Fendee Thinline

[rbourlan]

I just picked up a new guitar a couple weeks ago! www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=510474 for info on it. The guitar (a Fender 72 Telecaster Thinline reissue) is the same guitar that Paul's holding on the cover of the last Grandpaboy album and played quite a bit on the last tour. I've got a Strat and was getting tired of it (sounded good when I was 18 but I'm almost 28 now) and also a Epi Dot Studio which I like but is a bit big for me and didn't always offer enough bite for certain songs. I was leaning towards a Tele when I came across one of these at a local music store and thought it looked good because its got humbuckers (because of a weird hearing condition I hear higher frequencies than normal people and single coils give me splitting headaches after about five minutes) and is semi-hollow. I fell in love with it but couldn't afford until I found a used one and snapped it up. This has got to be the best guitar I've ever plaid. You still get a bit of the famous Tele twang but its meatier now and can even have a bit of a growl with it. The neck is rediculously comfortable and because its semi-hollow doesn't hurt your neck after an hour or two.
Anways,not trying to brag or anything but just thought I'd give a quick review on one of Paul's guitars. If you've got the cash and are looking for a new one I'd definitely say pick this one up.

[wilconorth]

I have the same one..finish is a tad oranger and was made in mexico(I'm sure pauls was made in the USA) but for what I paid I love the dam thing...........

[brady]

Oh the IRONY!

I just started saving up for that same '72 thinline 'cause I thought it would be nice for some PW tunes.
-especially those mono tracks-

[bhelm]

hey brady, do you know how to play any of those mono tracks? i brought "silent film star" in to learn at a guitar lesson but my teacher could not figure out what paul was tuned to? i even sent the lettermen video to him and he still could not figure it out. does any one know what he is tuned to in that song?

ben

[wilconorth]

colormeimpressed.com/ did you try here?

[rbourlan]

Unless Paul was playing one from back in the 70's he's either playing one that was made in Mexico or Japan. They were made in Japan in the 90's and from what I can tell have been made in Mexico for the past few years. Seems I remember reading somewhere that his isn't a vintage ax so most likely is Mexican as well.
Also, Brady, keep saving! This guitar is worth every single penny that you'll pay for it. You'll have to have quite a few pennies for it but is worth it.

[Cold Fingaz]

These Thinlines are still made both in Mexico & Japan. I have a CIJ ("Crafted in Japan") model from a couple years ago. Killer guitar. I always assumed Paul had one of the older originals from the 70's that were made in the US.

[rbourlan]

Ok, so I was in Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago and in a guitar store that had an original (not reissue) one of these guitars. Here are my thoughts.
At first I was I was very hesitent to even pick this guitar up. I love my reissue and I feel extremely lucky to have found the perfect guitar for me for only $500. No, that's not pocket change but considering how many thousands of dollars guitars can go for $500 ain't too bad. Anyway, I always say that I've honestly never picked up a guitar, at any price, that I liked better than my Thinline and was afraid that once I played an original that there's no way I could afford I'd just be lusting after something I could never have. None the less, I couldn't just pass it by and had to give it a try so I pulled off the wall and plugged into the same amp I play through at home (a Fender Hotrod Deluxe).
Yes, the new ones are made in Mexico which generally means not as good of quality. It may have just been the one I was playing but to me it seems like my MIM is put together better than the original. I know that the one I was playing was over 30 years old and my guitar is probably about 3 years old but it still just seemed like the MIM went through just a little more quality control before being shipped out. The one thing that seemed to be the same on both versions, and I commend Fender for, was the size and shape of the neck. This is one of the best feeling necks I've ever put my hand around (stupid small hands, thanks mom and dad for those genetics) and was one of the things that made me want my guitar. After going over it a bit it was time to plug in.
The two versions are supposed to be the same but the way they sound really sets them apart. They definitely sound different from each other. Some people will say that's a bad thing but my personal preferrence says its a good thing. The older one certainly had a different ring to it. While the newer ones have a nice smooth, warm sound the older ones seemed to be a bit more harsh. I can definitely see where some people will like that harshness and it would sound great for some songs. Where the new one sounds like a tele that is a bit edgy and it might had smoked some pot, the older one sounds like a tele that is a bit edgy and then did some coke. Also, with the newer ones, I can get one of the sweetest tones I've ever heard out of a guitar with the pickup switch set in the middle, the older one just didn't blend the two pickups as well. On second thought, it did blend them well but they just don't sound as different as they do on the newer ones which combine for that amazing sound the middle position gives you. Also because of the two pickups sounding so close to the same, you can't get the wide range of tones out of the guitar as you can with the newer ones.
Over all, I liked it but after playing it for a while I was longing for my reissue. I also was feeling even better about paying only $500 for my guitar versus a few grand for an original or any other guitar I've ever played.

[Tarzan]

Played in a couple of bands but don't know much about guitars. Always wanted a Thinline. Versatile sound, very comfortable. Had a 1968 Telecaster that was stolen (I had it 25 years. I cried). Heartbroken. So since my band days were about over I didn't want to invest much. Bought a Danelectro six or so years ago for a couple hundred bucks new and love it. Play it thru my 1970s Fender Twin.

Highly recommend a Danelectro for anyone first learning guitar. Cheap (at least then they were---haven't been in a giuitar store in years) and very playable. Sound great in my book.

[Ginsu]

got a '72 thinline RI. wire and wood.