ESP Traditional Telecaster

Japan made ESP Telecaster, blonde finish, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, "Kluson" (spell?) looking tuners. I switched the vol and tone knob to a tortoiseshell with brass type and the pickguard was switched to a torouiseshell type.

ESP said it is about a 1983 or 1984 model.

The bridge hardware is brass.

The PU's are your standard Tele style PU's. The neck position PU has the chrome cover and the bridge is open with black finish.

The strings are thru body. I was told the body was ash. It's thick but not too heavy.

It's the only single coil solid body I own. I've played it live but use it more for recordings. I play rock, funk, blues, folk and reggae. I run it either through a 1971 Fender Princeton or a half stack including a Music Man hybrid 100 watt head and a 4-12 Legend cab. It does get noisy with effect, so I gate it. I have about 12 foot pedals but the one's I mostly use are the RAT, Morley Wah/Vol, Mooger Fooger, Meatball, and Vintage Tremolo. It's sound is chunky. The 3-positions all sing. It takes effects well but also sound very colorful straight.

I bought it used off of a friend and it was set up for .09's, I use .11's so I had to adjust it but it's very easy to do. All you need is an allen wrench and a electronic tuner. The Craftsmanship is superb! (and I rarely use that word)

The friend I bought it from was in a noise band for a very long time so he's thrown this guitar and treated it really horribly. There are dents and nicks but nothing crazy. It's a survivor.

I've actually played it live indoors and out. It reacts and stays in tune fantastically. It is a work horse. It was made in 1983? It's lasted to this day. It's built well. The finish is thick and although no longer shiny and new, it is beautiful because you can see the grain through the color. Solid strap buttons. The plug for the 1/4" cord is recessed. this is a very impressive feature, especially for live gigs. I have used it on gigs without backups. No string changing or major tuning nightmares. (knock on wood)

ESP has been very helpful and actually enjoyed seeing the guitar after all these years. it seems that this was one of the models that really gave them retail prescence in Los Angeles.

Warranty is long gone. I've had to do minor repairs, nothing major. It's alive and well.

I have owned this guitar for five years. I own a Performance solidbody, a Gibson ES 134, an Ibanez Pro LP (the fancy lawsuit model), Martin Mahogony Auditorium, G & L L-1000 bass and this ESP Tele. I would most definitely buy another one of these. My favorite feature is it's balance and the way the neck feels. I compared it to a standard tele and G & L tele and this one blew me away, even though it was the cheapest of the htree options.

Made in Japan standard early "tele-deluxe" configuation, two normal tele pickups, white binding back and front , metallic blue, single ply white pickguard, maple slab neck

This is a tele, so dont expect a huge range of sounds. The ideal rhythm instrument for a singer to play. I suppose the only true test is comparison to a usa made tele. It is not quite as hot as a modern Tele, but the sound is better, a little more bass and top on the pickups, less mid. It is a tele so it hums (never had one that didnt)

Really well put together. I bought mine used, so I have no idea about factory setup, but an hour with an allen wrench was all I needed to get it exactly how I like them. Truss rod is good, copes with everything from .09-36 through .11-56

very solid and dependable. The matt finish on the fingureboard is starting to wear off an leave dark spots in the maple. I personally like this. Not a string breaker, would trust it absolutely

Been playing for 25 years, also have a 72 Les paul, A 67 Rickenbacker 360, 81 Strat elite, epiphone jazz guitar, Japanese 12 string strat
ESP do not produce these any more ( to my knowledge) but the can be found on E-bay around $450, and are an absolute bargain in my oun opinion, certainy equal or better in quality to USA made Fenders

This is a 1992 model Traditional Telecaster. Alder body with Flame Maple Neck. ESP pick-ups and everything else is "Just a Standard TELE". Frets are tall and thin (verses Jumbo). Came with ESP hard shell case.

I play various styles. I try not to sound like people but I will admit that my tunes sound like Ty Tabor (King's X), Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie),Jake E. Lee (BadLands, Ozzy Osbourn), and Dweezil Zappa (Z). I primarily use various stomp boxes insteed of multi FX pedals. BOSS, Prescription Electronix, Sans Amp, Fran Tone etc. I've used so many amps (you name it). I am currently checking out the "New Gen.of Amps" the Tech 21 Trad 60, Flex Tone, Art Blues Breaker. The Tele is great because it's simple. I go to Japan alot and it is just so simple to take the neck and body apart and through in a back pack. It has never warped or disapointed me in anyway. The tone? You are responsible for the tone. Eddie Van Halen, George Lynch, Steve Vai? Give them your $200 Guitar. They will make them sound like $3000 guitars. All that matters is the quality of the guitar. If the intonation is correct 95% of the time, you as a gutarist is responsible for the rest. I went to the basics because (believe me), I spent Thousands of dollars on guitars ranging from Ernie Ball EVH, Ibanez (VAI, Satriani, Scholnick), Gibson (Premium +,1976 Custom owned by George Lynch), Fender, Kramer,PRS, Washburn (N4), Zion,and tryed many others at the NAMM, what is a guitar worth? A boult-on-neck should be only worth $1000. The rest should be from playing the instrument.

On this particular gutar, no flaws. (I am comparing to others such as Gibson guitars. You pay the price and you get the flaw).

This axe is solid as a rock. I would keep a back up because you never know if the electronix are going to work properly.(due to dust, String Break!!)

Matt at ESP is great. Called just to chat. He returns E-mails and picks up the Phone.

I've been playing for 11 yrs. I have bought and sold and still want to try out many guitars. But I came to the conclusion, when am I going to become satisfied? I admit that I have bought guitars for the simple reason, Used or endorsed by... The bottom line is, be an individualist. Know what a guitar should be worth. Play to ENJOY and to Creat. I rate this a 9, just because I am constantly on a look out for the ultimate guitar. Bottom Line, don't neglect your guitar, no matter what condition or value it may be. Just love the thing!!!!