ShortScale.org

So, today I went into Fairdeal Music in Birmingham to kill some time before work. I've recently talked myself into saving for a vintage Jazzmaster (or at least a CIJ). Anyway, I noticed they had one of the new VM Tele Deluxe's in, so I gave it a whirl. And I was really, really impressed. It was set up perfectly, and the neck felt amazing. Anyway, I played it for a few minutes, and then spent the next 45 minutes comparing it to various other Mexican and Japan Fenders, as well as a couple of other VM Squiers (the Mustang and Jazzmaster). In particular I put it up against a couple of '72 Deluxe's. Whilst the Fenders had a bit more weight to them (probably due to the Alder), there was nothing else that they had over the Squier. The neck on the Squier was much nicer, and one thing I noticed was that the Squier's tuning heads were much, much smoother than all of the Mexican Tele's I tried, as well as the CP Jazzmaster.

Soundwise, the difference between the Fenders and the Squier was so minimal that I couldn't distinguish any real difference. We all know that the reissue WRH's aren't 100% accurate anyway, so I figured that they'd be something not worth worrying about. But they sounded great. I only got to play clean, but they sounded nice and full. Not bright (possibly not enough, we'll see), but not at all muddy. Either way, the Squier pups sounded almost, to me, identical to the Fender's.

So, I bought it on the spot. Now, I didn't go in that shop planning to buy anything. And, to be honest, I've never been sucked into this whole "Buy a Squier over a Fender" thing. But, setting all the hype etc. aside, the fact was that the Squier Tele just felt brilliant. Now, the other VM Squiers I tried didn't- but that seemed to be setup issues (although I thought the VM Mustang just kinda sucked). Maybe I got lucky, but if the rest of the VM Tele Deluxe/Customs are up to this standard, then we're all quids in. I'm not a low-budget player- my main guitar is a '72 SG- but this doesn't at all feel like a low budget guitar.

Not to diverge, but this got me thinking- I'm probably never going to buy a mid-range guitar. The way that I see it- if the high end Squier stuff is so comparable to the mid-range Fender stuff, then why bother taking that extra monetary leap? I figure that from now on I'm probably going to aim at acquiring either vintage stuff, or budget. It seems like there's a rule of diminishing returns between the £300 to £700 range- there's so little difference between them that I can't justify it. I love the feel of my '72 SG, but it has a feel that I can only imagine getting from a vintage instrument. Unless that can be captured for under £1000, I see no reason for me to but anything mid-range. Meh, just my opinion.

Shit pics:







I'll post an update once I put it through my setup tomorrow morning!

Weird-yet-classy-looking how the Fender logo is spaghetti and the Squier one isn't. Nice guitar!

That looks great! Exactly the color I want too. Nice score man.

That's fucking hot!

Nice one. I was sat in class earlier daydreaming about how much better the Telecaster custom would look if they came in white.

I've got severe GAS for a sunburst VM Tele Custom

At £255 we should all be buying these!

MrJamesBrown wrote:At £255 we should all be buying these!

The Teles are a bit more expensive than the VM offsets - the cheapest I've found these is £269 from Thomann. £282 from GAK.

MrJamesBrown wrote: Not to diverge, but this got me thinking- I'm probably never going to buy a mid-range guitar. The way that I see it- if the high end Squier stuff is so comparable to the mid-range Fender stuff, then why bother taking that extra monetary leap? I figure that from now on I'm probably going to aim at acquiring either vintage stuff, or budget. It seems like there's a rule of diminishing returns between the £300 to £700 range- there's so little difference between them that I can't justify it. I love the feel of my '72 SG, but it has a feel that I can only imagine getting from a vintage instrument. Unless that can be captured for under £1000, I see no reason for me to but anything mid-range. Meh, just my opinion.

I agree pretty much, and my collection is mainly either vintage or budget - Epiphone and Squier and bar one guitar, the rest of my Fenders are vintage. The recent Squiers are very good, they feel as good as Japanese Fenders IMO.

Noisy Cat wrote:

MrJamesBrown wrote:At £255 we should all be buying these!

The Teles are a bit more expensive than the VM offsets - the cheapest I've found these is £269 from Thomann. £282 from GAK.

I got this for £255 in store. The internet is inly cheaper for used stuff, in my experience.

Anyway, finally got to put this thing through my setup, and it sounds great! The bridge pickup in particular sounds clear, but fairly beefy.

I might bypass the neck tone knob. The tone is good, but I'd like it to be a bit brighter. Maybe I'll increase the value, I don't know what's in there yet (I'm assuming 250k).

All in all, I'm well pleased. It has a fair amount of sparkle to it that my SG lacks, so it does feel like a Tele as opposed to a Tele-shaped guitar. Yup, I'm chuffed!

MrJamesBrown wrote:Maybe I'll increase the value

I've heard 1meg pots sound brilliant with WRHBs.

I think 500k is the sweet spot. 1meg gets icepicky in my opinion.

aen wrote:I think 500k is the sweet spot. 1meg gets icepicky in my opinion.

PLAS OEN

MrJamesBrown wrote:The way that I see it- if the high end Squier stuff is so comparable to the mid-range Fender stuff, then why bother taking that extra monetary leap?

This is also true of Epiphone and Gibson.
There will ALWAYS be people that need that decal to feel that they have arrived though, its a vanity thing. They will compromise minor look for overall quality, sometimes to compensate for lack of skill and talent.

Nice purchase! Squier are excellent and I really cant find any reason to justify Fender prices at the moment despite owning many in the past.

MrJamesBrown wrote:The way that I see it- if the high end Squier stuff is so comparable to the mid-range Fender stuff, then why bother taking that extra monetary leap? I figure that from now on I'm probably going to aim at acquiring either vintage stuff, or budget. It seems like there's a rule of diminishing returns between the £300 to £700 range- there's so little difference between them that I can't justify it.

This is entirely where I'm at these days too. Vintage, homebrew or Squier all the way for me. Lovely Tele by the way. I used to have one of the VM Squier Tele Customs with the P-90s & it was a great guitar.

Noirie. wrote:Nice one. I was sat in class earlier daydreaming about how much better the Telecaster custom would look if they came in white.

The Japanese ones do!

I know I am late to the boat on this, but I just played one of these, as well as the much applauded CV Tele Custom, and I was fucking blown away.
They are amazing for the price.

Lucamo wrote:I know I am late to the boat on this, but I just played one of these, as well as the much applauded CV Tele Custom, and I was fucking blown away.
They are amazing for the price.

Absolutely. Still can't believe it myself.

Lovely - I always loved White with Blackguard Telecaster Deluxes.