NTD : New Tele Day

[339 in june]

I thought I didn't need no stinkin' Tele.
As I was turning 60 and didn't buy a guitar since 54 months, I thought I could have a birthday gift from me to me and thank me later. The kind of gift that makes you feel better for a while, especially in these lockdown times.
But what kind of guitar ? I have already all I need (maybe more !), except a Tele (that I Don't need, but that's not the question).
I ended up with this :

Pros :
- light
- nice (very nice) looking
- fun to play
- comfortable to play
- both pick-ups and pots are usable and efficient to cover sounds from classic jazz to strong rock(and everything in between)
- quite good set up as far as I can tell for the time being with the strings it came with (10's, too light for my liking, but I let it the time for the guitar to acclimate). Fretwork seems OK, nut seems correctly cut, neck is dead straight, action OK, no complaint about intonation)

Cons :
- name on the headstock is not one of the famous which force people to say : "What a nice guitar you've got !".

Of course, I have to wait to see how it ages
But right now I'm wondering : why pay more for a guitar ?





If you ask me, it's not only a good guitar for the price, it's a good guitar, period.
Youngsters are lucky to have such instruments available at such a price to start musical education

[Hammertone]

Looks lovely, but, come on, that's a tele-shaped guitar, not a tele.

[339 in june]

Looks lovely, but, come on, that's a tele-shaped guitar, not a tele.

Sure, only a Tele is a real Tele !

[MarkRhodes]

Lovely.
Give us a taste via video, won't you?

[marcwhy]

Congrats! Enjoy!

[Michael Neverisky]

What Hammertone said... don't worry about becoming a Tele fanatic with that fine looking guitar.

Pros :
- light

Did we mention that it's not really a Telecaster?

But right now I'm wondering : why pay more for a guitar ?

It's a valid question. I will stand on my cases of Custom Shop Fenders, vintage and new
Martin guitars and whatever else I can find in the closet, and proclaim that in modern times
one can find a very good guitar for under $500 USD. The rest is in your hands.

[Tal_175]

If it looks like a Tele, it's a Tele.
I can shoot holes into every other definition.

[kris]

is it HB Tele?..:-)

[Cunamara]

Well, that punches above it's weight!

[citizenk74]

That is just really sweet-looking. Congratulations, and play it in good health!

[Humbuckr]

is it HB Tele?..:-)

Holy crap that sounds and looks amazing. Fantastic playing...as a newcomer to jazz that’s what I’m aspiring to. Bravo.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Looks beautiful. If you can't say "Tele", say "T-style".

[Eck]

Amazing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gitterbug]

Recent Harley Benton issues prove that quality can improve by tons without a commensurate rise in price. I have one of their LP clones as a test guitar, except my hyper-critical son confiscated it and has no intention to return it. These guitars are worth a lot more, but they simply started from the wrong end and will be haunted by the bargain basement image for a long time. Meanwhile, big names get away with miserable QC and cheaply made products at price points that are a multiple of H-B's.

[339 in june]

is it HB Tele?..:-)

Yes it is, but it's not me playing :-(
(far from it !)
How I wish I could play like that !
At least, I already have the guitar ;-)

[MaxTwang]

Nice looking guitar. I've been agonizing over design/building a Tele Thinline with MJT body/neck but wanted a heftier bridge (more than a thin vintage plate tele bridge), carved top and fuller pickups than stock Tele p/u's (and wanted trans-red with binding) - OP's guitar has a bridge reminiscent of a 70's Fender Starcaster, and checks all the other boxes. Great looking guitar!

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Nice looking guitar. I've been agonizing over design/building a Tele Thinline with MJT body/neck but wanted a heftier bridge (more than a thin vintage plate tele bridge), carved top and fuller pickups than stock Tele p/u's (and wanted trans-red with binding) - OP's guitar has a bridge reminiscent of a 70's Fender Starcaster, and checks all the other boxes. Great looking guitar!

It looks similar to a HipShot bridge: https://www.stewmac.com/parts-and-ha...il-bridge.html

[jads57]

When people say only a real Tele qualifies as a Real Tele! I definitely understand what they mean.

Much of the original Tele design revolves around the bridge and it's unique pickup with a steel plate underneath the pickup.
Remember Leo Fender was originally selling Lap Steels and amplifiers before electric guitars came along!

So while the body shape of Tele is often copied in many designs, the bridge is what brings the True Telecaster Tone affecianados to this guitar!
Ed Bickert may be one of the few who chose it for actual practical purposes,lol!

[greveost]

Congratz man!

Love those HB's! I have a bunch myself

[RonD]

+1 for Harley Benton. Thomann has got it right.
I own a couple of them. A 335 style and a PRS style.
I sold my PRS SE a week after receiving the HB.
The 335 style is currently strung with Chromes and is my go to practice guitar!
They sound great and play well.
Got both of them for about $800 Canadian. Received in a week.

IMO YMMV

[339 in june]

Nice looking guitar. I've been agonizing over design/building a Tele Thinline with MJT body/neck but wanted a heftier bridge (more than a thin vintage plate tele bridge), carved top and fuller pickups than stock Tele p/u's (and wanted trans-red with binding) - OP's guitar has a bridge reminiscent of a 70's Fender Starcaster, and checks all the other boxes. Great looking guitar!

Thanks Max, yes it looks really good !

[339 in june]

Congratz man!

Love those HB's! I have a bunch myself

Thanks man !
Now that I have one, I understand.
May I add that your review had a significant contribution to my decision to buy this guitar.

[339 in june]

It looks similar to a HipShot bridge: Hipshot Hardtail Bridge | stewmac.com

Actual bridge on my guitar :

Hipshot bridge may be considered as a potential upgrade, if needed

[greveost]

Thanks man !
Now that I have one, I understand.
May I add that your review had a significant contribution to my decision to buy this guitar.

Wow, that is nice to hear, glad I can help

[Hammertone]

Nice looking guitar. I've been agonizing over design/building a Tele Thinline with MJT body/neck but wanted a heftier bridge (more than a thin vintage plate tele bridge), carved top and fuller pickups than stock Tele p/u's (and wanted trans-red with binding) - OP's guitar has a bridge reminiscent of a 70's Fender Starcaster, and checks all the other boxes. Great looking guitar!

I have been quite happy with heavy bridges from Gotoh, Rutters and others. And MJT is great - I've put together a couple of dozen nice instruments with their bodies with no unpleasant surprises.

[50Hz]

Nice looking guitar. I've been agonizing over design/building a Tele Thinline with MJT body/neck but wanted a heftier bridge (more than a thin vintage plate tele bridge), carved top and fuller pickups than stock Tele p/u's (and wanted trans-red with binding) - OP's guitar has a bridge reminiscent of a 70's Fender Starcaster, and checks all the other boxes. Great looking guitar!

I feel like you're describing the feature set of a G&L ASAT special.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I feel like you're describing the feature set of a G&L ASAT special.

I have an ASAT Special, but the mention of a "carved top" tips my recommendation to an ASAT Deluxe.

[50Hz]

I have an ASAT Special, but the mention of a "carved top" tips my recommendation to an ASAT Deluxe.

Good call. I had a Classic for a short time that I sadly had to return due to damage from shipping. But for what I paid and how nice it was I feel like they're still criminally underrated.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Good call. I had a Classic for a short time that I sadly had to return due to damage from shipping. But for what I paid and how nice it was I feel like they're still criminally underrated.

I also see the wish list was for a thineline. The Deluxe also comes in a thinline!

[Tal_175]

[QUOTE=BigDaddyLoveHandles;1076500]I have an ASAT Special, but the mention of a "carved top" tips my recommendation to an ASAT Deluxe.

[/QUOTE

That's a one good looking mother fxckxr.

[Jonah]

Well those guitar are gorgeous...!!!
but my conviction is that if I have onle one Tele it sould be the one with singles!)))

I also tried the other day a Squier with P90s.. it sounded surprisingly well especially I like the bridge pick up and mix... it was crispy but warm

[339 in june]

Well those guitar are gorgeous...!!!
but my conviction is that if I have onle one Tele it sould be the one with singles!)))

I also tried the other day a Squier with P90s.. it sounded surprisingly well especially I like the bridge pick up and mix... it was crispy but warm

It's the same with the HB !
Nice warm clean with the neck pick-up with volume end tone pots rolled down a bit
Crispy but still warm with the bridge pick-up when cranked

[Jonah]

It's the same with the HB !
Nice warm clean with the neck pick-up with volume end tone pots rolled down a bit
Crispy but still warm with the bridge pick-up when cranked

It is getting tempting)))

Inly 200EUR on Thomann with delivery even over here...

How are the frets? I do not expect miracles but still... do the fretends catch the hand?

Any guitar needs fretwork but still

[Jonah]

If it looks like a Tele, it's a Tele.
I can shoot holes into every other definition.

I think we should collect money and send one to Bill Frisell for verification)

[339 in june]

It is getting tempting)))

Inly 200EUR on Thomann with delivery even over here...

How are the frets? I do not expect miracles but still... do the fretends catch the hand?

Any guitar needs fretwork but still

Check the first post

[pingu]

they do a blue one with HBs too

https://m.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_te_90qm_hh_trans_blue.htm?o=29&searc h=1606843382

i’ve been eyeing these up
gas huh ?
£200 I’m very tempted

[Jonah]

they do a blue one with HBs too

https://m.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_te_90qm_hh_trans_blue.htm?o=29&searc h=1606843382

i’ve been eyeing these up
gas huh ?
£200 I’m very tempted

Imho with chesp HB on cheap guitars there is more risk to get unreadable muddy tone (especisly in chords and intervals) than with P90s or Singles

[Jonah]

How many Harley Bentons do you own?
I have three, all stock.

None. 'So what?')
We share the experience here.

I have experience with cheap humbuckers on cheap guitars that they give very mudy unreadable sound often... but cheap P90s or singles can work better (probably just because of more high frequencies?)... this is it.

I you think that with Harley Bentons it is not the case... share your point of view .. I did not say anything wrong about them.

[Jonah]

This is Squier with P90s that I liked at the store. I liked bridge pickup and the mix... sounded very much like 60s rock clean sound.... hot but crispy

But it seems to be a bit more expensive than Harley Benton

[RonD]

None. 'So what?')
We share the experience here.

I have experience with cheap humbuckers on cheap guitars that they give very mudy unreadable sound often... but cheap P90s or singles can work better (probably just because of more high frequencies?)... this is it.

I you think that with Harley Bentons it is not the case... share your point of view .. I did not say anything wrong about them.

Hey Jonah.
You're absolutely right. I apologize for the tone and inference of my post. I will delete it.
As I mentioned in post #20, I have two hb equipped Harley Bentons. I also have an acoustic, their copy of Taylor's GS mini.
All 3 guitars "punch above their weight".
The only thing I had to do to them was change strings and adjust the action to my taste.
The hb pickups on the semi and the prs clone are both labeled Roswell. Surprisingly good sounding. A little bit hotter than I would normally choose,but they sound very good to me.

Again, no offense meant.

Ron

[Jonah]

Hey Jonah.
You're absolutely right. I apologize for the tone and inference of my post. I will delete it.
As I mentioned in post #20, I have two hb equipped Harley Bentons. I also have an acoustic, their copy of Taylor's GS mini.
All 3 guitars "punch above their weight".
The only thing I had to do to them was change strings and adjust the action to my taste.
The hb pickups on the semi and the prs clone are both labeled Roswell. Surprisingly good sounding. A little bit hotter than I would normally choose,but they sound very good to me.

Again, no offense meant.

Ron

I did not take it as offence of course!
I just ... when I am in the net I try to respond exactly to what's written that helps to avoid misunderstanding.


By the way my current archtop is cheap Dean Palomino that has surprisingly good pickup which I like much more than stock pickups on Epi Broadway or low end Ibanez...
Surprisingly it has warmness, space and clarity.
And Dean is cheaper Chinese production ... flawlessly constructed... the only issue.. it is too heavy for that type of guitar.

It has also one the best headstock I saw on arch top. I do not like the tail piece

So you never know..