I love my Squier Affinity Telecaster, but could the PRS SE NF 53 be the perfect upgrade, and should you buy one?
Having been massively disappointed with the Fender Player Series Strat, I, by chance, stumbled across the perfect electric guitar, the Squier Affinity Series Telecaster. But what’s the upgrade path? Is there something I should aspire to? Well, the PRS SE NF 53 could well be the answer. So what are the pros and cons?
Pros
Pickups
The narrowfield humbuckers are going to give more output and grunt whilst being hum-cancelling and also, not being full-size humbuckers, maintaining at least some of the Tele clarity.
Build Quality
The PRS SE series is now right up there with Epiphone concerning the sturdiness of their instruments. There should be no nasty surprises with this.
Shielding
As well as the quieter pickups, PRS have left no stone unturned with regard to the electronic shielding. This promises to be a very quiet and controllable guitar indeed!
Neck Radius
The 10.5″ neck radius could be the ideal compromise between speed and comfort.
Bridge
The first thing I noticed about this guitar is its use of the Vela bridge, which is even chunkier than a 3-brass saddle Tele bridge in that there are only 2 saddles. As it features compensated saddles, intonation shouldn’t be an issue. Also, the bridge is top-loaded, which is a bonus, as sometimes those Telecaster ferrules drop out.
Overall Performance
When you put all of the above together, on paper at least, this sounds like a big performance upgrade over my lowly Squier.
Birds
Let’s not forget how grin-inducingly beautiful the PRS birds are! And in this format, with the edging against maple board, it’s a better example than most.
It’s Something New and Different
This really isn’t just another Tele, and it’s something new and exciting from PRS too. Some have said PRS’s answer to a Tele Deluxe? A very unexpected entry from PRS and a nice surprise.
Looks
Having said that, nothing looks too left-field. It feels well-judged, solid, simple, and right, without being a copy.
The Best PRS SE
I’ve been disappointed with the PRS SE Series in the past. ‘All show and no go’ is a criticism I levelled at the SE 245, but seeing several review videos seems to suggest PRS have got things very right this time with the SE NF 53.
Value Considering Core NF 53
There aren’t many, if any, reasons to go for the US Core version over this. Apart from the country of manufacture and a slightly different control setup (scratchplate as opposed to rear access). Some would argue that the SE line is the better-looking one, too.
Cons
Switch Position
Why does PRS insist on putting the select switch in the wrong place? Yes, it solved the issue of accidentally hitting it, but it’s too far away.
Scarf Joint
I don’t like this on my Epiphone Les Paul, and I don’t like it here. I expect this on Les Paul-type guitars, but if Squier can provide me with a one-piece maple neck for £118, why can’t PRS at around £700?
Looks
Subjectively, I think it looks great, but does it look better than my Tele? I’m not so sure. Others have announced their dislike of the ‘Doghair’ finish, which is again a matter of personal preference. But again, does it look as good as my Tele? The answer is no.
Colours
Very limited, so if you don’t like the Doghair, you’re pretty stuck.
Price
For what it is, a take on the most rudimentary electric guitar design in history, and considering the country of manufacture (these are Cor-Tek Indonesian instruments), as well as the 3-piece neck, why do these guitars cost £700?
Bridge
That Vela bridge does look the part, but do front-loaders promote as much sustain and Tele twang as a proper Tele bridge? I’m thinking no, and I’m also hearing reports of re-stringing issues and strings popping out. Could PRS be cutting corners?
Headstock
Looks-wise, I’ve always been unoffended by the PRS headstock. Nobody will ever beat Fender, but this is easier on the eye than most alternatives. The problem is, those sharp edges are far too close to the top and bottom E tuners, making tuning more painful than it needs to be.
It’s Not a Tele
Although this hasn’t sunk into cringy Silver Sky territory, this PRS SE NF 53 isn’t really a Tele at all. Although it has that big old ’53 neck, it doesn’t look like, sound like, play like, or is constructed like one. This is kind of a Telecaster for the player who has issues with Telecasters, and if that’s the case, why would you seek out a Telecaster in the first place?
History with PRS SE
As I said earlier, it appears the PRS SE series has turned a corner quality-wise. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Alternatives
G&L ASAT Legacy
Unfortunately, the affordable version of Leo Fender’s ultimate development of the Telecaster is now only available second-hand, but some draw-dropping instruments can now be had for less than £500 for a Telecaster on steroids.
Squier / Fender Telecaster
I’ve already explored the range, and I’m not convinced. The CV series is hardly an upgrade; I no longer trust the Player series, the Standard series less so, and even something like the American Pro 2 is disappointing at 10x the price. The Vintera II Nocaster has a great ring to it, but the board feels too big and skinny.
Sire T range
The T3, T5 and T7 range all look like a LOT of guitar for the money specs-wise, but to me they seem derivative and not really something that floats my boat enough to want to spend money on them. Resale value is also terrible.
So, should I buy a PRS SE NF 53? Drop me a comment below.