Best tele for around £300?

digitalkettle

Asking for a friend...any suggestions?

strtdv

Don't know about "best", but THIS is interesting.

Also, you can get used MIM standard teles for under £300 easily, and apart from the pickups on the older ones, they're very good. Neck is a little chunkier to the current American Standards, and IMO more comfortable.  

The discontinued "Lite Ash" tele is worth a look, as is the Baja tele, although it's a little over budget.

digitalkettle

Yep...that Cab could be ideal...thanks.

Any more?

digitalkettle

Wisdom for your sig, btw ;-)

underdog

Isn't a Cabronita nothing like a Tele apart from the basic body shape though? This is a genuine question as I've never played one.

lloyd

Second hand MiM standard with plenty to spare for mods, that aren't essential. I've put vintage tuners and 3 saddle bridge on mine for the look, great little guitar.

Iamnobody

A used 50's Classic. If your friend prefers rosewood then a 60's.

Rigid_Digits

Squier Classic Vibe 50s.

HAL9000

^ This. Or Squier Classic Vibe 60s.

thomasw88

Levinson blade

Roland

In my book "best" Tele is one you've assembled yourself from parts which suit your playing style and preferences. That's achievable for £300. Otherwise, as others have said, buy second hand and replace any items which don't meet your requirements.

Zodiac51

CV 50's blonde with the alnico III punches way above it's weight.

It's a great guitar at any price.

rlw

Vintage V52

Fretwired

This ...

http://www.andertons.co.uk/solid-body-electric-guitars/pid20671/cid671/squier-classic-vibe-50s-telecaster-butterscotch-blonde.asp

Can be had second hand for well under £300 ...

ESBlonde

If you look real hard those Korean made Fender lite ashe teles of a few years back represent excellent vfm. Might stretch the budget a little but unlikely to lose on a resale.

OVERVIEW

The Fender Lite Ash Telecaster Electric Guitar couples the tonality of ash with a pair of Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro pickups for the firepower demanded by modern music. The birdseye maple neck has 22 medium-jumbo frets and abalone dots. Its nicely equipped with chrome hardware and a chrome bridge with brass barrel saddles. 3-way switching and tone/volume controls round out this tidy Tele package.

Weighs less than 8 pounds for lots of resonance.

FEATURES

• Light ash body
• Bird's-eye maple neck
• 22 medium-jumbo frets
• 25-1/2" scale length
• Chrome hardware
• Chrome bridge with brass barrel saddles
• Dot abalone inlays
• Pickups: Seymour Duncan: APTR-1 Alnico II Pro (neck), APTL-1 Alnico II Pro (bridge)
• 3-way pickup switching

Edit.

Oh look!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Lite-Ash-Telecaster-/262163816117?hash=item3d0a2e5eb5

xSkarloey

Another vote here for the Squier Classic Vibe 50s. 

They've really got it bang on with those. 

Johnnyseven

I regret selling my CV 50's BSB.

menamestom

Roland said:

In my book "best" Tele is one you've assembled yourself from parts which suit your playing style and preferences. That's achievable for £300. Otherwise, as others have said, buy second hand and replace any items which don't meet your requirements.

While this is true, I think you'd need to find some bargains to get it under £300 and as good as a classic vibe.  I usually find the costs ends up more than planned and unless you are a luthier, a proper set up and fret level should be budgeted.  Still, even if it runs to £500, you still have an amazing guitar for the money.

EricTheWeary

Just making the leap from my which tele thread the Modern Players seem to have a lot of nice things said about them although neither is a bog standard tele ; the solid body is HSS and the thin lines have P90s. With shopping around about £350 new.

Skodadad

I'm selling my old one but not asking anywhere near £300 looking for £130 so loads to upgrade with. Only has Squier pickups from an 06 standard in it (my Xmas present from missus) but has a near new maple neck and bridge plate /saddles. Comes with padded case and strap. String through body good condition, lovely wood.
http://i64.tinypic.com/2z85it0.jpg

DarnWeight

You might snag a new G&L ASAT Tribute series for £300-ish, and you'll find used examples for that easily.  The Classic's the more traditional Tele-type, but I really really like the big full-fat MFD pickups you get in the Special.