The one I own is about 3 years old now and it still plays like a dream. I was surprised by the quality of workmanship and setup right out of the box. I play this guitar all the time and it still plays and sounds great since day one.

Best for blues and rock. The pickups don't seem to have that country twang that other Teles have, which suits me just fine. I love the amp knobs - they make it very simple to mess with tone/volume on the fly. I replaced the thin "50s" pickguard with a solid 3-ply one right away (you have to drill a few new holes to accomodate), and switched out the cheap tuners as well. As with all Teles, the beauty of this guitar is its simplicity (one tone knob, one volume knob, and a 3-way selector switch).

Love the sound. Love the neck action. Had to have it set up because the action was too high for me. Not sure about the gig bag. I prefer a hard shell. I also have a bow (hump)in my pickgaurd. Not too crazy about putting tape under it to correct. I am thinking of upgrading to the pearl, though I may have to have a few different holes tapped in. My Guitar Instructor loves the punch and bluesy twang of the pickups. Overall I like it...I would seriously consider the American in the same color with the rosewood neck if I had it to do over again.

This is a great guitar. The color is stunning. The bridge pickup is wired a little hotter than your standard tele, making it easy to play punchy blues. Pickups do have a slight buzz. The neck is a little fatter, feels great especially if your used to playing acoustics. The pickguard is a thin vintage style that does not add much to this guitar. I replaced mine with a white pearl that really dresses it up. It has a unique hole pattern, making it difficult to find replacements. Warmoth makes one that workes just fine. For the price it is a definite upgrade from a Mexican tele, while not as $$$$ as the American.

I waited for 2 months to get mine. Paint is Flawless. Neck is Flawless as well. That is the end of what I liked about it. The Action was over 1/4 inch at the 12 fret. The knobs were not lined up (at max volume was at 10 Tone was at 5 when looking down at guitar). The Pickguard (thought it is authentic to "Muddy's") needs another screw in it at the neck - or some two sided tape under it.*** The Sound - not very Spanky, twangy, "teleeey" nothing like the Fender site claims it will be (I have two Fender amps and a Marshall) or the Muddy Water's sound I expected.

Maybe it's because the pickups are nothing special and they were install at an angle (and the front can't be adjusted only shimmed AFTER you remove the pickguard). Poor workmanship for a FENDER, I don't care what country it is made in (Mexico by the way).

I spent $85.00 to have it set up (you must remove the neck to adjust truss rod). Overall the guitar is much better but unfortunately it is not the "new favorite guitar" I expected it to be.

Still not spany enough. So I got over $625 in this guitar and it never leaves the case (not included). You get a very nice gig bag, if your like gig bags, I don't.

I guess it's an investment, but if Fender puts out more guitars like this one, no one will ever want one. *** I Thought I'd get an extra pickguard and save the original--No one makes a pick guard with this odd hole pattern.

I'd say play it before you buy it. I played a Dean NashVegas I loved, but this one was already ordered. If I had to do it again I'd bought two of the Dean's and a Real Case.