What Telecaster Would I Buy in 2022? (Under $1k)

Answering a viewers question: "Which tele should I buy in the price range of the Fender Player Telecaster?" I rounded up to $1k and this is what I came up with.
Gear Mentioned in Video (Affiliate Links)
Fender Player Telecaster: sweetwater.sjv.io/DKZmaa
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster: sweetwater.sjv.io/PyvgnN
Nick Johnston PT: sweetwater.sjv.io/eK52jX
Fender Brass Bridge: sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQvzEg
Sire T7: sweetwater.sjv.io/zN5vOW
G&L Bluesboy: sweetwater.sjv.io/barKgb
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#telecaster #fenderguitars #sweetwatersound

[@anthonylee4961]

Thanks for the insight! Should do one for strats too!

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I can do it!

[@bluzedogg]

The Sire t7 has staggered tuning keys so it doesn't need a string tree. it has rolled frets. It has a roasted neck. It has locking tuners.

[@pickersgrip]

Great review, love teles.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

They are my favorite guitar style for sure.

[@sidestyle05]

The pickups in the G&L Tribute series are actually US-made even though the guitar is made in Indonesia

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Hi side style. Yes I got that wrong. Thank you for sharing. I see that most of the Tribute pickups are made in Us but some are also Cort made. Depending on the style.

[@lazvt8469]

and there is no beating the MFDs....such a great sounding pup on either USA or Indo Tele or S-500.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

@@lazvt8469 I had the mfds and they are great! Thinking of putting them back on

[@michaelwoods6709]

I was going to say that but you beat me to it

[@garywinters2282]

Very informative video! I think I'm going with the Sire T7 butterscotch blonde. I've heard one up close and think it will fill the bill for me. Thank you for this video!

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Sounds great! Please let me know how it turns out!

[@J0nny61]

My Classic Vibe Squire tele was made in China in 2014. It is my second go to guitar, It has no faults and was very easy to set up.. Fantastic VFM.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

They are really underrated!

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

China version is more better than the Indo version' comes with tons rider pickups/ brass saddles/ full size alpha pots/better tuners/rolled fretboard edges on the ones I've played and worked on.

[@jazzbuckeye]

Great vid! I take inspiration credit, haha.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

haha, thanks again dude!

[@Santaheckler]

So glad I snagged my (b stock from SweetLiquid) American Special Tele for $800 a few years back. Such a great guitar for the gigging musician.

[@JEUXolim]

Great video! Got a 50s Vintera Tele absolutely awesome but not the absolute top stuff. Got to get me a super black-guard one day

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Thanks for watching! And the vinteras are a great deal!

[@mikec6733]

I heard that G&L uses the same American made pickups in their Asian made Tribute series as they do in their American made line.

[@geekPlayground]

Thanks for the video. What about the American Special, any thoughts of how this guitar compares against the ones in this list?

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I would say used for less than $1k would be a great deal. More modern shaped neck and really good pickups. But wouldnt pay more than that.

[@geekPlayground]

@@SuperdangerStudios Thanks for the reply. Found a new one in a local store. It has been there for 3 years and nobody bought it. The price is £895 here in the UK ( less than 1100 USD)

[@SuperdangerStudios]

@@geekPlayground great!

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Great review! I am in need of another Telecaster. I have the modern player black with a maple neck. Love it. But I would like another backup one. I play a lot classic rock stuff, AC/DC, Beatles, Green Day, Skynyrd, Stones. I would like a guitar that handles overdrive well. I have Les Pauls and SGs for Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, stuff. But I love that Tele twangy, quacky, jangly sound. Can you please recommend one? Oh I forgot to ask do you notice between a maple and a rosewood neck? I feel that the maple has more "snap", a brighter sound. Your thoughts please.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I have not noticed a huge difference in maple and rosewood but sometimes I don't hear differences very well. I think bang for your buck the squier Classic Vibe 50s tele is amazing. And you can always upgrade the bridge and pickups later on! Hope this helps!

[@pablohanc]

I have a sire, its amazing value. I think they have their own factory.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Awesome would love to try one someday

[@Sternodox]

I play a Sire T3 and for the money it can't be beat. Plays and sounds better than my '64 Telecaster. In fact, it's the best playing guitar I've ever owned.

[@cpamiseso]

@@Sternodox I think it's due to the nice rounded edge they do despite line ups pricing. Sire does understand what really matters for feel at hand.

[@Sternodox]

@@cpamiseso Totally agree. The Sire's neck beats guitars that cost a grand more. I'm utterly blown away by Sire's quality. My T3 is Tobacco Sunburst and it's so beautiful sometimes I find myself just staring at it.

[@cpamiseso]

@@Sternodox You're in good hands, Sir. Mr. Carlton really does magic in term of concept inspite of price level. I know he's just a consultant, but damn Sire did take his considerations and all I hear is good fretwork because this alone (if gone bad), might cost you 30-50 USD extra with a luthier reworking the frets etc.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Fender is offering 10% off this month. For a little over $1000 you can snag a Vintera 50s, 60s or 70`s telecaster or their modified version. I bought the 50`s modified tele and love it.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

That's a great deal. Does it apply to the Squire Classic vibe series too?

[@canyonproductions7683]

Congrats! They look fabulous

[@cbrunhaver]

Sire isn’t made in the cort factory. They have their own facility.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Ah good to know. Thanks!

[@9999plato]

Emerson wiring is probably their 4way switch with treble bleed and the 4th setting where both pickups are in the opposite polarity of the standard wiring (series vs parallel), tons of balls. I just installed this Emerson 4way switch plate assembly with brass compensated saddles and a pair of DiaMarzio twang King pickups. A HUGE upgrade! Still not a genuine Telecaster. Looking for a 51 or 52 tele reissue right this second and will decide tonight.

[@scaredypicker]

The classic vibe teles really are as good as people say! I’ve got a CV 50’s one, and had an American Fender too, but I’d put the CV up against it any day. It’s got a bone nut, a pine body, and very period accurate pickups. It’s a guitar that feels like it should be $1000, and the only issue people will have with trying one is the name on the headstock. I’d recommend anyone who can try one to go and play one in a guitar store and see for themselves.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I love my CV. I now have the cv Jaguar and cv Jazzmaster. Really fun guitars that sound really good at an insane price.

[@9999plato]

The Squire uses Nubone. The man made bone like product. Its better than generic plastic but not truly bone. Sweetwater charges $200 for a new bone nut installation.

[@zer0dave]

Great insight! I heard a rumor some years back that they stopped using actual bone (or ivory) in guitars due to animal endangerment concerns/laws and that when they call them "bone" now, it's actually just a name and the material is really some kind of plastic....though this was just a rumor I read and could be wrong...

[@Santaheckler]

Bone is usually from cattle these days, definitely not from an elephant…

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Thanks again, Dave! Interesting rumor. I'll look into it!

[@cpamiseso]

Some luthiers around here is using bone from cattle. So no more endangered ivory as usual.

[@williamcampbell163]

Found Giannini tele made in Brazil w/brass 125 bucks... I'm Blessed!😊

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Amazing! let me know how you like it!

[@Guy0me_M]

Richie Kotzen guitar ! So much beautiful..

[@AlexGroen]

That ending😂😂😂😂

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Sometimes I have to get these things off my chest haha

[@briane.paulson]

I have a T7 .Perfect

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Ok I need to try a Sire bc everyone raves about them!

[@RobertNaik]

I ordered a Fgn- made in Japan . Ducan pick ups. Adler body etc.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I have never heard of Fgn. Just checked them out and they look great. Let me know how yours turns out!

[@RobertNaik]

@@SuperdangerStudios so it came today. I’m from Ireland and they don’t sell them here. So I ordered it from Spain. It’s a Fgn boundary that I got. It was 800 euro but there is a 500euro model with fgn pick ups and made from basswood. The Fgn factory makes Ibanez models. So it feels like a Ibanez but the headstock and neck are not like a Ibanez. I’d also guess shops that sell Ibanez don’t stock them. So far it seems really good. I have a us fender strat and a few Ibanez. I’m old so they are all old like me but it’s plays as well as they do. I tried a few guys in the 700 range here and they felt a hard to play. I wanted to get a Jaguar but they really were set up terribly in the shop. Saying that a few Gretsch guitars seemed great for the price. - also if I could have tried a sire or g and l I might have got them. But no one stocks them here. So Fgn was more of a sure thing.

[@lazvt8469]

got a lefty....Iliad...very nice tone.

[@Mike-to8hb]

Fender has QC issues. I had to send my Player Plus back due to a crackling tone pot and the E string was almost hanging off the fret board. It was not even playable. I bought direct from Fender.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

That’s good to know. Pretty lame that they can’t keep their A game while companies like schecter and Harley Benton swoop in.

[@ElixerS5]

Thoughts on the schecter pt special?

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Oh rad hadn’t seen that model yet. I’m sure it sounds and plays great. Schecter does are some stuff. I have their PT Van Nuys and it is a great guitar for the money. Find one on reverb in mint condition for probably $150 less!

[@ElixerS5]

@@SuperdangerStudios thanks! The pt special tele has a p90 on the neck, along will the classic bridge set up

[@freddymclain]

I found one o' the Schecter Nick Johnston models for $595 on Reverb. I like the humbucker and ebony board. Ed Bickert was/is one o' my heroes, and he played a tele. That's all the endorsement I need.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

$595! Great deal!

[@mike1967sam]

Hey Super dude in all honesty I've had my share of Fenders, my first one was a Stratocaster Plus with a Rosewoof fretboatd and Lace Sensor pick ups that was given to me by the marketing dept. at BMG when I was under contract with them. That was back in 1991 and Eric Clapton was playing one at the time so I asked for one and through these long years I've had a lot of Fender guitars either USA or Japanese or MIMs. Honestly, and I'm not a snob about brands at all my current favorite Stratocaster is a Fender Player Strat (MIM) in Olympic white with a Pau Ferro Fretboard and a Dimarzio FS-1 in the bridge, that's it. In terms of sound, feel and playability it really knocks it out of the park, better than my Pro Strats etc...The Telecatser being a beautiful guitar just isn't my thing.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Hard to beat a great strat. I grew up on strats as well. It's always home base for me, but being in Nashville has made me very tele reliant!

[@emelle1283]

Get a FGN (Fujigen) for around $900 - AWESOME. [Same Japanese factory that made Satriani Chrome Boys and Vai's GEMs, as well as loads of lawsuit era guitars.]

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I’ve heard great things about em. Will have to get my hands on one.

[@emelle1283]

@@SuperdangerStudios I've got 3 FGNs - a strat, a tele, a "supertele" (semibaritone 26.1 inch drop tuning beast), and now looking at a Les Paul with P90s. Just sold my Fender Tele - was so glad to get rid of it. honestly i'm not a good player - it's a struggle - but the FGNs make it is as easy as possible - just so comfortable - the necks are AWESOME.

[@bluestudio67]

Just get the CV 50s and upgrade it with reasonable items and youll end up with an amazing gig guitar. Replace wiring and all electronics and you're playing a fine one. I didn't even need to replace the bridge. But, that Carlton has my interest...

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Agreed on all counts! The CV line is really underrated. The T3 with that new Vega trem for teles would be so rad.

[@bluestudio67]

@@SuperdangerStudios indeed!

[@sarawelling5271]

I have a Player series Tele and it tears up your fingers. The fretwork is dreadful, but - and this is important - that's actually a built-in advantage for new players. it helps toughen up your fingertips. You're eventually going to want some fretwork done to it or get a Tele with better frets.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

The imact of good fretwork cannot be overstated! haha Cheers!

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

Fender Road Worn used got my money🤙🏼

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Nice! How do you like it?

[@canyonproductions7683]

Ha… is this a MIRROR? I literally feel like im watching what Id say about all these😛. Fully honest and correct

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Haha! Thank you for watching and great minds like us must think alike! Cheers!

[@worthmoremusic]

I'd buy a Sire T7 in a NY minute over a Mexico made Fender...Sire gives you roasted maple necks, rolled fretboard, locking tuners and a bone nut for $200 less ! I'd take a G&L Tribute over a MX Fender... P.s. Classic Vibes do give you a bone nut. I checked.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Yeah agreed. Sires got their tones and feel dialed in! The tributes are killer too.

[@kollitumi]

Shijie are supposedly amazing quality and you can get them for 799$ (before import, tax etc)

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I gotta check one out in person. I saw the reviews on YT and they look great!

[@kollitumi]

@@SuperdangerStudios so great I just ordered one lol

[@erickleefeld4883]

How about a Godin Stadium?

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I’ve never played one but they look great. Although they look to be 1100 new. Do they have an entry level option?

[@RyanMcQuen]

They are smokin'. Would take it over a Fender Player Tele any day of the week, and the used market is great.

[@mikemph7779]

Man prices are way worse now. Great video though, Thank you for posting !!

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Inflation is brutal right now. I remember when the PRS S2 Standard 22 was $999 in 2020.

[@mikemph7779]

@@SuperdangerStudios I remember when Nashville Deluxe Telecasters were $450. Crazy times we’re living in.

[@lazvt8469]

...the G&L Strat won't fit in a Fender case (too long)...I suspect the Tele won't either....fyi.

[@STRATSAFIRE]

I have 2 Sires H7 & T7, my bff has S7. Our Luthier has never had to touch them. AMAZINGLY TERRIFIC GUITARS!!! Buy it!!

[@liotcik]

Squier classic vibe has very thin neck. Most likely it will have no shielding.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Good to know. Thanks!

[@fribersson]

fyi Sires are made in their own factory. The punch well above their price.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Thanks for the info!

[@dwayneanderson7108]

Shijie and Soloking guitars..

[@SuperdangerStudios]

I wanna check them out too!

[@judeworth938]

Gimme a Sire T7 out of all your choices...even the Fender Player for $200+ more doesn't offer you a bone nut, roasted maple neck with rolled edges..

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Absolutely. If I had to buy one again that would probably be my pick.

[@DeanDocs]

Don't use a guitar thats not even on the list as the thumbnail 🤦🏻‍♂

[@SuperdangerStudios]

It’s the only Tele I own. And it’s not what I would recommend under $1000 anyways haha. Sorry for any confusion! Hope you have a great weekend.

[@thomaslthomas1506]

I wouldn't buy anything from fender (BTW I have a fender tele)

[@SuperdangerStudios]

haha!