chris77
I am 90% sure I'm getting this.
http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Standard-Electric-Natural-Fretboard/dp/B001OICCRQ
It's a fender special run for Guitarcentre and Musiciansfriend. not available locally. through Take2 i can get it for a few hundred bucks more than a normal MIM tele.
The main reason I am seriously considering this is the natural Ash finish, which the normal standard series doesn't offer as an option. It also has Tex-Mex pickups (alnicoV) pups instead of the MIM's ceramic set. And a tortoise shell pickguard, which I might replace with a black one.
Testing a few is not an option, not even for the regular std series.To give you an idea of what is available locally, one of the shops had an American Series tele a few months back for R19990.00. Cheapest they were prepared to go was R17500.00 - cash. So whatever I buy, it will be unseen before purchase and unplayed untill delivery. So apart from the risk of buying before playing, is there any reason I shouldn't get this? Does anybody have any experience with them or know someone who does perhaps?
infernox
its on special... and thats dirt cheap...
nick
That is nice! Id just replace the pickguard for the usual black one but thats me 8)
chris77
O.k, so after trawling the net for comments, I 'borrowed' some funds from my savings and ordered one. The reviews and opinions are mostly positive. Some players mentioned that not all the bodies are bookmatched well and that some are quite weighty (8lbs or so) So ja, i'm holding thumbs now. Expected delivery is only first week of November though.☹
infernox
how much did you pay in total?
chris77
Well, I got a couple of extras as well. A fender molded case and a black pickguard for the tele, and few other things. And free shipping? The price on their site is the price you pay - nothing extra
chris77
Well, I got a couple of extras as well. A fender molded case and a black pickguard for the tele, and few other things. And free shipping? The price on their site is the price you pay - nothing extra
infernox
Did you buy direct or through Take 2?
infernox
I get this:
Important Message
Fender Standard Tele© Ash Electric Guitar, Natural Ash Maple Fretboard cannot be shipped to the selected address.
chris77
Through take2. If a parcel is too big they can't ship it via post office. Select the 'Courier' option and see if that helps.
infernox
Howd you get the ash version on take2? I couldnt find it.
infernox
found it, much more expensive than the USA... think Ill rather get my friend in the states to send it.
chris77
Its all relative.? Thats the same price I got quoted, after discount, for a standard mim tele here. But it doesn't come standard in the natural ash finish with the maple fretboard, which is what I really want. U.S prices cannot be beaten, so if you have a contact that can ship you gear it will always be cheaper.
Ray
AlanRatcliffe
The Standard is a Mexican.
Ray
Which is what I was thinking and so I dont think you goin to pay much more than that in SA hey?
AlanRatcliffe
Standard Tele retails at R8995, so you can probably pick 'em up for about the same after discount and at least get to play it before you buy.
chris77
Yup, she's a latino mamasita? Let me see if I can explain a bit better why I bought her. I dont really like the mim teles that much, mainly because the available finishes don't fit my ideal tele look. My options as I saw them was to get a classic vibe tele in that gorgeous vintage blonde, or to save up some more and hope that a natural or butterscotch blonde mia pop up in the classifieds when I had the dough. Then I saw this mentioned on the tdpi forum while surfing for info on the c.v. Its a fsr model and not a standard Standard, only available in the states. So I tried take2 and there it was. I dont think its a bargain, but I think its worth it. I live in kimberley, so no matter what I buy it will be without playing it first. The local okes dont stock mid priced or high end guitars. Even in Bloem options are limited. So ja, I'm hoping I get a good one, but to be honest even if I don't I wouldn't know it - theres nothing here to compare it to.
infernox
whats the difference with the fsr model?
Also we wont be getting this colour variation in sa and itll be worth more sooner due to the limited run.
chris77
From what I gathered Fender Special Run models are made to order by the big U.S. chains, according to their requested specs and price points. So not neccesarily better, but different. This model has an ash body as opposed to alder, a clear coat natural finish as opposed to the coloured finishes, alnicoV pups instead of ceramic ones, and a tortoise shell pickguard instead of a white or black one. The rest is the same as the regular standard - necks, tuners, electronics and hardware.
