Fender 0373453550 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Squire Telecaster Electric Guitar is an affordable and versatile instrument from Fender's budget-friendly Squire line. Based on Fender's iconic Telecaster design, this guitar captures the classic Telecaster look, feel, and tone while keeping costs down.

With its butterscotch blonde finish and vintage styling, the Squire Telecaster is an attractive guitar. It features a lightweight poplar body, a maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. The Tele's simple control layout with two knobs and three-way pickup switching provides versatile tone shaping options.

Overall, the Squire Telecaster is a great choice for new players looking for an inexpensive way to get started on electric guitar. It's comfortable to play and produces classic Tele twang and bite. While not likely to satisfy more advanced guitarists, it's a solid entry-level instrument that captures some of the magic of the original Telecaster design at a budget-friendly price point.

Appearance

The Fender 0373453550 electric guitar features a classic butterscotch blonde finish and maple neck that give it an attractive vintage look. The body shape is similar to Fender's famous Telecaster model, with smooth contours and comfortable edges.

The natural wood grain of the maple neck is visible through the satin urethane finish. The fretboard is rosewood, which pairs nicely with the blonde body. There are 22 frets and a 25.5" scale length. Overall the appearance stays true to Fender's iconic roots while adding some modern twists.

Some players may find the butterscotch finish too bright, but it gives the guitar a distinctive charm. The visual design skews more towards country/rock aesthetics compared to flashier metal or jazz looks. Those looking for a guitar with classic appeal will likely appreciate the crafted details and butterscotch visual theme.

The classic butterscotch finish and maple neck give this Fender electric guitar a great vintage vibe. The smooth body contours are comfortable to play while still retaining that iconic Fender shape. Some find the bright color too flashy, but it definitely makes the guitar stand out. Overall it balances vintage styling with some modern updates. For guitarists wanting a classic electric guitar look, the Fender CD-60S beautifully blends retro aesthetics with great playability.

The choice of a butterscotch blonde finish gives this electric guitar a distinctly retro vibe. It's a bold color that commands attention. While the bright tone may not appeal to all players, it does make the guitar instantly recognizable as a Fender. There's a certain charm that comes from the vintage styling. It feels like a classic guitar, echoing designs from earlier eras of rock n' roll.

Playability

The Fender Squire Telecaster electric guitar features excellent playability thanks to its lightweight build and fast maple neck. The guitar's body is crafted from premium basswood, providing a light and comfortable feel during long practice or gigging sessions.

The maple neck has a modern "C"-shaped profile that allows for fast chord changes and riffing. It is topped with a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard which facilitates smooth bends and vibratos. The medium jumbo frets are perfectly dressed for speed and accuracy.

Overall, the Telecaster's playability makes it a superb choice for both beginners and experienced guitarists who need a comfortable and fast-playing electric guitar. The smooth neck and lightweight body allow guitarists to play at their technical best without any hindrances.

The Ortega Guitars RSTC5M-L is another great option for guitarists looking for excellent playability. This electric guitar features a super strat style body made from basswood and maple for a lightweight and resonant tone. The maple neck has a thin "C" profile for fast playability. It is topped with a rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets that are low and smooth for effortless bending and vibratos. The dual humbucker pickups provide a versatile range of tones from crisp and clean to high gain distortion. Overall, the Ortega RSTC5M-L offers fantastic playability thanks to its comfortable body shape, thin fast neck, and smoothly dressed frets. It's a great choice for rock, metal, blues, jazz, and more.

When it comes to playability, weight and neck profile are two of the most important factors. Many guitarists prefer a lightweight, thin, and fast neck for maximum speed and comfort during long practices and gigs. The Fender Telecaster and Ortega Guitars RSTC5M-L both deliver on these fronts with their basswood bodies and thin, maple necks. The smooth, jumbo frets on both models also allow for easy and accurate bending, vibratos, and chord changes. Whether you're a beginner looking for your first comfortable electric guitar or a pro searching for your next speedy shredder, these two guitars should be at the top of your list to evaluate.

Sound

The Fender 0373453550 Squire Telecaster produces the bright, crisp tone that Telecasters are known for. The guitar features two single-coil pickups that deliver a punchy, articulate sound perfect for country, rock, blues, and more.

The bridge pickup produces cutting treble tones, while the neck pickup has a smoother, rounder sound. Together they cover a wide tonal range. There's a 3-way pickup selector switch to easily move between the bridge, neck, or both pickups.

The single-coil pickups and alder body produce that quacking "twang" associated with Telecasters. There's plenty of snap and sizzle on tap. The sound is focused in the midrange, with sparkling highs and tight lows.

Chords ring out clearly, and single notes have definition. There's not a lot of bottom end, but the Tele tone cuts through a mix nicely. It's an extremely versatile guitar tone for everything from country to punk rock.

Overall, the Squire Telecaster 0373453550 delivers the authentic twangy, bright Telecaster tone at an affordable price point. It's a great choice for getting classic Tele sound without breaking the bank.

Hardware

The Fender Squire Telecaster features quality hardware for an electric guitar at this price point. The chrome hardware lends an attractive look, while still being durable and functional.

The 6-saddle bridge allows for precise intonation adjustment on each individual string. This helps you dial in the ideal string lengths for proper tuning and pitch across the fretboard. Many budget-friendly guitars skip the 6-saddle bridge to cut costs, but the Telecaster includes this sought-after feature.

It has master volume and tone control knobs, giving you the ability to easily adjust the output level and tone shaping to suit your needs. The volume knob lets you go from clean tones at lower settings to overdriven crunch at higher volumes. The tone knob rolls off the high frequencies when turned down, allowing you to go from bright, crisp treble to a darker, warmer sound.

Overall, the hardware components equipped on the Telecaster are impressive for an electric guitar at this affordable price point. The chrome finish and 6-saddle bridge elevate it above other budget models, while the master volume and tone knobs provide useful flexibility.

Versatility

The Fender Squire Telecaster electric guitar is remarkably versatile, making it ideal for a wide range of musical styles and genres. Despite its classic and somewhat simple design, this guitar can produce tones suitable for country, rock, blues, jazz, and more.

The Telecaster's bright, cutting tone pairs nicely with the twangy and crisp sounds often associated with country music. Add some gain, and the Tele easily delivers the crunch needed for rock while still retaining note clarity. For blues, the bridge pickup produces searing lead tones, while the neck pickup contributes a smoother, rounder sound perfect for soulful blues riffs.

Jazz players can also find their voice with the Telecaster, using the guitar's clean tones as a blank canvas for chord melodies and walking basslines. The Tele's signature snap comes through just enough to cut through the mix. Overall, while the Telecaster may seem straightforward, its flexibility empowers guitarists across genres. This makes it an exceptional choice as a primary electric or a versatile addition to a guitar collection.

Quality

The Fender Squier Telecaster offers good quality for the price point. As one of Fender's more affordable guitar options, the Squier Tele provides solid playability and decent hardware given its lower cost.

The Squier Telecaster is manufactured in China rather than the United States. However, Fender applies quality control checks during production to ensure each instrument meets their standards. For an entry-level or budget friendly electric guitar, the Squier delivers satisfactory craftsmanship and reliability.

The body is made of poplar wood rather than a more premium tonewood. However, the hardware, electronics, and set up are comparable to Fender's Mexican-made guitars. While not at the tier of an American-made Fender, the Squier Telecaster punches above its weight in terms of quality.

Overall, the Fender Squier Telecaster offers good bang for your buck. While made overseas and using cheaper materials, it provides respectable performance and durability. For beginners or players on a budget, it's a quality option with the Telecaster style and vibe.

Alternatives

The Squier Bullet Telecaster is one of several budget-friendly Telecasters in Squier's lineup aimed at beginners and intermediate players. Compared to the similar Squier Affinity Telecaster, the Bullet version is even more affordable but may cut more corners in hardware and electronics. The main tradeoffs are tuners, pickups, and overall fit and finish.

The Fender Standard Telecaster presents a significant step up in quality and features over the Squier Bullet. With a solid alder body, premium hardware and electronics, and professional craftsmanship, the Fender Standard Tele showcases the iconic design in its definitive form. However, it comes at several times the cost of the Squier.

Other alternatives in Squier's range include the Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster which adds vintage styling and alnico pickups, and the Paranormal Cabronita Telecaster with P90-style single coils for more tonal variety. The Bullet stays affordable by keeping costs down, though some players may wish to upgrade key components down the line.

Pros

Fender's Squier Telecaster offers a lot of positives for players looking for an affordable, classic electric guitar.

• Classic look: The Telecaster's iconic body shape and style has been popular since the 1950s. This model captures the vintage vibe perfectly.

• Great tone: While lower priced, the Telecaster produces warm, rich tones thanks to its alnico single-coil pickups. It can handle country twang, blues, rock, and more genres well.

• Easy playability: With its thin, fast neck and medium jumbo frets, the Telecaster plays smoothly and allows for comfortable chording and soloing.

• Good value: Considering its quality components, playability and classic sound, the Squier Telecaster gives players a lot for the money. It's a great choice for beginners and intermediate players.

Cons

The Fender Squier Telecaster has a few drawbacks to be aware of.

• Tuning Stability Issues: The tuners and bridge on this model are lower quality than what you'd find on a more expensive Fender guitar. As a result, it can be harder to keep the Squier Telecaster in tune, especially during live performances or long practice sessions. The tuning pegs feel loose and tuning can drift quickly as you play. Bringing extra picks and a tuner is recommended.

• Cheaper Hardware/Electronics: To hit this low price point, Fender uses cheaper electronic components in the Squier series. The pickups, pots, capacitors and switch don't have the crispness or clarity of USA-made Fender models. While still completely functional, the electronics in the Squier Telecaster are a bit muddy and undefined sounding compared to the American Telecasters. The overall lower quality hardware and electronics affect the tone and tuning stability.