Tele Players I need your help.

[ZMAN]

I have a line on a really nice 52 reissue telecaster. It is complete and in mint condition. I can get it for a steal. The only thing that is holding me back is the 7.25 radius on the neck.
I am used to the 9.5 radius on the strats, and I would like some input from you guys about the radius on this guitar.
Has anyone had any issues or problems with a 7.25 radius neck. I would appreciate and feedback as soon as possible.

 

[mrmudcat]

I think you will like the neck.............I have had no problems..........

It was harder going from the skinny strat to a 50's gibby but the 60's profile gibson neck was easier on chase....the u shape profile should fit nicely :french


I do want one of these:crazyguy

 

[MAXIFUNK]

I have the 7.25 Radius on my Paisley Strat and it works just find for me.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

I have a '52 RI and have no problems with the neck. Played it in church this last Sunday, in fact. However, about the only necks that bug me are wide-thin, so consider the source.

The vintage frets can make note-bending a bit more challenging, however.

 

[ZMAN]

I just remembered that my 68 Reissue Strat has a 7.25 radius. I pullied out and played it a while last night. Not as bad as I thought. It doesn't have the U shaped neck though. Not ready to pull the trigger yet.

 

[ZMAN]

I talked to my local guy and he said that the price I thought was a steal was what they would but a used one on the floor for. I had priced a new one at 1699, plus 220 in tax. I emailed the guy and tried to renegotiate a price and he said that was his bottom price.
So I passed. I will probably regret it but it is too soon after Christmas and just before a 3 week vacation, so money is tight.

 

[Martinguy]

Every time I have ever gotten a guitar with a neck that felt weird to me at
1st, that feeling disappeared within about a week.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

I talked to my local guy and he said that the price I thought was a steal was what they would but a used one on the floor for. I had priced a new one at 1699, plus 220 in tax. I emailed the guy and tried to renegotiate a price and he said that was his bottom price.
So I passed. I will probably regret it but it is too soon after Christmas and just before a 3 week vacation, so money is tight.

I'll make you feel better.

I got mine for $400 USD. Although it was admittedly a "friendly" sale.

Now, doesn't that convince you that the one you passed on was a rotten deal?

I'm a helper.

 

[ZMAN]

Thanks Brian. That does make me feel good. But I will probably be paying that for the CV50s Tele Custom I have on order. When you say "friendly" sale what does that mean?

 

[sumitomo]

I just pulled the trigger on a CV50 tele,went to the local mom and pop he didn't have any but had one in a box in the back,took me in the back opened it up,just needed a little tune,I could not believe the setup right out of the box,amazing!paid 350.00.I made their day that was the first time I bought there.Sumi P.S. it's those anlico 3 pups I really like!

 

[ZMAN]

I just pulled the trigger on a CV50 tele,went to the local mom and pop he didn't have any but had one in a box in the back,took me in the back opened it up,just needed a little tune,I could not believe the setup right out of the box,amazing!paid 350.00.I made their day that was the first time I bought there.Sumi P.S. it's those anlico 3 pups I really like!

Yes I will have to wait until my guy calls me. He has one coming in for me but I don't have to buy it, I just have first dibs on it.
It just makes me angry that I can't get the guitar I want when it come to Teles.
Is it too much to ask Fender to make the following.
Butterscotch blonde, 9.5 radius maple board, vintage tint on the neck, 6 saddle bridge. I don't even care what pickups are in it.
The CV looks like a nice guitar but 3 color burst and rosewood board, and 3 saddle bridge. I alway seem to run into this when it comes to teles.
Maybe the next CV will be like that.
Hey Sumi: What is the action like?

 

[sumitomo]

The action is awesome,somethings wrong with my others,cause this pup plays well up high on the neck as well,it could be also cause it has 9"s on it and I like 10's.I wanted the 50's vibe because of the anlico 3 pups the 60's has the 5's and I like the sound of the 3's better.Again I heard the hype about these guitars and I have alot of strats and wanted a tele but I really liked the sound of the anlico 3 pups.I can't build a guitar this good for 350.00 honest it will cost me 800.00,I know this because I've done it.Also I have a Limited SX strat and it is nice and all but this CV tele and the strats are awesome,made well,play great and I don't know how they can do it for 350.00,Gives the other guys a goal to shoot for.See ya I'm going back for more,my fingers are rested now.Sumi

 

[wingsdad]

...It just makes me angry that I can't get the guitar I want when it come to Teles.
Is it too much to ask Fender to make the following.
Butterscotch blonde, 9.5 radius maple board, vintage tint on the neck, 6 saddle bridge. I don't even care what pickups are in it.
...

It's a long way from a CV to one of these, but if you desire a 'Tele', IMHO, FWIW, there's only one way to go & get close to what Leo Fender intended...since he designed these to outdo his original masterpiece...You might find one of these in good shape used for $800-$1000, ..or new for about $1200 or so & up, depending on options/upgrades.

The top one in this pic looks like what you describe:

G&L ASAT Classics
Here's the specs. It's not 9.5", but standard is 7.5" because Leo made them that way in 52...
the skinny
But you have options...
Neck Profiles & other options & upgrades
And finishes...which will look different on Ash, Figured maple, Alder...
Finishes
Pickguard colors? Yeah, you can choose that, too.

As you may know, Z, I have an ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi-Hollow...ordered it just how I wanted it --cherryburst over a swamp ash body w/no f-hole, & natural wood bound top, 3-ply creme pg (by Chandler), gun-oil tinted maple board/neck, jumbo frets...-- the 7.5" 'Vintage C (#2 neck)and, oh, yeah...Plek'd...they started doing that about 6 months or so before I got mine, standard . That's a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover SH55-N in the neck spot. I've been thru about 6 Teles over the years...I don't need or want another Tele with this one, I even let another sweet ASAT go to a new home, to cb:

Action? Dunno if these shots show anything like te action you might like...do you like 'effortless'?

 

[sumitomo]

That's good info wings,I know I will just end up with 1 or 2 guitars that are my go to (but in the mean time it's fun to try all kinds)so I know I'll keep this info and that is a beauty,it is also great to know that you can get any neck profile,cause back when I started with a wide thin and know I like a 59 round,but what would feel better is a 59 round that is about 10 thousands thinner.Sumi

 

[ZMAN]

Thanks man there is a dealer in the city where my Dad lives about 35 miles away. I visit him at least twice a week. So I have emailed them about the classic. I will see what they say. Don't see too many up here in Canada. Funny the neck radius on the Fender is 7.25 and the G&L is 7.50.

 

[ZMAN]

It's a long way from a CV to one of these, but if you desire a 'Tele', IMHO, FWIW, there's only one way to go & get close to what Leo Fender intended...since he designed these to outdo his original masterpiece...You might find one of these in good shape used for $800-$1000, ..or new for about $1200 or so & up, depending on options/upgrades.

The top one in this pic looks like what you describe:

G&L ASAT Classics
Here's the specs. It's not 9.5", but standard is 7.5" because Leo made them that way in 52...
the skinny
But you have options...
Neck Profiles & other options & upgrades
And finishes...which will look different on Ash, Figured maple, Alder...
Finishes
Pickguard colors? Yeah, you can choose that, too.

As you may know, Z, I have an ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi-Hollow...ordered it just how I wanted it --cherryburst over a swamp ash body w/no f-hole, & natural wood bound top, 3-ply creme pg (by Chandler), gun-oil tinted maple board/neck, jumbo frets...-- the 7.5" 'Vintage C (#2 neck)and, oh, yeah...Plek'd...they started doing that about 6 months or so before I got mine, standard . That's a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover SH55-N in the neck spot. I've been thru about 6 Teles over the years...I don't need or want another Tele with this one, I even let another sweet ASAT go to a new home, to cb:

Action? Dunno if these shots show anything like te action you might like...do you like 'effortless'?

I checked with the local guy who deals int he G&L Asats. They want 1300 new for one with a case.
I could have purchased the Fender for 1200. I recently picked up my CV tele and I am pretty happy with it. Not being a reall tele guy this might just be enough.

 

[ZMAN]

I have a line on an Asat Classic Tribute Tele. It has all of the things I wanted including an 9 in radius neck. This is an older one I believe it is a Korean model. I was wondering what your thoughts on this one were.

 

[Duffy]

Tele

I have a G and L Tribute ASAT Classic semi-hollow ash top tele and it has a maple fretboard and antique sunburst. Looks awesome and plays great. Action is real low, no buzzes, great tone and I like the concept.

I will have to post a picture of it. Beautiful.

 

[wingsdad]

I have a line on an Asat Classic Tribute Tele. It has all of the things I wanted including an 9 in radius neck. This is an older one I believe it is a Korean model. I was wondering what your thoughts on this one were.

I had a Korean ASAT Special (with the soapbar pickups and saddle-lock bridge)...I'd've suggested the Tribute series, Z, but the color you wanted isn't available in the Tribbys...that's one way they keep the price point down --limited finish/fingerboard combos. But they've got the 9" radius (no options) as a compromise between the USA models' 7.5 & 12's. And they've got the USA pickups. Not CTS pots like the USA's, but all in all? Excellent.

My Tribby is what sold me on G&L, and I traded it to get my first USA...the black ASAT Special Semi-Hollow that now belongs to fellow fretress, cb...

 

[ZMAN]

A guy locally has a natural with maple. I think it has the Tort gaurd. KInd of a dark picture. 2003 so it is Korean. As I mentioned there are not a lot of them to be had around here. The new Classic is 1300. This guy wants 525 Can, and I am offering 450. The natural is probably closest to the Butterscotch anyway. That ASAT of yours looks like a sweet guitar.

 

[wingsdad]

My ASAT Special was natural w/ tort guard, but with rosewood board. Couldn't get it w/maple, my Tele preference; it was an '04. I think your 450Can offer is OK. 1300 Can for a new USA Classic sounds OK, too.

But if you prefer the 9" radius to a 7.5, and considering you dig the Squier CV you just got, I think you'd be pleased with the Tribby and put the $850 under the mattress for the next GAS wave...or until what happened to me happens to you: it hooks you on the G&L pickups' sound & vibe and you start Jonesing for one just the way you'd like it, all around...and you do as I did: go all-in and have your dealer order you one to your specs.oke

And since you obviously dig LP's and Strats, you might be looking along the lines of a Bluesboy Semi-hollow...yes, she's sweet, alright. I've got the sanp & bark of the Tele bridge pup, and the silkiness of the SD Lover neck pup...they combine especially well...

 

[ZMAN]

WD: I never was much of a tele guy. I don't know why but I they just never spoke to me. Of course I love the tone Albert Collins got from his. I am liking the feel of this new CV.
I tried maybe 30 to 40 teles over the last two or three years. I am always turned off when I try them. They all seem to have way too much string height. Also with the higher action they fret out really easy on the 7.5 radius necks.
The only one that actually felt nice was a 52 reissue but again the fretting out bugged me. The funny thing is that Leo made the 7.5 radius on his necks and for some reason Fender us using a 7.25 radius on theirs. Maybe I am wrong but that is how I see it.
I guess being used to the LP Gibbies with the 12, the 9.5 is my favourite.
Also I could never bring myself to pay more than a 1000 bucks for a Tele.
So if I do buy one I am sure I will not pay more than 5 to 6 hundred max.
I will make it a point to try one of the G&L Classics when I drop by the shop that deals in them. Not many dealers for them up here either.
I am a sucker for the Cherry Burst though, and the neck on your Asat looks creamy. I was able to get my action on the CV to look very similar to yours, and it is, as you say effortless. Those A5s on the CV sound pretty amazing as well.
Being a Tele guy you probably have heard of Joe Barden pickups. A friend of mine has them in a MIM Tele, and they are probably worth more than the guitar. I would love to swap in a set of them into a decent Tele. He appartently has a spare set.

 

[wingsdad]

Z,
I'm actually more a Strat guy, and at that, mine's a 12" almost D profile. I'd played Teles mainly, LP's 2nd fiddle, before landing on a Strat. Tele moved to 2nd place.

Yep, heard of the Bardens. I love the G&L pups because....well...Leo designed them and they (at least used to) hand wind them on an old POS winder Leo invented from spare parts of things. They vary the number of winds. Why? Because they can. They've got humanity.

I think Fender went away from Leo's 7.5 as the Tele neck (which he maintained with G&L) because he invented the Tele when G's were still wound strings and 12's were 1st's. 9's are so popular, you need to use at least 10-47's on a Tele, IMO, to keep it right and not fret out. You also have to play with a loose, feather-light touch left and right hand, preferably hybrid pick or no pick. Lighter than you can with LP's or Strats. That's why you hear the speed pickin' from James Burton to Brad Paisley.

The neck on my ASAT Classic Bluesboy is 'Gun Oil Tint Gloss'. They match the tint tone to the body's tone. They picked up the golden heart of the Cherryburst on mine. On this other one, ASAT Special Semi-Hollow,that's now cb's, they picked up on the gold hardware:

when they assembled the guitar, the guy doing the neck/body marriage and dating the assembly in the neck pocket (like Leo did with his Fenders) got into the vibe of the black & gold:

 

[ZMAN]

Funny I had a 12" on my Deluxe player, and didn't really like it. I traded it for a Gibson LP Goldtop.
I just noticed that you had the 6 brass saddle bridge on both of your teles. How do you like that? Does it affect the tone compare to the 3 saddle?
I am a huge fan of vintage tinted necks. I really don't think there should be any maple boards made without it.
Haven't heard back on the Asat but I will keep a heads up now for any more I might see. Thanks for the info.

 

[wingsdad]

As for the necks...yeah, not just tinted, but glossed. Done right, not cheaply, it's the only way to fly with a maple board, IMO. It has to do with that 'light' touch I described. Fingertips slide n' glide more easily. Besides, they're a snap to clean and maintain.

The 6-saddle brass on the Bluesboy is more like a vintage 3-saddle; besides more precision in setting intonation by string, I think that with less 'mass' under the strings vs. a 3-saddle, where 2 strings share more brass, there's probably a tad less sustain per string. It also strings thru-body like a 'vintage' Tele. My first Tele as a kid in HS was a pre-BS '65. 3-saddles, pure Tele.

On the black Special, though, the six saddles are locked together by an allen-keyed set screw on one side of the bridge (you can see it in the tight shot, on the control side), thereby forming a unified mass of brass under the strings. Combined with the heavier bridge assembly, and stringing like a stop tailpiece vs. thru the body, and the Soapbar pups comparable to P-90's in character, this guitar rings and sings with power and sustain unlike typical Teles. But it still 'twangs'.

If you can find both types of G&L's, Tributes for your budget points, you really oughta A-B them thru the same amp, setup the same. You'll hear what I'm talking about. And you'd know in aheartbeat which you prefer. Being an LP/335-type on one side of your personna, I'd bet the Special buckles your knees more than a Classic.

 

[ZMAN]

I am pretty sure the local dealer has both in stock. I usually don't go to his place because it stocks a lot of pointy guitars, I found out by accident that he also sells the Vintage Icon Series by J Hornby Skewes of England. They have a lot of really cool Gibby,Fender knock offs with all Wilkinson hardware and pickups. I purchased a P90 Gold top from him last year. I did notice the G&Ls on the wall but was not in the "Tele" mode at the time.
Thanks for all the help.