John 5 (ex-Marilyn Manson) uses a Tele and Slipknot axeman Jim Root uses a range of Fenders for his sound, including a Tele fitted with high output humbuckers; check out the Squier version here. How to Choose the Right Guitar String Gauges? Roli Banned Joined Jun 28, 2005 Posts 2,458 Location Hungary No, but it's a good bass guitar and cello. Please check the fields highlighted in red. Fender Telecasters are increasingly becoming a popular choice for playing jazz, but what's the Fender Ultra . Nowadays, the main MIM Tele is called the Fender Player Telecaster, but on the used market here on Reverb, you'll also find many labeled as the "Standard Telecaster.". If you dont necessarily need a Telecaster, you can also check out the Fender Player Jazzmaster. There are a few key things to consider when looking for the best Telecaster for you. Famous players included Joe Trohman from Fall Out Boy who played the model religiously throughout the bands extensive pop-punk career. Hereof, how are player Telecasters routed? It's not only the tone that is beautiful - the relic'ed Chocolate sunburst finish provides a stunning and subtle twist on the iconic burst that Fender is so well known for. These are the 7 reasons why every metalhead needs a cheap Telecaster. They vary between models, but if you prefer something a little thinner, then maybe look out for a Modern C neck, which is a slightly flatter version of their popular 60s profile. When it comes to pricing, its not exactly a cheap guitar, but its not as expensive as some of the high-end Telecasters that are made in the USA. At some point in their lives, every guitar player begins to lust after a Telecaster. The project Tele was also out of whack, with its bridge pickup measuring 4/64 and 2/64 (treble and bass) and neck measuring 2/64 and 4/64. 211457986. The Player is arguably the Tele that offers the best value for money, in our opinion. The Telecaster owns country music. The Telecaster and Bigsby vibrato have been mates since the early 50s. Firstly, well have a look at the specs and the main advantages of that guitar. It's just a shame there isn't a black with maple 'board option like Keef's Read the full Fender American Original '70s Telecaster Custom review. wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. In 1959 the Custom Telecaster and Custom Esquire were launched. Good topic! The Performer Telecaster Hum is the lowest price American-built model in the current Fender catalogue. Slung low around a cadaverous Keith Richards' shoulders it became a sought after classic despite being made during Fender's worst decade for quality control. The Thinline only weighs 6.5lb which is a very light and forgiving guitar to wear for 2-hour gigs. If youre a big spender, then wed look at the Fender American Ultra Telecaster. Start by setting all of your guitar pickups to 3/32 (0.093, 2.38mm) on the bass side and 2/32 (1/16, 0.0625, 1.98mm) on the treble side. Sign up here. In the same way as its partner Stratocaster, the Telecaster is a truly versatile guitar used in many music genres. What Genre Is Telecaster Best For? Thinline Telecaster vs Solid Body Telecaster? - Tone Topics This guitar also features the Fender Greasebucket tone circuit which allows you to roll off the treble without adding bass. Due to the number of different ranges of Teles available, they vary in price too and its worth knowing the difference between these guitars. If you're after a heavier or denser sound, these types of Teles are a good bet. This is a forum where guitarists, from novice to experienced, can explore the world of guitar through a variety of media and discussion. This is the Telecaster hot rodded for players that want bang up to date tone and playability. Cookie Notice VDOMDHTMLtml>. I always loved playing on Telecasters and although I like the classic Tele twang, having a bit of more power thanks to two humbuckers is really appealing. Here, an elite crew of luthiers release specialized creations and made-to-order inspirational pieces. Nowadays, the pre-CBS era guitars are much more highly regarded, sought after, and expensive. There's a 10" to 14" compound radius fingerboard to allow for the lowest possible action above the 12th fret, and easy chording in the open positions. The Wide-Range humbuckers offer great note separation and clarity no matter how intense the distortion gets. The traditional 3-saddle Telecaster bridge is considered the holy grail of Tele tone, and many traditionalists wont play a Tele without a 3-saddle bridge. In todays article, Im going to take a very close look on that unique model. Barry Cadogan plays Rory Gallagher's iconic guitar and amp rigs including that '61 Strat! MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. John 5 (ex-Marilyn Manson) uses a Tele and Slipknot axeman Jim Root uses a range of Fenders for his sound, including a Tele fitted with high output humbuckers; check out the Squier version here. They are comfortable to play and they are loved by all-level players. If youre not a right-handed player, the only thing that you can do is to get a regular Player Tele with single-coils and then replace the pickups with a set of humbuckers. Many big-name country-pop idols like Brad Paisley and Kenney Chesney are fiends for a classic Telecaster Standard. They are comfortable to play and they are loved by all-level players. Theres also the Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster if you want something slightly more refined. How do I set up my Telecaster guitar properly? The Fender Telecaster's straightforward, streamlined, and simple design has been at the forefront of guitar music since the early 1950s. Broaden your sonic horizons without breaking the bank! So strap in and let's find the best Telecaster for you. If you're willing to fiddle around with . 9 Best Telecaster Style Copy Guitars (2023) | Guitar Advise 2 probywan1337 4 yr. ago Teles work for anything imo. Driven by two Player Plus Noiseless single coil pickups, you get plenty of Tele twang, minus any extraneous noise. Position 3 bypassed the tone control, instead, it offered a bass pre-set which has a slightly decreased output and a fixed treble roll-off. It features some recognizable components from the real model, from the vintage tuners to the black pickguard. If you're all about the classic two single-coil Tele layout then you'll be more than happy here. The package is completed by a smooth operating Licensed Bigsby B-50 wiggle stick, natch. DiMarzio Twang King; 6. As time has marched on there have been many iterations of Telecaster, adding humbuckers, tremolos, updated bridges, and lots of other hardware tweaks, but the humble Tele has always remained one of the worlds most popular instruments. A lot of guitarists like to get their action as low as possible without getting fret buzz. This puts them in high demand for the precision of modern music styles. If you dont know which case you should bay, check out my article about 8 Best Gig Bags For Telecasters. 5/64 (2 mm) 4/64 (1.6 mm) 4/64 (1.6 mm), 4/64 (1.6 mm) 4/64 (1.6 mm) 3/64 (1.2 mm), Low E: 1.6mm (.063) High E: 1.5mm (.059), Low E: 2.5mm (.098) High E: 2.4mm (.094), Low E: 3.5mm+ (.138) High E: 3.4mm+ (.134). June 6, 2022 by Joe Nevin ACTION >> Click to read more << Furthermore, are telecasters good for metal? The electronics - most specifically the pickups - are a pair of custom-designed Jason Isbell Telecaster pickups made in conjunction with the pickup wizard Tim Shaw. These two humbuckers offer a lot of tonal opportunities, so this Tele is perfect for anyone who likes to experiment with their tone. Telecaster Buying Guide: Find the Best Telecaster for You - Reverb Stones and Led Zeppelin built the foundation of modern rock with Teles. The first notable difference we see is the controls being simplified in 1952. At the same time, its "jangly" and "twangy" tone found its use in blues, jazz, and some subgenres of rock music. Even though the Tele Standard is still the go-to choice for country players, Fenders Thinline Model is what serves up a truly unique country tone. This lightweight version offers a more warm and resonant Tele tone. The American Original improves on the '70s made model with a gloss nitrocellulose finish for the neck and body. Surely, its worth every cent. Lindy Fralin Blues Special Tele Pickups; 2. The pickups are a big one - a pair of single coils will give you a more traditional Tele sound. Hopefully, this guide will help you to find out if this guitar is suitable for you and your style of playing! In my opinion, this Telecaster exceeds all the expectations. Seymour Duncan Jerry Donahue Lead Tele Pickup; 3. How much does it cost to string a guitar? Although there was the addition of a pickup selector switch, the majority of Esquires produced only included a single pickup. If you prefer humbuckers, you should try the wide ranges of a Thinline Telecaster. Explore our collection of buying guides across all instrument types. By looking at the development of the Telecaster through the years, its easy to see that certain genres favour certain models. If you are a single coil guy, a normal Telecaster might work better for you. In fact, the idea of modding a Tele is no foreign concept in the world of the country with many players opting for different body woods and pickup modifications. Not only were the heights of these pickups all over the map, the Teles neck pickup was loose and wobbly. Fender Player Telecaster HH is a really versatile guitar, so it can be used by pretty much all guitarists out there. The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section. Keith Richards famously modded his 50s Telecaster by replacing the stock neck pickup with a P.A.F humbucker. 3,363 IQ. Up until now, all Esquires, Broadcasters, Nocasters, and Telecasters were produced in a Blonde (now called Butterscotch) finish with a black pickguard. As I mentioned before, this Tele can be used in all kinds of music genres. No matter how advanced you are, you will definitely benefit from adding this guitar to your own collection. The semi-hollow body adds a really resonant voice to it, giving you a great mix of sound that goes between traditional Tele and semi-hollow sounds. Firstly, in some cases the guitars from the Player Series tend to have a problem with the original string action. Guitars can have good, high-quality materials and looks, but it is the . Knowing what wood any particular Telecaster uses is important, since it is one of the main elements contributing to that signature twangy tone. Most of the guitars prior to the Tele were hollow bodies and were prone to feedback - using a solid piece of wood to mount the pickups in helped solve this problem. 5 Best Electric Guitars For Small Hands (2023) - Killer Guitar Rigs The Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified Teles are some of the best value for money instruments on the market. BA1 1UA. Emerging out of building Hawaiian style lap steels, Leo Fender wanted to try producing a solid body electric guitar. There have been minor changes to the design over the years and models with features that differ from the archetypical design. The short answer is YES! 7 Best Pickups For Telecaster (Blues, Rock, Metal) - 2023 - Producer Hive In addition, as the owner of the Telecaster patent, Fender provides a solid, affordable Telecaster spinoff that is built very similarly to the original model. Notable differences at this step-up level of Teles include both increased attention to aesthetics, noticeable hardware and electronics improvements, as well as use of better tonewoods. The truth is that Fender Player Telecaster HH offers an absolutely amazing quality. The Telecaster plays an equally large (if not larger) role in the world of country music. As with most Fender vintage instruments, a holy grail pre-CBS build (before 1965) will cost you an arm and a leg. We also appreciate the vintage feel of the 21 narrow tall frets and a proper gloss urethane finish. If youre a country nut at heart then theres nothing wrong with a classic Telecaster Standard. Their Japanese counterparts also offer increased varieties of craftsmanship quality, as well as an expanded range of finish options that give them an almost boutique feel. JBE Pickups Danny Gatton T-Style; 5. A foolproof guide to finding your perfect Fender Telecaster - Happy Mag 25 Fender Telecaster tips, mods and upgrades - Guitar.com That's what the Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster is all about. This incredible guitar is still going strong today and we make sure weve always got a massive selection of the best Fender Teles here at Andertons! I suppose for me it started when I heard the sounds guys like Adrian Ingram, Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanon, Ed Bickert, etc archieved. The Telecasters scale length is 25.5 inches (648 mm). Rock and Telecasters have gone together like bacon and eggs. All in all, this is just about the coolest looking budget guitar you'll find under $/500. Popular Mexican Fenders include the affordable Player Series and the vintage-inspired Vintera Teles. In the late 1960s, the increased popularity of heavy rock meant that the Telecasters single coils couldnt match the thick sound and extended sustain of humbucking pickups. The Fender Ultra Telecaster: is it any good for jazz - YouTube. Players like a neck humbucker on a Tele for a number of reasons. If you need a high-performance, road-worthy, versatile Telecaster, then this could well be it. With the guitar having single coils I find I can get a lot more clarity and accurate sounds where as if you use humbuckers you can really get lost in the mix. 21 medium jumbo frets and a modern 9.5" fingerboard radius make for a low action (aka string height) and slinky string bending. Read the full Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster review. The bridge saddles, baseplate, and bridge pickup are all interlinked, creating the bright and spanky tone of a Tele. Is Keith Richards overrated guitar player? Check Price at Sweetwater. By now Gibson was already producing Les Paul Customs, so the Custom Tele was seen as Fenders response, a higher cost, classier version of the standard Telecaster. . Vintage-correct appointments like the three-bolt neck plate, bent steel saddles, and vintage tuners will keep purists happy, but this instrument can more than hold its own with more modern guitars thanks to those amazing wide-range humbuckers. As Fender shuffled the deck over the last few years, it meant the retirement and rebranding of some of the long-standing lines built in its Corona, California facility. I'm Dave and I'm the founder of Best Guitars Now. There are quite a few different bridge designs that have been attempted over the years, and each has pros and cons to their respective designs. you! That said, for us, it deals with heavy metal just as well as it does blues, pop and country. Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Theyre made with great hardware and pickups and can definitely be used as pro instruments. Position 3 activates the neck pickup but without the tone circuit engaged. What's "hum"? In 1958 custom colour options became available for an extra 5% fee. Summing up, the main cons of that guitar are: But overall, the advantages of Fender Player Telecaster HH outweigh the disadvantages of that guitar. If youre in the market for an all-in original, a true vintage guitar is the best route. Peavey Reactor Telecasters.. Any good? - Bare Knuckle Pickups Our pick of the best Telecasters that prove Leo Fenders first born is still the most versatile guitar design of all time. Paisley even boasts his own signature model with a custom-wound 64 Tele bridge pickup for extra western flair. There is a range of estimates on how many of these were made, ranging from fifty to five hundred. Fenders Player Plus Series is amongst the best value-for-money guitars weve seen here. Competitive prices in the EU & selected countries worldwide. Natural Only (With Maple Fingerboard), 2-Colour Sunburst, Arctic White, Black, Butterscotch Blonde (With Maple Fingerboard); Competition Orange, Race Green, Race Red, Slick Silver (With Indian Laurel Fingerboard), Maple With Tinted Gloss Urethane Finish, Bolt-on, 2 x Fender Designed Wide-Range Humbuckers, 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone, Three-Way Pickup Selector Switch, Nickel Vintage Style Strings-Thru-Body Tele With Chrome Barrel Saddles, Vintage Style Tuners, 2 x Fender Player Series Tele Single Coil, Nickel/Chrome Six-Saddle Strings-Thru-Body Tele Bridge With Steel Block Saddles, Standard Cast/Sealed Tuners, Yes. The Esquire came back into production in 1951 with the addition of an adjustable truss rod. Metalheads are used to "hot"-output muddy sounding humbuckers, and those are awful for songwriting because the only thing those pickups can do well are power chords and soloing. In the neck position, largely thanks to the metal cover, you get a very warm and dark sound guitar tone. Position 2 activates the neck pickup with the volume and tone controls engaged. However, there are various different versions, all offering different pickup variations, different neck profiles, extra features, and of course covering all price ranges. The Telecaster is the guitar that links Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett with bluesman Albert Collins, Dr Feelgood's Lazarus Wilko Johnson with country rebel Waylon Jennings, cadaverous Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie/The Creatures shredder John 5 with Let It Be-era Beatle George, and here's a beauty ex-Smith Johnny Marr with Rick & Francis of Status Quo. Other line-blurring Tele types offer mid-century modern flare (the Meteora) or explore what might have been if the Telecaster was sucked into a black hole with other Fender classics (the Parallel Universe series). Aside from some tonal advantages, humbuckers also cut out the mains hum that occurs when using single-coil pickups, making them especially versatile in the studio. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Cropper was also known to have spotted with an Esquire. For a short period, some guitars were made without a name next to the Fender logo - these are referred to as Nocasters and original versions go for serious money today. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Also available across multiple ranges and from various countries of production, any player can find the right signature model for their budget. Trust me, you wont be disappointed. Both versions look awesome! Try a few and see which you prefer. The Fender Custom Shop truly are the cream of the crop and are the range of guitars that every Fender lover aspires to own one and luckily we keep a large stock of these at any given time! In recent times, virtuoso Julian Lage delivers his fretboard wizardry on a 54 Blackguard. The picks below are ideal for players looking for something old school yet economical. The best Tele for players that like heavier styles, A lightweight Tele with powerful wide-range humbuckers, Maple With Satin Urethane Finish, Bolt-on, Master Volume, Master Tone, Three-Way Pickup Selector Switch, Chrome Six-Saddle Hardtail With Cast Saddles, Standard Die-Cast Tuners, Yes. iconic guitar designs. Telecasters are very versatile Over the past decades, Telecaster got the reputation for being the perfect guitar for country music. Its really tough to find any major flaws of Fender Player Telecaster HH its just a really good and well made guitar. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Lage delivers his fretboard wizardry on a, Mutant bodies and experimental electronics: navigating the unmapped territory of Soviet guitars, P is for perfection: the tale of the Fender Precision Bass, Happys Best New Podcasting Microphones 2023, Fender Player Series: A Celebration of New Classics, Mario Vayne releases stunning anthemic debut Baby, Watch KESMAR Perform 'Is It Me or Is It Love' Live from Happy. Instead, it was named the Esquire: it featured one pickup, a 25-inch scale length, a bolt-on neck, volume and tone controls, symmetrical 3-a-side headstock, and a chrome-covered bridge. Secondly, how big is a Fender Telecaster? Maybe thats because the Telecaster has a reputation for attracting players of technical renown. Best Telecasters 2023 | MusicRadar Above all, the Telecaster Standard is the everymans Tele. If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field FIRST, Then ask the community. Read more abouthow we test music making gear and services at MusicRadar. The biggest tell tale sign that your action is too low is the dreaded fret buzz! Click the button to choose your preferences, Andertons Music Company, St Vincent House, 58-59 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4RF VAT No. Its just a pure high quality by Fender! Well, this guitar features a humbucker in the neck position, just the way Keith Richards likes it. These are often highly modified versions of the US or Mex models and youll normally find them with cool upgrades like dual humbucker pickups or bigsbys. Students and younger players love these guitars because you get a great instrument at a great price. From Squier to Fender loads of different Telecasters to choose from and they all come from a handful of different countries and are made in different factories too. News and Entertainment from Australia's favourite youth publisher, Since the early 50s, the Fender Telecaster has proven itself to be one of. Theres still quite a lot of other great electric guitars out there. and our What is a Fender Blacktop Telecaster? - Guitar Reviewed Given this span, there is almost an endless diversity of form and function in this series. When thinking of Tele tone, there are three major elements that influence that core sound. Whats more, theres also a push-pull tone pot which gives you access to coil-split single-coil tones! The Affinity Telecasters target budget-minded players looking for traditional Telecaster vibe coupled with value pricing and good playability. Blues noodles like the warmth and sustain it can produce. While Telecaster pickups look the same on the surface, there is a surprising variety of tonal and EQ characteristics across the catalog. Privacy Policy. Read the full Fender American Performer Telecaster Hum review. Reddit, Inc. 2023. ), 12 5/8 in. The '70s Telecaster Custom is one of the sexiest electric guitars ever made. It was the first commercially successful solid-body guitar, and remains a best-seller 70+ years on. I particularly recommend this guitar to more advanced guitarists who are searching for a reliable and great sounding piece of gear suitable for recording and live performances. How do I lower the action on my Telecaster? Often these players would customise their guitars to extract the maximum amount of tonal variation. Verdict: Coming from a brand that produces guitars primarily for metal players, the Jackson Dinky X Series Dinky DK3XR worked out really well for small hands, too. Yes, Telecasters are generally really good for guitarists with small hands and short fingers. Fenders Modern C sits somewhere in between these two, offering the best of both worlds. As great as the Squier Affinity is for the price, the brand's Classic Vibe Series offers a significant jump in spec and feel for not much more money and we have found it's one of the best Telecasters if youre on a tight budget. The Tele is a no-nonsense, workhorse of an instrument and easily one of the most recognisable body shapes in the world. Thats not including all of the myriad variations available like Custom Shop, Vintera, and American Vintage models. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. Keith Richards famously modded his 50s Telecaster by replacing the stock neck pickup with a P.A.F humbucker. Considering the fact that these guitars sounds really good and they are not as expensive as American-made Fenders, theyre perfect for live performances. The humble Telecaster has been around since 1951 when it changed the face of guitar-playing forever. The Telecaster has always been loved for its pure simplicity and stunningly clear tones. It was the model that birthed the company and would go onto influence the design for the Precision Bass and the Stratocaster. The proximity of the bridge pickup to the bridge itself produced a unique tone that had the perfect honk for funk. Gibson was already building hollow body electric Spanish style guitars (. What is best model of Fender Telecaster? Lages piece is fairly stock save for its finish, which has been redone a couple of times. Fender Steve Lacy People Pleaser Stratocaster review, "This is a moment I won't forget in a hurry" Richard Fortus is now flying the flag for two great British guitar brands with Guns N' Roses, Learn inspiring guitar chords from Paul McCartney's solo and Wings career. Its a really good piece of gear and although its not a high-end guitar, its definitely worth the money. Position 1 activates the bridge pickup with the volume and tone controls engaged.