Lots of people focus on what this guitar isn't, but I'm really enjoying mine, enjoying what it's good at: plugged-in flexibility, and quiet couch-time practice that doesn't disturb the rest of the house. On stage and in the studio, I run mine through an acoustic amp (Marshall as50) to get a very nice acoustic sound due to the Fishman preamp, or switch it to a MusicMan 112-65 amp and I'm playing a real telecaster. It works well for finger-picking, slide, strum, leads... a rugged, very weird and multi-talented instrument for cheap. It took a minor amount of setting up to play nicely. Only complaint - it's unbalanced. I feel I should put a brick inside it so the neck doesn't point down when I'm standing up with it.
I just picked up a crafted in china version of this guitar a few days ago for a few dollars more than what I felt it was worth from a local pawn shop.
The strings were old, and it was scratched up in a ridiculous way. The idea of a tele neck bolted onto a Telecaster shaped fiberglass bowl, with fishman technology intrigued me.
I have let it get settled to the humidity of my home and done minor adjustment to the truss rod. The action is greatly improved. When I decide what strings to try, I will do a fret board clean up and polish; then dig a little deeper into the set up.
There seems to be not much love for these and a lot of negative talk about what the Telecoustic isn't.
Seems to be a great couch guitar for noodling that sports a real Tele electric guitar neck. It stays in tune, has an on board tuner, and takes very little volume control adjustment at the guitar when plugged into an amp to sound somewhat respectable for dead strings.
I have yet to try it through my board, or an acoustic amp.
I have only tried it with one leather strap, and there is no neck dive.
Pictures will follow in a few days or so.
This Fender Telecoustic guitar has made me look at my 31 year old K. Yairi again that has been sitting idle for years. I have since restrung it and given it a much deserved set up. I now remember how awesome a good acoustic can be and want to play it again.
The Telecoustic will be an ongoing noodling, leave it out on the stand project guitar. For some reason I want to play this Chinese guitar.