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I've owned a fair few guitars (a couple of Strats, a couple of SGs, a Jagmaster, a Jaguar, a BC Rich Warlock, probably others I'm forgetting) but I always end up coming back to my first one - a Squier Affinity Telecaster I bought with my pocket money aged 12. It's been my primary guitar yet again for the past few months, and I think I'm finally realising that Teles are just... the best guitars? So I'd like to treat myself to a nicer one.

I liked the look of the Squier Vintage Modified Special they did a few years ago with a Jazzmaster neck pickup, but it looks like that's no longer a thing. I also liked the Graham Coxon signature, but I think that's been discontinued too. I had a Fender Baja for a little while when I was at uni, but I used to throw myself around a lot at gigs so I sold it because I was too scared to play an "expensive" guitar in public. Also potentially tempted to hunt down an 81 Fender Bullet (I know it's not a Tele, but it's basically a Tele).

So which ones are good now? I definitely want a proper Tele bridge pickup, but could be tempted by something wacky in the neck position. Bonus points for anything available in shell pink, sonic blue, surf green etc, or a sparkle finish.

The Baja is still the correct answer.

Oh shit lol:

http://www.forsyths.co.uk/guitars/elec ... pink-.html

Fuck an 3 barrel tho

I never had problems with it back in the day, but then again I pretty much only played in standard tuning at that point. These days I mostly alternate between CADGBC and CADGBB, do you think it's likely to cause an issue?

Classic Vibe Tele or get one of those Squier P90 Teles.

There's a 70's Japanese Gibson Marauder copy at my local for £300

Is basically a scuffed Telecaster Custom.

Freddy V-C wrote:I never had problems with it back in the day, but then again I pretty much only played in standard tuning at that point. These days I mostly alternate between CADGBC and CADGBB, do you think it's likely to cause an issue?

It's certainly not going to do you any favours on the intonation front.

It'll be grand. Fuck intonation, guitars are imperfect anyway.

There are very few guitars I don't like... but I do agree that the Telecaster is the best I've had a fair few over the years and my favorite is the Highway one total bare bones Tele mine has been my main guitar for the last 15 years (only guitar that comes close to it but is actually nothing like it is my SG). They still go cheap(ish) on ebay but don't come in any of your preferred colours

Also I've never had any intonation problems with the 3 barrel saddles

Bacchus wrote:It'll be grand. Fuck intonation, guitars are imperfect anyway.

oh right yeah why bother tuning or having frets at all then lol

Bacchus wrote:It'll be grand. Fuck intonation, guitars are imperfect anyway.

This is sort of where I'm at, aye. I had some vague intention of intonating the Affinity before I went on tour last week. And as I was making all these minor adjustments I realised it sounded exactly the same, especially for the kind of janky imprecise stuff I'm playing.

Something I love the sound of of but I get a bit weird about them because I don’t think they sound like a Tele when I play them so I leave them alone

And flip the control plate

Doog wrote:

Bacchus wrote:It'll be grand. Fuck intonation, guitars are imperfect anyway.

oh right yeah why bother tuning or having frets at all then lol

Exactly.

Does anyone have any experience of the 'Player' series? Am I right in thinking it's basically just the Mexican Standard series with a new name?

I'm pretty intrigued by the capri orange one. A couple of ex-demo ones floating about online for a reasonable price.

Freddy V-C wrote:Bonus points for anything available in shell pink, sonic blue, surf green

Bacchus wrote:The Baja is still the correct answer.

They also did these in Sonic Blue



and the Vintera 60s Telecaster Modified (which is basically the new, less catchy, name for the Baja) comes in Seafoam Green:

I thought Players had a 12" radius and other shreddy qualities, but having checked I guess not anymore.

Looks pretty standard Tele to me. Baja Teles still seem the best benchmark Tele under a grand. An older used one would be savvy.

Honestly, the idea of spending more than £500 on an instrument makes me wince a little bit, but I think I could be convinced for the right guitar. The Baja I used to have was £450 second hand.

Harley Benton 52 Tele seems to be a good thing according to reviews. $129!!!!

thomannn