El Cheapo teles you just gotto love 'em.

[Blazer]

Okay then, as you might recall I bought myself a Stagg el Cheapo tele copy of which I replaced the neck with a squier neck and it has since become my main axe.


Yesterday when fitting a new set of strings I decided to take the bridge off in order to take a good look at the bridge pickup which has a far better sound than any guitar in the price range should have.

Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered that that awesome sounding pickup had a bronze bottomplate, not even Squiers costing twice as much have that. Now when people see me play my tele they keep on asking me if it's a Fender Highway Tele. And when I tell them it's a Stagg they'll all go "No way, a POS Stagg has no right to sound as good as that."

Maybe not but it still does.

[FatBack]

Blazer,

I've been playing a $100.00 tele-copy guitar made by "Galveston" exclusively for the past 5 years. It's probably considered to be a toy by some but they all stop laughing when it starts singing.

I love that thang!

[PraiseCaster]

There is something almost perversely funny, and satisfying, about an "El-Cheapo!" that kicks glutiuos maximus! I must have the cheapest custom squier/partscaster out there, and this little thing rawks!

[Big Mike Simpson]

I play an early 70's National Tele copy... paid $99 for it. It sounds surprisingly good... all things considered...

[FraKo]

I've so many times wrote about my avatar black tele clone. I love that darkie Johnson. And there is another cheap instrument in my life: now defretted, a late 80's P-bass clone made in the (late) DDR (German Democratic Republic) that generates so looooooong and deeeeeep sounds. Compared to my (altough excellent) Squier P-bass special, it's deep like a cavern acoustically.

[Sarge]

I recently purchased a couple "cheapies" that rival guitars 3X the price. A Jackson/Charvell Nashville Tele for $350 and a Schecter Vintage Tele for $275. These 2 tele's are simply outstanding in construction and tone. I always seem to reach for these 2 though I have many others that cost much more and are supposedly "better".

[jwells393]

This is a Nelsonic after undergoing a neck tint and Ferden conversion. These guitars were made in Korea and the workmanship is excellent. Price: $149 shipping included. Another Nelsonic owner in this forum brought up the point that these very likely may have been made by the same factory that makes the Fender Lite Ash. No longer available ............ I suspect Fender had somethng to do with that.

..........................................

[John E]

...I have become Mr. "Bang-fer-buck." I gig with nothing over $350. Jazzboxes, 335 copies, and ESPECIALLY tele's. And actually I love the challenge and satisfaction of finding a steal and making it gig worthy (or gigging it if it already is so). Congrats!!!

[Harmony Blitzer]

i gig with three Tele's: Fender MIM, Peavey Generation and a Harmony and people can't tell the difference if their expensive or cheap-o's. go for it...

[OaklandA]

Originally Posted by PraiseCaster

There is something almost perversely funny, and satisfying, about an "El-Cheapo!" that kicks glutiuos maximus! I must have the cheapest custom squier/partscaster out there, and this little thing rawks!

I feel the same about my Agile LP and my Squier Butterscotch Affinity. Both are fine guitars...especially the Agile. Everytine I get GAS for a Gibby, I pick up that Agile and play it for a bit. Then it's, "Why bother?"...sounds and plays as well or better than Epis or mid-line Gibsons at a fraction of the price.

Nelsonic used to make an awesome LP copy, but Gibson squashed them for it.

[markman]

I don't know if Peavey Reactors are well recieved on this forum, but I have one I absolutely love!

[ravindave_3600]

Originally Posted by John E

...I have become Mr. "Bang-fer-buck." I gig with nothing over $350. Jazzboxes, 335 copies, and ESPECIALLY tele's. And actually I love the challenge and satisfaction of finding a steal and making it gig worthy (or gigging it if it already is so). Congrats!!!

What 335 copy are you using?

[John E]

Originally Posted by ravindave_3600

What 335 copy are you using?

It's actually a smaller bodied version of a 335, the Ibanez Artcore AM73. I LOVE this axe. $299... and another $50 for GFS Liverpool pickups. This guitar just absolutely KILLS!

[Harmony Blitzer]

markman - the Peavey brand has always been a really big work horse for me and alot of pros use the brand as you know. i own that Generation Tele and two - 100 watt each Ecoustic 112 amps - they really pull the load for me. So, Peavey Reactors are well recieved to me!

[JaneSeekingCountry]

Originally Posted by Blazer

Yesterday when fitting a new set of strings I decided to take the bridge off in order to take a good look at the bridge pickup which has a far better sound than any guitar in the price range should have.

Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered that that awesome sounding pickup had a bronze bottomplate, not even Squiers costing twice as much have that. Now when people see me play my tele they keep on asking me if it's a Fender Highway Tele. And when I tell them it's a Stagg they'll all go "No way, a POS Stagg has no right to sound as good as that."

Maybe not but it still does.

Hi I'm new and not quite ok with format.
But great to hear you like your Stagg - I've just got one for total £75 with postage and after seriuos filing fret ends am getting delighted.
I want to ask what neck pickup would suit the bridge one in there which I like ok?
And has anyone noticed the Johnson Deluxe on German ebay for under e150? What do you very knowledgable people think of this?
Hope someone replies before the end of the sale, in about 1 day [ I think/]
Thanks for great forum
Jane