Xaviere XV or Pro 820 series, any good?

Opinions on them are mixed. Some people like them, saying they're a great value for the price, while others insist they're only fit for the scrap pile.

I've used the pickups they put in them and they were good, better than the typical cheap ceramic bar magnet ones you'll find on most guitars in this price range.

 

Picked one up last summer. It needed some attention out of the box. The fret ends needed filed. Next I changed the strings to 10’s and the ferrules fell out. I put them back in with superglue and gave the truss rod a tweak and have been playing it regularly. I would prefer a 9 1/2 radius fretboard over the 12 but otherwise it’s fine especially for the price

 

I have had great experiences with GFS but haven't bought any of their guitars. I plan to buy a Slick in the future, but I see it as a mod platform.

If I was recommending a cheap Tele, I'd start with a Squier Bullet and then a Harley Benton. I have a Bullet and it's a heck of a guitar for the money; I like mine enough that I put pickups in it that cost more than the guitar. I have never played a Benton, but they get good recommendations across the board, so IMO they are a safer buy than a GFS.

 

Two weeks ago, I posted a similar query here about Xaviere/GFS guitars in general ( Jazzmasters, in specific), and read enough either 'hit or miss' or negative comments, in the following days, to just save a little more $$ and get a Squier CV


( And I changed from wanting a Jazzmaster, to a '50's style Strat- nostalgic reasons...)