What the hell is it about vintage style Teles

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Yeah sooner or later that ole coil will fuse itself to the pole....
Bye bye speaker

[JeffB]

Phil X rocks. Love that guy. Hes a nutcase, but in a good way. At least until he goes postal.

Him and Ollie from Session Musik/Musikschmidt do the best gear demos on the toob for my tastes.

[BEACHBUM]

Cork sniffery. Do you guys really believe that vintage tuners, bridge, and truss rod location make "vintage style Teles" any more loveable than any other Teles. I'm 64 and played the vintage stuff when it wasn't vintage. Loved em all. But, when the improvements came along I loved that to. All this stuff about vintage this and vintage that is bunk. For me all a Tele needs to be loveable is that it is well made, well set up, and has great pups.

[That90'sGuy]

What a bunch of cork sniffers. Do you guys really believe that vintage tuners, bridge, and truss rod location make "vintage style Teles" any more loveable than any other Teles. I'm 64 and played the vintage stuff when it wasn't vintage. Loved em all. But, when the improvements came along I loved that to. All this stuff about vintage this and vintage that is bunk. For me all a Tele needs to be loveable is that it is well made, well set up, and has great pups.

This is true. If anyone thinks modern day Fenders aren't great, they clearly haven't tried any of the new American Deluxe versions. Great playing, great sounding and incredibly crafted instruments brand spanking new. That being said, I do like some of the features of my relic tele (namely the finish work, the custom shop pickups and the neck which is pretty unique).

[ErikH]

I have tried and tried and tried to get along with Tele's. Owned 3 of them, sold all 3. I loved the American Standard I had but the neck profile was a little off and messed with my wrist. I think the only way I would be able make one a keeper is if I assembled it myself with specs I want, that means a humbucker in there and 6-saddle bridge with a boatneck contour.

[the guy who invented fire]

Cork sniffery. Do you guys really believe that vintage tuners, bridge, and truss rod location make "vintage style Teles" any more loveable than any other Teles. I'm 64 and played the vintage stuff when it wasn't vintage. Loved em all. But, when the improvements came along I loved that to. All this stuff about vintage this and vintage that is bunk. For me all a Tele needs to be loveable is that it is well made, well set up, and has great pups.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion but so are others and I MUCH prefer a vintage style bridge on my Tele...I prefer Kluson tuners on almost all my guitars and as many "issues" as they have I think vintage or old style pickups still sound better, at least for what I want from a Tele.

I always use Keef as an example...Keef uses modern tuners (Schaller), a modern bridge (American Standard Fender) and has replacement (neck PAF's/T-Tops) neck pickups as well as rewound (to about 10k) bridge pickups...not a vintage Telecaster spec wise at all really and he still sounds like he's playing a Tele but his Tele(s) sounds very different from the way it (they) would if they were stock...

[JeffB]

Luvs me some corks. Bring em on.

[the guy who invented fire]

Luvs me some corks. Bring em on.

I wouldn't call it cork sniffing...it's just the differences in various ways to get results...

Look at just the bridge designs for a Tele...there are well over a dozen and they all have their advantages.

[JeffB]

I wouldn't call it cork sniffing...it's just the differences in various ways to get results...

Look at just the bridge designs for a Tele...there are well over a dozen and they all have their advantages.

C'mon Christian, we all kmow its Cork Sniffery if its not New,Cheap, and made outside the USA.

[Bludave]

That makes me love them.

They are primitive, and a ***** to play. Intonation can be wonky. String to string volume balance also wonky. Stock jack is a PITA. Strings move on the saddles if you are the least bit agressive.

Its a frigging lap steel you dont have to play in your lap. Its like you are stuck in a time warp in 1950.

I was happy with my new strat. Its a great playing, good sounding strat. Really. Then I pulled the old tele out of its bag its been sitting in for 6-7 months and now I dont even wanna touch the strat. Its like a pussy guitar now

I HATE Teles.

Play a real 50's Tele. you'll never give up until you own one!

[the guy who invented fire]

Play a real 50's Tele. you'll never give up until you own one!

Do you own one Dave??

[JeffB]

Play a real 50's Tele. you'll never give up until you own one!

BEGONE WITH YOUR CORK SNIFFERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Powdered Toast Man]

I always use Keef as an example...Keef uses modern tuners (Schaller), a modern bridge (American Standard Fender) and has replacement (neck PAF's/T-Tops) neck pickups as well as rewound (to about 10k) bridge pickups...not a vintage Telecaster spec wise at all really and he still sounds like he's playing a Tele but his Tele(s) sounds very different from the way it (they) would if they were stock...

Are you talking about Micawber? That's his #1, but he has many vintage guitars that are unmodded.

Yes, locking tuners.
Wrong, not an AS bridge - it is an aftermarket all brass bridge.
The neck humbucker is thought to be a vintage Gibson PAF
What's your source on the bridge pickup rewind? Most think it's actually a vintage Fender lap steel pickup (based on the missing 3rd screw). I've never read anywhere from a reputable source that his bridge pickups are rewound.

This is the best reputable info I've come across in regard to Keith's guitars. Everything else is just speculation or "I heard from a guy who's brother is a guitar tech who works with a guy who once worked on Keith's guitar..."

http://members.tripod.com/blue_lena/guitar2.html

[JeffB]

Do you own one Dave??

On a serious note, I would like to know as well. Ive been lucky enough to handle some prime 50s and early 60s Gibsons and a couple 60s strats. But no Teles.

It doesnt help that Tom Keifers 53 esquire and one of Gattons 52s is currently on ebay. Anyone got 40 large so I can grab the 53??

[Goonerplexilespaul]

Tele's can just be a dream to play! always seem to have a unique character and are so versatile! but sounds like you have vintage fever!