Opinions please

hb · #1 November 30th, 2006

I would like to have some opinions if one wanted a guitar that sounded like (or kinda like) a telecaster, but didn't want to spend that much money, what would you buy.
Thanks in advance,
hb

Andy S · #2 November 30th, 2006

You'd probably want to look at the Fender Squire Line. They have a variety of Tele's & Strat's that are around $150 US. And the ones I've played at the stores are actually pretty decent for a starter guitar. Anything else, say a knock off of a Tele by an unknown manufacturer, may not be as good, or at least you may not have a place to return it to if it needed any work.

Just my opinion, that & 49 cents will get you a small cup of coffee at a convenient store.

allthumbs · #3 November 30th, 2006

The trick with finding tele clones is that they can't use the name telecaster so it is hard to do a search. I know Peavy makes a pretty good tele, but I can't find where to look. Austin makes a reasonable tele clone too. You might be able to find them on the net.

allthumbs · #4 November 30th, 2006

Here are two on Ebay for well under 300 bucks.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...e=search&fgtp=

hb · #5 November 30th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

Here are two on Ebay for well under 300 bucks.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&maxrecordsreturned =300&frpp=50&from=R10&satitle=Austin+tele+guitars& sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=ZIP%2FPostal&ftrt=1&f trv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction =compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

Forgive my limited knowledge in electrics as I have never owned one and am trying to gain some knowledge in this before buying. Can a guitar with a "combination humbucker" resemble a tele in it's sound?
thanks,
hb

allthumbs · #6 November 30th, 2006

Yes. The Squire51s can be very twangy, but the build quality is all over the place so someone who has no knowledge of guitars is taking a big chance getting one. if that is the direction you are thinking of going in then you must go to a store that has half a dozen or so and try them all. We can tell you which flaws to look for.

Das Alt Peruke · #7 December 1st, 2006

Even Telecasters have a few different genotypes that all sound different in that they have different pick ups that produce different types of signal. Much more crucial to sound though for and electric guitar is the amplifier which I would focus the cash on. If you let me know what kind of telecaster, whether it is the Broadcaster type or the super seded humbucker types could probably find a way of knocking one up, or improving a copy.

hb · #8 December 1st, 2006

Well, I thought it was getting easier to understand......just look for a guitar that has similar pick-ups in the similar location as a tele and it should sound in the neighborhood of a tele. But the way I'm reading the forum, this is incorrect. I am now under the assumption that guitars can have very different pick-ups in very different locations and they could possibly sound an awful lot alike. Would this be correct?
hb

zeater41 · #9 December 1st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by hb

I would like to have some opinions if one wanted a guitar that sounded like (or kinda like) a telecaster, but didn't want to spend that much money, what would you buy.
Thanks in advance,
hb

You may want to consider the squier line by Fender...I beleive there is a new model called "51"...saw it at musicians friend for 99.00 Guitar player gave it an amazing review. I own an original Squier Strat that I put EMG pickups in, a floyd rose tremolo and gigged extensively in the 80's with it as a sceond GTR to my Les Paul. It rocks! now I outfitted it with a GR33 Guitar Synth and stabilized the bar...I miss the dive bombs although this one rocking "swiss army knife" Synth playing axe!

zeater41 · #10 December 1st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by hb

Well, I thought it was getting easier to understand......just look for a guitar that has similar pick-ups in the similar location as a tele and it should sound in the neighborhood of a tele. But the way I'm reading the forum, this is incorrect. I am now under the assumption that guitars can have very different pick-ups in very different locations and they could possibly sound an awful lot alike. Would this be correct?
hb

Well, yeah. The Fender line will sound most like a Fender Tele. There are lots of Options. If You get Musicians Friend or American Musical Supply Catalog...go on the web great way to educate what's out there for what price. You have single coil pu's from Fenedr tend to be a little noisy; 5 way selectors switch that gets that great Fender Strat or Clean sound. I think you can spend $100 to $1600 and find some of that Fender Tone you are looking for.

The Tele will have it's own PU configuration, (Placement) single in the neck, humbucker in the bridge. OR Two Singles which I believe is most common. Or One single coil. They are normally nickel or chrome finish...that is the "Fender Tele Sound" normally blond body with maple neck. Black pickguard smaller headstock. Tele pick ups are not interchangeable with Strats! Hence tonal difference..wood counts too! Finish, Placement also.

It is somewhat little known fact that guys like Ace Frehley of Kiss, Jimmy Page of Zeppelin would solo in the studio on recordings on Tele's because they cut through the mix, and sit in the mix pretty. These guys are Les Paul guys too! Check out Jeff Beck's work on the tele or Keif's alternate tuning on the greasy, grimy awesome work he does with the Stones. "Stairway to Heaven" Solo is a first shot on the spot romp on a Tele.

Das Alt Peruke · #11 December 1st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by hb

Well, I thought it was getting easier to understand......just look for a guitar that has similar pick-ups in the similar location as a tele and it should sound in the neighborhood of a tele. But the way I'm reading the forum, this is incorrect. I am now under the assumption that guitars can have very different pick-ups in very different locations and they could possibly sound an awful lot alike. Would this be correct?
hb

Yes, this is correct. Basically as far as electric guitars and their sound characteristics go you could stick the pick ups from a tele on a railway sleeper and ideosyncracies that define its sound will change very little. Find out the type of amplifier and pick ups (and any other signal modifying tools eg: boxes, pedals etc.) and you will have much more success than if you just buy the same type of guitar.

hb · #12 December 1st, 2006

Any thought as to how an Ibanez ARC100 would sound? Or an Ibanez ARC300?
hb

zeater41 · #13 December 2nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by hb

Any thought as to how an Ibanez ARC100 would sound? Or an Ibanez ARC300?
hb

Not sure what Ibanez ARC 100 & 300 are? I am guessing and could be wrong? That they are Gibson ES335 type Hollow or Semi Hollowbody guitars. I had an Iceman when I was a kid that I "Frankensteined" "Customized" and ruined...I really miss that guitar. Today it would be pristine and vintage! What a bad decision...Unless you know what you are doing I do not suggest that!

Usually the lower number will have lesser feature's or appointments...like binding, lesser pickups, a little more plain. The 300 may have more bells and whistles. If it is the guitar I am thinking it is they are hot! Guitar Player reviewed them and gave them high reviews. Ibanez is an excellent guitar Manufactuerer. Sometimes linked to shredders such as Satriani & Vai...well if those guys play 'em they are quality axes.

If you like Eric Johnson (G3 Live), Early Alex Lifeson (Rush) Early Eric Clapton (Cream) some of the blues players, Larry Carlton (Check out Lukather and Larry Live in Japan...Tone Gods at their best! Luke plays a signature model music man...immediately recognizable! Larry plays the smoother more mellow Gibson ES335...it still can snarl, bite and grab) you will hear shades of the semi-hollow tones there that may be inherrent in the ARC 100 & 300. These guitars I believe are in the $350 to $499 range. They are hot. They lean towards fatter, rounder jazzier tones, warmth is usually associated with air. You can still overdrive these guitars and get some nice rock tones out of them. I believe Johnson, Clapton (Maybe old Fender amps) and Carlton play these semi's through vintage Marshall Cabs, Johnson I believe a 1958 4 x 12 cab paired run in stereo...check out "Live in Austin" DVD or CD he runs his vintage Strat through his most visible and famous tone rig! Amazing! The beauty of his umistakeble violin like tone, also the physicality in which Mr. Johnson attacks his guitar...an amazing set, don't be discouraged you can do what he does in time!

AR100 300, Semi-Hollow:The drawback at certain loud volumes live you may get feedback. Some folks desire that. I don't. One other point on these guitars if you are just starting out; the bridge floats on some of these models meaning when you change strings be careful too make sure it stays in the proper place or you will run into intonation issues. They may have the tune o matic bridge which means it is fixed and you wouldn't have to worry I know the ES has a fixed bridge. Thanks for reading! Hope it helps.

The number one question when purchasing a guitar is: "What type of music do I wish to play? Budget of Course? New or Used?

Any salesperson worth anything should ask you what are you trying to do? Help YOU Find something that fits You not their commission check!

allthumbs · #14 December 2nd, 2006

Here are some more I found on Ebay. Remember your paying more for better quality hardwear, like tuners and pick ups so cheapest can also mean cheapest quality.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...ty=MetaEndSort

allthumbs · #15 December 2nd, 2006

BTW. If I was jonesing for a tele. This baby would be on my xmas list.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...0&src=3SOSWXXA