Ok so i want a tele but dont have the money to get one. I saw one of these one day and was thinking about getting it. I would get my telecaster and learn about how a guitar works in the process.

http://www.onlineguitar.com/products/Sa ... Path=6_322

So what do you guys think

I think this should be posted under "Telecaster Guitars".

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Is that headstock finished? I clicked the picture to enlarge it, and it popped up the same size. I felt gipped and I didn't even buy the kit. I say save your cash and buy the '50's Classic Vibe Squire Tele for about $300.00 I played one at GC, and it is well worth the cash. At least when you get that you know you'll have a guitar you can play. Who knows what kind of parts they are sending you for that price. Better safe than sorry.

The headstock on that kit looks like a paddle, it is unfinished..or as they state in the ad..."***NOW comes with partially cut Headstock (bottom curve and tuner side only) so that you can cut out the design of your choice! "

If they sell it with the headstock shaped like a tele, they face a lawsuit from Fender so I guess the buyer has to cut the headstock. This would imply they are not licensed by Fender..you have no CLUE what you are getting.

Other then a list of parts...and a basswood body, they tell you nothing of the specs or quality of the parts. Most likely crap because if it was any good, they would use it as a selling point.

The only thing they tell you the name of..is the picks it comes with...Fender.

I would pass....you can find a used squire tele on craigslist for around 100 bucks and tinker with that all you want to learn how a guitar is built. Maybe replace the pick ups and electronics, the tuners, bridge..re finish it a color you want...and for around 200 bucks you will learn plenty and probably have a much better guitar then that kit...and it will actually be a fender.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

I would agree the componet quality is probably not up to par with a classic vibe Tele. On the other hand you would learn a lot about what makes a guitar work. And, if you like the idea of building your own, you'd have a lot of fun doing it.

The Saga Tele kits normally do not come set up for stringing thru the body, so in order have that feature you'd need to drill and ferrule the body on your own. That would probably cost you another $10 plus the drilling.

But as you said it's all part of the educational process of building one of these yourself. If you take your time and ask alot of questions here at this forum (we are more than happy to help -- we like this stuff), you should have a nice playing instrument that you will be proud of.

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'78 Fender Stratocaster
Epi USA Texan '64 RI signed by Paul McCartney
'73 Fender Mustang
Gibson LP Deluxe RI '69
Fender Active Jazz Bass
Guild GADm20e Acoustic Guitar
Epi Casino RI
Gretsch Pro Jet w/Bigsby
And My Frankenstein-O-Caster

You could always go with a different supplier. This one offers an alder body and it looks like the string thru ferrules are part of this set-up...

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2010/Main/392

http://www.grizzly.com/products/H8068

http://cdn7.grizzly.com/manuals/h8068_m.pdf

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'78 Fender Stratocaster
Epi USA Texan '64 RI signed by Paul McCartney
'73 Fender Mustang
Gibson LP Deluxe RI '69
Fender Active Jazz Bass
Guild GADm20e Acoustic Guitar
Epi Casino RI
Gretsch Pro Jet w/Bigsby
And My Frankenstein-O-Caster

Thanks for all the replys. Ive been reading the reviews for the kit and there were all sorts of problems with it. Those grizzly kits look pretty nice so im going to see what i can find out about them. I dont know about the squier, though. If i can find one i can afford i might get.

i would save up for a squier or i would save up for a highway one tele.

I think buying a guitar that you can actually play and feel is alot better then buying a kit.

Bottom line save up for it dont just look for a cheap version of because it probably wont be worth it.

if you are patient..keep checking Craigslist. Search "squire", although not as common as the strats and basses..I have seen decent ones asking $125.00..you could always offer less. The squire standards are string through and ask a bit higher.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

I found a squier telecaster custom on craigslist for $150. It looks pretty nice. I might call the seller tommorow.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/msg/1882957224.html

Not quite a conventional Tele, ..but it is already routed for humbuckers..wouldn't take much to make a screamer out of it.

Also note it is an agathis body..you can get an affinity for less and it is alder (although the Affinity is not string through). Not that I have anything against agathis...but some feel it is too soft of a wood and screws strip out.

My solution would be to use bigger/longer screws or some glue...not exactly budget breaking.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Try out the Squier Affinity Telecaster. I played the Butterscotch Blonde one at Best Buy and was amazed at the playability, sound, and overall FEEL of it.

You can get one for about $180, and in my opinion, it's every bit as good as a Mexican Fender (except, as mentioned previously, it's not a string-through bridge).

I didnt know that the body was agathis on on the custom. I would like it to be alder or ash. I did see one of the butterscotch blonde affinity ones at a my local music store. The fact that the bridge isnt string through isnt a big deal for me. Ill go try it out when i get a chance. Thanks again for all the replies.

The butterscotch affinity is actually a potential kick $@! ax. I had one and sold it..but I get those new for around $120 since I have a few connections.

The bridge is not so good, and the switch is crap....but change those and you really have a great ax. I would consider better tuners as well, but not foremost.

The necks, bodies...and even the pups are pretty damn good. Tele all the way....well might I even say excellent. I think you would be pleased.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

The reason i was going to get it is to upgrade it and learn more about how guitars work so upgrading the bridge and tuners would be a good start.