ESP/LTD TE-212 (tele), decent or pile of junk?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scarified
  • Start date Start date
S

Scarified

New member
Hey rigtalk, first time poster here.

I know it seems like there's mostly high priced gear heads in here, I have a country/southern rock type project that I work on from time to time and I really want a tele type guitar to bust out when I do. I can't justify spending a ton of money and the black version of this guitar really caught my eye so I was hovering over the add to cart tab but I figured why not ask first.

I would replace the pickups with something decent and used from here or wherever but is this guitar decent for the super low price tag? Seems like a pretty nice guitar for only $350. Or would I be better off with a mexican tele like a modern player or something.

In addition, what would be a really great replacement pickup for the bridge in a tele? Something with some twang but also able to give me some hair when needed.

Looking forward to soaking up some info and advice around here.
 
Dude, really an LTD is going to be a decent guitar. Are they great, that low in the numbers? No. Are they completely serviceable? Hell yup...

Check the Classifieds here, you might find one ready to go. Look for username snowblind(I think), he does these up with some upgrades that you'd do anyway for good prices.

Welcome to RT, although I don't know how you can say 1st post when you have 25 already, unless you've had a busy day.
 
I've had 3 of the Strats and one of the 202 Teles. They have been hit or miss. At worst, they are on Squier's higher levels. At best, the one I currently have is as good as the ESP Vintage Plus's I had at the time. Granted, I think the distressed finish evened the playing field on the fit/finish spectrum. So out of the 4, one is a unicorn and the other 3 were Ok. Granted, to me, being Ok is about what I expect them to be for the money.

The biggest reason that I started buying these is that they have jumbo frets. Very few Strat or Tele copies have them. The neck is also their thin U shape, so it plays like a Superstrat/Tele, but looks vintage. It really comes down to preference. Are you set on a Fender or do you want something that is good value and will play great with a little work?
 
Steinmetzify":3j1bh3vi said:
Dude, really an LTD is going to be a decent guitar. Are they great, that low in the numbers? No. Are they completely serviceable? Hell yup...

Check the Classifieds here, you might find one ready to go. Look for username snowblind(I think), he does these up with some upgrades that you'd do anyway for good prices.

Welcome to RT, although I don't know how you can say 1st post when you have 25 already, unless you've had a busy day.
Click to expand...

First thread I meant. I don't think it's snowblind, that user hasn't been on since 2007 and I can't seem to find much on the TE212 or 202.
 
I am reading a lot of great things about the Fender Squier Affinity series as well. Drop a quarter pounder set in there, maybe shield it a bit better and boom. Are the affinity squiers decent?
 
200s are the bottom of the line...I would never dropped down anywhere below 600, when it comes to LTDs
 
I am looking at a few options. But maybe I will hold out for a nice mexi and swap the pickups.
 
So the guy I was talking about posted right after me, and he's got this for sale:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=174556

Upgraded already, Gotoh tuners, Graphtech saddles. I know you were asking about the Tele and this is a Strat type thing, but it'll be totally fine as a backup or whatever.

I had one of these a while back, and it was fine. Not on the level of some of my guitars, but it worked for the project I had in mind. I don't remember what happened to it....

EDIT: Found it...couldn't remember what I did with it and it was bugging me. I turned it into this one:

DSC_7397 by Scott Steinmetz, on Flickr

Orange guard from Perle, Fender Mexi neck with locking tuners, MCM Guitarworks pickups.
 
No experience with the 212. My TE-202 played great right out of the box. I worked at a shop that sold the whole line and they were very consistent at that price point.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top