It features a 60s C Vintage Standard neck profile and is available in four retrolicious finishes: Two-Tone Tobacco Burst, Trans Butterscotch, Trans White and Vintage Natural. The best aspect of here has to be the specially designed pickups by ESP. There are some little things that aren't expensive to do which can make this guitar even better. The ESP LTD line of instruments punches above its pay grade all across the board, and they absolutely have some great Telecaster style guitars available. If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a commission. The set neck means that access to all 24 frets is a breeze, and the Seymour Duncan pickups are the moderately-wound Sentient and Pegasus. Price At a similar price to the Squier we mentioned above, you get some fantastic technology here. While the classic take on the Telecaster itself is notoriously versatile, its design has inspired many guitar makers to give the formula a twist of their own, each geared towards a specific type of player. There's no need to do that, however, as this is outstanding right out of the box. Stevie Ray Vaughan once stated the truth of it all when he said something about how you shouldn't fixate on gear so much. In this article, were going to walk you through the key things you need to think about before you part any cash. The new Fender Player Series is available, but they have significant upgrades over the previous Fender Standard series, and so, they are now completely priced out of this article. This is what is being described as distressed, and what that means is this guitar is aged or relic'd, in order to look as though it has survived many decades of being played in the club scene. The neck itself starts off as a modern C shape at the headstock and becomes a broader D shape towards the neck heel. To add to that, the thick soft V neck has a 9.5 radius maple fingerboard with 21 vintage style frets makes it useful for those of us with small hands and gives you that classic bright sound and fantastic note sustain. For all the world this guitar looks just like the original Fender Telecaster guitars from the early 1950s. Hardware: Six-saddle string-through hardtail, locking tuners Aesthetically, the guitar is pretty true to its roots, but for those looking for a Leo Fender-approved take on the timeless Tele, thats no bad thing. Metal-focused specs not for everyone. You've got a well-built budget model guitar that feels great in your hands, but the sound could be tweaked a little towards your preference? Construction specifications are a nice mid-point between painstakingly vintage-correct and ultra-modern the 9.5-inch radius fingerboard isnt overly flat nor overly curved, the C-shaped neck isnt a gigantic hand filler but it also offers some resistance for those who need a neck to actually grab onto rather than something ultra-slim and speedy. Now you know a bit about the design, well now turn to our buyers guide. Hardware: String-through hardtail bridge, Hipshot Grip-Lock Open tuners There is another very important thing to know, and that is when a guitar feels good in your hands, and you can play well with it, then you can change the sound considerably if you feel the need to. As for the design, its a single-cutaway body with no contours (in other words, flat as a pancake). + Noiseless pickup circuitry What is most interesting to me about the Squier Standard Telecaster is its body wood is of agathis wood instead of the traditional alder or ash wood. The best aspect here has to be the warm, rich tone that the Bluesboy kicks out. The Indonesian guitars are significantly less expensive than the made in USA variety. Electronics: Seymour Duncan Sentient humbucker, Seymour Duncan Pegasus humbucker, master volume/tone knob and 5-way blade switch The fingerboard is made from ebony, for a seamless, gliding touch and beautiful chiming highs. Pricey. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on December 02, 2016: 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. @ Daniel - absolutely. The neck here is thin and nicely rounded, with mid-sized frets for comfort, Hum-free single-coil pickups give you the twang you need, 12 Fingerboard radius is great for bending notes, Characteristic twang from the bridge with three brass saddles, Superb selection of single-coil bridge pickups, Thick soft V shaped neck offers great playability. While this doesnt mean big bends are out of the question, the guitar wont take to a lower-action shred setup as well as something like the flatter-radiused Player Plus Nashville Telecaster. It comes with a pair of Player Series single-coil pickups for that crisp, articulate sound. People with smaller builds will most likely find a smaller radius more comfortable to play with; if size isnt an issue (pardon the pun), youll be fine with a larger radius. The Telecaster was designed to be easily manufactured. It's got a humbucking pickup in the neck position, and this means the guitar will be more of a blues Tele, something like what Keith Richards or Ron Wood would play. With that in mind, the neck itself is a lovely, thin U shape build, so even petite guitarists shouldnt struggle to finger chords comfortably. If you don't mod, then this agathis body Tele will play and sound great! These guitars are extremely good right out of the box, and need no upgrades to be used for any situation. The Fender Player Plus Nashville Telecaster takes a fairly modern take on a standard Telecaster and adds in a Stratocaster-style middle pickup. This isnt a cheap telecaster knockoff though. hum-free single coil pickups). We provide insight and opinion about gear, artists, technique and the guitar industry for all genres and skill levels. Build: Alder body with bolt-on maple neck, 9.5-inch radius rosewood fretboard with 22 frets Fender decided against a traditional set neck, opting for a bolt-on (although later they did release a few set-neck ones). Electronics: Player Plus Noiseless Tele (bridge and neck) and Strat (middle) pickups, five-way blade selector switch, volume, tone (middle and neck), push/pull bridge tone (adds neck pickup to positions one and two) The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom is an Alder body guitar rather than ash or agathis. Neck: Maple, C-Shape (Polyurethane Finish), Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5 inches, Radius (241 mm), NECK: Maple, C-Shape, (Polyurethane Finish), FINGERBOARD: Rosewood, 9.5-inch Radius (241 mm), BRIDGE: 6-Saddle Strings-Thru-Body Bridge, PICKUPS: 2 Alnico Magnet Single-Coil Pickups, Fixed Bridge design: traditional boxed-steel bridge with individual brass saddles, Nickel Color Tuning machines: Deluxe sealed, Ash Body, Maple Neck, Bolt-On Neck Construction, Maple Fingerboard, Traditional Flat Mount Bridge, 42mm Nut Width, 25.5" Scale, 22 XJ Frets, Vol/Tone/3-Way Switch, Passive ESP Designed LS-150N(neck), & LTS-120B(bridge) Pickups, Tuning Keys: Vintage-style tuning machines, Bridge: Vintage-style string-thru-body Tele bridge with 3 threaded steel barrel saddles, Pickups: 2 Custom single-coil Tele pickups with Alnico V magnets (neck & bridge), Pickup switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Build: Basswood body with roasted maple neck, 13.5 fretboard radius and 24 jumbo stainless steel frets All the Telecaster guitars discussed on this page are traditional duel single-coil Teles, except for the ESP LTD TE model, which features a humbucker in the neck position.I am personally familiar with the quality of these brands and have seen these guitars at sale prices, brand new, at less than five hundred dollars. This massively expands out its tonal palette especially with the addition of a push/pull tone control that adds in the neck pickup to positions one and two, meaning you can get full-sounding, Strat-like cleans. Price: $6,046/ 4,550 These guitars shouldn't be thought of as beginner's guitars. You can get in the guitar playing door with this one, and if you decide to stick with it, you've got something which you can play forever. Four hundred and fifty dollars at present, a fabulous bargain. Youre in the right place. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. 2022 - Zing Instruments. The October 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! Build: Swamp Ash body with 60s C Vintage Standard maple neck, 9-12 compound-radius maple fretboard Overall, although the American Elite looks reasonably similar to the Fender Modern Player (see above) with its black polyurethane finish, the quality of pups, fingerboard, and neck is far superior. Modern-minding players might find vintage-correct build a little unwieldy. Modern build might not be for you. This telecaster copy is selling for a similar price for the Squier too (see above), so its very affordable considering the technology you get. There is no need to merely take my word for gold regarding these guitars, I'm in at least 30 guitar groups on Facebook, and I read online guitar forums daily. This also meant that if it gets damaged, it easily replaceable which cant be said for set-neck guitars such as the Les Paul. Are the pickups and other pieces of hardware superior to the Squier? The American Elite by Fender is the most expensive Tele on the list, and for the price, you pretty much get the best technology out there (the fact its called American should be obvious enough, but if youre in any doubt, this is made in the USA). What are the drawbacks to agathis as a guitar tonewood? Wesman Todd Shaw started playing the guitar when he was 12 years old. These pups are constructed using Alnico V magnets and shielded wire, which guarantees that any unwanted hum is non-existent while retaining that vintage Tele punch and definition, for ultimate tonal clarity. The five-way Strat-o-Tone switch gives you additional tonal options too. In terms of spec, this guitar has a pair of gorgeous noiseless single-coil pickups in the neck and bridge position. Decent enough electronics and tonewood for the money. You have the classic string-through-body bridge of course to help with sustain, but here Fender have added block saddles to enhance the twang and bite. You can get a 3 pickup telecaster, but theyre less common see the Fender Modern Player below for an example of one. 
The two knobs are master volume and tone. And a huge lot of people buy those, and when they can afford to, they upgrade things like the tuners, and the pickups and nut. Alder has always been Fenders wood of choice thanks to the bright, balanced, and resonant tone it emits which helps with the upper midrange and provides excellent sustain. There could come a time when those guitars are under five hundred dollars, but it is not today. A number of classic features meet modern convenience for instance, the bridge has brass barrel saddles for a classic Telecaster sound, however it has six of them rather than three for better per-string intonation. Unusually for this list, theres a set-neck rather than a bolt-on and while Telecaster purists might miss that bolt-on snappiness, this is more a guitar designed for the modern rock and metal player than it is for any Telecaster purists. Build: Alder body with bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret 12-inch radius maple fretboard The body material is alder. Full-bodied tone The combination of humbuckers here really beefs out the sound this thing kicks out. As with most Teles, the neck remains bolt-on, so if you break or damage it while on tour, you can rest assured therell be no problem getting it fixed. Scale Length: 25.5 / 648mm, + Wallet-friendly price tag The alnico 5 magnetic pole pieces provide a rich and balanced bass response, a punchy mid-range, and crystalline bell-like highs. More modern-leaning designs might be fitted with humbuckers instead, mimicking the 70s Telecaster Deluxes control layout (which itself takes some cues from a certain other singlecuts electronics), and some might even abandon the scratchplate-centred construction entirely for a sleeker, minimalist look. The single-coil pups ensure that your tone is sparkling bright for solos, but also warm and rich enough to play blues, classic rock, and jazz styles. The PT Fastback is Schecters own take on the Tele Deluxe-style T-type, with a fairly standard layout two humbuckers, and a Les Paul-style control arrangement. It's a terrific platform, and is very good for the $ straight out of the box. Stratocaster or Telecaster: Understanding the Basic Differences. So any G&L guitar is just as much a Fender as guitars that say Fender on them. Theres a single piece alder body for tonal warmth within a convenient, lightweight package. + Ergonomic touches to build quality If only the best will do, then it has to be a Fender American Elite. The Fender Modern Player is a superb mid-range guitar and gives you the best of old and new: modern hardware and electronics, but an authentic vintage tone associated with the Tele. Price: $756/569 Electronics: Arcane Inc bridge single coil and neck humbucker, three-way blade pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone, pull tone control for coil-split So on the Telecaster-Les Paul spectrum, the PT fastback leans a little closer to the Les Paul end, but still puts its own spin on the format with its choice of pickups. A budget model Tele which is equipped with premium stuff down the road can sound better than the best guitars Fender produces from their custom shop. Through a blackface-style clean amp, youll get a gorgeous mixture of Tele-like clarity and old hollowbody depth, but plug into an overdriving Vox or tweed and youll immediately appreciate how gloriously alive this guitar feels at stage volume, its almost like grasping with a giant pickup as every physical noise is amplified. Our picks of the best T-style electric guitars that are available today, from Fenders own range to Tele-inspired boutique models. The design is supremely functional and simple. That gorgeous sunburst finish on these guitars is not something one normally gets on instruments in this price range. Another Chapman-specific twist here comes in the form of a judiciously-carved top, a good ergonomic touch for the more enthusiastic player. 
Very traditional, perhaps too much for some. Agathis is a soft wood. The headstock features six, single side locking tuners on a thin headstock. This is clearly the best option from Squier's line of Teles, unless, of course, humbucking pickups are something you require. It is truly hard to imagine there ever being a lower-priced Telecaster than this. Well, I can at least remain a student. There is little to find confusing with a Telecaster, but there is ever so much to utilize and love. Noiseless pickups These single coil pups are completely hum-free while retaining all the twang you need for a classic tone. Theres myriad of colors on offer too to cater for most tastes. That said, some great guitars still come off the production line in Asia. The fretboard itself is maple, so it should survive plenty of action and will sustain notes for a reasonable amount of time. Fender custom shop models use a variety of materials too. Thinking about buying the Squier standard Tele as my first guitar, good idea? So what makes it unique? Suprised Vintage Icon, and Vintage tele's didn't show up on here. Hardware: Three-saddle hardtail bridge with intonated brass barrel saddles, standard Fender staggered tuners Price: $1,579/1,469 For the money, its hard to beat. This is an outstanding but not fully traditional style Telecaster, and there is no doubt in my mind it competes with the Fender Standard, and even the Fender Player series Teles. A three-way pickup selector lets you toggle between the two pickups (or both if you put it in the middle position). Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on June 12, 2019: I don't know much about guitars so this is a nice introduction. Build: Basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 12-16 compound radius Indian laurel fingerboard with 22 medium-jumbo frets and synthetic nut The pickguard is an ever-so-subtle color of mint green. For example, vintage Teles have a 7 inch fingerboard radius, whereas modern versions usually have a 9 inch radius. Squier Affinity Series Telecaster sells for around two hundred dollars today. + Killswitch is interesting if you like it, discrete if you dont Upgrade this excellent platform as you progress in playing to reward yourself, and you'll keep getting better and better. What do these guitars cost? Hardware: Gotoh Custom 510 vibrato bridge, sealed die-cast locking tuners. The 12 Fingerboard radius is great for bending notes without fretting out, and the locking tuners give you increased tuning stability and make restringing much easier. So the point here is if you can't sound good on one of these budget Telecaster guitars, a more expensive one won't make you sound much better. This is quite a rare design, thats been thought up specifically for fast chord changes and extra comfortable playing. Hardware: Chapman String-Through bridge, Hipshot Grip-Lock open tuners HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Overall, for the price, there is a lot of quality on offer here and chances are you wont be disappointed. It's a great guitar to start playing with, and some of the finest players who've ever lived used one their entire careers. + Versatile pickups Just remember youll need some extra savings to be able to afford one. So the problem comes only for people who love to modify their guitars often. Price: $1,129.99 / 849 Not a hard-to-solve problem. You just can't go wrong with a Tele. Classic T-style sounds a bit harder to conjure. Given the decade in the name, this entry is best for those wanting a classic Telecaster feel and sound. The gorgeous looking Bluesboy by G&L is an instrument of fantastic quality. Theres also the interesting addition of a kill-button on the top horn for some interesting spluttery, glitchy effects, which, combined with the aggressive humbuckers, make this an easy road to distorted chaos. Construction materials are also a left-turn: theres a mahogany body, and a block-inlaid ebony fretboard. The number of people raving about what an amazing value this guitar represents is large indeed. The 3-saddle strings-through-body bridge with chrome barrel saddles gives it a great characteristic twang too, and the 4-way switch gives you plenty of tonal variety too. Made in the USA models are deemed to be the best due to the high-quality materials and craftsmanship involved in their making. Non-locking Gotoh SDS-510 tuners are the only piece of modern hardware on this otherwise proudly old-school take on the T-style electric. Nowadays, there are plenty of alternative designs out there. The December 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! Whats different? Telecasters are manufactured in either the USA, Mexico or Asia. Handles gain well the TE-254 works particularly well with distortion and extra gain. Hardware: six-barrel-saddle bridge, G&L tuners Some players might prefer a more traditional feel. + Locking tuners Similarly, the sealed die-cast tuning machines help with smooth, accurate tuning. Twang is the calling card of this T-style from Maybach. Price: $699 / 649 This allows for the people at Squier to spend more time on details such as the finish and still sell you a guitar for a great price. Electronics: Seymour Duncan Pegasus humbucker (bridge) & Sentient Humbucker (neck), 5-way Super Switch with coil-split, volume, tone Here we are in 2019. + Fishman pickups are hugely versatile There's no way to predict whether those prices will be up or down tomorrow. That's absolutely impossible to predict, but there has never been a better time to get a top-notch Tele at a working person's price than right now. + Affordable However, the slim-C profile and rolled fretboard edges will likely be very comfortable no matter your preferences unless you need a baseball bat neck. Trevor Wilkinson designed a great product. Keep an eye out for the FSRs on the used market, they are an incredible value. G&L Limited Edition Tribute ASAT Classic Ash Body Guitar. Electronics come in the form of two Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC humbuckers these have Fishmans proprietary voice-switching tech, meaning you can toggle between PAF-style vintage clarity and pummelling high output instantly. Hardware: Aged nickel Maybach three-saddle bridge, Gotoh SDS-510 machineheads Electronics: 2x Amber Twangtone single coils, 3-way blade switch, master volume, master tone What is not traditional about it? Scale Length: 25.5 / 648mm, + Set neck for stability and high upper-fret access Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on June 12, 2019: Well thanks very much, alocsin! Stevie said that most of anyone's sound comes from their hands. + Tonnes of ergonomic touches added The phrase T-type usually denotes two things a flat-topped single-cut design, and/or an electronics layout mimicking that of the original. While theyre not as flaming hot as some metal-focused pickups, the more restrained output comes with some extra versatility at lower gain levels. It ships with a pair of gorgeous noiseless single-coil pickups in the neck and bridge position built using alnico V magnets and shielded wire, which guarantees that any unwanted hum is non-existent while retaining that vintage Tele punch and definition, for ultimate tonal clarity. In contrast to its sibling the Strat, the bridge pickup is wider and longer, which contributes to the Teles distinctive sound. No other guitar has a pickup combined with a bridge like this. What do these G&L Telecaster guitars cost? Build: Mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck and bond ebony fretboard with 14-inch radius The single-coil pickups, though, bear some modern influence: theyre Amber Twangtones designed to prevent the assertive tone typical of traditional Teles from being too harsh on the ears. Electronics: Two Schecter Diamond UltraTron humbuckers, individual volume / tone controls, push-pull tone pots for coil-splitting, three-way switch The choice of tonewood used in the body and fingerboard is superb too. Did Mike McCready just smash a $15,000 Custom Shop Strat on stage? I have two Fender FSR Mexican Teles that are my stage guitars, a limited edition Copperburst made exclusively for Guitar Center, and a Black Paisley. Thanks to these pups, the overall tone this instrument brings is aggressive and full when used with distortion, but capable of producing those classic twangy clean notes youd expect from a high-quality Tele. Every guitar would be a great place to start with the instrument, or a great guitar to take out into the clubs for live performance. The fretting hand is where the guitars classic approach will be felt more than heard. Most notable here is of course the semi-hollow construction with an F-hole on the bodys upper wing leading to a lighter feel across the board, and even chimier, resonant sound. Theres a single piece alder body for tonal warmth within a convenient, lightweight package. For the price, you wont be disappointed with this Tele clone. Modern versions often use alternative woods such as pine. The Tele is a solid body electric guitar, of course. Telecasters come in a variety of body woods depending on the particular model and manufacturer. Our purpose with this article is to look at some of the very least expensive Telecaster guitars available. The series wiring makes this Tele sound fat like youre playing through a humbucking pickup even though its got single-coils. If youve encountered thinline T-style guitars before and think you know what to expect here, think again. Play them both, and decide for yourself. Price: $1,099.99 / 899 Hardware: Kluson vintage-style tuners, 3-saddle vintage ashtray bridge with treble side shaved down for player comfort Most notably, theres a vibrato something fairly rare in the world of Tele-alikes. More expensive versions are most likely going to have a body made from ash or alder like the original, for bright, long sustaining notes. The Tele bridge is one of the things that make it undeniably a Tele. The modern-focused features continue with the graphite-reinforced maple neck, topped with a compound-radius 12-16-inch fretboard. The bridge is a point of interest, too while theres only three brass-barrel saddles, theyre intonation-compensated. Price: $1,749.99 / 1,629 Today, with so many manufacturers making a Telecaster, there are instruments that fall in all price range. The Tele is typically fitted with two single-coil pickups: a bridge pickup and a neck pickup, which give it that famous bright twang. This affordable Tribute version features two made-in-California G&L MFD single coils, a medium-C profile maple neck and a medium 9-inch radius fretboard. 
Build: Hollow steel body with f-hole and perforated back, bolt-on 62 profile maple neck with 9-inch radius rosewood fingerboard, 21 narrow-tall 6105 frets These guitars are presently selling at under four hundred dollars. If you know already you are going to heavily modify your Telecaster, then the Affinity would probably be preferable. The raised sides of the bridge also make. Note however, that this premium guitar may cause your bank account to break out in a cold sweat. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on June 07, 2018: @Ronzhd - I've simply never seen those to have a go at them myself. The Tribute Series ASAT Classic is dripping with Leo mojo at a price attainable for every working musician. The September 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! The Affinity from Fenders budget arm Squire is the best budget telecaster on the list. 
G&Ls ASAT design was Leo Fenders own update to his Telecaster format. Electronics: Two Fender revoiced 50s Telecaster single-coils Scale Length: 25.5 / 648mm, + High performance specs throughout Suhrs Classic T has all the hallmarks youd expect from a T-style. The G&L ASAT is their Telecaster. One of the best ones they make is the ESP LTD TE-254. On the other hand, cheaper Copies usually have pine or basswood bodies, which are easier to manipulate during the manufacturing process but tone-wise, dont produce the lows or highs quite as well. Framed in a classic boxed-steel bridge, the G&L-designed alnico pickups deliver a crisp attack with complex harmonics while individual brass saddles offer modern levels of intonation refinement. It mostly attracted me because my brother is a guitar aficionado. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. There are exciting new developments in terms of Telecaster guitars. 7.25-radius fretboard not for everyone. Everyone from Keith Richards to Jeff Beck, all the way to Blurs Graham Coxon and Radioheads Jonny Greenwood have played and raved about them. I'll ask him to pay a visit here. Combining the best of the old and the new, the Fenders Vintera Modified Tele boasts many of the design features of the original, but with a modern twist. Decidedly vintage in spec, the T54 has a string-through sugar pine body, maple neck, a 7.25-inch-radius maple fretboard, and a single-ply pickguard. Overall, the guitar is a sleek refinement of the Tele Deluxe platform, one that doesnt completely overhaul it into a modern shredder, but certainly updates it to the standards of the 2020s. Not for those looking for classic T-type tones, The Manson x Cort collaboration that is the MBM-1 sports a very stripped-down design, with a minimalist, pickguard-less front, loaded with two fairly aggressive humbuckers. There are a few types of telecasters out there, but they all share the basic design features. The axe derives its tone from two Suhr Classic T single-coils which boast alnico V Special magnets. Theres a lot of sustain, too, and no shortage of range from the Arcane pickups. It was like a speeding train and I just got on it: Fantastic Negrito on how his 17th-century ancestors inspired his eclectic new gospel-psych-blues My Guitar Story: Robert Jon & The Wreck on the new Eastman Juliet, Introducing Momma: the New York act striving for 1990s rock stardom, It was like the first time a vegetarian tastes bacon: Emanuel Casablanca on finding authentic Tele tones with his Mod Shop Strat, The Genius Of Ignore the Ignorant by The Cribs, Silktone Fuzz review: Vintage germanium filth with added number-tweaking, The Big Review: Fender Hammertone Pedals budget effects for pretty much everyone, The Genius Of Father of the Bride by Vampire Weekend, DIY Workshop: How to solve problems with your guitars nut, The best effects pedals to buy in 2022: 14 best guitar pedals for beginners, Dire Straits 10 greatest guitar moments, ranked, Chord Clinic: Learn to play 10 interesting D minor chord variations on guitar, Chord Clinic: Learn to play 10 interesting F Major chord variations on guitar, Chord Clinic: Learn to play 10 interesting A major chord variations, An Introduction to alternate tunings: Advanced alternate tunings for electric guitar, The best guitar pedals to buy in 2022: 17 best reverb pedals. Pricier models may also come with a maple, ebony or rosewood fretboard. + Affordable given the featureset and build quality Electronics consist of a pair of V-Mod II DoubleTap humbuckers, which take after wide range humbuckers but arent as, well, wide. That said, there is no reason why a beginner shouldn't start with something good enough to keep forever. The bridge pickup is still the great twang master style pup folks generally want a Telecaster for to begin with. Because the neck of a guitar is hugely important to the player, it is paramount a body buys a guitar their hand feels the most comfortable with. At just three hundred and ninety nine dollars, this guitar is as affordable as you could possibly want, and you wouldn't feel bad, should you so desire, modifying it later on.
The two knobs are master volume and tone. And a huge lot of people buy those, and when they can afford to, they upgrade things like the tuners, and the pickups and nut. Alder has always been Fenders wood of choice thanks to the bright, balanced, and resonant tone it emits which helps with the upper midrange and provides excellent sustain. There could come a time when those guitars are under five hundred dollars, but it is not today. A number of classic features meet modern convenience for instance, the bridge has brass barrel saddles for a classic Telecaster sound, however it has six of them rather than three for better per-string intonation. Unusually for this list, theres a set-neck rather than a bolt-on and while Telecaster purists might miss that bolt-on snappiness, this is more a guitar designed for the modern rock and metal player than it is for any Telecaster purists. Build: Alder body with bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret 12-inch radius maple fretboard The body material is alder. Full-bodied tone The combination of humbuckers here really beefs out the sound this thing kicks out. As with most Teles, the neck remains bolt-on, so if you break or damage it while on tour, you can rest assured therell be no problem getting it fixed. Scale Length: 25.5 / 648mm, + Wallet-friendly price tag The alnico 5 magnetic pole pieces provide a rich and balanced bass response, a punchy mid-range, and crystalline bell-like highs. More modern-leaning designs might be fitted with humbuckers instead, mimicking the 70s Telecaster Deluxes control layout (which itself takes some cues from a certain other singlecuts electronics), and some might even abandon the scratchplate-centred construction entirely for a sleeker, minimalist look. The single-coil pups ensure that your tone is sparkling bright for solos, but also warm and rich enough to play blues, classic rock, and jazz styles. The PT Fastback is Schecters own take on the Tele Deluxe-style T-type, with a fairly standard layout two humbuckers, and a Les Paul-style control arrangement. It's a terrific platform, and is very good for the $ straight out of the box. Stratocaster or Telecaster: Understanding the Basic Differences. So any G&L guitar is just as much a Fender as guitars that say Fender on them. Theres a single piece alder body for tonal warmth within a convenient, lightweight package. + Ergonomic touches to build quality If only the best will do, then it has to be a Fender American Elite. The Fender Modern Player is a superb mid-range guitar and gives you the best of old and new: modern hardware and electronics, but an authentic vintage tone associated with the Tele. Price: $756/569 Electronics: Arcane Inc bridge single coil and neck humbucker, three-way blade pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone, pull tone control for coil-split So on the Telecaster-Les Paul spectrum, the PT fastback leans a little closer to the Les Paul end, but still puts its own spin on the format with its choice of pickups. A budget model Tele which is equipped with premium stuff down the road can sound better than the best guitars Fender produces from their custom shop. Through a blackface-style clean amp, youll get a gorgeous mixture of Tele-like clarity and old hollowbody depth, but plug into an overdriving Vox or tweed and youll immediately appreciate how gloriously alive this guitar feels at stage volume, its almost like grasping with a giant pickup as every physical noise is amplified. Our picks of the best T-style electric guitars that are available today, from Fenders own range to Tele-inspired boutique models. The design is supremely functional and simple. That gorgeous sunburst finish on these guitars is not something one normally gets on instruments in this price range. Another Chapman-specific twist here comes in the form of a judiciously-carved top, a good ergonomic touch for the more enthusiastic player. Very traditional, perhaps too much for some. Agathis is a soft wood. The headstock features six, single side locking tuners on a thin headstock. This is clearly the best option from Squier's line of Teles, unless, of course, humbucking pickups are something you require. It is truly hard to imagine there ever being a lower-priced Telecaster than this. Well, I can at least remain a student. There is little to find confusing with a Telecaster, but there is ever so much to utilize and love. Noiseless pickups These single coil pups are completely hum-free while retaining all the twang you need for a classic tone. Theres myriad of colors on offer too to cater for most tastes. That said, some great guitars still come off the production line in Asia. The fretboard itself is maple, so it should survive plenty of action and will sustain notes for a reasonable amount of time. Fender custom shop models use a variety of materials too. Thinking about buying the Squier standard Tele as my first guitar, good idea? So what makes it unique? Suprised Vintage Icon, and Vintage tele's didn't show up on here. Hardware: Three-saddle hardtail bridge with intonated brass barrel saddles, standard Fender staggered tuners Price: $1,579/1,469 For the money, its hard to beat. This is an outstanding but not fully traditional style Telecaster, and there is no doubt in my mind it competes with the Fender Standard, and even the Fender Player series Teles. A three-way pickup selector lets you toggle between the two pickups (or both if you put it in the middle position). Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on June 12, 2019: I don't know much about guitars so this is a nice introduction. Build: Basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 12-16 compound radius Indian laurel fingerboard with 22 medium-jumbo frets and synthetic nut The pickguard is an ever-so-subtle color of mint green. For example, vintage Teles have a 7 inch fingerboard radius, whereas modern versions usually have a 9 inch radius. Squier Affinity Series Telecaster sells for around two hundred dollars today. + Killswitch is interesting if you like it, discrete if you dont Upgrade this excellent platform as you progress in playing to reward yourself, and you'll keep getting better and better. What do these guitars cost? Hardware: Gotoh Custom 510 vibrato bridge, sealed die-cast locking tuners. The 12 Fingerboard radius is great for bending notes without fretting out, and the locking tuners give you increased tuning stability and make restringing much easier. So the point here is if you can't sound good on one of these budget Telecaster guitars, a more expensive one won't make you sound much better. This is quite a rare design, thats been thought up specifically for fast chord changes and extra comfortable playing. Hardware: Chapman String-Through bridge, Hipshot Grip-Lock open tuners HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Overall, for the price, there is a lot of quality on offer here and chances are you wont be disappointed. It's a great guitar to start playing with, and some of the finest players who've ever lived used one their entire careers. + Versatile pickups Just remember youll need some extra savings to be able to afford one. So the problem comes only for people who love to modify their guitars often. Price: $1,129.99 / 849 Not a hard-to-solve problem. You just can't go wrong with a Tele. Classic T-style sounds a bit harder to conjure. Given the decade in the name, this entry is best for those wanting a classic Telecaster feel and sound. The gorgeous looking Bluesboy by G&L is an instrument of fantastic quality. Theres also the interesting addition of a kill-button on the top horn for some interesting spluttery, glitchy effects, which, combined with the aggressive humbuckers, make this an easy road to distorted chaos. Construction materials are also a left-turn: theres a mahogany body, and a block-inlaid ebony fretboard. The number of people raving about what an amazing value this guitar represents is large indeed. The 3-saddle strings-through-body bridge with chrome barrel saddles gives it a great characteristic twang too, and the 4-way switch gives you plenty of tonal variety too. Made in the USA models are deemed to be the best due to the high-quality materials and craftsmanship involved in their making. Non-locking Gotoh SDS-510 tuners are the only piece of modern hardware on this otherwise proudly old-school take on the T-style electric. Nowadays, there are plenty of alternative designs out there. The December 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! Whats different? Telecasters are manufactured in either the USA, Mexico or Asia. Handles gain well the TE-254 works particularly well with distortion and extra gain. Hardware: six-barrel-saddle bridge, G&L tuners Some players might prefer a more traditional feel. + Locking tuners Similarly, the sealed die-cast tuning machines help with smooth, accurate tuning. Twang is the calling card of this T-style from Maybach. Price: $699 / 649 This allows for the people at Squier to spend more time on details such as the finish and still sell you a guitar for a great price. Electronics: Seymour Duncan Pegasus humbucker (bridge) & Sentient Humbucker (neck), 5-way Super Switch with coil-split, volume, tone Here we are in 2019. + Fishman pickups are hugely versatile There's no way to predict whether those prices will be up or down tomorrow. That's absolutely impossible to predict, but there has never been a better time to get a top-notch Tele at a working person's price than right now. + Affordable However, the slim-C profile and rolled fretboard edges will likely be very comfortable no matter your preferences unless you need a baseball bat neck. Trevor Wilkinson designed a great product. Keep an eye out for the FSRs on the used market, they are an incredible value. G&L Limited Edition Tribute ASAT Classic Ash Body Guitar. Electronics come in the form of two Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC humbuckers these have Fishmans proprietary voice-switching tech, meaning you can toggle between PAF-style vintage clarity and pummelling high output instantly. Hardware: Aged nickel Maybach three-saddle bridge, Gotoh SDS-510 machineheads Electronics: 2x Amber Twangtone single coils, 3-way blade switch, master volume, master tone What is not traditional about it? Scale Length: 25.5 / 648mm, + Set neck for stability and high upper-fret access Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on June 12, 2019: Well thanks very much, alocsin! Stevie said that most of anyone's sound comes from their hands. + Tonnes of ergonomic touches added The phrase T-type usually denotes two things a flat-topped single-cut design, and/or an electronics layout mimicking that of the original. While theyre not as flaming hot as some metal-focused pickups, the more restrained output comes with some extra versatility at lower gain levels. It ships with a pair of gorgeous noiseless single-coil pickups in the neck and bridge position built using alnico V magnets and shielded wire, which guarantees that any unwanted hum is non-existent while retaining that vintage Tele punch and definition, for ultimate tonal clarity. In contrast to its sibling the Strat, the bridge pickup is wider and longer, which contributes to the Teles distinctive sound. No other guitar has a pickup combined with a bridge like this. What do these G&L Telecaster guitars cost? Build: Mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck and bond ebony fretboard with 14-inch radius The single-coil pickups, though, bear some modern influence: theyre Amber Twangtones designed to prevent the assertive tone typical of traditional Teles from being too harsh on the ears. Electronics: Two Schecter Diamond UltraTron humbuckers, individual volume / tone controls, push-pull tone pots for coil-splitting, three-way switch The choice of tonewood used in the body and fingerboard is superb too. Did Mike McCready just smash a $15,000 Custom Shop Strat on stage? I have two Fender FSR Mexican Teles that are my stage guitars, a limited edition Copperburst made exclusively for Guitar Center, and a Black Paisley. Thanks to these pups, the overall tone this instrument brings is aggressive and full when used with distortion, but capable of producing those classic twangy clean notes youd expect from a high-quality Tele. Every guitar would be a great place to start with the instrument, or a great guitar to take out into the clubs for live performance. The fretting hand is where the guitars classic approach will be felt more than heard. Most notable here is of course the semi-hollow construction with an F-hole on the bodys upper wing leading to a lighter feel across the board, and even chimier, resonant sound. Theres a single piece alder body for tonal warmth within a convenient, lightweight package. For the price, you wont be disappointed with this Tele clone. Modern versions often use alternative woods such as pine. The Tele is a solid body electric guitar, of course. Telecasters come in a variety of body woods depending on the particular model and manufacturer. Our purpose with this article is to look at some of the very least expensive Telecaster guitars available. The series wiring makes this Tele sound fat like youre playing through a humbucking pickup even though its got single-coils. If youve encountered thinline T-style guitars before and think you know what to expect here, think again. Play them both, and decide for yourself. Price: $1,099.99 / 899 Hardware: Kluson vintage-style tuners, 3-saddle vintage ashtray bridge with treble side shaved down for player comfort Most notably, theres a vibrato something fairly rare in the world of Tele-alikes. More expensive versions are most likely going to have a body made from ash or alder like the original, for bright, long sustaining notes. The Tele bridge is one of the things that make it undeniably a Tele. The modern-focused features continue with the graphite-reinforced maple neck, topped with a compound-radius 12-16-inch fretboard. The bridge is a point of interest, too while theres only three brass-barrel saddles, theyre intonation-compensated. Price: $1,749.99 / 1,629 Today, with so many manufacturers making a Telecaster, there are instruments that fall in all price range. The Tele is typically fitted with two single-coil pickups: a bridge pickup and a neck pickup, which give it that famous bright twang. This affordable Tribute version features two made-in-California G&L MFD single coils, a medium-C profile maple neck and a medium 9-inch radius fretboard. Build: Hollow steel body with f-hole and perforated back, bolt-on 62 profile maple neck with 9-inch radius rosewood fingerboard, 21 narrow-tall 6105 frets These guitars are presently selling at under four hundred dollars. If you know already you are going to heavily modify your Telecaster, then the Affinity would probably be preferable. The raised sides of the bridge also make. Note however, that this premium guitar may cause your bank account to break out in a cold sweat. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on June 07, 2018: @Ronzhd - I've simply never seen those to have a go at them myself. The Tribute Series ASAT Classic is dripping with Leo mojo at a price attainable for every working musician. The September 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! The Affinity from Fenders budget arm Squire is the best budget telecaster on the list. G&Ls ASAT design was Leo Fenders own update to his Telecaster format. Electronics: Two Fender revoiced 50s Telecaster single-coils Scale Length: 25.5 / 648mm, + High performance specs throughout Suhrs Classic T has all the hallmarks youd expect from a T-style. The G&L ASAT is their Telecaster. One of the best ones they make is the ESP LTD TE-254. On the other hand, cheaper Copies usually have pine or basswood bodies, which are easier to manipulate during the manufacturing process but tone-wise, dont produce the lows or highs quite as well. Framed in a classic boxed-steel bridge, the G&L-designed alnico pickups deliver a crisp attack with complex harmonics while individual brass saddles offer modern levels of intonation refinement. It mostly attracted me because my brother is a guitar aficionado. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. There are exciting new developments in terms of Telecaster guitars. 7.25-radius fretboard not for everyone. Everyone from Keith Richards to Jeff Beck, all the way to Blurs Graham Coxon and Radioheads Jonny Greenwood have played and raved about them. I'll ask him to pay a visit here. Combining the best of the old and the new, the Fenders Vintera Modified Tele boasts many of the design features of the original, but with a modern twist. Decidedly vintage in spec, the T54 has a string-through sugar pine body, maple neck, a 7.25-inch-radius maple fretboard, and a single-ply pickguard. Overall, the guitar is a sleek refinement of the Tele Deluxe platform, one that doesnt completely overhaul it into a modern shredder, but certainly updates it to the standards of the 2020s. Not for those looking for classic T-type tones, The Manson x Cort collaboration that is the MBM-1 sports a very stripped-down design, with a minimalist, pickguard-less front, loaded with two fairly aggressive humbuckers. There are a few types of telecasters out there, but they all share the basic design features. The axe derives its tone from two Suhr Classic T single-coils which boast alnico V Special magnets. Theres a lot of sustain, too, and no shortage of range from the Arcane pickups. 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Pricier models may also come with a maple, ebony or rosewood fretboard. + Affordable given the featureset and build quality Electronics consist of a pair of V-Mod II DoubleTap humbuckers, which take after wide range humbuckers but arent as, well, wide. That said, there is no reason why a beginner shouldn't start with something good enough to keep forever. The bridge pickup is still the great twang master style pup folks generally want a Telecaster for to begin with. Because the neck of a guitar is hugely important to the player, it is paramount a body buys a guitar their hand feels the most comfortable with. At just three hundred and ninety nine dollars, this guitar is as affordable as you could possibly want, and you wouldn't feel bad, should you so desire, modifying it later on.