John 5 Fender Telecaster... opinions please

[danger5oh]

Hey... I'm curious to see what you guys might think about the J5 Fender Telecaster.  I have a strange fascination with Teles... even though I'm pretty much a full time metal guitarist.  Out of all of my guitars, my number one is easily a MIM Jim Root Fender Tele... and I've owned quite a few different MIA's, MIJ's, MIK's, and every other MI-insert letter here-.

Now, usually when it comes to metal, Teles are the last guitar that people think of, which I think is why I love them so much.  Also, the guitar that I learned to play on was a Tele, and my first guitar was a Strat.  So... while cruising through one of my local shops, I discovered the J5.  Most people know this guitar by it's strange 12 string headstock, which is a headstock that only a mother could love.  Getting past that, it actually feels quite comfortable.  I didn't have the time to actually plug it in, but I do have a BKP Aftermath bridge that will be going IF I end up with it anyway.

Pros and cons... from what I can tell.  It's a versatile metal Tele, but it's a signature guitar.  It's MIM, but so is my favorite guitar.  I can get it at cost (around $800), but it's still MIM lol.  That headstock is either unique, or an eyesore.

Just curious to see if any of you have experience with this guitar... and if so, should I jump on this deal?

[Telerocker]

I you like it, buy it. Personally I don't like the headstock, but maybe I'm a bit of traditionalist when it comes to tele's. But, shredding on tele's is somehow cool, cause not expected. I bet Roo will chime in soon.... :-)

[danger5oh]

It's funny... I'm very much the anti-traditionalist.  My heaviest sounding guitar is a Tele.  My versatile tone-machine is a Jackson lol.  The more I look at the headstock, the less I hate it, but it still is a little extreme... even for me.  As far as playability goes though... it feels so nice!

[Philly Q]

I don't like the headstock either, but it's a cool guitar. 

And don't let the MIM put you off (I'm sure you won't really, since you have the Jim Root Tele).  I think the MIM stuff is getting better all the time - my Robert Cray Strat is great, the Road Worns are great, and I have a Kenny Wayne Shepherd neck which is very nice too.

But I think I prefer this John 5 model:

[nfe]

I really like the headstock, though it's better with 12 machine heads.

It's the rest of the guitar I think looks rubbish. Black Fenders with silver scratchplates all look rubbish in my book.


I'd really like a daphne blue/sonic green 12 string tele to make a into a 9 string. One day. If I can find a cheapy one (I don't know if there's ever been a cheapy one?)

[Philly Q]

I'd really like a daphne blue/sonic green 12 string tele to make a into a 9 string. One day. If I can find a cheapy one (I don't know if there's ever been a cheapy one?)

Well it's not a Tele, but there was the Squier Venus 12-string:

[nfe]

Nah I don't dig that. I do however find myself on Warmoth now, trying to work out what a single humbucker 12 string tele would cost...

[Madsakre]

A tele'ish version of this mabbe? :D

[Philly Q]

Nah I don't dig that. I do however find myself on Warmoth now, trying to work out what a single humbucker 12 string tele would cost...

Potentially not too much, if you're not fussy about neck profiles, body weight or finishes. 

Problem is, you probably won't find a 12-string body in the in-stock Showcase, and the prices rocket if you have to do a custom order.

[nfe]

A tele'ish version of this mabbe? :D

Pic Removed

That's where the idea comes from, yeah.



All the Warmoth 12 string necks seem to have to have the strat shaped neck joint. Which is baws.

[Philly Q]

All the Warmoth 12 string necks seem to have to have the strat shaped neck joint. Which is baws.

If you had to order a custom Tele body anyway, you could order with a Strat neck pocket.

[Madsakre]

Thats a tele deluxe. Loomer's Tele is a tele deluxe with a strat neck

[Philly Q]

Thats a tele deluxe. Loomer's Tele is a tele deluxe with a strat neck

No, I was talking about a custom-made Tele body, not a Tele Custom body. 

You can order any style of Tele body from Warmoth with a Strat neck pocket.

[Madsakre]

What i meant was a custom tele body.
Warmoth makes one called tele deluxe which has a strat neck socket. Sorry if i misunderstand you again, its 2 in the morning.

[Philly Q]

No, you're right, they do make a Tele Deluxe body which has a Strat neck pocket as standard (I have one here, in fact!  :) )  

But you can order any other type of Tele body with a Strat neck pocket - as a custom option.

There are only limited options on the Deluxe body - for example, you can't get it with a single humbucker like nfe wants (although you could get a single-humbucker scratchplate to cover the rest of the body routing).