Could this Squier ever sound like a read Tele?

[JonnyG92]

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/msg/3062499319.html



Like posted, could a Squier EVER sound like a good, honest-to-God Telecaster?

Personally, I'm mostly motivated by the price and the case.

[King IzzO)))]

I don't know what a read tele is. A maple neck/maple board/bolt on alder (or something similar) body, all the requirements for a tele are checked. Put in a good set of pickups, compensated saddles (if you have to), and do a set up, and yeah, you've got a real tele.

[uOpt]

Well, there are some threats to it. The body might be a piece of driftwood, in bulletproof "paint". The truss rod might be heavy and the tuners certain are. Of course you have to put in better pickups.

Other than that? It has pretty much the same chance coming out a nice sounding guitar as any other.

[Varg]

Of course it could. It might not play as well as a "real" tele, but for a guitar on a budget, what do you expect?
If you like it, buy it and have fun.

Just don't try and play metal with it, okay, thanks.

[jtougas]

It's a good price on a Squier Tele with a good hard case...

So, yeah, I'd say try it, maybe buy it, get used to it, then mod it.

[dominus]

That's an Affinity, so it's thinner than standard, and it's a top-loading bridge. The price is fair.

[MetalManiac]

It could sound real good with upgraded parts/pickups , but it really wont ever sound great like an American Tele with select wood and upgraded parts ( Yes, THEY can be upgraded wiht Duncans and premium hardware too!)

[Wattage]

My buddy has a couple of them, no I don't know why either but they are actually pretty good for what they are. Better pickups make a world of difference.

[Funkfingers]

+1 for making pickup and hardware upgrades.

-1 for being swayed by the case. That is some sort of tweed lookalike NOT a genuine Fender/G&C item. (The oval metal badge is missing on the internal flap. The "Fender" logo is too small and in the wrong location.)

[jtougas]

I didn't say it was a Fender case. I said it was a good hard case.

[Butch Snyder]

Just remember that you can replace almost everything; but then you might end up spending possibly more than twice what you paid for the guitar. You might be "polishing a turd". By the time it's all said and done, you need to look at what you might possibly spend on it and if you should be saving for that "real" Tele.

[Kramer Guy]

I didn't say it was a Fender case. I said it was a good hard case.

Those have gotten really good reviews by a lot of players. One of my friends has one of those and he swears by it. They are good for modding if you choose to do so . If you do choose to swap out the pups, go to Musician's Friend.com and type in Musician's Gear . You can get your self a Duncan designed Detonator pickup for the bridge postion which'll only cost you $30.00 . They come in both single coil and humbucker design. I just installed one in my ESP LTD M-15 and it definately made a huge improvement in the sound of the guitar.

[JonnyG92]

First off, sorry the pic was so small! I should've previewed it.

Anyways, thanks for the insights, guys! I'm looking at getting one of these or a Dot Deluxe (I realize those are two totally different instruments, but F the World).

With all of these comments being said, it sounds like I'd end up having a nice-sounding Squier after everything was over, and not a great-sounding MIA.
Definitely something to think about. But hey, if it sounds good, then it might be able to hold me over for a year or three before I get a MIA or some kind of Botique Tele.

And as far as the HSC goes, I'm not too worried about it being Wannabe-tweed/Not-G&G, I'm a pretty superficial guy and it just looks nice... Even if the guitar spends 99% of it's life outside of the case.

Again, thanks and I'll be watching this one.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Affinity Series? No. As has been mentioned, the body is thinner than standard too. That is like the ultimate beginner guitar from Squier.

That case is probably worth more than the guitar.

[astrozombie]

the case IS worth more than the guitar.

if you upgrade it it could end up sounding nice, but the problem is your still playing an "economy" piece of wood.

[jtougas]

I played my Affinity last night, sounded great.

See if you can try it out first - if you like how it sounds, go for it.

It is what it is.