Telecaster Custom II
Reviewed by:
Necronomicon, on march 15, 2011 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: C$ 350
Purchased from: Musicplex
Features: I've owned this guitar for something like 6 years and have only decided to write a review because no offense to the other guy but I don't feel the previous review did it much justice.. I've thoroughly enjoyed playing this guitar every once in a while instead of my more expensive guitars. My guitar is a 2004 (I think) bought new for $350 at a now bankrupt music store. I bought this guitar because I wanted a cheap jazz/blues guitar and this guitar sounded good to me in the store. It sports a maple neck and fretboard with an agathis body. It has a solid black finish with a black pickguard, nothing fancy but it holds up and looks fine. The guitar's got a separate volume and tone control for each pickup with a 3 way selector, which is very useful and makes for a good variety of tones. It has duncan-designed P90s. For the price, the AMOUNT of features on this guitar are about as much as you'd get buying any other telecaster. // 9
Sound: My music style has gone through a wide variety of changes throughout the 10 years I've played. This guitar fulfills my blues quota VERY well, therefore I mostly use it for clean or slightly overdriven tones. With the pickup selector and separate volume knobs, you can get everything from a smooth blues sound to a country twang or crunch. Flipping on the distortion, it actually does that reasonably well also. I have other guitars I use for heavier rock but if I needed to in a pinch I would have no problem using this guitar. For the clean sounds I use this guitar for, it's sound is amazing. It blows me away how such good sound can come from such a cheap guitar, especially a stock one. As for amps, when I first bought this guitar I was playing on a line 6. It sounded ok on that amp but it never blew me away. Later on I bought a Laney LC30 and the sound through that amp was mighty fine. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: I don't remember how well set up the guitar was from the factory because shortly after I bought it I messed around with the action and pickups to get it the way I wanted it. It wasn't hard to adjust it to my preferences. There weren't any hardware flaws like messed up frets or sharp edges, however the controls did come loose and break easily. On the other hand, that applies to the next section not this one. 6 years later, nothing has oxidized or become unfixable. The only annoying unfixable thing I find is the input jack, which seems to be shaped wrong and keeps loosening itself no matter how tight it is set. // 7
Reliability & Durability: Now here's the kicker. This is a squier. It's hardware and workmanship are nothing compared to it's counterpart. This guitar is not durable at all. Sure its solid and can take a hit, but parts break on it all the time. I mentioned the input jack before. The ring around the pickup selector fell off and now the selector is wobbly. The tone and volume knobs are extremely annoying and constantly undo themselves and become loose. The tuners don't hold up for long periods of time. The Bridge pickup died on me after something like 1 or 2 years. I just started using the neck pickup only when I played the guitar because I didn't play it too often. Finally after I got my new amp I decided to begin tinkering with guitars and I opened the pickguard and took a look at the electronics. 2 wires had broken free from their soldering to one of the pots, which caused the Bridge pickup to stop working. I soldered them back together and could once again enjoy the full range of this guitar. // 4
Impression: So what's my overall impression of this guitar? Well, it sounds amazing, like it should cost way more. However, it's details let it down. Replace the hardware and the pots and you've got one SOLID guitar. Personally, I never did that because it's not my main guitar and I just don't care enough to do so. In addition to this guitar I also own a Schecter Hellraiser C-1 FR, an old BC Rich Warlock and Acoustic and classical guitars. There's not really much I wish I asked before I bought this guitar because it really is a great sounding guitar if you have the patience to maintain it. If it was lost or stolen, I'd be angry but eventually wouldn't really care that much. It's served its purpose and it's about time I upgraded it anyway. The only thing I sometimes wish it had is better tuners. Everything else is bearable. // 8
Telecaster Custom II
Reviewed by:
ferdius, on march 11, 2011 1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 135.00
Purchased from: Local Music Store
Features: Not sure of year, but it is a Tele custom but with Duncan Designed P90's so that is why it is a Custom II. Body is made from Agathis wood, with a maple necks and fretboard. Has individual volume and tone controls, decent tuners (sealed) and tele Bridge that strings thru body. Has Les Paul style pickup selector on the upper bout of guitar. Tele body, sold w/o case or any accessories. // 8
Sound: The guitar sounds good, very good. The tone is very reminiscent of the late 60's sound from guitars with P90's I use it with a Line 6 Spider amp and can get some good tones. It's great for bluesy, raunchy southern type rock and when clean can get a good variety of tones. The hum from the pickups are there, but that is the price you pay for single coil pickups. // 9
Action, Fit & Finish: Okay, this guitar has turned into a slight project, I replaced the pots and am very happy now. This one has a good neck which is hit or miss with Squier so I am lucky. The color is Vintage blonde (yellow) which looks good, but chips easily. I figure I am going to have to replace the input jack as it cuts out, and the housing that it locks into to go into the body falls out occasionally. The rest of the guitar is good, but overall, the attention to detail could have been a lot better. // 5
Reliability & Durability: While the guitar will withstand live playing, it is one that will require maintenance. The hardware seems to hold up okay, but I have a feeling I will have to keep on top of it. The finish should last, but again, it chips easily so while the finish is thick enough, I still may have to watch it. The strap buttons are solid enough to keep. This does not strike me as a guitar to use without a backup, but it is not my main guitar, although it is used for specific songs. // 6
Impression: I like classic rock, blues, country-rock and some progressive country and this guitar fits in good with country rock and blues. It is also good for 60's British Invasion songs when you want that twangy, bright clean sound. What I like the most about this guitar is the sound and tone, very good, but I am disappointed in the attention to detail that was given when the guitar was made. If Fender would invest a little in this, the Squier line would be a great value for everyone, not just beginners or intermediate players, although some of the "standard" Fenders leave a lot to be desired. I'm fixing this guitar up so it will be better, I don't mind putting work into it as I really like this guitar and it has potential. // 6
I agree with you. I feel like I didn't do enough research before I bought this guitar. That being said, it is now a project piece that I hope will produce better results.
I don't think Squiers were ever intended to be a line of more than mid-range guitars. Also for $135 I think you got a great deal, I haven't seen a new Squier anything for less than $200 without being a clearance item or used. Sounds like a good foundation for a project though.
It's the perennial problem with Squiers. They can sometimes have so much potential, but they cheaped out on simple things like the fret job, the switches, the pots, etc.
I suppose Fender does this on purpose to get people to buy their MIMs, otherwise everyone would just buy Squiers if they couldn't afford a MIA.
The guitar has been worth putting the work into, as I said the tone is great. I don't mind the agathis body as some of the tone that you can get from guitars made with this wood sound pretty good. I have had 2 MIM Fenders, while one was pretty good, the other left a lot to be desired. Some Fenders are now made in Korea with the Fender logo on them, so you have to make your choice. As for this Squier, I am glad I bought it, it is a keeper and I enjoy playing it. Well worth the work I put into it.
I used to borrow this guitar from one of my friends all the time when we were first starting out. Its a fun guitar to play and doesn't sound bad at all for the price. It was also my first experience with P-90 pickups and it started my obsession with them.
I think overall Fender did a decent job with the Squiers. Obviously they are not going to be made to hold up like a more expensive guitar, because at the price Fender could not make them any better and still turn a profit. What it comes down to for someone just starting, or on a very tight budget they are at the very least good enough to get the job done. Kudos to Fender for this very inexpensive line that allows people to afford or start with a guitar that is at least fairly decent.
I had this guitar as my first electric one after returning to my guitar hobby. It was a decent instrument, but I had two issues which lead me to change it to something else.
1. Lack of sustain - The body is light-ish and hence the sustain isn't very good.
2. Tuning - At least my unit was losing the tuning very fast. Maybe this could've been improved, but straight out of the box it was really annoying.
Still I think it is a decent instrument for the price.
I bought this guitar, cheap but well put together and had been well set up. I'm an inexperienced player but lent it to someone who was a far more experienced player, (plus used to be an in-house roadie/stage hand), and he was quite impressed by it.
r any price this is a great playing and sounding guitar. The P90s scream and the maple neck plays as good as my Fender HWY 1 Telecaster. I see Squier is bringing them back at $279 whish is over $50 more than I paid. Great guitar period.
