TE-52 NA Vintage Series : stunning for the money - a few niggles

I really didn't need another guitar. I have seven already including two Strats, a LP and a Gretsch. I ordered this simply because I wanted to see for myself what these guitars are like. When it arrived I was stunned. So impressive for the money. After setting the truss-rod and bridge saddles how I like 'em, and giving it a set of Fender Bullets, I gave it a thrashing.

Niggles - the back of the neck had a small but pronounced bump, which I think was a hardened drip of lacquer. Sanded off straight away. The slot for the nut hadn't been cut properly and there is a tapered gap behind the top three strings. After checking intonation I filled this with milliput.

I'm not keen on the 'aged' finish on the neck and fingerboard, would prefer plain clear-lacquered pale maple.

Good bits - The bridge pickup is fantastic, the neck pick-up not so much, which is a shame, but what can you expect at this price? I lifted the pickup height to equal the volume of the bridge pickup and it's not too bad, but not great.

The other guitar player in my band has a Fender Elite Tele to compare to, and sure, his guitar sounds a little better. But I could buy fifteen of these guitars for the price of a Fender Elite. His guitar doesn't sound or play fifteen times better. It just doesn't. The finish on the body is no better either.

Unbelievably good value guitar, and any quality control issues can be ironed out if you know what you're doing.

Highly recommended, especially for people who don't want to take expensive instruments to gigs in seedy dives. Like me, for instance.