Squier Telecaster - 40th Anniversary Gold Edition

Keith Got a deal... or did he? After picking up a gorgeous 40th Anniversary Squire Telecaster on Black Friday, we have some issues after unboxing. Will it stay or will it go? Let's find out.
Time Stamps
Intro - 0:00
Issues - 1:33
A Trip To Jack's / Specs - 4:58
Picking Up - 6:10
Demo - 8:07
Wrap Up - 9:54
Keith Leedham is an independent recording artists/studio owner/tinkerer.
He owns "The Tape Farm" a recording studio that specializes in transferring "pro-sumer" analog tape formats from manufactures like Tascam and Fostex.
Website: www.thetapefarm.com
Facebook: / thetapefarm
As an independent recording artists Keith has released singles, EPs and full length albums. With styles ranging from Progressive Rock to Country to Singer/Songwriter to Hard Rock to what ever the song dictates.
Website: www.keithleedham.com
He also tinkers with various audio equipment such as tape machines, guitars and guitar amps. When he comes across something interesting he posts the progress/results on KZbin.

[@MitchHaman]

Not only looks beautiful but sounds great.

[@LRHutch]

I just took one in on a trade the other day, it had a nut problem as well. But the nut wasn't set in right, i unglued it and moved it over to center it up, The g and b were buzzing ut just needed to clean and smooth the slots. The electronics were missing 3 gound points and someone used a disc resistor for a capacitor, of course I changed it and the pots also. Plays and sounds great now. Thanks for the video.

[@_OopsieDaisies]

Glad you got the issues dealt with :) I bought mine when they came out. Had never really played a tele, mostly strat/jazzmaster kind of girl but I love my tele. The neck blew me away right out of the box. I did a little at-home intonation work but honestly it played really well right away considering it had been in a box in transit for a while. I'm still getting used to just how stark the contrast is between the bridge and neck pickups. Doesn't really bother me all that much as I have other guitars that can do less bright stuff but nothing that can do the tele twang :)

[@anthonycashero7605]

Got one. Came in perfect shape. Love it.

[@leodanryan966]

Have a wonderful Christmas 🎄 🎅!

[@kevinjohnson847]

I have the same guitar and got the same deal. I also had a problem with the nut that I was able to alleviate with some light filing with nut files. But after watching your video I will do some additional investigation. Thanks!

[@sanjesco]

Enjoyed the video.. thanks! (I used to live in Lebanon)

[@theguitarprofessionals8584]

ITS Winter in Chicago!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!

[@TheTapeFarm]

Thanks! It’s 50° this afternoon… tonight it’s going to get down to 5°… YEAH!

[@eduardoortizr.2807]

Have a blessed holiday's from San Diego California

[@TheTapeFarm]

Where the weather is always awesome. Be well.

[@NoisyB22]

Hey, that green tele looks cool. I recently bought one from an US retailer and had it shipped to Costa Rica, and it had the same nut problem. It's no big deal because the guitar looks cool and sounds nice. Maybe there was a bad nut batch or something.

[@babesworld444]

I’m a noob guitar player but I’ve noticed some of the same things regarding strings like spacing. I really noticed it when I changed my strings to thicker ones. Whole neck bent so I went to tighten nut which is normal but the cut itself for nut seemed jank idk.

[@luxibro9094]

I bought the 40th anniversary squier stratocaster and have the same problem with the high e being close to the edge. It probably is just the design and not an actual production error. Im returning mine now

[@renodavid]

That is indeed a beauty. I’m glad you got the nut issue sorted out. By the way, I don’t think the great prices had anything to do with defective guitars because both Fender and Sweetwater were selling ALL of the 40th Anniversary Squiers (including basses) for that same $359 price. Actually, Sweetwater had theirs on sale for a full 12 days as part of their 12 days of Christmas promotion. Sooo, at that price I also couldn’t resist and bought one of the Vintage Edition Strats in Sonic Blue. Gorgeous!

[@TheTapeFarm]

I had another person comment that they had the same exact issue with the nut on their green/gold Tele. Not saying that I’m right, but at least it was more than just the one I got.

[@towardstar]

I bought one of those christmas ones and it had the same issue

[@zuperdee]

5:08 This reminds me a little bit of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood! The only thing missing is a miniature model of Nashville for you to “walk” and “drive” around in! 😉 Whatever the reason, I think it’s unforgivable to have that kind of a flaw in a ~$900 guitar, so as you say, good thing you got it for so much less than that, plus I’m sure it was far cheaper just to get it fixed yourself than to go to all the expense and trouble of exchanging or returning it. I don’t care so much for the gold hardware, but that green color is AWESOME! There need to be more green guitars out there!

[@TheTapeFarm]

That miniature town idea is awesome!

[@zuperdee]

@@TheTapeFarm I wonder if there’s a way an approximate simulation could be done cheaply and easily with something like Google Earth… You could even set it to Johnny Costa-like music… Or even something along the lines of that frenetic Bluesy-sounding vamp they used to play during the Trolley sequences! 😂 I bet that Trolley vamp would be easy to play on guitar, too.

[@TheTapeFarm]

@@zuperdee m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/i52whaeEg61sjZY you can do fly over animations with Google Earth.

[@psrando]

If you want a guitar "Jacked" he's the man.

[@crispytech9182]

I bought the same one, and have all of the same problems. Also got the deal on the Fender Nashville Tele. Same nut problems on the B and G strings. I would be ashamed to have my name on the headstock for the retail prices they're asking. Since I got them at a discount price I'm keeping them, but man...I hate to have to do work on a brand new guitar.

[@TheTapeFarm]

So that might confirm our suspicion that they had a batch of them with all the same issues, and sold them at the discount.

[@crispytech9182]

@@TheTapeFarm Yep, I bought mine straight from the Fender website. They should at least label these as factory second, or B stock when listing these with a discount. Oh well... Love the content and Merry Christmas

[@RichardHoogstad]

I had the same issue with the nut and demanded a fix before buying it. So seems it wasn't that one alone. The high e string still is very close to the edge but I accepted that part of mine. Was that issue fixed on that one though?

[@TheTapeFarm]

It’s better but still closer than the low E. But it’s very playable.

[@ronr2445]

Wow its lovely ! I was like man I so would have bought one of those if I knew it was available and then you turned it around and I saw that there was no skunk stripe! Unfortunately that's a deal breaker for me . This usually means its a China build and I have no problem with the country of origin but I feel China builds are often below par so I avoid them. I am You... when it comes to guitars and always have something I built in my hands . I do theme guitars mostly and would love to show you some of mine if you would like to see them. But I am curious if its China or MIM. If its MIM I will be sad to see they dropped the skunk stripe. Its a bummer cuz it is so gorgeous...I would love to do a build on that! I think that my Deadpool guitar or my Route 66 build would be right up your ally....I have about 20 that I've done over the last 6 years.

[@TheTapeFarm]

It’s an Indonesian maid guitar. Generally if the guitar doesn’t have a maple neck, there’s no need for a skunk stripe. Rosewood fretboards that have skunk stripes are kind of just there for cosmetics. Not functionality. And I do love me a skunk stripe!

[@ronr2445]

@@TheTapeFarm It's completely aesthetics for me also...but I think I may have to make an exception in this case because I already have a sweet idea. And that is the first Indonesian I've seen with out the stripe and I love there stuff so they are going to get a pass on the stripe cuz I just have to have it.

[@ronr2445]

@@TheTapeFarm I called my guy at Sweetwaters and he could not give me a break on it cuz it was the last one but its still worth it and its on its way . Thank you so much for pointing me toward my next project... I know you like firefly's ...You should see my spalted maple hollow body! On top of how pretty it is it has Gotto tuners .custom wiring with push push pots ..Seymour Duncan pearly gates...true tone out put jack and a few more things but the best is I striped down a Ammoon wireless system and hid it in the topp F hole so it completely wireless..oh and color changing leds in the F holes so they glow.

[@TheTapeFarm]

@@ronr2445 Fireflys are fantastic mod platforms. A great starting point getting in to the hobby/obsession of guitar modding… you have been warned 🙂. Have a great holiday!

[@ronr2445]

@@TheTapeFarm 🤣😂 That would have been a great warming about 20 years ago. I was doing full on mods long before it was popular. I own 37 electics guitars and 14 Acoustics.... I cycle them tnrough my studio so they all get play time. I have several pro friends that borrow them from time to time for certain gigs. It will take me a few months to finish the new tele...and if you would like I'll share a pic with you. If you would also like I could even send you some and you could share them on your channel. I used to do this with Phil Mcnight in the early years but we stopped when he grew into the huge influencer he is now but we still call each other til this very day. He's a good guy! I wish you and all your subs the best Christmas ever!

[@vanshankguitars]

Who's signature is that on your white bass?

[@TheTapeFarm]

Neal Morse

[@philsequeira3180]

Keeper?

[@TheTapeFarm]

Oh yeah. After getting the new nut, it’s awesome.

[@mitch_smith]

just curious, is that African or European?

[@TheTapeFarm]

It’s not a matter of where he grips it. It’s a simple matter of weight ratios.

[@smoshbooz]

It's Squier, not Squire.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Yeah… I thought I fixed that. Thanks.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Fixed… thanks again.

[@iancurrie8844]

Gross

[@TheTapeFarm]

You’re Welcome.

[@itsjoetime1]

i buy the sane gyutar ans has the exact same problema iin the nut with the 1st string, i think it's a generak thing on this model. good advice to change it.