One of the best guitar reviewers I have seen. Sincere and friendly. Nice work. You have a rare skill. Before I watched this I was thinking that it goes for a while (1:24). After I started watching, I didn't want it to stop and was thinking I wish it went longer.
Your playing does what is intended, introduce, and explain in a comprehensive easy to understand video. NO show off, but simple open and barre chords, that show determination to inform, not play so much. Most videos have shredders showing off, with info on the guitar secondary. PLAY ON MAESTRO! You give the total picture, great, incredible video.I thank you, especially for the beginers!
Thanks Frank! We try our best to be informative and not try to "show off" with the playing in any of our videos, and demonstrate what the average guitarist would be playing on guitars like these. The education and presentation comes first with us.
Just bought the Player II Series Tele from your Vancouver Store last month. Put a Torshell pickguard on it and it's one of the most beautiful things I've owned. Plus, your service and user experience is top notch!!
Just bought a lefty Squier Affinity Tele, string thru body made in China in butterscotch blonde. Everybody says the stock pickups suck but I think they are fine for a starter guitar, good quality for the price. I play mine into a Marshall DSL1CR and it sounds great.
I bought a Fender MIM Tele at Long & McQuade in Ch'town, PEI during Covid, and it honestly changed me as a player. I've gone from a shredder wannabe to a decent chicken-pickin' outlaw. It is so much fun! Great video...
@@jameswhite1450 I bought a 2018 Made-in-Mexico (MIM) Tele, Fiesta Red. It was before any of the specific models in the video, in the lower price-tier for Fender. I'm not much for the colour but it reminded me of a previous MIM Strat which I loved so much, and I'm delighted with it.
@@michaeleaster1815 Very nice man. I 'need' a Tele but i'm still on the fence. My reissue '59 es-335 is my jam but a tele is still calling me. The Player Plus Nashville almost caught me lol.
@@jameswhite1450 Btw, the video mentions "Player II replaces Player I which replaced Mexican Standard". So Player II is the closest... re: Player Plus Nashville. just try one out and see if it works for you! I watch these videos all the time, but as you know, we have to play them (and then all pre-judgement changes... LOL)
Been doing loads of research looking for my first Tele. From Fender to Non-fender “T-style” guitars and keep coming back to the JV Tele in Blonde or the MIJ ‘62 in either Firemist Gold or Candy Apple Red. This video has been incredibly helpful.
The JV would be a great choice and the neck feels fantastic! If you want a Tele, make it a Fender Tele. Other companies much do T-style guitars, and they might be fantastic guitars in their own right, but it's still not a real Telecaster!
@@longandmcquade I’ve got a Harley Benton TE52. Smacks any midrange Fender out the park that I’ve played. €168.00. + about €100 in a few modifications.
Back in the spring of 2000, I bought a '99 MIM standard Telecaster burst/maple at the local guitar shop as a new bedroom hobby object. Today this same guitar remains my only Telecaster and it is now a somewhat seasoned and battered vandalized creature used for performing. Years ago a bone nut went on as well as a Hot Rails in the bridge. A few other odd and end pieces got replaced along the way and the wiring has been altered a bit. If this is the only Telecaster I ever own I've been richly blessed. The tones of this guitar still make my hair stand on end to this day...
I have a '72 Deluxe with the two humbuckers, bought it new back in the day. It has been a great guitar and really versatile, it will do rock, jazz or country without any issues. It's modern resale value seems a lot less than a Strat of the same year, but I never intend to sell it, so that is irrelevant.
Bought a 2011 Road Worn 50's butterscotch Tele used, great 5 screw Black Guard pick guard, cavities were all copper shielded, original reliced 7.25 radius neck switched for a 9.5 radius heel truss neck that's amber aged and not reliced... ca.2004 '52 AVRI Tele pickups, Callaham compensated brass saddles, reliced bridge with side notched pan (old school mod), all upgraded electronics to US vintage spec with modern wiring with treble bleed... Rolled the neck edges and tightened up the fret ends... Has all the '52 and '53 characteristics that are just right, definitely a great guitar...
I have the 1963 american vintage ii in surf green. It is the best guitar I have ever played and been my number one axe since I got it. Teles are awesome, cannot go wrong with any of them!
I really liked what you said about signature guitars. Get the guitar that speaks to you. Most people aren’t going to care (or even know) what guitar you play. Those few people who disagree with your guitar choice, don’t worry about them.
Well, you have a choice of an american, Nashville, split pots, fancy paint, rosewood fretboard, player 1, player2,player3, vintera, fat neck slim neck,62 reissue, 64 reissue, every reissue from now till then,flat head, Phillips head( no upside down headstock) just go play one and. Get the one you like...
I bought a 52 AVRI Hot Rod years ago (now discontinued, I believe) which has some modern elements to it like a mini humbucker in the neck and 9.5" radius. I love that guitar, it's my #1.
Thank you for very thorough and revealing reviews. You cut right to the chase, and your playing examples are spot on for illustrating the tonal differences of each guitar. The problem is, now I want to buy four or five teles! Well done, sir!
Great video man thank you! I ended up getting the American Professional II Model in Butterscotch Blonde. I just immediately realized how musician friendly the Telecaster is and its versatility after playing it for awhile! 🎸🎶
I recently got a Tele after not having one for many years - I didn't realize how bad I missed it until I started playing one again. Learn the controls, and not just crank it all up - one of the most versatile guitars ever! Mess with the pickup height, too - a Tele will teach you a LOT. So fun to play! I love guitars with humbuckers, and I have a Strat, but my Tele has become my "go-to" guitar since I got it.
What a great comparison! Thank you so much. I have an American Standard, and an Ultra. It was really cool to finally see a very good rundown of the differences between the series.
@@littleblindberme That's the purpose of the entire video! 😅 The differences are neck profiles, fingerboard radiuses, body/neck/fingerboard woods, pickups, electronics, hardware, "vintage correctness", etc.
My Performer first version with treble bleed and combo A2/A5 magnets is wonderful for country. I spend alot of time strumming at reduced volume which cleans up beautifully, yet preserves the clear sparkle. Turning up the volume puts me in great shape for solos and chunking rhythms. It's a gigging machine (Winchester Road band)
I bought a Fender American Telecaster Ultra in Arctic Pearl and it's the best Fender I've played or owned. Will get an Ultra Luxe next tho! GREAT video and demo of all the models!
I love Telecasters, I purchased an American Pro back some years and it was kinda heavy and of course had no body carves obviously. I learned how to paint using nitro and ordered me a custom body and neck via Warmoth and equipped it with very good quality hardware and electronics. The body has both carves and also a heal carve as well at the higher up frets. It has become my favorite player and since then I’ve done the same with a few Strats and another Tele as well. If you’re handy I recommend looking into that route as well ( especially if you like to tinker and swap stuff ).
I find the Squier Telecaster Classic Vibe 50's better than the Player series. I can't believe how good that guitar is, it punches well above it's weight class
Ur knowledge is Brilliant brother!! I’ve been a dedicated Tele player for 22 years n I knew only a third of the information u explained. Incredibly informative, as well as the way u’ve stated it all in a perfectly coherent way makes U the ultimate instructor of musical terms. I hope ur a teacher as well as a layman of Fender historical accounts, ur the kind of guy who really makes me want to improve my play along with my general telecaster understanding. Thanks brother, also u should be doing podcasts about guitar history if ur not! I was hooked on every synapse that came out of ur mouth. Really really good!
I love my three telecasters and I’m very particular about what I play and I play more based on sale and tone over brand names or offshore or whatever but I really appreciate your videos. Thanks.
I was late to the telecaster Always had Strats and 335s , and thought of the telecaster as being a lesser guitar , Then had the New guitar itch 😀 plus some spare money Then saw a video on the pro 11 tele Brought a pro 11 rosewood And WOW It’s now my No1 I find what ever sound you want, The tele takes you there Mellow Jazzy , hard Rocky , Bluesy ect ect ect . What a guitar
Followed the pro tip. Got the Ultra Luxe Floyd rose Telecaster on Black Friday with a 20% discount because the retailer has to push the Ultra II. For someone who never played a tele and came from super strata, what surprised me is the sound. Don’t know if it’s the pickups with the Floyd rose bridge but it’s brighter than my humbucker equipped guitars (which are all active pickups). It’s brighter and more punchy than my Ibanez Prestige AZ. It does punch through a mid because there’s a high end clarity there.
thanks for putting this together ... veryyyyy valuable ! you've saved me countless hours of series specific surfing to determine the differences and cull the herd !
This is a nice video. But now I’ll go ahead and tell you what you need to do. It’s what I did. I didn’t plan on doing this. It just kind of worked out. There was a guy selling a 40th anniversary fender Squier telecaster vintage. He wanted to sell it right away, so I went over. We worked out a deal. I got it for a great price. I took it home and the first thing I noticed was how incredible the neck was. I mean, this is a nicest neck on a telecaster I’ve ever played. This is my third telecaster by the way. After playing it for a little bit, I realized I’m never probably gonna play my made in Mexico standard fender telecaster. So I sold it. You can find these 40th Anniversary Squier telecasters from anywhere from $250-$600. Obviously you don’t want to spend $600 but they are up on reverb for that and I think there’s a good reason for that they’re incredible like I said I have the vintage model. OK now for the downside to this the neck pick up is muddy. I read about this and then I experienced it myself. Easy fix and I’ve done this before. Guitar badness madness, not badness sells neck pick ups for telecast. I think I paid 15 bucks for it. They’re amazing. So I swap that out the next thing I did was put those compensating saddles on it, the brass ones from Wilkerson (WTB 10.8mm Brass). Another 15 bucks or so. Now I have a Squier that to my mind and my ear and how it feels plays better than mid range telecaster. For a lot less money. Enjoy.
@@treeman47 Right! And, something that was omitted from this video is the discussion of pine bodies, outside of Justin's comparison of pine to basswood in terms of weight and sustain. Justin says that Telecasters are generally made out of ash or alder wood bodies, but the American Professional II Teles in Natrual, Butterscotch Blonde and Sienna Burst all have roasted pine bodies.
@@treeman47sorry are you experienced player? Have you ever tried the player series or American? I'm asking you because many people say that squire cv 50s , is almost as good as fender (except the hardware) Do you agree with that? It's confusing and I'm semi beginner 😮
That CS Rosewood Tele you shared with us for ‘dessert’ is absolutely killer, some lucky person will be over the moon with that one I’m sure!!!! Rosewood is one of the prettiest wood species imo, if not the nicest. Love it man.
The 19090-1993 Tele Plus is the most versatile all rounder they have ever made. Johnny Greenwood version. There hard to find and have gone crazy in price. The early seventies thinline is a great model. Richie Kotzen signature model is fantastic.
Great vid. Regarding the Brad Paisley signature Tele it might have been worth mentioning that the finish is nitro cellulose with a 'checked' finish, and there is also a Esquire variant in black sparkle finish with the Brad Paisley designed hidden neck pickup. I've got one and they are great.
I have the Vintera 2 MIM Tele. 7.25 radius Fiesta Red. The only thing I don’t like are the ridges along the sides with the 3 brass saddles. The ridges on the bridge plate makes strumming hard ifyou have big hands., I wish there was a flat bridge that doesn’t beat up your hand. I love the tone though. I have an off brand Strat that I just had two Almico 5 humbuckers put in the bridge and neck with a double ceramic magnet single coil in the middle and it sounds really good. I gave my granddaughter a LesPaul Special 2 Epiphone with 2 soapbar P90s.
Bought a Warmoth body and got a WD Music neck with bone nut and SSt frets polished up. Got a Dimarzio bridge pickup. Saving up for an original cunife neck pickup. Sounds great.
This was a pleasure to watch! Excellent presentation and information. You answered more questions than I knew I had. LOL! Well done and respects, man. Thank you!
I always appreciate your intelligence and in depth reaction s . Love the history behind the Telecaster, I've purchased the 1972?? Telecaster with the wide range Humbucker in the neck and single coil in the bridge. It's FANTASTIC , But maybe for Christmas I'm considering the more traditional Butterscotch Telecaster with the lipstick pickup, in the neck . And the black pick guard. My 70s has the sweeping pick guard and the more LP Switch and 2 tone & 2 volume setup. So im interested in the 1 Vol and 1 tone and 3 way switch configurations. Great job as always.
Thanks Billy, much appreciated! Yes the '70s Tele Custom is a great guitar, but the traditional '50s Butterscotch Tele would be a great addition to your collection!
I took your advice ( sorta ) I found the Fender M I M , Player 2 Series in Aquatone blue. Perhaps not as bright of pickup s as the 50s Butterscotch blonde by Squier? But a fantastic dark Rosewood fretboard and rolled edges , satin finish on the neck, plays and feels great @ 7 lbs 15 oz.
Thanks! We're seeing a lot of positive response to these types of videos so we'll definitely keep them up. Squier versions will be coming in the future!
I picked up an AVii , 63 Mahogany body ( Crimson Red Transparent) from the Burlington Store. Plays and sounds incredible. Totally nails the Steve Cropper Soul Man thing through my Victoria Ivy League 5F10. Love it!
28:30 Only if left as is with present-day common string gauges. Some of the coolest learning experiences over the years have been seeing how Tele players have coaxed improved intonation out of the existing three saddles without resorting to a six saddle configuration. There is also quite a bit of talk and theory about one string per height screw vs. one string over two height screws. For me, it's the individual guitar as a whole that makes the choice. My three brass saddle FSR Tele is one I really like, then was very happily surprised by a G&L Tribute six saddle ASAT, having never previously enjoyed any of the six saddle Teles I've had. 🤷♂️ We've just gotta try them out and find the Magic.
I watched/listened to this whole thing while I was setting up my new Strat-now I want to run back to the guitar store and get one of these Teles 😅 such a quality, comprehensive video
For my Tele's I end d up going with an ASAT deluxe and an ASAT Bluesboy. G&L all the way. When it comes to getting a fender I'm buying from the mans final vision of what he wanted a guitar to be. I've got 5 G&Ls at this point and will likely gain a few more over the coming years.
What a great video by a knowledgeable player with great auditory skills you can literally absorb in one go what Telecasters are. from this. Having said that .... Tune the freeking guitars before the demo man your killin me! lol.
Probably on the clean demos. They showed two pedals at the beginning, a Tube Screamer and a (clearly broken 🤣) Boss tuner. The DR appears to be set at 5.5, and if you're used to digital or solid state amps, a DR on 5.5 in a small room is properly loud, well above bedroom volume. The TS appears to be dialed up for both dirt and boost, so some of the distortion is coming from the amp and some from the pedal, when it's clicked on. It would sound less distorted in person, because that's just how it is recording distortion. If you know how loud an average drum set is, that setup dialed in that way would hold its own against most drummers.
That's buying/swapping and trading for the last 48 years' down to 29 now. 5 or 6 is enough to get by on playing but according to what style/genre of music a person really only needs 2' one as a backup.
I recently bought a 50's Roadworn Telecaster in metallic purple "Danish Pete's" guitar, and I absolutely love it! Nitro finish and relic'd... Nicest neck Ive ever felt in my life! Im waiting for my Lollar's to come in to install. Ive owned an American Vintage 52 Hotrod Telecaster, and I much prefer this Roadworn Tele by a long shot! Closest thing to a custom shop in my opinion! 🔥👌🏻
Right! We think it's a great resource and there's lots of info here to digest, so it might take a few watches to take it all in. Like a good movie, sometimes you'll pick up on things that went over your head the first time!
Hey awesome video, i loved all the teles put i think i like the 1951 AV II the best. I was going to ask im thinking of building a telecaster with fenders mod shop and im a real lover of warm rich tones, i was going to have an all rosewood neck on it but i was thinking of finding pickups that would add to that tone. Do you have any recommendations?
Hey, thanks for this video! Best on Teles I have ever seen! Quick question - around 58:48 the mention about Ultras going away/discontinued... do we mean the usual 2025 models with different colors and specs will replace the models played demoed here? Or Fender's killing the Ultra / Ultra Luxe line altogether? If the line is going away...Hopefully Fender realizes Floyd Rose on a tele isn't exactly a hot-seller idea... nor is the mint green (with matching headstock) non-Floyd option. If they take what they did with the Player line and apply that approach to the high end...keep what's good and add more of it. I bet a lot of people would love to see what playing stainless steel frets or the compound fretboard are all about. But not when the choices are ugly or uglier... The 2024 non-Luxe Ultras at least have some tasteful options like the Texas Tea finish or Arctic Pearl. They'll probably change in 2025 if the line is still around, but that's to be expected and will make those 2024 finishes more desirable especially if exclusive to that year. Thanks again for the vid !
So far, the Ultra II has replaced the Ultra, but it remains to be seen if the Ultra Luxe II is coming soon or if they're just going to discontinue the Luxe versions. The new Ultra II line looks 🔥🔥🔥so we hope the Luxe sticks around and gets the same treatment.
@@longandmcquade I just checked them out last night! It's really cool to see Fender continue to innovate on such a timeless and iconic design - while ensuring the original spec classics are still an option. The ebony fretboard options on the Ultra IIs are a nice surprise! As well as the Tusq nuts, improved pickups and glow in the dark side dots ! Sets the bar pretty high for what the Ultra Luxe II could be. If nothing else I hope Fender retains the stainless steel frets somewhere in the lines as an option. Thanks again for the great video :)
I was regular at the L&M in the late 70’s and 80’s WILSON Keele STORE. Bought several guitars there and rented PA systems regularly. I remember BIll the guy who worked there.
The American Professional II Tele Deluxe has V-Mod II Double Tap humbuckers. They are not the same Wide-Range humbuckers that we see on the Vintera series or the American Vintage. True WRHB pickups, as found on the Vintera and American Vintage, have a larger housing than standard humbuckers. The Double Taps found on the American Performer and American Professional have the same size casing as regular humbuckers. However, the AM Pro II Double Taps are not the exact same as found on the SH version of the Performer either, as Justin stated. The Double Tap humbuckers found on the Performer have all pole pieces in a straight line, whereas the Double Taps on the Am Pro II Tele Deluxe have 3 pole pieces towards the neck and 3 towards the bridge, which makes them closer to a WRHB visually, but still functions more like a splittable humbucker. The V-Mod II Double Tap humbuckers is a good middle ground. For clarity: Vintera II Tele Deluxe: Vintage-Style Wide-Range Humbucking American Performer SH Tele: American Performer Double Tap Humbucking American Professional II Tele Deluxe: V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking American Vintage II Tele Deluxe: Authentic CuNiFe Wide-Range Humbucking
@@romanticegotist1 You're welcome, glad we could clarify it for you. If you're looking for true Wide Range humbuckers that are overwound and in the larger casing, you'd be looking at either the Vintera II or the American Vintage II. There's a $2000 spread between those models, so the decision would largely be dictated by budget.
I know it's discontinued, but I wish you could've gotten your hands on a Fender Classic Player Triple Telecaster, a limited-edition, Custom Shop designed Tele with 3 Custom Shop Nocaster pickups and a 5-way switcher. All black, with a maple fretboard. It's a '50s style axe like no other.
So, I should get the telecaster
I am also going to get the telecaster. Out of all of the options displayed, I liked the Tele the most.
No thats not a good idea, I think the tele would be better😂
Have you thought about trying a telecaster though?
Do yourself a favor and just get a tele😊 that's what I did...
You guys are way off on this!! You MUST get the Tele 😂
One of the best guitar reviewers I have seen. Sincere and friendly. Nice work. You have a rare skill. Before I watched this I was thinking that it goes for a while (1:24). After I started watching, I didn't want it to stop and was thinking I wish it went longer.
Thank you so much!
Your playing does what is intended, introduce, and explain in a comprehensive easy to understand video. NO show off, but simple open and barre chords, that show determination to inform, not play so much. Most videos have shredders showing off, with info on the guitar secondary. PLAY ON MAESTRO! You give the total picture, great, incredible video.I thank you, especially for the beginers!
Thanks Frank! We try our best to be informative and not try to "show off" with the playing in any of our videos, and demonstrate what the average guitarist would be playing on guitars like these. The education and presentation comes first with us.
I literally searched for this exact video yesterday! This is like perfect timing !! Cheers
We were still putting the finishing touches on it 😝
Can anyone tell me what song he is playing when he is plays the Sage Green Player 2 model ? Sounds a lot like Joe Walsh / James Gang stuff.
Just bought the Player II Series Tele from your Vancouver Store last month. Put a Torshell pickguard on it and it's one of the most beautiful things I've owned. Plus, your service and user experience is top notch!!
Road Worn models are my favorites! Justin does a great job of presenting telecasters in all their simplistic beauty!
Great feeling and looking guitars! Justin touches on the Road Worn guitars when discussing the Brad Paisley signature model.
You are a fantastic presenter. Thanks a bunch!
Thanks for watching Regie!
Just bought a lefty Squier Affinity Tele, string thru body made in China in butterscotch blonde. Everybody says the stock pickups suck but I think they are fine for a starter guitar, good quality for the price. I play mine into a Marshall DSL1CR and it sounds great.
Just bought one for my son.
It’s great.
Same here i have the sunburst, put new strings on sounds and plays great.
I bought a Fender MIM Tele at Long & McQuade in Ch'town, PEI during Covid, and it honestly changed me as a player. I've gone from a shredder wannabe to a decent chicken-pickin' outlaw. It is so much fun! Great video...
which did you buy?
@@jameswhite1450 I bought a 2018 Made-in-Mexico (MIM) Tele, Fiesta Red. It was before any of the specific models in the video, in the lower price-tier for Fender. I'm not much for the colour but it reminded me of a previous MIM Strat which I loved so much, and I'm delighted with it.
@@michaeleaster1815 Very nice man. I 'need' a Tele but i'm still on the fence. My reissue '59 es-335 is my jam but a tele is still calling me. The Player Plus Nashville almost caught me lol.
@@jameswhite1450 Btw, the video mentions "Player II replaces Player I which replaced Mexican Standard". So Player II is the closest... re: Player Plus Nashville. just try one out and see if it works for you! I watch these videos all the time, but as you know, we have to play them (and then all pre-judgement changes... LOL)
Nice job 5 star
Fender should try to hire Justin. He gave a great explanation of each series. The Fender web site isn't half as good.
We'll fight them if they try to steal Justin away from us!! 😵
(but seriously though sometimes our employees move on to Fender or other manufacturers/distributors and we're always happy for them)
🎵🎶🎵🎯👍
really nice mate!!! great video!!
Thank you!!
One of the best videos on TH-cam comparing the different telecasters. Well done!
Thanks!
Been doing loads of research looking for my first Tele. From Fender to Non-fender “T-style” guitars and keep coming back to the JV Tele in Blonde or the MIJ ‘62 in either Firemist Gold or Candy Apple Red. This video has been incredibly helpful.
The JV would be a great choice and the neck feels fantastic! If you want a Tele, make it a Fender Tele. Other companies much do T-style guitars, and they might be fantastic guitars in their own right, but it's still not a real Telecaster!
@@longandmcquade
I’ve got a Harley Benton TE52.
Smacks any midrange Fender out the park that I’ve played.
€168.00. + about €100 in a few modifications.
I’ve been dying to see this video since I saw the Strat one. Thank you for this series!
Back in the spring of 2000, I bought a '99 MIM standard Telecaster burst/maple at the local guitar shop as a new bedroom hobby object. Today this same guitar remains my only Telecaster and it is now a somewhat seasoned and battered vandalized creature used for performing. Years ago a bone nut went on as well as a Hot Rails in the bridge. A few other odd and end pieces got replaced along the way and the wiring has been altered a bit. If this is the only Telecaster I ever own I've been richly blessed. The tones of this guitar still make my hair stand on end to this day...
Great video. Loved the Custard Pie on the Green Player II.
Kudos for picking that up!
I have a '72 Deluxe with the two humbuckers, bought it new back in the day. It has been a great guitar and really versatile, it will do rock, jazz or country without any issues. It's modern resale value seems a lot less than a Strat of the same year, but I never intend to sell it, so that is irrelevant.
Bought a 2011 Road Worn 50's butterscotch Tele used, great 5 screw Black Guard pick guard, cavities were all copper shielded, original reliced 7.25 radius neck switched for a 9.5 radius heel truss neck that's amber aged and not reliced... ca.2004 '52 AVRI Tele pickups, Callaham compensated brass saddles, reliced bridge with side notched pan (old school mod), all upgraded electronics to US vintage spec with modern wiring with treble bleed... Rolled the neck edges and tightened up the fret ends... Has all the '52 and '53 characteristics that are just right, definitely a great guitar...
As we understand it the American Fenders are "Mexican" made as well 😉😎
I have the 1963 american vintage ii in surf green. It is the best guitar I have ever played and been my number one axe since I got it. Teles are awesome, cannot go wrong with any of them!
I really liked what you said about signature guitars. Get the guitar that speaks to you. Most people aren’t going to care (or even know) what guitar you play. Those few people who disagree with your guitar choice, don’t worry about them.
Finally an easy to understand breakdown of the telecaster models. I was lost before this.
We're glad to have been able to show you the way! 😊
Well, you have a choice of an american, Nashville, split pots, fancy paint, rosewood fretboard, player 1, player2,player3, vintera, fat neck slim neck,62 reissue, 64 reissue, every reissue from now till then,flat head, Phillips head( no upside down headstock) just go play one and. Get the one you like...
I bought a 52 AVRI Hot Rod years ago (now discontinued, I believe) which has some modern elements to it like a mini humbucker in the neck and 9.5" radius. I love that guitar, it's my #1.
I got a p bass version of it and it is a lifer. Wish Fender would bring it back on avii series🎉
Thank you for very thorough and revealing reviews. You cut right to the chase, and your playing examples are spot on for illustrating the tonal differences of each guitar. The problem is, now I want to buy four or five teles! Well done, sir!
I just sold an Americam Original 50's and went back to a mexican tele with gold foil pickups. The MIM ones are amazing and the price is unbeatable
Such a great overview. Thanks for the effort in putting this together!
Thanks very much and thanks for watching! 😁
Great video man thank you! I ended up getting the American Professional II Model in Butterscotch Blonde. I just immediately realized how musician friendly the Telecaster is and its versatility after playing it for awhile! 🎸🎶
Thanks and you're welcome! Congrats on the Am Pro II, it's a fantastic guitar!
I've always been a Les Paul man. I picked up the Player Plus Tele. I love it. Only one I liked (other than the Ultra). Never liked playing Strats.
I recently got a Tele after not having one for many years - I didn't realize how bad I missed it until I started playing one again. Learn the controls, and not just crank it all up - one of the most versatile guitars ever! Mess with the pickup height, too - a Tele will teach you a LOT. So fun to play! I love guitars with humbuckers, and I have a Strat, but my Tele has become my "go-to" guitar since I got it.
The best review I´ve ever seen about teles. Great Job! Kudos for that Maiden song 57:12
🤘🤘
What a great comparison! Thank you so much. I have an American Standard, and an Ultra. It was really cool to finally see a very good rundown of the differences between the series.
Could you explain some main difference?
@@littleblindberme That's the purpose of the entire video! 😅 The differences are neck profiles, fingerboard radiuses, body/neck/fingerboard woods, pickups, electronics, hardware, "vintage correctness", etc.
My Performer first version with treble bleed and combo A2/A5 magnets is wonderful for country. I spend alot of time strumming at reduced volume which cleans up beautifully, yet preserves the clear sparkle. Turning up the volume puts me in great shape for solos and chunking rhythms. It's a gigging machine (Winchester Road band)
The treble bleed is a great mod! We're glad to hear you're making good use of it.
I bought a Fender American Telecaster Ultra in Arctic Pearl and it's the best Fender I've played or owned. Will get an Ultra Luxe next tho! GREAT video and demo of all the models!
I love Telecasters, I purchased an American Pro back some years and it was kinda heavy and of course had no body carves obviously. I learned how to paint using nitro and ordered me a custom body and neck via Warmoth and equipped it with very good quality hardware and electronics. The body has both carves and also a heal carve as well at the higher up frets. It has become my favorite player and since then I’ve done the same with a few Strats and another Tele as well. If you’re handy I recommend looking into that route as well ( especially if you like to tinker and swap stuff ).
PS ~ I enjoy your channel and you really do some very well organized breakdowns on guitars, much appreciated man 🤙
You couldn’t be clearer than that ! Thank you for this video.
If he were any clearer, he'd be totally invisible. 🤪
Awesome video. Awesome work! RIP Mr. Long.
Thank you 🙏
I find the Squier Telecaster Classic Vibe 50's better than the Player series. I can't believe how good that guitar is, it punches well above it's weight class
I have the vintera 70s tele. These guitars are seriously slept on. That is the most versatile guitar on the market right now.
Ur knowledge is Brilliant brother!! I’ve been a dedicated Tele player for 22 years n I knew only a third of the information u explained. Incredibly informative, as well as the way u’ve stated it all in a perfectly coherent way makes U the ultimate instructor of musical terms. I hope ur a teacher as well as a layman of Fender historical accounts, ur the kind of guy who really makes me want to improve my play along with my general telecaster understanding. Thanks brother, also u should be doing podcasts about guitar history if ur not! I was hooked on every synapse that came out of ur mouth. Really really good!
Very kind words Brad, thank you so much!
I love my three telecasters and I’m very particular about what I play and I play more based on sale and tone over brand names or offshore or whatever but I really appreciate your videos. Thanks.
I was late to the telecaster
Always had Strats and 335s , and thought of the telecaster as being a lesser guitar ,
Then had the New guitar itch 😀 plus some spare money
Then saw a video on the pro 11 tele
Brought a pro 11 rosewood
And WOW
It’s now my No1
I find what ever sound you want,
The tele takes you there
Mellow Jazzy , hard Rocky , Bluesy ect ect ect .
What a guitar
Followed the pro tip. Got the Ultra Luxe Floyd rose Telecaster on Black Friday with a 20% discount because the retailer has to push the Ultra II. For someone who never played a tele and came from super strata, what surprised me is the sound. Don’t know if it’s the pickups with the Floyd rose bridge but it’s brighter than my humbucker equipped guitars (which are all active pickups). It’s brighter and more punchy than my Ibanez Prestige AZ. It does punch through a mid because there’s a high end clarity there.
The Performer, and before that the Special, line are some really nice instruments. The Sunburst is beautiful & very functional….
this video is awesome - great content, thanks! thumbs up from Japan
thanks for putting this together ... veryyyyy valuable ! you've saved me countless hours of series specific surfing to determine the differences and cull the herd !
Excellent drive through the tele range ! Thank you so much because it is a world in itself….
You're welcome!
Awesome vid. I think the Nashville tele is the most interesting!
Absolutely immense guitar, love mine
I can't say enough good things about the Player Plus Nashville tele - does everything and sounds awesome
Agreed!
The video I didn't wanted but the video I needed. 🎉
This is a nice video. But now I’ll go ahead and tell you what you need to do. It’s what I did. I didn’t plan on doing this. It just kind of worked out. There was a guy selling a 40th anniversary fender Squier telecaster vintage. He wanted to sell it right away, so I went over. We worked out a deal. I got it for a great price. I took it home and the first thing I noticed was how incredible the neck was. I mean, this is a nicest neck on a telecaster I’ve ever played. This is my third telecaster by the way. After playing it for a little bit, I realized I’m never probably gonna play my made in Mexico standard fender telecaster. So I sold it. You can find these 40th Anniversary Squier telecasters from anywhere from $250-$600. Obviously you don’t want to spend $600 but they are up on reverb for that and I think there’s a good reason for that they’re incredible like I said I have the vintage model. OK now for the downside to this the neck pick up is muddy. I read about this and then I experienced it myself. Easy fix and I’ve done this before. Guitar badness madness, not badness sells neck pick ups for telecast. I think I paid 15 bucks for it. They’re amazing. So I swap that out the next thing I did was put those compensating saddles on it, the brass ones from Wilkerson (WTB 10.8mm Brass). Another 15 bucks or so. Now I have a Squier that to my mind and my ear and how it feels plays better than mid range telecaster. For a lot less money. Enjoy.
just bought a professional II in butterscotch. wow! great neck and tone. Selling my strat to get a better amp
Great choice, the ICONIC Tele looks but with modern amenities with the professional guitarist in mind.
Im always a fan of the classic vibe 50's, that pine body really changed my world
Great guitar for the money and we'll tackle it in a separate Squier video
@@longandmcquade Very good guitar for the money tbh, also not enough people talk about the sustain from pine bodies
@@treeman47 Right! And, something that was omitted from this video is the discussion of pine bodies, outside of Justin's comparison of pine to basswood in terms of weight and sustain. Justin says that Telecasters are generally made out of ash or alder wood bodies, but the American Professional II Teles in Natrual, Butterscotch Blonde and Sienna Burst all have roasted pine bodies.
I built my own pine body Telecaster and it's vicious sounding. It even sounds good and loud acoustically.
@@treeman47sorry are you experienced player?
Have you ever tried the player series or American?
I'm asking you because many people say that squire cv 50s , is almost as good as fender (except the hardware)
Do you agree with that?
It's confusing and I'm semi beginner 😮
Best breakdown I have ever heard! Thanks!
Thanks!!!
That rosewood thinline is to die for. 🧡
That CS Rosewood Tele you shared with us for ‘dessert’ is absolutely killer, some lucky person will be over the moon with that one I’m sure!!!! Rosewood is one of the prettiest wood species imo, if not the nicest. Love it man.
I just had mine stolen the other day 😢
The 19090-1993 Tele Plus is the most versatile all rounder they have ever made. Johnny Greenwood version. There hard to find and have gone crazy in price. The early seventies thinline is a great model. Richie Kotzen signature model is fantastic.
The Kotzen is so sick! I wish I could justify dropping the $
Great video 😍🎸
Thanks, this one was a beast to produce!
Which model telecaster was being shown around 1:30? Love the shade of butterscotch it has.
That's the American Vintage II 1951 Tele, it does look awesome!
Great vid. Regarding the Brad Paisley signature Tele it might have been worth mentioning that the finish is nitro cellulose with a 'checked' finish, and there is also a Esquire variant in black sparkle finish with the Brad Paisley designed hidden neck pickup. I've got one and they are great.
Great video, like always!
This video is perfect since I'm about to buy a Tele soon. Thx for this video!
Awesome, thanks! Let us know what you end up picking!
Love these videos. Probably the best telecaster comparison video ever. You are the best of the best.
Thanks so much!!!
I have the Vintera 2 MIM Tele. 7.25 radius Fiesta Red. The only thing I don’t like are the ridges along the sides with the 3 brass saddles. The ridges on the bridge plate makes strumming hard ifyou have big hands., I wish there was a flat bridge that doesn’t beat up your hand. I love the tone though. I have an off brand Strat that I just had two Almico 5 humbuckers put in the bridge and neck with a double ceramic magnet single coil in the middle and it sounds really good. I gave my granddaughter a LesPaul Special 2 Epiphone with 2 soapbar P90s.
Bought a Warmoth body and got a WD Music neck with bone nut and SSt frets polished up. Got a Dimarzio bridge pickup. Saving up for an original cunife neck pickup. Sounds great.
This was a pleasure to watch! Excellent presentation and information. You answered more questions than I knew I had. LOL! Well done and respects, man. Thank you!
Thanks very much for watching and we're glad we were able to help!
I always appreciate your intelligence and in depth reaction s . Love the history behind the Telecaster, I've purchased the 1972?? Telecaster with the wide range Humbucker in the neck and single coil in the bridge. It's FANTASTIC , But maybe for Christmas I'm considering the more traditional Butterscotch Telecaster with the lipstick pickup, in the neck . And the black pick guard. My 70s has the sweeping pick guard and the more LP Switch and 2 tone & 2 volume setup. So im interested in the 1 Vol and 1 tone and 3 way switch configurations. Great job as always.
Thanks Billy, much appreciated! Yes the '70s Tele Custom is a great guitar, but the traditional '50s Butterscotch Tele would be a great addition to your collection!
@longandmcquade I saw one the other day @ Guitar center. The subdued Butterscotch blonde in pictures really is a MUCH BETTER VISUAL in person.
I took your advice ( sorta ) I found the Fender M I M , Player 2 Series in Aquatone blue. Perhaps not as bright of pickup s as the 50s Butterscotch blonde by Squier? But a fantastic dark Rosewood fretboard and rolled edges , satin finish on the neck, plays and feels great @ 7 lbs 15 oz.
lol I clicked thinking this was the Warmoth channel, you guys kinda look similar lol. Great video!
This is the most informative video I've watched, and the title is excellent! I would love to see a Squier Strat or Tele version of this video
Thanks! We're seeing a lot of positive response to these types of videos so we'll definitely keep them up. Squier versions will be coming in the future!
I picked up an AVii , 63 Mahogany body ( Crimson Red Transparent) from the Burlington Store. Plays and sounds incredible. Totally nails the Steve Cropper Soul Man thing through my Victoria Ivy League 5F10. Love it!
Great video, great knowledge of all telecaster range to help choose right tele for you, best so far
Thanks Gary!
This is so well presented. This guy rocks!
28:30
Only if left as is with present-day common string gauges. Some of the coolest learning experiences over the years have been seeing how Tele players have coaxed improved intonation out of the existing three saddles without resorting to a six saddle configuration.
There is also quite a bit of talk and theory about one string per height screw vs. one string over two height screws.
For me, it's the individual guitar as a whole that makes the choice.
My three brass saddle FSR Tele is one I really like, then was very happily surprised by a G&L Tribute six saddle ASAT, having never previously enjoyed any of the six saddle Teles I've had.
🤷♂️ We've just gotta try them out and find the Magic.
Thanks for this in depth review 🙏🏻
Glad it was helpful!
I watched/listened to this whole thing while I was setting up my new Strat-now I want to run back to the guitar store and get one of these Teles 😅 such a quality, comprehensive video
That's exactly what you should do! Then, you should watch our Strat vs Strat video while setting up your new Tele. 🤣
For my Tele's I end d up going with an ASAT deluxe and an ASAT Bluesboy. G&L all the way. When it comes to getting a fender I'm buying from the mans final vision of what he wanted a guitar to be. I've got 5 G&Ls at this point and will likely gain a few more over the coming years.
Great video! Thank you for sharing
Well , that clears that up ! Mibbee it's my old damaged ears , but I'm buggered if I can tell them apart!
Thank you for the comprehensive overview.
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
I do really love the way you explain things!
Dude you rock. What did you play at 1:05:22? I want to learn that!
what about american deluxe tele?maybe i missed it. gorgeous guitar i also have a squire 2014 and a player 1 2022. love them all
Check 53:31, it's one of our favourites!
Im happy with the vintera 50s mod surf green, got twang, got snarl, almost a strat neck tone + out of phase honk for jump blues. Love it!
That's a cool one and we didn't cover the Vintera Modified models in this video.
What a great video by a knowledgeable player with great auditory skills you can literally absorb in one go what Telecasters are. from this. Having said that .... Tune the freeking guitars before the demo man your killin me! lol.
Damn that intro 🔥
WOW! that was well done!…but now I want one of each.
Great tone!! Is it a really just a Deluxe Reverb?
Probably on the clean demos. They showed two pedals at the beginning, a Tube Screamer and a (clearly broken 🤣) Boss tuner. The DR appears to be set at 5.5, and if you're used to digital or solid state amps, a DR on 5.5 in a small room is properly loud, well above bedroom volume. The TS appears to be dialed up for both dirt and boost, so some of the distortion is coming from the amp and some from the pedal, when it's clicked on. It would sound less distorted in person, because that's just how it is recording distortion. If you know how loud an average drum set is, that setup dialed in that way would hold its own against most drummers.
Really helpful knowledge is guitar power!😎
Baja tele' you can still find them used' outta my 31 teles the Baja is the one that beats them all including the American ones.
The Roadworn series is what replaced the Baja series. Exact replacements, and I absolutely love mine! Metallic purple 50's Roadworn Telecaster 🔥👌🏻
31?
You might want to talk to a therapist about that.
That's buying/swapping and trading for the last 48 years' down to 29 now.
5 or 6 is enough to get by on playing but according to what style/genre of music a person really only needs 2' one as a backup.
Great video. I thoughrly enjoyed it. I stayed right to the end.
Thanks a lot Barry!
I recently bought a 50's Roadworn Telecaster in metallic purple "Danish Pete's" guitar, and I absolutely love it! Nitro finish and relic'd... Nicest neck Ive ever felt in my life! Im waiting for my Lollar's to come in to install. Ive owned an American Vintage 52 Hotrod Telecaster, and I much prefer this Roadworn Tele by a long shot! Closest thing to a custom shop in my opinion! 🔥👌🏻
We're big fans of the Road Worn series, and Danish Pete!
This was excellent and so helpful. I'll probably rewatch it a couple times.
Right! We think it's a great resource and there's lots of info here to digest, so it might take a few watches to take it all in. Like a good movie, sometimes you'll pick up on things that went over your head the first time!
Great overview. Thank you.
Hey awesome video, i loved all the teles put i think i like the 1951 AV II the best. I was going to ask im thinking of building a telecaster with fenders mod shop and im a real lover of warm rich tones, i was going to have an all rosewood neck on it but i was thinking of finding pickups that would add to that tone. Do you have any recommendations?
Love the video! Thanks.
Do you have one of these on the Jaguar, or could you do one, please?
Hey, thanks for this video! Best on Teles I have ever seen! Quick question - around 58:48 the mention about Ultras going away/discontinued... do we mean the usual 2025 models with different colors and specs will replace the models played demoed here? Or Fender's killing the Ultra / Ultra Luxe line altogether? If the line is going away...Hopefully Fender realizes Floyd Rose on a tele isn't exactly a hot-seller idea... nor is the mint green (with matching headstock) non-Floyd option. If they take what they did with the Player line and apply that approach to the high end...keep what's good and add more of it. I bet a lot of people would love to see what playing stainless steel frets or the compound fretboard are all about. But not when the choices are ugly or uglier... The 2024 non-Luxe Ultras at least have some tasteful options like the Texas Tea finish or Arctic Pearl. They'll probably change in 2025 if the line is still around, but that's to be expected and will make those 2024 finishes more desirable especially if exclusive to that year. Thanks again for the vid !
So far, the Ultra II has replaced the Ultra, but it remains to be seen if the Ultra Luxe II is coming soon or if they're just going to discontinue the Luxe versions. The new Ultra II line looks 🔥🔥🔥so we hope the Luxe sticks around and gets the same treatment.
@@longandmcquade I just checked them out last night! It's really cool to see Fender continue to innovate on such a timeless and iconic design - while ensuring the original spec classics are still an option. The ebony fretboard options on the Ultra IIs are a nice surprise! As well as the Tusq nuts, improved pickups and glow in the dark side dots ! Sets the bar pretty high for what the Ultra Luxe II could be. If nothing else I hope Fender retains the stainless steel frets somewhere in the lines as an option. Thanks again for the great video :)
I was regular at the L&M in the late 70’s and 80’s WILSON Keele STORE. Bought several guitars there and rented PA systems regularly. I remember BIll the guy who worked there.
great video but one quibble: the am pro II tele deluxe has the wide range humbuckers, not the double-tap, though you can split them.
The American Professional II Tele Deluxe has V-Mod II Double Tap humbuckers. They are not the same Wide-Range humbuckers that we see on the Vintera series or the American Vintage. True WRHB pickups, as found on the Vintera and American Vintage, have a larger housing than standard humbuckers. The Double Taps found on the American Performer and American Professional have the same size casing as regular humbuckers. However, the AM Pro II Double Taps are not the exact same as found on the SH version of the Performer either, as Justin stated. The Double Tap humbuckers found on the Performer have all pole pieces in a straight line, whereas the Double Taps on the Am Pro II Tele Deluxe have 3 pole pieces towards the neck and 3 towards the bridge, which makes them closer to a WRHB visually, but still functions more like a splittable humbucker. The V-Mod II Double Tap humbuckers is a good middle ground.
For clarity:
Vintera II Tele Deluxe: Vintage-Style Wide-Range Humbucking
American Performer SH Tele: American Performer Double Tap Humbucking
American Professional II Tele Deluxe: V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking
American Vintage II Tele Deluxe: Authentic CuNiFe Wide-Range Humbucking
@@longandmcquade thanks for correcting! I was interested in the APII because i thought they were wide-range, ha.
@@romanticegotist1 You're welcome, glad we could clarify it for you. If you're looking for true Wide Range humbuckers that are overwound and in the larger casing, you'd be looking at either the Vintera II or the American Vintage II. There's a $2000 spread between those models, so the decision would largely be dictated by budget.
I know it's discontinued, but I wish you could've gotten your hands on a Fender Classic Player Triple Telecaster, a limited-edition, Custom Shop designed Tele with 3 Custom Shop Nocaster pickups and a 5-way switcher. All black, with a maple fretboard. It's a '50s style axe like no other.
Bought a Squier Classic Vibe ‘50s about 6 months ago. Awesome guitar for the price.
Definitely! We want to tackle the Squier lineup in a similar fashion sometime soon.
The Telecaster is all you need. I love mine. It just fits me like nothing else.
I’ve got a MIM tele. Great instrument for the working musician.