Good price for used Telecaster Elite?

[RockyRacc00n]

Thinking about getting an electric. I looked around and I think I like Tele the best. I am new to electric but I have the budget to go above what most beginners might be advised to look at. I’m thinking Telecaster Elite. I see few out there used. What would be a good price to aim for when negotiating? Please PM me if that is better.

EDIT: When buying online, do you need to be concerned about tone being different from one example to another of the same model?... I know people talk about this when it comes to acoustic. I was wondering if this might be just as true for an electric, specifically Telecaster.

[pieterh]

Can’t help with a decent used price in your area but can confirm that the current Tele Elite is a fantastic guitar! I hope you find one that suits you.

My good friend and band mate bought a black one a year or two back - the previous owner had had it a week and didn’t bond with it and handed it back. He made a big loss on it but my friend got a great deal on what was more or less a new Tele Elite. I hope you are as successful in getting one at a price that works for you!

[Song]

Good guitar goes for about 2k new - used expect to pay 1300+ or so
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query...ion=used&page=

[DukeX]

I'm confident I can buy one new for 15%-20% off the retail of $1,950-$2,000, so around $1,600-$1,650, so I wouldn't pay near that for used.

[Tahitijack]

Like that guitar but don't know price in your are, but my rules of thumb is about 60 percent of new street price. If the guitar is in pristine condition. My offer price goes down from there if I'll buy it with dent, ding, scratch or other cosmetic flaw.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by RockyRacc00n

Thinking about getting an electric. I looked around and I think I like Tele the best. I am new to electric but I have the budget to go above what most beginners might be advised to look at. I’m thinking Telecaster Elite. I see few out there used. What would be a good price to aim for when negotiating? Please PM me if that is better.

EDIT: When buying online, do you need to be concerned about tone being different from one example to another of the same model?... I know people talk about this when it comes to acoustic. I was wondering if this might be just as true for an electric, specifically Telecaster.

If you have any Guitar Center's near you I was in one a few days ago, and they are having a "Guitar -a -thon sale, and they had a beautiful "Brand New" Cherry Burst Elite Tele for $1499 normally $1899 I was so tempted but was not really looking for a tele so I decided not to play it, and thus escaped with my wallet untouched. Had I been looking for an Elite Tele , I probably would have bought it on the spot.

[RockyRacc00n]

Thank you for your responses. Based on the above few responses if the new street price is, say, $1650-ish. That does line up with a quote I got from a reputable sponsor. And going by “approx 40% off for used” rule... that would put a used one at around $1000. But lot of the “excellent” condition used ones on Reverb are around $1300 to 1400 range. They seem so far off that I don’t even want to make an offer. Is around $1000 really a realistic price to aim for on a used?

[muscmp]

have you played one? if not, you owe it to yourself to go your big box store and play that model and others just to get an idea of what you REALLY want.

play music!

[J Patrick]

...I'm a telemaniac...if you have played an elite and loved it you should find a good used one and acquire it....but dang that's a vey nice budget and some really sweet used telecasters from smaller builders are worth a look at...and partscasters that are top notch can be had for crazy low money...lots of tele geekery at the gear page and tdpri.....

...i like all teles from sqiers to fine vintage vintage examples but I have developed preferences...I like em lite and sparky with big necks and nice hardware....and leaning towards but not all in on vintage aesthetics...

...it's funny that when I started playing electrics in the sixties...the only guys playing teles were playing their dads guitars....that changed quick and it seems like teles have always been "in" since then...

[DukeX]

Originally Posted by RockyRacc00n

Thank you for your responses. Based on the above few responses if the new street price is, say, $1650-ish. That does line up with a quote I got from a reputable sponsor. And going by “approx 60% off for used” rule... that would put a used one at around $1000. But lot of the “excellent” condition used ones on Reverb are around $1300 to 1400 range. They seem so far off that I don’t even want to make an offer. Is around $1000 really a realistic price to aim for on a used?

The street price is $1950-$2000. Just Google it and you will see that is retail everywhere.

Getting 15%-20% off street price puts you at $1,600-$1,650. That is what the Sponsor quoted you.

$1,300-$1,400 (30%-35% off street price) seems reasonable for "excellent" used desirable guitars.

Your "used rule" of 60% off retail street for "excellent" is erroneous IMO. That's what you might expect off MSRP.

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by DukeX

The street price is $1950-$2000. Just Google it and you will see that is retail everywhere.

Getting 15%-20% off street price puts you at $1,600-$1,650. That is what the Sponsor quoted you.

$1,300-$1,400 (30%-35% off street price) seems reasonable for "excellent" used desirable guitars.

Your "used rule" of 60% off retail street for "excellent" is erroneous IMO. That's what you might expect off MSRP.

I think the original suggestion was 60% OF list or street (ie 40% off) not 60% off. 40% of street price would be extremely cheap!

So anything under 1400 for very good or mint used is reasonable as you say.

If I had the cash just now I would be interested in a vg Elite at that price.

[RockyRacc00n]

Originally Posted by pieterh

I think the original suggestion was 60% OF list or street (ie 40% off) not 60% off. 40% of street price would be extremely cheap!

So anything under 1400 for very good or mint used is reasonable as you say.

If I had the cash just now I would be interested in a vg Elite at that price.

Sorry for that... I went back and edited that part. I meant to say 40% OFF the new. (Or 60% OF new).

[RockyRacc00n]

Follow up question. Does anyone know the difference between the “Deluxe” and the “Elite”? Seems very similar... thinking “Deluxe” was the previous name of “Elite” with “Elite” getting some upgrades. But not really sure what the differences are.

[pieterh]

I think you might be right - the new American Telecaster Elite seems to be similar to what was the US Deluxe: body rout, bound body and noiseless pickups. From what I can tell there is no American deluxe anymore which makes sense if the Elite is offering more or less the same features plus the compound radius neck, the contoured neck-body join and the latest noiseless pickups.

When I was looking to buy my first Tele I played the American Standard and Deluxe models and could A-B test them. At the time I was playing a lot of country style stuff and in the end felt that the regular Tele sound was more what I after. The new noiseless pickups are a different animal and do a great job I feel. (In the end I bought a G&L ASAT classic hollow body but that is another story!).

[RockyRacc00n]

Originally Posted by pieterh

I think you might be right - the new American Telecaster Elite seems to be similar to what was the US Deluxe: body rout, bound body and noiseless pickups. From what I can tell there is no American deluxe anymore which makes sense if the Elite is offering more or less the same features plus the compound radius neck, the contoured neck-body join and the latest noiseless pickups.

When I was looking to buy my first Tele I played the American Standard and Deluxe models and could A-B test them. At the time I was playing a lot of country style stuff and in the end felt that the regular Tele sound was more what I after. The new noiseless pickups are a different animal and do a great job I feel. (In the end I bought a G&L ASAT classic hollow body but that is another story!).

Thank you for helping me with the general understanding.

I see that locking tuners is an upgrade on Elite. What’s the big deal with that. Are the strings on electrics more probe to slippage or something?