A Telecaster and a Stratocaster? - 07/20/1704:41 AM
I have owned many great “F” hole and thin line guitars. I recently bought a $125 Stratocaster and sold a $359 Telecaster. I am lost as to what I am buying. What’s the difference between a $125 Stratocaster and a $1,000 Stratocaster? A Telecaster and a Stratocaster?
I know what I am hearing but I have no reference point. Thank you, John C.
Re: A Telecaster and a Stratocaster? - 07/20/1705:12 AM
Originally Posted By bruno123
I have owned many great “F” hole and thin line guitars. I recently bought a $125 Stratocaster and sold a $359 Telecaster. I am lost as to what I am buying. What’s the difference between a $125 Stratocaster and a $1,000 Stratocaster? A Telecaster and a Stratocaster?
I know what I am hearing but I have no reference point. Thank you, John C.
Re: A Telecaster and a Stratocaster? - 07/20/1708:29 AM
John, figuring out the value of Fender instruments is a job for a much smarter person than I, and I have over thirty of these "boards". I call them boards because, basically, they are machine cut and just bolted together, wherever they are made.
Mexican made Strats, Tele's "P" and Jazz bases (bottom of the line with a Fender name) are in the $500.00 neighborhood. Squires (made in the orient) are in the $2-300.00 range.
American made and Custom shop instruments go in the $800 up range.
Some of my favorites are Squires.
A 59 Strat (I have my original one) is worth about $29,000.00. An 82 reissue of a 52 tele is worth over $4,000.00. A Broadcaster is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (have one of them, too).
After playing a 64 Jazz bass 6 nights a week for 20 years, I wanted to preserve what's left. After looking for a year and trying out lots of alternates, I bought another Jazz bass made in Japan. Other than being coated in poly rather than varnish, I could tell no difference. The old pre-CBS Jazz bass is worth about $8,000.00. The new(1995) Jazz cost about $550.00. The Japanese instruments have their followers, and just turned down $1850.00 for mine.
Re: A Telecaster and a Stratocaster? - 07/20/1704:11 PM
Originally Posted By bruno123
I have owned many great “F” hole and thin line guitars. I recently bought a $125 Stratocaster and sold a $359 Telecaster. I am lost as to what I am buying. What’s the difference between a $125 Stratocaster and a $1,000 Stratocaster? A Telecaster and a Stratocaster?
I know what I am hearing but I have no reference point. Thank you, John C.
Hi John, I had the exact same question a few weeks ago. As Donny pointed out, there are a number of really good YouTube videos out there, plus some great articles on google. Do a search. You might not get a full answer, but you will a be a bit closer Eric
Re: A Telecaster and a Stratocaster? - 07/21/1712:43 AM
I agree with Russ Squiers can be great value at a low price. But the only thing I would suggest is it is worth paying more for a Squier with Seymour Duncan pickups because they are much better sounding than the cheap Fender pickups. A Squier with Seymour Duncans is a great guitar. But I would try to find one in a store I can play first rather than buying one online. I have played some Squiers that have fret ends that really need filing back to the edge of the neck. But that is quite a job to have to do.
Re: A Telecaster and a Stratocaster? - 07/21/1701:59 AM
Nigel thank you, sounds like a good idea about the pickups. About frets needing filing – I spent many hours at Jimmy D’Aquesto’s shop in Huntington, Long Island watching him filing frets. It is an art.
Re: A Telecaster and a Stratocaster? - 07/21/1702:13 AM
John, figuring out the value of Fender instruments is a job for a much smarter person than I, and I have over thirty of these "boards". I call them boards because, basically, they are machine cut and just bolted together, wherever they are made. --------------------------------------------------------------- Russ I could not have said the last part any better. When I look at a $2,400 fender I see a neck and a body and pickups – the question that comes to mind: What justifies the difference in price? But they do that with stamps and comic books. Thank you Russ, John C.
PS, Today I will go to Guitar Center and check out the A Squier with Seymour Duncans pick ups. Great idea. Nigel you do know your guitar stuff.