Someone once told me the first rule of buying guitars is: ‘It has to look cool’. The second fact of guitar-buying, I have since come to learn, is that you can never own enough. Unfortunately for me, the Squier Troublemaker Telecaster I’m currently reviewing meets the above criteria – and even though I've just bought a Gibson Les Paul, I'm about to pull the trigger on yet another electric guitar.
Fender’s Cyber Week sale is still ticking along – although we can imagine its days are numbered – and it’s not being shy, slicing up to 50% off the price of selected products. Among the Fender-branded rock socks, dog leashes and snowboarding goggles sit some choice instrument deals – and the Squier Paranormal Troublemaker Telecaster Deluxe has had its price reduced from $435.99 down to a tasty $314.99.
Normally, I’d be jumping for joy. I’m a big fan of great-value instruments, even more so when they get discounted this heavily. But, having never owned a ‘real’ Les Paul before, I recently pulled the trigger on one, which leaves me with a conundrum.
Why? Well, this Squier is one of the most fun and playable instruments I’ve reviewed all year, regardless of the price bracket. It’s too good-a-deal to miss.
If you’re wondering what the Paranormal line is all about, it’s effectively Squier’s way of taking established designs outside of their usual comfort zone. The Troublemaker Tele builds on the already-slightly-Gibson-esque Telecaster Deluxe format, with some additional features that make it the perfect affordable Fender/Gibson mash-up.
There are some regular Deluxe staples here, including two humbuckers, a four-control layout, upper-horn placement of the three-way selector. However, we also get a bound mahogany body, T.O.M.-style bridge and Stop bar combo, and ’70s-style block inlays.
Squier has also included a matching headstock, coil-splitting for both pickups via the tone controls, and of course, the scale length is set to a Fender regulation 25.5 inches, making this a prime candidate for fans of slightly lower tunings.
Tonally, it’s packing some serious sonics and while I’ve been reviewing it, it’s dealt admirably with every style I’ve thrown at it. Everything from country/Americana cleans to classic rock and, under higher gain, it’ll deliver heavy riffs with the best of ’em.
It plays great, sounds great, and looks far more expensive than it actually is, too. If you’re looking for a headturner of a deal in the Cyber Week sales, watch your neck, because you’ve just found it. Buy it, mod it, or leave it as it is – I don’t think you’ll regret it. Now excuse me, I need to buy a new guitar stand to keep it on…
