subversion
Moderator
Friends, if you have any gear news to share, please don't hesitate to do it here. i made it a habit the last time to include reviews but that's really optional. the main aim is to keep the community here informed on what's fresh out there- so that we wouldn't be had by sleazy salespersons, agree?
ok here's mine to kick-strat 2005 8)
Squier Tele Special
List: $550
So you are looking for a first time buy/ back up for your beloved guitar & you demand versatility, but nothing too costly, certainly not a dud purchase. So would the above Squier be of any interest to you?
If you think this is another budget, shoddy, tele in the market, be assured that it’s anything but. For the record, Squiers have been offering fantastic instrument since its revision in Y2K. The Tele Special debuted subsequent to the revision (new for 2004) so it’s not a victim of unbecoming craftsmanship to begin with. Fit & finish- no complains, no abnomaly to register here.
Unfortunately, if you are a tele purist who is banking on a tele tone, choosing this one would be an oversight. There’s no tele tone coming from this guitar whatsoever- ZILCH. Why is that so? Firstly, there’s no tele pickup to begin with. How about that neck single coil you ask? Look carefully, it’s a strat-type single coil, tele ones are narrower & come covered like a ‘lipstick’ type unit, this one isn’t at all. Secondly, the humbucker in the bridge is a full sized unit, it’s not even slanted in any way to emulate a tele tone, clean & driven, there’s no tele tone to be heard. Lastly- the bridge. It’s a non-whammy fixed bridge, similar to the ones in a non-vibrato American Series strat. Traditionally, tele bridge assemblies consist of a broad rectangular base plate to house the single coil bridge unit. Tele afficionados have been religiously advocating this feature together with the ash-tray flaps & 3-saddle contraption, to be the crucial elements which define the tele honk. All I hear from this guitar is a typical humbucking tone which gets very raunchy under lots of drive. The single coil gave off an unmistakeable strat twang, if you are a fan, you’ll be duly rewarded.
The downsideof this guitar, IMO is the electronics. Both pickups sound balanced but the humbucker in isolated use lack the drive. I can only suspect that the pots fitted are 250K versions, considering the presence of a single coil pickup in this guitar. I didn’t get a chance to see what’s in the electronics cavity of course… the default action is a little too high for comfort but that's easily rectifiable, isn't it?
All in all, the Tele Special is only a tele by virtue of its looks & controls layout, it’s anything but a tele in its entirety. Not many of us here fancy the tele shape, especially when there’re no rear body chamfer & picking arm contour for playing comfort. The tele look of this guitar was also incomplete- no tele pickguard. I enjoyed playing this one tremendously, especially when the string saddles are devoid of protruding action adjustment screws, your picking hand would palm mute comfortably here. The through- body stringing also ensures a healthy dose of sustain. The alder body is another thoughtful consideration, it makes the single coil sing beautifully… (For 2004, the Tele Special & Cyclone are alder, the rest are agathis)
The ones who would not buy this guitar are those who doubt the Squier brand name, are not in favour of the tele design & feel that a lacquerless, satin finish body is an acquired taste. For the rest of us who would judge the Tele Special in its entirety, it’s worth every ERS withdrawal you’d spend… 8O
ok here's mine to kick-strat 2005 8)
Squier Tele Special
List: $550
So you are looking for a first time buy/ back up for your beloved guitar & you demand versatility, but nothing too costly, certainly not a dud purchase. So would the above Squier be of any interest to you?
If you think this is another budget, shoddy, tele in the market, be assured that it’s anything but. For the record, Squiers have been offering fantastic instrument since its revision in Y2K. The Tele Special debuted subsequent to the revision (new for 2004) so it’s not a victim of unbecoming craftsmanship to begin with. Fit & finish- no complains, no abnomaly to register here.
Unfortunately, if you are a tele purist who is banking on a tele tone, choosing this one would be an oversight. There’s no tele tone coming from this guitar whatsoever- ZILCH. Why is that so? Firstly, there’s no tele pickup to begin with. How about that neck single coil you ask? Look carefully, it’s a strat-type single coil, tele ones are narrower & come covered like a ‘lipstick’ type unit, this one isn’t at all. Secondly, the humbucker in the bridge is a full sized unit, it’s not even slanted in any way to emulate a tele tone, clean & driven, there’s no tele tone to be heard. Lastly- the bridge. It’s a non-whammy fixed bridge, similar to the ones in a non-vibrato American Series strat. Traditionally, tele bridge assemblies consist of a broad rectangular base plate to house the single coil bridge unit. Tele afficionados have been religiously advocating this feature together with the ash-tray flaps & 3-saddle contraption, to be the crucial elements which define the tele honk. All I hear from this guitar is a typical humbucking tone which gets very raunchy under lots of drive. The single coil gave off an unmistakeable strat twang, if you are a fan, you’ll be duly rewarded.
The downsideof this guitar, IMO is the electronics. Both pickups sound balanced but the humbucker in isolated use lack the drive. I can only suspect that the pots fitted are 250K versions, considering the presence of a single coil pickup in this guitar. I didn’t get a chance to see what’s in the electronics cavity of course… the default action is a little too high for comfort but that's easily rectifiable, isn't it?
All in all, the Tele Special is only a tele by virtue of its looks & controls layout, it’s anything but a tele in its entirety. Not many of us here fancy the tele shape, especially when there’re no rear body chamfer & picking arm contour for playing comfort. The tele look of this guitar was also incomplete- no tele pickguard. I enjoyed playing this one tremendously, especially when the string saddles are devoid of protruding action adjustment screws, your picking hand would palm mute comfortably here. The through- body stringing also ensures a healthy dose of sustain. The alder body is another thoughtful consideration, it makes the single coil sing beautifully… (For 2004, the Tele Special & Cyclone are alder, the rest are agathis)
The ones who would not buy this guitar are those who doubt the Squier brand name, are not in favour of the tele design & feel that a lacquerless, satin finish body is an acquired taste. For the rest of us who would judge the Tele Special in its entirety, it’s worth every ERS withdrawal you’d spend… 8O
