Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar  (Used)

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

This is a great choice for most players, especially those with big hands like myself. This has a soft-V "baseball bat" neck that is thicker than most other Teles and it feels the best to me. The 4-way switching adds a lot of tone flexibility that you just don't get with the standard electronics. The out of phase settings, especially in parallel, add a new flavor. Good sounding pickups here, especially the Broadcaster bridge unit. The Twisted Tele neck pickup I will likely switch out for a Duncan Antiquity to get more vintage twang, but most will probably like it as it is. The bridge is old school without individually adjustable string saddles but it looks great. Picky players might want to put compensated bridge saddles on to tweak intonation for the higher register but for most it will not matter. This guitar is a great value with solid workmanship all around. Plenty of classic vibe here, but is the high gloss poly a little too shiny for that concept? A satin finish would make it just perfect IMHO but it is not offered.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

Great guitar and it has a neck like a Louisville Slugger. I like the 4 position switch, although I don't engage the S-1 phase switching often. I like the parallel 1st position for thick boosted sound.

My only complaint is the pick guard. It holds static like nothing I've ever seen. I have taken it off for the time being until the dry winter weather passes. If I continue to have trouble I will add shielding or perhaps get a different pick guard.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

Extremely versatile guitar. Fantastic tone and possibly the best neck I've ever played on an electric. I got the black on black one when they first became available in the states. Sounds great no matter your style of music.

I adore this guitar, I was almost bought the American Special, and my local shop sold me on the Baja after much skepticism about buying a Mexican Fender. I'm thrilled with it. Better craftsmanship for less than the American Special (or even some Standards) I played, and better electronics.

A total steal for the money.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

The build quality of the Baja Tele is great, I found no flaws of any kind. The tones you can get from the S-1 switching are all very usable and come out of my amp with real authority. I used to own an AM DLX Tele and it didn't sound like a Tele to me. Mine gets plugged into a DLX Reverb...pure heaven. This one hands down is the Tele I've always wanted, and I am thrilled with this purchase.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

Really a great guitar. I have owned over 30 guitars most upper end USA Fender, Gibson, Jackson, Charvel ect. I have to say this guitar is so versitile if I could only own one guitar this would be it. It does it all from GnR to Johnny Cash. Plays great and sounds great too.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

Read the other reviews and decide for yourself. I have no complaints about the product. The S-1 switching and 4-way pickup selection give you a broad range of sounds. One of the best Telecasters I have ever played.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

I wanted a Tele to practice with so I could leave my American Standard at the house. I read reviews for months and months and finally narrowed it down to this one and the Road Worn Tele. The PUP's in this Tele finally sold me and I ordered this one. Shipping was quick, as always. Got the guitar, plugged it in and I hated it. Sounded awful. I tried different combinations of pedals and just could not get a decent sound out of it.

I decided to send it back, and while boxing it up I decided to give it one more try, only this time I tweaked the amp. All I can say is WOW - made a world of difference. The guitar was more alive and sounded awesome. I can't put it down now. I haven't touched my American Tele since and this is a much better value for the price. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a twangy, country sound. Great for modern country stuff.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

Bought this online here at Musicians Friend. Been playing over 40 years. Owned and used lots of guitars. I play a bit of everything.

Let's talk tone. That's why you buy, is it not? In the realm of tone and sound, this baby is just plain awesome. I am mainly a 'tele guy', so I know my telecasters - from Mexican to Custom Shop. So let me tell you, the tone on this Baja Tele is BETTER than the standard design tele by far, in every possible pickup setting. Taking it a step further, the tone on this is as good or better than any of the half dozen Custom Shop tele's I've owned / played.

The Neck Pickup is incredible. Twisted Tele they call it. I call it 'the best neck pickup I've ever had on a tele'. It snarls, spanks, or soothes depending on your amp setting and how you attack it. The Bridge pickup is addictive as well -- and it's my favorite Tele bridge pickup ever. And the four (4) settings that combine the two pickups are mostly to die for (except the out of phase series setting -- not my cup of tea.) To me, this guitar tone gives you the best of Tele sounds AND Strat-like sounds. And it also gives you one setting where the two pickups combine to mimic hum bucker intensity, sounding sort of les paul-ish. I will note for you, that the output / volume of this guitar is less than a standard Telecaster. I will also note that you may need to turn your 'presence' control down a good bit on the amp.

How does she play? Love the middle-of-the-road neck. Fast and not too thick or too thin either. A great neck sort of becomes invisible to you when you play. That is, you never notice the neck being too this or not enough that. This neck is right in that magic middle for me where it feels like home immediately.

Now, a reluctant note on some of the hardware. (remember: I am a Tele guy, and I am set in my ways on what I consider good hardware). The bridge saddles, and the bridge plate itself were both replaced with Glendale parts - - the best Tele replacement stuff out there, used by Billy Gibbons for example. This made a CLEAR difference in the clarity of the tone, and added a tad of sustain. I also replaced the tuners as the stock ones were the worst I've ever seen on any fender, ever. I bought Gotoh staggered-post (also from Glendale) ones so I can completely avoid needing a string tree. All these things brought the quality of this instrument up to somewhere between American made Tele and Custom Shop tele. It's virtually perfect now -- having invested like $150 and 45 minutes screwing on/in the new bits.

So why would I give this 5 stars? Because of the tone. Yes, I had to do a little hardware work, but I am persnickety and even with the improved hardware, the price of this guitar is a steal. So as my favorite Telecaster, this earns 5 full stars.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

Really nice guitar, beautiful craftsmanship, and suited to any kind of guitar player.

Comments about Fender Classic Series Classic Player Baja Telecaster Electric Guitar:

Only complaints, the tuners and the fact that Fender needs to come out with a much nicer 'deluxe' gig bag. Other than that, fantastic tele! I would recommend the butterscotch blonde version, shows the grain through a little better in my opinion and turns this instrument from great into classic. Stock pick-ups are good, neck is wonderful to play and the fretboard is smooth enough to allow versatile tones. Love the 8 tones from this guitar with the 4-way blade and S-1 switch! If I was to buy another tele in this price range I'd just buy a second Baja!
Picked up this tele in my local guitar store and played it against American Standards, Oriental versions and thinlines and found this one to be the best bang for it's buck. Bought it for just under $800 and I've loved playing it for the last couple weeks. Honestly, I haven't been able to put it down. I love the 4 way switch selection and the S-1 switch is a handy asset. Part of the reason I bought it was the fact that you can have 8 relatively different sounds; that's what an electric should do for you right? Nice maple neck with decent fret work and came perfectly set up right from the store; guys said they hadn't touched it since it had come in. I was impressed with a Mexican made tele; shocking!
Lovin' everything about this tele, except for the relatively cheap tuners, is fantastic! I plan on eventually changing them out with ones that will stay in tune through all the beating I give it. Love the finish, ash body sounds great, and I'm relatively happy with the stock pickups. A beautiful v-shaped neck that is thick enough to give a great grip and sound but allows me to play the guitar instead of be played by the guitar.
No question is this guitar the best value of a tele that I've found for the $500 - $1000 price range. Compared to American Standards, it's worth the jump up a couple hundred bucks to get this classic from the Fender Custom Shop.