Don't forget G&L, they are still Leo Fender designed. I own 3 G&LS and two Squiers T-types and my favorite is the G&L Tribute ASAT Special with Leo's Jumbo MFD pickups. Fantastic guitars in the $500US range.
Which Tele did you like the most, and which one would you like in your collection? Do you have a favourite Tele that I didn't mention here? Let me know! Enjoy :) Tele links: 52 Tele - imp.i114863.net/0JKM5O 60s Tele - imp.i114863.net/L6x3M 72 Deluxe Thinline - imp.i114863.net/ORdvZZ 70s Tele Custom - imp.i114863.net/vn69v3 70s Tele Deluxe - imp.i114863.net/doJPvW
Surprised that I haven’t heard you mention the Nashville tele. Such a great guitar and worlds of possibilities with the Strat pick-up in the middle and 5 way switch. My favorite tele.
I bought a Baja Tele in 2017. I can say without a doubt that is the best guitar I ever played. So versatile with 4 - position switch and S-1 selector for setting the 2 pickups out of phase. You can play everything with only one guitar!
And custom shop pickups and beautiful soft v neck which only comes on premium guitars, and an light ash body that seems to be getting phased out cause of the cost. I would never sell mine.
From Leo: Hard to go wrong with a Telecaster in your collection. An Alnico 2 Strat pickup in the neck of a telecaster is a cheap way to get the better neck sounds while keeping the twang available. Adding a 4 way selector switch works out great too.
I agree - my FMT Tele from Indonesia is my favorite guitar. Those SD pickups clean up nice and rock the heck out without effort. I got the red to black burst and it draws the eyes away from the guitars around it. Its also super light and has very useful curves that make playing it comfortable in all positions.
My favorite Tele is my Fender American Pro 1, 3 tone sunburst. But while I was on vacation last week I found a Baja butterscotch Tele for $450. Just cleaned it, changed the strings and set it up. This may become my favorite- I love that out of phase tone with the s1 switch! As always, great video, DB!
The Baja was part of a line of guitars built in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico from 2007 to 2018 and designed by Custom Shop master builders Dennis Galuzka, Gregory Fessler, and Chris Fleming. The neck is a soft V profile 9.25 radius with 21 medium jumbo frets, and it has a Custom Shop Vintage Broadcaster pickup in the bridge with a Custom Shop Twisted Tele at the neck. It also has an S-1 switch with a 4-way selector that gives the following combinations, S-1 up and down position 1 bridge, position 3 neck, S-1 up position 2 bridge and neck pickups (in parallel), position 4 neck and bridge pickups (in series) (fatter tone than Position 2 and more output than Position 1, 2, or 3), S-1 down position 2 bridge and neck pickups (in parallel) out of phase, position 4 neck and bridge pickups (in series) out of phase. Just a few years ago you could find these used for around $600 which you still can if you look hard, but they average around $800 to $1000 which is still a great deal for what is as close to a Custom Shop Tele that you can get at that price.
I just got a Baja for £500, about $600+, this is in perfect condition, like new. This is not only a standard Telecaster, it is much more interesting due to the custom electrics.
@@charlesflint9048I’m going to get one on eBay just found one in pretty much perfect condition and tying up the serial number found it was from 2007 for £550 I’ll get it
My favorite Tele was mentioned in your list. A 2011 butterscotch blackguard Baja! 6 tones, Ash body, soft V neck, and weighs less that 7 pounds. Sounds amazing and i play it daily!
My Fender substitute was a Glarry GTL in "Burleywood." I put a DiMarzio "Hot T" in the bridge, and my guitar tech did a superb fret job (polish and smooth the ends). Looked good, sounded great, played great, and only weighed 5.7 lbs.
Hey Darrell check out the Fender Vintera 50’s telecaster modified. It’s basically a rebranded Baja telecaster with a new name and a few new colors. Big price tag also 🫤
I have a 1975 Tele Deluxe that I played onstage an estimated 15,000 hours. What a great guitar, it does everything I need a solid body guitar to do. I bought it in '76 from a guy at The Jockey Club in St. Paul for $225 with a HSC.
Tone wise, I think your ultimate Telecaster build from 3 years ago (P-90/single) sounded fantastic and deserves an Honorable Mention (at the very least)!
Im an absolute sucker for the Nashville Tele (even made one myself). Theres a Reverend version, called Pete Anderson Eastsider, which also boasts a Tremolo bridge and I just love it. Also comes with a Strat PU on the neck for extra chimes
I couldn't agree more. I am an absolute sucker for a Nashville Tele. I think the main problem in the past has been you had to either build one or shell out big money to get a good one. The lower end models with Nashville configurations just never really hit the mark. The current Play Plus Nashville is fantastic and probably about the cheapest we have ever seen what I would consider a really good factory Fender Nashville Tele.
AMEN EH! Lol... sorry about the Canadian thing... I bet you're sick of it... Seriously Darrell, I have to thank you and bless you a thousand times! As per your review on "THAT PARTICULAR GUITAR" I pulled the trigger and got one. I'M SOOOOO HAPPY THAT I DID! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Thank you for all of your good advice over the years and THANK YOU FOR NEVER TALKING "DOWN" TO YOUR VIEWERS like so very many "6-string commandos" do. YOU'RE THE BEST! Keep the faith, keep fighting the good fight, and KEEP-ON-A-ROCKIN' God bless and take care...
The 60's Baja Tele is it for me. I own two and I am getting most of my tele's necks to mirror that neck. I am looking for the 50's Baja and plan to have that neck reshaped to the 60's Baja. I am hooked on it. Chris Flemming got it perfect. Good video.
I have the fender 70’s Mexican vintera thinline with the wide range humbuckers, came in on offer for just under £1,000 and in shell pink! It’s a beauty!
Great choices. I almost bought a Squier Classic Vibe 50's, but being such a Strat guy, I went with the Fender Player Plus Nashville Tele in Butterscotch/black guard finish. Just got it about a week ago. What a great guitar!!! Great modern neck. I thought you would include some Nashville model in your list. I also have a Vintage (brand) JD-58 Jerry Donahue signature, a very versatile (with a Strat neck pick-up and an interesting wiring) and very affordable guitar, but I'm not a big fan of the chunky neck. Cheers from Brazil.
Darrel, thanks so much for always being such a positive, transparent, encouraging, and anti-snob conte t creator with your reviews. In a market and culture so full of elitism and mysticism that potentially shrouds the fun of creating art and music, you’re a bright light. Keep creating amazing videos.
My favorite Fender tele is the Parallel Universe Elite Nashville model. I do own a 2016 Fender American Standard Tele as well. For a non-Fender tele my favorite is the Friedman Vintage T.
Just put a Strat single coil on the neck of the Tele. That's what I would do. I think it's sacrilege to have humbuckers in a Tele. It just loses that twang.
I think its sacrilege to put humbuckers on any kind of strat or tele period. Almost any fender for that matter. Thats what fender has jackson and charvel for!
I own both Squier 50's CV Butterscotch and 70's Deluxe version of the Telecaster. Both are ridiculous values for the money! Totally gig worthy in factory spec. Quality fit and finish and great sounding pickups for standard Tele tones right out of the box.
My favorite “Tele” I’ve ever seen is Andy Wood’s signature Suhr Modern T. It’s got 24 frets and silent single coils but damn if it doesn’t sound the part. I’m a sucker for the custom colors and anodized pickguards and it helps that Andy plays them like a friggin’ demon.
I agree with Mr Fender regarding the maple fingerboards. I realize many people love the maple, but the rosewood feels and looks much better to me. It is good to have options.
Thanks again Darrell for an excellent tutorial… I feel that the Tele with the humbucker at the neck and single coil at the bridge, I personally refer that as the TK or Terry Kath… his own modified Tele
Another cool thing Terry Kath did to his Telecaster was to reverse the control knobs so that the volume knob is where the switch is on a standard Tele. You can buy a Fender Custom Shop replica of the TK Tele for a mere $20,000.
Fantastic video and topic !!! 👏 !! Always was a Gibson Les Paul Fan but when I saw Prince play a Tele live I was totally Blown away and And Amazed 👏 😳 !! So I have 2 electric guitar now but if I ever buy a Third it will have to be a Tele !!!
I wanted the Crimson Red Deluxe for a long time. I found a Squier Deluxe Double Fat Telecaster for trade with EMG 81/85's in it. I'm picking it up soon!
Still own my 1993 Fender American 52 Reissue, bought new from Guitar Center for $800 or so. It’s 30 years old and still in mint condition. For $100 more I bought a vintage Fender tweed case. The guitar came will all original materials, identical to those from 1952. Even the wiring was per the original, though it did come with add’l pot and cap to rewire to modern tones. I had a luthier perform that mod about 20 years back, but still have the original parts and wiring schematics.
Thanks for the post. I’m glad to hear you mention Sire. I have a V7 bass and I think it is the best bass for the money. I was hoping the guitars were the same. Do I like it more than my USA fender p or G&L 2000? No, but the sire was less than 1/3 the cost.
My main Tele is the Squier CV 60s, to which I changed the bridge to a flat six-saddle style, and Wilkinson tuners. While you're right in general about Tele neck pickups, the one in the CV sounds marvelous. One of Squier's best sleeper guitars was the Tele Custom II, which was a Custom but with two Duncan-designed P-90s instead of the humbuckers. I have a black one, and love the thing, snarls with distortion but also is great for jazz playing. This particular Tele has a following. Why Fender discontinued it is a head-scratcher. I'd also mention the John 5 Signature, which is great. More modern neck, great-sounding humbuckers. Maybe not the Fender version with the hockey-stick headstock.
EART makes an awesome playing instrument at a very affordable price. Beautiful guitar with compound radius, amazing fretwork with a compound back neck shape. Love the channel.🎸👍
I am a Tele man. I just ordered a FMT because I hate LP necks but need the sound. I also ordered it because of you… so I hope you’re right on this one!!! No pressure brother! 🤣
Nice comprehensive look at Tele's. I had my eye on a 70's Thinline in natural finish, I tried a fender MIM re issue and I didn't like the neck. I couldn't find the Squier version in a store, so I ordered one, I really like it, but it doesn't do the twang thing, which I am alright with! I mostly play an Epi Les Paul 100 modded with import PAFs, it is a cheap, weight relieved model with upgraded pots but the original pickups were the same as the Special (ugh). The two guitars give an incredible variety tones, the LP has a scooped sound and the Tele a little less bass and more midrange. For cheaper guitars they work well.
I have an original 72 Thinline with the Seth Lover pups and recently got a 60’s Squier Custom double bound/burst Tele. I’ve owned the 72 since 1980 and those pickups have some serious spank to them and it plays like a dream. I was really impressed with the Squier build quality and the neck is beautiful, bone nut and stock pups are pretty good and an awesome price but that NATO body is surprisingly heavy… but it sounds and plays great. I’ve enjoyed your channel for some time now and I love that you’re a Canuck like me! Thanks eh!
@Dave WrobelCouldn’t agree. Since when do you get a prize for making a comment…I was born at night.. but not last night. I refuse to use what’s app or any other Facebook product. Call me old school but I actually talk to the people I “ like.” Glad I’m not the only skeptic!
I have a mij fender telecaster with a single coil in the bridge and a P90 in the neck. Plays great and gives a totally different tonal combinations. It needs to be part of any telecaster collection.
I didn't know about this model, but it would be close to perfect for my taste! My choice amongst guitars that are currently produced would be the Schecter PT Special with pretty much the same specs. Fender currently doesn't have something like your P90-equipped Tele in their lineup. You can't go wrong with an MIJ Fender!
I was literally re-stringing my Tele Deluxe 70’s Reissue Road Worn in White watching your video. I was thinking to myself seriously why doesn’t this make the list and then you mentioned my exact guitar at the end on your personal list. I nearly fell over. Thank you that 70’s Deluxe with the dual humbuckers gives any Gibson a run for its money with lots of dirt added. Then somehow still gets a Tele twang on the bridge pickup. I know it’s not that Tele traditional but boy I love that guitar.
I really enjoy your videos. I play keyboard, guitar and other instruments and can identify the real teachers from the amateurs (many of whom are good). You are a pro! I bought a Telly Nashville (shown in the pic). They say the instrument was created at the request of Nashville session players who wanted the traditional Telly sound and a strat sound so they put a strat pickup in the middle. So it’s a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll like Donny and Marie.😎
The 60s Telecasters were also the first Telecasters with double bound bodies. When they were first introduced in 1959 - 1960 they were called the Telecaster Custom. I always wanted one so in 2021 I bought a Squier Classic Vibe 3 color vintage sunburst Telecaster. I had the pickguard, pickup cavities and control cavities grounded and shielded. Next I had the control pots changed to the Fender CTS ones and the pickup selector switch. Lastly I had a set of Fender "64 Telecaster pickups put in it. Now it looks, plays and sound like it should.
Darrell , last year I picked up a Monoprice Idio tele style and put Fender Tex-Mex telepickup set and that guitar plays and sounds phenomenal , so for right around $ 200 bucks I added a tele to my collection .That guitar came out of the box with a really good set up ,I did lower the strings a little bit , but that's it .I am so happy with it , because , frankly , I wasn't sure I would really like the tele sound since I play mostly classic rock and old school metal , but yeah I'm lovin it . PS You always playing teles made me want one , so a huge THANK YOU DARRELL !
I thought you were going to mention the Charvel at the end of the video - although it is a Fender at the end of the day, it has so many additional features that it be worth it showing up in the honorable mention part
Your past review of the Schecter PT Special was the final reason of resulting to fatten up my Tele with a P90 neck pickup and of over 5yrs of upgrading, that was the best one next to installing a 4-way switch.
I recently built a kit tele. Had no idea until this that it had deluxe style double h's, 60s style switches and pickguard, and i chose to do it in 70s seafoam green! Haha
I have two Tele’s a Mexican Standard, and a Jim Root Squier. I love them both! Telecasters are definitely my favorite guitars to play, right next to PRS.
Have one of those Indonesian FMT HH in black Cherry burst It’s a pretty Hot Tele and a Fender Rarity Red Mahogany top, stock with Twisted neck pickup and 50’s bridge - fantastic Tele. Liked all your recommendations
Last year, I bought a Squier Thinline Tele from CME. It was a special run that only was sold by CME and Anderton's. Black with a silver anodized pick guard, it looks and plays great! I've seen a couple on resale sites, listed as Classic Vibe. I also have a seafoam green Fender with dual humbuckers, so two of your five are in my music room. Thanks for a great video!
Should have mentioned the Charvel Tele you did a video on. I have one too, and it's amazing. It's one of my two "daily drivers." Thanks for another great video!
Got an '09 Baja for less than 1/2 of what theyre going for....the neck is based on the early 50's necks that Tadeo Gomez made for Fender....with the same "broadcaster" bridge p/u from the custom shop and a twisted tele neck....CAME STOCK! Excellent all round
I'm a Gibson Les Paul guy but I wanted to dabble in the tele sound so I got a Squire Bullet Tele. I replaced the electrics with Fender Pure Vintage pickups and a 920D T4W-C wiring kit. I also did a complete setup including some fret work. It sounds and plays fantastically with a minimal investment!
Man, I’m so glad you mentioned Sire. They are the best bang for your buck! I absolutely love my white antique Sire T7. I’ll never sell it! Close your eyes and you think you’re playing a top of the line Fender.
I bought a Glarry Thinline and modified it a bit. Kind of the same one featured here before but the Natural finish version. Really enjoying the play and feel of it.
I've recently become a huge fan of Kiesel guitars (I ordered a 6 string bass and LP-style guitar). They have the Solo and Retro Solo to fit the T-style flavor. They're not "cheap' but a great value for a custom spec USA made guitar
Fender Japan Modern Telecaster. Twin humbuckers, binding, compound radius rosewood fretboard, satin neck, locking tuners, body contours & bone nut. That's another superb Telecaster.
Bought the FMT on your recommendation mainly. Managed to get one before the price went up. Fantastic guitar. Used mainly for Worship but it can do anything well.
Mate, your dark horse became my main one (having two players of fender and sire version as well). Thank you for the previous video on fender tele les paul! It has run the purchase! However I need to admit that sire telecaster and Mexican polarwhite playerseries by fender are gorgeously looking and sounding as well!😊
Have the Squier Classic Vibe Butterscotch Tele with the brass saddles and Tone Rider pups from 2013 and a 1993 Mexican Tele in Lake Placid Blue that I put in the Vintage Noiseless pups. Great necks on both of those guitars.
I never understood the Telecaster besides it's reputation and heritage as one of the early classics, until I picked up a 2017 FMT, that is. All Tele's I'd played until then had had blocky bodies, stamped tin plate bridges, baseball bat necks, bulky bolt-on neck joints and single coils only. The just 2 years old second-hand crimson red FMT with cream trim I picked up for €700 from a local shop is just a superb and beautiful guitar. Unlike any Tele before it actually feels good against you, whether on your feet or seated. In addition it also plays really well both technically and tonally. It's become my number 1 guitar for any occasion. HB's with a coil split, a carved, slim and ergonomic body that weighs about half of my 70's Ibanez LP, a modern slim set neck that blends smoothly into the body. What were they thinking before and what took them so long? Maybe the fact that Leo Fender had recently been developing similar iterations of the original with G&L had something to do with it?
I have a 2004 Highway One Tele, sunburst with maple fretboard, and a 2013 American Standard Tele in Jade Green Metallic with rosewood board. Love them both!
I'm surprised you left out the Nashville Tele with the strat middle pickup. More tonal options for a Tele and the #4 position with the neck and middle combined is killer!!
I have the newer version the roadworn tele and it really is phenomenal. It feels like an American tele that someone really played for 30 years. So comfortable. When I showed my guitar teacher, he had no idea whatsoever it wasn't an old guitar.
Blacktop Tele came and went, no one noticed... but me. It is a 2 humbucker Alnico V slightly overwound.... tele controls except reversed Volume, Tone and THEN the switch closest to output jack. I love this guitar.
Darrell, I was hoping you would have mentioned the Fender Classic Player Triple Tele. It's a 1950's-style Tele with 3 Nocaster bridge pickups, 5-way switcher, 3 brass saddles, black body with black pick guard, maple neck with vintage-style tuners. It's a Fender Custom Shop designed limited-edition model, made in Mexico. The guitar, unfortunately, is no longer being produced, but they're still available. Wish you would get your hands on one. (Btw: a lot of people confuse this guitar with the Nashville Tele, but it's not.)
Great video as always Darryl and you get my blood pumping I am going to start looking for a Roadworn. I will have to look for a used probably but that’s fine. Thanks again always enjoy your channel
As a bass player learning guitar over the past few months, I got a sunburst Squier tele custom in a pawn shop for $120 that cost $489 new, and it's the best value I've ever got out of any instrument I've ever bought, and I've owned about two dozen basses; I like to play country mostly, but with the bridge single coil and neck humbucker can literally play any style of music with one guitar, which is good for me since I already spend a ton of money on other instruments and can't afford to have a bunch of guitars around. Maybe I got lucky with squier QC but the electronics sound amazing too and don't need to be swapped at all, it's a great great guitar and one of the best on this list for under 500 dollars
2010 picked up MIM special factory Tele butterscotch w reverse plate, jumbo frets thin neck 3 piece brass bridge, 500 bucks, just changed lead to dimarzio area noise cancel. Never looked back
Picked up a new FGN Tele from Japan (Fujigen plant) couple months ago....excellent with Seymour Duncans, barrel saddles, 4-way switch, innovative frets (called C.F.S.), masterfully built...under $1000...made an offer which they took for $850. An American G&L tele with MFD's is also a great choice...mine has a 50's neck. Rocks.
I own the Indonesia made fender custom telecaster, I bought it from sweetwater but returned the first one because the nut was cut wrong, but the second one I got was perfect. I love how it plays and how it sounds. I highly recommend this guitar for anyone that wants a les paul vibe and a classic telecaster sounding guitar, it got the best of both worlds. The fret board is flatter than most telecasters and built for speed.
My first Tele was the Vintera 70s Custom in fiesta red, definitely the first guitar I ever bought that I knew I'd never get rid of no matter what! The only thing I've changed on it is the bridge, put a stetsbar on it and it's absolutely killer! I love the pickups so much too, of any Tele I've played since the bridge sounds especially hot and the wide range neck pickup is buttery smooth! I don't plan to swap the pickups out any time soon, it literally sounds perfect.
Hi Darrell, I've been a subscriber for a few months and love your channel. I purchased a '74 Tele, new (at Manny's Music in NYC, that was fun) and a few years ago bought the Special Edition (this one with a spalted maple top). What a revelation compared to the '74... lighter, thinner neck (which I find easier to play), great tones. I also cannot recommend it highly enough.
Darrell, Another well done video. I am a BIG fan of the Classic Vibe series. I think it is the best bang for the buck. I have a 2015 American standard Tele and the 60's Squire CV thin line. I play the CV 95% more. With me , its all about the neck. If it doesn't feel right ,I put it down. As I have hands on the smaller side ( I think) the 60's CV feels amazing. I think it would be a good choice for a beginner also. jeff
I really enjoyed this video. There are many telecaster model's that i really like. I owned a 90's custom telecaster that I really loved and I have a 1994 telecaster in sunburst with a maple fingerboard that is just a fun guitar to play. The recent custom with Seymour Duncan's looks like a winner, too! Thanks Darrell.
My three favorite "sounding" Telecasters were all made of the same woods: Maple neck and fretboard, Poplar body. Each had beautiful tone and incredible sustain. I think they were all kit guitars. Unfortunately, I don't know what kind of pickups they had.
@@maxs.5163 Yeah, Poplar seems to be an excellent wood for guitar bodies when combined with Maple necks, so much so that I noticed it's use. It is not a very nice looking wood, so painting it is common. I think it's also become more popular in Kits because it's inexpensive as well.
Thank you for this honest demonstration of the TELEs. I own two G&Ls (that last Leo Fender did)... Like the way you promote these 'foreign made' Teles. Thank you for this.
Don't forget G&L, they are still Leo Fender designed. I own 3 G&LS and two Squiers T-types and my favorite is the G&L Tribute ASAT Special with Leo's Jumbo MFD pickups. Fantastic guitars in the $500US range.
Yes! Funny, I also have three G&Ls. Bought one, really liked it, then the next thing I knew it multiplied into three G&Ls. All really good.
Imo the harley benton te20, harley benton hh20bk, harley benton te62,
Ridiculously underrated guitars! I have only two of them: the one you described, and an S500 Tribute. I love MFDs.
Tokai, Fujigen, those have great quality on their classic category T copy.
Yep!! I have a G&L tele too and it is awesome!
Which Tele did you like the most, and which one would you like in your collection?
Do you have a favourite Tele that I didn't mention here? Let me know! Enjoy :)
Tele links:
52 Tele - imp.i114863.net/0JKM5O
60s Tele - imp.i114863.net/L6x3M
72 Deluxe Thinline - imp.i114863.net/ORdvZZ
70s Tele Custom - imp.i114863.net/vn69v3
70s Tele Deluxe - imp.i114863.net/doJPvW
Definitely want your black one let’s make a deal lol
I like the black telecaster, from all your telecasters. This is the most beautiful tele i ever seen.
Surprised that I haven’t heard you mention the Nashville tele. Such a great guitar and worlds of possibilities with the Strat pick-up in the middle and 5 way switch. My favorite tele.
My goto favorite is the 8502 American ash tele. Always my come back to guitar.
I have the Indonesian tele
I bought a Baja Tele in 2017. I can say without a doubt that is the best guitar I ever played. So versatile with 4 - position switch and S-1 selector for setting the 2 pickups out of phase. You can play everything with only one guitar!
And custom shop pickups and beautiful soft v neck which only comes on premium guitars, and an light ash body that seems to be getting phased out cause of the cost. I would never sell mine.
My favorite also
From Leo: Hard to go wrong with a Telecaster in your collection. An Alnico 2 Strat pickup in the neck of a telecaster is a cheap way to get the better neck sounds while keeping the twang available. Adding a 4 way selector switch works out great too.
I agree - my FMT Tele from Indonesia is my favorite guitar. Those SD pickups clean up nice and rock the heck out without effort. I got the red to black burst and it draws the eyes away from the guitars around it. Its also super light and has very useful curves that make playing it comfortable in all positions.
Just ordered the same one… hoping it can take the place of the Les Paul’s that I love to hate!!! 🤣
My favorite Tele is my Fender American Pro 1, 3 tone sunburst. But while I was on vacation last week I found a Baja butterscotch Tele for $450. Just cleaned it, changed the strings and set it up. This may become my favorite- I love that out of phase tone with the s1 switch! As always, great video, DB!
Great find!
The Baja was part of a line of guitars built in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico from 2007 to 2018 and designed by Custom Shop master builders Dennis Galuzka, Gregory Fessler, and Chris Fleming. The neck is a soft V profile 9.25 radius with 21 medium jumbo frets, and it has a Custom Shop Vintage Broadcaster pickup in the bridge with a Custom Shop Twisted Tele at the neck. It also has an S-1 switch with a 4-way selector that gives the following combinations, S-1 up and down position 1 bridge, position 3 neck, S-1 up position 2 bridge and neck pickups (in parallel), position 4 neck and bridge pickups (in series) (fatter tone than Position 2 and more output than Position 1, 2, or 3), S-1 down position 2 bridge and neck pickups (in parallel) out of phase, position 4 neck and bridge pickups (in series) out of phase. Just a few years ago you could find these used for around $600 which you still can if you look hard, but they average around $800 to $1000 which is still a great deal for what is as close to a Custom Shop Tele that you can get at that price.
I just got a Baja for £500, about $600+, this is in perfect condition, like new.
This is not only a standard Telecaster, it is much more interesting due to the custom electrics.
@@charlesflint9048I’m going to get one on eBay just found one in pretty much perfect condition and tying up the serial number found it was from 2007 for £550 I’ll get it
My favorite Tele was mentioned in your list. A 2011 butterscotch blackguard Baja! 6 tones, Ash body, soft V neck, and weighs less that 7 pounds. Sounds amazing and i play it daily!
I have a Baja as my main! Been playing it for years. So good!
I love my mom's 1960's Fender Placid Blue Telecaster made in Japan.
My dream guitar. Hopefully I will own one one fine day.
Albert Collins, the Ice Man, made me a fan of that guitar.
My Fender substitute was a Glarry GTL in "Burleywood." I put a DiMarzio "Hot T" in the bridge, and my guitar tech did a superb fret job (polish and smooth the ends). Looked good, sounded great, played great, and only weighed 5.7 lbs.
I guess the mod costs were twice that of the purchase?
@@fritsvanzanten3573 Pretty much, and that's what I bought it for - a mod platform. The light weight was an unexpected bonus.
Does the light weight make it neck heavy?
@@geespar1 I thought it was pretty balanced.
Sounds like you ended up with a really nice guitar :)
Glad you mentioned the Baja. Love my 08 Baja, 1st Tele I’ve owned and probably the best electric I’ve played. Converted me to Teles.
Hey Darrell check out the Fender Vintera 50’s telecaster modified. It’s basically a rebranded Baja telecaster with a new name and a few new colors. Big price tag also 🫤
I have a 1975 Tele Deluxe that I played onstage an estimated 15,000 hours. What a great guitar, it does everything I need a solid body guitar to do. I bought it in '76 from a guy at The Jockey Club in St. Paul for $225 with a HSC.
I absolutely love my 2012 American Vintage ‘52 but I also would like to own a Deluxe someday.
Tone wise, I think your ultimate Telecaster build from 3 years ago (P-90/single) sounded fantastic and deserves an Honorable Mention (at the very least)!
Im an absolute sucker for the Nashville Tele (even made one myself). Theres a Reverend version, called Pete Anderson Eastsider, which also boasts a Tremolo bridge and I just love it. Also comes with a Strat PU on the neck for extra chimes
The Eastsider is definitely a great non-Fender Tele option. They even make a baritone version on the Eastsider.
Thanks for bringing this option to my attention!
I couldn't agree more. I am an absolute sucker for a Nashville Tele. I think the main problem in the past has been you had to either build one or shell out big money to get a good one. The lower end models with Nashville configurations just never really hit the mark. The current Play Plus Nashville is fantastic and probably about the cheapest we have ever seen what I would consider a really good factory Fender Nashville Tele.
That black 60s Tele with the gold hardware looks awesome. It goes great with the rosewood fingerboard.
AMEN EH! Lol... sorry about the Canadian thing... I bet you're sick of it...
Seriously Darrell, I have to thank you and bless you a thousand times! As per your review on "THAT PARTICULAR GUITAR" I pulled the trigger and got one. I'M SOOOOO HAPPY THAT I DID! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
Thank you for all of your good advice over the years and THANK YOU FOR NEVER TALKING "DOWN" TO YOUR VIEWERS like so very many "6-string commandos" do. YOU'RE THE BEST!
Keep the faith, keep fighting the good fight, and KEEP-ON-A-ROCKIN'
God bless and take care...
I am not a Tele fan, but I only thought it fair to give it a try, so I am building one modeled after Terry Kath's axe, in its wiring.
The 60's Baja Tele is it for me. I own two and I am getting most of my tele's necks to mirror that neck. I am looking for the 50's Baja and plan to have that neck reshaped to the 60's Baja. I am hooked on it. Chris Flemming got it perfect. Good video.
I have a 2008 Nashville Tele with B-bender. Made in Corona, CA, and just outta sight.
I have the fender 70’s Mexican vintera thinline with the wide range humbuckers, came in on offer for just under £1,000 and in shell pink! It’s a beauty!
Great choices.
I almost bought a Squier Classic Vibe 50's, but being such a Strat guy, I went with the Fender Player Plus Nashville Tele in Butterscotch/black guard finish.
Just got it about a week ago. What a great guitar!!! Great modern neck.
I thought you would include some Nashville model in your list.
I also have a Vintage (brand) JD-58 Jerry Donahue signature, a very versatile (with a Strat neck pick-up and an interesting wiring) and very affordable guitar, but I'm not a big fan of the chunky neck.
Cheers from Brazil.
I have the 70’s reissue deluxe in black that was made in 04-09. I absolutely love it.
I like the recommendations. I would also add a Nashville telecaster on that list somewhere.
Darrel, thanks so much for always being such a positive, transparent, encouraging, and anti-snob conte t creator with your reviews. In a market and culture so full of elitism and mysticism that potentially shrouds the fun of creating art and music, you’re a bright light.
Keep creating amazing videos.
My favorite Fender tele is the Parallel Universe Elite Nashville model. I do own a 2016 Fender American Standard Tele as well. For a non-Fender tele my favorite is the Friedman Vintage T.
Just put a Strat single coil on the neck of the Tele. That's what I would do. I think it's sacrilege to have humbuckers in a Tele. It just loses that twang.
That must look weird though. You don’t like any of the neck single coil options?
I think its sacrilege to put humbuckers on any kind of strat or tele period. Almost any fender for that matter. Thats what fender has jackson and charvel for!
I own both Squier 50's CV Butterscotch and 70's Deluxe version of the Telecaster. Both are ridiculous values for the money! Totally gig worthy in factory spec. Quality fit and finish and great sounding pickups for standard Tele tones right out of the box.
Just got a Sire T7 with roasted maple neck & fretboard, locking tuners, etc. Pickups are great Highly recommend.
My favorite “Tele” I’ve ever seen is Andy Wood’s signature Suhr Modern T. It’s got 24 frets and silent single coils but damn if it doesn’t sound the part. I’m a sucker for the custom colors and anodized pickguards and it helps that Andy plays them like a friggin’ demon.
I agree with Mr Fender regarding the maple fingerboards. I realize many people love the maple, but the rosewood feels and looks much better to me. It is good to have options.
Thanks again Darrell for an excellent tutorial… I feel that the Tele with the humbucker at the neck and single coil at the bridge, I personally refer that as the TK or Terry Kath… his own modified Tele
Another cool thing Terry Kath did to his Telecaster was to reverse the control knobs so that the volume knob is where the switch is on a standard Tele. You can buy a Fender Custom Shop replica of the TK Tele for a mere $20,000.
Fantastic video and topic !!! 👏 !! Always was a Gibson Les Paul Fan but when I saw Prince play a Tele live I was totally Blown away and And Amazed 👏 😳 !! So I have 2 electric guitar now but if I ever buy a Third it will have to be a Tele !!!
I wanted the Crimson Red Deluxe for a long time. I found a Squier Deluxe Double Fat Telecaster for trade with EMG 81/85's in it. I'm picking it up soon!
Still own my 1993 Fender American 52 Reissue, bought new from Guitar Center for $800 or so. It’s 30 years old and still in mint condition. For $100 more I bought a vintage Fender tweed case. The guitar came will all original materials, identical to those from 1952. Even the wiring was per the original, though it did come with add’l pot and cap to rewire to modern tones. I had a luthier perform that mod about 20 years back, but still have the original parts and wiring schematics.
Same here. Same guitar. Only thing changed was replace saddles with compensated saddles. Perfect tuning.
My favorite Tele-style guitar is a G&L Fullerton Deluxe ASAT Special.
Thanks for the post. I’m glad to hear you mention Sire. I have a V7 bass and I think it is the best bass for the money. I was hoping the guitars were the same.
Do I like it more than my USA fender p or G&L 2000? No, but the sire was less than 1/3 the cost.
My main Tele is the Squier CV 60s, to which I changed the bridge to a flat six-saddle style, and Wilkinson tuners. While you're right in general about Tele neck pickups, the one in the CV sounds marvelous.
One of Squier's best sleeper guitars was the Tele Custom II, which was a Custom but with two Duncan-designed P-90s instead of the humbuckers. I have a black one, and love the thing, snarls with distortion but also is great for jazz playing. This particular Tele has a following. Why Fender discontinued it is a head-scratcher.
I'd also mention the John 5 Signature, which is great. More modern neck, great-sounding humbuckers. Maybe not the Fender version with the hockey-stick headstock.
I have a 57 telecaster blonde/white,excellent to mint & completely original..Very happy with it!!
So cool to see the “flame caster” again! Great video as always!
She's a beauty thanks to you!
EART makes an awesome playing instrument at a very affordable price. Beautiful guitar with compound radius, amazing fretwork with a compound back neck shape. Love the channel.🎸👍
I am a Tele man. I just ordered a FMT because I hate LP necks but need the sound. I also ordered it because of you… so I hope you’re right on this one!!! No pressure brother! 🤣
Nice summary. What about the Baja 60's? That deserves some love.
Nice comprehensive look at Tele's. I had my eye on a 70's Thinline in natural finish, I tried a fender MIM re issue and I didn't like the neck. I couldn't find the Squier version in a store, so I ordered one, I really like it, but it doesn't do the twang thing, which I am alright with! I mostly play an Epi Les Paul 100 modded with import PAFs, it is a cheap, weight relieved model with upgraded pots but the original pickups were the same as the Special (ugh). The two guitars give an incredible variety tones, the LP has a scooped sound and the Tele a little less bass and more midrange. For cheaper guitars they work well.
I have an original 72 Thinline with the Seth Lover pups and recently got a 60’s Squier Custom double bound/burst Tele. I’ve owned the 72 since 1980 and those pickups have some serious spank to them and it plays like a dream. I was really impressed with the Squier build quality and the neck is beautiful, bone nut and stock pups are pretty good and an awesome price but that NATO body is surprisingly heavy… but it sounds and plays great. I’ve enjoyed your channel for some time now and I love that you’re a Canuck like me! Thanks eh!
@Plus①⑧⓪⑤②②②⑥⑨⓪③WhatsApp only not sure if this is for real. Is that a phone number?
@Dave WrobelCouldn’t agree. Since when do you get a prize for making a comment…I was born at night.. but not last night. I refuse to use what’s app or any other Facebook product. Call me old school but I actually talk to the people I “ like.” Glad I’m not the only skeptic!
I have a mij fender telecaster with a single coil in the bridge and a P90 in the neck. Plays great and gives a totally different tonal combinations. It needs to be part of any telecaster collection.
I didn't know about this model, but it would be close to perfect for my taste! My choice amongst guitars that are currently produced would be the Schecter PT Special with pretty much the same specs. Fender currently doesn't have something like your P90-equipped Tele in their lineup. You can't go wrong with an MIJ Fender!
I was literally re-stringing my Tele Deluxe 70’s Reissue Road Worn in White watching your video. I was thinking to myself seriously why doesn’t this make the list and then you mentioned my exact guitar at the end on your personal list. I nearly fell over. Thank you that 70’s Deluxe with the dual humbuckers gives any Gibson a run for its money with lots of dirt added. Then somehow still gets a Tele twang on the bridge pickup. I know it’s not that Tele traditional but boy I love that guitar.
I really enjoy your videos. I play keyboard, guitar and other instruments and can identify the real teachers from the amateurs (many of whom are good). You are a pro! I bought a Telly Nashville (shown in the pic). They say the instrument was created at the request of Nashville session players who wanted the traditional Telly sound and a strat sound so they put a strat pickup in the middle. So it’s a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll like Donny and Marie.😎
The 60s Telecasters were also the first Telecasters with double bound bodies. When they were first introduced in 1959 - 1960 they were called the Telecaster Custom. I always wanted one so in 2021 I bought a Squier Classic Vibe 3 color vintage sunburst Telecaster. I had the pickguard, pickup cavities and control cavities grounded and shielded. Next I had the control pots changed to the Fender CTS ones and the pickup selector switch. Lastly I had a set of Fender "64 Telecaster pickups put in it. Now it looks, plays and sound like it should.
Darrell , last year I picked up a Monoprice Idio tele style and put Fender Tex-Mex telepickup set and that guitar plays and sounds phenomenal , so for right around $ 200 bucks I added a tele to my collection .That guitar came out of the box with a really good set up ,I did lower the strings a little bit , but that's it .I am so happy with it , because , frankly , I wasn't sure I would really like the tele sound since I play mostly classic rock and old school metal , but yeah I'm lovin it . PS You always playing teles made me want one , so a huge THANK YOU DARRELL !
I thought you were going to mention the Charvel at the end of the video - although it is a Fender at the end of the day, it has so many additional features that it be worth it showing up in the honorable mention part
I love that black 60s tele. Beautiful.
i love my thinline tele, i just refently got mine its a 2000 reissue of the 72 vintage models and has original seth love wide range humbuckers
Your past review of the Schecter PT Special was the final reason of resulting to fatten up my Tele with a P90 neck pickup and of over 5yrs of upgrading, that was the best one next to installing a 4-way switch.
I recently built a kit tele. Had no idea until this that it had deluxe style double h's, 60s style switches and pickguard, and i chose to do it in 70s seafoam green! Haha
I have two Tele’s a Mexican Standard, and a Jim Root Squier. I love them both! Telecasters are definitely my favorite guitars to play, right next to PRS.
Yep, I have a G&L with the heavier non ashtray bridge and MFDs… I added a Freeway 6 way switch for extra tones… it’s great!
Plus one for the Baja. Love the super fat neck and killer pickups
Have one of those Indonesian FMT HH in black Cherry burst It’s a pretty Hot Tele and a Fender Rarity Red Mahogany top, stock with Twisted neck pickup and 50’s bridge - fantastic Tele. Liked all your recommendations
Last year, I bought a Squier Thinline Tele from CME. It was a special run that only was sold by CME and Anderton's. Black with a silver anodized pick guard, it looks and plays great! I've seen a couple on resale sites, listed as Classic Vibe. I also have a seafoam green Fender with dual humbuckers, so two of your five are in my music room. Thanks for a great video!
Is this legit?
Should have mentioned the Charvel Tele you did a video on. I have one too, and it's amazing. It's one of my two "daily drivers." Thanks for another great video!
Got an '09 Baja for less than 1/2 of what theyre going for....the neck is based on the early 50's necks that Tadeo Gomez made for Fender....with the same "broadcaster" bridge p/u from the custom shop and a twisted tele neck....CAME STOCK!
Excellent all round
I'm a Gibson Les Paul guy but I wanted to dabble in the tele sound so I got a Squire Bullet Tele. I replaced the electrics with Fender Pure Vintage pickups and a 920D T4W-C wiring kit. I also did a complete setup including some fret work. It sounds and plays fantastically with a minimal investment!
I have a 70's Telecaster. sound so sweet. I love it!!
Man, I’m so glad you mentioned Sire. They are the best bang for your buck! I absolutely love my white antique Sire T7. I’ll never sell it! Close your eyes and you think you’re playing a top of the line Fender.
I bought a Glarry Thinline and modified it a bit. Kind of the same one featured here before but the Natural finish version. Really enjoying the play and feel of it.
I've recently become a huge fan of Kiesel guitars (I ordered a 6 string bass and LP-style guitar). They have the Solo and Retro Solo to fit the T-style flavor. They're not "cheap' but a great value for a custom spec USA made guitar
Fender Japan Modern Telecaster. Twin humbuckers, binding, compound radius rosewood fretboard, satin neck, locking tuners, body contours & bone nut. That's another superb Telecaster.
Get the tele with the Greg Koch's Fishman Fluence Tele Pickups. Those pickups are a game changer for me. Beautiful classic early 50s and 60s tones.
Bought the FMT on your recommendation mainly. Managed to get one before the price went up. Fantastic guitar. Used mainly for Worship but it can do anything well.
Mate, your dark horse became my main one (having two players of fender and sire version as well). Thank you for the previous video on fender tele les paul! It has run the purchase! However I need to admit that sire telecaster and Mexican polarwhite playerseries by fender are gorgeously looking and sounding as well!😊
Have the Squier Classic Vibe Butterscotch Tele with the brass saddles and Tone Rider pups from 2013 and a 1993 Mexican Tele in Lake Placid Blue that I put in the Vintage Noiseless pups. Great necks on both of those guitars.
I never understood the Telecaster besides it's reputation and heritage as one of the early classics, until I picked up a 2017 FMT, that is.
All Tele's I'd played until then had had blocky bodies, stamped tin plate bridges, baseball bat necks, bulky bolt-on neck joints and single coils only.
The just 2 years old second-hand crimson red FMT with cream trim I picked up for €700 from a local shop is just a superb and beautiful guitar. Unlike any Tele before it actually feels good against you, whether on your feet or seated. In addition it also plays really well both technically and tonally. It's become my number 1 guitar for any occasion.
HB's with a coil split, a carved, slim and ergonomic body that weighs about half of my 70's Ibanez LP, a modern slim set neck that blends smoothly into the body. What were they thinking before and what took them so long? Maybe the fact that Leo Fender had recently been developing similar iterations of the original with G&L had something to do with it?
Darrell.. I am new to guitar but love your videos… I am going to ask a real stupid question but, what do you mean by fat neck vs a thin neck?
Imagine gripping a baseball bat, then gripping a broom handle.
...and just to note, there aren't any stupid questions. Keep strummin' brother.
@@DutchVai thank you. I had a feeling that was what he meant.. just wasn’t 100% sure.
I have a 2004 Highway One Tele, sunburst with maple fretboard, and a 2013 American Standard Tele in Jade Green Metallic with rosewood board. Love them both!
I'm surprised you left out the Nashville Tele with the strat middle pickup. More tonal options for a Tele and the #4 position with the neck and middle combined is killer!!
On my Nashville Tele, position 4 is the middle and the bridge pick up. Neck and middle in position 2.
I have the newer version the roadworn tele and it really is phenomenal. It feels like an American tele that someone really played for 30 years. So comfortable. When I showed my guitar teacher, he had no idea whatsoever it wasn't an old guitar.
Great guitars the Squier CV 50's. I love mine anyways. Great review
Fender just came out with the new cunife pickups
Sire and Schecter have good ones too!
Blacktop Tele came and went, no one noticed... but me. It is a 2 humbucker Alnico V slightly overwound.... tele controls except reversed Volume, Tone and THEN the switch closest to output jack. I love this guitar.
Darrell, I was hoping you would have mentioned the Fender Classic Player Triple Tele. It's a 1950's-style Tele with 3 Nocaster bridge pickups, 5-way switcher, 3 brass saddles, black body with black pick guard, maple neck with vintage-style tuners. It's a Fender Custom Shop designed limited-edition model, made in Mexico. The guitar, unfortunately, is no longer being produced, but they're still available. Wish you would get your hands on one. (Btw: a lot of people confuse this guitar with the Nashville Tele, but it's not.)
@Plus①⑧⓪⑤②②②⑥⑨⓪③Whatsapp only -- *Congrats you are scammer!* 😆😆😆😆
Great video as always Darryl and you get my blood pumping I am going to start looking for a Roadworn. I will have to look for a used probably but that’s fine. Thanks again always enjoy your channel
As a bass player learning guitar over the past few months, I got a sunburst Squier tele custom in a pawn shop for $120 that cost $489 new, and it's the best value I've ever got out of any instrument I've ever bought, and I've owned about two dozen basses; I like to play country mostly, but with the bridge single coil and neck humbucker can literally play any style of music with one guitar, which is good for me since I already spend a ton of money on other instruments and can't afford to have a bunch of guitars around. Maybe I got lucky with squier QC but the electronics sound amazing too and don't need to be swapped at all, it's a great great guitar and one of the best on this list for under 500 dollars
2010 picked up MIM special factory Tele butterscotch w reverse plate, jumbo frets thin neck 3 piece brass bridge, 500 bucks, just changed lead to dimarzio area noise cancel. Never looked back
Picked up a new FGN Tele from Japan (Fujigen plant) couple months ago....excellent with Seymour Duncans, barrel saddles, 4-way switch, innovative frets (called C.F.S.), masterfully built...under $1000...made an offer which they took for $850. An American G&L tele with MFD's is also a great choice...mine has a 50's neck. Rocks.
I vote for the one that's not on the list, 1983 Tele, and I agree with you on the HH FMT.
I own the Indonesia made fender custom telecaster, I bought it from sweetwater but returned the first one because the nut was cut wrong, but the second one I got was perfect. I love how it plays and how it sounds. I highly recommend this guitar for anyone that wants a les paul vibe and a classic telecaster sounding guitar, it got the best of both worlds. The fret board is flatter than most telecasters and built for speed.
My first Tele was the Vintera 70s Custom in fiesta red, definitely the first guitar I ever bought that I knew I'd never get rid of no matter what! The only thing I've changed on it is the bridge, put a stetsbar on it and it's absolutely killer! I love the pickups so much too, of any Tele I've played since the bridge sounds especially hot and the wide range neck pickup is buttery smooth! I don't plan to swap the pickups out any time soon, it literally sounds perfect.
The 70’s deluxe remains one of the best guitars I ever played. It was already perfectly setup (to my liking) straight from the factory.
Hi Darrell, I've been a subscriber for a few months and love your channel. I purchased a '74 Tele, new (at Manny's Music in NYC, that was fun) and a few years ago bought the Special Edition (this one with a spalted maple top). What a revelation compared to the '74... lighter, thinner neck (which I find easier to play), great tones. I also cannot recommend it highly enough.
Darrell, Another well done video. I am a BIG fan of the Classic Vibe series. I think it is the best bang for the buck. I have a 2015 American standard Tele and the 60's Squire CV thin line. I play the CV 95% more. With me , its all about the neck. If it doesn't feel right ,I put it down. As I have hands on the smaller side ( I think) the 60's CV feels amazing. I think it would be a good choice for a beginner also. jeff
I really enjoyed this video. There are many telecaster model's that i really like. I owned a 90's custom telecaster that I really loved and I have a 1994 telecaster in sunburst with a maple fingerboard that is just a fun guitar to play. The recent custom with Seymour Duncan's looks like a winner, too! Thanks Darrell.
My three favorite "sounding" Telecasters were all made of the same woods: Maple neck and fretboard, Poplar body. Each had beautiful tone and incredible sustain. I think they were all kit guitars. Unfortunately, I don't know what kind of pickups they had.
Poplar? Poplar? Kits? I dont know...
@@maxs.5163 Yeah, Poplar seems to be an excellent wood for guitar bodies when combined with Maple necks, so much so that I noticed it's use. It is not a very nice looking wood, so painting it is common. I think it's also become more popular in Kits because it's inexpensive as well.
Thank you for this honest demonstration of the TELEs. I own two G&Ls (that last Leo Fender did)... Like the way you promote these 'foreign made' Teles.
Thank you for this.
Great post! Much appreciated. 👍
wow, that 60s reissued MIJ is a beauty, would love to make my next guitar.