro finish, bigger neck and a 12" radius.

[Takemitsu]

I would suggest aiming for a 6 saddle version of any tele you like. For me its easier to tune and adjust string height levels.

Also, a shallow idea: I got sick of several "original" tele looks I had so I ended up settling for a "classic" butterscotch. I think sun burst would have the same longevity

my 1,82 cents (canadian money)

[mr. beaumont]

I would actually suggest saddle configuration as an afterthought. A six saddle replacement can be put on almost any tele...find the right guitar first, then, if you need to tweak easy things like that, do it.

And mine intonates just fine with 3.

[Takemitsu]

I would actually suggest saddle configuration as an afterthought. A six saddle replacement can be put on almost any tele...find the right guitar first, then, if you need to tweak easy things like that, do it.

And mine intonates just fine with 3.

you are right but we are talking about a 300-400$ tele. If you add the tech plus piece you get a lot of % of the original price. With so much choice and config in the lower $ teles its a good idea to get everything you want/need from the beginning.

[mr. beaumont]

you are right but we are talking about a 300-400$ tele. If you add the tech plus piece you get a lot of % of the original price. With so much choice and config in the lower $ teles its a good idea to get everything you want/need from the beginning.

I see your point, I just don't think of bridge saddles as a dealbreaker. It's three screws...maybe $40 bucks for the part, 2 beers to finish the job...even the tech-helpless like myself can do it

[Playerizor]

Just want to make the comment that if you want the "real" tele vibe the pick-ups have to be single coil, not HB's. If all you want is a really durable guitar the tele is a good choice no matter what pick ups you have.

And I'm not some kind of purist, one of my favorite stratocasters has HB's.

[mr. beaumont]

I agree.

I think many "jazz" players might not have such a need for all the other cool things a tele can do, so I give them a pass, at least on the neck pickup. But there's nothing like a tele bridge pickup through a cranked tube amp!

[Bensta]

Okay then, guys, let's take this in the direction of simplicity. Straight up, out of the box, no mods, and assuming a decent jazz player plays both instruments the same way through the same amp: which telecaster gets the best sound, a Squier Classic Vibe or a MIM Fender Standard? My reading of the board so far is that people feel they are pretty similar until modded? Or am I missing something?

[mr. beaumont]

Sound wise, it's probably a wash...the MIM std will likely have a few things going for it that a jazz player might like more...they're a bit more "polite," six saddles, a more standard nut width, etc.

The Classic Vibe is for those who want vintage spec on a budget. If you like vintage specs, it's the best thing since sliced bread. If you don't, you're better off with the MIM standard. If you're used to 1 11/16ths or a 1 3/4 inch nut, a vintage style Fender neck can feel pretty cramped, especially in the low register.

[jazzbow]

I would actually suggest saddle configuration as an afterthought. A six saddle replacement can be put on almost any tele...find the right guitar first, then, if you need to tweak easy things like that, do it.

And mine intonates just fine with 3.

+1


Kluson harmonic saddles, the middle saddles flip for wound or plain G. Cost? Cheap!

[Bensta]

Sound wise, it's probably a wash...the MIM std will likely have a few things going for it that a jazz player might like more...they're a bit more "polite," six saddles, a more standard nut width, etc.

The Classic Vibe is for those who want vintage spec on a budget. If you like vintage specs, it's the best thing since sliced bread. If you don't, you're better off with the MIM standard. If you're used to 1 11/16ths or a 1 3/4 inch nut, a vintage style Fender neck can feel pretty cramped, especially in the low register.

Thanks Mr. Beaumont.

In a way, I've been looking for verification of exactly what you stated here. Doing online research about guitars can get out of hand quickly in terms of information overload. I am definitely not interested in the classic specs, and I'm still not convinced that the pine body on the CV somehow produces a "jazzier" tone than the MIM (ftr: no one on this site has made that argument, I've gotten that elsewhere). So, once I get paid I'm going to order a MIM standard tele unless I find one of these Bajas in a lefty, which seems unlikely. Thanks again for everyone's input, this board is beyond helpful!

[docbop]

Sound wise, it's probably a wash...the MIM std will likely have a few things going for it that a jazz player might like more...they're a bit more "polite," six saddles, a more standard nut width, etc.

The Classic Vibe is for those who want vintage spec on a budget. If you like vintage specs, it's the best thing since sliced bread. If you don't, you're better off with the MIM standard. If you're used to 1 11/16ths or a 1 3/4 inch nut, a vintage style Fender neck can feel pretty cramped, especially in the low register.

The one thing I noticed awhile back about the Squires and some other clone brands. Everything is just a little bit smaller or thinner. The bodies, necks, all the metal parts just a little different. Wiring and pots cheaper. For the player no big deal, but for a company making thousands of instruments that is a savings.

[mr. beaumont]

Yeah. And truthfully, the MIM standards aren't using top of the line electrical components either. But its not the kind of stuff that needs to be replaced right out of the gate, unless you're really anal...or if you're doing a pickup change, its worth it once everything's unscrewed and opened up.

[drbhrb]

I never got the hang up with electronics. If the stock wiring and pots aren't humming or making scratching sounds, why replace them? I've never found it to offer anything in sound improvement.

[mr. beaumont]

I think the idea is, you'd hate to have something crap out on the gig...but that can happen with anything. Maybe one thing might be a really cheap pot might just up and die, where a decent component might give you a little warning...i don't know. I'm not too anal about it either, i just want stuff that works.

[docbop]

I never got the hang up with electronics. If the stock wiring and pots aren't humming or making scratching sounds, why replace them? I've never found it to offer anything in sound improvement.

I'm not a gear nut but there are basic difference in PUPs, but also cheap wiring and pots can bring in noise, changing pot can change tone, some cheap PUP are micro-phonic. Some of the low end guitars they buy whatever parts they can get cheap and sometimes with use pot values that aren't quite right. A lot of issues can come from cheap electronics especially when you start recording you'll notice.

[cosmic gumbo]

I don't think anyone would regret getting a MIM tele, it would meet most anyone's expectations. The great thing about a tele is just about anything you don't like can be modded with just a screwdriver.

[LaVinci]

It's got to be an ash or pine body to be a tele
And under 7lbs
One piece body is a bonus
I love don mare pickups too

Think Cornell Dupree

[Greentone]

If you want a consistently light Tele you might think about looking into one of Bill Nash's creations. He builds his T-52, T-57, T-63, and T-67 guitars such that they come in at about 6.5 to 7 pounds all the time.

The ones I have heard and played are simply incredibly good recreations of old Telecasters. If you aren't into the whole relic thing, find one of his "church gig relic" (i.e., lightly relic-ed) instruments.

[Bensta]

Hey guys, here it is:



Had trouble loading images, or I'd post a few more. Anyway, it arrived this morning. The shop did a nice job setting it up. Once I plugged it in, I knew this is what I'd been looking for. I'll probably throw some 11s on it, but I'm really pleasantly surprised with this for such a "cheap" guitar. Thanks everyone for helping steer me in the right direction. I'll post a better review of the guitar (2013 MIM Fender standard) when I've had some time with it under my fingers... but I get the idea many of you know what I'm likely to say!

Thanks again forum members.

[mr. beaumont]

Looks great. Nice color choice.

I think you'll find this guitar becomes a "trusty steed" of sorts. My guess is you'll never be without a tele again.

[Bensta]

That's my impression so far! I'm especially taken with the neck.

[docbop]

I'm really pleasantly surprised with this for such a "cheap" guitar.

Guitars only feel cheap when they aren't played.

[Greentone]

Great color body.