Late to this thread as usual, but I might as well submit mine:
My Fender Telecaster. It’s a paradigm of simplicity, reliability, playability, and tone. From the original barrel-style string saddles to the 2-pickup/3-way switching system to the high-output single coil to the bolt-on neck construction to the straight string-pull head stock, there is no better guitar on the planet. What’s even more impressive is that it was designed by a non-guitarist and was one of Leo Fenders earliest designs (and is largely considered to be the first mass-produced electric guitar). I own far too many guitars of various styles and cost, but I nearly always perform and record with my Tele. It’s my proverbial desert island guitar.
I'm relatively new to electric guitar and have a Tagima telecaster clone (T55pwh). I love it - it has no business being as good as it is for as cheap as it is.
One thing about telecasters that you mentioned that is probably not the best design is the 3 barrel string saddles that make intonation challenging (since you can't adjust the intonation of one string without changing another one too). My favorite telecaster player Tim Lerch has a video explaining the way he sets up his teles, and one of the things he does is change to compensated saddles.[1]
Awesome video. I have indeed heard about the intonation issues with the vintage barrel saddles, but personally I can’t really tell on my Tele. It stays in tune better than most of my guitars and the intonation is far better than on my Les Paul Custom with the Tune-O-Matic bridge.
My Fender Telecaster. It’s a paradigm of simplicity, reliability, playability, and tone. From the original barrel-style string saddles to the 2-pickup/3-way switching system to the high-output single coil to the bolt-on neck construction to the straight string-pull head stock, there is no better guitar on the planet. What’s even more impressive is that it was designed by a non-guitarist and was one of Leo Fenders earliest designs (and is largely considered to be the first mass-produced electric guitar). I own far too many guitars of various styles and cost, but I nearly always perform and record with my Tele. It’s my proverbial desert island guitar.