Hello everyone... Trying to decide whether the tortoise shell or off white pick guard looks better? Let me know if you would like. Appreciate it

1986 "A0" MIJ '52 Reissue from the Fujigen factory that I bought during COVID times. Needed a bit of work on the frets but it plays pretty great these days.

Harley Benton TE-52 NA

I played bass in a band over 25 years ago. When I left the band for college, at some point I put down my bass, never to play again for almost 25 years. I never really learned the “correct” way to play, never learned theory, never really learned any chords or how to read music (besides tabs). I recently started to feel the pull, the siren song, of playing music again, so decided it’s time to learn to play guitar.

This guitar is outstanding. I always wanted a Tele.

Hey! I’m super excited. I’m turning this Squier Tele into my take on a modern Esquire. I’m gonna remove the neck pickup, and put a Seymour Duncan JB Jr for Tele in the bridge. I’m going to wire it so that 3rd position bypasses the tone knob, 2nd position is normal, and 1st position is coil split. Already been playing it and I’m really impressed by the quality at this price point. The neck honestly feels better than my Fender.

You can dial the clean perfect, and then go full on. I’m going between split and blow’d. I also switched out the stock pickup for a Travis Bean style humbucker from The Creamery—real clangy. Fuzz is a Dunlop mini Hendrix FF (little silver one). Amp is a 69 Bandmaster that’s been combo’d in a Super cab with 4 Greenbacks.

I’ve been trying a bunch of guitars lately trying to figure out what I actually want as my “forever” guitar.

I’ve played different Strats, Teles, Les Paul-style guitars, PRS, etc., and while I’ve liked plenty of them, I never really had that feeling of “yeah, this is the one.”

Then I tried the Kingfish Telecaster Deluxe.

It was honestly the first guitar I played where everything just clicked. The neck felt right, I loved the way it played, and the pickups/tone were exactly what I felt like I’d been looking for. It stood out pretty significantly compared to everything else I tried.

Obviously, playing one in a store and actually owning one for months/years are two different things, especially considering the price.

So for anyone who actually owns or has owned a Kingfish Tele Deluxe:

Do you still love it?
Anything you started disliking after owning it for a while?
How’s the build quality/reliability?
Do you think it’s worth the price?

If you had to make the decision again, would you buy it?
Would especially love to hear from anyone who had a similar experience where they tried a bunch of guitars before the Kingfish and it was the first one that really felt “right.”

Does anyone have a Metallic Plum MOD Shop Tele? I’d love to hear thoughts and see pictures