Need Some Help Choosing a Telecaster

delorean

So recently I’ve been hankering after a telecaster.  But I’m quite specific with my requirements, and as a result I’m struggling to figure out which model would be best.

 

A genuine Fender is my first choice.  I’ll consider others, but only in the face of defeat if it turns out that Fender don’t have a model that meets these criteria.

 

• Butterscotch blonde, black scratchplate – think Springsteen
• Maple board
• Nitro finish
• Jumbo or Medium frets
• 9.25 radius, modern C preferred

I was looking at the Roadworn’s, the Highway One’s, the 50’s Originals and the AVRI’s but there’s an element of compromise with each of these.

Absolute top end of my budget is £1100 (dependant on the guitar)

I’m not overly keen on going down the partscaster route since I’m quite fickle and in 6 months I may well decide to move this on for something else.  I’d therefore like it to have some residual resale/trade value.  But I’ll keep an open-ish mind

What would you suggest based on the above?

JAYJO

I got the above but with the 7.25 neck. Vintage 52 reissue lefty £1030 was the cheapest GAK. £1300 in Dawsons in (2006) Right handed should be a bit less. Not sure if you can get the neck your after.

jeztone2

Buy a used 52 Hot Rod, that will give you the modern radius & Frets. 

crunchman

This seems to tick the boxes.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitars/fender-ltd-edition-player-series-telecaster-w-maple-neck-nocaster-pickups-in-butterscotch-blonde

The right colour, 9.5" radius, modern C neck and medium jumbo frets.

Personally I'd go for a different colour.  Butterscotch/blackguard Teles are everywhere, and I've got bored of them.  If you are willing to go for a more interesting colour, you would have a lot more options.

rlw

crunchman said:

This seems to tick the boxes.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitars/fender-ltd-edition-player-series-telecaster-w-maple-neck-nocaster-pickups-in-butterscotch-blonde

The right colour, 9.5" radius, modern C neck and medium jumbo frets.

Personally I'd go for a different colour.  Butterscotch/blackguard Teles are everywhere, and I've got bored of them.  If you are willing to go for a more interesting colour, you would have a lot more options.

It's a poly finish.................

crunchman

rlw said:

crunchman said:

This seems to tick the boxes.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitars/fender-ltd-edition-player-series-telecaster-w-maple-neck-nocaster-pickups-in-butterscotch-blonde

The right colour, 9.5" radius, modern C neck and medium jumbo frets.

Personally I'd go for a different colour.  Butterscotch/blackguard Teles are everywhere, and I've got bored of them.  If you are willing to go for a more interesting colour, you would have a lot more options.

It's a poly finish.................

Sorry, missed that.

It's hard to think of anything that is a complete match for all the criteria.

You might be able to find a second hand American Original for the top end of the budget.  That has 9.5" radius and nitro finish.  It has tall skinny frets though, and a U shaped neck.  It might be worth the OP trying one in the flesh to see if he likes it.

5redlights

The nitro finish is going to be the problematic option in that list. With that budget, you'd be able to get pretty much any tele matching your other specs, and then send it to someone for a nitro re-fin. There are some really good people on here who do it - can't remember their usernames at the moment. Anyone? Ian68 or something was one? 

delorean

Thanks guys, yeah this is pretty much the problem I found - there are models that almost tick every box but not quite!

I know I'd have so many more options open to me if if go for a different finish, but for me the butterscotch is just 'the one'

The American Original is nice, but it's the neck profile and frets that I just can't get along with sadly.

I had thought of grabbing one of these and getting it refinished - 
https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/fender/player-series-telecaster-guitars/fender-ltd-edition-player-series-telecaster-w-maple-neck-nocaster-pickups-in-butterscotch-blonde but that'll mean I'm truly invested in it then as I'd essentially be laying out the best part of a grand on a £600 guitar

First world problems eh?

BeardyAndy

For £1000 you could buy a used US Tele and send it off for a re finish.

delorean

jeztone2 said:

Buy a used 52 Hot Rod, that will give you the modern radius & Frets. 

I must have missed this post when I was reading through the first time - This seems to tick ALL the boxes! 

Thank you - Time to hit eBay I think!

Fishboy7

I used to have a 52 vintage RI and it was lovely The neck size and radius weren't a problem really, and that's arguably part of the experience. 

What about the vintage hotrod model with the mini hb in the neck?



Mint re-issue 1952 Fender Telecaster hotrod, Seymour Duncan mini HB, tweed case, all case candy https://reverb.com/item/31050756-mint-re-issue-1952-fender-telecaster-hotrod-seymour-duncan-mini-hb-tweed-case-all-case-candy?utm_source=android-app&utm_medium=android-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=31050756

rlw

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/174296/fs-fender-classic-player-50s-baja-telecaster-butterscotch-blonde-529#latest

Save your money.  This looks great.

crunchman

rlw said:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/174296/fs-fender-classic-player-50s-baja-telecaster-butterscotch-blonde-529#latest

Save your money.  This looks great.

That has the big neck, and isn't a nitro finish.

Moltisanti

i've been down this road before wanting very specific necks, radius, pickups, finishes etc and the two guitars that i've bonded with the most in 30 years are nothing like i would have imagined.

My advice would be don't dismiss a guitar because the specs aren't perfect - try anything, you might be surprised.

I bought a Baja Tele as my first one and i loved it, so I bought a Custom Shop thinking it had to be better. Nope, it cost 4 times the price but didn't have the mojo. I sold the CS and kept the Baja.

munckee

The roadworn has high frets and a chunky neck, I don't think you'd find the 7.25 an issue.  I really liked mine, I didn't love the tex mex pickups but the guitar was lovely,  You could get a used for £650ish

rlw

crunchman said:

rlw said:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/174296/fs-fender-classic-player-50s-baja-telecaster-butterscotch-blonde-529#latest

Save your money.  This looks great.

That has the big neck, and isn't a nitro finish.

The neck isn't that big and the finish is soooo thin.....and it's cheap. 

rlw

Moltisanti said:

i've been down this road before wanting very specific necks, radius, pickups, finishes etc and the two guitars that i've bonded with the most in 30 years are nothing like i would have imagined.

My advice would be don't dismiss a guitar because the specs aren't perfect - try anything, you might be surprised.

I bought a Baja Tele as my first one and i loved it, so I bought a Custom Shop thinking it had to be better. Nope, it cost 4 times the price but didn't have the mojo. I sold the CS and kept the Baja.

Quite.  My point exactly.

TeleMaster

delorean said:

Thanks guys, yeah this is pretty much the problem I found - there are models that almost tick every box but not quite!

I know I'd have so many more options open to me if if go for a different finish, but for me the butterscotch is just 'the one'

The American Original is nice, but it's the neck profile and frets that I just can't get along with sadly.

I had thought of grabbing one of these and getting it refinished - 
https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/fender/player-series-telecaster-guitars/fender-ltd-edition-player-series-telecaster-w-maple-neck-nocaster-pickups-in-butterscotch-blonde but that'll mean I'm truly invested in it then as I'd essentially be laying out the next part of a grand on a £600 guitar

First world problems eh?

A grand for a refin? Who's doing it, Andy Warhol? 

Grangousier

How much would it cost to refinish a Baja?

(Wondering as I have one just like the one for sale, and I've often idly wondered whether I could nitrofy it.)

delorean

TeleMaster said:

delorean said:

Thanks guys, yeah this is pretty much the problem I found - there are models that almost tick every box but not quite!

I know I'd have so many more options open to me if if go for a different finish, but for me the butterscotch is just 'the one'

The American Original is nice, but it's the neck profile and frets that I just can't get along with sadly.

I had thought of grabbing one of these and getting it refinished - 
https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/fender/player-series-telecaster-guitars/fender-ltd-edition-player-series-telecaster-w-maple-neck-nocaster-pickups-in-butterscotch-blonde but that'll mean I'm truly invested in it then as I'd essentially be laying out the next part of a grand on a £600 guitar

First world problems eh?

A grand for a refin? Who's doing it, Andy Warhol? 

That would be £600 for a guitar and £300ish for a refin...

delorean

Grangousier said:

How much would it cost to refinish a Baja?

(Wondering as I have one just like the one for sale, and I've often idly wondered whether I could nitrofy it.)

From what I've seen it seems to run somewhere in the £300-350 region depending on who you go to.