any special wood preference for tele thinline?
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rockskate4x
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mahogany or black korina is the way to go...
In my experience, the Thinline is the toughest Tele to get a good sound from. If you're doing mstly home recording and stuff it's no big deal. But if you'll be gigging the guitar in a live band, it's a different story. The really lightweight Thinlines tend to have little projection and often get lost in the mix. Not ALL of them mind you, but more of them suffer than not.
I would look for a body in the 4 lb range.
I would look for a body in the 4 lb range.
>But if you'll be gigging the guitar in a live band, it's a different story.
i got a first hand experience of how these sound some three months back watching tab benoit play live in nyc.
he uses thinlines with fender wide range humbuckers.
imo it sounded a bit flat - not as "open" and "airy" as a 335. but still it had its own sound.
for wood choice i am looking more towards a good sound than appearance.
i got a first hand experience of how these sound some three months back watching tab benoit play live in nyc.
he uses thinlines with fender wide range humbuckers.
imo it sounded a bit flat - not as "open" and "airy" as a 335. but still it had its own sound.
for wood choice i am looking more towards a good sound than appearance.
I have two, both Mahogany, one has a Bubinga top and P-90s.
The double F-hole is lighter, it also has a really really light colored mahogany. I've not weighed either guitar.
The single F-Hole thinline has some fat sound to it, but its sound is really huge all across the tonal spectrum without any icepick.
WTF!?!?!? My experience is way different from yours. In fact, I find Thinlines to sound better when at gig volume. When your loud, you've been playing hard, its hot, sweat is pouring down your arm, you can feel air pump out of the F hole and onto your forearm, "The Breathe of the Thinline" I call it. My assumption is that all the surface area, inside and out, absorbs the vibration from the sound in the air, and creates a small breeze that flows out of the guitar. All the added vibration in the wood has a tonal impact, naturally, since sound is vibration. IMHO, its always sounded sweeter, smoother, and notes just leap off the guitar. I've had my old brown thinline for 13 years now, its been my #1. And my first Warmoth had to be a thinline as well.
The double F-hole is lighter, it also has a really really light colored mahogany. I've not weighed either guitar.
The single F-Hole thinline has some fat sound to it, but its sound is really huge all across the tonal spectrum without any icepick.
Telenator said:
WTF!?!?!? My experience is way different from yours. In fact, I find Thinlines to sound better when at gig volume. When your loud, you've been playing hard, its hot, sweat is pouring down your arm, you can feel air pump out of the F hole and onto your forearm, "The Breathe of the Thinline" I call it. My assumption is that all the surface area, inside and out, absorbs the vibration from the sound in the air, and creates a small breeze that flows out of the guitar. All the added vibration in the wood has a tonal impact, naturally, since sound is vibration. IMHO, its always sounded sweeter, smoother, and notes just leap off the guitar. I've had my old brown thinline for 13 years now, its been my #1. And my first Warmoth had to be a thinline as well.
I'm not saying Thinlines don't sound good as a rule. I'm just saying that they're often more difficult to get a great sound out of. Those two mahogany Teles of yours are beautiful by the way. I had an original '72 that I bought brand new and it was a great guitar. Since then I have built several with varying results.
My latest features my own modified Re-issue Wide Range Humbuckers in a Fender Ash Thinline body with an Am. Dlx neck. It sounds killer! But it took a while to get it there.
When a Thinline is dialed in and everything is right, few other guitars can even get near it!
My latest features my own modified Re-issue Wide Range Humbuckers in a Fender Ash Thinline body with an Am. Dlx neck. It sounds killer! But it took a while to get it there.
When a Thinline is dialed in and everything is right, few other guitars can even get near it!
I love my thinline and the other guys at rehearsal are all jealous. The tone is much better than the lead guitarist's $5000 PRS 513.
I'm not sure you need to worry about a 'thinline wood' - just get the wood that you want and focus your attention on pickups. Mine is walnut / Lollars.
I'm not sure you need to worry about a 'thinline wood' - just get the wood that you want and focus your attention on pickups. Mine is walnut / Lollars.
Telenator said:
+1. And I guess there are numerous factors involved with a guitar's sound. I can make both of mine sound like butt if dialed in right, usually too much distortion kills any sound, regardless of the guitar.
tfarny said:
Hehehehehe... Been there. I have under $900 on both of mine and at a recent jam I attended, turned more heads than a Custom Shop Strat and a PRS that were in attendance. It also helps if you design the guitar to suit YOU and not buy one based on trends or someone else's marketing plan.
And +1 on pickups. I personally recomend Reed James Custom http://www.reedjamescustom.com, he uses solid peices of exotic hardwood instead of plastic. Plus there's some other mad-scientist action going on with other components and design. Obviously both mine have them. I also have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom with a set. I can vouche for the tone being what i needed. And he'll wind 'em how you want 'em, and rewind if you don't like the sound.
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