NGD: $50 pawn shop Squier Tele Custom

[Tig***]

OK, new to me, anyway. I've been GASing for an HH Tele style guitar lately. I ran across this beat up Squier Tele Custom HH that had a $179 price tag , but was 50% off for Christmas. Everything was loose... the input jack, the knobs, and the selector switch was inside the chamber with tape holding the nut and washer in place (see photo). It looked like a basket case. I was about to walk away when I spotted the Seymour Duncan pickups.

OK, let's plug it in to a Champ they had and see if it works at all. Yep, the pots and switch work, and after a bit of tuning, the tone was pretty good, even if the old strings are black from corrosion. I tell the clerk that $85 still seems high since everything looked so messed up. She tells the manager, and they drop it to $50, but with no return policy. I'm playing my best poker face, knowing that all the guitar needs is some TLC, and "reluctantly" agree to the price.

After tearing it down at home, I tighten the tuner peg nuts, cleaned up the nut, tightened the pots and jack, reinstalled the selector switch, inspected the wiring, and replaced the strings and pot knobs. I cleaned up the body and fretboard, and find only a few deep buckle rash scratches in back and pick wear on the guard, plus the usual small nicks. I still have a little fine adjusting to do, but it sounds great now and feels very solid! It is a 2003 Indonesian Squier, per the serial number.

Oh, and those Seymour Duncan's are SH-6 distortions, which run about $75 each new. They are too hot for my needs, so I'll consider trading them for some PAF style pickups. Merry Christmas to me!

Before:



After:

[sunvalleylaw]

Wow, congrats on the great score!

[oldguy]

Very nice..............for $50...............even nicer!

[Kazz]

While I am a purist when it comes to Tele's and the whole thought of humbuckers in one makes me dizzy....I say CONGRATS on a great pawnshop find. They are out there to be had daily.....we just have to get out and find them :-)

[Tig***]

While I am a purist when it comes to Tele's and the whole thought of humbuckers in one makes me dizzy....I say CONGRATS on a great pawnshop find. They are out there to be had daily.....we just have to get out and find them :-)

I understand the pure Tele thing. For a standard style Tele, I'll be picking the fruit higher up in the tree! (MIM or better) Now, if I had a winning lotto ticket, a Texas Customs or a Custom Shop Deluxe Tele would be at the top of the tree.

I've been needing an afordable HH guitar, and the 25" scale, string-thru, maple neck was just what I've been wanting. Besides, the Tele headstock makes me weak in the knees!

[oldguy]

Those are some of the best Tele's out there for all-around guitaring .........
as in "they can do more than one thing"........including a pretty good Les Paul imitation. The heavy ones + string-through + humbuckers can really rock!

[Brian Krashpad]

SCORE!

Man, you just bought 2 nice pups at a discount and got a free guitar.

Merry Christmas.

[epi0205]

Just a whole buncha' gratz to ya' TIG!!
Fantastic find and TLC work on your part. The surprise
in the Duncans is a really cool uncovered treasure. Even
if at this point or personal taste have them sittin' in a
box... You'll have an opportunity to "mean" somethin' up
somewhere down the line... Too cool!!!
WTG!

[Spudman***]

Dayum! Now that's a good deal. Merry Christmas to you indeed.

[Commodore 64***]

Awesome. I need to find me some pawn shops!

[t_ross33]

Nice find. I'd consider dropping these p'uppies in there if you want to ditch the Duncs and give it more Tele-tone.

I'd like to find one of those at such a steal!!!

[Ilovecheapguitars]

getting a tele is high on my want list. I just haven't gotten around to buying one yet. I keep saying I'm gonna build one up next, but then someone will want me to mod something for them, then something else really cool comes along. good find.