Telecaster Buying Advice

S

SpudMan

Experienced
I am wanting to add another Tele to my collection. I currently have two Warmoth build Tele's, one with P90 Neck and Tele Bridge which I love, one Thinline with HH. I had a Fender Tele that I bought in the early 60's, not sure of the exact year, which I loved but for various reasons sold in my youth. I want to get one more Tele that is more of a vintage classic in sound. Any suggestions would be appreciated? I want to keep the budget tops a bit over $2k, definitely not in the budget for something like an Anderson, etc. Something definitely under $3k for sure. Considering another Warmoth build but not sure if I would rather have a Fender for the resale value, even though I generally don't sell my music stuff. And, btw, I would prefer stainless frets which I am not sure any Fenders have.Thanks!
 
Last edited:
2/3k is in the Anderson budget if you buy used but mint. Suhr is also in that range. If that is not what you’re looking for you won’t easily find anything with SS frets in this kind of specs.
I would say Suhr is your best bet.
 
Andy Eagle said:
2/3k is in the Anderson budget if you buy used but mint. Suhr is also in that range. If that is not what you’re looking for you won’t easily find anything with SS frets in this kind of specs.
I would say Suhr is your best bet.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Am I correct that none of the non custom shop Fenders wouldn't have SS frets? And on that note, what is your opinion on SS frets? All of my Warmoth builds have SS frets as I custom ordered them. Not sure if my Gibson LP 58RI has nickel or SS.
 
Vintage Tele tone means Ash maple and three saddles with no contours and a very thin finish.
Changing any of these takes you a step away.
Sounds like you need one of mine 🤣
IMG_1782.jpeg
IMG_1780.jpeg
Not in the range though.
Make another Warmoth with this kind of specs , it will be the best thing at the price.
 
Andy Eagle said:
Vintage Tele tone means Ash maple and three saddles with no contours and a very thin finish.
Changing any of these takes you a step away.
Sounds like you need one of mine 🤣
View attachment 151353
View attachment 151354
Not in the range though.
Make another Warmoth with this kind of specs , it will be the best thing at the price.
Click to expand...
Would the contours be not desireable, or just not vintage? None of my current Warmoth builds have contours but they seem like they might be nice to have.
But part of me really wants a Fender to replace the one I sold decades ago. Just like the LP I sold decades ago that I replaced last year with the 58RI LP.
Your Tele looks nice. I especially like the headstock and the worn/played fretboard.
 
SpudMan said:
Would the contours be not desireable, or just not vintage? None of my current Warmoth builds have contours but they seem like they might be nice to have.
But part of me really wants a Fender to replace the one I sold decades ago. Just like the LP I sold decades ago that I replaced last year with the 58RI LP.
Your Tele looks nice. I especially like the headstock and the worn/played fretboard.
Click to expand...
Contours believe it or not change the tone away from what a black guard sounds like.
Think of a reflection tank experiment and interfere with the walls . It makes a difference, not big but if you then start changing other things it all adds up, quickly loses classic tonal character.
 
Andy Eagle said:
Contours believe it or not change the tone away from what a black guard sounds like.
Think of a reflection tank experiment and interfere with the walls . It makes a difference, not big but if you then start changing other things it all adds up, quickly loses classic tonal character.
Click to expand...
Makes perfect sense. I was going to do a Warmoth build on a finished body they had but it has all 3 contours. I do want vintage so that is out. I either have to compromise on the SS frets, or consider a Fender Mod Shop build. Not sure of the latter though.
 
SpudMan said:
Makes perfect sense. I was going to do a Warmoth build on a finished body they had but it has all 3 contours. I do want vintage so that is out. I either have to compromise on the SS frets, or consider a Fender Mod Shop build. Not sure of the latter though.
Click to expand...
Wait until they have one in stock that you want.
 
Andy Eagle said:
Wait until they have one in stock that you want.
Click to expand...
I really do want a Fender so I am considering compromising on the frets. I do imagine that my 58RI LP has stainless. Like my wife said, if it is truly authentic vintage, it likely had nickel frets.
 
SpudMan said:
I really do want a Fender so I am considering compromising on the frets. I do imagine that my 58RI LP has stainless. Like my wife said, if it is truly authentic vintage, it likely had nickel frets.
Click to expand...
Yeah, did they even have stainless frets on anything in the 50s-60s?
 
Last edited:
nicolasrivera said:
Maybe you could find a Suhr T for 3K, they are totally worth it!
Click to expand...
Any thoughts on the Suhr Classic T Single Coil Tele pickups? Meaning how they compare to things like Bare Knuckle Flat 50 pickups, or to the pickups that were in Fender Tele's back in the 60's? Looks like even list price for a Suhr is $3.5 which is a bit higher than I wanted to spend, but not out of reach for me if it ticks off most of the boxes for a truly vintage guitar.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom