Tele vs Jag / Jazz. Need help deciding, please share!

[ryl417]

Hi all,

Been lurking for awhile now and I'm trying to decide on which to build (Tele / Jag). I hope this isn't too much of apples to oranges type of comparison. If I had the budget, I'd try both builds but unfortunately I don't and I'm not considering mutant builds as well. I currently play but am looking to step away from my very old SG Jr. for a bit.

I suppose I don't gravitate towards any specific genre of music so not much help as a deciding factor in that aspect although I'd like to be able to attain as much different sounds on one instrument. Perhaps some builders here have done both builds and can give some suggestions / shed some light on why you prefer one over the other. So, here are my considerations..

Telecaster

probably swamp ash and with a particular P-90 I've always had with me throughout my guitars

- Simple, elegant in design yet challenges you to play it, makes you never want to take a break
- Easyier to build and configure well
- Nice bright / chimey distinct Tele sounds

Jaguar / Jazzmaster

alder and with non conventional pickups for tonal range

- Acquired taste in shape yet very very comfortable to play on (medium scale, etc)
- Seems difficult to build and configure for first project (I might be wrong)
- Tonal options!


I'm planning to use either one of the above as new main but as this is also my first build, I'd love to hear what anyone has to say. Appreciate all taking the time to read this, thanks in advance!

 

[OzziePete]

For a simple, straight up & down easy to do project build, a Tele would be the way to go. Keep it as traditional as you can (I notice you wanna use a P90 - in the neck position or bridge position?). As your new main guitar, that will allow you to adopt some very standard tones that can translate to many styles.

JM & Jags have some identifiable 'issues' that deter many a player away from them. The trem system is not liked by some, the bridges too. While with Warmoth you can change the trem & bridge on the JM, the Jaguar stays as is in it's original format, unless you specify a non routed trem & bridge and do it yourself with another type of bridge/tailpiece assembly....Then there is the electronics which does steer you away from trad Strat/Tele sounds and the switching system can be an annoyance to some too. Both the JM & Jag pickups have fans and detractors & I'm not sure how a P90 would go with the Jaguar single coils, but with the JM they'd fall into the mix pretty well. For a first up main guitar I personally would not have either a Jazzmaster or a Jaguar.

Just my 2c worth, of course, others may differ in their opinions......

 

[tfarny]

If you want them both equally badly, I'd build a tele first. Reasons: 1. simpler wiring and bridge setup 2. more choice of parts, therefore cheaper 3. you are gonna build them both anyhow, so it doesn't matter too much. 4. You can get just about any rock and roll you want out of a good tele with a 4-way switch. 5 Everyone should own a tele anyhow so you might as well get started.

 

[Stew]

you heard the man ... go, go, GO!!  :icon_biggrin:

 

[tfarny]

Also: What do early Zep, Roy Buchanan, The Clash, Prince, George Harrison, Waylon Jennings, and Bill Frissell have in common? Only three things: Love of music, chops, and a tele.

 

[mayfly]

A telecaster is easily the most flexible and expressive instrument I have ever played.  Do the Tele first.

 

[Eric Banjitar]

You all make me want a tele too. Fourteen is at least an even number. I dont own a tele yet. But, on the other hand, I have many guitars that just dont get played very often...like the blue one, I never play the blue one anymore. I love the blue one. Settled then!  A blue tele will be the next guitar. :headbang1:

 

[OzziePete]

You all make me want a tele too. Fourteen is at least an even number. I dont own a tele yet. But, on the other hand, I have many guitars that just dont get played very often...like the blue one, I never play the blue one anymore. I love the blue one. Settled then!  A blue tele will be the next guitar. :headbang1:

How can you own 13 guitars and not one of them is a Tele?  :doh:

 

[Eric Banjitar]

The Stringy Stuff List:
5 string OLP Bass
1930's 5 string "chicago" banjo
cheap 5 string "K" banjo
Gold Tone es6 string electric banjo
Gold Tone GT850 6 string acoustic banjo
Ibanez 6 string acoustic/electric
1980's Series 10 electric
Ibanez Mandolin
Ibanez art core (the Blue one)
Epiphone 12 string acoustic/ electric
ukelele
Samick 6 string acoustic
:guitarplayer2:Warmoth neck electric 6string banjo (Statamataster belanjello especialle) arty07:

 

[erogenousjones17]

A Tele will definitely be my next build. Not sure when that'll be, however: the missus and I are buying a new car... That and the fact that I can't make up my mind what kind of Tele I want -- standard, delux, La Cab? Not to mention body wood, colour, pickups...you see where I'm going with this.  :laughing7:

 

[Eric Banjitar]

I forgot my first and most favorite acoustic guitar THE 1963 Gibson LGO.

I still want a Tele!

 

[Cagey]

How can you own 13 guitars and not one of them is a Tele?  :doh:

I don't think that's very unusual. Before I started hanging around here, I would never have considered a Tele. But I have time. I've got my mind right, and I've got a good supply of parts available. One of these days...

 

[Stew]

One of these days...

Do it Cagey ... you know you want to  :evil4:

 

[Cagey]

I do. But, I've got a few others still in process now, so it'll probably be at least winter before I get to it. I do have a spare ebony over bubinga Strat neck that's sitting in the closet just rotting at the moment. It's a crime. But, I also thought I'd like to put together a Soloist which attracts me more than a Tele, so...

 

[franklantern]

Check out the clean soundclip of the Charlie Christian pu made by Lollar for the neck position on a Tele. Its on Lollars website under details. Fairly sure this will be my next build. It will be used for Jazz.

 

[smjenkins]

Build a tele deluxe!  Folks who like offset body styles also love deluxe 70's tele's.  And they are more comfortable to play than a normal tele due to the belly contour.  Plus you can use the amazing wide range humbuckers.  You can get a set from telenator, Jason Lollar or Curtis Novak that actually sound like the originals.  Alternatively, if you go with a Jazzmater, you can build it without the treble circuit.  It makes it much easier to wire up.

Of course, the right answer is to get both: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=15212.msg229167#msg229167