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[Stichman]

I've my heart set on a new Telecaster, but I'm not sure which model. I've been mulling over these two bad boys -


New American Standard Fender American Standard Tele New for 2008 (GAK)

or...

50's Telecaster Fender 50s Telecaster (GAK)


Obviously the American Standard is more expensive, but is it that much better? Does anyone have either of these guitars? What do you think of them? etc.

[idol_wild]

I used to love Telecasters.

Then I played a couple and didn't think an awful lot more of them!

Give me cheap replicas any day!

[jamesbroonbreed]

my bro's american standard tele is rather primo. If it was mine I'd possibly swap the pickups but more for a change rather than coz they're crap.

don't know about the 50's one.

I'd reckon you're best off getting a cheaper one (even mexican) but make sure you play it first and upgrade any electronics if neccesary.Apart from components, I don't think theres that noticeable a difference between build quality in fenders. My mexican plays at least as well as an american deluxe that I've used. Guess it just depends on how lucky you get.

blabbo blabbo yaddo yaddo

[daveofficer]

i've got a us standard tele and a squire tele and the us standard is head and shoulders above the squire. everything about it is betterer, tone, weight, feel, build quality, everything. the mexican ones are ok mind but the best thing i'd say is just try them out. compare a couple in a shop and see which one feels right.

[jamesbroonbreed]

ats pretty much what i was getting at.

[spellchecker]

If it's a tele style and not just a fender tele you are after, consider the G&L Asat guitars.

[Mouse]

I've got a Mexican Tele with a hotrail and an American Deluxe. Although the deluxe is a different animal in terms of finish and build quality, the mexican sounds great and I love playing it

[Decontrol]

i've got a Fender aerodyne telecaster i'm selling just now if your interested.
it's one just like this Guitars.co.uk (Regent Guitars Ltd.) Fender Aerodyne™ Telecaster

it has a few little dinks around the input jack but still a great guitar,gigged once, looking for around £300.

[Graham]

i know its not a fender but i got one of these not long ago for £150 from sound control and i love it.



lovely to play and sounds great. feels like it could of been a guitar that cost £500+.

[Pierre Von Mondragon]

If I could get any one from the current sub-£700 Tele range I would get the Highway One (in Daphne Blue w/ maple board) they have a nitro finish that will age better, and they are US constructed, .:: Fender®.co.uk ::. but obviously I would never buy a guitar I hadn't played, not without a personal guarantee from someone I trusted, or a VERY good hunch.

Even my own Squier, surely the most downmarket ever*released with the Telecaster name on it, has character way in excess of the sum of its shoddy parts. Its from the turn of the 80s/90s

*How downmarket?
Plywood body (laminate if I'm trying to talk it up)
Toploading bridge, non thru-body
Reduced Bullet style headstock

BUT a great one piece tinted neck that makes it all better. The nearest match to my colour is Frost Gold on the Danny Gatton sig, but mine looks WAY cheaper.

What I'm trying to say is that even what looks like a dog of a Tele, can turn out to be a reliable workhorse, get one that feels good and you are laughing.