Hey folks! I am doing some Telecaster shopping and am kind of confused. I've not owed a Telecaster before, and Fender's lineup feels messy to me.
When it comes to Telecaster, what I'm mostly after is a versatile single-coil instrument that doesn't sound like a Strat and will be good for lower-gain situations while recording. So what's important to me is that it has two single coil pickups (not a Nashville configuration). I'm using this in a studio environment, so intonation is important, so 6 saddles. And it would be nice if those pickups were noiseless, but folks are welcome to talk me off that ledge.
Based on my 6 saddle requirement and SS configuration, I think I'm left with just a couple options:
- The Player model, which I've played a bit and find fairly uninspiring.
- The Player Plus model, which I've not played. But it's got noiseless pickups, S1 switching, a belly cut (which is nicer than not having one, to be honest), locking tuners, etc. I don't love the neck or the glossy finish, but for less than half the cost of my next option, perhaps I could live with it.
- The next time 6 saddles shows up in the lineup is at the Ultra level, which has similar specs to the Player Plus, but a different neck profile (augmented D), and (I think?) different noiseless pickups (with a "vintage voice"), as well as a neck heel carve. (I could also buy a used Elite, which is not unlike the Ultra, but has previous generation noiseless pickups. This would save me several hundred dollars.)
- Finally, there's Ultra Luxe, which is the same as Ultra, but a little more de-luxe or luxe-urious. Stainless steel frets, rounded fretboard.
I am sure I am missing something. Why would I buy the Ultra or Ultra Luxe over the Player Plus? Is there any advantage to getting the Player Plus instead and just upgrading the pickups?
I haven't been able to find an Ultra or Ultra Luxe in store to play, so I'm not even sure what I'm missing. I did find an Ultra Strat, and the neck profile on that (assuming it's similar to the Tele) was very nice. (It also sounded great.)
Anybody have any advice? I have no desire to build my own, but I understand why many would default to that suggestion.
Thanks!