Fender Player Telecaster Review - A Purists Guitar with That Classic Tele Tone
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- The Fender Player series Telecasters are easily becoming one of the best buys in the world of guitars. This straight-ahead Tele is really the guitar a Tele purist is going to appreciate and love.
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Have had mine for a couple of months and cannot stop playing the thing. Really can't get over what good value the player series is.
This is what makes Fender great. If you want a real Telecaster or Strat without any compromises to design, the Player series does just that for a very good price.
My dream guitar. I've been playing for 40 years but never actually laid hands on a real Fender, or Gibson. They are like unicorns, and dragons.
@Capri Can not afford them. Not even close, not even if I saved up (nothing to save). I have to save up just to buy a $150 Chinese junker.
Where do you live?
@@Huseyinisiksel.4924 Me? Michigan, USA.
@@Dude_Guyman You live in the USA and could not afford a mid range guitar? How? I always thought that most US citizens had a certain wealth.
@@Huseyinisiksel.4924 Nope. Only 1% of us. The rest struggle to eat and not be homeless.
I bought one of these a month or so ago. The price was reduced on a weekend special deal ($550 -ish) and I figured what the heck. In a search to find complaints I came up empty. It's a great sounding guitar and plays very comfortably. Your review is right on the money.
I got a different Mexican tele. The 50s Baja. In butterscotch. I just can't believe how good it is. The neck is a soft V which i love and the pickups were designed by fender custom shop, and it has a 4 way switch and an S switch so has all the traditional tones X 2. The body is swamp ash and weighs 6.8 lbs! I think it's the best tele ever!
Got one a week ago... Same thing, butterscotch blonde. I plugged it in Fender Reverb amp and played a little with the settings until I got the tone right... AWESOME.
I just ordered one. I think the Tele does it all. Rock, blues, country, jazz, etc.
Tuners on these are great, mine was left in its case for a month or so and 5 of the strings were still perfectly in tune and only my high e was off slightly.
I have two of them. One in black and one in Tidepool Blue. I can't stop playing them and I look forward to every band practice. I hope the Corona Lockdown will end soon. Live this Guitars are amazing too.
That’s awesome to hear. I’m planning on ordering a butterscotch one, or if not, white. Maple fretboard.
Just found a used one for $400, I am beyond excited for it to get here.
@Chad Kunka I love mine
$400 is a little cheap for a Player series, even used. I'd check to make sure it's not the older "Standard" model. I came across plenty of those at $400
@@Zachary3D 2019 player series my man
@@Burgerofthehill Wicked! Great find, too!
@@Zachary3D it was on guitar center used page for less than an hour, had to jump on it
Just checking in from May 2024. I bought this guitar yesterday 05/19/2024 and it is amazing! This video is spot on and a big reason why i bought it. I wanted a traditional standard tele sound and this delivers! I also got a Hotone Mojo Diamond and Wampler Faux spring reverb pedal going through vintage (1980's) twin Randall 10 inch cabs. Sounds amazing AF. Blues on y'all!
Yep, agree 100% that these Fender Player series guitars are probably what the old American standards were, or close to it. So now I view Player series guitars as a solid foundation / platform to get a Fender exactly the way I like it, for about the same price, or even a little less than a "Made in America" version, and substantially less $$ than a 'custom shop'.
And that butterscotch blond Tele will be my next upgrade platform. Thanks for the video.
I’ve had my Player Telecaster a week now. Absolutely love this guitar. I have Squire Classic Vibe too but my player is simply perfect.
I actually ordered the fender player series plus telecaster. I got it in played it for a few hours and returned it and ordered just a standard player series telecaster. There are too many “ too modernized” features on that model. Yes, it has the locking tuners little bit of a better saddle, configuration material and the fancier logo, but there’s just something about a bare-bones true and tested simple telecaster configurations that I absolutely love. So if you want, just that spectacular simplicity of a telecaster, this is the series. I know tons of professional musicians that play in Nashville that gig these guitars for hours every single night, and they hold up to the abuse! that’s testimony enough for me. Great video!
Great video! Ordered mine 2 weeks ago and can hardly wait. I don’t want to get rid of my Squire Tele though.
Got mine in the post yesterday, what a beast it is!
So stoked for you!!! 🎸🎸🎸
My first guitar was an old series MIM Standard Telecaster, got it in 2007. Still have it! I wish these Player pickups came in the old series, those old stock MIM pickups were hot and muddy. By contrast these Player series pickups actually sound like a Telecaster! The tuners look like the same PING tuners they've been using, they are excellent tuners, no need to change them unless you just can't live without lockers. Only thing I would change on this Player series is the bridge. I love the ashtray with three brass saddles. Great review!
Mine rarely goes off the neck pickup, fucking amazing sound
For bridge I fire up my Gibson LP Standard 😎
Blessed with glorious instruments 🤘🏻🤘🏻
For anyone watching contemplating a player series go for it, absolutely love mine with zero complaints
Impressive QC out of the Fender Mexico plant
Just bought one yesterday. It's great! All I gotta do is put on locking tuners and I'm set.
YES! Stoked for you!
Save your money. No need.
@@multipipi1234 But he doesn't want to save the money... 😆 Go locking!! 👍👍
I'll be buying one tomorrow. So excited!
I have one incoming in a couple of days. I can't wait for it to arrive !
Liked and subscribed. That was a good review and fun to watch.
Take care, everyone !
I agree with you, this guitar is amazing as it is! I also love the pickups, I was going to change them but I spent the time adjusting the height of them and now I have the incredible tones I've been searching for. I put locking tuners and a new string tree on now its good to go! Thanks for the video of my new guitar. I've owned many electrics, spent thousands, now Fender came through for me and anyone who wants a classic beautiful axe to play. Kev
What height adjustments did you make? What is the tone you wanted? I just ordered this exact model and am considering all the usual upgrades. Thanks.
Just bought one used off reverb and I can’t wait for it to get here! I’ve wanted one for years
After trying loads of guitars, I kept coming back to the Player series Tele. Bought it (butterscotch) 2 weeks ago and can't stop picking it up!
YYYYYYEEEEESSSSS!!!!!!! They are so good. So stoked for you!
@@bsideguitar One thing to mention. I tied the Squire Tele and the difference between that and the Player was very evident. I also looked at the more expensive USA Teles and I could not tell them apart from the Player!
Where did you buy it? Can’t seem to find one where I live
Bought this one today and it sounds and feels amazing. Only thing I wish it had was rolled edges on the neck like on the American pro 2 series.
Once I don't force myself to think about it I don't even notice anymore. But I can see myself swapping a pro II neck on it in a few years
What a good review, I would like to know what happened to the fender classic baja player (Mexican); they were a good guitar. Greetings from Peru
Fender just had to move to the next thing. They change the lines every year or 2. Thanks for watching!!!
Now they're branded as "Vintera Modified": basically, same concepts and 90% same specs. The '60s model has a pau ferro fretboard and hotter pickups (wound specifically for this model) than the vintage 52 and 58. The 50's model has still the twisted tele in the neck pos and a custom shop bridge pickup (a broadcaster or something very similar)
Just picked one up thanks to your review. I'm excited for it to come
Stoked for you! You are going to love it 🎸🎸🎸
@@bsideguitar thanks bside!
@Andrew Prater, do you like your Player Tele?
Yep. I have one in the same color. And I enjoy playing it more than my USA made Stratocastor. And just as much s my Gibson LP Std. and my Epiphone 335 Dot.
I got one of those and put on a classic bridge and saddles, vintage style tuners, and upgraded pickups and electronics. For about $850 total it's equivalent to a $1500 guitar. My number one now over an American Strat, PRS SE24, Gretsch hollowbody.... Find one you like for a great upgrade base.
I was thinking about doing the bridge and saddles but didn’t plan on doing the pickups. You recommend doing the pickups so ya ? If so to what ? I think these are fine but what do I known
@@benallmark9671You know what you like to hear when you play! I think the stock pickups are good. I like really quiet single coils and I discovered the Mojotone '52 Quiet Coils - I love the way these sound better than any other tele pickup I've played. But that's my personal preference. I love the way these sound through my champ copy 5 watt tube kit amp. The only electric I have that's all stock is my PRS se24, which many insist needs a pickup upgrade.__I disagree and like it the way it is. I think the Player tele is great as it is too, but love it more with my personal tweaks.
@@ioodyssey3740 I have SE 24 as well and agree , those pickups are fine too. Well I’ve never heard those quite pickups you spoke of but you got me curious so I’ll look em up and check em out. Thanks for the response , cheers from Canada 🇨🇦 !
LEFTIES, they come in left handed.
I ordered mine today!
I'm buying one. I may change out tuners but otherwise, just want the stock flavors
I played this one and spotted a Nashville tele. Picked that up and played it. Although the Nashville is a bit louder and has the strat middle pickup, it doesn’t have the bridge/neck pickup combo that teles are known for, and it’s to straty. Plain tele sounded better. Nashville tele was really bright also.
Love these teles! I just reversed the control plate (switch to the other end) and I'm loving playing so much
Best review of this guitar on TH-cam. Thanks for uploading.
I own several American and Mexican made Fenders and honestly, the quality difference is marginal. Genuinely prefer some of the MiM’s.
Got the Pro II Tele and a 2014 MIM with McNelly pups (recommend better pups, incl Fralin, SD, Lollars...they really make a difference!!). Love my MIM...bought it back from a friend I sold it to pre-Covid. Also have FGN, G&L (USA), CV50 (2), and a HarleyB TE52. All great....the HB is such a steal as is...even better with a few mods to taste. Suggest removing neck pup from tone pot to improve clarity and output.
That's my telecaster i love it 🤘🎸✌
The more I play it the more I love it also!
I like mine. It certainly delivers the classic Tele timbre that I was looking for. I do agree with the locking tuners. I notice it falls out of tune even with light play.
Nice guitars I picked up a black one with a roasted maple neck my first-ever telecaster stays in tune okay after a lot of playing maybe I'd have to tune it again but I'm happy with it.
Great review - just what I needed to hear. Sounds like this is the one I am looking for.
The phrase, "Tele-sounding Tele", would seem to be a 'tautology' not an 'oxymoron'. But, since you're wearing a Martin shirt, I forgive you.
Ha! The Martin shirt solves all!
@@bsideguitar Great vids man. Have a good one.
What’s your suggestion for pickup upgrades? I like jazz and blues but play a lot of David Gilmour
I just bought this guitar yesterday. And holy shit. Great guitar!
Yes sir! Glad you got one. Rock on!
I think the only plus that the player + has over the player is the color variety like the silver smoke.
I enjoyed your review. I just bought that guitar or one like it yesterday and it’s fantastic. I did order some Fender locking tuners to go with it, but that’s probably the only change I’ll make.
Love it! Those locking tuners are a good addition, I can easily see adding those.
Best job on Tele critique I have seen. That glass, ice, like tone. Great job.
It’s good for the price, soundwise perfect but the fret edges are too sharp, you’ll need a luthier to sand them down a bit for smoother feel.
What’s the best string to use for this guitar? What size?
Thanks nice job. Just got my tele same model/finish as this after a 5 month wait from the US, wait was worth it I love it!
Booo ya! Love it.
The Player Series, are the most affordable Fender guitars, especially for those of us are more hobbyist musicians, and not professionals.
👍🎵🎸🙂♥️
I’m the next few days going to be getting the player series telecaster in limited edition British racing green with the Seymour Duncan pickups
Why spend thousands when I can spend 6 hundred on this beauty
This looks and sounds a lot like a Squier Classic Vibe telecaster, which is basically half the cost of the Fender. Good video.
Thanks! I’m hoping to get my hands on a classic vibe soon to do a review and maybe a side by side comparison :)
@Jason Reding tried Botha week ago player was better
Classic vibe good...not as good as this.
I am looking at purchasing the 75th Anniversary or the Player Plus Nashville Telecaster, because, I play mostly Old Country, Folk and Gospel. The 75th Anniversary has that 50's Tele Sound. Going to be hard to choose, but, price will probably make me lean toward the 75th Anniversary. My Squire just does not have that sound I want. Thanks for the review.
great review man, is it hum cancelling in the middle position?
the aqua color they have is so tempting. my dream electric guitar right there dude
Are you referring to the tidepool color? Looks so nice!!!
I always thought the tide pool looks exactly like the regular lake placid blue. Is tidepool lighter or darker?
@@bsideguitar yup (:
@@jamesxu7582 it’s lighter
I'm a Telecaster fanatic, but the Telecaster Player you reviewed is not a real Telecaster in my opinion. I don't like the 6 saddles bridge. I would change that to a Vintage ashtray bridge with 3 brass saddles. I would also change tuners to F Logo locking tuners and install a solderless harness and Fender Vintage 64's Pickups. That adds some cost, but definitely improves guitar to make an forever guitar
Here in Jan 2023 they retail for $849 US dollars before tax and discounts. Worth every penny.
Thank you for a thorough solid review
Compared with the performer series, the performer worths the extra money?
thanks for the review, i ordered mine yesterday in tidepool for about the same price as u said, but in europa!! proud to found such a cheap offer in a local music store. But i got ~12weeks delivery at this hard time, so im just lookin forward with such greeat reviews :) never played it on before :0
I have a lefty Sunburst Player Tele with maple neck. Great guitar as stock but I have upgraded it - Freeway 3-B-3 six position switch, Fender ‘51 pickups, upgraded wiring with treble bleed and left hand taper pots, Graphtec nut and Stringtree, Fender locking tuners, Gotoh in-tune brass saddle bridge, D’Addario NYXL 09-42 strings and a fret dress. I wonder if Fender, when they next refresh their Mexican line, will replace the Pau Ferro fretboard with Rosewood.
Would it be suitable for Jazz tones ?
The neck pickup certainly would be.
Just back off the tone &/or the volume a bit to get the sound you're looking for.
Love mine , I play through a blues junior ltd
I bought 1. and love it
I need this guitar
I bought one of these on online for a smoking black friday deal and I can't wait to play it.
Where did you buy one?
how much was it?
I love this guitar because I own the exact guitar. 😊
I have this one in 3 tone sunburst. It’s An amazing guitar
Thank you
"sparkly"??It Sounds like you've got a pillow taped over the amp. I don't hear any shimmer, definition or fender "chime" (Maybe it's youtube compression?)
Just ordered one today. 🙂
I just ordered one too 😊
I have a left handed butterscotch one. My go to guitar!
How are the tone and volume knobs on your leftie.
I had a Leftie Player Strat in tidepool as my first electric and the volume and tone knobs were closer to on/off switches than knobs. It made rolling off volume and tone very difficult compared to the American Pro I have now.
Asking because I do want a tele now and don’t really want to spend £1600 on an American Pro ii when that would buy a Player tele and an Epi “Inspired by Gibson” Les Paul.
After playing a real Tele once years ago I've always wanted one. I went to the Sam Ash by my house today to play and likely purchase a Player Series Tele. After playing a few of them, I was utterly disappointed. None of them sound or play like a Tele at all. I was testing through a small Vox Amp with no effects and little gain. I could barely tell by sound which position the the selector switch was in. The pickups were extremely underwhelming. The fret edges were rough and the necks on all of them didn't feel quite right. Just for sanity check, to see if maybe the amp was the problem, I grabbed a used 2002 Custom Shop Tele and plugged it in....not even close! The custom shop was an entirely different guitar and way better! I then tried a used 2010 Michael Kelly clone...way better than the Player series. I almost bought the MK. Going to keep saving my $$$ and get a guitar that actually sounds and plays like a Tele. Meanwhile I'll suffer with my 91 Strat and 62 Jazzmaster.
Yeah I could see that. A lot has changed in the last few years after this video came out.
I would prefer this tele with a white scratch plate, does this come with the usual 60 cycle hum ? Being a lifetime Les Paul player I would be really pissed off at having to put up with that noise after paying good money for it.
I maybe picking one of these up . I am not sure bout the american pro 2 with the pine body .seems like it would be soft i am thinking . So the player is made of alder which i think is a harder wood . I have all amerucan made guitars ...fenders gibsons .but the tele with the features i want are actually in the player model and ya i gotta have butterscotch for my first tele
Is it worth saving the extra to from classic vibe to the player ?
Nice review! How is the tuning stability of this tele. Do I need to replace them with locking tuners?
Tuning is very good. Locking tuners are generally a myth for stability. As long as you wrap the string right it will not slip at the key. Making sure the nut is right is much more important. I always love locking tuners though to make string changes easier.
Tuning is more about the nut and saddles. I like roller string trees. Make sure the strings move freely in the nut and keep it and the saddles where they contact the strings lubed.
@@deanmlshredder Cheers mate
Tuning stability is excellent on mine.
No.
Great review 👍 subscribing!
Great Demo Bside .
I bought one but are the strings supposed to be stiff?
Mine was the same when I got it. I lowered the plate with 3 screws by tightening it a bit and it worked great and lowered the strings to where they are comfortable. Do it slowly in increments to see where it is best for you.
I wanted to love this guitar but the modern C neck is too thin. Also a bit tight playing leads up high on the neck. Pickups and intonation were great.
This is great! Do you have a link to it?
I Bought one
Can’t wait to hear what you think about it! 🎸🎸
@@bsideguitar Very happy. its a killer Tele.
So stoked to hear that!!
really nice Telecaster, in the UK they have the Vintage brand V52 series at a few hundred less with Wilkinson Hardware, be nice to see a comparison video between the two
I’ve seen those V52s they do look great for the price. Good suggestion, I’ll keep an eye out for one.
@@bsideguitar I have yet to see a comparison yet , I seen V6 Strat and V100 against Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul , it could be a first,
I have the V72 Reissue FTB semi hollow. Lovely guitar. Vintage make some cracking copies
I'm sure they are great guitars for the price. However I couldn't live with the headstock, so I've gone for the Player.
Love amber to yellow shade of it. You are cool dude
I have a black player series strat I just got but might return it for this guitar. Should I!? Also should I get blues jr iii or Iv? Boss katana?
those amps are really different. play a few different one's before you decide
I'm in between one like that and a classic 60...can't decide
Just bought a MINT butterscotch blonde Player Tele from Reverb for $549 with free shipping. I just couldn't pass it up.
What is the synthetic bone? Is it similar to graph tech?
Reminds me of Highway One US Fender
Can this guitar play jazz? Because I'm considering buying this guitar or the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II. I like the shape of the Epiphone but I'm afraid that it's not suitable for rock (since I both want to play rock and jazz =))) ). Thank you!
Does the middle position cancel buzz on these? I would like to use this for some heavy stuff. If not I’ll just use my noise gate.
You check one out yet? The middle position will cancel the hum but I'm not sure how heavy you wanna try and go with the stock pickups but I wouldn't mind hearing the result if you get it to fit. With that said the middle position on a slightly overdriven tweed is one of the most addicting things you can do to your ears.
The stock ones are certainly more ideal for heavier styles than vintage. The bridge pickup barks more than it bites!
I installed Mojotone '52 Quiet Coils -- Quiet with great tele tones and screaming with a good drive
I love the neck on these guitars amazing 👏
the in your face highs are the 60s tele trademark.have 60th annv. Us tele to compare with….. the player rivals it easily ….in all aspects
I want
Performer has a different bridge, jumbo frets,different tuners not just electronics.
Looking at American pro not sure If the difference in price is worth it now
It really isn't.
The difference between the American vs Mexican made ? , about 180 miles down the road from each other. Probably get their orders off the same truck. I played a mexican made that played better than an American made.
I'm trying to choose between a Player Tele and a Fender Deluxe Telecaster Thinline Pau Ferro Fingerboard... I'm losing my mind! Please help. Any experience comparing the two?
The player tele with a maple neck for sure. It will re sale better too. Pau ferro doesn’t hold value as well. I actually just picked up this exact guitar yesterday. It’s really solid. I did go over the frets with a file. I also have a Nash t 63 and knaggs severn This thing def hangs with those on play ability. They play better but the player is so close it really gets the edge after u consider the value. I’m super Impressed with it.
@@bigtsshackfestival9563 Thank you so much! I appreciate the advice.
What would you recommend for a good mid level price amp?
Vox Ac10
Is the player series the New Mexican standard?