Cheap Telecaster Guitars

[KAG]

Tele's are brilliant pieces of industrial design. Leo was really in the zone when he came up with it. Very cheap to build even in an age before CNC machines. Even a good one shouldn't cost a lot these days IMHO.

[GNAPPI]

Those modern player and Classic Vibe models are very well done, I'm not surprised to see them here.

After so many teles I lost count I can say for me there are few guitars that get my attention more than a tele (don't care the brand) which has a neck that plays right. Sound is easily changed. I've bought them for as little as $20 (Peavey Reactor) and upward. I've built Franken teles, bought parts casters, new from the U.S, Mexico, Asia all of them!

The Fender Classic Vibe thinlines and Jim Atkins with the set neck and P90's are among my faves. But, being a teleholic once I found a St. Blues S&T Custom and Traditions Jerry Reid I finally found perfection with these four.

I guess my Strings and Things Saint Blues is my fave, they did it right in Memphis.

[Al_F]

Yep, have a classic vibe tele, $320 brand new, and it is crazy good!

[mr. beaumont]

I think there's a lot of great cheap teles out there.

That said, to get one exactly o your specs, you really only have to spend about 1k (and a few hours in the basement)

[docbop]

If on a tight budget (under $500) some of the Squires are real nice, but I would stick to the traditional style ones not especially stick to ones with the traditional bridge plate and pickup. That traditional bridge plate and round bridge pieces are a lot of what makes a tele great. The big steel plate and large single coil PUP are key to the sound.

Also used Tele's are typically good deals especially if you plan to do some modding or changing parts. Find a good neck and light weight body and have excellent foundation for a great Tele.

[TedBPhx]

A cake I could dig in to.

[jazzbow]

A cake I could dig in to.

Wow

[pingu]

ok i know it’s an old thread !

a couple questions for tele experts

if i bought a squire affinity tele over
the internet
(I want a green tele with a rosewood neck for sentimental reasons ....and i’m locked down with no shops open)

whats the chances of me getting in ok one
through the post with a straight neck ?

also when i want to upgrade various parts on it maybe bridge and or saddles etc etc
will standard american fender size
parts fit ok ?

I’ll probably put a Biltoft tele CC neck pickup in it at some point

cheers mates

[TheGrandWazoo]

Get a used one off of an online market place that's already setup and played in. You can find one cheap easily. Mine was a partscaster made of GFS parts I got for $150 and its a great axe. I only upgraded the tuners. IMO any upgrades besides better tuners and a good set-up wont make much difference. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean its not going sound great.

[jazzbow]

ok i know it’s an old thread !

a couple questions for tele experts

if i bought a squire affinity tele over
the internet
(I want a green tele with a rosewood neck for sentimental reasons ....and i’m locked down with no shops open)

whats the chances of me getting in ok one
through the post with a straight neck ?

also when i want to upgrade various parts on it maybe bridge and or saddles etc etc
will standard american fender size
parts fit ok ?

I’ll probably put a Biltoft tele CC neck pickup in it at some point

cheers mates

Hiya Pingu me ole' mucker...

Check this link on me auld jazz Tele conversion
Jazz Tele Venture

£200 off ebay, £120 for pickups, £40 for hardware. Not bad for something a whole lot better than any Fender or Squier.
I must say that the only thing better is a custom shop Tele.
Also G&L tribute ASATs are worth looking at. I bought a NOS ASAT Bluesboy after playing it for 20 minutes. One of these second hand is a better guitar than Vintage Vibe Squiers at the same monies.

So budget £350 for
Second hand Squier and upgrades
New Vintage Vibe Squier as is
Second hand G&L ASAT with extraordinary pickups and decent hardware.

Hop3e this helps and you and family are well ;-)

[neatomic]

[QUOTE=pingu;1095197]
if i bought a squire affinity tele over
the internet ...whats the chances of me getting in ok one
through the post with a straight neck ?

also when i want to upgrade various parts on it maybe bridge and or saddles etc etc
will standard american fender size
parts fit ok ?

/QUOTE]

squier affinity teles can be nice guitars...& you have a good chance of getting a decent one delivered...the present squier qc is pretty good...but always helpful if you know how to do some setup work to fine tune

as for parts...the bridge size is unique and will not take a usa or vintage bridge..without some bodywork and filling visible holes...probably not worth it!

it's also a toploader bridge!

pretty sure the fingerboards are laurel these days..not rosewood

affinity is probably the best real cheapo (around 200$) tele out there

luck


cheers