Thinkin' of getting me a Telecaster...

[PlacidCasual]

Fender Baja's are great - don't get ripped off on Thomann.de though.

Make the most of the exchange rate, buy it from here at under €420

http://www.dv247.com/invt/41617/

[Niall]

See if you can find an ASAT used too. They're what Leo Fender did after selling Fender - hence my "more Fender than Fender" remark earlier.

Indeed I've played one. Beautiful guitar. The one I played cost 600 while I was hoping to spend more around the 550 mark...God, I sound like that guy out of Little Britain! Ah yeah, I reckon I could stretch to that. Though I remember it being quite Strat-like. I don't want to spend 600 on another guitar the exact same. I played the Tele shaped one, but only for a minute so I forget what it's like. Does it sound like a Tele?

[Gojirosan]

My Squier Tele is amazing, better then a fair few Mex and US Fenders I've played (I have upgraded the electrics, of course)...really.

But if you gotsta have "Fender" on the headstock then I guess you gotsta have Fender on the headstock.

[Sporky_McGuffin]

If the one you tried was like a Strat then it was a Legacy, not an ASAT. The ASAT is basically a refined Tele - same shape, roughly the same pickups. There are assorted versions.

I reckon in the current climate you could pick up a decent ASAT for £550 with a bit of haggling.

[Sporky_McGuffin]

But if you gotsta have "Fender" on the headstock then I guess you gotsta have Fender on the headstock.

I don't think I'll ever get my head around this idea.

I'm sure Fender make some fine instruments, but surely if you want a Leo Fender guitar you buy a G&L?

[Gojirosan]

I don't think I'll ever get my head around this idea.

I'm sure Fender make some fine instruments, but surely if you want a Leo Fender guitar you buy a G&L?

Folkz is weird and varied.

Whatcha gonna do?

[Sporky_McGuffin]

Whinge, whine, rant moan and bitch, judging by my past performance on the subject.

You?

[Dave_Mc]

the US ones [Gretsch], which I think are a few grand,

i think they're Japanese-made...

agreed about G&L, too.

other options would include MIJ tokais, other Japanese copies, Japanese-made Fenders (if it has to be Fender, that'd be my personal choice), Blade, etc. etc.

if it's gotta say Fender on it, i guess it's got to say Fender. Personally i'd rather have the better guitar, name on the headstock be damned, but what do i know?

[guitargeek62]

Im going to second the G&L ASAT series - the ones ive played have been really, really good. Better than most fender (US or Mex) teles i try for sure

[alexanderzz]

Before my USA Lite Ash Tele, I owned a Squier Affinity Tele. It had a better neck than any of the MIMs I tried.