I have to admit that I started off playing guitar in my teens by getting a Squire, I loved it! I stopped playing guitar once I moved and life just happened, finally decided I wanted to pick up guitar again and felt I had outgrown my squire so this time I decided to really go out on a budget and get a really expensive fender. Months later I realized that I was unhappy with it, it didn’t make sense to me since I paid soo much money for something that I thought would not only sound good, but be a good quality instrument. Fast forward a few more years and I purchased a Fender Player Tele and I was shocked by how remarkably happy I was, it reminded me back to my squire days, it was magic all over again. Just goes to show that price doesn’t matter as much as I had originally thought. The player series is a high-mid tier guitar to own and I didn’t have to pay so much for something that I resonated soo incredibly well with. This all taught me a valuable lesson and now I’m happy with what I own. 🤓
For anyone hung up on the use of pao ferro as opposed to rosewood (because, let's face it: Brazilian rosewood was stunning), keep in mind that Mister Fender was an engineer who utilized any woods available at the Fullerton area lumber yards all those decades ago, and I have a feeling he would have given the nod to an exotic wood such as pao ferro had it been readily available back then.
Could have used this a few weeks ago!! Bought a used oly white professional II. Love it, I only have a spark amp but the tone is awesome. Love the twang!! I'm a beginner, 7 months in, practice everyday. I'm 45 and a metal head but started learning guitar and all I wanna do is, learn country chops and zztop licks on a telecaster.
I'm a bassist. Been thinking about buying a Tele for a long time. I finally got one- a MIM Player with single coils and a beautiful quilted sunburst top. Looks, feels, and sounds beautiful. I'm happy I chose a Tele. Thanks for aiding me in this decision.
I played bass in punk and indie bands as a teenager. At some point my buddy gave me his old acoustic guitar so I could mess around on that to teach myself guitar. After a couple years getting comfortable on the acoustic I needed to get myself an actual electric guitar. I ended up finding a used MIM '72 reissue Telecaster in a sunburst body and rosewood fretboard. It's taken some beatings over the past 20 years but I still love the way it sounds and plays. I got a new amp recently and it made my tele's tone sound even better than before.
I've been playing guitar now for over 35 years and have always been a Gibson Les Paul guy. I've owned Fender Strats and one Tele and that Tele I have missed the most when owning Fenders. Sad I got rid of it. Strats I could never really find one that fits my hands, play the way I want, except for my guitar teachers lol. Yea, he's not selling his lol. Late last year I purchased a Fender Modern Plus has an HSS configuration used. Strat pickup in the middle and the lipstick neck that I love a lot. For $400 it was a steal but it doesn't have that fat single Tele bridge pickup. Yes, that makes all the difference in a Telecaster IMO. It's great for what it does, another tool. Me being picky needing a Tele that sounds like a Tele, I have recently purchased a Fender American Jimmy Page Mirror Telecaster and I'm totally in love with it that I also went and got The Dragon MIM Jimmy Page one. I like the Mirror American one the best of all not because it costs more, it plays and sounds the best. I'm not done with Telecasters, the next one will probably be the American Ultra or Ultra luxe, a 70-year anniversary Telecaster or Broadcaster. As I said, I've always been a Les Paul guy but as of late??? these Telecasters sound so awesome, twang and the fat single bridge are so fat!! it inspires more hybrid picking, pop, and double stop. The Tele can do it all and I mean all. All guitars are tools, sound different, and that's why I have different ones. The next Tele will be an expensive one I will just have to eat more Mac N Cheese more than I'll like. It will be worth it lol, thanks for the video.
For lefties the Telecaster choices are: Squire Classic Vibe 50s, Fender Mexican Player, American Professional II, American Original 50s, Fender Japan and Custom Shop.
Thanks, Cooper! I like the "Silver Belly Tour" shirt! I've been rockin' my Silver Belly Stetson that I found in Reno in 2003 after a 25 year hunt (The movie "Urban Cowboy" priced those hats beyond the reach of us ranch hands and seasonal Fish & Game grunts in Montana and Idaho for several years so we'd have to wait until demand faded.) with a narrower brim than most. You provide a great breakdown of Telecasters!
Respect that you gave equal justice to each price point - there’s a lot to be said for each guitar you reviewed, but the less expensive models can do great things in the right hands. Also thanks for the nice explanations of the different models - very clear and helpful for someone like me looking to get into teles
I have an Affinity maple neck, and I love the bridge design with it. An important point is to find an amp that enhances its basic output. I use it with a Vox VT 50 (perfect condition, in a pawn shop where no one knew what it was = $100 U.S). Plugged in and played straight, and you've got the Tele sound of the Police. Also, great for upgrades.
The Vintera 50's neck profile won me over hard in the beginning of my Tele exploration - so far it's the #1 candidate for my next guitar (and first Tele!). The pickups punch far above their weight class as well.
Great chops Cooper but would have liked to have heard some rock and jazz licks and adjusting knobs to show us the variety of tones found in these guitars. Good summary of the various models and obviously there is something here for everyone. A good intro to the world of the telecaster. Thanks!
Yeah, his chops are super impressive but that style of playing is a bit distracting and when a note doesn't ring for more than a millisecond it's hard to really tell any difference in tone. Also overdrive/distortion is where I hear the most difference between cheap vs expensive pickups and there was none of that.
@@ryanhurst3859 yeah I agree with that. Overdrive and distortion separates the pretenders and the contenders. I do not like harsh overdriven tones with tons of bass and treble but no mids. I want it to have a healthy midrange but not harsh and ice-picky. Creamy smooth distortion where it cleans up a bit when you dial the volume knob on your guitar back a little. If the hairs on your arm stand up when you hear it you are in the zone!
4 and 1/2 years ago, I bought a Fender Standard (future Player) Telecaster. I love it so much. It is such a nice guitar. The Telecaster is such a sturdy and musical guitar. I still want some other guitars, but I have no plan to replace my Telecaster.
Little known fact... For many years the Squier Classic Vibe guitars were made in the Grand Reward factory in China (production has recently moved to the Cort factory in Indonesia). Fenders Modern Player guitars were also made in this Grand Reward factory, and are VERY similar in terms of fit and finish to the Squier Classic Vibe guitars. At one point, some of the guitars got mixed up, and Squiers went out badged as Fenders, and Fenders went out badged as Squiers.
I appreciate this video! I’m amazed at what players like Jimmy Johnson could do with a basic tele but understand that at the end of his life he was using 2 different models. I’d love to know which. All these are great options.
Thanks for another excellent video. You made them all sound great. A very good job demonstrating the subtle & not so subtle differences of quality vs cost between each model. You were right the only way to choose one is to get your hands on as many as ya can. I know for some that’s nearly impossible. There’s definitely not one that will fit everyone’s hands & budget. The player series looks like a good place to start a tele addiction.
You mention the Squier CV ele, but not the American Performer Series. I‘m playing the one with humbucker and it‘s a very versatile guitar and I love it🤷🏼♂️
I’m kinda bummed that you didn’t mention the American Performer line which comes in between the Player and Pro II. I have a Performer and a Player Series Tele and both are great guitars. I’m thinking about branching out a little and would love to see you guys do a similar video about basses
Yes! Why no love for the American Performer series? I have a telecaster in sonic satin blue -- killer. For some reason, this line seems to be ignored in most discussions I see on various channels.
I have a American ProTelecaster Deluxe and an American Performer and while I really do like my Deluxe I think the American Performer is AMAZING. I prefer the tone and volume knobs on the American Performer and overall it feels like it has a better finish to the fretboard. The deluxe has the smoothed and rounded fretboard and I feel like it was done in an ugly manner… maybe they wanted it to seem played in but it just looks sloppy to me. The pickups on the deluxe are nice but overall I actually like the Performer just as much.
Great run through of current Fender and Squier Tele range with good playing kept, helpfully, to clean tones, and some refreshingly realistic observations about things like fretboard woods and bridges etc. I love my MIJ Fender 50s but if I didn't have that I'd run to that fiesta red Vintera.
Interesting comparisons. I've always been a Strat player but a friend of mine offered me a Classic Vibe Squier Tele. It has a pine body and a nice figured maple neck and it's definitely growing on me. I usually keep it in open G for those Keith Richards moments and it also works well as a slide guitar. Great value guitar.
I'm always amazed by Cooper's playing! Funny that you start off by saying the Tele isn't just a country guitar and guess what? All the demos were country, ha, ha, ha! Most famously, Jimmy Page's telecaster sound sold a lot of Les Pauls, that says it all.
I have a Nashville deluxe “07” model,the neck on this guitar is very smooth,recently i bought a squier cv50 i changed the saddles and string tree, great sounding guitar.
I’d agree with fretboard material not having a huge tonal difference but I don’t think it’s just aesthetics. I tried a bunch of guitars recently and wasn’t a fan of the maple fretboards. Granted, most were Squier Classic Vibe with glossy fretboards but just preferred the feel of a rosewood (or whatever it is).
Great job Cooper! You play some fabulous licks. I had a fender Classic Vibe Tele Thinline that I bought used. The pickups were trashed, the neck was way out of whack but it was clean. The neck straightened out with the truss rod adjustment. I bought a set of American Standard pickups from my local guitar store, upgraded the pots and ended up with a beautiful, hot and awesome overall guitar. Teles are great for modding.
I've got the Limited Edition Player Series in my avatar and a G&L Fullerton ASAT Classic. Thought about downsizing the stable but can't seem to part with either. Maybe I got lucky but the Player I got was perfect. No sharp fret ends. No intonation problems. Plays and sounds like a dream. Roasted maple neck (spoiled me) and Custom Shop Nocaster pickups.
Also consider the G&L ASAT guitars. I've had a few - and still own 3 - and they're great guitars if you're not hung up on the headstock decal. Plus, they really are *Fender* guitars.
Indeed, that L in G&L is for Leo (Fender). There is a video from Andertons about a G&L factory tour where they spend some time in Leo’s former office, very interesting to watch
You could also argue that they are the truest Fender guitars, since they are the culmination of Leo’s final vision for his designs, especially the Comanche.
i have a tele from fender bought it in 2003 that was sold as a 52 Industrial standard with a U profil😁 vintage tuners an a backolite pickguard in a candy case it looks like a honey Bee plays good the only thing i did gave it to a guitarluthier cause the neck pickup was to jazzy and a kondensator was inculded in that case - installed and ready also a bridge with 6 saddles ,but i dont change the 3 brass saddles the guitar plays good and is very ok .last Monthsep.2o23 i bought a tele body thinline swampash /alder 3 tone sun burst double Binding cutted for a Humbucker in the Neck -1540gr nitro lack , i put a american performer Fender Neck flat sawn marple 22Jumbo frets kinda tusk saddle from fender us the neck is really comfortable and perfect on that Body it fits perfect and staggerd tuners , a creamy pearl pickguard for singel coils the pickups are 51Fender Nocaster not handwound ,the saddles are 3 brass pieces- 250k fender pots 22 nf orange drop treble bleed for single coil,3 way switch a solid one and 3positions so it looks like a 69 thinline ok but normaly that guitars have 21 frets trussrod on the neckend but i think when im ready with it it sounds good -so that is the tele for me and i ve tons of fun to screw the parts together ok i´t´s not cheap but i like it even if i can´t install the original Fender input Jack so i did it like it was on a cheap squire
Got a G&L Tribute Tele (it was crap). Been changing parts a bit at a time. The body is the only original part. It's a great tele now and it's a cool as the other side of the T-Bone steak that just hit the grill.
I was really keen on getting an Ultra, then when I saw they'd added SS Frets I was sold on going for a luxe model... until I saw the headstock wasn't natural. Really spoils it for me. I'm waiting for next year's models now. Thanks for the video, I love hearing you play.
I feel like the fretboard should match your hair. Honestly I don’t like maple fretboards but haven’t played roasted. Give me rosewood or ebony but I’m down to try pao ferro too.
@@jmihendrix4 Ah, really? Do you like ebony? I'll have to give it another shot. The Sterling Cutlass I played had a roasted maple fretboard, I think. The Jatoba on the RGA Ibanez was very good too. Cheers.
You sound like you on all of them and your thoughts on tonal impacts is right on the money in my opinion. Personally no matter how many tonal options a guitar has, I don't use em.
There is a difference between coil tap and coil split a lot of guitars use coil splitting my PRS uses coil tapping. splitting takes a coils out tapping reduces windings.
That American pro 2 sounded so good out of all of them to me, Even with the TH-cam sound quality just something about it if you're plugged directly into the amp on all these
I was really disappointed with the Am Pro II pickups. I've had the Miami Blue one in this video for about a month and it sounds thin and characterless in comparison with previous Teles I've owned (including my Squier Classic Vibes!). Its middle position is really nice and it beats them all when the gain gets cranked up though. Just wish I could have it both ways given I paid £1549 for it!!
I have 2 American Standards - '88 sunburst and a '99 aquamarine - both with rosewood 'boards. I have a 2010 American Special with maple that I will probably sell soon. I also have a Celtic Esquire that is all mahogany with a set neck and a single humbucker and volume. It's really more like a LP jr.
Great explanation of distinguishing between the different models! And also, great job about not focusing on the study of insects! (that was hilarious!!!)
If you are buying a Player I’d recommend you get it from a good local dealer. This is may not be typical but my Player Telly came with control knobs binding on the facing strip, fret buzz in a couple of places and two weeks in the input jack nut came loose. despite stretching & re-stretching & changing strings repeatedly, it would simply not stay in tune for more than a two hour session. I love my ‘93 American Strat but the MIM Player Telly went back after 3 weeks. When I’m ready to try again I’ll jump a price notch or two or venture outside the Fender brand.
I agree with your comments on the gloss necks. I buy necks and shave /shape them to buyer's wishes. ( Terry from Oz). BTW they all sound pretty good and I lost count after 28 Telecasters in the early 80s.
1:18 "A lot of people probably think of it as a country guitar, but really it's been in the hands of every type of musician forever since its inception in the early 50s. So, you know, it doesn't have to just be country. Rock 'n roll, jazz, pop music? I don't--y--y'know, there's more genres than that. All kinds of stuff." Proceeds to play the same finger lickin' country riff for the next half hour. I love it.
I had to watch other videos to help me understand the tele. You did a great job of showing how the tele works in country music but no demo in other styles. Also, there is no demo on the thinline.
Always wanted a Tele, going back to the '70s . Finally in the market during Sq's Blk and chrome era, '03 or so. Nothing grabbed me. Give a Fat Tele a chance. Sorta an Andy Summers type. 20th Anniversary edition. Ok but action was high....Partial mill and dress. Turned out great. Next was an AllParts cup for the output jack. Sorry, Leo :)
@@peterklein5861 so tell me if I am wrong but one of the diff is the neck shape. From the vid CV 50s has a rounder neck and CV 70s a flatter neck. Because I have small hand, neck shape is really important. I have more than enough problem with power chord and thumb muting!
Please skip the Affinity series, sir. In fact, I recently bought a Monoprice Classic DLX stratocaster and was so impressed with it that I bought the Classic DLX Telecastor. Again, I didn't go for the lower-end versions of those either. I believe that the Monoprice DLX guitars are on the level of Squier Classic vibes.
@@anthonynguyen9779 The CV 50s neck is actually quite thin in my opinion! I've not seen a 70s so can't compare, but the 50s is a nice slim C shape, not fat in the slightest.
I tried the squire affinity FSR telecaster sent it back bought it online. Then went to the shop tried out the squire paranormal offset telecaster (dislike the gloss neck) and the Fender Player series MIM telecaster. Went for the Fender liked the sound better the fender tuners and mostly the neck is satin. Had my luthier do a pro set up changed the scratch plate the top volume adjustment is a little further down the plate and got the luthier to put 10s on sounds much better with 10s on
My requirement was made in USA and feel good in my hands. I grabbed a American performer tele in butterscotch blond for 1,000 bucks new. Looks like a old 1952 telecaster and plays great! Sorry they don’t make the American performer in blonde anymore. I guess they want you to spend 3k on a 52 reissue to get that look now 🤷🏼♂️
I can’t get along with a humbucker in the neck and SC in the bridge. When I flick to the bridge pickup for a solo, I want things to get louder, not quieter!
Hi Cooper, you give such integrity in your reviews, could you please do a demo on the Vintera 50's Modified Tele and give your honest opinion. Be very much apreciated. From here in the uk
I have a new handmade Telecaster lookalike,with a special lightweight body, & it looks & sounds fabulous, and all for £300 or there abouts from Swirl Guitars Uk, in Liverpool. 8:35
I have to admit that I started off playing guitar in my teens by getting a Squire, I loved it! I stopped playing guitar once I moved and life just happened, finally decided I wanted to pick up guitar again and felt I had outgrown my squire so this time I decided to really go out on a budget and get a really expensive fender. Months later I realized that I was unhappy with it, it didn’t make sense to me since I paid soo much money for something that I thought would not only sound good, but be a good quality instrument. Fast forward a few more years and I purchased a Fender Player Tele and I was shocked by how remarkably happy I was, it reminded me back to my squire days, it was magic all over again. Just goes to show that price doesn’t matter as much as I had originally thought. The player series is a high-mid tier guitar to own and I didn’t have to pay so much for something that I resonated soo incredibly well with. This all taught me a valuable lesson and now I’m happy with what I own. 🤓
For anyone hung up on the use of pao ferro as opposed to rosewood (because, let's face it: Brazilian rosewood was stunning), keep in mind that Mister Fender was an engineer who utilized any woods available at the Fullerton area lumber yards all those decades ago, and I have a feeling he would have given the nod to an exotic wood such as pao ferro had it been readily available back then.
I agree - my only caveat as an extremely new player is that maple feels faster than Rosewood or Pao Ferro.
True. But if you can’t tell the tonal difference between Maple and Pao Ferro then you probably shouldn’t be doing demos.
Pau ferro is just plain ugly. Call it an alternative all you want, I don’t want an orange fretboard
@@firemarshal2629 how is pau Ferro orange lol it's shades of lighter/darker brown. I think you meant the orange tint maple board
@@joelpaul7001 There's no tonal difference bro don't be kidding yourself
Could have used this a few weeks ago!! Bought a used oly white professional II. Love it, I only have a spark amp but the tone is awesome. Love the twang!! I'm a beginner, 7 months in, practice everyday. I'm 45 and a metal head but started learning guitar and all I wanna do is, learn country chops and zztop licks on a telecaster.
You still have the or a tele? :)
@@NoobOnATele I stupidly sold it..
@@dirktucker77 oh man I am looking for one just like that
You don't choose the right Telecaster, it chooses you.
I'm a bassist. Been thinking about buying a Tele for a long time. I finally got one- a MIM Player with single coils and a beautiful quilted sunburst top. Looks, feels, and sounds beautiful. I'm happy I chose a Tele. Thanks for aiding me in this decision.
I played bass in punk and indie bands as a teenager. At some point my buddy gave me his old acoustic guitar so I could mess around on that to teach myself guitar.
After a couple years getting comfortable on the acoustic I needed to get myself an actual electric guitar. I ended up finding a used MIM '72 reissue Telecaster in a sunburst body and rosewood fretboard.
It's taken some beatings over the past 20 years but I still love the way it sounds and plays. I got a new amp recently and it made my tele's tone sound even better than before.
I've been playing guitar now for over 35 years and have always been a Gibson Les Paul guy. I've owned Fender Strats and one Tele and that Tele I have missed the most when owning
Fenders. Sad I got rid of it. Strats I could never really find one that fits my hands, play the way I want, except for my guitar teachers lol. Yea, he's not selling his lol. Late last year I purchased a
Fender Modern Plus has an HSS configuration used. Strat pickup in the middle and the lipstick neck that I love a lot. For $400 it was a steal but it doesn't have that fat single Tele bridge pickup.
Yes, that makes all the difference in a Telecaster IMO. It's great for what it does, another tool. Me being picky needing a Tele that sounds like a Tele, I have recently purchased a Fender American Jimmy Page Mirror Telecaster and I'm totally in love with it that I also went and got The Dragon MIM Jimmy Page one. I like the Mirror American one the best of all not because it costs more, it plays and sounds the best. I'm not done with Telecasters, the next one will probably be the American Ultra or Ultra luxe, a 70-year anniversary Telecaster or Broadcaster. As I said, I've always been a Les Paul guy but as of late??? these Telecasters sound so awesome, twang and the fat single bridge are so fat!! it inspires more hybrid picking, pop, and double stop. The Tele can do it all and I mean all. All guitars are tools, sound different, and that's why I have different ones. The next Tele will be an expensive one I will just have to eat more Mac N Cheese more than I'll like. It will be worth it lol, thanks for the video.
For lefties the Telecaster choices are: Squire Classic Vibe 50s, Fender Mexican Player, American Professional II, American Original 50s, Fender Japan and Custom Shop.
Cooper, I really enjoy watching your presentations on you all’s show. Keep the music alive brother
Thanks, Cooper! I like the "Silver Belly Tour" shirt! I've been rockin' my Silver Belly Stetson that I found in Reno in 2003 after a 25 year hunt (The movie "Urban Cowboy" priced those hats beyond the reach of us ranch hands and seasonal Fish & Game grunts in Montana and Idaho for several years so we'd have to wait until demand faded.) with a narrower brim than most. You provide a great breakdown of Telecasters!
Respect that you gave equal justice to each price point - there’s a lot to be said for each guitar you reviewed, but the less expensive models can do great things in the right hands.
Also thanks for the nice explanations of the different models - very clear and helpful for someone like me looking to get into teles
I have an Affinity maple neck, and I love the bridge design with it. An important point is to find an amp that enhances its basic output. I use it with a Vox VT 50 (perfect condition, in a pawn shop where no one knew what it was = $100 U.S). Plugged in and played straight, and you've got the Tele sound of the Police. Also, great for upgrades.
The Vintera 50's neck profile won me over hard in the beginning of my Tele exploration - so far it's the #1 candidate for my next guitar (and first Tele!). The pickups punch far above their weight class as well.
Great chops Cooper but would have liked to have heard some rock and jazz licks and adjusting knobs to show us the variety of tones found in these guitars. Good summary of the various models and obviously there is something here for everyone. A good intro to the world of the telecaster. Thanks!
Yeah, his chops are super impressive but that style of playing is a bit distracting and when a note doesn't ring for more than a millisecond it's hard to really tell any difference in tone. Also overdrive/distortion is where I hear the most difference between cheap vs expensive pickups and there was none of that.
@@ryanhurst3859 yeah I agree with that. Overdrive and distortion separates the pretenders and the contenders. I do not like harsh overdriven tones with tons of bass and treble but no mids. I want it to have a healthy midrange but not harsh and ice-picky. Creamy smooth distortion where it cleans up a bit when you dial the volume knob on your guitar back a little. If the hairs on your arm stand up when you hear it you are in the zone!
Agree, would have loved to hear some other styles to show off that versatility. Led Zeppelin I please.
4 and 1/2 years ago, I bought a Fender Standard (future Player) Telecaster. I love it so much. It is such a nice guitar. The Telecaster is such a sturdy and musical guitar. I still want some other guitars, but I have no plan to replace my Telecaster.
I got the 2006 MIM Standard. Far as I'm concerned, it's perfect. Sounds good, easy to play, and I found I love the clean sound of the neck pickup.
This was a very helpful video because I want to learn how to play guitar and it is kind of confusing what guitar to buy thanks!
Little known fact...
For many years the Squier Classic Vibe guitars were made in the Grand Reward factory in China (production has recently moved to the Cort factory in Indonesia).
Fenders Modern Player guitars were also made in this Grand Reward factory, and are VERY similar in terms of fit and finish to the Squier Classic Vibe guitars.
At one point, some of the guitars got mixed up, and Squiers went out badged as Fenders, and Fenders went out badged as Squiers.
I was lucky to get a fender 62 custom marked as a squire classic vibe saved a lot of money
@@aronkoppold3981 really?
I appreciate this video! I’m amazed at what players like Jimmy Johnson could do with a basic tele but understand that at the end of his life he was using 2 different models. I’d love to know which. All these are great options.
Hey Cooper!! I may have missed it but would love if you did something like this on the Fender Strat. Thanks for the Tele breakdown.
Oh hey, the Strat version of this just got posted today (July 12, 2021).
@@davetaira8665 I just watched it. Appreciate the heads up Dave. I'm wanting to get the Player Series HSS Tidepool.
Thanks for another excellent video. You made them all sound great. A very good job demonstrating the subtle & not so subtle differences of quality vs cost between each model. You were right the only way to choose one is to get your hands on as many as ya can. I know for some that’s nearly impossible. There’s definitely not one that will fit everyone’s hands & budget. The player series looks like a good place to start a tele addiction.
You mention the Squier CV ele, but not the American Performer Series. I‘m playing the one with humbucker and it‘s a very versatile guitar and I love it🤷🏼♂️
I’m kinda bummed that you didn’t mention the American Performer line which comes in between the Player and Pro II. I have a Performer and a Player Series Tele and both are great guitars. I’m thinking about branching out a little and would love to see you guys do a similar video about basses
Yes! Why no love for the American Performer series? I have a telecaster in sonic satin blue -- killer. For some reason, this line seems to be ignored in most discussions I see on various channels.
Agreed with both of you. I got a performer strat a couple months ago and I’m in love. Feels perfect to me. I also love the big 70s headstock on it
I have a American ProTelecaster Deluxe and an American Performer and while I really do like my Deluxe I think the American Performer is AMAZING. I prefer the tone and volume knobs on the American Performer and overall it feels like it has a better finish to the fretboard. The deluxe has the smoothed and rounded fretboard and I feel like it was done in an ugly manner… maybe they wanted it to seem played in but it just looks sloppy to me. The pickups on the deluxe are nice but overall I actually like the Performer just as much.
Fender Precision Bass! I have the American Professional and it's awesome!
I have purchased my American Performer Sandblasted Daphne Blue about two months and it is such a great guitar. American Performers are awesome 👌
The Vintera 50s modified is the best all round bang for the buck tele. It's just amazing.
Great run through of current Fender and Squier Tele range with good playing kept, helpfully, to clean tones, and some refreshingly realistic observations about things like fretboard woods and bridges etc. I love my MIJ Fender 50s but if I didn't have that I'd run to that fiesta red Vintera.
Interesting comparisons. I've always been a Strat player but a friend of mine offered me a Classic Vibe Squier Tele. It has a pine body and a nice figured maple neck and it's definitely growing on me. I usually keep it in open G for those Keith Richards moments and it also works well as a slide guitar. Great value guitar.
I'm always amazed by Cooper's playing! Funny that you start off by saying the Tele isn't just a country guitar and guess what? All the demos were country, ha, ha, ha!
Most famously, Jimmy Page's telecaster sound sold a lot of Les Pauls, that says it all.
I have a Nashville deluxe “07” model,the neck on this guitar is very smooth,recently i bought a squier cv50 i changed the saddles and string tree, great sounding guitar.
I’d agree with fretboard material not having a huge tonal difference but I don’t think it’s just aesthetics. I tried a bunch of guitars recently and wasn’t a fan of the maple fretboards. Granted, most were Squier Classic Vibe with glossy fretboards but just preferred the feel of a rosewood (or whatever it is).
It has zero tonal effect even in pure acoustics, and the idea that it has a tonal effect on electric guitars is nonsense on stilts.
You are great! I,m 70 bought a Noventa tele in fiesta red🙂
Well done Sir!
I’m looking to buy one next week.
👍👍
why did you skip the performer series? are those not available anymore?
Great job Cooper! You play some fabulous licks. I had a fender Classic Vibe Tele Thinline that I bought used. The pickups were trashed, the neck was way out of whack but it was clean. The neck straightened out with the truss rod adjustment. I bought a set of American Standard pickups from my local guitar store, upgraded the pots and ended up with a beautiful, hot and awesome overall guitar. Teles are great for modding.
I've got the Limited Edition Player Series in my avatar and a G&L Fullerton ASAT Classic. Thought about downsizing the stable but can't seem to part with either. Maybe I got lucky but the Player I got was perfect. No sharp fret ends. No intonation problems. Plays and sounds like a dream. Roasted maple neck (spoiled me) and Custom Shop Nocaster pickups.
I've had my Highway One for 15 years and it's still the most versatile guitar I've ever played. You need one in your arsenal at some point.
Also consider the G&L ASAT guitars. I've had a few - and still own 3 - and they're great guitars if you're not hung up on the headstock decal. Plus, they really are *Fender* guitars.
Indeed, that L in G&L is for Leo (Fender). There is a video from Andertons about a G&L factory tour where they spend some time in Leo’s former office, very interesting to watch
@@sjazzp I've seen that video and it's well worth checking out. Thanks!
You could also argue that they are the truest Fender guitars, since they are the culmination of Leo’s final vision for his designs, especially the Comanche.
i have a tele from fender bought it in 2003 that was sold as a 52 Industrial standard with a U profil😁 vintage tuners an a backolite pickguard in a candy case it looks like a honey Bee plays good the only thing i did gave it to a guitarluthier cause the neck pickup was to jazzy and a kondensator was inculded in that case - installed and ready also a bridge with 6 saddles ,but i dont change the 3 brass saddles the guitar plays good and is very ok .last Monthsep.2o23 i bought a tele body thinline swampash /alder 3 tone sun burst double Binding cutted for a Humbucker in the Neck -1540gr nitro lack , i put a american performer Fender Neck flat sawn marple 22Jumbo frets kinda tusk saddle from fender us the neck is really comfortable and perfect on that Body it fits perfect and staggerd tuners , a creamy pearl pickguard for singel coils the pickups are 51Fender Nocaster not handwound ,the saddles are 3 brass pieces- 250k fender pots 22 nf orange drop treble bleed for single coil,3 way switch a solid one and 3positions so it looks like a 69 thinline ok but normaly that guitars have 21 frets trussrod on the neckend but i think when im ready with it it sounds good -so that is the tele for me and i ve tons of fun to screw the parts together ok i´t´s not cheap but i like it even if i can´t install the original Fender input Jack so i did it like it was on a cheap squire
Fantastic Demo and informative talkthrough of the Teles... Thanks heaps...
Got a G&L Tribute Tele (it was crap). Been changing parts a bit at a time. The body is the only original part. It's a great tele now and it's a cool as the other side of the T-Bone steak that just hit the grill.
I was really keen on getting an Ultra, then when I saw they'd added SS Frets I was sold on going for a luxe model... until I saw the headstock wasn't natural. Really spoils it for me. I'm waiting for next year's models now. Thanks for the video, I love hearing you play.
It’s like $400 more for ss frets. That’s the part that gets me. If you get an ultra, I’ll get an ultra. Just maybe a few years later.
@@Hexspa ha! Sounds like a plan
Painted headstock sucks to me too!
Ask ally no new models for tele in 22
@@NoCoverCharge picked up a player plus nashville tele now. Love it!
Fenders look better with maple fretboards.
I feel like the fretboard should match your hair. Honestly I don’t like maple fretboards but haven’t played roasted. Give me rosewood or ebony but I’m down to try pao ferro too.
@david Palmer I feel you, in my opinion I think they play better with maple fretboards
@@jmihendrix4 Ah, really? Do you like ebony? I'll have to give it another shot. The Sterling Cutlass I played had a roasted maple fretboard, I think. The Jatoba on the RGA Ibanez was very good too. Cheers.
I agree, in general they do look better with the maple fretboard. Usually. I also love ebony fretboards
They sound better too
Sweet job kiddo! Wanted a Tele for a long time. This really helped I'll watch it over again.
You sound like you on all of them and your thoughts on tonal impacts is right on the money in my opinion. Personally no matter how many tonal options a guitar has, I don't use em.
There is a difference between coil tap and coil split a lot of guitars use coil splitting my PRS uses coil tapping. splitting takes a coils out tapping reduces windings.
Would love to own one that is set up like the one the Ice Man had. He made me fall in love with the Telecaster.
That American pro 2 sounded so good out of all of them to me, Even with the TH-cam sound quality just something about it if you're plugged directly into the amp on all these
I was really disappointed with the Am Pro II pickups. I've had the Miami Blue one in this video for about a month and it sounds thin and characterless in comparison with previous Teles I've owned (including my Squier Classic Vibes!). Its middle position is really nice and it beats them all when the gain gets cranked up though. Just wish I could have it both ways given I paid £1549 for it!!
I got a Baja Telecaster a few years ago as a gift, which I absolutely adore! I used to hate Telecasters before I got one. Little did I know..... 😂
I’m about to get the polar white Ultra Tele and I’m absolutely stoked
If I ever grow up, I want to be a guitar player like Cooper. :)
Me too. Cooper is one great guitar player
Thanks for clearing up a great deal of confusion with all these models and names.
I have a cv Jaguar, mim Chris Shiflett deluxe style tele, and American h/s performer tele, just missing a pro. This is spot on.
I have 2 American Standards - '88 sunburst and a '99 aquamarine - both with rosewood 'boards. I have a 2010 American Special with maple that I will probably sell soon. I also have a Celtic Esquire that is all mahogany with a set neck and a single humbucker and volume. It's really more like a LP jr.
What price for the 2010?
Great explanation of distinguishing between the different models! And also, great job about not focusing on the study of insects! (that was hilarious!!!)
Great Job n description,beginner trying to decide witch player series to get,also beginner n owner Yamaha Bass😊
Thank you for the demo! I think I want a American !!!
I have two Ultra Telecaster’s and both play great.
I love my Fender American Pro II 3 color sunburst amazing
Ohhhhhh, now I want an American Ultra Luxe Tele.
If you are buying a Player I’d recommend you get it from a good local dealer.
This is may not be typical but my Player Telly came with control knobs binding on the facing strip, fret buzz in a couple of places and two weeks in the input jack nut came loose. despite stretching & re-stretching & changing strings repeatedly, it would simply not stay in tune for more than a two hour session.
I love my ‘93 American Strat but the MIM Player Telly went back after 3 weeks.
When I’m ready to try again I’ll jump a price notch or two or venture outside the Fender brand.
I agree with your comments on the gloss necks. I buy necks and shave /shape them to buyer's wishes.
( Terry from Oz). BTW they all sound pretty good and I lost count after 28 Telecasters in the early 80s.
nothing against Coop, but Fender! you’re killing us with these micro-features!
Really liked the comparison. Thanks!!
1:18 "A lot of people probably think of it as a country guitar, but really it's been in the hands of every type of musician forever since its inception in the early 50s. So, you know, it doesn't have to just be country. Rock 'n roll, jazz, pop music? I don't--y--y'know, there's more genres than that. All kinds of stuff." Proceeds to play the same finger lickin' country riff for the next half hour. I love it.
That's the only way to go, dawg
@@AlamoMusic Oh I love it, it just gave me a good laugh.
I had to watch other videos to help me understand the tele. You did a great job of showing how the tele works in country music but no demo in other styles. Also, there is no demo on the thinline.
Hi Cooper, you 're a killer guitar player. Thanks for this useful video once again.
Always wanted a Tele, going back to the '70s .
Finally in the market during Sq's Blk and chrome era, '03 or so.
Nothing grabbed me.
Give a Fat Tele a chance. Sorta an Andy Summers type. 20th Anniversary edition.
Ok but action was high....Partial mill and dress.
Turned out great.
Next was an AllParts cup for the output jack.
Sorry, Leo :)
Wait, where’s the Player Plus? That’s the best value Tele around now!
That classic vibe Custom looks amazing
Thats some bad ass playing young man and excellent guitar playing.
My Player butter scotch black guard is a solid guitar. great pick ups and feel.
Muddy waters used a tele which is why I'm interested in picking one up
Love this. I am looking for a tele and was thinking about the Affinity series. After watching this, I will take a look at the Classis vibe 70s series.
Can also confirm the CV 50s are really nice too! The cleans sound incredible through my Vox practice amp, and the butterscotch finish is gorgeous.
@@peterklein5861 so tell me if I am wrong but one of the diff is the neck shape. From the vid CV 50s has a rounder neck and CV 70s a flatter neck. Because I have small hand, neck shape is really important. I have more than enough problem with power chord and thumb muting!
Please skip the Affinity series, sir. In fact, I recently bought a Monoprice Classic DLX stratocaster and was so impressed with it that I bought the Classic DLX Telecastor. Again, I didn't go for the lower-end versions of those either. I believe that the Monoprice DLX guitars are on the level of Squier Classic vibes.
@@anthonynguyen9779 The CV 50s neck is actually quite thin in my opinion! I've not seen a 70s so can't compare, but the 50s is a nice slim C shape, not fat in the slightest.
What you guys opinion on Affinity Series?
Great stuff Cooper as always !
And some mighty fine picking u do also helps with dessions 😮
Squire 40th anniversary is real sweet, come down about 50% in price since its release too.
Nice review! Thoughts or cool links on the Jimmy Page Tele (the white model from the American factory)? Cheers!
A “Dark Night” Tele chose me recently. 😍 🎸
I tried the squire affinity FSR telecaster sent it back bought it online.
Then went to the shop tried out the squire paranormal offset telecaster (dislike the gloss neck) and the Fender Player series MIM telecaster.
Went for the Fender liked the sound better the fender tuners and mostly the neck is satin. Had my luthier do a pro set up changed the scratch plate the top volume adjustment is a little further down the plate and got the luthier to put 10s on sounds much better with 10s on
My requirement was made in USA and feel good in my hands. I grabbed a American performer tele in butterscotch blond for 1,000 bucks new. Looks like a old 1952 telecaster and plays great!
Sorry they don’t make the American performer in blonde anymore. I guess they want you to spend 3k on a 52 reissue to get that look now 🤷🏼♂️
Cooper, you should update this video (because of the Player Plus Telecaster and its Nashville brother)...
I can’t get along with a humbucker in the neck and SC in the bridge. When I flick to the bridge pickup for a solo, I want things to get louder, not quieter!
Hi Cooper, you give such integrity in your reviews, could you please do a demo on the Vintera 50's Modified Tele and give your honest opinion.
Be very much apreciated.
From here in the uk
I finally got a Tele in a Dark Knight finish. Love the guitar.
Whats a Dark Knight finish?
Vintera 50s Modified Tele, where it's all about that incredible thick-version Soft V neck - WOWZA!!!
is that a positive thing for you?
Nice playing. Classic vibe, I suspect it or Player.
Can you do a video on jazzmasters please!
Good cheekbones and brow structure.
I can hear the tighter ( thicker) B string due to it's higher tensile strength. Easy fix, new set of strings.
This is the video I needed 10 years and 12 telecasters ago
The right Telecaster for me is whichever one I can afford
Beautiful playing by the way
Cooper use overdrive and play rock with a flat pick for these demos.
Great info and great video!
Don't do anything without consistency it's a must for anyone !
We're going off tonight ♪♪
To kick out every light ♪♪
Yeah Leo got it right from the start He failed to mention some of the Pro2's come w pine bodies
2 years from now I will do my own vision of a Telecaster is going to be. No pickguard and 2 Burst Buckers, 4 pots and maybe a Strat neck.
That’s blasphemous
You can use the telly neck for a nice bending.
@@jessesmith2906 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@paulbaker9277 Ok!
Great playing and great review of a guitar I want to buy.
The Squier and the Fender ultra luxe were the best tones. The other ones didn't bite as hard, sound-wise
I have the Baja fender tele and love it
I have a new handmade Telecaster lookalike,with a special lightweight body, & it looks & sounds fabulous, and all for £300 or there abouts from Swirl Guitars Uk, in Liverpool. 8:35
The best fender telecaster is FMT with HH humbuckers Seymour dunkins 59 and 58 pickups and coil tap splitter that gives it awesome tones