Hi everyone! I'm considering adding a Tele to my collection. I'm mainly a Humbucker guy (Les Paul, superstrat, etc), but I also love some single coil goodness from time to time. I have a few strats. But I've never owned a Tele. I don't want to spend a ton on one, since it is just an addition for fun. Is there anything in the budget range that's better than the Squier Classic Vibe?
Best budget telecaster?
- Thread starter ledvedder
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Sooper8
Tele-Holic
I'd say go for an older, used Squier. Get one from '90 or before and you could get a great guitar.
G&L are good guitars for less $ than a Fender.
Or seek out a made in Japan Fender- I see used ones for the same price as new Classic Vibes
But having said all that, I had this CV and it was very well made and a lot of guitar for the money
I changed the neck from maple board to a rosewood
image by Sooper 8, on Flickr
Camera Roll-124 by Sooper 8, on Flickr
And then for just a bit more than a new CV, I went up to this MIJ Thinline. It certainly feels a league above a CV but for me the 7.5" radius and thinner nut width made it a much nicer guitar to play for me.
image removedTelecaster by Sooper 8, on Flickr
G&L are good guitars for less $ than a Fender.
Or seek out a made in Japan Fender- I see used ones for the same price as new Classic Vibes
But having said all that, I had this CV and it was very well made and a lot of guitar for the money
I changed the neck from maple board to a rosewood
image by Sooper 8, on FlickrCamera Roll-124 by Sooper 8, on FlickrAnd then for just a bit more than a new CV, I went up to this MIJ Thinline. It certainly feels a league above a CV but for me the 7.5" radius and thinner nut width made it a much nicer guitar to play for me.
image removedTelecaster by Sooper 8, on Flickr
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maj34
Tele-Holic
Depends what you mean by budget. On one end of the spectrum, you have this:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=610263
They get surprisingly good reviews.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=610263
They get surprisingly good reviews.
Guitaryellow
Tele-Meister
You have to buy based on play and feel as Fenders are so inconsistent, if you want quality from the off then buy Japanese.
jvin248
Doctor of Teleocity
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Affinity and Bullet Squiers can get you going. Also check out Rondo and Harley Benton.
Get a second pickguard for one of your Strats to swap in and buy a set of Tele pickups with matching Tele controls along with 'blocking' or 'decking the trem and your Strat will sound like a Tele. Keep your old loaded pickguard to easily swap back in if you decide to sell the guitar.
One alternative I do on HH guitars is lower the neck to the body/trim ring and raise the screw poles in a Strat stagger (look up Strat single coil google images). If I want more Tele bridge tones I lower the bridge and raise the screw poles flat relative to each other. More separation you get from lower pickup to higher screw poles the more single pickup tones you'll get. If you split the coils and combine in parallel rather than series (push/pull or toggle) you can play with these heights and get some Strat 'quack'.
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Affinity and Bullet Squiers can get you going. Also check out Rondo and Harley Benton.
Get a second pickguard for one of your Strats to swap in and buy a set of Tele pickups with matching Tele controls along with 'blocking' or 'decking the trem and your Strat will sound like a Tele. Keep your old loaded pickguard to easily swap back in if you decide to sell the guitar.
One alternative I do on HH guitars is lower the neck to the body/trim ring and raise the screw poles in a Strat stagger (look up Strat single coil google images). If I want more Tele bridge tones I lower the bridge and raise the screw poles flat relative to each other. More separation you get from lower pickup to higher screw poles the more single pickup tones you'll get. If you split the coils and combine in parallel rather than series (push/pull or toggle) you can play with these heights and get some Strat 'quack'.
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tedbergstrand
TDPRI Member
I have one of the Monoprice Cedar Top A/E and it's phenomenal. The reviews aren't inflated (at least on the acoustics). After a good setup (I replaced my saddle) I'd compare it directly with a mid range Taylor or Martin, in terms of feel and sound. I can only imagine the electrics are as good.
TimothyC
Tele-Afflicted
My 2009 CV strat is a much better guitar than my 86 MIJ strat.
Troubleandahalf
Tele-Afflicted
My CV is still the only guitar where Multiple friends have run out and Gotten one after hearing / playing mine.
The Ballzz
Friend of Leo's
As a "(Les Paul, superstrat, etc)," you may well be surprised what can be done with that bridge pup and both pups in series (adding a 4-way switch) and serious use of the tone control. Again, don't be "afeared" of that there tone knob. The right Tele bridge pup, with the proper cap in the tone circuit and the tone knob down to "zero" can sound surprisingly like a humbucker! 
On the other side of the coin, it'll give you some "twang" that a humbucker Les Paul can only dream of!
After 35+ years of gigging with Les Pauls exclusively, I dove head first into the Fender single coil pond a few years ago. Now, with a couple great Strats and a fantastic Tele, the Les Pauls (though I still love 'em dearly) mostly collect dust! The Strats are for "wiggle stickin'" and the Tele for almost all the rest!
Just Twangin'
Gene
On the other side of the coin, it'll give you some "twang" that a humbucker Les Paul can only dream of! After 35+ years of gigging with Les Pauls exclusively, I dove head first into the Fender single coil pond a few years ago. Now, with a couple great Strats and a fantastic Tele, the Les Pauls (though I still love 'em dearly) mostly collect dust! The Strats are for "wiggle stickin'" and the Tele for almost all the rest!
Just Twangin'
Gene
JL_LI
Poster Extraordinaire
A couple of small points to consider. Folks from UK are correct in pointing to MIJ Telecasters as being consistently high quality, but they're not so readily available in the US. A lot of shortcuts are taken in Chinese made Squiers. If you're not firmly set on a particular model, I'd check the used rack in nearby shops. MIM's in recent years have been pretty good. You may even find a MIA priced close enough to your budget. Used will drop the price 30% or more, especially if you negotiate hard. It's tough to know what you're buying from CL. You can't play the guitar first if you buy on an auction site and returns can be difficult. Don't be impatient and have an open mind. My three best guitar buys were not what I set out looking for. Enjoy the hunt.
bgmacaw
Doctor of Teleocity
I'm partial to the Indonesian made Squier Standards. They have good components and there seems to be more pride in workmanship. Classic Vibes aren't bad but I'd have a hard time justifying another $100-$150 for one based on the ones I've tried.
Rondo's SX line isn't bad but there are little design differences that make it more difficult to upgrade than a Squier.
With any inexpensive guitar, I'd say you need to be prepared to do some setup work, maybe even significant setup work. I enjoy doing this myself but I know some people want something that's nearly perfect out of the box.
Rondo's SX line isn't bad but there are little design differences that make it more difficult to upgrade than a Squier.
With any inexpensive guitar, I'd say you need to be prepared to do some setup work, maybe even significant setup work. I enjoy doing this myself but I know some people want something that's nearly perfect out of the box.
pachap
Tele-Meister
There is a G&L Tele that stays pretty cheap on Musician's Friend. I have played on before and I'd place it on par with my old CV Tele Custom.
But I just don't think you can wrong with a CV as long as you sand the glooped-on poly/lacquer off the back of the neck.
That said, if I had know what I was getting in to when I originally picked up that CV Tele Custom out of curiousity, I would have just bought the best used model I could afford at the time. I didn't know what kind of tonal and sonic diversity I was really getting in to, and now I cannot get out of the Tele addiction.
But I just don't think you can wrong with a CV as long as you sand the glooped-on poly/lacquer off the back of the neck.
That said, if I had know what I was getting in to when I originally picked up that CV Tele Custom out of curiousity, I would have just bought the best used model I could afford at the time. I didn't know what kind of tonal and sonic diversity I was really getting in to, and now I cannot get out of the Tele addiction.
The Ballzz
Friend of Leo's
One downside of G&L units is that only G&L necks will fit them and few if any aftermarket necks are available. This negates the benefit of a Tele being a good "Partscaster" candidate.
Just Sayin'
Gene
Just Sayin'
Gene
Believer
Tele-Meister
No--do yourself a favor and get a CV. You can still find them for around $300 used.
rolandk
TDPRI Member
Just picked up a Fender Special Edition Deluxe Ash Telecaster on sale at MF/GC and it’s a fantastic guitar, I literally can’t find one thing wrong with it and it sounds great.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-special-edition-deluxe-ash-telecaster?rNtt=telecaster electric guitar&index=9
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-special-edition-deluxe-ash-telecaster?rNtt=telecaster electric guitar&index=9
littlebadboy
Tele-Afflicted
Depends on your budget.
I have a Squire Classic Vibe and it is amazing! Also a humbucker player, so I swapped to a single coil sized rail buckers on bridge. There was nothing wrong with the orig, but I prefer buckers.
If you want cheaper, the teles at rondomusic.com arw also great! Hadean line are less than $100 I think. I had one before.
I have a Squire Classic Vibe and it is amazing! Also a humbucker player, so I swapped to a single coil sized rail buckers on bridge. There was nothing wrong with the orig, but I prefer buckers.
If you want cheaper, the teles at rondomusic.com arw also great! Hadean line are less than $100 I think. I had one before.
Zepfan
Doctor of Teleocity
The cheapest offing while still being good is a Rondo offering, best bang for the buck guitars.
Squier's are great and their prices are down at this time.
G&L are great guitars that are often overlooked and downplayed.
Squier's are great and their prices are down at this time.
G&L are great guitars that are often overlooked and downplayed.
EllenGtrGrl
Tele-Holic
True, they are great guitars for the money - with the proviso, that you had better like thin necks. I've yet to play a CV (including the CV Thinline in my Avatar photo - which I no longer own) that didn't have a thin neck. I you don't like thin necks (like I don't - I've yet to play a CV that I cared for the neck on it), look elsewhere, or be prepared to do a neck swap. Personally I prefer the MIMs. They have a much better selection of chunkier necks (even moreso IMO than the MIAs), the quality is good, and you can often get them used at a great price.
Les Paul lover
Tele-Holic
The G&L tributes are really good guitars.
I've been bery impressed with 3 vintage modified squier telecaster custom. A bit cheaper than a CV, and 0retty impressive too.
However ...... the fret work aren't consistent on those guitars. I had level the frets on my G&L ASAT Special Tribute , and one of the 3 vintage modified squier telecaster custom I owned would have benefited from one too.
I've been bery impressed with 3 vintage modified squier telecaster custom. A bit cheaper than a CV, and 0retty impressive too.
However ...... the fret work aren't consistent on those guitars. I had level the frets on my G&L ASAT Special Tribute , and one of the 3 vintage modified squier telecaster custom I owned would have benefited from one too.
