G&L Bluesboy vs Fender Telecaster

**ewanwallace** · 06-14-2009, 06:48 PM

The pots really make that much difference? Well, sounds much cheaper and easier than replacing a pickup so I'll give it a go first.

The tele cost UK£415, more along the lines of what the mexican ones go for, though I'm sure they're probably just as good these days, or near as.

**mr. beaumont** · 06-14-2009, 07:39 PM

this'll sound harsh, but i think that no pickup will make a bad player sound good. i'm able to get all the tone i need with stock pickups and pots.

that said--if the pickups truly sound too muddy, a pot swap can work, but exhaust all possibilities on the amp first. it's very easy to get "mod happy" on a guitar as moddable as a tele, and i see a lot of guys chase tone dragons for years instead of focusin on the real problem--their playing. it's very imortant to note that amp settings for a rock or country sound will not get you a classic jazz tone. some amps are just incapable too. i'm a bi proponent of finding your own voice, but if you want to use, say, jim hall as a touchstone, there's amps out there that'll never get you close, nomatter what mod you do to the guitar.

i'm not saying anyone here is a bad player, mind you--i'm speaking from personal experience. it took me a long while to figure out that the missing link in my tone was--me. when i did, i learned to make the equipment i had (some admittedly already modded) work for me. i was liberated.

**whippersnapper** · 06-14-2009, 08:32 PM

Decant pickups will make a good player sound better, not a bad player sound good

**ewanwallace** · 06-15-2009, 09:34 AM

They do sound pretty muddy - darker than the neck humbucker of my SA2000, which itself isn't the brightest of tones. I'm getting used to it though - like Mr Beaumont says it's just a matter of adjusting the tone on the amp. And after all, I didn't buy a tele with a neck humbucker to have it sound like a strat!

I'm a tele convert now. What a great design...

**ewanwallace** · 06-23-2009, 04:55 AM

Hi all,

After playing more with the 72 Custom I was still slightly bothered by the darkness of the neck pickup and how it overpowered the bridge pickup - switching between the two mid-song is important for me in some of the bands I play in, and it just wasn't really an option without adjusting the volume and eq on the amp.

So, I did some searching on the internet and found the following free modification (which originally came from Lindy Fralin), which I've tried and to me it's a big improvement. The tone is essentially the same, but the output is less and it's not so bass heavy. I'm going to swap the volume pot for a 500K one at some point soon and I think the guitar will then be perfect for my needs.

Anyway, I liked it so thought I'd share the link with you all in case anyone's having the same problem:

the ultimate fix for RI wide range humbuckers - Telecaster Guitar Forum

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 11-05-2012, 02:19 PM

Hi, I responded to this in TDPRI, but I feel I should expand and say Tributes are great values. As someone else mentioned, their quality can be compared to MIM, if not better. For jazz, a neck humbucker in a Tele takes you into Ed Bickert territory, which is mighty tasty. (As I mentioned on TDPRI, I don't know how the Tribute's HB compares to the USA Bluesboy, so watch out for descriptions that are actually about the Seth Lover.)

I would prefer Swamp Ash over Basswood. The rosewood fretboard is a plus over maple in my book, and the 9" radius is a good compromise size. All in all this is a nice configuration that would hard to find in a Fender Tele.

**PTChristopher** · 11-05-2012, 02:33 PM

I would have one of these if the nut were not so narrow. If you do not mind a 1 5/8" nut, then they are great in my opinion.

Chris

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 11-05-2012, 03:06 PM

1 5/8" neck: that's a deal breaker for me, too, but I assume BB is okay with it. At first when I didn't know much about G&L I had written off the ASATs because of the narrow nut, then someone pointed out USA ASATs are custom-built and you can order a 1 3/4" nut neck profile for $38 extra. So worth it.

**BEACHBUM** · 11-05-2012, 04:43 PM

I'm OK with it. I've got guitars with 1 5/8ths. 1 11/16ths, short scale/long scale etc. None of it bothers me. I read that these are 7 1/2" radius with medium jumbo frets and also read that they are 9 1/2" radius. Don't know which is correct. Any one?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 11-05-2012, 05:13 PM

The USA Bluesboys have the 7 1/2" radius (unless you specify a different neck). Tributes are 9" with medium jumbo frets. If you want to talk to the experts on Tributes, check out the G&L forum:

The G&L Enthusiasts Website

It's not a busy place but they have a bunch of members that can answer all your questions.

**docbop** · 11-05-2012, 05:22 PM

If down in Los Angeles checkout Westwood Music they usually keep one or two in stock.

**PTChristopher** · 11-05-2012, 06:53 PM

What does a USA version (so a possible wider nut) go for?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 11-05-2012, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by PTChristopher

What does a USA version (so a possible wider nut) go for?

(Note: the street price is taken to be 75% of MSRP.)

The base price for a USA Bluesboy is $1650 MSRP ($1237.50 street) and the semi-hollow version is $1950 MSRP ($1462.50 street).

Then as I mentioned the wider neck upgrade is $50 MSRP ($37.50 street).

Among the other interesting upgrades are an ebony fretboard ($200 MSRP), a quartersawn neck ($100 MSRP), and stainless steel frets ($400 MSRP).

**PTChristopher** · 11-05-2012, 08:11 PM

So $1,500 for a thinline and wider nut.

Love the guitar, but that's a lot of quatloos for a Tele.

Chris

**b_goat** · 11-05-2012, 08:16 PM

I purchased a USA Swamp Ash Bluesboy Hollowbody off eBay for <$1000 in mint condition. It's a great guitar and I love me some Seth Lover...

My only complaint is the neck is a bit small (I prefer baseball bats). But as stated, if you're ordering from the factory you have choices.

b_goat

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 11-05-2012, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by PTChristopher

So $1,500 for a thinline and wider nut.

Love the guitar, but that's a lot of quatloos for a Tele.

Chris

I'd say it's comparable to USA Fender Tele prices, but unfortunately G&Ls don't hold their prices on the used market the way Fenders do.

**Flint** · 11-05-2012, 10:33 PM

As I recall, the Tribute guitars are made by Cort, which is also making lot of high-end custom stuff in addition to entry-level stuff. So the skill and technology are there. They do good work.

**BEACHBUM** · 11-05-2012, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by Flint

As I recall, the Tribute guitars are made by Cort, which is also making lot of high-end custom stuff in addition to entry-level stuff. So the skill and technology are there. They do good work.

That's one of the reasons I'm looking at the Tribute. Cort has been making Fenders "Special Edition" models for years and if this one is anything like the Koa and FMT Special Editions that I own I'm pretty sure I'd be happy with it.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 11-05-2012, 11:34 PM

BTW, a wide, finished Tele neck (without tuners) from Warmoth would go for about $300. One could swap necks.

**Bryan T** · 11-06-2012, 05:07 AM

I don't think a Fender neck will fit on a G&L body. G&L necks tend to be the full length of the fingerboard (22 frets), whereas Fenders are 21 frets. A 22 fret Fender neck will have a fingerboard that extends one fret longer than than the neck.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 11-06-2012, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Bryan T

I don't think a Fender neck will fit on a G&L body. G&L necks tend to be the full length of the fingerboard (22 frets), whereas Fenders are 21 frets. A 22 fret Fender neck will have a fingerboard that extends one fret longer than than the neck.

I'm not sure either. My comment was more for PTChristopher who didn't want to pay for a USA ASAT.

I'll ask on the G&L forum.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 11-06-2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

I'm not sure either. My comment was more for PTChristopher who didn't want to pay for a USA ASAT.

I'll ask on the G&L forum.

I got the short answer: no. Tele necks are not compatible.

**BEACHBUM** · 11-06-2012, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

I got the short answer: no. Tele necks are not compatible.

No biggy. I'm still liking this Tribute. I'll just have to play mix and match with my other Teles.

**Jazzchief1** · 11-06-2012, 09:03 PM

I have an GL legacy special and I wouldn't trade it for any fender currently made. A friend of mine has a custom Bluesboy with a bigger neck (which I like) and a set of Lollar Charlie Christian pickups. This is one of the nicest set-ups I ever heard.This one's on my most wanted list. P.S. Its a swamp ash with rosewood. Stay with USA.

**BEACHBUM** · 11-14-2012, 10:53 PM

Well, after a lot of arguing with myself I decided to go for it. Since I already own a traditional style "Cort" Tele the body and neck are pretty much what I expected. Even the Tobacco finish color is the very same shade and tone as the Cort made Fender Koa model I have. From what I can tell the bodies and necks on both this one and my Koa are basically variations on the “Lite Ash Tele.” All made by the same company and pretty much the same stuff with a different headstock and a 9" instead of 9 1/2 inch radius. Truth be known I really can't feel a difference between them at all.

Set up was good out of the box and all I had to do was a few truss rod tweaks and lower the strings to my pleasure and she's got the action I like. No buzz no fuss. Finish is flawless and the hardware seems to be top notch. Normally I change my Tele bridges to Gotoh first thing but I'm very impressed with the quality of this ones Vintage style 6 saddle so I think I'm going to keep it. The pick ups are very nice indeed. Being accustomed to Alnicos on my Tele bridges it’s a fairly different sound for me but I’m beginning to take to it none the less. I can easily see this one becoming my go to Tele for Jazz and such.