Overall Your general opinion of this product. Unbelievable value! I was hesitant at first, but after reading so many positive reviews and then reading the Guitar Player review (where this guitar won an Editor's Pick Award) I thought I would give it a chance. Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? The guitar is very solid. I've only had it for a month and a half, but I have played out with it several times. No problems at all. Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? I had a set up done to suit my tastes, however this guitar was ready to play right out of the box. Feels like butter. Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? The pickups were a very pleasant surprise. They sound great. You can get a good rock sound or a smooth jazz flavor. Also, has plenty of unmistakable tele-twang. Action How was the action out of the box? Action was fine. As I stated earlier I had it adjusted to suit my tastes. Finish How did the stain or paint job look? Finish is fantastic. Looks awesome and very retro. Reliability How has it stood up over time? It's been fine so far. I have been playing for over 28 years and I own 19 guitars. This guitar is a ton of fun! If you have been wanting a tele but have been sitting on the fence because of the name, don't fear. This guitar will not let you down!

Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? I owned it now for about a year and have taken it to jobs as my only guitar. I have used it in open mics and also practice with it. I own 18 guitars from various manufacturers, this is by far one of the best buys you can get. Reliability How has it stood up over time? After a year it looks as good as it did when I took it out of the box. The body did get more wood grain in it and the strings I replaced with 10's No problems so far and I do not expect any. Overall Your general opinion of this product. This guitar sounds as good if not better than the regular tele's. I checked all of them when I bought this one and played many in centers for weeks. The tone on this baby was the one I liked best. Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? This guitar feels like it's part of you after you play it for a while. It's not heavy, and the neck is pretty fast and easy to use. Controls are very easy to get to and simple to use when you need to change them fast. Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? Sound is pure tele. It really depends a lot too on the amp you use. I use a Fender Blues Jr, a Fender Super Reverb and a Fender Deluxe Reverb and this sounds great with them all. You can go from snappy to dark jazz in seconds and they all sound great. The guitar cuts through any band and can deliver when you need it. Finish How did the stain or paint job look? Finish is great. Looks like pure wood and feels like it too. Action How was the action out of the box? Action out of the box was ok but I adjusted it a slight bit. Now it's perfect. My advice, go find one and play it! You will more than likely order one. I order from AMS because I always know I'm the first to play the instrument. That is important you don't want a used guitar before you take it home. AMS is the absolute best, no question about it.

Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? Yes. The quality is surprising. Reliability How has it stood up over time? I've had it for a year and it never lets me down. Other than tweaking the truss rod and action a bit, I haven't had any problems. Overall Your general opinion of this product. This won a Guitar Player Editors Pick. To get that, all the editors have to agree that the product is outstanding, not just the reviewer. For $350, this thing is off the hook. Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? It plays as well as any Fender I have played, and I have played many. It's great right out of the box; I tweaked mine out of personal preference not necessity. Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? The combination of the pine body and the Alnico III pickups produces an airy, glassy, liquid quality that is hard to find on a Telecaster. I have played and owned Pre-CBS Fenders and Pre-Norlin Gibsons and the tone of this thing is really quite good. Finish How did the stain or paint job look? Very well done. Action How was the action out of the box? Good, but of course you may want to tweak it to your preference.

Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? Yes very well made and very good looking Reliability How has it stood up over time? Well I just got it, but It is very well made, I am very impressed Overall Your general opinion of this product. A lot guitar for the money. This is not a toy Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? very easy to play and vibrato, is a little heavy, but this makes for good sustain. Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? I can get any sound I want out of this guitar. Finish How did the stain or paint job look? Perfect Action How was the action out of the box? Ridicously low.

Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? Very high quality, is my opinion on how this guitar was made. I would rather have a guitar from Indonesia, but this guitar was not available, apparently, from Fender's contractor in Indonesia, so I settled on this Chinese model. I am very pleased. Reliability How has it stood up over time? I learned some people at www.telecaster.com or whatever that forum is, believe that these bodies are less popular because Leo Fender found, in the 1950s, that they dent easily. I don't know. I am taking my chances and keeping the ax in a TKL case, vs. a gig bag. I am going to guess all other reliability issues are typical of well made guitars ... they are reliable if you do not drop them too much or lend them to your friend Tito... Overall Your general opinion of this product. Very surprised. I looked for a reason to return this guitar when I felt how light the body (pine) was. But it just screams with quality, despite that weight ... 4.1 lbs or so. For anyone wanting to get a feel for the vibe, a great start is Arlow West's www.pinecaster.com The music is based on pine telecasters, solely, and the photos include Billy Gibbons, Arlow West, Stevie Ray, Clifford Antone, etc. Whatever ... just very interesting and it ties into the qualities of this species of tree/wood and explains the heavier and lighter species and such. Well, while I looked, temporarily, for a reason to return the guitar, I could find none. Yes, I like weight around my shoulders (maybe not Les Paul weight...) but when I plug this guitar into a twin or 410 tube, it shows its quality. Moving onto sound... Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? Smooth as butter on the playability and feel question. The controls are easy to get to on Teles, anyway, and these caps feel like high quality ones. No unusual radio noise or unwanted noise, when plugged in. I am wondering if they use EMI paint or copper tape on the inside. The Affinity model Telecaster I got five years ago (also incredible playability and low action) did not have that. Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? Great tone. Again, check out the website www.pinecaster.com if you are new to pine body guitars. You can hear that type of guitar in action. This one is comparable, very comparable ... as I play this unit through a tube amp...several tube amps simultaneously ... and I cannot find any reason to unwrap that girl from my shoulders. How incredible !! Finish How did the stain or paint job look? I don't like that they call white ... blonde. Transparent white is not blonde. But I have no problem with the Trans White finish. I am thinking of pounding and sanding it a bit before a little laquere action...but we'll see. Action How was the action out of the box? Ferget it. I am shocked at the action of a whole line of guitars these days ... Squier is NOT the Fender step child it once was. Indonesian made Affinities are among the best guitars I have ever played, in terms of action. I have been playing since the mid 1970s and I am basing that statement on a lot of axes and stuff. My own opinion, but people who boo hoo Squiers are not elitists, in my opinion, they are uninformed on the realities at hand. Do I think an American made Strat is preferable to an Indonesian made model. YES. But is it worth paying $1,000 more for one. For me, and I am speaking for a growing legion of experienced players ... the answer is no.

Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? Best I've seen for the money! Reliability How has it stood up over time? n/a - To new for any real comment here. Overall Your general opinion of this product. I bought a "dent & scratch" for the simple fact that I love all things Tele, and thought it would make for a fun little guitar for "noodling" around the house. And after doing little more than adjusting the bridge or saddles along with a new set of GHS Boomer .11's I'm in love with this little thing. Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? I'm a real big Tele fan and Fender has done a really nice job with these Classic Vibe Tele's. I really thought that it would feel like a toy, but it's my favorite little guitar right now. IT FEELS AND PLAYS LIKE A TELE SHOULD FEEL AND PLAY. Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? Other than the over all feel and look of a Tele I LOVE that there is such a HUGE difference in tone that's available from all 3 pickup selections, and assuming that someone actually does a little experimenting with both their tone and volume know...well, the tonal possibilities just seam endless to me. Finish How did the stain or paint job look? I love the transparent paint. I have already gotten a number of comments on it. Action How was the action out of the box? Out of the "box" it was very playable, but I really wanted to put some .11's on her, and so did a little fine tuning after that.

Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? I could not belive this was a squier,it is way way better than a mim fender telecaster Reliability How has it stood up over time? it will last a lifetime Overall Your general opinion of this product. One of the very best for the money!! Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? The neck was smooth and it has such a broken in feeling Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? It is a vintage tone guitar,it will not sound like a modern metal guitar. Finish How did the stain or paint job look? A+ all the way Action How was the action out of the box? A little high,you need too adjust it to your playing needs,but it did play well

How was the action out of the box? Action was medium high, good enough until i get proper setup from a luthier. Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? it seems to be unbelievable. But then again, day 2. only time will tell. Reliability How has it stood up over time? i just got it yesterday so only time will tell. Overall Your general opinion of this product. after getting a couple of cheaper different brand guitars, i drank the kool aid and went for this guitar. i read all the forums and went for it. This guitar did not disappoint. It was flawless out of the box. The action is medium, the neck bow was spot on. The guitar itself is flawless. I did a string change, as i don't like xtra lights and she sings. Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? Neck is fast for not being satin finish. I prefer satin so was worried about it, but not anymore. I like the neck thickness, its just right. Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? Finish How did the stain or paint job look? The finish was perfect. Not a flaw. The pictures don't do it justice. The wood grain can be seen through the paint. The pickguard is pretty thick, but i don't mind it.

Quality Would you consider this product to be made well? How dependable? No question the quality is excellent, even more surprising because it is a supposedly lower-grade Fender product. I have a 2004 American Standard Strat which in no way feels superior in quality to this Tele. Reliability How has it stood up over time? New, but it looks like it'll outlast me. Overall Your general opinion of this product. Had been considering a Tele for some time - glad I waited and stumbled across this! Playability and Feel How does it feel, Heavy, Fast, Chunky? How was the neck? Are the controls easy to get to while playing? Action and feel are acceptable to me; I don't play guitar professionally. But I do need to look into a set-up because of the buzzing. Tone Bright and snappy? Dark and smooth? Were the pickups hot, mellow, thick, thin? Whatever you want, I bet you could find it. Neck pup is not as hot as bridge, but not an issue either. Finish How did the stain or paint job look? The photo looks whiter (just for comparison purposes). Wood grain is visible, mine has a slight greenish cast to it. Action How was the action out of the box? A little buzzy - seems to be a bit of a bulge around the 12th fret. Need to look into a pro set-up.