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Post by edwardmarlowe on Aug 31, 2023 15:59:36 GMT
(I know this is an older thread - I'm used to a forum environment where it's normal to keep things "together" - please someone let me know if new threads are preferred in these parts!) I have my eye on one of these. I have a CIJ Tele 71RI L/H I bought new in 2006. Fancied a 50s-style mate for it for some time, but couldn't justify the cost of the Fender - or, tbh, even the Squier CV: I don't gig, and so justifying a second guitar in a style where really there's relatively little change... Recently, however, I discovered HB, and am delighted with my MR Classic LH and DC Junior TV LH, so one of these seems the obvious option. Curious - has anyone actually traced one of these out against a Big F? I'm intrigued as to how different the body shape is. Less, I suspect, than with the LP types, as I can't really quite put my finger on what's different with these in isolation? This link may be of interest to some: www.gearnews.com/fender-telecaster-vs-harley-benton-te-can-you-tell-the-difference/I was impressed by how good both sounded in the blind test. I did have a preference of the two - though interestingly, I was wrong in thinking it was the Fender; it was actually the FB I liked the sound of better.
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Post by justlearnin on Sept 2, 2023 6:26:23 GMT
I'm thinking this thread is so "old"... That there has been a significant change in the product. That is the "caramelized" (I hate trying to spell that) neck, which is roasted hard Canadian maple. Makes for a significantly darker neck. Looks great, fret ends finished very well. But this caramelization or roasting, results in a more stable neck due to its reduced moisture content. This should result in reduced fret sprout.
The neck is smooth (satin finished) and plays great. My TE 52 was my first roasted neck. Liked it so much, I bought a second one. I also have a roasted neck on a Sire T7. A more expensive guitar that is better finished, but costs 3X as much. Its neck is roasted as opposed to "caramelized" (more roasted and darker or "well done")
The TE 52 did shrink a bit in a bad/dry/cold Midwestern US winter. But not nearly as much as my $800 Fender Player Mustang. or waay more expensive Fender Am Standard Jaguar.. So this caramelizing is a cool thing ...
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Post by justlearnin on Sept 2, 2023 6:29:36 GMT
(I know this is an older thread - I'm used to a forum environment where it's normal to keep things "together" - please someone let me know if new threads are preferred in these parts!) I have my eye on one of these. I have a CIJ Tele 71RI L/H I bought new in 2006. Fancied a 50s-style mate for it for some time, but couldn't justify the cost of the Fender - or, tbh, even the Squier CV: I don't gig, and so justifying a second guitar in a style where really there's relatively little change... Recently, however, I discovered HB, and am delighted with my MR Classic LH and DC Junior TV LH, so one of these seems the obvious option. Curious - has anyone actually traced one of these out against a Big F? I'm intrigued as to how different the body shape is. Less, I suspect, than with the LP types, as I can't really quite put my finger on what's different with these in isolation? This link may be of interest to some: www.gearnews.com/fender-telecaster-vs-harley-benton-te-can-you-tell-the-difference/I was impressed by how good both sounded in the blind test. I did have a preference of the two - though interestingly, I was wrong in thinking it was the Fender; it was actually the FB I liked the sound of better.
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Post by justlearnin on Sept 2, 2023 6:39:07 GMT
There is an older You Tube video comparing the TE 52, to a $2,100 Fender Original Series Tele (now disco) done by Shane in the Blues
The HB here is an older non caramelized neck version ... But you wanna know hopw it sounds . Check this out ...
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Post by justlearnin on Sept 2, 2023 6:52:22 GMT
Whoa ! did not realize you found the same video ...
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Post by edwardmarlowe on Sept 5, 2023 9:33:47 GMT
I'm thinking this thread is so "old"... That there has been a significant change in the product. That is the "caramelized" (I hate trying to spell that) neck, which is roasted hard Canadian maple. Makes for a significantly darker neck. Looks great, fret ends finished very well. But this caramelization or roasting, results in a more stable neck due to its reduced moisture content. This should result in reduced fret sprout. The neck is smooth (satin finished) and plays great. My TE 52 was my first roasted neck. Liked it so much, I bought a second one. I also have a roasted neck on a Sire T7. A more expensive guitar that is better finished, but costs 3X as much. Its neck is roasted as opposed to "caramelized" (more roasted and darker or "well done") The TE 52 did shrink a bit in a bad/dry/cold Midwestern US winter. But not nearly as much as my $800 Fender Player Mustang. or waay more expensive Fender Am Standard Jaguar.. So this caramelizing is a cool thing ... Now you mention it, yes! I'm new to the HB brand, relatively - just discovered it this calendar year via another forum. Bought my first two this year (May, an MR Classic and July a DC Junior in the 25% off sale). My back-ordered from July JA25th is currently with the carrier, should arrive tomorrow or Thursday... The JA will be my first experience of the roasted necks. (The MR has that pale blonde neck that looks just like the Mosrites did; the DC Jnr obviously is a painted neck.) I did notice that a lot of the older F style pictured round here lack the roasted necks that they have now rolled out as standard across the range. It's impressive how this - which until very recently was something you only saw on high-price guitars - has come down in price. I like how it looks a lot, especially for maple necks, which would be my preference for a T or an S type. Cosmetics aside, it's definitely interesting to have direct word of it making a practical difference. I think this becoming more common, in line with alternatives to rosewood like pau ferro, is probably the biggest development in guitars in terms of the wood itself since Yamaha released the solid-wood body Pacifica 112 way back when and forced the competition, even Squier, to go 'solid' instead of plywood.
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