Tele love

[Ian Price]

Just paid a visit to guitarvillage to help my nephew buy his first amp (a Laney solid state affair). I got there a little while before he was due to arrive so I could have a look around. I came across a tele that I must admit I think I am now in love with but can't afford!!!

Here it is:

http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/product-detail_huge.asp?id=7589&catid=71&quantity=1&manid=125&product=Fender+Telecaster+%28USA%29+Custom+Shop+%2750s+Top+Bound+Esquire+Relic%2C+Lake+Placid+Blue%2C+New%2C+Inc%2E+Tweed+Case

I think it's a bit of an unusual colour for a tele - it's also pretty light and acoustically sounds sooo good. Didn't get the time to plug it in but may take another look in a few days!

[FernandoDuarte]

Awesome!! :D

[Twinfan]

I absolutely LOVE those top bound Esquires.  They were a limited run for last year.  Sounds Great had a black one in stock for a while which I drooled over.  Awesome thing.

Here's a great vid about it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJEt-KO4ShQ

Plus the specs:  http://www.fender.com/customshop/instruments/search.php?partno=9233000023

[Philly Q]

Ooh, that's nice!  It's even a 9.5" radius!  :D

(And having looked at the specs, a nice choice of colours!  I wish they gave more colour choice for cheaper models.)

[tomjackson]

Ian, get it, you deserve it.

That is what credit cards are for...

go on, you will, you will, you will.....

[Fourth Feline]

That is indeed one lovely guitar - and as you said, with a 9.5" radius ; as playable and comfy as it looks.

It's the sort of guitar, that if I was starting over completely again  ( but not pursuing Jazz ) - I would buy that as my 'signature' guitar for life.

The added minimalism of it being an Esquire,

Tarnished brass 50s saddles / bridge ( sustain city ! )

String through Body ( nice )

Tastefully 'reliced'

Nice colour scheme.

It would sway me into debt if needed.

So don't ask me to persuade you not to buy it ... 

[CaptainDesslock]

Ooh, that's nice!  It's even a 9.5" radius!  :D

(And having looked at the specs, a nice choice of colours!  I wish they gave more colour choice for cheaper models.)

Why do people like 9.5" radius? I think that feels horrid! 7.25" is way comfier! I know people say 9.5" is better for playing lead in the higher frets but 7.25" feels like heaven to me.  When I ordered my Legra half the emphasis was "anything but a 9.5" neck!"

[Fourth Feline]

Ooh, that's nice!  It's even a 9.5" radius!  :D

(And having looked at the specs, a nice choice of colours!  I wish they gave more colour choice for cheaper models.)

Why do people like 9.5" radius? I think that feels horrid! 7.25" is way comfier!

For me ( who likes a really low, slinky action all the way across the fret board ) - the 7.25 radius forced me to have the  top 'e' and 'b' strings set a bit higher than I wanted, to avoid 'choke off' on wide bends .

I gigged with a 7.25 radius Strat for years, but at the time, all that adrenaline pumping - and my heavier 'touch' during those times made it less important.  As my technique / touch became more 'economic'  - it became an issue, and remains so today.  Ideally top and bottom 'e' about 1mm off the top of 12th fret  - and not choke off when bending. I could not achieve that on a 7.25" radius, however well set up and fret dressed.   

[Philly Q]

Ooh, that's nice!  It's even a 9.5" radius!  :D

(And having looked at the specs, a nice choice of colours!  I wish they gave more colour choice for cheaper models.)

Why do people like 9.5" radius? I think that feels horrid! 7.25" is way comfier! I know people say 9.5" is better for playing lead in the higher frets but 7.25" feels like heaven to me.  When I ordered my Legra half the emphasis was "anything but a 9.5" neck!"

In a way I almost agree with you, I do like to feel the curve of the board, but with 7.25" I can't bend strings without fretting out.  9.5" or 10" is perfect for me, I'm fine with the 12" on all my Gibson types, but I don't like anything flatter than that.  I'm not even keen on the Warmoth compound radius 10" to 16".

Having said that, 7.25" tends to go hand-in-hand with skinny vintage frets, which is a big part of the problem.  I think I might be able to live with 7.25" and bigger frets, but I've never had the chance to try it.

[CaptainDesslock]

Ooh, that's nice!  It's even a 9.5" radius!  :D

(And having looked at the specs, a nice choice of colours!  I wish they gave more colour choice for cheaper models.)

Why do people like 9.5" radius? I think that feels horrid! 7.25" is way comfier! I know people say 9.5" is better for playing lead in the higher frets but 7.25" feels like heaven to me.  When I ordered my Legra half the emphasis was "anything but a 9.5" neck!"

In a way I almost agree with you, I do like to feel the curve of the board, but with 7.25" I can't bend strings without fretting out.  9.5" or 10" is perfect for me, I'm fine with the 12" on all my Gibson types, but I don't like anything flatter than that.  I'm not even keen on the Warmoth compound radius 10" to 16".

Having said that, 7.25" tends to go hand-in-hand with skinny vintage frets, which is a big part of the problem.  I think I might be able to live with 7.25" and bigger frets, but I've never had the chance to try it.

Yeah I guess its definitely a case of different strokes for different folks....I know when playing Jeff Buckley stuff  chording arpeggios in the upper frets is a pain in the but on a 9.5 while it feels so easy on a 7.25

[Ian Price]

Ian, get it, you deserve it.

That is what credit cards are for...

go on, you will, you will, you will.....

Haha - I'm sure I deserve it! I can't justify whacking £2k on a credit card though! This may well be the one that finally convinces me to get rid of my old old tele and buy a new old tele.

Seriously though, I have thought about selling my old tele a few times in the last year. Kind of a three strikes and you're out rule. It's now 3 strikes. All I need to do now is pluck up the courage and hope I get near to £2k for it!!!

[Twinfan]

This thread has just made me rip out the neck 'bucker from my CV Squier and hunt down an Esquire wiring diagram.

Ian - what have you done?????!!!!!!

[_tom_]

Not usually a big fan of blue OR relicd guitars, but in this instance I think this looks awesome. I want an esquire now :lol:

Question - on an esquire, what does the switch do?

[Philly Q]

Question - on an esquire, what does the switch do?

Basically in one position you get the pickup with an added capacitor for a "bassy" tone, in the middle position you get the pickup on its own (without the tone control), and in the third position you get the pickup with the tone control functioning.

Or something like that, it's a bit odd...

I think these Custom Shop ones are wired a little differently, though.

[Adam.M]

Did your nephew have any comments on it? I wonder what new players think when they see old beat up guitars like this.

Do they see the vibe, or an old beat up guitar? heheh!