Weight can vary quite a bit, depending on wood type and quality (of course the Bigsby is another matter - although some like the way they rebalance the guitar). I built a pine 50s blackguard style that's under 7.5 pounds, which I don't think is bad at all (I've heard of some that can be under 7 - but they're rare). The 3 saddle bridges can usually be fixed with upgraded saddles (much cheaper than an entire bridge - and purists will tell you the traditional bridges are essential to true Tele tone). I'm a fan of Gotoh In-Tune brass saddles, and mine intonate as perfect as my tuner can hear. As you point out in many of these, a Tele can be pretty much anything you want it to be, if you are open to modding it a bit. That's the beauty of that design - and its simplicity and flexibility make it easy to build a great partscaster if you're minimally handy. Also, those Squier Classic Players are way nicer than they have any business being at that price point.
Recently got a used Squire Classic Vibe 50s Tele and love it. 7lb 6oz. If you stay away from playing country it's not so twangy, right? LoL. Glad I can't play country. I've played a Strat for so long the differences of a Tele are so refreshing. Love the bridge and middle positions. Bridge, to me seems to have a certain ring/chime with a little bite to it. The middle position has nice mix of a woody quality to it. I have my pickups adjusted for even output at the moment. Pots were pretty shot when I got it, so got a loaded 4-way control plate comin this week. Also moving the volume knob back 1/4" and angled switch slot. Those Gotoh comp brass saddles are pretty nice, so I grabbed me those too. Gonna try some 9.5's on it. Tempted to try full nickel with round cores, and will also try Fender Bullets (or Super Bullets) through body. I've always used them in my Strat and like the amount of solid contact the chunky brass bullet ends have with the guitar. Good stuff, like and subscribed. Success to you with your channel.
@@robf.7404 first of all your guitar and all those mods sound 🔥. Please make a video so we can all see it! 2nd thank you for the kind words about my channel. Cheers
I just got a 2018 fender player telecaster for $350 and it's 7.5 lbs. , got 6 saddle bridge.... love the twang, hum... don't get any.... If I want a whammy bar, I use my strat. As for weight..... squire is not made of alder.... and probably will weigh more. And for body styles..... telecaster and stratocaster body is copied by almost every guitar company..... so that speaks for it self.
I was looking at a mod tele and I wrote to Fender and telling them that I have less options for more money... like roasted maple neck.... well they added it.... But I will write to them again because I want a 6 saddle bridge without the whammy bar not 3 saddle bridge.... and they should have body cuts....at the same token I have a budget guitar ( tele style) with a tummy cut and it's a boat anchor compared to my telecaster ‼️ I rather have a lighter guitar and a 9.5 radius neck instead of all the bells and whistles..
