what’s your favorite telecaster finish? i personally love seeing the wood grain so its Natural Blonde for me

I’ve had a Gibson LP studio since I was 14 years old, 28 now, just sold it and got myself a Telecaster American Vintage II. In a better economy, I’d have room in the budget for more electric guitars, but for now I keep a lean collection. :) excited to start playing it!

This would be my first tele. Not sure if it’s the greatest deal or not though. I’m a fan of the tele aesthetics with humbuckers though.

I recently got a very cheap Epiphone Les Paul Special though I’m not sure I really have to have this.

Thoughts?

I am looking at getting another Tele. Normally I do not like maple fretboards, but I am bored and have money and have convinced myself that I need a '50s style Tele as my two current faves are both '60s stuyle with rosewood fretboards. I can grab a used 2017 AVRI '52 Tele for $1900 (Canadian), but I am not sure I want another AVRI. I had a '64 Reissue Tele (a 2015) but got rid of it and replaced it with a Vintera II '60s (sonic blue with a rosewood board) that I like much more, so why not ignore the AVRI and just get a Vintera now?

Anyway, I need info on the neck thickness of the Vintera Tele and the Vintera II Nocaster. Does anyone have measurements of one, or both, of these necks? Is there a lot of shoulder to them, or does one maybe have more shoulder than the other?

Right now I am leaning towards the Vintera II Nocaster, but wanted to ask before I bought one.

The Vintera would be used, while the Vintera II would be either used or new.

Any info or recommendations are appreciated.

Edited to add: In two weeks I am having major surgery, for a life threatening condition. My brother, who is a watch collector, thinks that once I come through the surgery ok I should buy an expensive watch to mark that significant life event (ie. staying alive!). I already have three watches, two of which are expensive, so am kind of reluctant to buy another because even if I switched watches every day I would only wear the new one about seven times a month.

My version of his idea would be to buy a really nice guitar to mark that event. The problem is that I already have a good acoustic in my Taylor 616CE, and a bunch of higher end/expensive electrics (Gibson and Gretsch).

I own 2-3 Strats, but don't really like Strats so wouldn't consider another. Maybe another AVRI Tele fits the bill here?

“IZ-US” by Aphex Twin (1997)

I almost bought a Jason Isbell Tele as my first Telecaster a few years ago, but ended up passing on it. Fast-forward to now, and somehow I’ve ended up with two of them because I couldn’t decide which one I liked more.

Each guitar has a few minor condition issues, which has made the decision even harder rather than easier. I’ve included photos of both.
On one guitar, there appears to be a chip through the clear nitro and possibly into the wood near the binding. The other has a chip at the neck heel where the clear coat is completely gone next to the paint, and you can feel the exposed wood.

At this point, I’m wondering whether it would make more sense to repair the heel damage or lean into the Road Worn look and have that area blended or reliced more naturally. As it sits now, it looks more like accidental damage than intentional wear, so I thought smoothing and feathering the finish into the surrounding area might look better.

What would you do in this situation?
Are there any specific differences, potential issues, or pros and cons I should be looking for when comparing the two guitars?

I’d also be curious what a proper repair or finish blend might cost, and whether it would be realistic to get either guitar back to near-mint condition or if blending the damage would be the better route.

Lastly, of the finishes is one version less common, harder to find, or generally more desirable than the other between the more chocolate burst vs what looks more like a standard sunbursts?

I went from passing on one years ago to somehow owning two, and I still can’t decide which one to keep.

She's a beauty

Technically NGD was 2 weeks ago, but close enough.

Fender MIJ Heritage 60s Thinline. The previous owner did a pickup swap for a set of 51 Nocasters and they sound incredible. I added the brass saddles last weekend.

Sunburst, ash body, maple cap 60s C neck, 7.25 radius, nitro finish. I don’t have a large enough scale, but she’s light as a feather.

How much do these typically go for? Someone has one locally with original case but no bridge cover/paperwork etc. just the guitar and case. Both appear to be in decent condition per the photos in the ad, but the asking price is about what people are asking for their American Pro/American Standard teles around here. It’s an early 2012 with the fat neck.

What’s the going rate, what’s a good deal, and what would be a “go right now with cash” price for a 2012 AVRI ‘52 reissue tele?

Relatively new to tele ownership. This is now my main guitar, putting it on my existing guitar stand the headstock seems precarious due to size and makes me uncomfortable.

I’m guessing I’m not the first person to feel this. Easiest option seem to change the foam to something bigger, anyone done this/ know where I could get something suitable?

Failing that, what sort of stand do I need that’s good for a tele?

Thanks in advance.

Motivation was low, it's hot as hell outside, and I keep my tele on the wall altogether too close to my computer. It was gonna happen one way or the other.

Hope y'all are pushing the last Monday stretch!

EDIT: For funsies in added a better version for free on Bandcamp https://austinvenhuizen.bandcamp.com/track/rainbow-magnet-castles

Hey everyone,
I finally got my new Fender American Professional II Telecaster in Mystic Surf Green, and I have to say I’m really happy with it. This guitar was a bit of a journey for me, so I wanted to share the story and get your opinions on a few small things.
A few weeks ago, I bought the exact same model and color second-hand. I absolutely loved it: the neck felt amazing, it sounded great, and I really connected with it. Unfortunately, I discovered that the truss rod was defective. After discussing it with the seller, we decided it was better to return it rather than repair it.
I eventually decided to order a brand new one, and I’m very happy with this one too. It plays beautifully, sounds exactly how I hoped a Tele would sound, and I really love the feel of it. The neck is slightly different from the first one (which is normal), but I’m getting used to it quickly.
The only things that still make me wonder a little are a few small details that I’ll put in the pictures. Nothing that affects playability or tone, just things I noticed as I was looking closely at a brand new instrument.
One of them is a small detail in the wood grain on the fretboard: the grain lines are not perfectly parallel with the neck. I know wood is a natural material and every piece is unique, so I’m not saying it’s a problem, but I’m curious to know if this is something completely normal that other people have seen on their guitars.
The other thing I was initially unsure about is the weight. This one is around 3.4 kg (7.5 lbs). It’s a little heavier than the previous one I tried, but honestly I’m adapting very well to it. After playing it standing up, I actually don’t find it uncomfortable at all, and the extra weight might even contribute to a solid feeling and resonance.
Overall, I’m really happy with the guitar and I don’t want to become obsessed with tiny details. I think I just want some reassurance from other Tele players who know these instruments well.
What do you think about these small details in the pictures? Would they be considered normal for a Fender American Professional II, or would they bother you on a new guitar?
Thanks!

I’ve always been a guitar stand guy and never gave hanging my guitars up much thought. My wife and I decided to repaint our place and she brought up the idea of hanging my guitars in the living room. I caved to the idea and am really pleased with the results. I’m really digging the Aztec Gold against the mushroom-y grey color we selected. I plan on hanging some show posters between the guitars…but I secretly left the gap big enough for a third guitar…just in case.

My two Teles. Finally got around to working on the thinline this weekend. Added some nice RS Guitarworks PAF clones I had floating around plus some spare CTS pots. The other Tele was my late uncles that he went overboard on upgrading.

paraguitars

honestly prefer the feel of the squires to the fenders but maybe i’m a freak of nature

As title says:

6 strings, 24 frets

body - 35mm thin/slim heavier wood (for to support low tuning) like mahagony, walnut or hard ash

neck - wanna some fast one, slim neck, roasted is must if it's slim to be stable and with reversed headstock (I love reversed headstocks) and not dark fingerboard .. I love to see wood without inlays and just 25.5", no need for more for playing max in drop-B .. and with heel accessible truss rod wheel

tele-ish aesthetics - like pickguard and tele bridge (?hipshot retrofit 6-saddle ?) but without tele control plate

HS pickups - and I want that mega-cool S-sized humbucker with blades ... it's so sick looking and sounds cool - it doesn't sound like typical humbucker and not as single either .. just volume knob with pull-push split coil trigger and 3-way switch only

finish - matte clear coat .. wanna body darker than fretboard but well, that finish is still open question and will be opened to very last moment ...

so how does it sound ?

I have one vintage Tokai Breezysound tele from 1991 and this new guy below (or above) and wanted the third one with some modern and high-end feel - budget $2k - doable ? not likely I think ...

cheers !!!

I bought one of those British racing green Teles on sale at GC last April intending to put in better components someday, I finally got around to putting in Lindy Fralin Blues Special pickups, reversed the control plate, 4-way “alternate” switching (neck position 4, both series 3, both parallel 2, bridge 1) push pull CTS pots (vol has treble bleed on by default or off with knob up, tone does the Fralin bright switch mod knob up, which I gather is similar but not quite a no-load circuit?).

The middle of the cavity had a raised section I needed to grind out with a rotary tool in order to fit the taller push/pull pots, one of a few fun speed bumps to figure out… hell of a weekend project and she sounds SO much better than before!

My story with this 2010's Squier Affinity Telecaster starts in 2021. I bought it for just under 100 bucks on a local marketplace. Back then, even just replacing the pickguard made it look really nice with that naturally reliced neck.

I played it for about a year, then the war started and I had to sell a few of my guitars because of financial problems. But I really missed that Tele.

Few weeks ago I've been browsing that same marketplace and stumble upon that very same guitar of mine. Of course, I bought it back and decided to restore it to a condition where I wouldn’t want to sell it again and, tbh, no one else would buy it anyway, because who needs modified Squiers right? So, final specs:

-Fender Player II maple neck

-Fender Deluxe Drive pickups

-Sick black Fender locking tuners

-Fender 6-saddle American Series bridge (luthier had to drill through the body to install it)

-Fender American Vintage string tree kit

-DiMarzio GW2100A1 Tele wiring harness with a 3-way switch and 250K pots

-Fender Tele Pickguard BK

I realize it would have been easier and faster (and probably cheaper) to just buy a new Fender at a store, but I had fun doing this, and the guitar turned out just great—plus it has its own story for me, so it was definitely worth it.

The only question I have - is it a heavily modified Squier Affinity or a partcaster? :D