What is the “no holds barred” best of the best Telecaster?

[rhcole]

After charging about $2k or so, it appears that even Fender starts to run out of ideas about how to make a Telecaster better. Fender starts beating up on the finishes, doubles the prices and sells them as Custom Shop relics.

OK, so what qualifies as the absolute best, then? Not the prettiest or fanciest, what is the BEST Telecaster guitar that you can buy? What features, brand, year, how much, and why?

 

[elpico]

What is the "best" ice cream flavour? Was is the "best" combination of toppings to put on a pizza? What is the "best" colour of hair for woman to have?

There's no "best" telecaster.

 

[coloradojeff]

Check the Custom Shop Relic Telecasters on Anderton's YouTube videos. Pretty impressive if ugly (IMO) relic is your thing. Great tone. amazing guitars. Wildwood has them too. About $5,000
(link removed)

 

[ladave]

The one you like to play the most?

 

[Hexabuzz]

The one you like to play the most?

The one that complete strangers on the internet who know nothing about your musical tastes or playing style told you was the best?

 

[sonny wolf]

I own several lovely Teles but if I can say that the one would be my favourite it would be my 2015 Pure Vintage series 52 reissue Tele.I owned and played many great Teles and was not in the market for another one but this one just had that 'it' factor that compelled me to buy her...I knew she would be mine before I left the Guitar center store.I love the aesthetics of the early 1950s Teles the most and the yellow blonde color of mine is perfect.I love chunky necks and this one fills the hand nicely with a very round profile(no V shape)and lots of shoulder...perfect!!The tone really nails the type of Tele color I love...twangy yet throaty bridge pickup and fat yet clear neck pickup.She probably weighs around 7.5LBS which is nice...not the lightest or the heaviest but very comfortable.But what got me is the expression she has.Every guitar resonates at a particular frequency and the one she resonates at is right on where I love it where there is a natural strong midrange that cuts through any mix.For my style of Blues and Rock n Roll she is the dream Tele.Also the flash coat lacquer is very delicate and is wearing and tearing nicely and in a few years will really look a real 1952 as she acquires that patina.

 

[Stubee]

It’s so simple I’m surprised you asked the question. Fender AV62 Custom. You’ll have to find one used, but it’ll be less than $2K. Big big sound from a very pretty and cool guitar. There you go!

 

[horax]

Squier affinity.

 

[Cesspit]

The Tele that you can't put down.

 

[Brokenpick]

Clearly, it's the one with the most AWESOME TWANG and that also plays the most BUTTERY! (at bedroom levels!)
Ain't you been readin' all the tech talk details???
(It's called Bad Dog Cafe...... tell ya all ya needs to know)

 

[tlsmack]

I think the 2012-2016 American Standards are some of the best Tele's out there.
Great pickups
Tummy cut
Plus I always liked alder, modern brigde, 1 11/16 nut and 22 frets.
Only thing I would change would be adding some locking tuners.
They can be found minty for under a grand.

 

[fatcat]

Mine:

 

[brookdalebill]

I want my Tele to do all kinds of tricks.
So, I'm going to nominate the Fender American Nashville B Bender (Parsons/Green) Tele.
Tons of tones, and a good internal B bender.

 

[SonsOfMoog]

I dream of a hollow lucite tele filled with whiskey.

 

[felis]

Let go of a 2007 Baja, mid 80s Hohner The Prinz and an original 1966 Tele because of not being (at least) on par with a 1980 Tokai TE80 Breezysound, so to me the Tokai is the best.

 

[RadioFM74]

An American Vintage. Choose color and appointments to your tastes.

 

[Jules78]

The best telecaster for the money is a ron kirn. He makes them the way fender used to make them. If you wanna spend more for a team built guitar with some mystery finish on it, a sticky neck and some crap relic job go for it. If you want everything perfect down to the smallest dimensions, a perfect setup and fret level and sherwin William's nitro, Ron's your guy. Everything else is up to pure luck as to how all those different parts of the guitar sound together. It could be a squire or a masterbuilt. These two sound fantastic. But youd be better served spending your time practicing than worrying about which tele is the best. It all comes down to who is playing it and what they can do with it.

 

[6BQ5]

To me? My #1. An American Special I bought in 2012/2013. I played lots of telecasters before bringing it home, and I've brought other telecasters home since. I just keep coming back to that one. Just last night as I was putting it away for the night, I took a moment to appreciate how much that guitar feels perfect to me. But if you ask the cork sniffers, its nothing special.

 

[beyer160]

The one you like to play the most?

There are two acceptable answers to the question. This is one of them.

G&L ASAT is the other.

 

[FenderGuy53]

What is the "best" ice cream flavour? Was is the "best" combination of toppings to put on a pizza? What is the "best" colour of hair for woman to have?

There's no "best" telecaster.

^^^ What elpico said. ^^^

Each comes from his own, unique perspective of likes and dislikes. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!