Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster – Is It Good? [REVIEW]

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If you’re interested to see if Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster is a good guitar or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s review, we’re going to take a close look on this brand new model to see if it’s worth it. Surely, it has a stunning look, but is it actually a good instrument?

The truth is that Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster is a very good and reliable instrument suitable for all-level players. Although it’s not perfect, it’s definitely one of the coolest Teles on the market right now.

Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what makes this guitar so interesting. Of course, there will also be a sound demo, so you’ll be able to hear how it sounds. In addition, we’ll try to compare this guitar with much more popular Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster. Hopefully, today’y review will help you to understand if this guitar would be a good fit for you!

Specs & Pricing

squier 40th anniversary telecaster review

Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition features a nyatoh solid body and a very comfortable maple C-shaped neck. The guitar is available in a black color with incredibly looking and aesthetically pleasing golden hardware.

The manufacturer decided to equip this Telecaster with two Fender-Alnico single-coil pickups, which both offer a classic Tele tone. So if you’re searching for the characteristic Tele twang, this axe won’t disappoint you!

What’s important, just like every other model from this series of guitars, this Telecaster features golden vintage-style tuners and a gold anodized aluminium pickguard. In addition, the guitar has elegant pearloid block inlays and binding on the neck. Surely, this kind of look is one-of-a-kind.

When it comes to pricing, it’s one of the most expensive Squier guitars. Since it’s a brand new model, it’s totally understandable that it has to cost more than other Squier guitars. Still, it’s not overpriced, because it offers a really good quality and unique look.

Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out. Sounds pretty good, right?

Who Is It For?

Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster will be an ideal choice for all-level players who are searching for a great looking and reliable instrument. Whether you’re a complete amateur or a more advanced musician who plays gigs from time to time, this Tele will be an excellent choice.

What’s important, it’s a really versatile guitar, so it can be used in a really wide range of genres. Whether you want to play rock, country, blues, indie or grunge – this guitar will definitely do the job.

Disadvantages Of Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster

Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster is a really good guitar, but unfortunately – it’s not a perfect instrument. Don’t worry though – these disadvantages appear in the vast majority of Squier guitars.

Firstly, there is a high chance that if you decide to get this guitar, you’ll have have to set it up properly. You can do it on your own (there are a lot of tutorials on YouTube) or you can find a professional luthier within your area.

Of course, the poor stock setup doesn’t mean that this guitar sucks. On the other hand, the high string action may be really uncomfortable for you. Especially if you’re an amateur guitar player! But to be honest, almost every brand new Squier guitar needs a bit of adjustment to make it more playable.

Lastly, the price of Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster may be considered as an another disadvantage. It’s one of the most expensive Squier guitars and a lot of guitarists may prefer choosing a Fender Player Telecaster rather than this Tele.

Better Than Classic Vibe Tele?

Many guitarists wonder whether this Telecaster is better than the popular and affordable Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster. To be honest, it’s debatable. It’s really tough to pick a clear winner of this battle.

You have to be aware that both of these guitars feature a very similar level of quality. They sound great, but they can also feature some minor quality issues. After setting up, these guitars are absolutely killer instruments – they can be used for gigging and studio sessions.

Personally, I’d choose the brand new Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster rather than the Classic Vibe Tele. Why? Well, the new model looks much better and for me it’s far more interesting. I just love that golden hardware!

Summing up – if you’re okay with spending a bit more for that unique and elegant look, Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster will be a better option than the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster.

In addition, I think that the 40th Anniversary guitars offer better necks. The gloss finish of these guitars is not as sticky as the finish of Classic Vibe guitars, so they’re much more comfortable to play.

Are There Any Alternatives?

If you don’t like the look or the sound of Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster, don’t worry – there’s a lot of other interesting guitars out there!

Firstly, you should definitely check out other guitars from this series. I personally own the Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster and the Squier 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster and I have to admit that both of these guitars are awesome! Still, bear in mind that these guitars are on the same price level as the Telecaster.

If you’re looking for something cheaper, Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster may be a better choice. There are a lot of different versions of this Tele available on the market, so whether you prefer the solid body or thinline version, you should be able to find something for yourself. Again, this is an extremely affordable and versatile guitar.

Lastly, you should also check out the Squier Affinity Telecaster. This model is even cheaper than the Classic Vibe Telecaster and although it’s not as awesome and it doesn’t have that interesting vintage aesthetic, it’s still a really good choice for a lot of guitarists. If you’re looking for your first guitar, the Affinity Tele will be ideal.

Nevertheless, Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster is one-of-a-kind. I think that if you’re looking for a great and reliable guitar, it’s worth saving up a bit more to get this particular model.

FAQ

Where is Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster made?

Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster is manufactured in Indonesia.

Can you shred on Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster?

Absolutely, this guitar is also really good for shredding! Not many people are aware that Teles are actually really good metal. I recently wrote an article about it, so feel free to check it out here.

Why do Telecasters sound twangy?

The classic Telecaster twang is a result of a narrow single-coil pickup placed very close to the bridge of the guitar.

Summary

As you can see, Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster is a really interesting guitar. Although it’s more expensive than the Classic Vibe Tele, it’s still worth it. If you like the look of this Telecaster, you should totally give it a chance!

What do you think about this guitar? Would you add it to your own guitar collection? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear what you think!

Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:


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