Fender Player II Telecaster Limited Edition (2026) in British Racing Green

I have wanted a genuine Fender Telecaster since I started getting back into playing five years ago. Until last week, there had not been a “golden opportunity” to get one at a price that I wanted to pay.

Leave it up to Guitar Center to offer a Fender Player II with a rosewood bridge, in my most coveted color: British Racing Green. And at $170 below retail.

That was the final straw; my resolve crumbled, and I bought it.

Some folks say that the love for Telecasters takes on a cult-like flavor. Indeed, nothing is like a Telecaster. Its equal has never been created.

I have read online complaints about the QC in the Player II line, but this guitar is nearly perfect. The one major problem it did have was that the OEM bridge saddle screws are absolute trash. They bind and stick and make adjusting the action impossible. So, I decided to get a Fender “Vintage” bridge plate and Gotoh compensated brass saddles.

Additionally, I added a 4-ply white pearloid pickguard in place of the stock 3-ply white one.

It may be “just a Telecaster”, but it’s my Telecaster and I love it.

Gretsch G5622T-CB Electromatic (2015) in Georgia Green

I finally found “my” 335-shaped object in this amazing guitar. It hit my radar accidentally a few years ago. And while it looked stunning, I was unsure about the three-pickup configuration.

Over the past few years, I have bought, sold, and traded three Epiphone 335s and a Midnight Sapphire Sheraton II Pro. I regretted letting all of them go, especially the Sheraton.

Last year I saw an Olive Drab (a color I love) Streamliner at Guitar Center with blacked-out hardware. That hardware and the $600 price made it a no-go for me. Additionally, I wanted an Electromatic.

A few weeks ago, one came up on Guitar Center’s website, used, for $500. I kept it on my “Wishlist” but ended up buying a ’90s Yamaha bass. Well, the bass arrived and was in much poorer condition than I thought it would be. So I brought it back to return it to my local Guitar Center. And there, behind the counter, was a Georgia Green G5622T.

As it turned out, an older gentleman was there, selling some of his guitars to them. The clerk was looking at the Gretsch to determine how much they would pay the gentleman for it. After completing my return, I hovered around the area, wanting to hear how much Guitar Center would offer him.

“We’ll give you $266 for it,” the employee said.
“Ok,” the guy responded, “I can use that for something.”
“I’ll give you $300 for the Gretsch,” I interjected, trying to remain calm.

Fortunately, there was a bank across the parking lot, so I pulled out the cash and came home with this beauty and a Road Runner hardshell case.

Gretsch G5420T Electromatic (2017) in Orange Stain

A hollow-body Gretsch is something that I’ve wanted since I started this debacle back in 2020. I saw a Streamliner on the wall at our local Guitar Center and fell in love with it. But I really wanted a step up. Now, I will probably never be able to comfortably drop over $2,000 on any guitar or bass. I don’t see a reason to.

Earlier this year, on the Facebook Marketplace, a guy in West Palm listed this particular Gretsch and I had been watching it for months. It included a Canadian-made Gretsch OEM case and when it hit $475, I grabbed it. The guitar retails for $890 and a new case is an additional $190.

So now I have my Chet Atkins-ish hollow-body with real Gretsch pickups and it sounds spectacular. The quality is amazing as well.

D’Angelico Premier DC (2022) in Sky Blue

2026 was supposed to be “The Year of Not Buying Music Equipment”. I did not follow my own rule and have purchased both a Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz bass and this dandy 335-shaped object.

I have always been attracted to the distinctive Art Deco look of D’Angelicos, so when Sweetwater was clearing these out at nearly $250 below MAP, my resolve failed.

I need to spend time playing it and not just “tarting it up”, as is my usual MO.