Choice for 2nd Electric Guitar?

[Nathans_Dad]

Ok, I'm back to the Tele. Here is a guy getting a great warm jazz tone out of a tele...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZu_OW3q3rM&feature=related

Seems like when I was at the guitar store today I kept going back and playing a tele...maybe that means something.

[Les Paul]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ

This is what I always equated a Tele as THE perfect match to the song.

[Sonic dB]

Nathan's Dad... here are some clips of the late great jazz guitarist and educator Ted Greene playing jazz on his Tele... note the fabulous tone (much of which comes from his fingers, intellect, experience and muse)

[Sonic dB]

and check out one of my favourite jazz fingerstyle guitarists Martin Taylor

[targa911S]

Get The Tele.

[Les Paul]

I'd vote Tele too.

[jbripps]

this is not in my budget either, but I'd love to grab one. Self tuning Les Paul....really cool.


http://www.gibson.com/robotguitar/robotguitarvideovoting.aspx?playvideo=training

J

[targa911S]

See we have Les Paul telling you to get the tele. What more do you need?

[Nathans_Dad]

LOL, ok I have settled on a Tele.

Ok NOW here comes another question:

I really like the Baja Telecaster:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Classic-Series-Classic-Player-Baja-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar-103862371-i1166324.gc

But it runs $800 pretty much across the net, the only deal I saw was on ebay there is one that is a store demo for $689.

Should I get the Baja or a Standard MIM Tele for $399 and upgrade the pickups? I believe the Baja is also a MIM Tele but has different pickups in it as well as a different neck....

As you can see I favor it in white or tan...

Baja:


Standard:

[craigster59]

The Tele is a great choice. I'd go with the Baja for the extra $$. One piece neck, better p/u's and I like the 3 saddle bridge. That's just me, but definitely play them S/S yourself and compare.

[Les Paul]

Great colors.

[Nathans_Dad]

Wow, ok hold the presses...

Just talked to my wife and presented her the options. Her first opinion was "why don't you get it in red"...lol. Ok, but then she says "this is a guitar you are going to have for a long time, why don't you get what you REALLY want?" So, in that vein we look at the G.E. Smith Signature Telecaster that I have been drooling over for months...

It looks a lot like the Baja except the bridge pickup is mounted directly to the body, and is a similar pickup to one that is in a classic Fender Lap Steel. Also it has the lap steel type dots on the fingerboard. Premium Ash body, 7 1/4" radius u shaped maple neck, vintage pickups.

It runs just over $1500 currently...we are talking combo anniversary/birthday/Christmas present here...

Fender Specs:
http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0118202867

Video with GE Smith introducing the guitar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnQYoRYedF0




SO, given that, do you think the GE Smith one is worth the extra $$$ over the Baja? The wife has already said she thinks I should at least get the Baja for the better electronics so the standard MIM is out of the picture...

[Jim Richards]

Can you play a GE Smith to see how you like it? An alternative is to buy the Baja and pick up a GE Smith bridge later to mod the Baja. It's just like modding cars! Muhahaha!

[Nathans_Dad]

Hrm...there isn't a GE Smith available at the Guitar Center I usually go to, I'll look around in town. One negative on it is that I have heard the neck is pretty fat. Apparently Smith likes fat necks and did that on purpose...I'd like a more classic Tele neck...

[Jim Richards]

That Baja is looking pretty sweet. But, if you want to go red, maybe you should look at the Classic 60's http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Tele60RCAR/ or the Muddy Waters http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TeleMWCAR/ telecasters.

[deathpunk dan]

Find a used G&L ASAT and play it before you buy any fender brand tele....

[Jim Richards]

Rick, here's a thread about the GE Smith mod to a tele. This guy just cut his bridge to be like the GE Smith bridge, and screwed the bridge pup into the body.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech/97651-g-e-smith-style-bridge-works.html

[Ron.G]

I'd go with a standard Tele. They will hold there value better then any of the Newer model paint/pickup designs.
Classic colors are usually more in demand then the translucent funky finishes.

Just my two cents.
Been doing this stuff for thirty years

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

SO, given that, do you think the GE Smith one is worth the extra $$$ over the Baja?

IMO No.
Actually I never cared for telcasters, too twangy.
I was a heavy les paul humbucker type when I was younger but even then I prefered a strat over a tele.

There are some great guitar players who play telecasters, but there are a lot more who play strats.

[Nathans_Dad]

I like the twang of the Tele, I feel like you can always turn the tone down on a Tele, but it's tough to get a LP or SG to "go to 11" as they say. Plus I have heard every sort of sound come out of a Tele with modern effects and amps...

Plus I already have a Strat

I went back to GC (one of the guitar dudes recognized me...I got the "Back again?" today lol) and played only Teles. Compared the Standard MIM, Baja, American Standard and Highway 1 Teles. Honestly the Baja won out. The finish is as good as an American Standard, and better than a Highway 1, IMHO. I like the classic look with the brass saddles on the bridge and I like the option to put the pickups in and out of phase, gives you more tone options. My Guitar Center had them for $699 which is interesting since the Website says $799. Anyhow, I will probably pull the trigger next month when a little cash comes in...