Our Telecaster Love Affairs.

Kittyfrisk

I never 'got' tele's until I picked up a beaten up random mongrel on a whim because I liked the colour & patina.
It has a one piece single bound mahogany body finished in nitro, a Maya japanese neck, brass bridge & saddles & during the resurrection, I had it fitted with Bare Knuckle 'Yardbirds'. 
In other words, this is almost everything that is NOT a classic tele.
This guitar is simultaneously both priceless & virtually worthless, depending on your viewpoint & yet I'd take it over any Fender tele I have played.
My late muso mate was more choosy. He had had several CS tele's, Baja's & others, yet put this mongrel above them all.
The phrase, more than the sum of it's parts seems to apply 

munckee

I’ve had a g&l asat tribute, a 50s roadworn, built one based on a highway one body, had an 88 US standard and now have the 76 tele in my avatar, they’ve all played great and sounded great. 

markslade07

Got this bad boy at home, though it’s currently out of action as I’m waiting for a new relic’d neck from @GoldenEraGuitars ;;

I’m currently contemplating an American Pro ii Tele Deluxe, but it’s a bit pricey so may be a while yet

CountryDave

I’ve had a number over the years. The one that has stuck around longest and is going nowhere is a 2007 52ri. I’ve had a Brad Paisley Esquire for 6 months, which is currently getting most use. So much so my previous no2, a Japanese Paisley is soon to be released.

Lestratcaster

I've fallen out of love with my Tele, haven't quite got it sounding where I want it to be. Despite 2 pickup swaps (and just undergone a third) there's just something not right about it. Everyone else's Tele always sounds like a Tele - spanky, jangly and twangy. I'm hoping this 3rd swap coupled with a few hardware/electronic modifications it'll get me to pick it up and play a bit more as I haven't played it much in the past couple of years. I love my Strat since doing it up - its my main go to and I feel the Tele needs to step up a bit to get some playing time.

Or maybe I just need to get better at playing.

rsvmark

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49683637881_3e50b02651_k.jpg

This thread inspired me to play mine for the last 90 mins!

Greatape

stonevibe said:

Most of my guitars are Telecasters or variations on the theme. I like gigging with a Tele, as they just work, and cut through a band mix nicely whilst leaving plenty of space for everyone else in the band.

Exactly this. They don't have to get stupid loud to be heard. 

I'll always love strats, but 9 times out of 10, it's the Tele I grab. Keith, Chuck Prophet, James Brown, Meters, jazz, Fela, blues...all there

Greatape

markslade07 said:

Got this bad boy at home, though it’s currently out of action as I’m waiting for a new relic’d neck from @GoldenEraGuitars ;;

I’m currently contemplating an American Pro ii Tele Deluxe, but it’s a bit pricey so may be a while yet

There is no suckage in this post. 

That colour is glorious.

MatthewShreddery

This thread is giving me major gas!
Beautiful teles everyone. 
I had a baja tele and a classic vibe. Both were excellent and I'm puzzled as to why I sold them

GavRichList

rsvmark said:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49683637881_3e50b02651_k.jpg

This thread inspired me to play mine for the last 90 mins!

Love that. Why does it still have the sticker on it though?

joetele

It may come as a huge surprise considering my username, but I fucking hate teles. 

Just kidding - I love them. To echo what others have said, they're just simple, brilliant designs. I also think they've got the best headstock. 

I've always favoured the neck pickup - with the right pickup it's a beautiful thing - either clean or with some gain - especially bluesy riffs and playing scales at the dusty end. 

A good bridge pickup is great though - especially with an ashtray bridge and brass saddles. But don't write off the middle position. I use it a lot more these days and it's great for more ambient stuff as well as raucous riffs. 

After a Squier Strat and a Fernandes Vertigo (cheap one), a MIM Tele - black with white pickguard and the best maple neck I've ever played - was my main guitar for over 15 years until I stupidly ruined it by making changes to it. I recently bought a Player Series one which is lovely, and an Affinity which has overwound Irongears in - but my current favourite is the Classic Vibe 50s Tele - utterly stunning maple neck and incredible vintage voiced pickups which are hotter than the player ones. 

I'm also getting one of the Squier Paranormal Cabronita Teles for my 40th next year. 

I've also owned a Godin Artisan TC and a Vintage V72 but my preference is the Fender / Squier stuff. 

They're just amazing guitars. While the strat is probably the most popular, versatile design, the Tele just shows how right Leo got it first time. 

TTBZ

Greatape said:

markslade07 said:

Got this bad boy at home, though it’s currently out of action as I’m waiting for a new relic’d neck from @GoldenEraGuitars ;;

I’m currently contemplating an American Pro ii Tele Deluxe, but it’s a bit pricey so may be a while yet

There is no suckage in this post. 

That colour is glorious.

+1, I don't usually like sunburst but that has just totally changed my mind, looks incredible.

markslade07

TTBZ said:

Greatape said:

markslade07 said:

Got this bad boy at home, though it’s currently out of action as I’m waiting for a new relic’d neck from @GoldenEraGuitars ;;

I’m currently contemplating an American Pro ii Tele Deluxe, but it’s a bit pricey so may be a while yet

There is no suckage in this post. 

That colour is glorious.

+1, I don't usually like sunburst but that has just totally changed my mind, looks incredible.

Scott did some incredible work on this one

JezWynd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3lxyLAPrPo

djspecialist

Here's my 50s Baja, somewhat modded:

- BKP Flat 50 (I think) in the bridge

- Mojo Gold Foil in the neck

- Poly finish stripped

- S1 switch removed, and all wiring replaced

- Control plate reversed

I just love it. So versatile, and just feels right!

rsvmark

GavRichList said:

rsvmark said:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49683637881_3e50b02651_k.jpg

This thread inspired me to play mine for the last 90 mins!

Love that. Why does it still have the sticker on it though?

Only because this was the fresh out of the box photo- since then I had added brass compensated saddles, a 4 way selector and removed the stickers! 

GavRichList

rsvmark said:

GavRichList said:

rsvmark said:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49683637881_3e50b02651_k.jpg

This thread inspired me to play mine for the last 90 mins!

Love that. Why does it still have the sticker on it though?

Only because this was the fresh out of the box photo- since then I had added brass compensated saddles, a 4 way selector and removed the stickers! 

Thank god. Even a little CE sticker left on the plate is enough to set my neuroses off! 

Andy79

djspecialist said:

Here's my 50s Baja, somewhat modded:

- BKP Flat 50 (I think) in the bridge

- Mojo Gold Foil in the neck

- Poly finish stripped

- S1 switch removed, and all wiring replaced

- Control plate reversed

I just love it. So versatile, and just feels right!

I’d be interested to hear that gold foil. Have you got any audio?

Greatape

djspecialist said:

Here's my 50s Baja, somewhat modded:

- BKP Flat 50 (I think) in the bridge

- Mojo Gold Foil in the neck

- Poly finish stripped

- S1 switch removed, and all wiring replaced

- Control plate reversed

I just love it. So versatile, and just feels right!

Nice. How does the neck pickup sound? And did stripping the finish improve the sound?

axisus

I love Tele guitars, particularly the shape and the headstock. I prefer the sounds I get out of a strat. They are my two fave guitars.