... the other day for the first time in over 3 years. The last time was in Dublin for about 10 minuted and prior to that it would have been over 10 years believe it or not. For some reason, they never registered with me to buy one in all those years of buying and selling (blind, I might add). The guitar in question was one of mine I had built for my brother n law. The overall experience wasn’t too shabby at all.... as I was playing it into this Rift PR18
https://i.imgur.com/R2gfWkk.jpgI spent a lot of time on the neck to get it just right. The fretboard has damn near no finish on it at all and the back is nicely broken in.
https://i.imgur.com/PjI6tmN.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/WVmPl4Z.jpgIt weighed in at a nice 7 1/2lb which seems to be a good weight for me. It certainly had some twangy low end thump going on. Over the years I’ve owned many a Strat and superstrat so to compare the tele to the Strat, in person for the first time ever was interesting.
Feel wise, it was all there for definite. But given how much time I’d spent on this build I’d like to have thought that I hadn’t missed anything. One thing that caught me out was the position of the pickup selector... I’d need time to get used to that tbh. And a more interesting find was the neck pickup. At full whack I didn’t get on with it too well. I had to roll the volume back considerably to find my happy place. Maybe the bridge twang is where the action is on a tele? I had about 2 hours with the guitar through the Rift and tbh I’m In love with the amp. So much so that the Lonestar is going up for sale soon.
When we were testing the tele it didn’t become apparent how much of a tele it was until we compared it to the Strat. The difference was incredible and at that point I knew it was a job well done. The tele sounded twangy, rocky as hell while the Strat sound much more “quacky” and defined. Interestingly there was only 1/2lb between the two guitars so I believe the mass of wood and the Pickups have played the main roles here. What I found cool was the tele offered my left hand some new inspiration. I was playing differently and I was finding new riffs and shapes.
Its a shocking thing to say, considering I’m surround by teles daily but I can’t believe it’s been so long since playing one properly. I’m definitely feeling more committed to building my own one now. I’ll probably have to spend more time figuring out a neck pickup to suit my style but that’s something that can be tweaked over time.
Comments
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I bought my Tele on an opportunistic whim, best guitar I've ever owned. Love 'em.
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Yep, IMO the control sequence is something Leo got wrong. Volume, Tone, Switch is much more usable.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I used to find them basic and lumpy to hold, but the sound is the thing, too many great recordings feature that sound to ignor it.
* Rocker last seen heading for the hills, carrying a dustbin lid to ward off attacks by the FX police
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