My main twanger turns out to be a Squier 51...

fenderfan · September 2nd, 2005, 03:59 PM

I joined the ranks of happy Squier 51 owners (what a ridiculously fine quality guitar for $150 - mine is the sunburst model). I had a spare Rio Grande Tallboy strat neck pickup - even though the stock pickup was not bad, I put the Rio Grande in, and threw on a nice new set of D'Addario 9s and this thing just amazes me. Here on the TDPRI, people will often ask how to get that extra bit of classic Tele twang, and this Squier 51 is pumping it out in spades - it is easily the twangiest of my Fenders. Using your technique, you can smooth out the tone while playing chords, and then you can really lay into it for solos and get that great bite and punch. And the stock humbucker bridge produces fine, full twang itself, and through an overdrive pedal, the bridge pickup really rips. (I play through either a Music Man 1x12, or a Fender Bassman 135 in a Twin Reverb 2x12 cabinet).

My GAS for higher-cost guitars has been gone for quite awhile, but I really was fascinated by the Squier 51 and I'm completely happy with the purchase. My compliments to Fender on producing this model...

jholcomb · September 2nd, 2005, 04:06 PM

I'm looking forward to receiving mine. Gonna use it for my Keith Richards open G guitar. I wanted something with a "tele vibe" that was a little different, plus I like the idea of being able to kick in the humbucker at times.

fenderfan · September 3rd, 2005, 09:44 AM

Just for fun, I took a Fender spaghetti logo and put it on the headstock of the Squier 51 (after removing the Squier logo with fine sandpaper, which was an easy process - thanks, Rob!). I used just the word "Fender" from the spaghetti logo, since this guitar is not entirely a Tele or a Strat. I have to say that it looks great on there, although I'm not sure yet how it has affected the tone...!

TG · September 3rd, 2005, 10:08 AM

I'm getting one as soon as I can. Cash flow problems at the moment with my son going off to university in a few weeks, but hopefully soon after.
It's the first non-tele guitar I'd had GAS for in quite awhile. I wasn't sure when I first heard of them (I never was a fan of the look of those early precision bass pickguards) but I played one on a shop and I've now got to have one.
I want a blonde one with the black pickguard.

Heather Anne Peel · September 5th, 2005, 12:09 AM

I recently played a blonde 51 here at the Guitar Center, and I must say I was impressed. I have 5 Teles (Fender '72 Custom RI, Fender Tele Special, Fender Standard Tele, Squier Tele Custom, Squier Standard Tele) and I play in open G 60-70 percent of the time, and have since '83. I tuned the 51 to open G (I use all 6 strings, like Rich Robinson) and played "Soul Survivor" and "All Down The Line" from "Exile", and the 51 sounded great. If I didn't already have 18 guitars, I might pick it up! It's a great little guitar.
8) Heather

September 2nd, 2005, 03:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
fenderfan Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver Posts: 522	My main twanger turns out to be a Squier 51... I joined the ranks of happy Squier 51 owners (what a ridiculously fine quality guitar for $150 - mine is the sunburst model). I had a spare Rio Grande Tallboy strat neck pickup - even though the stock pickup was not bad, I put the Rio Grande in, and threw on a nice new set of D'Addario 9s and this thing just amazes me. Here on the TDPRI, people will often ask how to get that extra bit of classic Tele twang, and this Squier 51 is pumping it out in spades - it is easily the twangiest of my Fenders. Using your technique, you can smooth out the tone while playing chords, and then you can really lay into it for solos and get that great bite and punch. And the stock humbucker bridge produces fine, full twang itself, and through an overdrive pedal, the bridge pickup really rips. (I play through either a Music Man 1x12, or a Fender Bassman 135 in a Twin Reverb 2x12 cabinet). My GAS for higher-cost guitars has been gone for quite awhile, but I really was fascinated by the Squier 51 and I'm completely happy with the purchase. My compliments to Fender on producing this model...

September 3rd, 2005, 09:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
fenderfan Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver Posts: 522	..and I switched the headstock logo, too Just for fun, I took a Fender spaghetti logo and put it on the headstock of the Squier 51 (after removing the Squier logo with fine sandpaper, which was an easy process - thanks, Rob!). I used just the word "Fender" from the spaghetti logo, since this guitar is not entirely a Tele or a Strat. I have to say that it looks great on there, although I'm not sure yet how it has affected the tone...!

September 2nd, 2005, 04:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
jholcomb Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 199	I'm looking forward to receiving mine. Gonna use it for my Keith Richards open G guitar. I wanted something with a "tele vibe" that was a little different, plus I like the idea of being able to kick in the humbucker at times.

September 3rd, 2005, 10:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
TG Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 47 Posts: 4,504 7 Photos	I'm getting one as soon as I can. Cash flow problems at the moment with my son going off to university in a few weeks, but hopefully soon after. It's the first non-tele guitar I'd had GAS for in quite awhile. I wasn't sure when I first heard of them (I never was a fan of the look of those early precision bass pickguards) but I played one on a shop and I've now got to have one. I want a blonde one with the black pickguard.

September 5th, 2005, 12:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	I recently played a blonde 51 here at the Guitar Center, and I must say I was impressed. I have 5 Teles (Fender '72 Custom RI, Fender Tele Special, Fender Standard Tele, Squier Tele Custom, Squier Standard Tele) and I play in open G 60-70 percent of the time, and have since '83. I tuned the 51 to open G (I use all 6 strings, like Rich Robinson) and played "Soul Survivor" and "All Down The Line" from "Exile", and the 51 sounded great. If I didn't already have 18 guitars, I might pick it up! It's a great little guitar. 8) Heather