road worn tele-related ramble

[liftman]

I called into vintage & rare in bath t'other day just for a look at how the other half lives and, on seeing a wall of Fender relics, proceeded to say how I think it's a daft waste of money and all that. Then the bloke said that apart from the cosmetics they are often really good because of the 'master-built' aspect and pointed out his current favourite, a red sparkle 50's tele.  So I picked it up and it was simply the most amazing tele I've ever played, it really felt like an old neck and was totally responsive and inspiring to play.
 However, it's over 2 grand so I won't be buying it but it made me re-think what I want in a tele - I've been through 5 or 6 and always sold them but thought I was happiest with rosewood boards. Then I went to another shop and saw a road worn tele, with the 50's spec, and i'll have to say it was really great. Although the fingerboard relicing looks rubbish, the neck felt played-in and was a good meaty size. Again it was a very responsive guitar, maybe due to the thin lacquer?
 I compared it to a mex 50's classic and baja and prefered it in all aspects, playability and a real warm but biting tone. Just wish it didn't look so dodgy....   

[AndyR]

I've played one of the 50s teles - it was a class guitar. Somehow when you're playing it the fingerboard wear doesn't seem to matter :D

I didn't buy it because at the time it seemed a lot for me to spend on "another" tele, and I wasn't convinced about the "relic" thing. I have to say it was easily more immediately comfortable than my Baja, which I'm quite attached to.

There's a chap on here who has one of those red sparkle teles - he will sing its praises quite highly, and will wonder why chaps like you and me will go for cheaper when a quality guitar like the CS jobbies are obviously worth saving up for... "get the right one and you won't keep buying and selling" :lol: He might well be right, and I've deliberately not looked into them too much because I'm happier with 11 different guitars under a grand rather than one or two class ones...

Anyway - my tale of roadworns carried on... a couple of months ago I tried a sunburst 60s strat. It was so obviously "my guitar". But I still had to spend half an hour getting over the relic - the rosewood board obviously meant I didn't have the fingerboard wear issues, but I still had some issues over the body.

Eventually I went "sod it" and brought it home. I have not really put it down since... Within a week or so I was over the relic side of it. Just like any other guitar, I know where all the dings are, intimately, and it really doesn't matter that I didn't make them, or that there are other almost identical guitars out there (they're not actually identical, I've checked, but each one is worn to the same general pattern).

I understand that, just like any other mass produced model, the roadworns can be a bit variable. But the two I've tried for any length of time have been killer for what I want, and will obviously get better as you set them up for your own use and wear them in.

I think you're where I was 10 months ago (and personally I'd have had exactly the same issues over the £2K CS relics :lol:)... I ended up looking at it as a "used guitar" to be assessed in its current state and playability. On the strength of that, I had to have the strat...

I would now buy one of the 50s teles - if I was buying, and found one that spoke to me. I might be looking at removing a little more fingerboard, and accelerating the "dirt" a bit (I don't play live anymore, a couple of gigs would have done it no problem) - but I'd happily own one :D

[TheIronBeast]

I've played a bunch of Fender Road Worn guitars. I loved the played in feel of them, I especially liked the 60s Strat and 50s Tele. They are great guitars and they do sound great, but like you I was put off on the relic job. I thought the relicing looked quite in-authentic. However, after thinking about I think the reason I didn't like the relic job was because I am comparing it to Fender Custom Shop Strats/Teles that I have owned/played, and I came to the conclusion that for being a mexican made Fender, and for the price that it's really not that bad of a guitar.

I think I would definitely consider buying one if I was on the look out for a new Tele or Strat.

[Philly Q]

I'm keen on the relic look, but not really prepared to spend nearly £2,000 on one.... and deep down, I know I'd be wanting to replace those rusty screws and saddles with stainless ones.  Which would look silly.

The Road Worns are quite appealing (apart from the 7.25" radius), and although the relicing isn't very good I'd be happy to have a go at bashing it up a bit more to "personalise" it.

BUT they have made a terrible job of ageing the fingerboards of the '50s models.  Bad enough to be a deal-breaker for me, I'm afraid.  If there was a rosewood-neck '60s Tele I might be seriously interested.

[Twinfan]

Then the bloke said that apart from the cosmetics they are often really good because of the 'master-built' aspect and pointed out his current favourite, a red sparkle 50's tele.  So I picked it up and it was simply the most amazing tele I've ever played, it really felt like an old neck and was totally responsive and inspiring to play.

There's a chap on here who has one of those red sparkle teles - he will sing its praises quite highly

I wonder who that chap might be?  ;)

Mine is without doubt the finest Tele I've ever played, and it's been universally loved by everyone who's noodled on it.  It's a belter  :D



But so is it's cousin, which is my #1 guitar for my rock covers band.  The Fender Custom Shop stuff rocks a fat one!

[shobet]

I can vouch for the red sparkle tele being the dog's bollocks. I've not tried the blue esquire yet, but hopefully will have a go this weekend if possible.

But being a fan of the CS myself I have loved almost all the tele CS guitars I've tried. They are consistent, I'll give them that.

Oh and here's mine. Not as sparkly as the above but a nice plank none the less. A nocaster which I've resisted taking one of the strings off...

[Tellboy]

If you want relic looks at a reasonable price take a look at these.

http://stores.ebay.com/Blackpoole-Relic-Works

He is getting some great reviews from guys who have bought them on tdpri (tele) and Seymour Duncan forums



He's done some very nice non-Fender guitars as well (SGs etc) and apparently has done relicing work for other companies.

[Ian Price]

Dave's CS Fenders are very nice indeed. I've played both and was very impressed with them. I have a CS strat myself and that is also very, very good quality.

I haven't tried the road worn models yet though so can't compare them with CS models.

[shobet]

If you want relic looks at a reasonable price take a look at these.

http://stores.ebay.com/Blackpoole-Relic-Works

He is getting some great reviews from guys who have bought them on tdpri (tele) and Seymour Duncan forums



He's done some very nice non-Fender guitars as well (SGs etc) and apparently has done relicing work for other companies.

OOohhh shitee, hide the credit card!

[Philly Q]

If you want relic looks at a reasonable price take a look at these.

http://stores.ebay.com/Blackpoole-Relic-Works

He is getting some great reviews from guys who have bought them on tdpri (tele) and Seymour Duncan forums

He's done some very nice non-Fender guitars as well (SGs etc) and apparently has done relicing work for other companies.

I saw his eBay shop the other day - they look good but I was a bit wary because he hasn't got much feedback yet.

I'd prefer it if he showed pictures of the actual items you're buying though (Warmoth showcase style), rather than just generic "this is what we can do" examples.  I'm fussy about the weight and the look of the wood grain.  It might work better through a proper website rather than an eBay shop.

[Tellboy]

I saw his eBay shop the other day - they look good but I was a bit wary because he hasn't got much feedback yet.

I'd prefer it if he showed pictures of the actual items you're buying though (Warmoth showcase style), rather than just generic "this is what we can do" examples.  I'm fussy about the weight and the look of the wood grain.  It might work better through a proper website rather than an eBay shop.

The website is due to go on line later this month. There are some pics of actual items on the tele forum - they look pretty good.

[exoslime]

If you want relic looks at a reasonable price take a look at these.

http://stores.ebay.com/Blackpoole-Relic-Works

He is getting some great reviews from guys who have bought them on tdpri (tele) and Seymour Duncan forums



He's done some very nice non-Fender guitars as well (SGs etc) and apparently has done relicing work for other companies.

uuuuu, very nice
GAS ATTACK!
GAS ATTACK!
GAS ATTACK!

thanks for the link
cheers
exoslime

[Philly Q]

I saw his eBay shop the other day - they look good but I was a bit wary because he hasn't got much feedback yet.

I'd prefer it if he showed pictures of the actual items you're buying though (Warmoth showcase style), rather than just generic "this is what we can do" examples.  I'm fussy about the weight and the look of the wood grain.  It might work better through a proper website rather than an eBay shop.

The website is due to go on line later this month. There are some pics of actual items on the tele forum - they look pretty good.

Thanks, I shall check out tdpri later on!  :D

(Can't believe I've never registered on that forum - I suppose there's so much info on there, any question I could think of has already been answered...)

[CaptainDesslock]

I usually dislike relic's but those look pretty nicely done, liked aged guitars that seemed to have been taken care of instead of "relics" that look they've been dragged through a sawmill.  I'd actually be interested in getting -

[tomjackson]

Their necks are allparts, which are made in Japan.  I have the un-reliced version which is very nice.