The ShadowMusic Web Community

Just ordered a Tele off t'internet & it should arrive today . I spotted something I always fancied. It is a Fiesta Red Telecaster called the '64 Vintage series in our favourite finish. It has all the particular features copied from genuine 1964 model Teles inc. a 7.25" fingerboard radius & Rosewood board. I'm happy with that because it feels familiar from the way guitars were back in the day. It sounds like a proper Fender Tele should on the Youtube demos, so fingers crossed it will suit me perfectly, playing Rhythm guitar, mainly. I'll report back after it arrives.

Tony.

Well the new guitar arrived eventually after the courier said he couldn't find my house, even with a Satnav ???
It's a very lightweight instrument with Fender '64 vintage pickups, which are quite powerful. It is a very twangy guitar, maybe due to the new strings, so I hope it may calm down a bit after a couple of weeks play. It came with a nice two=tone brown vintage Tolex hardcase, bridge ashtray cover, lead, cloth, tools, brochures & paperwork etc. It also had a spare capacitor which will, if fitted, give it the tonal charactistics of a '52 Tele. OK ...... ??
There was no 'set-up' done on it, so I had to adjust the bridge saddles & seriously tune it up. OK, no probs.
I don't like the steel bridge saddles with the height screws having tiny slots, for which you need a tiny, tiny screwdriver. I shall shortly replace them with some compensating Brass saddles.

Tony.

Good luck to you Tony with your new Tele. as they say

tony what make and model is it. peter

RUSSET wrote:It also had a spare capacitor which will, if fitted, give it the tonal characteristics of a '52 Tele. OK ...... ??

The earliest Telecasters were wired up to give different pickup selections. The 3-way switch did not give the classic neck / both / bridge combinations, but was more like (left to right looking down at the switch of a right-handed guitar):

L - neck pickup with a preset bassy response (very bassy!) [ you'd need the extra capacitor to achieve this setting ]

M - neck pickup via the rotary tone control, giving the full range of tone sweep

R - bridge pickup (no tone control available, like on a Strat).

The Esquire switching was similar-1. bassy tone, 2. full tone control 3. full treble...

The modern standard setup works best- neck, both, bridge.

The original Tele setup was Leo's idea- bassy tone to use if the band didn't have a bass (or hadn't yet got a Precision!) plus neck pickup (as used by Jimmy Bryant) and treble pickup (giving a steel guitar sharp tone)

Leo liked western swing/honky tonk music and knew the contemporary LA players well- he listened to their suggestions- there was no rock'nroll at that time

Apparently, Leo had some odd opinions (by current standards!!)about the sound of his guitars:

He didn't like the sound of two pickups combined- he preferred that they were used individually- although the Strat had a three position lever switch which gave only each pickup on its own, Leo has said that there weren't any 5 position switches to suit back then- but the way he wanted things, he wouldn't have wanted to bother anyway

The Strat pickups were voiced for heavy flatwound strings, to take the edge off the treble response and give a more mellow tone, in view of the fact that a Strat is a very trebly sounding guitar- compared to a Gibson say..Leo also didn't like light gauge strings and refused Ernie Ball's request to supply them as OE..

To; Kipper, It is the Fender '64 Vintage series USA Telecaster, which comes in F.Red, Sunburst & Vintage Blonde.

To Jim & Cockroach : Yes, I know about the switching options on those early '52 Teles/Broadcasters, which is why I won't be fitting the spare capacitor. If I need a bassy/Jazz type tone, I will use the tone pot to reduce the Treble.

I will be trying it out with the band tonight. Hope it passes inspection.

Tony.

Well, I tried the new Tele out at band rehearsal last night. I put it through my Zoom G2 pedal & direct into the PA. It certainly has a sweet tone, with a smidgin' of added Reverb. With the really light weight & the 7.25" board radius, it is a pleasure to play. And it's FIESTA RED ! I guess you do get a little more when you pay more. Brass compensated bridge saddles ordered. Twangtastic !

With the Tele design, you avoid the problem that can afflict players of 3-pickup guitars like the Strat. The problem is touching, or hitting, the middle pickup with the tip of the plectrum when playing single notes. It depends on the size of the hand, and where you place the heel of the hand, and how far you 'dig in' with the tip of the plectrum, but it can be an important factor when avoiding that 'clunk'.

Although I wouldn't part with my Burns Artist (my avatar on the right) for sentimental reasons, I wouldn't use it now - I prefer my Tele-style Alden for day to day use.

Hi Ray,
As I play mainly Rhythm guitar in my band, I am strumming most of the time through my acoustic simulation patch on the Zoom G2. So not to many chances of hitting a pickup; anyway I tend to use the rounded side of the pick. There is also the metal bridge cover provided, if I want to use it, which is good for a palm rest. You're right about the Tele being a great overall simple workhorse guitar for general '60s style pop music. I have three other Teles, which supports my confidence in it. Never had an F.Red one before though.

Tony.