Xaviere Teles, how do they stack up?

[Angry Tele]

this looks more like butt blonde then avri 52s. Sounds like you want natural like Bruce Springsteens

 

but a close-up of an XV-825 "Keef" in the wild (with review ) looked like which isn't what I want.

[dogfish]

 

this looks more like butt blonde then avri 52s. Sounds like you want natural like Bruce Springsteens

 

 

I like a little more butterscotch on it than on a natural -- I used to have a Lite Ash, and would like something more caramel colored than that. Maybe I'll give it a shot, though, since jay is so good about returns. Max I'd be out ~$25 round-trip shipping.

[Yarbicus]

but a close-up of an XV-825 "Keef" in the wild (with review ) looked like which isn't what I want.

Definitely get what YOU want but I want that Blonde!!

[Steadfastly]

Some of the necks are a little narrow. If this is something you have a problem with, check before you buy.

[Angry Tele]

Definitely get what YOU want but I want that Blonde!!

 

+1

[JimboJ]

The Keef model is not intended to be butterscotch. If you want

butterscotch, you want this.

 

According to the website, its "correct vintage semi-opaque 52 butterscotch"

[Angry Tele]

 

The Keef model is not intended to be butterscotch. If you want butterscotch, you want this . According to the website, its "correct vintage semi-opaque 52 butterscotch"

 

 

theres a huge problem when you unpack this statement. Nobody knows what "correct" is. Everyone is going by 50 year old memory or 50 year old pictures (you cant go by 50 year old guitars)

 

Anyway I think CS Nocasters have the best looking blackguard color. Check out Merle's Tele here looks just like a Nocaster:

[YOUTUBE]5pr_Y_5qRf4[/YOUTUBE]

[JimboJ]

 

theres a huge problem when you unpack this statement. Nobody knows what "correct" is. Everyone is going by 50 year old memory or 50 year old pictures (you cant go by 50 year old guitars)

 

 

True. I imagine what they mean by "correct" is the color that Fender uses on their '52 reissues.

[dogfish]

 

The Keef model is not intended to be butterscotch. If you want butterscotch, you want this . According to the website, its "correct vintage semi-opaque 52 butterscotch"

 

 

You may be right, and the pic of the XV-820 is closer to what I'd like than the pic of the "Keef" XV-825, but both the Keef and the one you point me to have the same words in the description: "[...] Ash bodies in correct vintage semi-opaque 52 butterscotch- SWEET!"

 

And as a postscript -- someone on a different forum pointed out that instead of calling it a "Keef" Jay should have called it a "Vintage '52 Hot Rod," since KR has a PAF in the neck and the V52HR has a mini-hum.

 

And as a post-postscript script -- I've also seen discussions of "butterscotch" vs. "butterscotch blonde", which makes it all much more complicated. Maybe I should get away from this argument and say I want one that's honey colored.

[McCain]

 

Ash bodies in correct vintage semi-opaque 52 butterscotch- SWEET!" And as a postscript -- someone on a different forum pointed out that instead of calling it a "Keef" Jay should have called it a "Vintage '52 Hot Rod," since KR has a PAF in the neck and the V52HR has a mini-hum. And as a post-postscript script -- I've also seen discussions of "butterscotch" vs. "butterscotch blonde", which makes it all much more complicated. Maybe I should get away from this argument and say I want one that's honey colored.

 

 

Unless you want a 10lb. guitar i'd stay away from the ash models. I have 5 Xaviere's..(Zemaitis themed 700)(870)(jt-60)(650) but the ash bodied jt-90 http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-JT90-SOLID-ASH-maple-Fingerboard-GFS-Pickups-Sunburst_p_1117.html was a BIG HEAVY 10.5lb. disappointment...not the 7.25lbs. as stated. Just a warning.

[Preacher]

Definitely get what YOU want but I want that Blonde!!

 

+2. That actually looks alot better than I would have thought...

[McCain]

 

Unless you want a 10lb. guitar i'd stay away from the ash models. I have 5 Xaviere's..(Zemaitis themed 700)(870)(jt-60)(650) but the ash bodied jt-90 http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-JT90-SOLID-ASH-maple-Fingerboard-GFS-Pickups-Sunburst_p_1117.html was a BIG HEAVY 10.5lb. disappointment...not the 7.25lbs. as stated. Just a warning.

 

 

BTW...there seems to be a defect with the tele bridge plates on the Xaviere guitars. The tru-body string holes on my jt-90 are not correctly drilled. All the hole were off to the treble side causing the saddles to angle inwards thereby causing intonation problems...more-so than is common on 3 saddle bridges. The holes in the rear of the plate, for top mounting the strings are correctly placed. I've looked at all the images of 3 saddle tele bridges on GFS website and can see the same thing happening on the other tele bridges.. If you look closely you can see how the intonation screws for the E-A&D-G strings angle towards the treble side...only the B-E saddle screw looks straight.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/assets/images/products/xvsoashbuman.jpg

 

If you top mount the strings everything is ok, the holes are correctly placed, but you shouldn't have to do that.

[Ratbatblues]

So how do the MIM Teles rate against the CV and X??

[Angry Tele]

 

So how do the MIM Teles rate against the CV and X??

 

 

well, I rate Squier CVC over US AVRI. Depends what model MIM, those 50s classics are killer. Roadworns are pretty sweet too.

[twotimingpete]

I reviewed the XV-820 at my site. Generally a quality build on par with the CV stuff. Though I must admit to liking the pickups and general feel of the CV better. The 820's neck felt a bit too slim. Also, the Tone pot on the XV-820 suffered from almost no affect until the last quarter turn. See this on a bunch of imports (but not on SX, they seem to get it right). I've got a run down on a bunch of affordable teles here .

 

I'd have to strongly disagree... I've gone through ac ouple xavieres including a xaviere tele and also gone through a CV tele... xavieres are a good value, but they are not on the same level as the CV stuff.... it's just plain to see if you AB them.

 

 

also have a 2009 fender standard strat and 2009 fender standard tele.. honestly I'd have to say the CV is probably about on the level of them in terms of quality, though it's slightly a preference thing since the CV has a bit more traditional sound to it (probably mostly in the pickup) compared to the standard tele which is a bit hotter and more modern sounding.

[A-20]

I will weigh in here with my experiences. I've had a couple Xaviere Teles - an ash "buterscotch" that WAS the same color as the 52 reissue Fenders. (Have owned both the mini-bucker fender 52 hot rod and the regular configuration 52 reissue.) The Xaviere Tele was pretty good for its price. Tuners are cheap but work, pots are poor and 500k which was too bright. Finish was fine, neck was ok but needed leveling to be perfect. After changing electronics and setting up well including nut work, it was a nice tele. Bridge pickup was great, neck pickup never made the grade for me. A young player loved it and bought it off me... still plays if and gigs with it.

Also owned a thinline tele by them for a while - same story only the thinness of the sound stock was multiplied because of the hollowness of the body.

The ash tele was about average in weight for a tele made of ash... but the Fender 52-s were just a bit lighter. On the other hand i have a Fender Special Run Western Tele made of ash that is heavier than the Xaviere was.

The thinline Xaviere was neck heavy and VERY light in the body.

My Experience: They are cheap teles finished decently. Electronics need replaced, tuners could be replaced if you want to. Nuts usually need work too. The yellow headstock/neck color is ehhhh too - JMHO. Finish on the nick is pretty thick feeling. But I still think about getting another one because they have some very cool colors and bringing them up to speed isn't too tough.

 

***HOWEVER*** I had the privilege of having one of the new XV-JT90 telemaster guitars for a couple weeks and THAT was a different story stock. Finish was perfect, weight light, balance beautiful, sound amazing, and it just all came together for that guitar. Pots were good even. They are made in a different factory i believe. Just some free info there.

Good luck!

[A-20]

Also - there really isn't a fair comparison with MIM Fenders here. The MIM's i've had are far better, more professional instruments. But its double the price for MIM Fender - so you get what you pay for here I think. Never had a Classic Vibe tele... but the CV Duo-Sonic was uber-cool.

[Ratbatblues]

So now im thinking, that if you buy an X and have to spend a hundred bucks to bring it up to speed.....why not just buy a CV Tele in the first place? Plus you are going to have some re-sale value down the road. Just sayin....

[Angry Tele]

So now im thinking, that if you buy an X and have to spend a hundred bucks to bring it up to speed.....why not just buy a CV Tele in the first place? Plus you are going to have some re-sale value down the road. Just sayin....

 

well duh

 

But OP says hes had a CV and it wasnt all that. I dunno, my CVC is my number 1, its quality is equal to my 52RI, from fretwork to fit and finish, wood and hardware.

 

And it has the correct headstock shape to boot.

[dcindc]

My CV Tele is NOT going anywhere. I think you need to go look and play one again.

 

I have lots of X Teles and like them all, but it IS all about price. If they were $300 I'd buy another CV. At $150 they are nice to have.

 

Here's Rock Lobster's demo of an XV-620 guitar I eventually bought off of him. They are nice gits, but they are not CVs.

 

[YOUTUBE]DZ3WOupo9Gc[/YOUTUBE]

[stingxnj]

The baby jesus cries every time a tree is chopped down to make a cheap guitar.

[lank81]

 

 

 

I owned the CV 50s Tele for 3+ months and it's a solid guitar for the price. Really, it's worth the 300$ and then some but in the end this is a better guitar

 

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Standard-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar-Ash-102545282-i1371856.gc

 

I haven't played the CVC so I can't comment but as nice as the guitar played it still didn't feel as good as the FSR Ash MIM Tele. The CV Series are great values but the don't beat out higher end guitars IMO. In the end I should just save up for the Ash Tele instead of settling.

[wagdog]

My son has an 820. It's a decent player.

 

I have 2 SX teles, and I like the necks a whole lot better on them. I also have an XV600 which I like very much.

[Will Chen]

I'd have to strongly disagree... I've gone through ac ouple xavieres including a xaviere tele and also gone through a CV tele... xavieres are a good value, but they are not on the same level as the CV stuff.... it's just plain to see if you AB them. also have a 2009 fender standard strat and 2009 fender standard tele.. honestly I'd have to say the CV is probably about on the level of them in terms of quality, though it's slightly a preference thing since the CV has a bit more traditional sound to it (probably mostly in the pickup) compared to the standard tele which is a bit hotter and more modern sounding.

 

I didn't get to AB them as I had each at a different time, but in my example there was nothing from a build quality perspective which I could really ding on the Xaviere. The pockets were routed cleanly, nice finish, guitar intonated well, the frets were even dressed nicely. The electronics in the Squier were presumably better given my tone knob issue and generally liking the Squier pickups better, but on a Fender style guitar I don't really attribute that to part of "the build". Regarding feel, I much preferred the CV neck to the Xaviere. But again, that's not necessarily about the quality of build as I prefer the feel of SX necks to either but SX build quality is nowhere near Squier (or even Xaviere).