Recommend me a cheap Tele

camoflamingo

I'm feeling a craving for a Tele. 

I'm assuming the neck profile will be different to my Squire Jazzmaster Vintage Modified. I'd like something a little slimmer in the neck. I'm fairly new to electric, I can no longer stand bashing out open chords on acoustic so it's time to learn guitar properly.

Thinking of the sort of thing I might pick up secondhand for up to 150 quid. I like to buy secondhand too rather than new and I can maybe upgrade parts later as my ability develops.

Anyone recommend any particular manufacturers or models?

mikeyrob73

If your near bingley (noticed your West yorks) pop round and trial my classic vibe. Bit more than your budget but brilliant guitars 

OilCityPickups

I have a couple of Squier Standard teles ... and they are really very playable. My blonde one is actually one of the best feeling and sounding Teles I've had ... and I've had everything up to a 1965 vintage Fender one. 

Placidcasual79

I started my Tele habit with a squire affinity and never looked back - well within your budget. 

OilCityPickups

Placidcasual79 said:

I started my Tele habit with a squire affinity and never looked back - well within your budget. 

I have five Teles now ... they are more addictive than coke 

camoflamingo

mikeyrob73 said:

If your near bingley (noticed your West yorks) pop round and trial my classic vibe. Bit more than your budget but brilliant guitars 

 Funnily enough  I was  looking these up on eBay this evening. Unfortunately they fetch quite a bit even when used. Appreciate the kind offer, cheers. 

DulcetJones

TheGuitarWeasel said:

I have a couple of Squier Standard teles ... and they are really very playable. My blonde one is actually one of the best feeling and sounding Teles I've had ... and I've had everything up to a 1965 vintage Fender one. 

I've got a blonde Squier Tele as well, what he said.

Legionreturns

**Total thread derail** ...you're in West Yorkshire... Come and try lots of Teles at the Fretboard Northern Jam  

/thread hack

stimpsonslostson

If it's a guitar to mod, you could do a lot worse than either a Vintage V52 or a Harley Benton te52. They're both perfectly decent guitars, but with judicious alterations they can become something special. 

mikeyrob73

camoflamingo said:

mikeyrob73 said:

If your near bingley (noticed your West yorks) pop round and trial my classic vibe. Bit more than your budget but brilliant guitars 

 Funnily enough  I was  looking these up on eBay this evening. Unfortunately they fetch quite a bit even when used. Appreciate the kind offer, cheers. 

Mine ain't for sale chap, it was just to give you an idea of what is available, they will prize my CV from my cold dead hands ;-)

proggy

As already mentioned, your best bet is probably a Fender Squier Affinity. About £180 new and you'll get the slimmer neck that you prefer.

TheMarlin

Save your pennies, and get a butterscotch Classic Vibe Squire tele.  Excellent used buy. 

failed_astronaut

I have a tele partscaster for sale as I"m not reaching for it at all at the moment.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/telecaster-style-electric-guitar/1265751194

The neck is very slim in comparison to my classic vibe strat.

https://i.imgur.com/Iyg7OmM.jpg

Priced for gumtree but would negotiate price with a fretboarder.

HAL9000

proggy said:

As already mentioned, your best bet is probably a Fender Squier Affinity. About £180 new and you'll get the slimmer neck that you prefer.

^This. Superb neck, and far better than it is any right to be for the price. Only guitar I've ever regretted selling. (My younger self thought it would be more 'Tele' if it had through-body stringing and a skunk stripe.) Also, more of that Tele 'spank' than some of the more expensive models.

Also, check out s/h G&L ASAT Classics.

57Deluxe

Thomann's Hardly Bentleys can be good and most deffo cheap...

midlifecrisis

id second the cheap secondhand squier affinity, probably pick one up for 100-120. i bought one last year and loved it but then bought a fender baja,  but i love teles (at the moment)

gavin_axecaster

Another vote for an Affinity. The only thing I'd say is you should swap out the bridge for a vintage 3 barrel style for that authentic Tele-ness. Older Affinities are top load so not a problem. The newer ones are string through but the layout isn't compatible, but you could still go with a top load vintage bridge.

camoflamingo

Sorry for lack of replies, my internet connection keeps dropping out. 

Dawsons will be getting a visit and I'll try the Standard and Classic Vibe and maybe pick up a used one somewhere. May as well try an Affinity too while I'm there for comparison.
Thanks for your suggestions. Having done my research on secondhand values I now know the eBay prices tend to vary from a bit on the steep side to the totally ridiculous.

notanon

If somebody local stocks revelation RT54 try those. It does have a real v shape at the top of the neck but then tapers - it felt strange at first but incredibly comfortable after just 10 minutes when I tried one in Bristol. The Wilkinson pups are respected AFAIU - a real authentic twang. Very rare second hand though :-(

pintspiller

Try as many different ones as you can. Even outside your budget.

marktheharp

There was someone selling a squier classic vibe tele for 150 on Facebook guitars  buy and sell. And also a squier cabronita telecaster for  same price... thats a  steal at them prices.. can't remember if it was  Yorkshire  group or North West  group .happy hunting