Wow, ok hold the presses...
Just talked to my wife and presented her the options. Her first opinion was "why don't you get it in red"...lol. Ok, but then she says "this is a guitar you are going to have for a long time, why don't you get what you REALLY want?" So, in that vein we look at the G.E. Smith Signature Telecaster that I have been drooling over for months...
It looks a lot like the Baja except the bridge pickup is mounted directly to the body, and is a similar pickup to one that is in a classic Fender Lap Steel. Also it has the lap steel type dots on the fingerboard. Premium Ash body, 7 1/4" radius u shaped maple neck, vintage pickups.
It runs just over $1500 currently...we are talking combo anniversary/birthday/Christmas present here...
Fender Specs:
http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0118202867
Video with GE Smith introducing the guitar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnQYoRYedF0
SO, given that, do you think the GE Smith one is worth the extra $$$ over the Baja? The wife has already said she thinks I should at least get the Baja for the better electronics so the standard MIM is out of the picture...