> Mark Bedingfield <atari030@nomorespamplease.optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> I wondered how you got on with that;-)
>
> dvaoa wrote:
> > (had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
> > it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
> >
> > Picked up the guitar last Thursday:
> >
> > http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
> >
> > I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
> > fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
> > how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
> >
> > Real quickly:
> >
> > Grade: B
> > The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
> > "woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
> > pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
> > worth.
> >
> > Pros:
> > -The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
> > fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
> > my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
> > playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
> > bends very easily.
> > -Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
> > -Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
> > inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
> > -Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
> > pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
> > SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
> > when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.
>
> I put these in my Squier;
>
> http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
>
> http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
>
> Are any/either of them in yours? I'm stoked with the bridge pup, VERY
> Tele in sound. The neck isn't near as loud, but that's just a Tele
> problem. Next time I build a Tele I think I'll drop a PAF in the neck.
> Yes I know, I'm foregoing my puritan single coil loving ways. From what
> I can see its the only way (besides actives) that you can get a good
> balance between neck and traditional Tele ball busting bridge.
Mark - just a quick note -- you could also retain the stock tele
single coil slot (neck pup) and just install a tele GFS blade type pickup.
Yeah - they are blade humbuckers but you wouldn't have to route out
the wood or order custom pickguard to fit in the blade/rails type neck pup.
I think GFS has 2 types Tele neck blade/rails. One is lower k vintage sounding
and the other is higher wound beefier.
http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html
they have them for import size and american standard spacing.
I do not have personal experience with these though.
I decided on other pickups but just a reminder to you about
the tele 'blade' pup options out there.
sorry for busting into the thread.
>
> >
> > Cons:
> > -G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
> > you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
> > have to be replaced.
> > -The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
> > at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
> > or tone pots are scratchy.
> > -The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
> > & low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
> > upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.
> >
> > Sound:
> > Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
> > much time with it. Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
> > country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat. I haven't noticed
> > a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet. The neck
> > pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup. The sound
> > is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
> >
> > Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
> > replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.
>
> I have to agree with Keith re-shimming the neck. I actually found a shim
> in my MIM 50's RI neck. I just took the thing out and did a proper
> setup. I'm convinced it made a difference (tho I could just be mental).
> In fact I'm not even sure why it was put in there in the first place.
> Relief was OK and I actually got the strings a little lower too (which
> helps with a 7.25" rad).
>
> As far as the tone goes, check the cap value and make sure they are
> audio taper pots. Maybe drop in a treble bleed cap or remove it if there
> is already one there?
>
> What's Jay's take on setups? Cheap is as cheap does? I wouldn't imagine
> there would be enough in his margins to warrant bothering? But for that
> price a little work is hardly a bother for you I suppose.
>
> Anyway, good to hear you got one you are happy with Mate.
>
> Mark
jtees4
RichL
