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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Thinking About Buying A Telecaster
Posted by: Ryan AW Dec 14 2008, 09:55 PM
I have been looking to buy a new guitar for a very long time. I have yet to save up enough money but once I do I want to know which electric guitar I want. I have looked at the les paul, the Paul Reed Smith SE, and now im thinking about getting a telecaster. I played one at Guitar Center and really liked it. Then, I started to look at the guitars used by the bands I listen to and several of them use telecasters.
I'm just looking for different opinions on the telecaster. What are its advantages and disadvatages.
Thanks for the help.
-Ryan
Posted by: Fran Dec 14 2008, 10:06 PM
A fast and probably innacurate definition of Telecasters would be that they are good for country and soft rock/pop.
For a longer description, see this wiki I wrote:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Telecaster
Having said that I guess you need to try all guitars you can before making the decision. My first guitar ever was a Telecaster... and it's up for sale now 
Turned out that its sound was too thin for my like, not the most versatile guitar out there, though they are great guitars. Try a strat before making a decision. And be sure to try Les Pauls and even SGs too. And even Jackson and Ibanez, even though they have nothing to do with teles.
Posted by: Ryan AW Dec 14 2008, 10:48 PM
For a longer description, see this wiki I wrote:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Telecaster
Having said that I guess you need to try all guitars you can before making the decision. My first guitar ever was a Telecaster... and it's up for sale now
Turned out that its sound was too thin for my like, not the most versatile guitar out there, though they are great guitars. Try a strat before making a decision. And be sure to try Les Pauls and even SGs too. And even Jackson and Ibanez, even though they have nothing to do with teles.
I really have no interest in playing country. I mostly want to play rock and punk. What stood out to me most when I played it was how easy it they are to play. I think it was mostly due to the low action. The electric guitar I play now has a very high action and it was a nice change of pace.
I guess I'm wondering will it sound good when I play something like Dashboard Confessional, and sound good when I play rock, like the instructor Gabriel Leopardi might play.
That wiki was really helpful. Thanks again.
-Ryan
Posted by: Fran Dec 14 2008, 10:55 PM
Gabriel plays a LP, and it's sound is quite the opposite of a Telecaster, much more meaty and thick due to the humbuckers and mahogany.
If what you liked about the Tele is the low action any good quality guitar will allow low action. Best advice is that you go to the store and try again teles, strats, Lps, Sgs, Ibanez, Jacksons... whatever you see that you may like 
Posted by: Marshmall0wz Dec 14 2008, 11:36 PM
Telecasters are an essential part of the indie/alt rock sound. It would be great for Dashboard. If you fiddle with the tone and the pickup height, you can take some of the twanginess away but still have great definition. If I was to buy another guitar I'd buy a tele.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 15 2008, 12:15 AM
Telecaster guitars are great, nice spanky tone, bright and they have character. Indeed they are best for country and soft rock but they can be used for jazz metal as well with different pickup configuration then SS. Tele with 2 humbuckers or one humbucker in the bridge can be a great guitar for rock as well. Again, the choice is yours mate, if you liked only the playability of the Tele, it may be wise to check out other brands as well, since they all have some models that offer good feel and low action. When you check them all out see what fits you the best.
Posted by: Ryan AW Dec 15 2008, 10:51 PM
Thanks for the help everyone. I'm going to make another trip to guitar center sometime soon and play all the guitars again and focus on the sound. Any recomendations on any guitars under $500?
Posted by: Marshmall0wz Dec 15 2008, 11:04 PM
Fender Standard Tele
Fender Koa Tele (A great guitar)
Posted by: Fran Dec 16 2008, 02:51 PM
Epiphone LP Custom (if you like LPs)
Around that price or a bit more expensive there are also:
Mexican Strat
Mexican Tele
Posted by: unmarshal' Dec 19 2008, 12:11 AM
I have a American 52 Reissue Telecaster and I really like it. I like having multiple guitars that are all different depending on my mood and what type of music I'm playing. When I need to play something shimmering and bright, I plug my telecaster into a Fender Deluxe Reverb and it sings like church bells. I don't know what your style is, but I really love this guitar. I will be keeping it for the remainder of my life.
Here is a picture if you are interested:
Posted by: Fran Dec 19 2008, 01:43 PM
That's The Telecaster, if I ever decide to get a Tele again that would be it, no doubt.
Posted by: JVM Dec 22 2008, 09:05 PM
Teles are great. Listen to early Led Zeppelin, or the solo on Stairway for example. Thats a telecaster. Don't let anyone tell ya a tele can't scream like a les paul, because it can. It's more of a 'screamer' than the strat I think, though the strat overall is more versatile.
Also, it depends a lot on what kind of amp you have. If the guitar and the amp are both great but don't match very well, it won't be good either way.
Posted by: RyanAW May 17 2009, 06:25 AM
Hey GMCers,
Its been a while since I posted on this topic. I finally got a job, my first, and have decided to buy a new electric, and I am almost certain I am getting a tele. My sister's boyfriend (he plays in a band called party foul, http://www.myspace.com/partyfoul260 , theres the myspace web address if you want to check them out. The sound similar to Blink 182 .... that was kind of off topic but anyway...) brought over his Tele so I could give it a whirl and I loved it.
I'm not sure which one to get. I'm looking at the Mexican Standard, the Telecaster Ash, or the Highway 1. The American standard seems a bit out of my price range 
. I thought about getting a Mexican Standard and switching out the pick ups.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks for the help in advance. 
Posted by: sted May 17 2009, 11:25 AM
Its been a while since I posted on this topic. I finally got a job, my first, and have decided to buy a new electric, and I am almost certain I am getting a tele. My sister's boyfriend (he plays in a band called party foul, http://www.myspace.com/partyfoul260 , theres the myspace web address if you want to check them out. The sound similar to Blink 182 .... that was kind of off topic but anyway...) brought over his Tele so I could give it a whirl and I loved it.
I'm not sure which one to get. I'm looking at the Mexican Standard, the Telecaster Ash, or the Highway 1. The American standard seems a bit out of my price range
. I thought about getting a Mexican Standard and switching out the pick ups.What are your thoughts?
Thanks for the help in advance.
Hey pal,
I have just bought a USA telecaster and can highly recommend it, i tried a few mexicans which were quite good but not in the same league for tone and feel as the USA. In terms of cost there are some bargains on Ebay (I saw a brand new 2008 model go for around 560 pounds) and as long as you are prepared to be vigilant then you will find the guitar you crave for the right money.
If you absolutely have to have a new axe then check out the Baja players tele, it has a unique switching system and comes in classic tele colours, I would avoid the highway 1 teles, they are only assembled in the USA from other parts, you are basically paying for that privilege!
Heres a photo of mine anyway to whet your appetite!
Posted by: audiopaal May 17 2009, 11:28 AM
I love Teles, great sound
Perfect for pop/rock/country/alternative etc.
Posted by: RyanAW May 21 2009, 02:43 AM
Hey, thanks guys!
Its been and extremely long time since I decided to by an electric. Its taken to long mostly due to me not having enough money, but I think the time has come!
A few days ago I went to guitar center to check out the teles there, and then the day after that I went to Sweetwater to check more of them out. I think I'm just going to go with the standard Mexican Telecaster. It seems like a great guitar for the price. Plus I don't have much to spend 
. I also don't feel to safe buying a guitar from ebay.
Any last advice before I buy. I really don't know much about guitars, I just play them , so anything is helpful.
Thanks again.
-Ryan
Posted by: Jesse May 21 2009, 11:34 AM
Wrong, its the reissue of The Telecaster
Posted by: Fran May 21 2009, 02:27 PM
of couse 
, I mean, it's my favourite affordable tele, I can't imagine what an original 52' tele would cost these days 
Posted by: Jesse May 21 2009, 02:35 PM
I saw one yesterday at local guitar store. 3400 I believe it was. Euros! So thats like. 4650 Dollars.
Posted by: Fran May 21 2009, 02:39 PM
Really? Was it in good condition?
I guess there are not many around, that's a lot of cash but I'd have thought they would be even more expensive, they are e-guitar antiques. Cool!
Posted by: Sensible Jones May 21 2009, 04:39 PM
That'll be one of the Vintage Series or a Reissue of some kind!!! An all original 52 will cost upwards of £15,000!!!!
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