Road Worn Tele

[Dynaflow]

 
 I was in Scottsdale GC today picking up some strings (12 pair for 40.00 EB reg slinky I pick them up when on sale). I perused the fender show case room and found a few items I liked (some silverface, including a bassman 70 that looked ok), anyway I looked at the 'Road Worn' series of strat's and tele's. The blond 50's Tele was pretty cool, well relic'ed (which I wouldn't buy at the custom shop level of 3000.00 + dollars, but for a grand I'd be more receptive to it) looked like a nice old Tele UNTIL I picked it up. WTF, for a grand I expect the fret ends to at least be dressed so they're not sharp. The fret ends felt no better than a Squire tele I looked at for under 200.00. Its a little thing, and probably wouldn't cost much to have fixed, but when you can get 3-400 Korean guitars without sharp fret ends, I have a problem with that. I mean they feel like they've been nipped off and called good, no filing to speak of. Run your hand down the edge and feel EVERY one of them fret ends. Nice product, poor setup, too bad. Not like I have a grand to spend on one, but I would have considered saving for something like that if it were really worth it. Just thought I'd mention it.

Regards,

Dyna

[G._Hoffman]

The fret ends is almost certainly due to the fact that Banjo Mart NEVER properly humidifies their stores.  Every time I go into the local ones, I run my hands along the edge of a couple of fingerboards, and they always feel like serrated knives.  That's not Fender's fault - it's Banjo Mart's.  When I see Fender's that are fresh out of the factory, or which come from good local stores, the fret ends are right.  Well, they are as right as any factory guitar, at any rate.

Second, I've yet to see a relic'ed guitar of any sort that actually looked right.  The places where the finish is "worn" off never have the right look or feel, and the scratches never look real.  And then there is the weather checking, which Fender does before they clear coat the guitars!  I mean, WTF!  A bad idea, done badly. 



Gabriel

[Dynaflow]

 Thanks for clarifying that, I noted it on several guitars in there, just happened to be fenders because thats what I was looking at. I don't recall the Les Paul's in the LP room being that way, but then again its a much smaller room thats closed off and warmer (and probably humidified or at least the warmth may be helping I'm not sure. But the guitars in THAT room don't seem to have a problem, so I suspect your right, hey your the luthier I'm sure you know what it is.).

Regards,

Dyna

[duke of earl]

Dynaflow,

The best Fenders made (modern era) came from Japan in the 80's-90's. Even better than USA Custom Shop. Or you could step up to a John Suhr Tele. Best feeling guitar I've ever played.