Author Topic: Tv Heaven or Tele Hell (Read 1887 times)

kevincurtis · « **on:** March 10, 2008, 02:49:46 PM »

Hi All

I am in a quandary about might Lite Ash Tele that I bought a few years back and have barely played since :(

Having lived with it for a while a couple of basic problems came to light:

I cannot get on with the neck, prolonged use actually irritates the tendons on the back of my hand, and the radius is too small for me - I prefer 12-14".

The body, being a Strat bod I would prefer to have a contoured body.

I bought the guitar because I wanted access to the 'tele sound', but clearly this isn't the Tele for me, so I have decided to try one of the following options:

1) Sell guitar and find a tele that does at the very least have a flatter profile fingerboard with medium jumbo frets and is a bit more substantial in hand (my Edwards LP has my favourite 'off the peg' neck of my guitars) - do such things exist? Pacifica, Blade...?

2) Get a replacement neck for the Lite Ash Tele as I can live with the body.

3) Get a replacement neck and body and canibalise the Tele for mechanics etc.

4) Accept the fact that teles aint for me!

I don't want to go spending a lot extra on this, maybe £150 tops. So replacement neck/body would have to be good value - Im happy to have an unfinished one if necessary, but I'm no woodworker, so has to be straightforward fit! So over to you guys - any recommendations?! :)

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2008, 02:55:44 PM »

If it's not working, chop it in for something else.

If you like bigger necks, look at the Mexican Baja Tele. They have baseball bats if mine is anything to go by......

indysmith · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2008, 03:05:06 PM »

yeah when i played a baja tele i was amazed that it felt and played almost the exact same as my Edwards LP. Try one for sure!

dave_mc · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2008, 07:13:46 PM »

from what i remember of blades, their necks were quite slim. nice guitars, though, and the radius should be good (i think it's 12"?).

tokai etc. are probably out as they have vintage radius.

haven't tried the baja, but from the sounds of it, it's bound to be worth a look.

maybe even consider an edwards? but their neck profiles on their fender copies are different from the gibbo copies. but the radius and frets should be ok (at least based on what i was told about them by ishibashi). Only thing is, with the dive-bombing pound, they aren't as good value as they were.

my guess is that if you want the tele sound, but don't like how they play, you need to find a tele which doesn't play like a tele. or something like that. :lol:

Simon D · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2008, 07:40:20 PM »

I'd try to find something with a neck that's more to your tastes. Pacifica Teles will certainly have a flatter board (13.5), but the back of neck profile may not be to your taste (if I'm reading your post correctly), because they are thinner than your current Tele.

Failing that, Warmoth do a variety of neck shapes at quite reasonable prices if you don't go for any exotic woods.

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2008, 07:54:08 PM »

Your £150 won't cover Warmoth prices unless you go second-hand, so if you can find a replacement neck and/or body you probably won't have much choice over neck shapes.

I'd say you're better off selling the guitar.

dave_mc · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2008, 10:25:59 PM »

i finally got the joke in the title. :oops: :lol:

kevincurtis · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2008, 08:08:48 AM »

Quote from: dave_mc

i finally got the joke in the title. :oops: :lol:

:) It just seemed appropriate!

Hmmm - the baja sounds interesting, radius is same, but V shape which would suit me better, I will have to see if a local shop has one to try..failing that looking like maybe selling and saving the pennies a bit more.

Cheers for all suggestion! :)