⬇ TABLE OF CONTENTS ⬇ 00:00 - My Favorite Mistake (Neck PU) 00:48 - Introducing the Fender Ultra II Tele 01:23 - Disclosure 01:56 - Amps & Pedals Used 02:48 - What I LIKE # 1 03:45 - God Don’t Make Lonely Girls (Bridge PU) 04:30 - What I LIKE # 2 05:38 - Harder To Breathe (Bridge PU) 06:30 - What I LIKE # 3 07:08 - Noiseless vs. Vintage Telecaster Pickups 07:44 - What I LIKE # 4 07:53 - Cissy Strut (Middle PU) 08:20 - What I LIKE About The Guitar Pt. 5 09:40 - Stand By Me (Neck PU) 10:28 - What I DO NOT Like # 1 12:04 - I Wanna Be Your Lover (Middle PU) 12:44 - What I DO NOT Like # 2 13:44 - My Girl (Neck PU) 14:28 - Is it IMPOSSIBLE to Improve Upon a Classic Design? 14:50 - What I DO NOT Like # 3 15:55 - Mud On The Tires (Bridge PU) 16:30 - Other Notable Features 17:23 - Final Thoughts & Analysis 19:28 - Thanks for Watching 19:35 - Glory Days (Bridge PU)
I remember buying my American Standard Tele in like 2010 or 2011. It was at a Marshall Music in the nearest city to rural me. I was a shy, nervous, antisocial 16 year old, but I had saved up enough money to get my first really nice guitar. I nervously told the old guy I wanted to buy the tele and I asked him if they took checks. He looked at me suspiciously and said "We take good ones." Shout out to him for trusting that my check was good for it lol. It's still my number one guitar 15 years later.
@@martianmurray Although I will say, we do still have some of the actual GOOD parts of 1950s culture around me as well, albeit fleeting alongside the ever-fleeting incentives 😔
Good timing on this video. I bought the previous Ultra at Sweetwater for $1,650 and I couldn't pass it up. It arrives tomorrow. Even my wife agreed that I needed to act on this good deal so it was a win win!😃
Telecasters are in essence the greatest guitar ever made , they have everything you need and nothing you don’t , i am fortunate to own a verity of tele’s ranging from 58 custom shop limited edition , an original 1967, a 52 custom shop , a 1962 vintage series tele custom double bound and a custom built not fender but tel style and each one works and sound great , it’s taken me a lifetime to build my collection ,trying different guitars over many years i have come to realise that it takes time and patience to find the right guitar so what sound great for one person doesn’t always sound great for others, so it comes down to personal choice . Great review .
I bought an Ultra 1 awhile back from Sweetwater. My first blind guitar purchase and I’ve been picking all my life, I’m 52. The guitar is awesome. Yeh it’s not quite 50s,60s. But it’s really close. I bought a demo because it weighed 7.7 lbs and the new ones were way over. Sweetwater is awesome in regards to weights and pointing out flaws on demos or open box. No I am not an affiliate, just a very satisfied customer. And it had to be Texas tea, the rest of the colors other than the burst are a bit over the top. This review is very honest and on point as to what to expect out of the ultra lineup. Mine is def in my top 5 guitars I own right now and I’ve accumulated a few over recent decades. Cheers! Sorry I had to edit,+1 for the nitro finish @ Fender
I was browsing at my local GC last year and happened to see the Tele Ultra I in Texas Tea color and got a chance to play it. It astounded me in looks and quality and so I picked it up. I'm loving the guitar. Thanks for sharing brother.
I used to hate modern style guitars, until the Ultra series. I’m playing guitar for about 10 years now, and thankfully was inspired by people who love the heritage of vintage instruments and music. My main guitars for a long time where Gibson Les Paul Traditional with chunky 50’s neck and AVRI thin skin 62’ strat. I also have Vintera Road Worn Tele. Last year I tried ULTRA Strat and immediately bought it instead of AVRI. To all who love AVRI and other vintage inspire models I want to say, that I understand why you love it, but the attention to details that Fender did for comfortable playing and their take on “noiseless” is really good. I’m playing in big church and all sound guys are still talking that this guitar sits in a mix way better than all of my other instruments. So my plan to this year to change my Tele to ULTRA II. Thanks for the review, love that you liked it from your perspective and experience of playing a lot of professional and vintage high quality staff.
Honestly, always been one of those rarer Stratocaster folks that rarely vibes with a tele, but from what I have seen and heard thus far, the newest generation of noiseless pups sound pretty damn good. They’ve come a long long way
Great comments. I bought an AVRI 62 custom Tele in 2011 for almost half of this and love it, but I did add the Ilitch noise canceling pickguard - it's a great upgrade that lets you keep the tone of the vintage pickups without the hum. Appreciate the good and the bad side of it.
I find that they do add something mostly because they’re adding more coil, however, I’ve seen people effectively have custom pickup makers wind their pickups slightly underwhelmed to compensate.
@@nedward5871 the ilitch system is secretly used by many many Strat players. It’s going to have a subtle effect on your tone sure, but you still keep a lot of the things that people love about vintage single coils. However, for us folks who also like to play extremely loud at times or with gobs of gain, something has to be done cause it gets far too unmanageable. Likewise, us folks who are heavily reliant on dynamics and phrasing loathe noise gates, even the best ones are too intrusive and imho only work best with high gain rigs (in the case of the super low tuned prog stuff, the gate is actually part of that “Djent” sound). A system like the ilitch and SCII imho still beats the sound of even the best noiseless pups, but nothings like the raw sound of a true vintage single coil.
Great breakdown, especially comparing to 2nd hand custom shop and vintage examples. No one really makes that comparison in the other videos I have seen. It really puts into perspective what you can get already out there at a similar price point. Some of the changes you mentioned like bridge, saddles, knobs, and S1 switch are exactly what I would do, so you should just toss that thing my way and I can take care of them for you.
I finally got a tele when i picked up a 2022 player series and noticed it had regular saddles. I instantly took it home and consider myself a tele guy now, and i prefer to my strat for single coil tones
I preferred American Vintage II 1951 black pickguard butterscotch blonde over these modernized Teles. It's been a month and I cannot get enough of it. All aspects including pat. pending text on the ashtray bridge even though the patent is over 70 years old 😄, vintage brass bridge barrels and vintage tuners, flat head screws, single ply pickguard, just like as you would get from a dealer if you were in 1951, color, the tactile feeling of nitro finish and even the smell of nitro finish makes me pick it up and just forget about time playing. All in all it's all subjective when in comes to what makes us get inspired and makes us want to pick up the instrument 🎸 😀
I think they're great guitars...but I find you have to play them in as they can be a bit sticky out of the box and the vintage specs in terms of radius and fret size can be difficult for me.
I was never a tele guy until I got a tele with Fender Noiseless pickups in it. Now I can’t say whether I’d take a Les Paul or a Tele to my desert island. But I lean towards the tele because it’s so versatile for all genres. Oh and I have the Gotoh bridge as well and coming from playing Les Paul’s it helps to not have the edges. Better palm usage.
This is a great tele video with some good insight into this particular guitar and the different mix of teles. The demo song excerpts were a great mix of some basic cleaner sounds. I have a MIM blonde buttersotch ash deluxe special edition, with a reversed control plate, and it's a great guitar with pretty good tone. However, I'm always looking for that special tele tone. Checking out the used custom shop is a great tip, for which my wallet will eventually be a bit lighter. Oof.
Agree on the nitro, colour choices, weight and that a good used custom shop should be considered. Also, shame there's not the choice of maple or ebony necks which can be mixed with any of the body colours.
p.s. really cool to see companies looking for honest, public feedback rather than just promotion. clearly this guitar is going to appeal to some and not to others. from various sources I've read, seen or heard Leo spent a lot of time before, during and after the development of the telecaster with guitar players getting feedback to validate or iterate on the design. i'm glad at a certain point Fender just stopped and created a whole new guitar, the strat of course, rather than losing the tele to tons of design revisions. These ultras are quite a departure from the classics but I appreciate the strive for continued refinement in playability and ergonomics as well as reliability (i'm assuming that bridge is heartier than the original, and that locking tuners stay in tune better, but i don't know from experience.) i like the additional tonal options with the electronics. and the latest noiseless pickups sound good to me, although i don't know how much they differ from stacked humbuckers. noise interferance can be really bad in some situations. aesthetically, i do wish fender would do whatever it takes - patent a safe way to incorporate nitro - so that it could be an option rather than the plastic finish that doesn't age or take dings well. as for colors, the avalanche (white) and texas tea (black) look nice but the red and neon green are too garish for me. the ultraburst looks like it has a gold filter over the whole thing. nodding to high-end car design colors isn't a good reason to use those colors, imo. apologies for the long comment! back to my first comment (glad fender are still looking for honest feedback) - i wonder if or how much pre-production feedback they get or solicit? the right finishes could be what seals the deal for some. I think the Player II series hit a homerun in the color dept. still would be better with nitro...
I have a 2003 deluxe Tele with S1 switch. Compound radius neck, 22 frets, heel and belly carve. Binding on the body, sunburst finish. It's my #1 for gigs.
@VertexEffectsInc I bought it new from Bananas at Large in San Rafael. I still remember going in there looking for a completely different 🎸. The guy just handed it to me and said this is the one you want. The S1 switch is my secret weapon. It's like those Teles with a neck HB.
Mason, I am super impressed with your review and the insights ranging from likes to dislikes. All well laid out as valid considerations. I also complement your choice of amps to demo a guitar through. They gave the best possible representation to hear a fender guitar ..through a Fender amp. That's as classic as possible. Lastly, I had an Ultra Luxe for a while an tried upgrading to see if I could make it Custom shop level. Tried Fralin Blues specials and Lollars. Also swapped the bridge to a Glendale that fit the modern holes but with brass saddles. It made the guitar more classic. But honestly, my custom shop 63 Heavy relic was still way better.
Thanks for the kind words. There are elements that are just "baked in" to some guitars that no matter what you do you can't improve beyond a certain point where it financially makes sense. I think the Custom Shop, if you can find a good one, can be really special guitars.
Thank you so much for the review - have been curious about these - as well as awesome playing and tasteful choice of amps, supporting effects and riffs. The intro piece ('my favorite mistake") sounds better than than I remember the original - are you mic'ing the amps or something like the torpedo captor or ox? thanks again
I have an ISO cab under my house with mics on the cabinet. The Princeton has an Alessandro 10" and the Deluxe had a Celestion Alnico Gold 12". Both cabs were open back.
I appreciate the fair analysis on these! I played a Meteora going in thinking I’d hate it but I loved it! It sounded great and played great too. I’d say leave the vintage tele at home/studio and take the Ultra II to gigs. After all they’re just musical tools in the end. :)
The modern Tele bridge is on Brent Masons and Reggie Youngs and Steve Warners Teles and Glaser bender Teles. And that's a ton of hits right there. And of course, Keith's Micawber with its brass 5 saddles. Also, Andy Summers Iconic tele that played all those Police hits has a brass modern bridge as well. Today most put compensated three saddles on anyway. Yes, there is a thing about two strings sharing a saddle but unless you can play like Red Volkart nobody will ever notice. Excellent honest review. Thank you.
I like how FMIC is going across tiers with the same finish - I thought for a second, from thumbnail, that it was another WHOHOO 99 BUCK FANDOR SKWAR video, but the ultras are worth looking into. Thanks for the demo, and not going with the herd.
I don’t know why U Tube presenters, music shops/people who demonstrate guitars/luthiers in their presentations, do not state the action height at the 12th fret in mm or whatever when they are reviewing/assessing. This defines neck comfort and playability. The neck is the heart of the guitar. Usually every specification but this one is recorded. It is easily the most important spec. Why? Because it is the guitars invitation for you to pick it up, play it, keep playing it and eventually buy it. A guitar with a low fast action will sell much faster than one you can drive a train under believe me! Making an action higher is much more simpler than lowering which may involve fretwork, bridge work, nut filing, truss rod adjustment etc etc…and it can prove to be very expensive. For this reason, guitars should be factory set-up at the lowest action possible without fret rattle-but they won't do it. No:- well one or two do. I realise many like a high action-good! Hello Stevie! Now the get out of jail answer will be 'People have different tastes regarding this spec and adjust it accordingly'. Raising it though is less of a problem than lowering it. I have had 2 brand new Fenders that have had to go straight to a luthier they were so unplayable when delivered.
Hi Mason, my NU-X MLD pre-amp/DI (75ohm output XLR) or Laney Digbeth (660ohms) does not state what the jacksocket out to amp & cab impedence is...should i use a seperate Bonafide Buffer after my pre-amp DI pedal on the jacksocket output to amp & cab ?....thank you...Sweatwater says XLR DI's are not balanced or low impedence ?!?!?! yes they are if using the XLR output, wow.... an answer would be nice, i've asked 6 times bud ...lol
Great video! I tried this guitar at a local shop and tested two different ones. On both guitars, I noticed a gap between the frets and the fretboard, and the edges of the frets were scraping my fingers- poor quality control, perhaps? Additionally, I found the pickups to sound pretty weak, when compared to the ones on the pro II series. These two factors were deal-breakers for me. I found the fretwork on the Professional II series Telecaster to be incomparably better.
Good video, Mason. No stainless steel frets on a modern marketed guitar at this price point is kind of rough. Not far off of a Suhr, etc. Do you feel like the Tele is lacking something by not having an Ash body option?
Great sounding Tele. I like my Tele’s vintage spec’d with all the nuances, quirks and inconsistencies tone wise that they bring. To me, that’s what a Tele is about. You have to find one that you connect with and coax your sound out of it, which means potential modifications. These modern versions are not my cup of tea, but I don’t mind the efforts to be innovative and add some modern specifications.
I prefer and own only vintage style Tele's with a few upgrades to fret size and radius, but otherwise original. This was a surprise and I don't tend to like these types of guitars.
@@VertexEffectsIncnah bro I’ve noticed you’re playing stepping up lately at least some the Seal video but off memory serves me right out was before that too, key doing your thing Mason we’re here for it
I've always liked the thought of owning a PRS. They are nicely finished, look good, have good electronics & pickups. However, after finally playing one, an SE Custom, I didn't like the C-shaped neck with the 7.5" radius. Also similarly with a limited edition (of 45) PRS acoustic, I didn't like the neck profile. In comparison, a Taylor acoustic (414ce-R Electro Acoustic) that I played was fantastic. I'm primarily a bassist, who plays guitar, so used to much bigger necks with varying profiles. I have a 2000 Strat and a nice Yamaha acoustic so could have grown into the PRS's but initially didn't like the C profile & 7.5" radius combination.
Being on the manufacturing side myself, I know that there are always unknowns to the consumer that might make the price at market seem out-of-touch. Typically, the price something that is heavily scrutinized with any brand and the biggest factor being human labor in factoring that in. I wouldn't be surprised if the margins on this guitar are as small as they might be for any other instrument given the price or labor in California, and just the price increases in every industry across the board. That would make since about being $4-500 less when you consider 30% inflation on many parts and the cost of things generally. I'm not saying that people should pay it, as I pointed out the Custom Shop guitars can be had a marginally more and will be better guitars, however I think that's more of a factor of economics and the available cash that folks have out there for discretionary spending on $3,000 guitars. I don't think Fender is gouging us, I think that's really what it costs for them to sell it at market, giving dealers 30-50 off the MSRP and having to build in all the other stuff that goes into making a guitar from payroll, to R&D, to insurance, worker's comp, utilities, leases, etc.
@@VertexEffectsInc Politely completely disagree. Not about your outlay of costs, although I'd point out FMIC has sunk a LOT of cost into brand positioning not to mention their relationship with GC. But simply (as you pointed out in the video), I can get guitars that are comparable in terms of finish, specs, etc., for less. I'm a lifelong Fender stan, and have worked with guitars and guitarists for a very, very long time. I just don't think their value proposition is competitive in multiple product lines. YMMV.
@@danhedonia it's not perfect, but I think to the point I'm making about a self-correcting marketplace (and maybe not larger political implications), it holds true. If people don't buy stuff, companies change. The wallets are some of our most persuasive political tools.
I recently bought an Ultra 1 which is prettier than the new ones in my opinion (and cheaper) with binding and Cobra blue super cool color. My gripe with the Ultras is 1) cmon bro the neck isnt even quarter sawn on the first gen one!? 😮 2) where the heck are the stainless steel frets on a guitar that calls itself ULTRA and 3) frankly, i think my mexican player plus Nashville one sounds better and is more versatile (both have same new strings), has all the same features pretty much and is HALF the price!!! 😂 I also agree I don't care for noiseless pickups, id rather have standard or EMG active ones if we're talking super modern stuff
Quartersawn can be it's own issue, I generally prefer rock maple as it can still be manipulated. It can be difficult to deal with a bow and get it out if the neck isn't malleable with the truss rod. That's not to say they're all like that, but I've always found, and been told by some of my favorite builders that a non-figured, rock maple (not quatersawn) is the best neck for a Strat/Tele - and I tend to agree. I personally, don't like SS Frets, I think they sound bizarre to me and feel unnatural (that's just me). The example I have here (and that's all I can speak to) is a great guitar. I'm sure there is a range of quality as there is with any mass produced guitar. It could be that you got a great MIM Tele and a not so good USA Tele, or maybe you got a more representative version of both. No way to know I guess???
Those noiseless can sound like single coils when you swap the volume pot for a brighter 1-Meg as I'm experiencing with them in my MIM Strat... sweet modern tones!
I recently purchased a Seafoam Green Fender Telecaster and i absolutely love her ! No Regrets Whatsoever ! now if fender could possibly send me twin reverb to review I would happily give my honest opinion. Killer paint job btw !
Isn’t every Fender guitar a “slab” (solid body) with a bolt-on neck? Why does it make it a Squire just because it maintains the same building blocks as every Fender in history?
@@VertexEffectsInc- I can't tell from their website, but it would be a shame if they stopped making the Ultra Luxes. I really think, too, that they should use SS frets on the whole Ultra lineup.
Teles are the greatest guitars ever made. Not perfect but that’s their charm. Great stability and the versatility is almost unmatched. I just wish fender would add stainless steel fret wire on their ultra line. Once you play SS frets it’s hard to go back. I would rather see that option over nitro finish as I really don’t see the benefit other than personal preference for ascetic appeal and aging.
@@cookie1054Nitro would be the final touch on the Ultra lineup, but their Polyurethane is so much more durable and better for buffed finishes. I think after Vertex's video on the sound difference between Poly vs Nitro, it's also a sonic preference. Poly is nice for clear/natural finishes for sure. There are so many great guitars. And, I agree in this day and age there's little reason not to put SS fret wire on even mid-range guitars. I think it should become ubiquitous.
If anyone buys a guitar, without first playing it or an example of one, then they deserve what they get if it's a dog to play. I've always played any guitar I've bought, first. You need to feel the neck & the ergonomics in your hands. I can always get the sound I want so aren't too particular on the pickups, pots & preamp (if it has one). Playability is the start & finish on my choice of guitar.
You mentioned the belly cut but, unless I missed something, I didn't hear anything about the Strat- type arm cut. Particularly surprising and ironic as your hand was resting over that the entire time! Anyway, both features that are pluses I don't think detract from its otherwise Tele goodness. I know they have every now and then in the past, various MIJs etc, but I wish they would introduce those as regular or optional features on some more affordable models, like a "Player II Modified." Yeah, I know - "just get a Strat." I got a Strat and have had a Tele, just would appreciate those aspects on a Tele as well.
Not sure I could part with that much cash with all the used/clone teles available. I do have a MIM that I love, put in a Seymour Duncan broadcaster bridge pu and a 4-way switch, I'm good for life.
@VertexEffectsInc Great review, we all just have our price points. I lean acoustic and could easily see spending 4k for my next one. With electrics you're definitely paying more for the brand, personally I couldn't ever go over 1k unless it was just a great flip or investment.
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Fender dump the anodized pick guard. I have an ultra love it but had to change that guard was too cold.
12:09 - middle pickup? Yeah, I know what you really meant. No SS frets make this a no go for me, but maybe that’s just me. And according to the interwebs, those pickups are stacked so they’re really humbuckers to get the “noiseless” label.
Yes, middle pickup. You can have stacked pickups without being humbuckers by not using the second coil as part of the pickup and only for the hum cancelling. Many companies have done this for years and gets oversimplified as a humbucker. Did it sound like a humbucker here? Sure sounded like a Tele to me.
@@A_A_ron-Phillips I think that it's not technically "wrong" I think just a slight misrepresentation of the technology to simplify it for a non-technical audience.
$2k ish? Cough cough. Nice amenities though in all fairness. Have to wonder a bit if any half decent tele wouldn't sound good through that particular rig? Along with that, how many players wouldn't sound so much better by putting in more practice hours vs trying to buy their way into better playing? But where's the fun in that?! Great review as always!
Wood absolutely makes a diff in the sound. The finish, and I'm speaking as someone who knows, has zero effect. Nitro looks cool and ages nice (if you want that to happen), but I can tell you 100%, blindfolded, you will never hear a thing.
@VertexEffectsInc Apologies, I had strong moment of general disgust for prices I've got a Fender and a Squire, I can't believe the same design is creeping up to that price now. What's more is that's probably a "low" price point all things considered. I mean, I've watched Josh's video and understand what all goes into these products. It's just a lot of money.
Great except for the price It’s two pieces of wood cut by CNC some magnets and pots… a £800 to £1 grand max as a working instrument … because Sire because G&L particularly for belly cuts and rounded heels But this great guitar but bulls**t name snobbery does not justify more than a grand ever. I’m 61 have owned vintage and played many used, and many south East Asian and the latter are often fantastic instruments without gouging wallet. Two planks of wood baby… G&L is more Fender after all 😅
I bought a G&L Tele and sent it back. I really didn’t like the pickups but maybe I just used to the humbuckers that are in these. Yes, if you pop these open they’re stacked p’ups and all the Teles and Strats with the Generation 1 - 5 (samarium colbalt) noiseless pickups in them are really humbuckers.
Being on the manufacturing side, I understand there's more to it than that. I can't speak to Fender's costs because neither of us know. However, I do know, that like us, they're providing dealers a 30-50% off the retail price for their margins and have many costs from payroll, to worker's comp, leases, utilities, R&D, etc. That all goes into consideration for the cost. Furthermore, things are more expensive now than they've ever been from parts and materials to labor. Being that they're made in USA and in California, it's about the most expensive labor you can buy. I'm not saying that it's right, just what's so. The market is pretty self-correcting, and if there isn't a market for a $2000 Telecaster, Fender will pivot. I've yet to come across a Sire or G&L that's below this price point that's better than this, but I have a Custom Shop G&L that's incredible and one of my BEST guitars, but I think those go for $3500 (or more).
Sounds like you listen to one clip and not the eight that are on the video. If you’re familiar with that song, you’d understand that it’s designed to hit the part.
@ True enough. It is frustrating to buy a new $2200 guitar and know all the electronics will need to be replaced to make it sound like it’s supposed to. Suddenly it’s a $2600 guitar and when you move on you will take a big financial hit on the thing.
So Springsteen, Brent Mason, Keef, Reggie Young...all non-Tele players? I get where you're coming from (and name this in the video), but dude! Really!?
@VertexEffectsInc The original 3 saddle bridge does drastically alter the tone, which is what I mean. I'm not knocking anybody who owns a modern telecaster. Hell, I own a MIM 72 Thinline Teley reissue, and I love it, but it is nothing like a telecaster with a 3 saddle bridge and original style of pickups. Even having brass saddles or steel saddles makes a difference. And, I'm not even being as much of a purist as I could be about telecasters, lol. I could also say it isn't a really telecaster if it doesn't have the 7.25 fretboard radius, too, but I know that would just get people worked up even more.
@@nachyomoney3598 I think the saddles themselves have more to do with the sound than the bridge. Swapping Glendale saddles of different metals from Steel to Brass will have an impact, sure. But it's still gonna sound like a Tele and does based on the examples I've given. The bridge alone doesn't make the sound of the instrument. I also think that many of these guys had their guitars re-radius'd over time or just a a consequence of a lot of fret jobs. I don't think the radius has anything to do with it.
@CerealDust-nStuff I wouldn't say it is a myth. It is very noticeable in the studio. The amount of treble you need to turn up to get the same twang from a 3 saddle to a 6 is drastic. The 6 saddle does allow you to get better intonation with lighter gauge strings. This would seem to be a myth to the average guy just playing in his basement, but when you get headphones on in a controlled setting in a studio you can see for yourself how much a difference it makes.
$2100 for an american fender telecaster is a rip off. Those noiseless pickups sound very noisy still is not cancelling out the buzzing noises, hum noises, RF interferences, etc. For $2100 plus tax it better be nitro finish, even the road worn guitars went for $799 back in the day and looked someone relic for an affordable price. Vertex better come out with a new tube screamer because pedalpawn just released their new cowboy king TS9 pedal
@@VertexEffectsInc Its very SRV very hot output, what do you think? Check it out click here the new pedalpawn cowboy king pedal, th-cam.com/users/shorts4vwgmCmqAL0
With all due respect, slamming a guitar because it doesn't sound vintage enough is kind of ridiculous. Buy a vintage guitar if that is what you are looking for. Even a vintage guitar or a reissue, people are going to argue about which one sounds more vintage. The last thing I want is another vintage guitar. I wish Fender would drop the word "vintage" from the name for their noiseless pickups. There is nothing vintage with the noiseless pickups. Start calling them Tele Pickups. But I digress. My two cents is that this guitar is like a Swiss knife that can give me a shit load of tones. I don't think Fender was aiming for a vintage sound from this guitar even though it has so called vintage pickups. It can give you a sweet tone and become a monster with a push of a button and with everything else in the middle. I was kind of disappointed you didn't explore the array of the tonal arsenal that is part of this particular Telecaster. And the neck is insanely good. Sonically, the guitar is a major improvement on the Ultra I. Gone is the brittle highs and has been replaced with nicely balanced mids. I am not sold on the gold pick guard and the washed out Fender logo. I do agree with you on the price point. I bought mine new but I waited until it was deeply discounted and got it around 1800. Which still is pretty high. But I have no regrets on the purchase.
@@VertexEffectsInc Maybe, slamming is a strong description. I will use your vernacular, "nitpicky" and confusing with your comparisons. I thought the review was a spot on description of this modern Telecaster and all of its strengths and appointments but lacking in an explanation or example of the S1 switching capabilities. When you began to compare this Telecaster to a custom shop with totally different pickups and body, the review veered off track. The comparison was apple to oranges. Maybe, compare the Ultra II to the last Ultra, professional II or to the previous noiseless pu's. It's obvious these are not vintage pu's. It was confusing when you outlined the modern upgrades and praised them but you keep referring back to the appointments of an older traditional telecaster. I get it, you're a traditionalist. Finishing up your review you start off, well its not a vintage Telecaster guitar but if you like the stuff on this guitar I guess it will work for you but I intend to make a work horse out of the guitar. I think a review more focused on the guitar at hand, which you kind of did, would have been more informative that bringing in a guitar which is nothing like the guitar you are reviewing.
So you’re saying that this didn’t sound like a telecaster? I think your eyes are influencing you more than your ears. I also played a Brad Paisley lick from mud on the tires and not saying that I play as well as Brad Paisley, but it certainly has the essence of a Telecaster
@ Its not my eyes, I didnt say i find the Ultra ugly, the American Ultra is probably the prettiest Tele there is other than the American original 60s (great Tele), but lifeless pickups and the neck is way too thin when you play high notes
⬇ TABLE OF CONTENTS ⬇
00:00 - My Favorite Mistake (Neck PU)
00:48 - Introducing the Fender Ultra II Tele
01:23 - Disclosure
01:56 - Amps & Pedals Used
02:48 - What I LIKE # 1
03:45 - God Don’t Make Lonely Girls (Bridge PU)
04:30 - What I LIKE # 2
05:38 - Harder To Breathe (Bridge PU)
06:30 - What I LIKE # 3
07:08 - Noiseless vs. Vintage Telecaster Pickups
07:44 - What I LIKE # 4
07:53 - Cissy Strut (Middle PU)
08:20 - What I LIKE About The Guitar Pt. 5
09:40 - Stand By Me (Neck PU)
10:28 - What I DO NOT Like # 1
12:04 - I Wanna Be Your Lover (Middle PU)
12:44 - What I DO NOT Like # 2
13:44 - My Girl (Neck PU)
14:28 - Is it IMPOSSIBLE to Improve Upon a Classic Design?
14:50 - What I DO NOT Like # 3
15:55 - Mud On The Tires (Bridge PU)
16:30 - Other Notable Features
17:23 - Final Thoughts & Analysis
19:28 - Thanks for Watching
19:35 - Glory Days (Bridge PU)
I remember buying my American Standard Tele in like 2010 or 2011. It was at a Marshall Music in the nearest city to rural me. I was a shy, nervous, antisocial 16 year old, but I had saved up enough money to get my first really nice guitar. I nervously told the old guy I wanted to buy the tele and I asked him if they took checks. He looked at me suspiciously and said "We take good ones." Shout out to him for trusting that my check was good for it lol. It's still my number one guitar 15 years later.
Heck yeah 👍
Awesome to see another South African here
I’d be suspicious of any one with checks nowadays lol. I think around 2010 was the last time I had a checkbook.
@@martianmurray I'm very very sheltered. I'm still trying to escape the 1950s where I live.
@@martianmurray Although I will say, we do still have some of the actual GOOD parts of 1950s culture around me as well, albeit fleeting alongside the ever-fleeting incentives 😔
Good timing on this video. I bought the previous Ultra at Sweetwater for $1,650 and I couldn't pass it up. It arrives tomorrow. Even my wife agreed that I needed to act on this good deal so it was a win win!😃
Telecasters are in essence the greatest guitar ever made , they have everything you need and nothing you don’t , i am fortunate to own a verity of tele’s ranging from 58 custom shop limited edition , an original 1967, a 52 custom shop , a 1962 vintage series tele custom double bound and a custom built not fender but tel style and each one works and sound great , it’s taken me a lifetime to build my collection ,trying different guitars over many years i have come to realise that it takes time and patience to find the right guitar so what sound great for one person doesn’t always sound great for others, so it comes down to personal choice . Great review .
Wow, thank you!
I bought an Ultra 1 awhile back from Sweetwater. My first blind guitar purchase and I’ve been picking all my life, I’m 52. The guitar is awesome. Yeh it’s not quite 50s,60s. But it’s really close. I bought a demo because it weighed 7.7 lbs and the new ones were way over. Sweetwater is awesome in regards to weights and pointing out flaws on demos or open box. No I am not an affiliate, just a very satisfied customer. And it had to be Texas tea, the rest of the colors other than the burst are a bit over the top. This review is very honest and on point as to what to expect out of the ultra lineup. Mine is def in my top 5 guitars I own right now and I’ve accumulated a few over recent decades. Cheers! Sorry I had to edit,+1 for the nitro finish @ Fender
Nice! Glad you found a good one!
Sounds great, but I have to admit: I am absolutely in love with my MiM Jason Isbell Telecaster
Those are cool guitars!
I was browsing at my local GC last year and happened to see the Tele Ultra I in Texas Tea color and got a chance to play it. It astounded me in looks and quality and so I picked it up. I'm loving the guitar. Thanks for sharing brother.
Very cool!
I used to hate modern style guitars, until the Ultra series.
I’m playing guitar for about 10 years now, and thankfully was inspired by people who love the heritage of vintage instruments and music.
My main guitars for a long time where Gibson Les Paul Traditional with chunky 50’s neck and AVRI thin skin 62’ strat. I also have Vintera Road Worn Tele.
Last year I tried ULTRA Strat and immediately bought it instead of AVRI.
To all who love AVRI and other vintage inspire models I want to say, that I understand why you love it, but the attention to details that Fender did for comfortable playing and their take on “noiseless” is really good.
I’m playing in big church and all sound guys are still talking that this guitar sits in a mix way better than all of my other instruments.
So my plan to this year to change my Tele to ULTRA II.
Thanks for the review, love that you liked it from your perspective and experience of playing a lot of professional and vintage high quality staff.
Thanks for the kind words!
Honestly, always been one of those rarer Stratocaster folks that rarely vibes with a tele, but from what I have seen and heard thus far, the newest generation of noiseless pups sound pretty damn good. They’ve come a long long way
I agree ☝️
Great comments. I bought an AVRI 62 custom Tele in 2011 for almost half of this and love it, but I did add the Ilitch noise canceling pickguard - it's a great upgrade that lets you keep the tone of the vintage pickups without the hum. Appreciate the good and the bad side of it.
I find that they do add something mostly because they’re adding more coil, however, I’ve seen people effectively have custom pickup makers wind their pickups slightly underwhelmed to compensate.
@@nedward5871 the ilitch system is secretly used by many many Strat players. It’s going to have a subtle effect on your tone sure, but you still keep a lot of the things that people love about vintage single coils. However, for us folks who also like to play extremely loud at times or with gobs of gain, something has to be done cause it gets far too unmanageable. Likewise, us folks who are heavily reliant on dynamics and phrasing loathe noise gates, even the best ones are too intrusive and imho only work best with high gain rigs (in the case of the super low tuned prog stuff, the gate is actually part of that “Djent” sound). A system like the ilitch and SCII imho still beats the sound of even the best noiseless pups, but nothings like the raw sound of a true vintage single coil.
Great breakdown, especially comparing to 2nd hand custom shop and vintage examples. No one really makes that comparison in the other videos I have seen. It really puts into perspective what you can get already out there at a similar price point.
Some of the changes you mentioned like bridge, saddles, knobs, and S1 switch are exactly what I would do, so you should just toss that thing my way and I can take care of them for you.
Thanks for watching!
I finally got a tele when i picked up a 2022 player series and noticed it had regular saddles. I instantly took it home and consider myself a tele guy now, and i prefer to my strat for single coil tones
Wow! You are a Tele guy!
Another icon Tele player was Wilko Johnson from Dr Feelgood. Classic Tele sound. Seen them at Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea.
I preferred American Vintage II 1951 black pickguard butterscotch blonde over these modernized Teles. It's been a month and I cannot get enough of it. All aspects including pat. pending text on the ashtray bridge even though the patent is over 70 years old 😄, vintage brass bridge barrels and vintage tuners, flat head screws, single ply pickguard, just like as you would get from a dealer if you were in 1951, color, the tactile feeling of nitro finish and even the smell of nitro finish makes me pick it up and just forget about time playing. All in all it's all subjective when in comes to what makes us get inspired and makes us want to pick up the instrument 🎸 😀
I think they're great guitars...but I find you have to play them in as they can be a bit sticky out of the box and the vintage specs in terms of radius and fret size can be difficult for me.
I was never a tele guy until I got a tele with Fender Noiseless pickups in it. Now I can’t say whether I’d take a Les Paul or a Tele to my desert island. But I lean towards the tele because it’s so versatile for all genres.
Oh and I have the Gotoh bridge as well and coming from playing Les Paul’s it helps to not have the edges. Better palm usage.
Nice 👍
My son has the 50s Vintera Tele with new noiseless pups and I think they sound amazing.
This is a great tele video with some good insight into this particular guitar and the different mix of teles. The demo song excerpts were a great mix of some basic cleaner sounds. I have a MIM blonde buttersotch ash deluxe special edition, with a reversed control plate, and it's a great guitar with pretty good tone. However, I'm always looking for that special tele tone. Checking out the used custom shop is a great tip, for which my wallet will eventually be a bit lighter. Oof.
Glad you liked it!
I played one and it was the best tele ive played in a very long time. I bought it.
Wow, great!
@VertexEffectsInc I do agree the pickups lack some mojo. I may swap the electronics eventually, but the noiseless pickups are practical.
That intro was a jam! And it looks so nice too!
Thank you!!
@@VertexEffectsIncI keep listening to the intro over and over again sorry if it’s stuffing up your metrics. Maybe release it as a short?
Agree on the nitro, colour choices, weight and that a good used custom shop should be considered. Also, shame there's not the choice of maple or ebony necks which can be mixed with any of the body colours.
That's one thing I didn't consider, you're definitely locked-in with the fretboard choices and colors.
p.s. really cool to see companies looking for honest, public feedback rather than just promotion. clearly this guitar is going to appeal to some and not to others. from various sources I've read, seen or heard Leo spent a lot of time before, during and after the development of the telecaster with guitar players getting feedback to validate or iterate on the design. i'm glad at a certain point Fender just stopped and created a whole new guitar, the strat of course, rather than losing the tele to tons of design revisions. These ultras are quite a departure from the classics but I appreciate the strive for continued refinement in playability and ergonomics as well as reliability (i'm assuming that bridge is heartier than the original, and that locking tuners stay in tune better, but i don't know from experience.) i like the additional tonal options with the electronics. and the latest noiseless pickups sound good to me, although i don't know how much they differ from stacked humbuckers. noise interferance can be really bad in some situations. aesthetically, i do wish fender would do whatever it takes - patent a safe way to incorporate nitro - so that it could be an option rather than the plastic finish that doesn't age or take dings well. as for colors, the avalanche (white) and texas tea (black) look nice but the red and neon green are too garish for me. the ultraburst looks like it has a gold filter over the whole thing. nodding to high-end car design colors isn't a good reason to use those colors, imo.
apologies for the long comment! back to my first comment (glad fender are still looking for honest feedback) - i wonder if or how much pre-production feedback they get or solicit? the right finishes could be what seals the deal for some. I think the Player II series hit a homerun in the color dept. still would be better with nitro...
I have a 2003 deluxe Tele with S1 switch. Compound radius neck, 22 frets, heel and belly carve. Binding on the body, sunburst finish. It's my #1 for gigs.
Good pick!
@VertexEffectsInc I bought it new from Bananas at Large in San Rafael. I still remember going in there looking for a completely different 🎸. The guy just handed it to me and said this is the one you want. The S1 switch is my secret weapon. It's like those Teles with a neck HB.
@@JRriffin Great! Right in my neck of the woods!
Phenomenal playing. Loved that prince jam!
🙏🙏🙏
I know it doesn't take much to change it but with all the modern features I can't understand why fender is still using the bat-wing string tree.
Nostalgia
Mason, I am super impressed with your review and the insights ranging from likes to dislikes. All well laid out as valid considerations. I also complement your choice of amps to demo a guitar through. They gave the best possible representation to hear a fender guitar ..through a Fender amp. That's as classic as possible. Lastly, I had an Ultra Luxe for a while an tried upgrading to see if I could make it Custom shop level. Tried Fralin Blues specials and Lollars. Also swapped the bridge to a Glendale that fit the modern holes but with brass saddles. It made the guitar more classic. But honestly, my custom shop 63 Heavy relic was still way better.
Thanks for the kind words. There are elements that are just "baked in" to some guitars that no matter what you do you can't improve beyond a certain point where it financially makes sense. I think the Custom Shop, if you can find a good one, can be really special guitars.
Thank you so much for the review - have been curious about these - as well as awesome playing and tasteful choice of amps, supporting effects and riffs. The intro piece ('my favorite mistake") sounds better than than I remember the original - are you mic'ing the amps or something like the torpedo captor or ox? thanks again
I have an ISO cab under my house with mics on the cabinet. The Princeton has an Alessandro 10" and the Deluxe had a Celestion Alnico Gold 12". Both cabs were open back.
Really enjoying the playing - sounds great!
@@suranperera4620 🙏🙏🙏
I appreciate the fair analysis on these! I played a Meteora going in thinking I’d hate it but I loved it! It sounded great and played great too.
I’d say leave the vintage tele at home/studio and take the Ultra II to gigs. After all they’re just musical tools in the end. :)
Well said
The modern Tele bridge is on Brent Masons and Reggie Youngs and Steve Warners Teles and Glaser bender Teles. And that's a ton of hits right there. And of course, Keith's Micawber with its brass 5 saddles. Also, Andy Summers Iconic tele that played all those Police hits has a brass modern bridge as well. Today most put compensated three saddles on anyway. Yes, there is a thing about two strings sharing a saddle but unless you can play like Red Volkart nobody will ever notice. Excellent honest review. Thank you.
Agreed!
I like how FMIC is going across tiers with the same finish - I thought for a second, from thumbnail, that it was another WHOHOO 99 BUCK FANDOR SKWAR video, but the ultras are worth looking into. Thanks for the demo, and not going with the herd.
Hope you enjoyed it
I don’t know why U Tube presenters, music shops/people who demonstrate guitars/luthiers in their presentations, do not state the action height at the 12th fret in mm or whatever when they are reviewing/assessing. This defines neck comfort and playability. The neck is the heart of the guitar. Usually every specification but this one is recorded. It is easily the most important spec. Why? Because it is the guitars invitation for you to pick it up, play it, keep playing it and eventually buy it. A guitar with a low fast action will sell much faster than one you can drive a train under believe me! Making an action higher is much more simpler than lowering which may involve fretwork, bridge work, nut filing, truss rod adjustment etc etc…and it can prove to be very expensive. For this reason, guitars should be factory set-up at the lowest action possible without fret rattle-but they won't do it. No:- well one or two do. I realise many like a high action-good! Hello Stevie! Now the get out of jail answer will be 'People have different tastes regarding this spec and adjust it accordingly'. Raising it though is less of a problem than lowering it. I have had 2 brand new Fenders that have had to go straight to a luthier they were so unplayable when delivered.
Hi Mason, my NU-X MLD pre-amp/DI (75ohm output XLR) or Laney Digbeth (660ohms) does not state what the jacksocket out to amp & cab impedence is...should i use a seperate Bonafide Buffer after my pre-amp DI pedal on the jacksocket output to amp & cab ?....thank you...Sweatwater says XLR DI's are not balanced or low impedence ?!?!?! yes they are if using the XLR output, wow.... an answer would be nice, i've asked 6 times bud ...lol
Great video!
I tried this guitar at a local shop and tested two different ones. On both guitars, I noticed a gap between the frets and the fretboard, and the edges of the frets were scraping my fingers- poor quality control, perhaps? Additionally, I found the pickups to sound pretty weak, when compared to the ones on the pro II series. These two factors were deal-breakers for me. I found the fretwork on the Professional II series Telecaster to be incomparably better.
All I can speak to was the example in front of me. This one was a great guitar l.
What is the action in mm at the 12th fret PLEASE!!
No idea.
That Sheryl riff 👌🏼 I play it all the time lol.
🔥🔥🔥
Good video, Mason. No stainless steel frets on a modern marketed guitar at this price point is kind of rough. Not far off of a Suhr, etc. Do you feel like the Tele is lacking something by not having an Ash body option?
Great sounding Tele. I like my Tele’s vintage spec’d with all the nuances, quirks and inconsistencies tone wise that they bring. To me, that’s what a Tele is about. You have to find one that you connect with and coax your sound out of it, which means potential modifications. These modern versions are not my cup of tea, but I don’t mind the efforts to be innovative and add some modern specifications.
I prefer and own only vintage style Tele's with a few upgrades to fret size and radius, but otherwise original. This was a surprise and I don't tend to like these types of guitars.
Dang Mason, those recording clips sound fantastic!
It’s all the guitar 🎸
@@VertexEffectsIncnah bro I’ve noticed you’re playing stepping up lately at least some the Seal video but off memory serves me right out was before that too, key doing your thing Mason we’re here for it
@@RobertSaxy🙏🙏🙏
@@VertexEffectsInc dude, the production work is amazing!
Nice playing on the intro!
Wow, thanks!
I've always liked the thought of owning a PRS. They are nicely finished, look good, have good electronics & pickups. However, after finally playing one, an SE Custom, I didn't like the C-shaped neck with the 7.5" radius. Also similarly with a limited edition (of 45) PRS acoustic, I didn't like the neck profile. In comparison, a Taylor acoustic (414ce-R Electro Acoustic) that I played was fantastic. I'm primarily a bassist, who plays guitar, so used to much bigger necks with varying profiles. I have a 2000 Strat and a nice Yamaha acoustic so could have grown into the PRS's but initially didn't like the C profile & 7.5" radius combination.
Sounds great. As a die hard traditional Tele guy, I would never ever consider a Tele like that, no matter the sound. But great review :-)
I consider myself in that camp, and although it might not have been something I’d sought out, I was pleasantly surprised with it
Sounds like a great guitar 🎸🙏
🙏🙏🙏
Couldn't agree more about the price: this entire line is IMO about 4-500 above where it should be.
Being on the manufacturing side myself, I know that there are always unknowns to the consumer that might make the price at market seem out-of-touch. Typically, the price something that is heavily scrutinized with any brand and the biggest factor being human labor in factoring that in. I wouldn't be surprised if the margins on this guitar are as small as they might be for any other instrument given the price or labor in California, and just the price increases in every industry across the board. That would make since about being $4-500 less when you consider 30% inflation on many parts and the cost of things generally. I'm not saying that people should pay it, as I pointed out the Custom Shop guitars can be had a marginally more and will be better guitars, however I think that's more of a factor of economics and the available cash that folks have out there for discretionary spending on $3,000 guitars. I don't think Fender is gouging us, I think that's really what it costs for them to sell it at market, giving dealers 30-50 off the MSRP and having to build in all the other stuff that goes into making a guitar from payroll, to R&D, to insurance, worker's comp, utilities, leases, etc.
@@VertexEffectsInc Politely completely disagree. Not about your outlay of costs, although I'd point out FMIC has sunk a LOT of cost into brand positioning not to mention their relationship with GC.
But simply (as you pointed out in the video), I can get guitars that are comparable in terms of finish, specs, etc., for less.
I'm a lifelong Fender stan, and have worked with guitars and guitarists for a very, very long time. I just don't think their value proposition is competitive in multiple product lines. YMMV.
@@danhedonia The market is self-correcting. If there aren't buyers for this guitar, they'll pivot. Capitalism at work!
@@VertexEffectsInc
Capitalism has been nothing but a colossal failure in terms of living standards and consumer choice.
@@danhedonia it's not perfect, but I think to the point I'm making about a self-correcting marketplace (and maybe not larger political implications), it holds true. If people don't buy stuff, companies change. The wallets are some of our most persuasive political tools.
I recently bought an Ultra 1 which is prettier than the new ones in my opinion (and cheaper) with binding and Cobra blue super cool color. My gripe with the Ultras is 1) cmon bro the neck isnt even quarter sawn on the first gen one!? 😮 2) where the heck are the stainless steel frets on a guitar that calls itself ULTRA and 3) frankly, i think my mexican player plus Nashville one sounds better and is more versatile (both have same new strings), has all the same features pretty much and is HALF the price!!! 😂 I also agree I don't care for noiseless pickups, id rather have standard or EMG active ones if we're talking super modern stuff
Quartersawn can be it's own issue, I generally prefer rock maple as it can still be manipulated. It can be difficult to deal with a bow and get it out if the neck isn't malleable with the truss rod. That's not to say they're all like that, but I've always found, and been told by some of my favorite builders that a non-figured, rock maple (not quatersawn) is the best neck for a Strat/Tele - and I tend to agree. I personally, don't like SS Frets, I think they sound bizarre to me and feel unnatural (that's just me). The example I have here (and that's all I can speak to) is a great guitar. I'm sure there is a range of quality as there is with any mass produced guitar. It could be that you got a great MIM Tele and a not so good USA Tele, or maybe you got a more representative version of both. No way to know I guess???
i dont like noiseless PUs but the neck on that i played one was way better than any les paul in guitar center
Great review ! The slanted switch should be a standard since 1970, c'mon ! I miss seeing a little woodgrain under the burst though...
You and me both!
Those noiseless can sound like single coils when you swap the volume pot for a brighter 1-Meg as I'm experiencing with them in my MIM Strat... sweet modern tones!
I didn't like teles either ..... until I played one. Through a 59 bassman it is the best that I've herd
Those are unreal amps!
I recently purchased a Seafoam Green Fender Telecaster and i absolutely love her ! No Regrets Whatsoever ! now if fender could possibly send me twin reverb to review I would happily give my honest opinion. Killer paint job btw !
I wish I could do the wrap over thumb thing. My hands are too small😢
I like the contours and the ebony fretboard option, but if I’m going to get a telecaster I’m going to want the tradition SS setup, hum be damned.
I didn't know the catchy intro until I looked it up. It made me think of Jeff Lee Pierce
It’s a great riff!
Slab body and bolt on neck = Squire territory. $2K and up should be a dream.
Isn’t every Fender guitar a “slab” (solid body) with a bolt-on neck? Why does it make it a Squire just because it maintains the same building blocks as every Fender in history?
That first tine you played sounded very familiar. Ryan Adams?
Sheryl Crow
@@VertexEffectsInc OMG you are right (of course) My Favorite Mistake. Fuck Ryan Adams.
OMG finally fixed the selector switch!
They did the “GLASER” mod
Great review and playing! I just think that comparing it with vintage specs, color or sounds its unfair, as the Ultras are more modern by design
I think I reviewed it on its own merits
Did we forget about the ACTUAL top-of-the-line production Fender - The Ultra Luxe???
Maybe they're discontinued? I was told by Fender that the Ultra II was their highest end American-made (non-Reissue, non-Custom Shop) instrument.
@@VertexEffectsInc- I can't tell from their website, but it would be a shame if they stopped making the Ultra Luxes. I really think, too, that they should use SS frets on the whole Ultra lineup.
Teles are the greatest guitars ever made. Not perfect but that’s their charm. Great stability and the versatility is almost unmatched. I just wish fender would add stainless steel fret wire on their ultra line. Once you play SS frets it’s hard to go back. I would rather see that option over nitro finish as I really don’t see the benefit other than personal preference for ascetic appeal and aging.
@@cookie1054Nitro would be the final touch on the Ultra lineup, but their Polyurethane is so much more durable and better for buffed finishes. I think after Vertex's video on the sound difference between Poly vs Nitro, it's also a sonic preference. Poly is nice for clear/natural finishes for sure. There are so many great guitars. And, I agree in this day and age there's little reason not to put SS fret wire on even mid-range guitars. I think it should become ubiquitous.
If anyone buys a guitar, without first playing it or an example of one, then they deserve what they get if it's a dog to play. I've always played any guitar I've bought, first. You need to feel the neck & the ergonomics in your hands. I can always get the sound I want so aren't too particular on the pickups, pots & preamp (if it has one). Playability is the start & finish on my choice of guitar.
I haven’t thought about Craigslist in years.
Idk what it is but the tele shape never grew on me and now I'm scared to even pick one up because of this exact reason.
This feels more like a Strat because of the contours
You mentioned the belly cut but, unless I missed something, I didn't hear anything about the Strat- type arm cut. Particularly surprising and ironic as your hand was resting over that the entire time! Anyway, both features that are pluses I don't think detract from its otherwise Tele goodness. I know they have every now and then in the past, various MIJs etc, but I wish they would introduce those as regular or optional features on some more affordable models, like a "Player II Modified." Yeah, I know - "just get a Strat." I got a Strat and have had a Tele, just would appreciate those aspects on a Tele as well.
I think it’ll be comfy for any player. Very ergonomic.
That Guitar Sounds Great and the color is Great
I think so too!
Not sure I could part with that much cash with all the used/clone teles available. I do have a MIM that I love, put in a Seymour Duncan broadcaster bridge pu and a 4-way switch, I'm good for life.
I feel like the options and shortcomings were fairly presented here. I don't know that anything here disagrees with what you've written.
@VertexEffectsInc Great review, we all just have our price points. I lean acoustic and could easily see spending 4k for my next one. With electrics you're definitely paying more for the brand, personally I couldn't ever go over 1k unless it was just a great flip or investment.
Fender dump the anodized pick guard. I have an ultra love it but had to change that guard was too cold.
12:09 - middle pickup? Yeah, I know what you really meant. No SS frets make this a no go for me, but maybe that’s just me. And according to the interwebs, those pickups are stacked so they’re really humbuckers to get the “noiseless” label.
Yes, middle pickup. You can have stacked pickups without being humbuckers by not using the second coil as part of the pickup and only for the hum cancelling. Many companies have done this for years and gets oversimplified as a humbucker. Did it sound like a humbucker here? Sure sounded like a Tele to me.
@ - Then the Reddit forums and Philip McKnight are wrong about that. My bad.
@@A_A_ron-Phillips I think that it's not technically "wrong" I think just a slight misrepresentation of the technology to simplify it for a non-technical audience.
@VertexEffectsInc - Good point. Fantastic video by the way!!
woooo great bro
Thanks for watching!
$2k ish? Cough cough. Nice amenities though in all fairness. Have to wonder a bit if any half decent tele wouldn't sound good through that particular rig? Along with that, how many players wouldn't sound so much better by putting in more practice hours vs trying to buy their way into better playing? But where's the fun in that?!
Great review as always!
There are a few noise gate pedals that will help your old, noisy pups.
Boy I wish that were true. They do more harm than good. I think the only solution that works is good pickups and the Ilitch Noiseless Backplate.
If companies sent me products, and let me keep it. I would say how much I like it. 😂
I also said what I didn't like about it...didn't I?
Wood absolutely makes a diff in the sound. The finish, and I'm speaking as someone who knows, has zero effect. Nitro looks cool and ages nice (if you want that to happen), but I can tell you 100%, blindfolded, you will never hear a thing.
I found that the same guitar refinished sounded different - not necessarily better, but certainly different.
The Ultra 1's were about as good as it gets but they sure didn't look this good.
Love this for a modern version. The gold pickguard is 👌
$2K for the same 50's boat paddle. Noiseless indeed.
Do you have a BOM that shows how to make the guitar for less? Love to see it.
@VertexEffectsInc Apologies, I had strong moment of general disgust for prices I've got a Fender and a Squire, I can't believe the same design is creeping up to that price now. What's more is that's probably a "low" price point all things considered. I mean, I've watched Josh's video and understand what all goes into these products. It's just a lot of money.
Great except for the price
It’s two pieces of wood cut by CNC some magnets and pots… a £800 to £1 grand max as a working instrument … because Sire because G&L particularly for belly cuts and rounded heels
But this great guitar but bulls**t name snobbery does not justify more than a grand ever.
I’m 61 have owned vintage and played many used, and many south East Asian and the latter are often fantastic instruments without gouging wallet.
Two planks of wood baby… G&L is more Fender after all 😅
I bought a G&L Tele and sent it back. I really didn’t like the pickups but maybe I just used to the humbuckers that are in these. Yes, if you pop these open they’re stacked p’ups and all the Teles and Strats with the Generation 1 - 5 (samarium colbalt) noiseless pickups in them are really humbuckers.
Being on the manufacturing side, I understand there's more to it than that. I can't speak to Fender's costs because neither of us know. However, I do know, that like us, they're providing dealers a 30-50% off the retail price for their margins and have many costs from payroll, to worker's comp, leases, utilities, R&D, etc. That all goes into consideration for the cost. Furthermore, things are more expensive now than they've ever been from parts and materials to labor. Being that they're made in USA and in California, it's about the most expensive labor you can buy. I'm not saying that it's right, just what's so. The market is pretty self-correcting, and if there isn't a market for a $2000 Telecaster, Fender will pivot. I've yet to come across a Sire or G&L that's below this price point that's better than this, but I have a Custom Shop G&L that's incredible and one of my BEST guitars, but I think those go for $3500 (or more).
Build your own. Fender will never put as much attention to detail into your guitar as you will.
sound like a guitar amp with great stereo echo.
I think the guitar have a minimal effect on the sound.
Sounds like you listen to one clip and not the eight that are on the video. If you’re familiar with that song, you’d understand that it’s designed to hit the part.
22 frets. Yes.
Pretty standard on all the non-vintage USA Fenders
@ True enough. It is frustrating to buy a new $2200 guitar and know all the electronics will need to be replaced to make it sound like it’s supposed to. Suddenly it’s a $2600 guitar and when you move on you will take a big financial hit on the thing.
@@jhwk1970 well...I think you can get away with this one as-is. The pickups might not be totally vintage, but they still sound like a Tele.
Did he lead off with a Sheryl Crow song? Yep... im out....
Try an EART Tele.
Doesn't appear to be a comparable guitar.
I still dont consider it a real teley if it doesn't have the 3 saddle bridge.
So Springsteen, Brent Mason, Keef, Reggie Young...all non-Tele players? I get where you're coming from (and name this in the video), but dude! Really!?
@VertexEffectsInc The original 3 saddle bridge does drastically alter the tone, which is what I mean. I'm not knocking anybody who owns a modern telecaster. Hell, I own a MIM 72 Thinline Teley reissue, and I love it, but it is nothing like a telecaster with a 3 saddle bridge and original style of pickups. Even having brass saddles or steel saddles makes a difference. And, I'm not even being as much of a purist as I could be about telecasters, lol. I could also say it isn't a really telecaster if it doesn't have the 7.25 fretboard radius, too, but I know that would just get people worked up even more.
@@nachyomoney3598 “Drastically alters the tone…” No it doesn’t. I thought this myth was put to bed by now.
@@nachyomoney3598 I think the saddles themselves have more to do with the sound than the bridge. Swapping Glendale saddles of different metals from Steel to Brass will have an impact, sure. But it's still gonna sound like a Tele and does based on the examples I've given. The bridge alone doesn't make the sound of the instrument. I also think that many of these guys had their guitars re-radius'd over time or just a a consequence of a lot of fret jobs. I don't think the radius has anything to do with it.
@CerealDust-nStuff I wouldn't say it is a myth. It is very noticeable in the studio. The amount of treble you need to turn up to get the same twang from a 3 saddle to a 6 is drastic. The 6 saddle does allow you to get better intonation with lighter gauge strings. This would seem to be a myth to the average guy just playing in his basement, but when you get headphones on in a controlled setting in a studio you can see for yourself how much a difference it makes.
$2100 for an american fender telecaster is a rip off. Those noiseless pickups sound very noisy still is not cancelling out the buzzing noises, hum noises, RF interferences, etc. For $2100 plus tax it better be nitro finish, even the road worn guitars went for $799 back in the day and looked someone relic for an affordable price. Vertex better come out with a new tube screamer because pedalpawn just released their new cowboy king TS9 pedal
Too many TS pedals out there, I can’t add anything that hasn’t already been done.
@@VertexEffectsInc Its very SRV very hot output, what do you think? Check it out click here the new pedalpawn cowboy king pedal, th-cam.com/users/shorts4vwgmCmqAL0
No mention of the forearm cut?
Unforgivable, deleting the video now!
Springsteen is a Fig
I don’t know what that means
so spanky neck pickup ❤
With all due respect, slamming a guitar because it doesn't sound vintage enough is kind of ridiculous. Buy a vintage guitar if that is what you are looking for. Even a vintage guitar or a reissue, people are going to argue about which one sounds more vintage. The last thing I want is another vintage guitar. I wish Fender would drop the word "vintage" from the name for their noiseless pickups. There is nothing vintage with the noiseless pickups. Start calling them Tele Pickups. But I digress. My two cents is that this guitar is like a Swiss knife that can give me a shit load of tones. I don't think Fender was aiming for a vintage sound from this guitar even though it has so called vintage pickups. It can give you a sweet tone and become a monster with a push of a button and with everything else in the middle. I was kind of disappointed you didn't explore the array of the tonal arsenal that is part of this particular Telecaster. And the neck is insanely good. Sonically, the guitar is a major improvement on the Ultra I. Gone is the brittle highs and has been replaced with nicely balanced mids. I am not sold on the gold pick guard and the washed out Fender logo. I do agree with you on the price point. I bought mine new but I waited until it was deeply discounted and got it around 1800. Which still is pretty high. But I have no regrets on the purchase.
Was I slamming this guitar?
@@VertexEffectsInc Maybe, slamming is a strong description. I will use your vernacular, "nitpicky" and confusing with your comparisons. I thought the review was a spot on description of this modern Telecaster and all of its strengths and appointments but lacking in an explanation or example of the S1 switching capabilities. When you began to compare this Telecaster to a custom shop with totally different pickups and body, the review veered off track. The comparison was apple to oranges. Maybe, compare the Ultra II to the last Ultra, professional II or to the previous noiseless pu's. It's obvious these are not vintage pu's. It was confusing when you outlined the modern upgrades and praised them but you keep referring back to the appointments of an older traditional telecaster. I get it, you're a traditionalist. Finishing up your review you start off, well its not a vintage Telecaster guitar but if you like the stuff on this guitar I guess it will work for you but I intend to make a work horse out of the guitar. I think a review more focused on the guitar at hand, which you kind of did, would have been more informative that bringing in a guitar which is nothing like the guitar you are reviewing.
Sure, to get a guitar. Who wouldn’t like a telecaster
Tele is a classic!
I can't believe it's been almost 30 years since I learned that intro. But all I heard was effects, not a lot of guitar.
Must not be a good listener
I’ll dislike it for you! With six saddles and noiseless pickups I wouldn’t take it for free!!!
Bizarre comment
The noiseless pickups makes it not have the traditional tele sound. If youre trynna sound like Brad Paisley then skip this guitar.
So you’re saying that this didn’t sound like a telecaster? I think your eyes are influencing you more than your ears. I also played a Brad Paisley lick from mud on the tires and not saying that I play as well as Brad Paisley, but it certainly has the essence of a Telecaster
@ Its not my eyes, I didnt say i find the Ultra ugly, the American Ultra is probably the prettiest Tele there is other than the American original 60s (great Tele), but lifeless pickups and the neck is way too thin when you play high notes
@@guitarcafeguy I’m praying for you 🙏. Sending you good vibes and thoughts on your recovery of your hearing ❤️🩹. God bless!
Sounds thin and shrill
Best wishes in recovering your hearing! Hope you get well soon!
Amatorstwo,wszystko co nowe to do dupy,tylko orginały z lat 50,60 są dobre.
I’ve played a lot of dogs from the 50s and 60s