I have owned my Fender Telecaster Deluxe (walnut) since 1973 along with a Fender Twin Reverb amp (With 2 12's) and hard shell case. Played in band for many years. They both look and play like new. If you want to be a #1 guitar player you have to play a #1 guitar.

ford1973 owns this item

Let's start with the negatives.
I've had to replace or repair the toggle switch maybe five times in 8 years.
It took me a long time to get used to the width of the neck.
I kinda wish it had Atomic humbuckers, but only because that's what's on my Toronado and that's what I'm used to.
Having said that, if I were a little less heavy handed with the toggle switch it might last better.
And if I were a better guitarist the size of the neck wouldn't have bothered me.
And if I wanted something that sounded exactly like my Toronado, I'd have just carried on playing the Toronado.
The good stuff.
Like every Fender guitar I own or have owned, the build quality is exceptional (except maybe that toggle switch!).
The neck is perfectly finished, the frets are uniform, the truss rod does its job exactly as it should, the join between neck and body is flawless in spite of the hammer it has taken in transit and on stage over the years.
I've had a little bit of trouble sourcing parts for it (a replacement for a cracked tone knob, a good quality 42mm nut, pickup screws) but if you take better care of your kit than I do you probably wouldn't need to worry about that sort of thing.
My only genuine gripe with this guitar is that it only comes in 3 colour options.
The walnut looks a bit naff and I don't do black guitars with black pickguards, so by default I had to get the sunburst, which is fine, but imagine how good this guitar would look in Lake Placid Blue or Fiesta Red with a white pickguard. Or maybe even black with a tortoise shell pickguard?
And why no rosewood fingerboard option?

Sharp_Kid owns this item

I have only owned a Black 72 Telecaster deluxe for 3 months but it has become the guitar I always reach for 1st. The C shaped neck fits my hand perfectly and feels so natural. The sound out of this girl and her 'buckers, have an edge on the classic telecaster bite that's just what I'm looking for at the moment. Try one out if you get a chance.

dr_itch owns this item

Title says it all huh?

There is something about the wide range humbuckers and sturdy straight forward design of this Telecaster that makes it enjoyable to play. I have never seen it as a Les Paul equivalent but rather a unique sounding guitar with its own characteristics. I personally prefer the smaller non seventies sized headstocks on my Fender guitars, with the exception of this one where it just seems to look right at home.I bought mine back in 2004 when Fender first started reissuing them and have kept it since being pleased with my purchase.

garyfm owns this item

My black 72 deluxe was recomended to me by a great guitar player in my local shop. handing me the 72 he instructed me to play a c cord, this blow my mind, i had not been able to do a C cord till that time. Talle just felt great. sounded great my first real guitar. still love that black 72.

mandal owns this item