Question for Tele/Strat players

[benoit]

Hey all, I'm in the market for a new guitar as soon as I sell my Les Paul Deluxe (too heavy and too dark, regardless of pickups).

I'm really down to either a tele or a strat style guitar. I definitely prefer a natural maple neck, though purely for aesthetics. I want a fairly traditional look but am not opposed to small variations ala Tom Anderson or Suhr. In the real Fender camp I really dig the '57 Strat I played the other day and also the '62 telecaster (both RI of course). I am also interested in something semi hollow as another possibility. As far as pickups I really like the vintage single coils in the '57 Strat RI and strongly dislike the stock pickups in the American standards. My price range is $1000-1600, and I'd like to find an instrument I'll not be likely to want to replace. I realize this all sort of rambles a lot but I say all that to lead up to this: What do you folks play?

[dave g]

I currently play a partscaster that pretty much matches exactly what you're looking for. I built it from a USA Custom Guitars body and neck with Callaham hardware and Fralin pickups. If you're not afraid to do the finishing/assembly yourself, you can get a really incredible axe for a decent price (about a grand).

[Noel Grassy]

Go with a semi-hollow Tele style made by Trussart. I have a Koa neck on mine and it's the sweetest playing instrument to come down the pike in a while.

From the looks of the instruments, the builder at Revelator Guitars has got the right touch to make convincing old school Fender copies. I have no idea what he gets for these.

There's a review of the DeTemple Strat in the current Premier Guitar issue
that details alot of this maker's process. Nice attention to details and then some. You may not be willing to part with $8K at this time, I know I'm not.

Here's a couple from Revelator Guitars that had me squirming to get out my wallet.

[moj067]

The Revelator Blue-turned to seafoam green on his website sold for 3K.
I wanted that strat in the worst way,he does great work, but sounds like out of your price range.
I hate to say it but the TGP has alot of nice guitars in the emporium going for great prices lately. I got a Mcinturff there and I got such a great deal that I didn't mind not playing it first.

[stelligan]

FWIW I've always preferred rosewood board Strats and maple board Teles. I have 4 Strats and the rosewood ones always get more of a workout. I also prefer the smaller radius "vintage" boards. 7.25" Just what I grew up on I guess...... Happy hunting!!

P.S. Best bang for the buck Strat I've played lately is the MIM hardtail Robert Cray. $699!! I've played 4 different ones - were all solidly put together and played and sounded great. Leaves room in the budget for booteek pickups and then some......

[benoit]

P.S. Best bang for the buck Strat I've played lately is the MIM hardtail Robert Cray. $699!! I've played 4 different ones - were all solidly put together and played and sounded great. Leaves room in the budget for booteek pickups and then some......

I hear what you're saying there. There's a MIM FMT showman with a full set of Joe Barden pickups in it thats pretty smokin and comes in right at a grand. I just don't know if it's quite what I want.

[Mars Hall]

My best advice is play as many guitars as possible. Of those, there will be a few that really inspire you. Buy one of those.

Also play the guitars unamplified first. What comes out will translate to the amp when plugged in.

[Zippy]

My "Strat" is a mid-80's Tokai "Custom". My "Tele's" are a G&L Bluesboy semi-hollow and a G&L Tele Jr (with P-90s, mahogany neck and body and very light. I think G&Ls are an outstanding value for their sound and build quality.

[sliberty]

I have a MIM Fender Classic 60's Strat and a MIM Fender Classic 50's Tele. I love my Tele, and this Strat is the only one for less than $1000 that I have ever liked. My favorite Strat though is the American Vinage 62 Reissue - but it was too pricey for me.

When buying a Fender style guitar, be very aware of fretboard radius. The models you mentioned (and the ones I mentioned) all have a vintage style 7 1/4" fretboard radius. While this is a fun radius to play, it does have it's problems. Bending strings can cause them to fret out due to the severe curve of the frets and fretboard. Modern Fenders have either a 9 1/2" radius or a 12" radius. I recommend that you try several models that have different fretboard radii and determine which you prefer before going any further in your hunt.

Regarding pickups, don't give it too much thought. You can always change them, and many people do. That's not to say it doesn't matter, but the odds are you will decide later that the pickups that you get on the guitar are a compromise (they generally are), and you'll decide to upgrade.

I am a Gibson guy mostly, but dipping your foot into the Fender pool can be fun.

[Structo]

+1 for building it yourself.
I'm a member over at the Guitar ReRanch forum.
It's a forum for guitar building and finishing.

Bill the owner of ReRanch sells almost all the Fender colors in nitrocellulose lacquer spray cans.
http://www.reranch.com/


Yes, you can get a proffesional looking showroom finish from a spray bomb.

This was my latest one.

It is my first forray into the relic zone.

It is a loose replica of a '61 Strat.

This one cost me about 5 bills to make.

[IMG:800:640]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... loseup.jpg[/img]
[IMG:800:640]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... loseup.jpg[/img]
[IMG:800:640]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... loseup.jpg[/img]
[IMG:600:480]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... relic7.jpg[/img]

[Structo]

Here is the Tele I built before the Strat.

The body is from A & D guitar company on Ebay.

Flamed maple top with a one piece alder back.

I did a kind of tiger eye burst on it with stains from Stew Mac.

Here is what the body looked like when I got it.

[IMG:314:400]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... hoto-1.jpg[/img]

Then after stain and clear coats.

[IMG:640:480]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... G_0033.jpg[/img]
[IMG:640:480]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... G_0031.jpg[/img]
[IMG:640:480]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... G_0038.jpg[/img]

[stelligan]

My best advice is play as many guitars as possible. Of those, there will be a few that really inspire you. Buy one of those.

Also play the guitars unamplified first. What comes out will translate to the amp when plugged in.

+1 No Stairway........

[LeeMo]

Please correct me , if I'm wrong.
Doesn't the Deluxe have Mini-HB pick-ups? And aren't they the same body route as the P-90? Why not make yourself a '56 relic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnfGIZYJHk

His is the real deal ,tho.

LeeMo

[Buschman]

I have built a Nashville Tele from parts. G&L body routed for # pickups, Mui Grande in the neck & bridge, generic strat pickup in the middle, Allparts fat Tele neck and bridge. Wonderful guitar and extremely versatile.

[Ron Worley]

Hey Tom , nice work on the the relic strat..... where did you get the neck, it looks like it must be a dream to play....

I'd like to do a relic myself, any input in where you sourced your parts???

Thanks!

Ron