Guitar Question Deaux

[nashhorn]

Since some ask - I just ordered me an Amer Standard Fender Tele on line. Was ready to buy today, went by Evans Music here in Houston to pay way more than what I found on line but got no attention from anyone. Really disappointed because they have a program of doing your adjustments for you free as long as own the instrument and that is the only place I had really had someone spend some time with me before but not very attentive this time. So I left.

Spent hour or so on line and found Musicians Friend who had what they call a "Stupid Deal" promo with the Am Tele for $300 less than comparable at Evans and GC here in Houston. And no tax! Internet rocks. Only option at that price was that Cola color but what the heck, I like it anyway.

Needless to say I am pretty excited, actually I feel like a teenager. Had really moved to the Am version not because the MIM sounded any diff but, for me, the Am was much easier playing. As I have said I am not proficient at all and the MIM brought that out because the E (6) string would fall off the fret board frequently when I tried to move to a G cord or did any type of playing on the bass side. Yeah I know just shows I do not come straight down like I should but because the set up on the Am is a longer distance from string to edge, and the frets themselves do not have as severe a cut at the edge the Am played much easier. I also like the slick finish vs the more natural wood on the MIM.

Man I am anxious.

Thanks for all the advice and consults. Have enjoyed the amp with my acoustic but will blow it away with the Tele. Got some insight as to what JimmyZ was talking about with the diff in the acoustic and electric when I tried a Tele on a Vox in the store - amazing.

Regards, and Hookem

 

[Wild Bill]

Congrats Nash! I've had my Am St Tele for 18 years and now my son is playing it. Great guitar. Sorry to hear that Evans Music is not the place it used to be. I bought my Les Paul there in 1988. I would recommend taking your new guitar to a good shop to have it "set up". Enjoy!

 

[jimmyjazz]

I think it was hulla who was talking about acoustics & electrics. Regardless, all I have to say is congratulations!

Post a picture of "cola" if you can find one. I think I know what it is, but I'm not sure.

 

[hullabelew]

Is this the cola color. Sort of a darker, not so bright candy apple.

Congrats on a great guitar and thanks for posting the follow up.

Is the neck 'dark' (rosewood) or 'light' (maple)? Also, although primarily for looks, you can change out the pick guards very easily. As Jjazz said in the other thread, if that guitar has just a plain pick guard, you can get the 'pearl' looking one or a tortoise shell that will really change the look, depending on what you like. Just make sure the guard you pick up has the same number of predrilled holes. Don't know if it is an issue if you buy a new one but a buddy bought one off of e-bay that was from on older strat and it had a different number of holes.

 

[jimmyjazz]

That guitar looks like ***. Definitely needs a mother-of-toilet-seat pickguard. It'll sound better then as well.

 

[nashhorn]

Ok I am going to freak out you purists here on two issues: Jimmy I love the "mother of toilet seat" lingo and kind of like the looks but am sure the wife will use the 'wifely' pressure to get a black or another pick guard - and I will be sure is right configuration with the '08' model. And I got the maple neck because my nephew turned me on to the 'black beauty' strings with the coating. My fingers have never been so happy. And I like the black color against the lighter Maple neck, although for pure guitar asthetics I prefer the Rosewood darker looking neck, as on my Tak.

Man, I cannot believe how excited I am, you would think I have a new girlfriend. Hopefully it will arrive by Thurs/Fri which works out great because sucky work is keeping me out of town Mon-Weds as it is. One thing that particularly has me on the edge of the anticipation seat is I have tried and tried to get a good sound doing 'La Grange' out of my Tak and have been very frustrated. Thought it was just my inadequate ability but when I hit the same strings on a Tele at GC using the Vox it was awesome. Man, did I tell you I can't wait?
Hookem!

 

[Wild Bill]

'La Grange' is gonna sound a whole lot better on your Tele than the acoustic. On the intro, pluck the strings with a clean sound, then when it gets heavy, strum it with some mild distortion (overdrive). The first solo is pretty straight forward in C pent minor (you can improvise and get close). The 2nd solo is in A pent minor and is THE SONG to study pinch harmonics (also called artificial harmonics) which you can do by pinching the string between your thumb and pick in just the right places on the fretboard. With your amp & guitar it will sound awesome.

 

[jimmyjazz]

Ditch the coated strings. Those things "don't go dead" -- they sound like **** their entire life.

Grab some D'Addarios or similar and rock on.

And don't worry about the pickguard. And good for you for ordering the maple neck. Maple necks and Teles go together like beer and baseball.

 

[tbone]

 

[hullabelew]

I once heard an interview with Billy Gibbons. This was probably around 79. The guy (probably Redbeard) asked him how he got that sound on his solos, especially on LaGrange. He said he used pesos instead of guitar picks. His comment was "They give me a nice, brassy sound that I really like, plus I can buy 144 of them for a buck". That still makes me laugh.

Nash: When you are looking at strings, people will refer to them as a number, like 10s or 12s. They are referring to the diameter of the high E string, so 10s or .010 and 12s or .012.

JJazz, Tbone & others: What strings do you use on your guitars? I love John Pearse bronze (12s) on my acoustics but generally buy D'Addario or Fender (10s) on my tele, whichever is the cheapest at the time. Those Pearse strings last much longer than any string I have used. They are a little more expensive, but well worth it, at least to me.

And Tbone: I don't know wtf is going on in that picture, but I like it.

 

[jimmyjazz]

Pearse on my Taylor, and whatever I see on my electrics. (Usually D'Addario, sometimes GHS.)

I also string my electrics with a heavier gauge than most -- 11 -- since I don't really play lead and it helps keep me from bending chords out of tune.

 

[nashhorn]

tbone that is an out-of-sight picture.

Thanks for the string education. I'll play with what comes on it and see how that goes. Been playing enough lately shouldn't have the finger problems I do when I start and stop a lot. Got word guitar had shipped - hoping to have it Thurs/Fri.
Really appreciate the tips on the 'La Grange' really like that song, others of ZZ too but thats my fav. That and James Gang are what I want to learn - man am I old or what.
Hookem