I bought one of these when they first came out in 1998. Took 18 months to get back then due to the demand and production problems as well as the fact they could only make a couple a month that would pass the inspections. Merle also would come in and take a couple at a time for his friends and keep setting back the delivery date! Finally got mine and got Merle to sign it at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth after the show. At that time it was the only one of these he had signed. Big signature on the pickguard! I believe the only other one he has signed in that manor belongs to Wade Hayes. I still have mine and it is still in perfect condition as I don't take it on stage much. I did play it a few times when I played with Marty Haggard in his Tribute to my Dad Show. Love the guitar. A piece of art in woodworking!
Everyone is saying that this guitar is beautiful looking, and it surely is. However, I was really impressed by the depth and tonal richness of the sound. If that's due to the texas specials then wow!
Its also a set neck, which allows a smooth transition of sound vibration throughout the whole guitar. Usually Teles are twangy because of the bolt-on neck and bridge plate. Fender doesn't normally do set necks because Leo made guitars that are easy to take apart, repair, and upgrade. Set necks are in Gibson Les Pauls and SGs. To take a set neck off, you first need to drill small holes into the base of the neck, then steam the joint for awhile to loosen the glue, and finally yank like hell! And then, you still need to glue it back in, and at the correct angle to boot! However, set neck can sound rich and full as hell. So a set neck Tele is crazy but welcome
@@kilgoretrout321 there are many high end builders and brands that disagree a set neck is better. Brands like bourgouis and taylor imediately come to mind. Just sayn. But i agree it should sound better.....but some of those old blackguard teles are very vibrant and resonant too..
There are very few guitars I would pay over $2000 for and this is one of them. And I play metal 90% of the time. Telecasters are my favorite type of guitar behind the explorer, the good ole Les Paul being a close second.
I'm a big fan of Telecasters and as you said, this is gorgeous. I don't understand knitpicking about finger prints on the plate, the size of the warranty book (which you'll rarely open) and being thrilled about the guitar strap. This guitar is an awesome work guitar and a piece of art. Merle's songs were for the working man.
Seriously, I'd rather him not have Fender content if he's just going to look for reasons to nitpick. The comment about the warranty book is ridiculous. Yet QC issues with some Gibsons get completely written off as fine.
I got a set of those pickups out of the first run of those and modded my tokai strat to take them. When the american special tele came out-no brainer to get one. Merle had the dumble from hell to handle that tele!
I have the same first run Texas Specials in my Warmoth Tele ... just found out those were the hottest wind ever on a Tele. By the first lady of Fender pickup winders
Wonderful way to build a Fender... I have had fantasy of gluing my Jaguar and reshaping the neck set area... Beautiful.. Wish Fender did this as an option on all their guitars and basses.
I'm not usually a Tele fan, but that is an absolutely stunning guitar and would make a fantastic addition to anyone's collection. God bless and rock on 👍🎸😎
Heya fellow Troglodytes, check out the Fender Richie Kotzen sig Tele. Dang near as pretty as this one but very affordable. It has parallel-series switching, a beefy neck, tons of bling, and MIJ quality control. Monster axe.
My my my that sure is a pretty one! I think if it had the humbucker at the bridge a lot of that feedback would be gone, lol I know I know, thats THE purpose of a humbucker lol. Merl Haggard was one of the true greats and legends of country music. Austin, did you know that he predicted he would die on his birthday? I just watched a video the other day and his son said that about a week before his birthday Merl had come down with Pneumonia or something like that and he told his son that he would be OK but on his birthday he would die. I am glad you specified Merl was of the old true country music, todays country is nothing more than classic rock with twang added lol. I did not really care for that color but when you were playing it and it was contrasted against your purple shirt it seemed to look much much nicer! I like that it has a set neck and I hear ya about the shiny plate and the finger print issues.John 5 has that one with the gold pickguard and that thing always has fingerprints all over it lol. I have two guitars with mirrored pick guards and they can be a pain to keep clean.
I’m sort of late, but the tuners are Schaller Elite Tuners. They’re discontinued, and are the same tuners that were on SRV’s #1 and John Mayer’s Blk1. I’m lucky enough to have 2 sets, as they’re becoming increasingly rare and are going up in price. Very very high quality tuners, built for the long haul. Cheers, beautiful Tele. RIP Merle.
This is sooo beautiful ! I bought a Squire Showmaster that is a neckthrough from a good friend a while ago.. Also I built a partscaster Tele that looks a lot like Mr Haggards Tele... It's a bolt on but has an amazing flamed neck with Hipshot locking open geared staggered tuners , Tobacco Burst with a 3 ply white pickguard & Tonerider Hot Classic pickups... It's the best bang for buck guitar that I own !
What a gorgeous guitar!!! Not super crazy about the switching configuration but aside from that just epic! For $6.5K it should come with your own personal roadie though.
Basically I have the same problem with this guitar and I don't have a guitar tech to help me either. I was watching Metallica in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2017 and near the beginning of fade to Black James guitar tech came out on stage and flipped the switch to his bottom pickup .
I got one at a steal and I am not sure the folks knew what they had because of the “set neck.” Several folks mentioned that neck and thought it was a copy. I think I may have the real thing! Hooray for me!
@@Trog But it seems that the neck go from one end to the other. I can't hold it in my hands to look at it, but the photos on Reverb shows that the neck and the center back of the body are just one piece. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Wow, Just wow!!!! And I agree with you Trog, Merle is a Legend He had his flaws, but don’t we all. RIP Merle PS You can get an idea on where chambering is by tapping on the top. You’ll hear the hollow sections right away
Fender Custom Shop introduced set neck Strats & Teles in the late 90's . The skunk stripe is actually walnut btw. Great review , I love my '52 reissue Tele , but I get the impression Trogly would absolutely hate it lol 😂
Red Volkert (Merles lead player) offered me his which was ser#5 (gift fr MH) for 5K back in 2008. Of course I didnt have the cash so I put my pick-up truck for sale and it didnt sell. Eventually I bought a new one in 2014. I have only used it in church about 6 times. It is an amazing amazing sounding tele. I play w/a delay and combined with the tons of beautiful clear sustain everyone in the room knows that this is not a regular guitar.
I have a set neck Tele HHS with carved spalted maple top on mahogany body and neck with rosewood fretboard. I bought in 2005. Sweetest sounding and most versatile gigging guitar I have ever owned
One other little thing that was different from usual Teles on that beautiful instrument is the input jack... It was flush mounted on a plate instead of being recessed. Love it!!!
I don't normally like Telecasters, but this is a thing of beauty! I can't stand new Country, but old school Country was pretty boss. The price tag on this thing, though...
The Custom Shop have made set neck Strats & Teles over the years . If you can find the 2000 Custom Shop catalogue (I have it somewhere) , they are featured 👍
The pickguard near the horn is shaped like that of a 72' deluxe with double humbuckers. If you're buying from Fender then they usually have "wide range" humbuckers.
I built a few neck-through guitars and love them! I always felt that neck-through was the best way to build solid body guitars. WHAT? it has a neck joint? That makes no sense. Was it to save money? My physic's degree tells me it isn't helping the sound any. Even if the neck is 3-4 degree from the body, there is no reason that can't be done on a full neck through. I made a neck through Les Paul and easily cut the neck angle into the centerpiece. I am curious. Can you find out? This is an amazing production guitar!
The 1500$ statement is mostly true. The real thing tho is that you can get a really beautiful instrument even more so than this tele for much less than 6700$. Thats just a lot of money for any instrument. I’ve played some instruments that I couldn’t afford that were far more than 1500$ that to me at least would’ve been worth it on sound and playability alone. I don’t have that kind of cash to throw around tho.
Jaime Camilo Manriquez Salles It's not a neck through, it's just a set neck with the neck and body center block being the same wood. Probably not much difference in tone, and I bet it would be a neck through if it weren't semi hollow.
Hey if your gonna have fenders on a mostly Gibson channel. You’ve sure picked some beauties. That is one of the nicest tele’s I’ve ever seen. I would order it without the chambering. I don’t care if it’s 15lbs. Hahahah. I’m gonna be sitting down when I play it anyway
I think it's the most beautiful Tele ever made! Alibaba has a Chele-caster replica of this guitar for $450.. a nice wall hanger! It looked like a neck-thru but l see now it is a set neck..fender should have been making neck joints like this on all their guitars..it's 2020! Thanks Trog!
Nice Tele! Fender has another set neck Telecaster. Google limited custom Telecaster fmt hh. It is a Fender, it is built in Indonesia. I recently got one . It's a fantastic guitar. And affordable!!! If I had a $6k guitar budget, I would own a Merle Haggard Telecaster. Very nice.
Just clicked on your Reverb link and found one current (2021) listing for this guitar, a 2014 version that is advertised to weigh in at 4 lbs., 12 oz.! Considering the substantial difference, almost 3 pounds, I have to assume that some of the chambering has been forgone in the later years. Either that or older ones were made with balsa wood.
Tough Dogs were already around when Merle Haggard was still alive. I bought the Chender version in 2015 or 2016 in a colour that Fender didn't sell: TRANSPARENT GREEN on quilted maple. (I was just looking at 'green guitars' after seeing some nice Jacksons in their catalog). When I bought it, I didn't even know who Merle Haggard was. He was not that famous in Europe. Anyway, a Chender costs ± 5% of the Fender retail price, taxes included. The electronics are those of a NORMAL Telecaster, so you'll have the normal 3-position selector switch. Just google for "Fender Tuff Dog Tele Green" and you'll see what I mean: the knock-off of a guitar that does not exist.
Damn beautiful instrument. Just watched this after 2 years since you done it. I never appreciated Teles growing up because I associated them was with old school country music and I was a rock and roll fan,as a child growing up i the 60s,and thought they weren't cool. Kinda like comparing "Mama Tried" to "Immigrant Song". Later in life I became more aware of the versatility of Telecasters. Still hate the layout of the switch but love the sound.
Never liked teles very much ,but that one is pretty sweet. I grew up hearing Merl Haggard, and even though I'm not a country fan ,I know what a big part of country music he was. Shame it cost so much though.
The Baja Telecaster has even more switching functions. In addition to the 4-Way switch there is a push-button on the volume knob that throws the pickups out-of-phase like a Stratocaster. Baja Telecaster is a totally underrated guitar.
Try to see if you can find a telecaster jr. I have one from 1993. They were all mahogany body, set neck, strat bridge and had p90 pickups. They were custom shop only for a while. Only building 100 per year. In the later 90s they were standard production. Really cool telecasters.
Гитара огонь стоит наверно не меньше 3х штук баксов, это факт, я себе такую хочу и уже давно, но денег ещё не накопил сцсукааааааа, пилят, как она звучит, это не Китай ебаный, это Штаты, пилят и умеют же делать, почему остальные. Все рукожопые, то звука нет, то ещё что то отвалится, а здесь Шедевр, вот надо её купить, и будет мне женщина, на века, вот это настоящая грация, какой изгиб, сэксуальный, а как говорит, поёт вообще, аналогов в мире нет, не, ворчит, не орёт, только обращайся с ней как с Королевой, и она тем же тебе оплатит на всю жизнь, вот только одна проблема, нужны деньги, какие то 3000 долларов и все писец всем, это будет что то но ещё не то.
![[[OFFICIAL MV]] เอิ้นขวัญให้อ้าย- อ๊ะอาย สกุณาพร | ค่ายเพลงเป็นหนึ่ง](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/83x6L3X3qh0/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought one of these when they first came out in 1998. Took 18 months to get back then due to the demand and production problems as well as the fact they could only make a couple a month that would pass the inspections. Merle also would come in and take a couple at a time for his friends and keep setting back the delivery date! Finally got mine and got Merle to sign it at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth after the show. At that time it was the only one of these he had signed. Big signature on the pickguard! I believe the only other one he has signed in that manor belongs to Wade Hayes. I still have mine and it is still in perfect condition as I don't take it on stage much. I did play it a few times when I played with Marty Haggard in his Tribute to my Dad Show. Love the guitar. A piece of art in woodworking!
I've been close to buying one a few times. Glad to see you've got a legendary one.
@@jeepmanxj And 1 of only 2 Merle signed on the front. Mine and Wade Hayes.
I'll give you $2000 for it.
That's the classiest goddamn tele I've seen in a long, long while.
This is the nicest one i think Fender have made that has good tones and looks to go with it
I'm droolin'! 🙀
Damn right son
Everyone is saying that this guitar is beautiful looking, and it surely is. However, I was really impressed by the depth and tonal richness of the sound. If that's due to the texas specials then wow!
Its also a set neck, which allows a smooth transition of sound vibration throughout the whole guitar. Usually Teles are twangy because of the bolt-on neck and bridge plate.
Fender doesn't normally do set necks because Leo made guitars that are easy to take apart, repair, and upgrade. Set necks are in Gibson Les Pauls and SGs. To take a set neck off, you first need to drill small holes into the base of the neck, then steam the joint for awhile to loosen the glue, and finally yank like hell! And then, you still need to glue it back in, and at the correct angle to boot!
However, set neck can sound rich and full as hell. So a set neck Tele is crazy but welcome
@@kilgoretrout321 Wow! I didn't know a set neck could actually be replaced, cheers for the info
@@kilgoretrout321 there are many high end builders and brands that disagree a set neck is better. Brands like bourgouis and taylor imediately come to mind. Just sayn. But i agree it should sound better.....but some of those old blackguard teles are very vibrant and resonant too..
@@richardsmith9615 its Expensive and labour intensive
There are very few guitars I would pay over $2000 for and this is one of them. And I play metal 90% of the time. Telecasters are my favorite type of guitar behind the explorer, the good ole Les Paul being a close second.
I have one for 3500 for sale
High, Mr. 5.
Of course yOu can play metal on it.it has in series wiring both pickup made it humbucker
najmi hakim khairi I wasn’t saying you can’t play metal on it. You can play metal on anything.
If you love country, teles and are extremely rich, then this is a perfect guitar for you!
idk man I'm more of a metal head and I'm drooling
Teles sound great for metal because the mids are so strong
Not the expensive.
Teles are great for just about anything!
@@fenixfyre absolutely! I don't really like country and consider the Tele the most versatile guitar.
I didn't have the heart to refund my concert ticket when he passed away. A guitar slinger. Missed.
He was suppose to play Cape Girardeau the day he passed. I was going to see him.
You show him respect by keeping it. You did the right thing.
Sickest Tele ever built in my opinion!! Merle knew how to build em!
6:06 another masterclass from fender to Gibson about details 🌚
Fu*king WOW!!!! That's a masterpiece for a true old school country legend! He is definitely missed!! Thanks for showing this beauty!! Bob in Germany
Thank you, thank you for including the "after 1500 dollars" statement. So true and I tell people that all the time
100% agree with that statement.
Thank you for the homage to Merle Haggard. It is beautiful!
TeIecasters sound amazing with drive!
I'm a big fan of Telecasters and as you said, this is gorgeous.
I don't understand knitpicking about finger prints on the plate, the size of the warranty book (which you'll rarely open) and being thrilled about the guitar strap.
This guitar is an awesome work guitar and a piece of art. Merle's songs were for the working man.
Same here,my first guitar was a Tele,I bought it brand new in 98' and I still have it,I love that baby,best Clean sound ever in my opinion
Seriously, I'd rather him not have Fender content if he's just going to look for reasons to nitpick. The comment about the warranty book is ridiculous. Yet QC issues with some Gibsons get completely written off as fine.
I got a set of those pickups out of the first run of those and modded my tokai strat to take them. When the american special tele came out-no brainer to get one. Merle had the dumble from hell to handle that tele!
I have the same first run Texas Specials in my Warmoth Tele ... just found out those were the hottest wind ever on a Tele. By the first lady of Fender pickup winders
Dude your stuff is amazing I’ve been watching for quite a while and you deserve so many more subs! Your one of the most underrated people on TH-cam!
Gorgeous Tele, this and a leather wrapped Waylon Tele are definitely on my guitar bucket list.
Wonderful way to build a Fender... I have had fantasy of gluing my Jaguar and reshaping the neck set area... Beautiful.. Wish Fender did this as an option on all their guitars and basses.
That is one of the nicest Tele's I have ever seen so much nicer than another LP but I have a true love for all things Fender!!! ☮️🎸🤘
I'm not usually a Tele fan, but that is an absolutely stunning guitar and would make a fantastic addition to anyone's collection. God bless and rock on 👍🎸😎
Heya fellow Troglodytes, check out the Fender Richie Kotzen sig Tele. Dang near as pretty as this one but very affordable. It has parallel-series switching, a beefy neck, tons of bling, and MIJ quality control. Monster axe.
That’s the nicest tele I’ve ever seen. That set neck is a thing to behold
My my my that sure is a pretty one! I think if it had the humbucker at the bridge a lot of that feedback would be gone, lol I know I know, thats THE purpose of a humbucker lol.
Merl Haggard was one of the true greats and legends of country music. Austin, did you know that he predicted he would die on his birthday? I just watched a video the other day and his son said that about a week before his birthday Merl had come down with Pneumonia or something like that and he told his son that he would be OK but on his birthday he would die. I am glad you specified Merl was of the old true country music, todays country is nothing more than classic rock with twang added lol.
I did not really care for that color but when you were playing it and it was contrasted against your purple shirt it seemed to look much much nicer! I like that it has a set neck and I hear ya about the shiny plate and the finger print issues.John 5 has that one with the gold pickguard and that thing always has fingerprints all over it lol. I have two guitars with mirrored pick guards and they can be a pain to keep clean.
I’m sort of late, but the tuners are Schaller Elite Tuners. They’re discontinued, and are the same tuners that were on SRV’s #1 and John Mayer’s Blk1. I’m lucky enough to have 2 sets, as they’re becoming increasingly rare and are going up in price. Very very high quality tuners, built for the long haul. Cheers, beautiful Tele. RIP Merle.
Gibson would sell it for at least 10.500
Haha,yep
That was exactly the Fender list price but the street price soon became $6,500.- because nobody bought it.
Fender/Gibson knock off ESP would sell it for more than that.
Stop crying
This is sooo beautiful ! I bought a Squire Showmaster that is a neckthrough from a good friend a while ago.. Also I built a partscaster Tele that looks a lot like Mr Haggards Tele... It's a bolt on but has an amazing flamed neck with Hipshot locking open geared staggered tuners , Tobacco Burst with a 3 ply white pickguard & Tonerider Hot Classic pickups... It's the best bang for buck guitar that I own !
Most beautiful Fender i have ever seen. Fender should do more of that kind of things than heavy relics
I agree. Custom Shop guitars used to go in this direction than they started the relic thing and it seems that is all they make now.
She's a looker with a lot of unique features for a Fender!
That's a gorgeous Tele, look and sound.
What a gorgeous guitar!!! Not super crazy about the switching configuration but aside from that just epic! For $6.5K it should come with your own personal roadie though.
Basically I have the same problem with this guitar and I don't have a guitar tech to help me either. I was watching Metallica in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2017 and near the beginning of fade to Black James guitar tech came out on stage and flipped the switch to his bottom pickup .
I got one at a steal and I am not sure the folks knew what they had because of the “set neck.” Several folks mentioned that neck and thought it was a copy. I think I may have the real thing! Hooray for me!
Please do a univox ripper. The guitar must be known!
I even have all the cool facts please!
he does reviews on guitars he buys and sells.he doesn't run around looking for weird unsellable guitars to make viewers happy.@@jaxxonvaness8679
Yes those are crazy nice strat guitars! Up there with some of the best ever!
One of the prettiest guitars I've ever seen.
Holy cow, that's gorgeous! Love the Hagg!
I would rock that every single day. What a guitar!
Got to admit love my Telecaster, as much as I love my Les Paul Custom, that Telecaster really is a beauty.
Awesome sound, the thing talks to me!
"Bridge" at 12:25 is so very House of the rising sun.
The 4th position, series, is the bonus. Standard middle position on a tele is parallel.
Baja tele has the same switching, with an added S1.
In fact, it's not a "set neck", but a "neck-through". Such a beautiful guitar.
just a set neck. The neck-through part is just an illusion
@@Trog But it seems that the neck go from one end to the other. I can't hold it in my hands to look at it, but the photos on Reverb shows that the neck and the center back of the body are just one piece. Correct me if I'm wrong.
@@Trog Ok, you show it at 5:58 or so. It's a set neck.
Wow, Just wow!!!!
And I agree with you Trog, Merle is a Legend
He had his flaws, but don’t we all.
RIP Merle
PS
You can get an idea on where chambering is by tapping on the top.
You’ll hear the hollow sections right away
Fender Custom Shop introduced set neck Strats & Teles in the late 90's . The skunk stripe is actually walnut btw. Great review , I love my '52 reissue Tele , but I get the impression Trogly would absolutely hate it lol 😂
You should review a Limited Edition FMT HH Telecaster, those used to look more like a Les Paul before the Parallel Universe one
I was just thinking of how much I like the Texas Special neck pickup in that Tele when 13:47 happened.
Holeeeey Chit! I love Teles.
The 3 pickup Telecaster's are my favorite but that's one nice Tele.
You're right Trogly, that's the best-looking Telecaster I've ever seen that thing is awesome.
God that's a cool instrument. Just googled how much they run on the market....ouch.
I love this guitar. I will own one day.
Thanks for doing a review of it. I guess I have never seen one before.
See you tomorrow sir.
Red Volkert (Merles lead player) offered me his which was ser#5 (gift fr MH) for 5K back in 2008. Of course I didnt have the cash so I put my pick-up truck for sale and it didnt sell. Eventually I bought a new one in 2014. I have only used it in church about 6 times. It is an amazing amazing sounding tele. I play w/a delay and combined with the tons of beautiful clear sustain everyone in the room knows that this is not a regular guitar.
I have a set neck Tele HHS with carved spalted maple top on mahogany body and neck with rosewood fretboard. I bought in 2005. Sweetest sounding and most versatile gigging guitar I have ever owned
That is the baddest tele I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for showing this Austin!!!!
wow. That is the most beautiful looking tele I've ever seen. Sounds awesome too.
It sounds great! Would be good for any kind of music. Fender should make more set neck Teles.
I got a set of the pickups out of one of these and put them in my strat-best pickups I have had.
Concerning the breed of dog on the headstock, I read in Mr Haggard's autobiography of his affection for rat terriers. He always had one.
I have a Merle Haggard Telecaster (aka Tuff Dog Tele). Best neck, sounding (awesome pickups) and playing tele I own. Worth it !
One other little thing that was different from usual Teles on that beautiful instrument is the input jack... It was flush mounted on a plate instead of being recessed. Love it!!!
I don't normally like Telecasters, but this is a thing of beauty! I can't stand new Country, but old school Country was pretty boss. The price tag on this thing, though...
The man is a legend and my favorite artist ever!
Fender should make more set neck guitars
All the showmasters have set neck
Really nice
@@guitarocd9984 well @$5.500 I'm out any how that's way out my ball park
@@guitarocd9984 that's what I'm saying
Great era for money friendly guitar's
The Custom Shop have made set neck Strats & Teles over the years . If you can find the 2000 Custom Shop catalogue (I have it somewhere) , they are featured 👍
Yeah,I'm with ya,ocd...
12-1500 is my bottom like,and it depends on what it is too..
The pickguard near the horn is shaped like that of a 72' deluxe with double humbuckers. If you're buying from Fender then they usually have "wide range" humbuckers.
I already found that pickguard on Ebay not the material but the shape. It's awesome.
One of two dream guitars this is number 2 , number 1 is a leather bound Waylon telecaster
Its a very nice look; all of the little details work together great, the only thing I'd change is the black on the wings, otherwise, really like it.
Thanks for the review Trogly
Those tuff dog signiture s are beautiful, video gives a decent representation but are worth seeing and handling in person!
I built a few neck-through guitars and love them! I always felt that neck-through was the best way to build solid body guitars. WHAT? it has a neck joint? That makes no sense. Was it to save money? My physic's degree tells me it isn't helping the sound any. Even if the neck is 3-4 degree from the body, there is no reason that can't be done on a full neck through. I made a neck through Les Paul and easily cut the neck angle into the centerpiece. I am curious. Can you find out? This is an amazing production guitar!
The 1500$ statement is mostly true. The real thing tho is that you can get a really beautiful instrument even more so than this tele for much less than 6700$. Thats just a lot of money for any instrument. I’ve played some instruments that I couldn’t afford that were far more than 1500$ that to me at least would’ve been worth it on sound and playability alone. I don’t have that kind of cash to throw around tho.
Huge Merle Fan...so glad you did this video
For me is a neck through end the best tele ever!
Jaime Camilo Manriquez Salles It's not a neck through, it's just a set neck with the neck and body center block being the same wood. Probably not much difference in tone, and I bet it would be a neck through if it weren't semi hollow.
Hey if your gonna have fenders on a mostly Gibson channel. You’ve sure picked some beauties. That is one of the nicest tele’s I’ve ever seen. I would order it without the chambering. I don’t care if it’s 15lbs. Hahahah. I’m gonna be sitting down when I play it anyway
You should check out the FMT Telecaster. Those things are gorgeous. Set neck that is shaped, arch top and body contours.
Thanks for the additional weight spec in kg! Great review! Greetings from germany
George Strait has #1 of these. He even plays it. He's not burning off leads but he does play it.
The most beautiful guitar I've ever seen
Just wantd to add, the shortened horn part of the pickguard is just like on the 70's Custom and Deluxe models :-)
Nice for something coming out of the Custom Shop to look premium rather than like something most people would see and throw in the dumpster.
Nice Tele. Thanks Trogly!!
Man that puppy is mucho money . That said it's Gorgeous 100 times over.
An absolutely beautiful creation.
I think it's the most beautiful Tele ever made! Alibaba has a Chele-caster replica of this guitar for $450.. a nice wall hanger! It looked like a neck-thru but l see now it is a set neck..fender should have been making neck joints like this on all their guitars..it's 2020! Thanks Trog!
Straight away, i don't normally like quilty tops or neck thrus. i love this, though. btw, not just jail but SQ.
And he was in the audience for the Johnny Cash concert there.
Impossible to not be impressed!!!
Nice Tele! Fender has another set neck Telecaster.
Google limited custom Telecaster fmt hh. It is a Fender, it is built in Indonesia. I recently got one . It's a fantastic guitar.
And affordable!!!
If I had a $6k guitar budget, I would own a Merle Haggard Telecaster. Very nice.
Just clicked on your Reverb link and found one current (2021) listing for this guitar, a 2014 version that is advertised to weigh in at 4 lbs., 12 oz.! Considering the substantial difference, almost 3 pounds, I have to assume that some of the chambering has been forgone in the later years. Either that or older ones were made with balsa wood.
The Bakersfield sound vs Nashville sound was through out the 60s. Merle Haggard also started in the 60s not 50s
Love your reviews and that Guitar is special !!! WOW
Tough Dogs were already around when Merle Haggard was still alive.
I bought the Chender version in 2015 or 2016 in a colour that Fender didn't sell: TRANSPARENT GREEN on quilted maple. (I was just looking at 'green guitars' after seeing some nice Jacksons in their catalog). When I bought it, I didn't even know who Merle Haggard was. He was not that famous in Europe. Anyway, a Chender costs ± 5% of the Fender retail price, taxes included. The electronics are those of a NORMAL Telecaster, so you'll have the normal 3-position selector switch. Just google for "Fender Tuff Dog Tele Green" and you'll see what I mean: the knock-off of a guitar that does not exist.
Damn beautiful instrument. Just watched this after 2 years since you done it. I never appreciated Teles growing up because I associated them was with old school country music and I was a rock and roll fan,as a child growing up i the 60s,and thought they weren't cool. Kinda like comparing "Mama Tried" to "Immigrant Song". Later in life I became more aware of the versatility of Telecasters. Still hate the layout of the switch but love the sound.
Never liked teles very much ,but that one is pretty sweet. I grew up hearing Merl Haggard, and even though I'm not a country fan ,I know what a big part of country music he was. Shame it cost so much though.
very nice tele!
Chinese vendors do this guitar in a Green Sunburst, It's a super rare finish, Johnny Marr had a Green sunburst Tele. I want it
I'd consider it a set-thru neck construction .....6k too much..
but it's real nice
Currently building my first guitar - a multiscale (24"/25.5") set neck telecaster :D will do the joint just like on this one - looks incredible!!!
Get a Baja telecaster. It’s basically the same thing minus all the pretty sparkly appointments
The Baja Telecaster has even more switching functions. In addition to the 4-Way switch there is a push-button on the volume knob that throws the pickups out-of-phase like a Stratocaster. Baja Telecaster is a totally underrated guitar.
Oh yes, and thank you for adding to my ongoing chihuahua synchronicity, Austin! X-))
Try to see if you can find a telecaster jr. I have one from 1993. They were all mahogany body, set neck, strat bridge and had p90 pickups. They were custom shop only for a while. Only building 100 per year. In the later 90s they were standard production. Really cool telecasters.
I know this video is a year old but Merle was in San Quentin and saw Johnny Cash when he made that album there.
Oh the tuff dog tele,,,, Merle had many Jack Russel terriers and they were all named Tuffy!!!!!
I'll take me one of those !
Гитара огонь стоит наверно не меньше 3х штук баксов, это факт, я себе такую хочу и уже давно, но денег ещё не накопил сцсукааааааа, пилят, как она звучит, это не Китай ебаный, это Штаты, пилят и умеют же делать, почему остальные. Все рукожопые, то звука нет, то ещё что то отвалится, а здесь Шедевр, вот надо её купить, и будет мне женщина, на века, вот это настоящая грация, какой изгиб, сэксуальный, а как говорит, поёт вообще, аналогов в мире нет, не, ворчит, не орёт, только обращайся с ней как с Королевой, и она тем же тебе оплатит на всю жизнь, вот только одна проблема, нужны деньги, какие то 3000 долларов и все писец всем, это будет что то но ещё не то.
What a piece of art, great upload, man! So...rosewood skunk strip? Looks a bit like walnut to me....
Merle and Waylon absolutely kick a***