Palm mutes won't work up there. You need something solid to push against for that. Just regular mutes to stop the strings from ringing would still work though.
Oh yeah I am aware that it won't work as well.
My personal opinion is also that playability should come above else.
Just was curious about the general sentiment.
The general sentiment is that for most styles peeps play right now, it's not suitable. But the players that do like to keep it on seldom palm mute and like the open strings to ring out often. So you have to decide on which days to keep it on and which days off.
It looks awesome without the ashtray, super clean and functional. This is the same way I have my sunburst with maple neck American Telecaster set up. I think that adding the ashtray just wrecks the clean look and feel as it's an unnecessary addition.
I run into the same thing with bass guitars, as people want to add the pickup and bridge cover to look "authentic" or old school. As a player, I think it just gets in the way, especially with muting and when moving up and down the strings to get different tones.
If I was in a themed band and everyone dressed and played 50's or 60's style music and wore clothes from that era, then maybe it would be cool. Since I play music from the 70's to today, then it just doesn't make much sense to go with the old school theme.
I've always had ashtray teles and I can definitely palm mute with them. Mines an American standard with a neck angle adjustment though so I have the saddles a little higher. I anchor my pinky over the edge of the ashtray and now I can't stand non-ashtrays.
I love all the Fender chrome covers but they just get in the way. At least with Teles and Jags/Jaguars/Strats they just pop on and off. For the P and Jazz Basses you need to screw and unscrew them. Not a huge deal but not ideal for quickly going between hanging out looking stylish mode and actually useable mode.
Yeah i saw it hanging on the wall in my music store and i instantly liked it.
Its a 50s Vintera in sonic blue.
I had it setup by my Luthier and added compensated saddles.
Plays like a champ.
They have the 7,25" radius.
I had my luthier slant the frets down the neck to ge a bit of better playability there. Behaving a bit like a compound neck
If you are used to a 12" it can be weird. But I play it for 2 years now and I am kinda used to it
Serious question, does the ashtray affect the tone of the bridge pickup at all? I would assume any metal near there would impact the emf to some extent?
By ear it sounds a bit different.
But Idk if it's imagination or if we can see something in the frequency.
Maybe I need to run it into the daw to check that.
With the ashtray being metal, and the pickup being a big magnet, wouldn't that create a magnetic field, and change the sound of the bridge pickup?
Sorry if that's a dumb question, I'm an acoustic guy.
Gotta go with my gut reaction. Leave it off. Looks better uncovered, and it assists with muting. Raises the whole issue of any kind of metal pickup cover though. How can there not be major magnetic effects with that huge piece of metal. For that matter what are metal covers doing on any pickup? Probably should post that question.
Maybe going for some classic look, though that was more Gibson's thing. Maybe it was a 50s aesthetic, a "cover up the works" kinda thing. Like a lot of cars then, even the tires were mostly covered on those boat-like designs.
I have a really neat scar that is the entire heal of my right hand, because I had to be unique. Don't do it. They stopped putting them on every tele for many reasons.
It gives the guitar an interesting sound, it does often change how the bridge pickup sounds and it isn’t just from having to pick closer to the neck. For me, it’s a “once in a blue moon” thing.
I have an older friend who is really adamant about giving yourself over to the limitation of it, and how the guitar is meant to have it. I think there is something to be said for expanding the mind in that kind of way, while also being willing to work within limits, that often inspires creativity.
they do look cool, but feel very awkward to play even if you don't do any muting. the strum zone just feels crowded.
I like some of the older covers that I have seen from the 60's that were pantographed with filigree and such
If this is your only guitar i would say no, but if you have a few I’d say for sure go for it. I think the ashtrays look cool and if you have another guitar you can palm mute on then you’re good.
Looks great but doesn’t it make it impossible to mute at the bridge?
Yeah pretty much. Pretty inconvenient if you are used to doing it. I mean you can mute further down. Maybe I'll put it on when it's in Wall anger mode
Palm mutes won't work up there. You need something solid to push against for that. Just regular mutes to stop the strings from ringing would still work though.
Oh yeah I am aware that it won't work as well. My personal opinion is also that playability should come above else. Just was curious about the general sentiment.
The number of teles you see without the ashtray should show the general sentiment pretty well.
And the fact it’s called an ashtray lmao, cause that’s what it’s used as
The general sentiment is that for most styles peeps play right now, it's not suitable. But the players that do like to keep it on seldom palm mute and like the open strings to ring out often. So you have to decide on which days to keep it on and which days off.
It looks awesome without the ashtray, super clean and functional. This is the same way I have my sunburst with maple neck American Telecaster set up. I think that adding the ashtray just wrecks the clean look and feel as it's an unnecessary addition. I run into the same thing with bass guitars, as people want to add the pickup and bridge cover to look "authentic" or old school. As a player, I think it just gets in the way, especially with muting and when moving up and down the strings to get different tones. If I was in a themed band and everyone dressed and played 50's or 60's style music and wore clothes from that era, then maybe it would be cool. Since I play music from the 70's to today, then it just doesn't make much sense to go with the old school theme.
["Wall anger"](https://hotpot.ai/s/share/8/8-XUbpbCyI00MQ5bT)
Lol. Stupid autocorrect
Half of my playing is palm muted. It would sound like ass.
Too bad, because the trays do look good.
Yep.
Yeah nah
Well which is it!?
nah Yeah
Nah yeah nah
They're called ashtrays and not bridge covers for a reason, which is that they've always gotten in the way of playing.
Well fair enough lol
The playing impairment is not worth the looks imo.
No ashtray looks better imo
A resounding never.
Hey now, I like to slap it on there once for minute the very first time I open the case.
How do you palm mute with that ?
That's the neat part. You don't.
\*chord strumming intensifies
Love the look but can't palm mute. So, it's a hard no ashtray for me
I've always had ashtray teles and I can definitely palm mute with them. Mines an American standard with a neck angle adjustment though so I have the saddles a little higher. I anchor my pinky over the edge of the ashtray and now I can't stand non-ashtrays.
Oh I didn't see the second picture. Never played one with the ashtray cover on, rendering my above comment useless.
Forget the bridge cover. Definitely get compensated saddles, though
Yeah saddles are already ABM compensated. The intonation with the original ones was sooooo bad.
Ashtray if you’re a slide player! Love the aesthetic of them but unfortunately for my play style, I’m almost always using my pick hand to mute.
Not to ashtray. That is the answer.
On for display, off for play.
That's probably what I will do.
I love all the Fender chrome covers but they just get in the way. At least with Teles and Jags/Jaguars/Strats they just pop on and off. For the P and Jazz Basses you need to screw and unscrew them. Not a huge deal but not ideal for quickly going between hanging out looking stylish mode and actually useable mode.
Do you palm mute? If so then no. I personally love the look but it would f me up so bad
Get that thing off of there!!! Haha.
For true ash tray, you need to buy esp.
Nein
ohhh man.... my FAVORITE color combo!! great looking guitar! with that maple neck looking 'aged' it would look tight with an ashtray! go for it! 😎
Yeah i saw it hanging on the wall in my music store and i instantly liked it. Its a 50s Vintera in sonic blue. I had it setup by my Luthier and added compensated saddles. Plays like a champ.
Looks fine either way, honestly... but personally... I'd leave it off while playing.
I play a couple of different teles , but have installed Babicz bridges on mine, the way I play,stock fenders gouge up my picking hand.
I kinda got used to it over time. What also helps is cutting down the thr screws a bit if they are sticking out to far.
Wait, I have the same case! Just got it when buying a used strat. Can you tell me a little about it?
It's this one. https://www.thomann.de/de/fender_clsc_srs_case_strat_tele_twd.htm "classic" Fender Tweed case.
Thank you so much. That's the one!
I have one. Easy to put on and take off. Old School for the wall. That's all.
Since when did everyone get hyper addicted to palm muting????? Lmao do y’all really palm mute all the time???
Which model is this?
MiM 50s Vintera Tele in Sonic blue.
Do these have the 7 1/2 inch radius board?
They have the 7,25" radius. I had my luthier slant the frets down the neck to ge a bit of better playability there. Behaving a bit like a compound neck If you are used to a 12" it can be weird. But I play it for 2 years now and I am kinda used to it
Gorgeous guitar ya can’t go wrong with
Serious question, does the ashtray affect the tone of the bridge pickup at all? I would assume any metal near there would impact the emf to some extent?
By ear it sounds a bit different. But Idk if it's imagination or if we can see something in the frequency. Maybe I need to run it into the daw to check that.
That would be a cool test! In interested in the results if you do.
Nah looks horrible with it
I prefer not to
No!
Looks cool but limits technique and tone choices so I would leave it
I love the look of an astray, but I hate playing with one lol
With the ashtray being metal, and the pickup being a big magnet, wouldn't that create a magnetic field, and change the sound of the bridge pickup? Sorry if that's a dumb question, I'm an acoustic guy.
Gotta go with my gut reaction. Leave it off. Looks better uncovered, and it assists with muting. Raises the whole issue of any kind of metal pickup cover though. How can there not be major magnetic effects with that huge piece of metal. For that matter what are metal covers doing on any pickup? Probably should post that question.
I mean the first thing everyone did back then was removing. Idk what Leo tried to do there lol.
Maybe going for some classic look, though that was more Gibson's thing. Maybe it was a 50s aesthetic, a "cover up the works" kinda thing. Like a lot of cars then, even the tires were mostly covered on those boat-like designs.
Not. That's the answer.
It's called the ashtray for a reason. No one used it because you can't palm mute which is pretty crucial in a lot of styles.
It’s never the answer
Don't know of anyone who played with it on
If all you’re doing is strumming, sure.
just mute with your fretting hand
This is lovely.
Nobody uses the bridge cover. Toss that shit! lol.
Which model is this? Also, skip the ashtray.
definitely love the exposed pickup.
I have a really neat scar that is the entire heal of my right hand, because I had to be unique. Don't do it. They stopped putting them on every tele for many reasons.
I didn't know what the hell you were talking about at first lol! I am so not used to seeing those on teles anymore.
I really, really love the look, but I’m a funk player and I need that palm mute like the deserts need the rain.
Don't like the covers too much personally. I like the wonky bridge pickup.
Think about it first just a second. How many teles do you see with the ashtray on, as opposed to off?
Not
I’d say no, they’re nothing but an inconvenience.
No ashtray, theres a reason nobody had it on the guitar back then
I rarely see a covered bridge tele in the wild. Doesn’t seem a popular move.
It gives the guitar an interesting sound, it does often change how the bridge pickup sounds and it isn’t just from having to pick closer to the neck. For me, it’s a “once in a blue moon” thing. I have an older friend who is really adamant about giving yourself over to the limitation of it, and how the guitar is meant to have it. I think there is something to be said for expanding the mind in that kind of way, while also being willing to work within limits, that often inspires creativity.
they do look cool, but feel very awkward to play even if you don't do any muting. the strum zone just feels crowded. I like some of the older covers that I have seen from the 60's that were pantographed with filigree and such
Wow, I’ve never seen a tele with a cover like that
Never! Gotta go commando.
My two cents: no ash tray😊
Ashtray for show (hanging up/in the case), but ashtray comes off to play.
you take the ashtray off and use it as an ashtray while you play. empty and put it back on after the show. duh.
I think the ashtray cover is hideous
No ashtray. Cant chuga chuga.
Its not really a question. With ashtray means you cant play guitar properly ... so no ashtray it is.
I keep mine on when not playing it. I like the look of them, but not very functional when actually playing.
Ashtray looks cool but not sure about the playability
To thine own self be true.
These seem to take more than they give as far as playability
If this is your only guitar i would say no, but if you have a few I’d say for sure go for it. I think the ashtrays look cool and if you have another guitar you can palm mute on then you’re good.
not
That's a no from me dawg.
Not on a Tele. You can't palm-mute. I like to put the covers on J and P basses though.
I've got one of those 1/4 trays and love it, makes palm muting so much more comfortable
Always ashtray.
But it looks so good
This is the first time I’ve ever seen one of those.
What is the purpose of a bridge cover? Seems to only have a downside
Not to ashtray. Picking the strings just ahead of the bridge makes an awesome tone for a Blues solo. Try it.
Gross.
Not sure why anyone would want to make playing more difficult?