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Brand Spotlight: Getting to Know Squier Guitars

Squier Background & History

While many of you surely know the brand Squier as Fender’s little brother, did you know that the brand actually predates Fender itself?

Started in 1890 by Victor Carroll Squier, the company originally was originally created to produce strings for violins, banjos, and acoustic guitars.

It continued on successfully until 1965 when Fender purchased the company with the intention of using them as their primary string manufacturer.

Sadly, in 1975, Fender decided to instead make Fender-brand strings for their guitars and ceased Squier’s production, essentially closing the company.

As fate would have it, this was not the end for the Squire company as Fender still owned the rights and in 1982, they decided to produce cheaper, entry level guitars under the Squier brand name overseas and sell them as “Squier by Fender”.

Fender had been attempting to produce cheaper lines of their guitars under their brand name in their Fullerton factory but was finding more and more competition from cheap, asian-imported copies.

Realizing that they couldn’t keep up with the lower prices at mass production levels, Squier was reborn.

Throughout their history, Squier has produced guitars in multiple locations including China, Japan, Mexico, America, and India before modern day operations moved primarily to Korea and Indonesia.

Squier continues to be owned by Fender and reproduces cheaper models of almost all famous, well known Fender standards ranging from Stratocasters to Mustangs.

While many of their guitars are awesome values and fun to play, it is important to remember what makes them cost so much less and how that may affect performance.

First off, mass production of anything overseas is cheaper than it is in America due to loose regulation, cheap labor costs, and sometimes spotty business ethics.

Regardless of your moral or economic opinion of the American manufacturing exodus to Asia, it certainly has helped make guitars cheaper.

Secondly, they rarely use name-brand parts such as pickups, tuners, or bridges, with some exceptions for more expensive, signature models.

Generally, you will not find advanced features like binding, locking tuners, or coil tapping on any of the entry level or mid-level Squier products either.

This doesn’t mean the guitars are poor quality, especially with CNC mass production keeping guitars to strict quality standards.

You just can’t expect much more than the basics from these instruments, which is why they often make great candidates for parts-casters or hot-rodded instruments.

Squier Guitars by Fender

Popular Squier Guitar Series

Following the hugely popular Classic Vibe and Affinity Series, Fender expanded the brand into more eclectic series such as Paranormal and Sonic.

Designed to appeal to those who want a little more unique personality wrapped in a familiar design, the Paranormal series features quirky takes of mix-and-match body shapes and electronics layouts.

Squier Paranormal Series >>

Squier Sonic Series >>

Squier’s Sonic Series takes another avenue with stripped down features that appeal not only to a tighter pocket book, but embrace a more understated approach to iconic design.

Best Selling Squier Guitar Models

Most Squier models available currently run from $189.99 to $599.99 – depending on the sales source, and can be purchased directly through their site or via popular retailers like Amazon, Guitar Center, Sweetwater Sound, or American Musical Supply.

Are Squier guitars any good?

They often have a robust used market on sites like Reverb.com or eBay.com due to their high production numbers and demand by money-strapped players like me.

They currently have five main series of guitars that they regularly produce at different price points called Bullet, Affinity, Contemporary, Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe.

Discontinued lines that you may still find floating around include the ill-fated Artist series from 2012 or the Deluxe series which produced some nice Strats but not much else. Let’s take a look at some top sellers from all these lines.

Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Pack

A perfect starter pack for anyone trying to learn electric guitar, Squier has had lots of success with this marketing tactic of packaging a guitar, amp, case, and accessories together.

They have produced these options for both the Bullet and slightly better Affinity Series and can be found at almost any major retailer.

Furthermore, they have tried some packaging of higher end Squier models with low end Fender amps but that resulted in less success.

Often, it meant only getting a guitar and amp with no case/tuner/cord as a way of keeping prices low, which was less appealing to beginners.

With a number of parents buying instruments for their children to learn on, these are an easy way for people who know little to nothing about guitars to safely and securely buy one.

These packs also come in limited acoustic and bass guitar varieties, helping beginners of all kind get their start.

For more info, you might be interested in our complete Affinity Pack review.

If You’re A New Guitar Player

All guitar players have to go through the same process of learning how to play. Today, it’s never been easier – Fender understands this and has put together a great system to help you get started with “Fender Play”.

Squier Bullet Stratocaster

The simplest of all their models, this take on a classic strat is targeted to dominate the entry level market as it features just the bare bones of Fender’s most popular guitar.

Typically retailing for $179.99 it is priced to sell to just about anyone and offers a cheap option for parents of beginners or beginners wary of spending too much money on an instrument they may not stick with.

Often times, these models are sold as part of beginner packages that include a small guitar amp, a strap, guitar cables, picks and anything else you may need to learn to play guitar.

These are incredibly popular and are often the first guitars for many of the players in the latest generations, but they come with limited finish options and don’t feature the tuning stability or fast necks of their Fender counterparts.

Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

Are Squier Affinity telecasters any good?

A step up from the Bullet series is the Affinity series which offers more finish options as well as introducing a Jazzmaster model to the world.

Currently costing $229.99 these are not crazy expensive but are generally regarded as one of the best values in the guitar world and feature much better craftsmanship.

Our writer Matt says, “I even recently purchased one of these Tele’s to turn into a partscaster-copy of Joe Strummer’s famous black Tele and was shocked at how much I liked it before any upgrades.”

These are still entry level guitars but definitely make it a little bit easier to learn on as mine had great tuning stability and a comfortable neck. Also, they tend to come in more traditional Fender finishes such as Butterscotch,

Race Green, or 2-color Sunburst in addition to the White and Black variations of the Bullet line.

Find out more in our complete Telecaster Affinity Review here.

Squier Contemporary Stratocaster HH

Checking in for the Contemporary Series we have a gorgeous Strat with two zebra stripe humbuckers with a finish headstock.

This line was created to add some modern updates to Squier’s family of instruments that target musicians playing high-gain or metal music.

While super-strats have long been the instrument of choice for shredders, hard rockers, and the like, they have often gone for instruments from Jackson, Charvel, or ESP in lieu of hot rodded Fender products.

The Contemporary Series offers Strats with HH, HSH, SSH, and even active EMG-style humbuckers and beautiful, bright finishes to get any 80’s hair rock or modern metalhead in on the bandwagon.

While still incredibly affordable, these are some of the more expensive Squier guitars coming in around $449.99 or more.

Squier Classic Vibe ‘70s Telecaster Thinline

Last but not least is one of Squier’s best series of instruments, the Classic Vibe series. They tend to cost in the mid-hundreds range – the starting price for many of Fender’s made in Mexico series. Still, they have received great critical and commercial reception.

Boasting Squier’s best hardware and pickups, often referred to as “Fender-designed” meaning that they made overseas copies of the same pieces used on Fender USA models, these things play very similarly to high end Fender’s.

All of the Classic Vibe series set out to recreate the magical guitar models that were popularized in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s by some of the world’s biggest musicians.

Their take on the ‘70s thinline is one of the most beautiful guitars we’ve seen at this price point, and even features a heavy, smooth gloss finish associated with high end models.

Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster

What is the best Squier guitar?

We’ve been asked this question many times. If we had to sum it up in one guitar, we’d have. to say it’s the best is the Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster.

We’ve had so many come across the workbench for simple mods and setups, we’ve found it to be one of the best overall Squier guitar values you can get!

For more info on this model, check out our complete Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster review.

Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster

An older line that is slowly being replaced by the Classic Vibe Series, the Vintage Modified line of guitars was also a huge commercial success for Squier that featured higher quality remakes of classic Fender models.

Entering the market with new re-vamped finish options, upgraded “Fender-Designed” pickups, and vintage specifications their take on the Jazzmaster produced this beautiful model for only a few hundred dollars.

These and the Vintage Modified Telecasters are incredibly popular on the second hand market currently and represent fantastic “second” guitars for players looking for an upgrade or are great live guitars for budget minded performers.

At a lower price point than many of the new Classic Vibe guitars, these are one of the best values in the Squier family.

Squier Classic Vibe P & J Basses

Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 70’s Jazz Bass Guitar

With both classic Fender basses represented in the new Classic Vibe line for only a few hundred dollars, many bass fans should rejoice.

Squier has reinvigorated its bass lines in coming years removing many Affinity and Bullet basses and replacing them with an Affinity P/J bass you’ll see later and these higher quality, more expensive models.

The Precision (P) and Jazz (J) basses are arguably the two best bass guitars ever produced and have been widely used by most musical legends.

The P bass on top features the simple, one pickup design of Fender’s P bass which has been relied on for thumping, powerful bass lines throughout rock and funk’s history.

The J bass features two pickups and more onboard EQ options than it’s Strat-bodied predecessor and has more of an offset, Jazzmaster body shape.

For the extra money over the Affinity series bases, many of the upgrades are cosmetic or have to do with the quality and playability of the neck.

The J bass features beautiful black block inlays on the maple neck while the P bass, true to its simple form, has dot inlays along an Indian Laurel fingerboard both with smooth gloss finishes.

Squier Affinity Series P/J Bass

Featuring both P and J bass pickups in the body, this represents one of Squier’s flagship entry level bass guitars at the humble price of $229.99.

With three knobs giving more variable tonal options akin to the Jazz bass, you can get a number of great tones out it as you grow as a live player or songwriter.

In the familiar Strat-like body of the P bass, it has been noted by many for being incredibly comfortable to play.

This P/J bass also comes in the aforementioned packages with case, amplifier, cables, and tuner that makes it so readily accessible to students of all ages and budgets.

However, as with some of the Affinity guitars, you are likely limited in finish options to a basic white or black.

Popular Squier Guitar Signature Models

All popular guitar brands these days are constantly competing with one another to land more and more signature artists.

With each artist endorsement or signature model, the hope is that the band’s recognition will generate sales of the instruments they use as fans try to emulate their idol’s sound.

Often times, the most willing to buy signature models are beginners or students who are looking for their first guitar to learn their favorite songs on or are looking to upgrade from that Bullet series Strat to a more dependable instrument.

J Mascis Jazzmaster

According to J Mascis, he went to a local guitar store to buy a Strat, found out it was too expensive, and walked out with a Jazzmaster, which was a very lame guitar at the time.

Little did he know, his new Jazzmaster would go on to become a guitar icon in the world of alternative rock thanks to his work with the band Dinosaur Jr.

For $499.99 you’re certainly getting a lot of guitar, comparable to a low end Fender model, for less than the $500+ price tag of Mexican or American models.

With a stunning gold pickguard and all the essential Jazzmaster features in tact, the popularity of this model has been driven more by the quality of the guitar than by the name association or fame of J Mascis.

Jim Root Telecaster

Squier’s take on a true modern metal guitar saw them partner up with a true modern metal guitar hero in Jim Root of Stone Sour and Slipknot fame.

The humbuckers may look like active EMG pickups but are actually just matte black passive Squier humbuckers that have been noted for having impressive bite and output for the price range.

Root’s Tele, which can be found on Reverb at good prices, adds a unique option for metal players on a budget who want to look past traditional ESP, Jackson, or Dean metal instruments.

Available in Flat White and Matte Black finishes Squire likely hopes continued artist diversification will pay off in the ever changing guitar retail landscape.

J5 Telecaster

Checking back into the world of modern metal and hard rock, John 5’s love of Telecasters is well known and somewhat uncharacteristic for the music he makes.

Either way, Squier teamed up with him to make one of his signature hot rodded Tele’s available on Reverb at the affordable prices with some great features.

The J5 Telecaster is one of their newest signature models released and features Alnico 5-based humbuckers, a three way selector switch that features two volume knobs and no tone, which allows you to use the selector in as a kill-switch when soloing.

This guitar, like the other signature models listed, has a beautiful finish and detailed headstock that has really made Squier unique in that many of their cheap guitars don’t look like cheap guitars.

Squier Acoustic Guitars

Squier SA-150 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Fender makes many of its cheaper, entry level acoustics overseas under their own brand name leaving only one Squier acoustic commercially available.

The SA-150 is a budget acoustic targeted to those needing a cheap, acoustic guitar with no frills at a budget price point.

For more information on the package deal, read our full review here.

Pros Use Squier Guitars Too

Platinum-selling band Catfish and the Bottlemen have become one of the new faces of alternative and indie rock mixing the pub-rock influence of Oasis with the more textural guitar work inspired by U2’s The Edge or The Killers’ Dave Keuning.

But little did you know that frontman, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter Van McCann wrote and recorded the entire first album with one of the aforementioned Squier Jim Root Telecasters as his main instrument.

Proving you don’t need expensive gear to write quality tunes, you can hear this affordable Squier tone all over popular singles such as “Kathleen”, “Homesick”, and “Cocoon”.

McCann commented on his use of Root’s signature model: “I don’t even know him. Doesn’t he have a mask on sometimes? I use that guitar because it’s matte black and it’s got a volume knob, and that’s it. It was like £150 and I’ve swapped the scratchplates over and I’ve smashed it up, but it just doesn’t break or go out of tune.”

The post Squier Guitars [Brand Profile] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Ever since, the guitar community has been consumed with the Telecaster vs Stratocaster debate. It’s nearly impossible to say which guitar is better, as both sides have solid arguments.

However, we can zoom in on individual features and help you decide which one is better for you specifically. For example, the Strat vs. Tele sound quality, style, build quality, and price range are significant categories well worth exploring.

Telecaster vs. Stratocaster: The Difference in Tone, Sound, Body and Electronics

* Excluding special models and custom shop instruments.

Frequently Asked Questions About Telecaster and Stratocaster

It’s not easy pitting two iconic guitars against each other and looking for a winner.

The task of categorizing them becomes even more difficult considering that both models are produced by sister companies – Fender and Squier.

Overall, Fender branded Strats and Teles cover the premium options, while the Squier brand covers the affordable yet still well-made guitars for everyone.

These categorizations and target marketing can confuse first-time buyers or guitar enthusiasts looking for their next investment.

That’s why, in order to fully understand the appeal of each style, the questions about differences are well worth examining.

What’s the Difference Between Telecaster and Stratocaster Guitars?

There’s no doubt that, for most of us, both the Stratocaster and Telecaster are beautiful, visually appealing guitars.

But the first impression starts with the body. Typically, both are made from alder, which provides excellent bite and tonal resonance.

Of course we know that other common body woods were utilized early on such as pine for the Telecaster, and swamp ash for Stratocaster bodies.

However, the shapes of the bodies are intentionally different. It’s easy to identify a Stratocaster by simply focusing on the upper part of the guitar’s body.

Additionally, when looking at the Strat and Tele tonewoods, the necks are both usually maple with either a maple or rosewood fingerboard option.

The differences being both visual and plying surface: maple is light in color with a clearcoat – in other words you’re playing on a painted surface, whereas rosewood is darker and unfinished.

Body Styles

A Stratocaster features a kind of a ‘horn’ or an ‘ear’ double cutaway with the deeper cut on the treble side allowing players easier access to higher registers.

The original Strats were also designed to be much more comfortable through the use of a tummy cut and well-rounded contours.

In comparison, the Telecaster is also easily recognizable with it’s single-cutaway and harder body contours.

Electronics

Additionally in the Strat vs. Tele neck tonewood comparison, both usually feature maple. But the difference is again stark when we compare the electronics.

The Telecaster has one tone, one volume control, and a 3-way switch, whereas the Stratocaster has one volume and two-tone controls and a 5-way switch.

Finally, the guitars have different headstocks, with Stratocaster featuring a notably larger design, which many believe gives the guitar the sustain and tone players know all about.

Which Is Better – Telecaster or Stratocaster?

The most accurate answer to this question is – it depends on who you ask and your own tastes. Many rock, jazz, and country legends would passionately argue for either of the two.

When it comes to Telecaster vs. Stratocaster sound, personal preference will play the deciding role. Hence, it’s essential to try the guitar before you buy it.

Furthermore, it’s also possible that some guitarists will adore how a Telecaster feels but will prefer the sound of Stratocaster, and vice versa.

Squier Affinity Stratocaster

If you’re a beginner, the Affinity Strat might be the best option. It has a thinner neck, and the double-cutaway improves the playability. In contrast, more experienced players will know exactly how to make the most of a guitar like Classic Vibe Telecaster.

Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster

Do Telecasters and Stratocasters Sound Different?

Seasoned guitarists will recognize the difference in sound between Telecaster and Stratocaster easily. But, generally speaking, Strats offer more tone flexibility.

Originally designed for utility and serviceability, the Telecaster is somewhat more simplistic in terms of sound.

However, it has that classic “Tele twang” which has made it a favorite among rock and blues guitarists for decades.

Designed as an evolution of the Fender’s electric guitar offerings, the Stratocaster offered more tonal flexibility with its 3 pickups and creative circuit controls.

It also features a familiar tremolo bridge which allows the player to create a distinctive vibrato effect by changing the string tension.

It’s worth noting that the Stratocaster’s original electronics design has essentially remained unchanged since the 60’s and still used in regular production.

While this is a testament to its longevity, the development of the Superstrat by Ibanez was the solution to the limitations felt by guitar players that wanted an instrument more suited to modern music trends.

Regardless, both the Telecaster and Stratocaster offer incredible sonic versatility, especially in the right hands.

In fact, there are many who would testify that both instruments are perfect and fully capable of covering virtually any musical style.

Which Is More Versatile – Strat or Tele?

Both the Strat and Tele are made from traditional electric guitar materials. Their tones, while individually distinct, are not drastically different between the two, especially when compared to a humbucker-driven Les Paul.

The overall versatility of a guitar is more apparent when we consider controls and the number of pickups on each instrument.

As mentioned, the Stratocaster has three pickups, whereas the Telecaster only has two. Naturally therefor, the Strat allows the more possibilities when it comes to range.

On the other hand, the Telecaster is widely used by pros across all music genres from John 5 to Brad Paisley – the trick is being skillful enough to pull what you want out of the Tele.

Should I Buy a Strat or a Tele?

As individual guitars, another one of the main reasons both models have such impressive longevity is that, despite their similarities, each has something the other doesn’t.

Stylistically, some players prefer the relatively punchy tones produced by the Stratocaster, others relish in the simplicity of the Telecaster.

With so many factory-offered model variations available, you can essentially pick the specifications that work for you.

And when you consider aftermarket parts for upgrades (such as pickups), there are endless options for players.

Whether you’re considering a Bullet vs. Affinity model, or a Telecaster vs. Stratocaster Classic Vibe, start with reliable research. Then the choice is totally up to you.

Is a Telecaster Good for Beginners?

If your motivation is simplicity in design, a Telecaster will certainly fit the bill. But this simplicity, compared to other models, comes at the cost of flexibility for a beginner guitarist.

Still, mastering it will prepare you well for any guitar you might pick up after that. Being a “workingman’s guitar” they’re low maintenance and don’t require expensive repairs.

The Strat on the other hand tends to offer the style and design that excites a novice player. They’re also considered to be more comfortable, sonically flexible and therefore, more suitable for beginners.

Whether you choose a Stratocaster or Telecaster, or a different guitar entirely, the Fender brand is well rounded in its ability to serve new guitar players through the help of Fender Play lessons and user-friendly guitar apps.

Telecaster vs. Stratocaster: History, Style and Players

If you want front row seats to a fierce debate, simply ask the guitar community which is better, Strat or Tele?

Those who find the styles a little old-school or behind the times might find the argument a little strange. Both guitars come from essentially the same company, and have plenty of similarities.

Perhaps the Telecaster vs Stratocaster discussion is more about the musical genres they first represented in the historical sense?

Good question, let’s find out digging down a little further.

The History

The internet is full of extremely detailed information on the origins of the Fender brand and its impact on the evolution of the electric guitar.

Still, for the purposes of this article, it’s worth looking at the underpinnings as to how we got here – discussing the virtues and shortcomings of Telecaster vs Stratocaster.

Early Years

Leo Fender started working on the nascent Telecaster in 1949 in California. A year later, the Esquire was introduced to the music scene. It was the first mass-produced and commercially successful electric guitar.

Initially, the guitar was named Broadcaster, but it needed to be renamed due to a trademark conflict with Gretsch.

Oddly enough, to meet production demands the model stayed unnamed for a while and was simply labeled ‘No-caster.’

In 1951, the prefix ‘Tele’ was applied as a way to take advantage of the rise of television.

Indeed, the Telecaster has an impressive history, but what about Stratocaster?.

Fender thought of improving the Telecaster but ended up creating an entirely new model.

Finally, in 1954, the developing guitar was fitted with an extra pickup, more contours and thus, an entirely different vibrato equipped model called the Stratocaster was introduced.

Ease of Use

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, adding to your collection, or simply looking for your next instrument, it’s natural to wonder about the practical use of each instrument.

There are plenty of dedicated opinions on both sides of the discussion, but let’s look at a few facts.

First, the Telecaster is an overall simpler guitar. While this could be considered more restrictive or unforgiving to some, others admire this simplicity and welcome the challenge to gain diversity from it.

Which side of the Tele coin are you on?

Second, Strats are generally more comfortable, and more versatile sonically. But the vibrato (sometimes called the trem) system can be a tuning headache for some – especially beginners.

It’s important to note that early models of both instruments featured a 7 1/4″ fretboard radius which, while designed to be more comfortable in the hand, usually meant the strings had to be set a little higher to avoid “fretting out”.

In other words, a little less playable if you’re big on bending strings in the upper register.

Modern models of Teles and Strats feature a somewhat flatter 9 1/2″ or 10″ radius depending on the specific model and country of origin.

Musical Style

What if you’re a rock musician, which guitar is better suited for you?

According to many, the Telecaster is a guitar that can handle almost anything. As music has evolved, it’s often the go-to choice for country, blues, rock, and in more recent decades, heavy metal guitarists.

Historically speaking, the Stratocaster’s tones and design were a better fit for emerging rock and roll. Still, it was happily adopted by blues players, pop artists, R’n’B musicians and eventually, accepted into the heavy metal world as well.

Ultimately, whether one model is more prominent in a specific music style doesn’t matter – a skilled guitarist can make any tone with any guitar. As they say, “it’s all in the hands”.

Yet for many of us, our sense of which one is better can be directly linked to those we consider our guitar heroes.

You can even compare Les Paul vs. Strat or even Telecaster vs. Les Paul debates here. Depending on your influences, a Gibson or Epiphone Les Paul is another versatile option for guitarists across all musical styles.

Telecaster vs. Stratocaster Pros and Cons

Well Known Artists

Of course, finding famous guitar players in all genres that use both Telecaster and Stratocaster is not difficult.

The following list is just a fraction of the incredibly talented players you’ll find in the music industry.

Famous Telecaster Players

A few famous Telecaster players include:

Famous Stratocaster Players

Just a few notable Stratocaster players include:

As you can see, this brief list of recognizable players of Stratocasters and Telecasters is impressive – which proves our point that even though each model has a strong following, they’re both exceptional guitars.

The post Telecaster vs Stratocaster: Which Is The Better Fender Guitar? first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Fender and Squier: How Do Their Guitars Differ?

🎸 Fender, and its sub-brand Squier, currently rank as the top-selling guitars in the world.

In fact, Fender reported the highest number of sales ever in just 9 months in 2020.

However, while the two have one big thing in common, massive sales numbers, many people are more interested in their differences.

If you’ve been wondering about Squier vs Fender, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s dig into some comparisons and distinctions to help you learn about two of the most legendary guitar brands out there.

FAQs & Common Questions

With Fender and Squier offering so many of the same products, it is natural to have questions about the differences between the two. Maybe you want to know about how the spec sheet difference impacts price?

Or what’s the difference between the Strat vs Tele within both brands? Let’s jump into some frequently asked questions with detailed answers below.

Is Squier As Good As Fender?

The answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as some might make you seem. With obvious price differences, most associate Fender’s premium price tag and reputation as the superior guitar and bass line.

The same question could also be asked of Epiphone and Gibson. In contrast, Epiphone is still very much thought of as an affordable brand, while Gibson, compared to Fender, has seemed to price itself out of the reach of many players into what is perceived as elitist territory.

Still, Squier has upped its game to the point where some of the high end Squier guitars are just as studio and stage ready, if not more, than some low end Fender products. At the end of the day, it will all come down to what you’re looking for in a guitar.

There are multiple factors that influence a player’s choice of instrument. Everything from historical identity, rarity, or price point, down to a simple choice of color.

If you want a truly robust instrument, a perfectly set up guitar that’s been gone over with a fine tooth comb, Fender products are better.

On the other hand, if you want a perfectly functioning, sweet sounding guitar that won’t break the bank, Squier may actually be better.

What’s The Difference Between A Squier And A Fender?

The two biggest differences between the two brands are the price points and countries of origin. Squier is meant to be the affordable line of Fender guitars, meaning you can get a Tele, Strat, or P-Bass that is made overseas to cut costs.

Additionally, it comes down to the details that go into making a better instrument. Fender branded instruments will have better quality woods, hardware, electronics, and more man-hour time put into finishing processes.

When you first pick up a guitar, there is no mistaking an instrument that’s had the extra time put into the small things that elevate it – the human touch. But it has to be paid for!

Which Squier Is The Best?

Just like Fender, Squier’s best guitar comes down to a Strat vs Tele faceoff. Squier’s highest quality line is the Classic Vibe series, which recreates popular historical Fender models for less than $500.

For the money, the Squier Classic Vibe ‘50s Telecaster is widely considered one of the best affordable guitars on the market, not just the best Squier.

Check out this side by side demo of a Tele vs Strat from the ‘50s Classic Vibe Series to decide for yourself.

Additional awesome Squier guitars include:

• Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster
• Squier Contemporary Telecaster
• Squier Affinity Jazzmaster
• Squier Paranormal Cyclone

Are Squier Bullet Strats Any Good?

Plain and simple, YES! Squier Bullet Strats are an incredibly affordable option for beginners or DIY guitar modders. They even come as part of a beginner package with accessories like an amplifier, strap, and guitar cable.

Why Are Squier Guitars Bad?

Generally speaking, Squier guitars are not bad at all. In fact, they are often underrated because they lack name brand pickups or hardware.

Their overseas origins also tend to lead to assumptions about the quality. Squiers are not perfect guitars, but Squier guitars are by no means bad and offer supreme value for the money.

Is Epiphone Better Than Squier?

Another tough question, especially because Epiphone and Squier make such different products despite the similar price point.

Ultimately, no Epiphone is not better than Squier, especially when you consider Squier and Fender have sold more guitars than any other company from 2015-2020.

But Squier makes affordable Fender designs, so if you are looking for a Strat, Tele, or Jaguar Squier is a better bet than Epiphone!

Breaking Down Fender Vs Squier: What We Looked For

We’re not here to tell you which brand is superior to the other. In fact, we want to shed light on how wonderful all these products are depending on your needs.

Whether you are considering a Signature model Jazzmaster, Mexican vs American Strat, or are interested in a Classic Vibe Squier, there is a guitar for everyone here. Here are a few key differences to consider.

Price Difference

It’s not uncommon for the price of a guitar to be the main driving force behind a purchase. Everyone wants to get the most guitar for the money.

However, sometimes cost doesn’t equate to overall quality, so it is important to understand why the prices are different.

Fender

Fender guitars cost more because of where they are produced. Paying the factory workers in the US and Mexican factories simply costs more than it does overseas in Asian countries.

While there is certainly a price difference attributed to the upgraded features and parts in Fender guitars, most of the price difference comes from the labor associated with building guitars in North America.

Squier

As stated above, it is just so much more affordable to mass produce guitars overseas. Squier guitars also feature overseas made copies of things like Fender pickups, tuners, and bridges which cost less to produce separate from the already cheap assembly.

Sound Quality 

The way an individual guitar sounds is often subjective, with each musical genre and player having their own definition. Squier vs Fender guitars certainly sound different, even if both have generally impressive sound quality.

Other than the natural qualities of the tonewoods and quality of the hardware, the most important sonic factor is the pickups. They’re the engine behind the sound.

Moreover, one of the first places a guitar manufacturer will cut costs is in the electronics. Whether it’s a Squier or a Fender, the quality of the electronics can make or break your sound.

Fender

Fender is known for pioneering so many iconic electric guitar sounds. When comparing Strat vs Tele pickups, Fender has a strong reputation for reproducing their signature tones in every guitar, be it Mexican or Fender. The sound quality is undoubtedly high.

Squier

Squier’s whole mission is really to clone those Fender sounds and tones and bring them in a more accessible package. But can you cut production costs and still maintain an authentic vintage-stlye tones?

They certainly succeed in doing that, especially with the Squier Classic Vibe series. In our humble opinion, they sound eerily similar to original Fender guitars. So much so that it hardly warrants replacing the pickups.

Even when you put the Squier Bullet vs Affinity lines up against each other, the distinct Fender sound is there.

Build Quality

Overseas production quality has drastically increased in the past decade. This has been a net positive for consumers like you and me, who can get better products without having to dig deeper into our pockets.

Fender

Fender very well may be the industry leader in build quality. Even Mexican Fender products are known to last a lifetime.

And on the off chance they don’t, Fender’s modular guitar design makes it easy and affordable to swap parts in and out for upgrades or repairs. But if Fender is on the headstock, you can expect top notch build quality.

Squier

Squier is no slouch when it comes to build quality either, with drastic improvements from past decades. Many Squier guitars come out of the box ready to go, with smooth action and sweet pickups.

Quality control certainly lags behind Fender a bit, but really it should be on the dealer to make sure that you don’t get a lemon or beat up instrument.

Pros and Cons of Each Make

Fender Guitars

Squier Guitars

Which Brand Is Right For You?

Ultimately, Squiers are beloved by beginner players because they are an affordable way to learn guitar. Squier guitars even come with a free trial of Fender Play, their proprietary online guitar instruction program.

If you are a beginner or want to start learning guitar, Squier may be right for you.

Now, if you are a player who has progressed through lessons, upgrading to a Mexican or American Fender could be the right choice for you. The smoother playability and reliable tuning make Fenders a tad more stage or studio ready.

The post Fender vs Squier – Which One Is Better? first appeared on GuitarNiche.

What’s the Best Telecaster Guitar Kit?

Apart from buying a Telecaster guitar, many passionate guitarists decide to take a DIY approach and build one.

With numerous guitar kit manufacturers to choose from, not all of them offer the same level of quality and durability of components.

Buying a kit from a substandard manufacturer will end up with inferior parts making what should be a very gratifying project, a miserable experience.

For this reason, sourcing a good quality Telecaster guitar kit is imperative, and we’re about to help you do so.

In this article, we’ll list the five best DIY Telecaster guitar kits, recommend the best brand, and point out several details to consider when buying your guitar kit.

We certainly hope you find this article helpful, informative and unbiased. Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

Telecaster Guitar Kits Compared

Product	Image	Rating	Key Feature
*TOP PICK* #1 SOLO TCK-1 DIY Electric Guitar Kit		(4.7)	Excellent quality considering the low price
#2 SOLO TCK-100 DIY Semi Hollow Electric Guitar Kit		(4.7)	Outstanding pre-made wood cutting, drilling, and shaping
#3 SOLO TCK-1SM DIY Guitar Kit With Spalted Maple Top		(4.5)	Offers superior materials such as spalted maple and top binding
#4 The FretWire TL Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit		(4.5)	Custom fitted neck joint for maximum tone
#5 StewMac T-Style Electric Guitar Kit		(4.5)	Mahogany body and neck are higher quality for its price range

Top 5 Telecaster Guitar Kits in Review

1. Solo TCK-1 DIY Electric Guitar Kit

SOLO TCK-1 DIY Electric Guitar Kit

This model produced by SOLO Guitars, is the most affordable guitar kit in our roundup. Still, the manufacturer managed to put together many high-quality components in this item.

Solo TCK-1 Kit Overview

This SOLO Telecaster electric guitar kit features a basswood body with a poly sealant. The neck is made of maple, whereas the fingerboard’s material is rosewood. The construction is a bolt-on, and there are 22 frets.

Solo TCK-1 Kit Highlights

The kit has gorgeous black binding around its basswood body. Assembling the guitar can be done quickly due to the pre-shaped headstock.

This might not be ideal if you’re looking for a customized headstock carve, but it will save you some time while putting all the pieces together.

Solo TCK-1 Features

• Basswood body with a poly sealant
• Maple neck
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Predrilled holes
• Pre-shaped headstock

SOLO TCK-1 DIY Tele Kit Key Points:

The Good

Apart from excellent materials, this kit boasts many other benefits. First, all the tough woodworking is already complete.

The same goes for all the hardware. This model also has a pickguard assembly, strings, a neckplate assembly, and all the other components necessary to put the guitar together.

Additionally, the price is one of the most significant advantages of this kit. It’s the cheapest item here, and you’re highly unlikely to come across equally good equipment at the same price.

The Bad

The only hole that’s not predrilled is the string tree. This may not be a deal-breaker, but having an option to use this hole would have been nice.

Moreover, once assembled, the guitar is one of the heaviest models available, which might not suit some players.

What We Like

• • • Cost-efficient
    • Solid materials
    • Complete woodworking
    • Contains all the pieces necessary for the assembly

What We Don’t Like

• • • Lack of a string tree hole
    • Quite heavy

Check SOLO TCK-1 DIY Guitar Kit Availability >>

2. Solo TCK-100 DIY Semi-hollow Electric Guitar Kit with Maple Top

SOLO TCK-100 DIY Semi Hollow Electric Guitar Kit

This is another kit found at SoloMusicGear.com. The item is slightly pricier, and some materials are different from the previous entry.

Solo TCK-100 Kit Overview

Just like the TCK-1 model, this TCK-100 Kit contains 22 frets and a bolt-on construction. The body is also made out of basswood, but this item has a maple top. The fingerboard is maple as well.

Solo TCK-100 Kit Highlights

The guitar has stylish white binding enclosing the body. The manufacturer has already handled the challenging wood cutting, drilling, shaping, leveling, and dressing.

The kit includes all the items you need for the assembly, such as mounting screws, an Allen key, strap buttons, strings, etc.

Solo TCK-100 Thinline Kit Features

• Bolt-on construction
• Basswood body
• Maple top and fingerboard
• Straightforward wiring
• Pre-made fret leveling and dressing

SOLO TCK-100 Tele Kit Key Points:

The Good

This guitar kit is convenient for several reasons. For example, the assembly is rather straightforward. The wiring is simple, and the nut slot depth setup is quick and easy.

After you’ve put all the components together, you’ll find that the guitar is relatively light and easy to play. Lastly, the maple parts give your instrument an appealing appearance.

The Bad

As for the downsides, the neck pocket fit isn’t perfect. Although it sits within acceptable parameters, it could be more snug. Another problem is that there are no instructions on removing the sealer from the body and neck.

What We Like

• • • Simple installation
    • Easy wiring and the nut slot depth setup
    • Lightweight
    • Elegant appearance

What We Don’t Like

• • • The neck pocket fit isn’t ideal
    • No advice on how to get rid of the sealer from the neck and body

Check SOLO TCK-100 DIY Semi Hollow Kit Availability >>

3. Solo TCK-1SM DIY Electric Guitar Kit With Spalted Maple Top

Solo Guitars TCK-1SM DIY Guitar Kit

The SOLO TCK-1SM guitar kit is another stunning entry from SOLO. It’s one of the more expensive items on this list, but it justifies the cost due to various properties.

SOLO TCK-1SM DIY Kit Overview

This DIY Telecaster guitar kit features a great look. The body is made of basswood with a stunning spalted maple top finished with a beautiful dark binding for contrast.

The neck and fretboard are constructed of high-quality maple and rosewood respectively. The kit also sports chrome hardware with 22 medium standard frets.

TCK-1SM DIY Kit Highlights

The kit is easy to assemble and is an outstanding base for a fun DIY project. Again, the materials are excellent, and the two single coil pickups are punchy with twang to spare.

Moreover, every hole is predrilled, meaning that the beginners will just need to screw in the parts that come with the kit.

You may need to do some finish coating and sanding since the the back of the neck is unfinished. However, this can give you a lot of freedom – choose any finish you want.

On top of that, there’s no detailed woodworking involved with this Telecaster-style DIY kit.

TCK-1SM Tele-Style Kit Features

• Bound basswood body with spalted maple top
• Rosewood fretboard with maple neck
• Vintage-voiced single coil pickups
• Predrilled holes
• Chrome hardware
• Step-by-step instructions

SOLO Guitars TCK-1SM Tele Kit Key Points:

The Good

Despite being modestly priced, many other kits on the market don’t come close to this model. Namely, you usually don’t see complete user-friendly kits this visually appealing in this price range.

The same goes for the single coil pickups, which help provide traditional sounds. Finally, even novice guitar players will have an easy time putting the kit together.

The Bad

The unfinished maple of the neck does give some freedom to experiment with the finish, but this means you’ll have to put in some extra work with the guitar build.

What We Like

• • • Quality materials
    • Cost-effective pricing
    • Simple assembly

What We Don’t Like

• • • Some finishing may be required

Solo TCK-1SM DIY Electric Kit With Spalted Maple Top Availability >>

Looking for Inspiration?

Check out Fender’s Telecaster Collection showcasing the classic design in any combination of color and configuration you can imagine!

4. The FretWire TL Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit

DIY Electric Guitar Kit – TL Build Your Own Guitar

The next item on our list is the DIY TL Guitar Kit manufactured by The FretWire.

The FretWire TL Overview

This model features excellent materials. The body is made of basswood, while the choice for the fretboard and neck is maple. There’s also the standard fret style with 21 frets and chrome hardware.

TL Style Kit Highlights

Each component in this kit is designed to fit the body perfectly. It includes a predrilled body, a fretted neck, and all hardware and electronics required for installation. This FretWire DIY Tele guitar kit also comes with a pre-installed truss rod and a bolt-on neck joint.

TheFretWire DIY TL Kit Features

• Basswood body
• Maple fretboard and neck
• Chrome hardware
• Bolt-on neck joint
• Pre-installed truss rod

FretWire Tele Kit Key points:

The Good

Out of the box, the kit looks great due to the ash body. The wood is lightweight, and once you build your DIY Telecaster guitar, you’ll find that the material gives it a pleasant tune. Moreover, the ash body will provide you with good sustain.

Additionally, this model features the S-S pickup configuration. Therefore, it’s ideal if you’re looking for articulate tones on your electric guitar.

Lastly, the price isn’t steep at all, considering the high-quality components this kit provides.

The Bad

To get the desired final product, you might need to do some patching and sanding on your guitar. Plus, you’ll need to add some holes to mount the bridge and pickguard.

The FretWire TL Style Electric Guitar Kit in Review

What We Like

• • • Graceful look
    • Lightweight design
    • Pleasant sound and good sustain
    • Articulate tones
    • Reasonable price

What We Don’t Like

• • • You’ll need additional holes for the bridge and pickguard
    • Some patching and sanding may be necessary to get the desired finish

Check The FretWire TL Style DIY Kit Availability >>

5. StewMac T-Style Electric Guitar Kit

StewMac T-Style Electric Guitar Kit

The final contender is a T-style electric guitar kit produced by StewMac. It’s one of the most prominent brands on the market, and this item delivers in many areas.

StewMac T-Style Kit Overview

This guitar’s body is made of mahogany, and the same material is used for the neck. There’s also the pre-fretted Indian Laurel fingerboard. Moreover, the neck has a blank peghead and a pre-installed two-way truss rod.

StewMac T-Style Kit Highlights

The body and neck are made of higher-quality mahogany than other Telecaster guitar kits that go for the same price. The parts fit each other perfectly, and the fretwork itself is excellent.

Also, the tuners are solid, and you don’t need to replace them. The same goes for the pickguard, which is great-looking and thick.

StewMac T-Style Kit Features

• Mahogany body and neck
• Pre-installed two-way truss rod
• Pre-installed fingerboard inlays
• Classic Tele-style bridge and chrome hardware
• Thick pickguard
• Pre-slotted nut

StewMac T-Style Guitar Kit Key Points:

The Good

This StewMac Tele kit features a marvelous price-to-quality ratio. You receive all the electronics and the hardware necessary for the installation, and most of the materials are of good quality.

The body comes in three pieces, but all of them blend in very well. The holes are accurately drilled, and all the Tele guitar kit instructions are clear and easy to follow.

The Bad

While most of the construction is satisfactory, some parts aren’t up to par. More specifically, the pickups included in the kit are low-quality ceramic pieces. If you want to get a better tone out of this instrument, you’re going to need to swap them out.

Another potentially problematic issue can be fret sprouts. Though fairly common with inexpensive, quick dried necks, the sharp fret ends that protrude beyond the sides of the fretboard need to be removed to make the neck comfortable.

What We Like

• • • Relatively affordable
    • Most of the kit includes high-quality materials
    • The three body pieces are a snug fit.
    • Accurately drilled holes
    • Clear and simple instructions

What We Don’t Like

• • • Low-quality pickups
    • Relatively expensive

Check StewMac T-Style Guitar Kit Availability >>

Telecaster Guitar Kit FAQs

When purchasing your Telecaster build kit, you want to look for the most renowned and reliable brand available.

This way, you’ll make sure all the pieces of your kit fit together perfectly and that the guitar sounds good once assembled.

In this section, we’ll recommend the finest Telecaster guitar kit on the market and present crucial details you should bear in mind when buying one.

Are DIY Guitar Kits Any Good?

Not all guitar kits are equally good, and this depends on the manufacturer. For example, reputable brands, such as Solo Guitars, are almost guaranteed to sell you a high-quality item.

Therefore, you should buy your kit from a trusted company to significantly lower the risk of purchasing a defective instrument.

The main factor that determines whether your kit is good is probably durability. You should buy a guitar that’s verifiably strong, stable, and sturdy.

It may force you to spend a bit more, but at least you’ll know you’re getting your money’s worth. If the wood is high-quality and sturdy, you’re much more likely to have a long-lasting instrument.

Another detail you should consider is the customizability. Some manufacturers let you customize almost every component in your kit.

Simply put, if you want to build a unique guitar, try to buy a kit that gives you the most freedom to experiment.

Are FretWire Guitar Kits Any Good

Update:

Unfortunately, products from The FretWire have become nearly non-existent. Whether this is fallout from recent supply chain issues over the last few years or other business related decisions, we don’t know. Only time will tell.

We’ve covered a couple of FretWire Tele kits here, and we wouldn’t have if we thought they were junk.

The brand is known for creating quality products that both beginners and advanced guitar players can enjoy.

The main parts of the guitar (the body and neck) are pre-drilled and well fitting, plus their kits include all the items you need to put together a fully functional electric guitar.

Whether a mahogany or ash body, and with fast playing necks, rest easy knowing that FretWire offers guitars that sound and perform great.

They also offer a convenient option to upgrade the tuners and pickups to professional brands right off the order page.

Are Solo Guitar Kits Any Good?

Solo Guitar kits can be a great grab. Even though it’s not the most renowned brand in the guitar kit industry, the manufacturer still has some excellent items.

As we mentioned in the reviews above, the company makes some of the most affordable guitar kits out there. Best of all, this doesn’t come with a considerable drop in quality.

Solo features several different body materials, such as basswood. You can also choose from solid options, such as maple and mahogany, for the neck and top. For the fingerboard, pick rosewood or maple.

Overall, despite not belonging to top-class guitar kit manufacturers, Solo still offers some decent, cost-effective items.

Is It Hard to Make Your Own Guitar?

Despite how clear and straightforward some instruction manuals are, making your own guitar can be quite challenging. Many details can lead to frustration while putting your instrument together.

For instance, if you’re used to buying fully-assembled items from stores, you know how straightforward it is – plug it in and play it.

With guitar kits, the learning curve associated with DIY assembly is steep because it consists of various components and processes.

Furthermore, building a guitar can be quite time-consuming. Even though the kit features all the necessary components, you’ll need to assemble them in the correct position and sequence.

Another obstacle could be looking for other parts if you purchased a basic kit only.

On top of that, there are several tasks you may need to perform on your guitar. These include cutting, sanding, drilling, painting, gluing, staining, etc. All these jobs require a lot of time and patience, depending on your skill level.

Another potential hindrance is the lack of necessary tools for the job. If you don’t have all the required items, the assembly will take even longer.

A few essential tools include:

• Ruler

You’ll need a ruler to keep the distance between components accurate. A good practice is to get a ruler with measurements in both millimeters and inches. You don’t have to buy a cutting-edge item – all you need is an accurate ruler.

• String Cutter

Trimming your guitar strings to an appropriate length requires a sharp string cutter. Since the strings for Telecasters are made out of metal, a pair of scissors won’t do the trick.

• Truss Rod Wrench

If your guitar kit doesn’t have a truss rod wrench, you’ll need to buy one. The item is necessary to adjust the relief of your guitar’s neck, and the proper size depends on the size of the truss rod bolt.

• Screwdriver

Screwdrivers will allow you to loosen or tighten the bolts. They’re also used to adjust the intonation. Just make sure that your screwdriver matches the size of the screws and bolts from the kit.

• String Winder

Twisting the tuning pegs using just your hands is tedious. That’s why you should use a string winder. It’ll expedite and facilitate the whole process.

• Hex Keys or Allen Wrench

Either of these tools will help you adjust nut pressure, neck, saddles, pads, and other parts.

• Work Mat

A work mat isn’t essential but will help shield the guitar from slips and scratches during the assembly.

Is It Cheaper to Build Your Own Guitar?

If you want to get a build-your-own Telecaster guitar kit and assemble the instrument by yourself, it can be both cheaper and costlier than buying a finished product. It ultimately depends on what you consider to be the basic price point for a finished guitar.

For example, some guitar kits require additional materials and components, such as pickups, that significantly raise the project’s cost. Additionally, a fully parted out guitar using premium supplies will run you many hundreds of dollars.

Another factor that influences the total cost is whether or not you have all the tools. If you lack some of them, the price goes up even further and can exceed the cost of buying a pre-assembled guitar.

What Are the Best DIY Guitar Kits?

We’ve already listed the top five build-your-own Telecaster kit options. To sum up, FretWire appears twice in this roundup with the Ash TL and TL Thinline Style guitar kits.

Solo Music Gear also has two noteworthy, affordable models – the Solo TCK-1 and the TCK-100 Semi-hollow guitar kits. Finally, StewMac have deserved their spot on the list with the top-grade StewMac T-Style electric guitar kit.

It’s worth noting though, if price is your primary driver, the TC-10 from Saga is well worth a look for those on a budget.

Who Wins the Best Tele Kit Shootout?

In our opinion, the best overall brand is the Solo Guitars (solomusicgear.com) with their two top options – the TCK-1 DIY and TCK-100 Thinline Style guitar kits. Both kits have a lot to offer, but the beginner-friendly TCK-1 is the best Telecaster DIY guitar kit at the moment.

Each item features high-quality tonewoods (basswood and rosewood) and has appealing maple components. Also, the assembly process is relatively straightforward in both cases.

Overall, the Solo TCK-1 guitar kit is the winner because of its traditional style and slightly lower price. It’s sibling, the TCK-100 Thinline Style, offers the same durability and ease of assembly. It’s marginally pricier but offers the same familiar style and functionality players prefer.

All in all, we pick the TCK-1 from Solo Guitars as the superior Telecaster guitar kit.

EDITOR”S PICK!

SOLO TCK-1 DIY Electric Guitar Kit! >>

The post Best Telecaster Guitar Kit (Complete Guide with Reviews) first appeared on GuitarNiche.

We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

An Affordable Version of Leo Fender’s First Guitar, How Does the Affinity Tele Stack Up?

The Squier Affinity Telecaster at a glance:

Squier Affinity Telecaster Guitar

Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Overview

Squier’s take on Fender’s classic Telecaster design is one of the most popular and highly rated sub-$200 electric guitars. Used through many genres such as blues, rockabilly, classic rock, and country, you can’t go wrong with a Tele.

These guitars are adored by both beginners and pros for their ability to cheaply recreate that classic Fender Telecaster sound.

One of the Most Versatile and Iconic Guitars of All Time

Much like Squier’s SA-150 Acoustic guitar, the Affinity Telecaster is all about bringing Fender’s premium sound to a more accessible price point. The Telecaster is an iconic electric guitar used by giants such as Jimmy Page, Prince, and Chrissie Hynde.

Famous for its sparkling clean tones and warm overdriven sounds, the Tele gets much of its sound from the brass plate holding the bridge pickup. Equally suited for beginners and pros, Squier’s Affinity Telecaster will not disappoint Fender fans.

Who is the Squier Affinity Series Telecaster for?

Coming in just below $200, most would assume that the Squier Affinity Series Telecaster is a beginner level instrument. While the guitar is certainly a superb option for those looking for their first electric, it shouldn’t be discounted by veterans.

The Affinity Series blends classic Fender tone with comfortable, simplified features. The two single coil pickups can be easily controlled by a 3-way selector switch and a volume and tone pot.

This simple two knob set up certainly makes controlling your tone far easier on beginners right out of the box. The versatility of the guitar also makes it a top choice for players of all levels. You can go from sparkling clean country and pop sounds to overdriven rock riffs in no time, without ever being boxed in.

What Can You Expect In The Box?

Check Squier Affinity Telecaster Availability Here! >>

The Squier Affinity Series Telecaster is available in a number of packages from different vendors. You can purchase the guitar by itself, or as part of a beginner’s pack where accessories come included.

With the package deal comes nice extras like guitar picks, a strap, clip-on tuner, and gig bag. All of these accessories can greatly help new guitarists keep their guitar in top shape when practicing or taking it out of the house.

It is worth noting that getting one of these packages will add a few extra dollars, taking the guitar north of $200 total.

Squier Affinity Telecaster Features

The Squier Affinity Telecaster has quite a few distinct, quality features. The two single coil pickups provide a diverse palette of sounds. Warmer and bassier tones coming from the neck, and brighter, “spank” from the bridge.

The 3-way selector switch lets you use each independently, or both in parallel, providing great sonic options. The Alder body is lightweight and comfortable to play sitting down or standing up. The neck is made of Maple, with either Maple or Indian Laurel fretboards available.

21 frets and dot inlays adorn the C-shaped neck, with the comfortable horn carve providing easy access to higher frets. The top loaded Telecaster bridge is paired with chrome tuners that provide great tuning stability, especially at this price point.

Plus, the bridge has six individual saddles for each string, making intonation adjustments easy for each string. While the pickups sound great, beginners should be warned that single coil pickups are susceptible to electrical interference.

This means that when played through an amplifier, there may be some hum or buzz produced by the guitar.

Tons of Color Options

The Affinity Tele is also available in a virtual rainbow of colorful finishes:

Squier by Fender Affinity Series Telecaster...

Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster Beginner...

Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster Electric...

Squier by Fender Affinity Series Telecaster...

See all available Affinity Tele finishes here! >>

Affinity Highlights

• Great, reliable tuning stability
• Diverse tones from all 3 pickup configurations
• Classic recreation of iconic Telecaster
• Comfortable, C-shaped neck for beginners
• Can come with needed accessories

Pros and Cons

Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Guitar Review

Are Squier Affinity Telecaster Owners Happy? >>

See, and Hear It in Action

Squier’s Affinity Telecaster should be ready right out of the box, especially if you get it as part of a beginner pack! Widely regarded as one of the best cheap guitars ever made, check out this great demo of all the Affinity Tele can do for you!

Other Affordable Electrics to Try

There has never been as many great cheap guitars for young players as there is right now. While it is easier than ever to find great guitars under $200, it also is harder to sift through the many great options.

If you’re looking for another classic Fender design, Squier’s Affinity Series Stratocaster might be for you. Just like the Tele here, the Affinity Strat is tried and true recreation of the three pickup Stratocaster, arguably the most iconic electric guitar of all time.

At an equally affordable price tag, you’ll find even more tonal diversity in the Stratocaster. Plus, it’s also sold as part of great beginner packages by many common retailers, making it student friendly.

Squier by Fender Affinity Series Stratocaster...

Epiphone Les Paul-100, Heritage Cherryburst

Ibanez GIO Series GRX70QA - Transparent Black...

Sick of hearing about Fender and Gibson? Ibanez has just the guitar for you! Check out their GRX70, a “super-Strat”-styled guitar that mixes modern features with stunning finish options.

For players who want to pursue more technical styles of music such as fusion, metal, or Steve Vai-inspired madness, look no further. The GRX70 adds a unique HSH pickup diagram and dive-bomb ready tremolo system to a sub-$200 shredding machine.

Final Thoughts: Is the Squier Affinity Telecaster Worth Buying?

The Squier Affinity Series Telecaster has got to be one of the best values on the market. For players inspired by vintage sounds and styles, the Affinity Telecaster is one of the best affordable options.

Capable of taking you from The Rolling Stones to Rage Against The Machine, the Affinity Tele is packed with great features. The comfortable neck, tuning stability, and broad number of finish options more than compensates for any flaws.

Even though the fret edges may be a bit rough and the pickups can be noisey, you won’t find many better guitars for under $200. And for pros, this is a superb guitar to purchase and customize or modify to your preferred specs!

What are Affinity Telecaster Customers Saying? >>

The post Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Review [Electric Guitar by Fender] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Is the Saga TC-10 Guitar Kit everything a DIY builder needs straight out of the box? Or should you consider other options. Find out in our expert quick review.

We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

The Saga TC-10 Electric Guitar Kit at a glance:

The Saga TC-10 Guitar Kit

Building your own guitar is a great way to accomplish something new, also giving you a real connected sense of the instrument. Many players have also included building their own instrument as part of the process of cutting their teeth.

Many of these DIY kits are very high quality, and Saga range of products are definitely a popular and reputable one to go for.

Why consider the TC-10 guitar kit?

When it comes to finding the ideal kit for you, whether it’s your first time or not, it’s important to make sure you shop around and find a good fit for your needs.

The Saga TC-10 Electric Guitar Kit is certainly very highly rated, and for that reason alone, you should have extreme confidence when making your purchase.

On top of this, you are looking at an easy to put together choice, and whether you are experienced in this or not, this particular model will not prove to be too much of a challenge at all.

What we like about the Saga TC-10 guitar kit

Everything you need is included in the kit, including strings and pre-drilled holes. You don’t need to do anything extra, other than literally put it together.

On top of this, all electronics are pre-installed, with no soldering required. There are several colour options to choose from. This sets it apart from quite a few models on the market, and the overall appearance on completion is very attractive.

Read What Builders Are Saying About the Saga TC-10 Kit

The included instruction manual not only helps you put together the kit easily, but it also gives you advice on how to play it once it is together making the whole process very easy indeed.

The price is also a major plus point. While it isn’t the most lightweight DIY guitar kit on the market, it certainly isn’t the heaviest.

Sometimes having a little extra substance makes holding and playing the instrument much easier, especially for beginners, or those who are just learning.

Saga Guitar Kit Key Features

• Solid basswood body and all shaping and routing already in place
• Pre-fretted Indian rosewood fingerboard for easy playing
• Pre-drilled holes so no extra work required
• All electronics ready to go
• Everything included in the kit
• Choose your ideal colour

Other Build Your Own Guitar Kits from SOLO GUITARS:

Solo TCK-1 DIY Electric Guitar Kit

4.9/5

Check Availability! >>

Solo STK-1 DIY Electric Guitar Kit

4.9 / 5

Check Availability! >>

Solo SGK-1 DIY Electric Guitar Kit

4.9 / 5

Check Availability! >>

Saga TC-10 Electric Guitar in Review

What are Saga TC-10 Guitar Kit Customers Saying? >>

Final Verdict: Is the Saga TC-10 Tele Style Guitar Kit Any Good?

If you’re looking for an easy to put together guitar kit, and one which plays wonderfully well after the event then this is a great option to go for.

The Saga kits on the market currently are all very highly rated, and this particular option is perfect for the first time user.

If you are purchasing the kit for a teenager, who is just starting out, you won’t find any problems in this regard.

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Build Quality

Sound Quality

Value Score

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Overall Score:    3.9

Manufacturer Info:

Website: https://www.sagamusic.com/

About: For more than 40 years, Saga Musical Instruments has steadily grown to be a global pioneer in the successful development, marketing and distribution of high-quality traditional American and European-designed student and professional acoustic musical instruments.

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Does Fender’s Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Deliver the Goods?

(4.3)

The Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Guitar is synonymous with classic guitar designs in the United States. In fact, when many people picture classic rock guitars, they’re imagining the iconic Telecaster.

If you’re looking to travel back in time with your musical talent, this is one of your best options.

As a guitar manufacturer, Fender is one of the most prominent companies on the planet. While this model isn’t the cheapest on the market, it’s undoubtedly one of the most famous in design.

It’s also much less expensive than some other high-end alternatives and custom shop models.

With plenty of features and performance benefits included, it’s hard to say no to this guitar if it’s within your budget. In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster to find out whether it’s a yes for you in particular.

Classic 50’s Design

If you appreciate classically designed guitars with historical significance, you can’t go wrong with the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster. This design is known around the world for its famous appearance and retro-look.

Many of the world’s most famous guitarists played telecasters – including Bob Dylan, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards. This economical and very practical guitar design comes with plenty of history attached to it.

A Wide Range of Included Features

While the modern Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster isn’t exactly the same as the classic design from decades past in small details. It has plenty of traditional features including a master volume and master tone controls, as well as two custom single-coil Tele pickups.

• Maple neck, “C” profile
• Pine body; gloss polyurethane finish
• Maple fingerboard, 9.5″ radius with dot inlays
• 25.5″ scale length, 21 Narrow Tall frets
• 3-way pickup selector; master Volume and Tone controls
• 3-saddle string-through-body bridge
• 1.65″ wide nut (now bone)
• Vintage-style tuners

In short, this guitar is built to perform every bit as well as its predecessor.

Check Classic Vibe Tele Availability Here! >>

Two-Year Warranty – One of the Best in the Industry

Protecting your guitar from malfunctions or design defects is an essential part of being a musician, plus it’s peace of mind. If you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars on a guitar, you need to ensure it’s as protected as possible against defects. Otherwise, you might find yourself replacing your guitar out of pocket.

New instruments can be particularly prone to changes in climate, often having to “weather” seasonal changes until they become stable. If a guitar is going to have problems, it’s within the first year and change that they’ll pop up.

With Fender, you’ll find a two-year limited warranty that covers manufacturing issues related to your guitar. Considering the nature of wood and it’s unpredictable stability as such, this is a very good thing.

This warranty is better than the industry standard – many major guitar companies only provide a one-year warranty. If you want a company that backs its own products, Fender is a good option.

Variations to Choose From

Find great deals on your favorite gear at Sweetwater.com >>

How Does the Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Sound?

The sound quality of the Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Electric Guitar is unmistakably high-quality. With a full and powerful sound output, this guitar is capable of performing at home or at gigs.

One of the first places a manufacturer will cut costs is in the electronics. Not so in this case, we’ve found the pickups to sound remarkably close to the original design from decades ago producing a tone that is exceptionally on par with classic Tele tone.

If anything, the support controls – the pots and output jack specifically would be a worthy upgrade.

You may also decide to replace the thick pickguard with a thinner, period-correct piece as well. While having nothing to do with the sound quality, it certainly represents better. Plus if it looks that much better, you feel better about it too.

While the amplifier you purchase will impact the quality of sound, you can count on this guitar to provide high-quality tone and reliability as is.

What’s the Classic Vibe Telecaster Build Quality Like?

There’s no doubt that the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation – FMIC – has one of the best reputations on the market. In fact, Fender might be the most famous electric guitar manufacturer on earth. Their status is aided by their steadfast commitment to creating great guitar products that last.

The Squier guitar is thoughtfully made using a selected resonant pine body (like the original Esquire), 1-piece comfortable “C” shape maple neck, a traditional bridge with brass barrel saddles, and a signature single coil pickup configuration that’s simple to use and service.

There’s a reason this design continues to remain popular over 60 years after its inception – it lasts.

Playability is great. Strung with 9-42 gauge strings out of the box, it’s easy to play and work through the control settings. Only two small complaints here:

1. The pots feel a little tight in their rotation which could slow you down should you want to make lightning fast changes, and
2. The finish on the fretboard in combination with the medium frets reduces the perceived fret height a touch.

Though the fretwork itself is impeccable and nicely finished, you might find you have apply a little more effort to get those big bends.

Squier Classic 50’s Tele UPDATE:

In January of 2020, we had a most recent Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster production model come in for a setup. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the frets were taller – .043″ in height vs the previous .034″. This allowed for a much more playable guitar when bending notes, plus the notes themselves range a bit more true.

The other surprise was the use of a more traditional bone nut rather than the synthetic material – nice! Overall, these two improvements really help to push the guitar further into the realm of superior value for money.

Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster in Review: Key Points

What Do Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Players Think? >>

Find great deals on Squier guitars at Sweetwater.com! >>

Our Verdict: Is the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster a Good Deal or Not?

Should you say “yes” to the Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster?

Whether you’re a new guitarist or a seasoned veteran, you’re sure to find great value in the Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Guitar.

Out of the box, this guitar has all the functionality you’ll need to perform in front of a large crowd or jam out at home while likewise boasting a solid warranty to back it up.

With a few modest upgrades, particularly in the supportive electronics, you can have a guitar that competes with instruments worth hundreds of dollars more. Now that’s getting your money’s worth!

If you’re really looking to go upmarket, there are better options available, but purchasing a Squier gives you a great guitar with a significant history and a killer traditional look to boot.

Check Today's Squier Classic 50's Telecaster Price! >>

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The post Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Review (Fender’s Best Value?) first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Part 6 of How To Setup A Fender Telecaster

The home stretch in setting up our Telecaster and getting it playing tip top.

Final Adjustments and Test Drive

One of THE most important elements of keeping your (or a client’s) guitar in tune is simply stretching the strings. When they’re rock solid on a well setup instrument, all the headaches associated with pitches drifting simply evaporate – leaving more room for the joy of playing and self expression.

With a few turns of the screwdriver to get the pickups at their ideal height, and a final check, this beautiful Fender Telecaster is ready for the twang test.

What’s Covered:

Video: Telecaster Setup Tutorial Part 6

Final Thoughts on the Details

Brilliance in Understated Design

The economical approach to the Telecaster’s design lends itself very well to tuning stability. The bridge is solidly built (with the exception of some models with far too many small parts).

The strings installed through the body act as excellent anchors, and the headstock design is linear to the string’s travel reducing friction points.

As long as the tuners are reasonably good and the strings have been installed properly, the one major influence on tuning stability will be the nut. It’s good practice to make sure the nut is cut properly to allow the strings to move freely.

It’s also good practice to apply a little lubricant in freshly cut nut slots to help reduce friction and expedite the process of settling in.

You can find a complete set of recommended setup tools on our Guitar Setup Tools Guide page.

Setting Pickup Height

This particular version of Reissue Telecaster in our video series had no external neck pickup height adjustment screws. Not a problem at all. The pickup is easily adjusted with the pickguard removed to expose the mounting screws. The pickguard is then easily re-installed afterwards.

Here’s some quick tips to setting your pickups to their ideal height:

Start by holding the neck with your fret hand high up on the neck close to the body. Keep your hand flat across all the strings to simulate being fretted in the upper registers.

This will give you your maximum low point as the strings leave the neck to reach their contact point at the bridge. Now you can set your neck and bridge pickups to equal heights.

Note: many modern neck pickups have a slightly reduced output to accommodate the exaggerated influence of the stings in their magnetic field. This technique is a great way account for the difference.

Look at one of the pickups from about a 45 degree angle from the side of the instrument. If you tilt the guitar forward or back accordingly, you should see a neat shadow for each string on the face of the pickup. You can use that shadow to gauge how far the strings are from the face of the pickup.

Concentrate on only the first and sixth string shadows, the middle strings are of course unnecessary. Combined with a side-long visual inspection, you should be able to set the pickup bang-on to your ideal height, equally from side to side, which should be about 3/32″ or 2.5mm depending on your tastes.

Once you have the pickup height set visually, give the guitar a listen to make sure the output is as you would expect. If there’s a noticeable difference, it’s easy enough to adjust one or the other pickup accordingly.

For a complete reference guide to eliminating guitar problems and maximizing your own guitar’s playability, check out our How To Set Up A Guitar page.

The Final Step

A good last stretch of the strings helps to seat them permanently in their new home. With the guitar finally dialled in, there’s only one thing left to do – PLAY!

Thanks for Watching!

I certainly hope you gained some insight into the guitar setup process. Although this series deals with a particular type of guitar, the principles can be applied across most other guitars as well.

If you watch some of the other guitar setup videos, you’ll definitely get a sense of how the underlying techniques work the same across a huge array of instruments. The difference of course is not so much in watching how to do it, but gaining the basic knowledge to do it yourself.

Next time you think your guitar needs an adjustment and you’re not quite sure if it’s within your wheelhouse, give yourself credit and give it a go. Experience builds confidence!

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The post How To Setup A Fender Telecaster Part 6 (Final Adjustments and Test Drive) first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Part 5 of How To Setup A Fender Telecaster

The most important elements in achieving a maximum playing instrument.

Fine Tuning Action and Intonation

We start this segment with a quick string stretch to help get the fresh strings settled in their new home.

After double checking the neck relief, we head straight for setting up the guitar’s action – that wonderful place where playability becomes maximized and the instrument really starts to shine.

First, we’ll cover the aspects of guitar action, how well it plays, which will then dictate how we set intonation. For more on the finer points of setting a guitar’s intonation, be sure to watch the video below.

When it comes to a guitar’s action, it’s not uncommon to have a guitar that plays very poorly turn into a dream machine with a little love in the right spots. The trick is knowing what spots to tweak, how much to tweak them, and maintain a global view of the instrument’s condition along the way.

Video: Telecaster Setup Tutorial Part 5

Principles of a Good Setup

Remember, a perfect guitar setup is like the three points of a perfect triangle; one is the nut, one is the bridge, and one is the relief in the neck. If any one of those points is out of joint or maladjusted – the whole unit suffers in that the other two points are along for the ride. They’re automatically made accomplices to the crime.

Of course, setting up a guitar to fit the player is also a matter of keeping the end user and their playing style in mind. He may be a shreddy shrederton noodler with a very light touch, or he may be the HULK – SMASH! – two entirely different approaches, and there’s everything else in between.

How would you categorize yourself as a player?

Keep this in mind when explaining your latest guitar woes to your friendly neighbourhood tech – it goes a long way.

A good guitar tech will ask you about what style you play, better yet, he’ll get you to play a little to watch your body language around the instrument. Even strumming two or three chords will speak volumes.

From his end, the ultimate challenge is setting up a guitar that has issues for an owner who is uber-sensitive to the finest points of his prized instrument.

If you have a favourite guitar that you know intimately, you play it constantly, almost exclusively, that instrument is therefor your primary voice. Those of us who’ve relied on a particular instrument to earn a living gig after gig know exactly what that means.

Treating the instrument with as much respect as you would dealing with it’s owner face to face is paramount. The living extension of their musicality is exposed on the workbench.

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Back to our trusty Telecaster, if there was ever an instrument that could take a beating and smile, or respond to the lightest touch with complete acceptance – the Tele is the one.

It’s amazing, Telecasters are manufactured all over the planet; US, Mexico, China (that would be Chy-na in Trump-ese), Japan, India, Indonesia, Korea and many others have laid claim to dispatching fresh Teles to the masses.

…The world truly is flat…

Depending on the iteration of the instrument, you may have a modernized fretboard radius of 9.5, 10 or 12+ inches, or you may have the typical vintage radius of 7.25 inches.

Either way way, the principles of setting guitar action remain the same, although you will find the vintage radius requires a bit more “air” under the strings due to the very round nature of the fretboard.

Be sure to watch the whole series for more on how to set up a guitar, particularly adjusting action in this segment.

Whether it’s a garage sale prize or a vintage instrument, again, they all follow the same basic principles of physics that will allow for their best voice and maximum playability.

For a list of essential tools to get the job done, visit the Guitar Setup Tools page and consider what you’d need to make your own instrument a better machine.

Coming Up Next

The final segment in the series: We go through the final string stretch (very important!) setting the pickup height, plus some last minute tweaks. And finally – THE TEST DRIVE!

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The post How To Setup A Fender Telecaster Part 5 (Fine Tuning Action and Intonation) first appeared on GuitarNiche.

Part 4 of How To Setup A Fender Telecaster

Getting down to brass tax and setting the stage for fine tuning.

What’s covered in the Video:

• A quick neck-to-body alignment and relief assessment

• General action setup

• Cutting the nut

• Tips to achieving a perfect guitar setup

Video: Telecaster Setup Tutorial Part 4

Transcript:

A Quick Neck Realignment and Action Check

i put a capo on here to keep these strings and everything under control. They like to pop out of the of the old school tuners if it’s not organized like that.

I took the neck off and I gave it a good tweak, it’s a judgment call. I gave it what I considered to be a good a good torque anticipating the amount of pressure it would it need to be in the state that I want it in. And then reinstalled the neck again, just two screws ’cause I might have to take it off again.

Now I’ll get that capo off there. Going to double check my alignment. Okay, that looks not too bad. This thing wants to be tilt towards treble side a little, so not doing any undo force or anything like that. That looks great.

I’m just going to set the screws again, modest pressure on your neck screws you know, you don’t torque the crap out of them. I’ve seen the screw heads just torque right down and it compresses all this wood – it distorts the plate. You don’t have to be gorilla man you know, just good moderate pressure on there and that’s dandy.

Assessing Relief

I’m going to bring this up to pitch – that was my a440 pitch fork by the way. Nice buzz there, wonder where that’s from. Well, we will find out.

Right, I’m going to take two seconds and see if I can locate what that little sizzle is all about – push the string around. Beauty, okay it was just a little softness down here little something was a little out a joint. Moving it around.

And my relief is pretty good, oh yeah, that’s real good, I like that.

At some point I will have, look around for it, I’ll have a very specific video on reading neck relief. I’ve always said I could write a book on neck relief. It’s a very interesting process involving compression, torque all sorts of interesting things and every instrument has its own little kind of thing where ,it likes this doesn’t like that or what not. It’s really quite remarkable.

Here are a couple of video examples on the subject:

Using a business card and a feeler gauge to reference neck relief for better action

How to avoid misreading neck relief

Just as an aside, I had a bass in, a brand spanking new top-of-the-line branded bass, really nice beautiful neck on it,and it was punched from the get-go. Punched. The neck was just like, I couldn’t find a happy spot on that. During the relief setup the neck would either bowed back here because of too much compression here, and it had a scoop up here. It was just… I mean this is a brand new instrument. I thought buddy, I said to the owner, take that back for warranty and he didn’t and that’s okay. That’s his choice to do that, but in my books I is a subpar instrument.

I have special tricks and things that I do to coax necks into better condition. When I see them like that, and I tried with this one, and it wouldn’t settle down – he’s got a compromised instrument that’s brand new, top end too, not cool. But it just shows even brand name stuff is not immune to the natures of force and the natural quirkiness of wood. Internal soft spots, could be whatever. It was unfortunate.

Back to our show here.

Cutting the Nut

This bit of relief looks good. The string height looks not too bad. I might work a little bit on that treble side but at the moment, I’m going to cut this nut. I’ll give you a brief rundown of how I’m going to do this. If you watchs ome of my other videos there’s a little more in-depth explanation of this process.

I have my way of doing it. It’s not the end all be all, it’s my preference. I use light and gaps let’s say, to do this, but I’m just going to make sure that we have these slots properly ramped.

The height on that low E is good. What I’m looking for is a certain amount of light gap between the string and the top of the fret using the ambient light that’s in here. When I first moved in here some time back, quite a few years now, compared to my old shop, this lighting was very different – I had to relearn the process but it only took a short time.

Anyway back cutting this a little bit to finesse the front edge of the slot there. I’m using my select files here. I’ll use certain files for certain strings. Once again, the whole nut cutting job is a story for another day.

Actually, I have some of it in another video that I got pretty in depth with it. Well, this one’s being fussy. I want to give you guys a real deep explanation on at least my process.

Here’s an example of how you can use light to cut the nut exactly the way you want it:

How to cut nut slots to the perfect depth every time.

f you can make use of it that’s awesome. Again that’s about a 50 thou needle file. This is a specific file a D string for acoustic. This is a, let’s see what is this is, this is a 16 thou, yes it’s a 16 but I’m going to look for a 20. There’s my 20. I like to use a 20 here just for starters just so I know that the walls are are good. Okay, that’s good.

It’s binding a little bit, and that’s not a problem. I’ll get in here with the 16 – just like that. Now I leave a little bit more height on the G string because it’s a wrangley string. It’s like, when you pluck it, it’s not doing this sort of thing. it’s doing this. We want to accommodate that.

Now remember this is all dependent on having the relief set up properly to begin with. On to the second string. I will use my 13. This one’s fairly high so I’m going to be a little bit more aggressive here. You can actually compensate for certain, say idiosyncrasies at the nut and your playing style if you take the time to study it properly and understand deflection, intonation and a bunch of other nifty little tidbits.

There’s more than one right way to tune a guitar. Some people will have a vice-like grip, they’re naturally heavy-handed and other people are very, very soft. Their approach is very light and the nut, the whole instrument can be set up to tailored to their particular styles, and that includes the nut. Okay, that’s dandy.

I’m going to finish up with my stubby 10 here. Notice that I don’t have it under the the button or the string tree here. That’s fine because I don’t want to wrestle with it. I’ll get a fair read with it as is. I’m being very careful not to nick the back end of the neck too, this back ridge here.

Sometimes they extend a little bit too far back during the manufacturing process and you can’t avoid but hit them, and that’s just the way it goes sometimes. Of course you don’t want to but so as I’m doing that if you can notice I cut slanted this way, slanted that way, few strokes and then back. I cut the back wall or the back, say, the trailing edge and then finesse it – just go across the slot itself at the last couple cuts.

Okay that’s really good. You can get the first string down pretty fine without worrying about any kind of buzz or anything like that so again I’m not going to get into too much more detail about that. That’s done, that is done. I know where the instrument’s sitting I won’t have to touch that again because I’m not taking the neck off at this point.

A Word on Customer Service

Funny thing might happen here, we might have some leftover compression from adjusting the trust rod which will force the neck up. I will make a point of telling my client that I had to use a couple good torques on that neck and and if it decides to move it’s not a problem, it’s just a matter of a readjustment – that’s service after the fact and that’s good business.

Okay, always, always throw that out there – that you don’t want to say, “Well, you know I couldn’t, I don’t know where it’s going to…” Yeah, don’t play that card, that’s just not cool. You want to make sure that your customer is cared for and that you’re knowledgeable enough to anticipate these natural changes, and help them to understand that it is natural and that they’re taken care of. You’re going to care of them okay, that’s a good deal.

Okay, so that being done, I’m pretty comfortable with getting those strings under there which is good to go. Give that screw up there a test – that’s good like that.

Now we’re down here, now we’re going to get into the final phase of the actual setup process which is dealing with the saddles and getting the actual action down here fixed up, or where where it’s going to wind up.

The main Factors of a Perfect Setup

I’ll relate this before I’m going to take a break, I want to relate this one thing which I come to over and over and over which is what I call the triangle of a perfect setup. That is you have three points that constitute, let’s say, the perfect setup and imagine it like a perfect triangle.

If any one of those points is out of balance the whole thing is skewed. One point is your nut, another point is the bridge, the saddles that whole area here, and the other point would be the relief in the neck.

All those things have to be in harmony to achieve the ideal setup. Once we deal with the nut, that is essentially done you should never have to worry about it again unless it wears or needs replacement through breakage or whatever. This and your relief, that’s really where the meat and potatoes is going to happen.

This, for the most part can be, once you have your your radius set you shouldn’t have to tinker with that anymore – except to maybe generally raise or lower things. You can do that like, the same amount of turns per adjuster here.

Your intonation once it’s set, unless you change the string gauges, you shouldn’t have to deal with that again either. And really, the hero in this whole thing is the relief in the neck because that will dictate how the whole thing is going to react under your hands.

I tend to to aim for a point where everything is moderate, nice, relatively easy action. I speak with the individuals. I watch them play and get a sense of how they approach the instrument and that sticks in my mind. Again, we set it up accordingly. I already have that information for this person.

Anyway, on with the show. I’m going to take a short break and get right back. Thanks.

The Telecaster: A Working man’s Tool

The beauty of a Tele is its simplicity. Originally designed for the working musician, Leo Fender’s brilliant concept included the very necessary element of serviceability.

If the instrument’s neck got damaged it was easily replaceable by removing the four neck bolts and installing a replacement neck.

While this is common for most production instruments today, back in the day it was a novel way of dealing with manufacturing an instrument for the masses.

Thanks to this component type of assembly process, the market for custom parts has allowed anyone to build their own dream guitar to their own specs.

Everything from inexpensive Telecaster guitar kits to bespoke built bodies and necks in every color, shape and style imaginable. I wonder if Leo saw that coming…

In the context of putting things together, or more accurately, back together in this case, reattaching a neck may need a bit of adjustment to sit perfectly.

Have you ever seen a guitar with the outside strings really close to one side of the neck? On the treble side this can be a huge issue as you’ll find your notes literally falling off the edge of the neck. Vibrato can be nearly impossible.

The cure is to align the neck laterally, which I cover in the first part of this video.

A Few Thoughts on Cutting The Nut

Being one of the most important elements of a great guitar setup and a key point of energy transfer, the nut always gets special attention.

In the case of our ’52 Reissue Telecaster on the bench, the material we’re working with is bone. Traditional, tonally effective and a very long lasting natural material.

If you’re curious about how to cut a nut to work in harmony with the guitar and the player, skip to the 5:07 minute mark. I go into great depth about the tools and techniques used to dress out a factory installed nut.

It’s important to note that any mass produced guitar is built within tolerances dictated by the company producing it. Fender products are no exception.

That’s not to say they aren’t a fine instruments, not at all, Teles in particular are one of the most versatile guitars ever produced regardless of region of manufacture. But the fact is, every guitar needs to be dialed in to match the owner’s playing style.

The nut happens to be one of the most critical points needing attention out of the box. Our “52 Reissue on the bench is no exception.

Check Availability! >>

PRO TIP: Individual files for each string gauge will ensure a perfect cut – but they come at a price. If you take your setup skills seriously, consider making the investment.

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not rated $25.97 USD Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Jimmy Page Guitar Player Rock T-shirt

Order Yours Today!

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not rated $25.97 USD Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Sale!

Guitar Psychology T-Shirt

Ever wonder what causes GAS? This is it in a nut shell, this is the totally rational reasoning that justifies every single guitar purchase you make.

GOOD NEWS! This t-shirt is far less expensive than the guitar you’re currently pondering. Plus it will make you look cool too – so buy two ;)

Order A Pair Today!

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not rated $25.97 Original price was: $25.97.$18.99Current price is: $18.99. USD Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Coming Up:

Everything you wanted to know about setting string height, maximizing acton and playability, plus the finer points of setting intonation.

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The post How To Setup A Fender Telecaster Part 4 (Tweaks, Tips and Cutting the Nut) first appeared on GuitarNiche.