MIM Std Telecasters - your thoughts?

[tremoloman***]

I used to have an American Telecaster but sold it since I didn't use it much. I've been missing the twang she had provided me for when I needed a fix, so I was was wondering if any of you own a MIM Standard Tele. If so, how does it sound and feel to you?

[Guitar-Chris]

....so I was was wondering if any of you own a MIM Standard Tele. If so, how does it sound and feel to you?

I own a MIM Telecaster Standard in Sunburst. I tested several models in the shop and compared this one to an Amercivan Standard. I didn't find a difference. But: People say, that the frets of the MIM are not so durable. Since I have mine only for e few months i cannot say something to this point.


(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Attachment 39

Model Name Standard Telecaster
Model Number 013-5102-(Color#)
Series Standard Series
Colors (506) Black,
(519) Sage Green Metallic,
(529) Blue Agave,
(532)* Brown Sunburst add $50.00,
(575) Midnight Wine,
(580) Arctic White,
(Polyester Finish)
Body Alder
Neck 1-Piece Maple, Modern “C” Shape,
(Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard Maple, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets 21 Vintage Style Frets
Pickups 2 Standard Tele Single-Coil Pickups (Neck & Bridge)
Controls Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Switching 3-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups
Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge Standard 6-Saddle String-Thru-Body Bridge
Machine Heads Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard 3-Ply White
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.650” (42 mm)
Unique Features Vintage Styling
Strings Fender Super 250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-0250-003
Accessories None
Case None
Introduced Jan 98

[Nelskie]

Trem - I have the Indonesian-made Squier Tele, and I must say that it's a fine all-around guitar. I've played a couple of the MIM Std. Teles since I bought mine, and really, there's not a whole lot of difference between them. I changed out the marginal stock tuners mine for some nice Fender Script tuners ($30 off of Ebay), and changed out the factory p'ups to Fender Vintage Noiseless ($90). With an original purchase price of $198 (off of Ebay), I'm into this rig for around $320, which is pretty close to the MIM Tele Std. Even though they're both essentially the same guitar, buying the the Indie-made Tele allowed me a couple of choice upgrages - esp. the p'ups!! I also installed a sweet faux Tortoise pickguard, which with the 3TS finish looks awesome!! Not to mention that that the Vintage Noiseless p'ups give it some added jangle, and a little bit of a nasty edge on the distorted channels!!

I posted a review of this guitar at Harmony Central. It's about 3/4 of the way down, dated 1/24/05, under my "Nelskie" monniker. Here's the link:

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guita...ecaster-1.html

Any way you look at it, you can get into both the MIM & Indie-made Teles for a far less than a USA-made, and still enjoy that trademark Tele "twang". If you bought the Indie, though, you'd have some extra $$ for upgrades. Also - I have several excellent online sources for Tele parts / pickups, in case you're interested.

[tremoloman***]

Wow... great posts guys! I got some Christmas ¢a$h to spoil myself with, so it's off to the guitar store to look for a Tele fix. I'll give both the Squier and MIMs a go and see what seems to fit me best.

A Bigsby will have to be in the works at some point since I cannot live without a vibrato.

[tremoloman***]

To follow up, I think I'm going with the Black ^ Chrome Squier. It's one hell of a guitar, especially at $199 USD! I'm off to Guitar Center to give one another try...

Thanks everyone!

[LowEndWonder]

Try the Vintage Modified series. I have the SSH model, $299.00 to scoot and better than a Mexican Fender! Check it out.....

[warren0728]

i played a lot of teles before i bought mine....everything from squires to mim's to usa's and the one that i kept coming back to was an agave blue mim (which i first played while looking at guitars with iago when he came to florida and we met for the first time)....it is still one of my two favorite guitars (along with my gibson les paul special)...i think the key is to play a bunch and pick the one that speaks to you!

[Brian Krashpad]

I think the MIM Standards, both Strats and Teles are good bang-for-buck guitars, though some dogs get through so it's best to either be able to play it first or buy from someone w/a good return policy. I have owned a MIM Std. Strat and know a number of real life and online friends who've been happy with their MIM Standard Teles. I have a MIM Tele but it's not a Standard. It's a discontinued model called a Tex-Mex Telecaster Special, which I found used in the late 90's for $125 (yes, that was a great score):



Another option where you will get a very similar guitar to a MIM Standard Tele is to find a used Peavey USA Reactor, which will probably run you less than a used MIM Fender due to the "name on the headstock factor." I haven't personally owned one but several people whose opinions I trust do, and they have a great rep. I have a Peavey USA Predator, which was the sister model of the Reactor, the Strat clone rather than the Tele clone:



I picked up my used Predator Strat for $100 on ebay last year, the Reactor Teles usually run a bit more. The Predator is basically the same guitar as my MIM Strat was (with a 22nd fret). The Reactors look just like Teles except for a Peavey headstock, like this (this is an online buddy of mine from another forum playing his live):



Happy hunting!

PS-- if you're interested in the Peavey Reactor, look for the USA ones from the 90's, there are later import models (check headstock) that I can't vouch for and are not as good a deal

[Sblack]

Is that the Alan Sirvent AKA Frets99?

[Brian Krashpad]

Is that the Alan Sirvent AKA Frets99?

I'll be doggone, yes, that's Big Al, the infamous Frets 99!

[Spudman***]

They must be good because Roine Stolt used one to record most of the new Flower Kings album -The Sum Of No Evil.
Here it is in action.

[SuperSwede]

Spud, that is a really good song... that electric piano sound is just wicked! +1

[Spudman***]

It was recorded in the Varispeed studios close to you I think.

[SuperSwede]

In Malmö?

[Bucks Owin]

I own a MIM Telecaster Standard in Sunburst. I tested several models in the shop and compared this one to an Amercivan Standard. I didn't find a difference. But: People say, that the frets of the MIM are not so durable. Since I have mine only for e few months i cannot say something to this point.

Frets? Don't know about that durability factor, maybe it depends more on if they are "jumbo" or not? I DO know that the MIM Fenders seem to me to be assembled with care in regard to setup and fit/finish. About as good as the recent "American" guitars and BETTER than most CBS era Fenders...

JMO,

Dennis

PS: I wonder why my "Arctic White" Nashville Tele is cream colored though....Is it a "no habla" thing?

Como se dici "cream" or "arctic" en espanol?
(excuse my spanish spellificatin' )

[tot_Ou_tard]

That one is definitely not butt-ugly.

[warren0728]

thanks tot....i played a lot of teles but i kept coming back to that one....played mexicans and usa models....this one just felt right for me...still one of my faves and plays like a dream! they got this mim right!!

ww

[TS808]

What I like about the MIM standard teles or strats is that you can get a decent guitar at an affordable price. Plus, you can always upgrade down the road..add better pickups, better bridge saddles, a custom pickguard, and you have an even better guitar than you started out with.

I had a standard strat...I upgraded the bridge saddles to Graph Tech and the pickups to Texas Specials, and it was pretty sweet.

[sunvalleylaw]

What I like about the MIM standard teles or strats is that you can get a decent guitar at an affordable price. Plus, you can always upgrade down the road..add better pickups, better bridge saddles, a custom pickguard, and you have an even better guitar than you started out with.

I had a standard strat...I upgraded the bridge saddles to Graph Tech and the pickups to Texas Specials, and it was pretty sweet.

I certainly agree. I would really look at a MIM Tele if I was going that route after my experience with my strat. I also think that sometimes they must pay a little extra attention with the special edition MIMs. At least mine seemed that way. The pup upgrade from the regular std. pups I think made a big difference.