talk me out of selling my tele

**BBGuitar** · 02-03-2019, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by patshep

I have a '52 tele reissue, which has a nice neck and records well... stays in tune
but lately I'm just more into humbucker sounds or strat sounds... the tele 'bite' is not really my thing, but it is a useful flavor for the studio... i have a comins gcs-1, which i love and a MIJ Stratocaster '62
and what i have been jonesing for is a PRS DGT
should i keep the tele and modify it with a neck humbucker (and probably some bigger frets)
or just get rid of a very nice guitar for something new that has more thick tone i love and is easier to play???

Keep it as is and buy the PRS DGT. Own both. That is why they made credit cards.

**whiskey02** · 02-03-2019, 11:54 PM

No guitar is sacred, if it doesn't work for you let it go. I have no trouble saying - "this a a great guitar, but it's not for me". I've never regretted selling a guitar because I've never sold one that I was in love with.

**lammie200** · 02-04-2019, 03:13 AM

I echo some of the others. I wouldn’t butcher it and it sounds like that would be a hassle for you anyway. No harm in selling it if it isn’t right for you. I understand the thinking for not holding onto guitars that won’t get played for various reasons. My goal this year is to sell 5 of mine and buy 2 others. I have already sold 2 and bought the 2 that I want. Now I have to sell the 3 others. Keeping my Tele partscaster though. To your point it has a Fralin P92 neck humbucker. Sublime.

**blackcat** · 02-04-2019, 08:47 AM

G&L Tribute Bluesboy Semi-Hollow perhaps

Jkniff26 · 02-04-2019, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by patshep

if i do keep this one, i will be putting a decent amount of money into it... routing for a humbucker in the neck, buying a humbucker for the neck... and also i will need to refret it with medium jumbo frets... the frets are so small...
i don't want more than 3 electrics in my apartment (small nyc apt)
the DGT is about $2000 used, so I could come up with the other $1000 easily?

Oh man don’t cut up a 52 reissue. There are good replacements that fit. I had a real nice early 90’s one that I regret losing to hard times 15 years ago. I love the vintage 7.25 radius for chords.

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**Longways to Go** · 02-04-2019, 11:13 AM

You don't like your tele. So just sell your tele.
You can always buy another, perhaps more to your liking.
They come in many flavors and many price points !!

Me, I'm on my 4th tele.

My first was a squire affinity that I modded. I wish I had that one back. It was vibey.

The second was a MIM with active electronics. I enjoyed it for a while, but happily traded it off.

Number 3 was the one with the big fender humbuckers. It looked really cool, but I never bonded with the sound. Traded.

Now I'm on number 4 which is a bone stock American standard. Nothing weird or special, but perfectly fine.
I don't play it much, but when I do I'm very satisfied with it. I expect it will stay around a while.

**mr. beaumont** · 02-04-2019, 11:26 AM

The neck is the most important part of the tele. You get one with a good neck, you can do all sorts of stuff to make it right for you.

Why not try something like an SD "quarter pounder," a stacked humbucker in tele clothes? Easily reversible modification, might get you closer to the sound you want.

But don't give up that neck!

**patshep** · 02-04-2019, 11:49 AM

i do love the neck, the radius and frets, not as much...
i wonder what the best humbucker in tele neck shape/size would be

**Tal_175** · 02-04-2019, 12:00 PM

I don't a own tele, but everytime I hear Ed Bickert play, I wonder if I really need an archtop.

**mr. beaumont** · 02-04-2019, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by patshep

i do love the neck, the radius and frets, not as much...
i wonder what the best humbucker in tele neck shape/size would be

If you love the "U" shape but not the radius or frets, you might be better off selling the tele and parting something together.

Warmoth makes great necks...I have a Warmoth "boatneck" on my tele, and it cemented that guitar's position in my arsenal as the only tele I'll ever need.

Now, want...that's a little different

**patshep** · 02-04-2019, 12:38 PM

yeah, he does get a great tone (unlike the bass player on that session)
however, i never really get into ed bickert so much because the music is just not super original
he plays great but it's just so old fashioned, and i've already got tons of old fashioned jazz music to listen to...
but his sound is fantastic

**FourOnSix** · 02-04-2019, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by patshep

yeah, he does get a great tone (unlike the bass player on that session)
however, i never really get into ed bickert so much because the music is just not super original
he plays great but it's just so old fashioned, and i've already got tons of old fashioned jazz music to listen to...
but his sound is fantastic

Or classic, depending on your perspective.

**Tal_175** · 02-04-2019, 01:07 PM

Ed Bickert was an old school player in modern times. Just the right amount of old school for my taste.

**mr. beaumont** · 02-04-2019, 01:16 PM

Nothing old fashioned about Ed's application of harmony to the guitar.

**Hammertone** · 02-04-2019, 01:17 PM

[QUOTE=patshep;930802]if i do keep this one, i will be putting a decent amount of money into it... routing for a humbucker in the neck, buying a humbucker for the neck... and also i will need to refret it with medium jumbo frets... the frets are so small...
i don't want more than 3 electrics in my apartment (small nyc apt)

Originally Posted by medblues

Here is a $200 solution: Buy a Fender licensed neck you like (from Warmoth, USACG, stratosphere etc) with the jumbo frets ($ 160-200, even cheaper used) no need for refretting. Buy a single-coil-size stacked humbucker from Wilde pickups for $ 50-75 so no need for rerouting. You can convert back and forth depending on your needs (play covers, sell as stock etc).

You are in NYC. So there are probably only a thousand used teles currently for sale in the area and maybe a thousand new ones for sale. You could post an add offering to TRADE your tele for one that has the specs you want. That might cost you nothing. You might even make a buck. If that doesn't work, you could always trade it at a store for a used or (shudder) new Tele with the specs you want. If that involves too much butt-hurt, I'd go with the $200 solution above.

**Jim Soloway** · 02-04-2019, 01:39 PM

I've given this a but more thought and I'm going to join the group that says don't mod this guitar. The 52 is one of the few Tele's that has a really specific identity and that's part of what gives it a specific market and a decent resale value. It's also what makes it the wrong guitar for you. So sell it unharmed and use the money to finance a Tele that actually works for you. Tele's come in every possible variation so there's sure to be something our there that fits the bill for you and if not, then pocket the money and move on.

**rob taft** · 02-04-2019, 02:52 PM

42 posts on this forum, another 40+ on TGP as of this post. You might want to try the TDPRI forum and then take a poll. My opinion, sell that guitar and buy a tele that suits you that doesn't require extensive mods. Between Fender, G&L, Suhr, etc. there are literally hundreds of variations. This isn't a vintage guitar or a rarity.

**El Fundo** · 02-04-2019, 02:54 PM

I used my Road Worn Tele on a gig last week and was very happy with its versatility. For this particular gig I needed a guitar that get’s a great jazz sound, along with blues, funk, some classic rock, and country. I was amazed, first of all, by its jazz tone—big, fat, and warm! I had Lollar ‘52s installed when I bought it. After the gig I had the insane thought that I really don’t need my other guitars, but I quickly “regained my composure” and completely quashed that idea, as tempting as it was to start selling stuff, and responsibly use the money to pay off debts like an adult would. But, some kids never grow up—nor even want to.

**Hep To The Jive** · 02-04-2019, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by rob taft

42 posts on this forum, another 40+ on TGP as of this post. You might want to try the TDPRI forum and then take a poll. My opinion, sell that guitar and buy a tele that suits you that doesn't require extensive mods. Between Fender, G&L, Suhr, etc. there are literally hundreds of variations. This isn't a vintage guitar or a rarity.

the TDPRI will be biased, no?

But yeah 3 different forums, same question, maybe add the PRS forum as well, to thicken the plot!

Next- placing bets, he sells/he doesn't!

**patshep** · 02-04-2019, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by rob taft

42 posts on this forum, another 40+ on TGP as of this post. You might want to try the TDPRI forum and then take a poll. My opinion, sell that guitar and buy a tele that suits you that doesn't require extensive mods. Between Fender, G&L, Suhr, etc. there are literally hundreds of variations. This isn't a vintage guitar or a rarity.

usually my posts don't get any answers, i think it's funny how everybody is so crazy for teles this week... i'm sorry to take up your precious time, where you are obviously doing important business, lol... but for real, i'm putting it up for sale... see if i can get a good price on it and buy a non-tele probably

**Greentone** · 02-04-2019, 04:36 PM

Come in off the ledge...don't sell your Tele.

**Vognell** · 02-04-2019, 04:53 PM

Never sell your guitars. Just keep adding to your collection. You may one day need to purchase a bigger house.

**rob taft** · 02-04-2019, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive

the TDPRI will be biased, no?

But yeah 3 different forums, same question, maybe add the PRS forum as well, to thicken the plot!

Next- placing bets, he sells/he doesn't!

Yeah, TDPRI would probably hang him up by his 3 saddle bridge.

**dickbanks** · 02-04-2019, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by patshep

..or just get rid of a very nice guitar for something new that has more thick tone i love and is easier to play???

For every three guitars you sell, you will regret selling two of them.

**christianm77** · 02-09-2019, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by patshep

I have a '52 tele reissue, which has a nice neck and records well... stays in tune
but lately I'm just more into humbucker sounds or strat sounds... the tele 'bite' is not really my thing, but it is a useful flavor for the studio... i have a comins gcs-1, which i love and a MIJ Stratocaster '62
and what i have been jonesing for is a PRS DGT
should i keep the tele and modify it with a neck humbucker (and probably some bigger frets)
or just get rid of a very nice guitar for something new that has more thick tone i love and is easier to play???

Hang on to it. You’ll see the error of your ways in time :-)