NGD!!! A Tele?!?!
 
Notifications
Clear all

NGD!!! A Tele?!?!

6 Posts
5 Users
5 Likes
343 Views
(@matonanjin)
Posts: 430
Prominent Member
Topic starter
 

You probably saw my post about our trip to Nashville and visiting the requisite guitar shops: Gruhn's, Carter's, Rumble Seat. The day after going to the Eric Clapton concert we visited the first two of those. And before visiting those I had given some thought to what I am missing in my guitar "stable". I had been giving some thought to this even before the drive down. And it became obvious what I am missing is the Tele "snap". I, of course, being a blues guy, or wanting to be, never saw me with a Tele. But then I thought about Robben Ford, Keith Richards, The boss, Bruce Springstein, and others.

And most influential among those was Robben Ford. Here is the blues guy playing a Tele.

So with the decision made, or almost firmly decided, it was off to the stores the day after the Clapton concert. And certainly we had to hit Gruhn's first. They had about five Teles including a Vintera, a couple 75th Anniversary one, a Signature (I can't remember who) and a Professional. I didn't like the Vintera at all. I'm opposed to relicing. The Signature was way too heavy. And the was something distasteful about the Anniversary ones. They just didn't connect. But the Professional did.

Gorgeous natural wood finish, not painted. And it played really nice. I didn't plug it in and told the salesman we would think on it. Which was code for we still had to check out the other stores. Which we did. We went to Carter's. And I was shocked. I found Carter's inventory to be way bigger than Gruhn. But nothing in the Teles called out.

So the next day we went back to Gruhn's and I played the Professional plugged in. And it WAS awesome. I loved it. And kids! Here is the life lesson. I told the guy I wanted to think on it one more day. We were leaving town the next day and would stop back to play it one more time on the way out. And now you know where this is going On the way to Gruhn's my wife had pointed out a shop and said, "There's a guitar store! Called Rumble Seat. why haven't we gone there?"

So finally, we are packed and heading out of town and I am just going to swing by Gruhn's and pick up my new Tele. Which we did. At least stop by. And the Tele is gone! So we headed back to the parking lot with the intent of pointing the car west. And I said, "Ok. Just while we are here, so I can say I've been there, let's just pop in Rumble Seat".

And we did. And they had a shocking inventory on the wall. A Strat played by Ronnie Wood and a Tele played by Keith Richards just for two examples. And about 10 Teles. And here is the one that spoke to me! It's a 2018 and it played great. And sounded great. And it has been all I have played, almost, since home!

 

tele
 
Posted : October 4, 2021 10:39
robert and Clayton reacted
(@clayton)
Posts: 1771
Community Manager
 

Welcome to the Club, Ron!  That's a great guitar story and a beautiful butterscotch ending! 

Mazel Tov. 

 
Posted : October 4, 2021 15:22
(@jestme)
Posts: 929
Noble Member
 

Awesome... and congratulations. Sounds like an awesome guitar addition to your stable. 

 
Posted : October 4, 2021 20:03
Clayton reacted
(@clayton)
Posts: 1771
Community Manager
 

And yes, Mrs. Ron is a saint here at the MGA.

 
Posted : October 4, 2021 21:07
(@bluesiline)
Posts: 631
Prominent Member
 

I’ve been waiting for your report, Ron, and I can only join Clayton and Chris: great story with a happy ending. You are now a proud owner of a beautiful Tele!

And what does your story teach us: in decisive moments, it’s always good to have a proactive wife by your side 😉.

I very much hope, that you will tell us about the Clapton concert too.

Enjoy,

Birgit

 
Posted : October 5, 2021 00:52
Clayton reacted
(@robert)
Posts: 2290
Famed Member Admin
 

Awesome! I need to get my no-name Tele ready for some videos. It's very cool and it's just sitting waiting... dang it's hard to find time to do everything I want to. Oh well, eventually.

What is that model then? I don't know what they are even called these days. What are the specs and juicy details? Was it used?

Yeah, as Birgit says - we are also eagerly awaiting a report on the concert! No pressure but get on it already! 😀 

 
Posted : October 5, 2021 12:14
Clayton reacted
Share: