Fender Classic '60s Telecaster

(Originally written by me6/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Guitar made in Mexico (same model as on the picture).

Great rosewood Telecaster neck. It convinced me to buy this guitar.*

Two single-coil pickups, 3-way toggle switch, volume and tone knobs.

Alder body (I guess...), 60's -type body-through bridge.

UTILIZATION

As I already said, the neck feels fantastic! I wanted to buy a Telecaster so I tested all available models in the shop: a Baja, a Highway, a '50. The playing comfort and neck (rather slim) of the one I bought was much better.

Access to the upper frets is good considering it's a Tele!

The playing comfort is a matter of taste: the guitar is a bit heavy, you feel you have a real instrument in your hands (my first guitar was a Squier Affinity...).

Typical 60's sound, and once again it's a matter of taste, I love it!

SOUNDS

I play everything (rock, pop, etc.). This guitar is perfect. If you want to play heavy metal with a fat distortion it's not the right instrument for you. However these single-coil pickups sound very good with an overdrive. The bridge pickup sounds very powerful and twangy. It's perfect for lead parts. In spite of what some people say, it's possible to play solos with a Telecaster (not like Steve Vai but very good anyway)! Many blues players also play their solos with their Telecasters.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought it this year. I used to play bass but I switched to guitar one and a half years ago. I bought this guitar because I wanted to own a Telecaster. I've made many recordings with it and I'm very satisfied with the sound I got with a Line6 Toneport or my Roland 30X and Marshall 15CDR amps. I tested different guitars before and after buying it (OLP Axis, Ibanez ARX 140 and RG 350, etc.). The Tele stands out from the others in many respects: playiing comfort, sound, look. You obviously have to take into consideration the price, which I find too high (you pay for the Fender logo).

In my opinion, buying a Telecaster is a personal choice because it is not versatile but if you like it, you'll like it a lot...

Fender Telecaster made in Mexico, maple neck and button palissande.
Settings and features a classic Telecaster: 2 microphones (also Fabrications Mexican, I will come in tones), a 3-position switch, a volume control and tone control.
There are 21 frets, a classic Telecaster bridge with 3 saddles (2 strings per saddle.
The mechanics are good bills, nothing special to say about that.

The violin is the perfect finish is not a guitar addict is nickel and do not take too fingerprints etc.. I heard that the patent was those days and quite fragile, he took easily trademarks or "POCS", but in my normal use by bumping sometimes a little guitar, I have been nothing like .
Well you still have added that (even if it's very personal) his look is still fabulous, slightly metallic red mustang out as a factory, she conquered me, you will have beautiful colors ranging from purple to bright red depending on the light.

I put 9 becaufe button plastic selector position jumped to 10 minutes (this is no big deal)


UTILIZATION

To refer to another opinion, the handle is really nice, like a fender sleeve, this is fine, fingers are placed easily and forced ...
The term ergonomic guitar is pretty balanced compared to my old guitar 3.7kg I find this one rather small, you can play without having long standing shoulder fire!

Access to acute is relatively poor but we do not want him, it is not made to shred, and until the 17th box you can always do it without too many problems.

The micro switch is sometimes not very practical, especially for the microphone back to Chevaler neck pickup in the middle of a song, but we made it. (It does not activate by mistake at least)

Gets it easy to sound good? If like me you spend a guitar 300euros to this one yes the difference will be clearly felt, even if the sound of this guitar is really special.

SOUNDS

I'll try to be comprehensive and clearly explain my use of this guitar. Firstly I mainly play in a style Blues / BluesRock / Rock / Funk (in order of preference).

I use it mostly in a Bugera V22 in rehearsal (all-tube combo low / mid-range, but my taste quality) or a roland micro cube (in my room).

You should know that this guitar has a strong personality, this is not happening everywhere Telecaster:

The neck pickup gives a very general one round, with pretty low, perfect for the slow blues or soul ballads a little example.
If you go a little gain on your amp or use an overdrive, you get its always very hot and very nice, but the greater the saturation, the more it starts to miss a little definition, especially in the low / mediums and then it is sometimes a bit messy, the highs are also a little crushed under saturated sound. It is therefore necessary to stop the drive / crunch sound ideal to have with this microphone.

The position is ideal for micro through its clear its crunch / overdrive sound for blues / rock, here you can feel the "twang" of the Telecaster enough slamming. It is suitable for both rhythm to really slam agreements in solo (with guitar volume up and a good attack). It is here that I find such sounds close to Keith Richard and sounding really good.
In clear and colored a little, you have the perfect sound for Funk, slightly lowering your tone to be too slammed.

The neck pickup to its relatively slamming, sometimes a little too much for my taste. It is difficult to find a good clear sound, both treble and bass boosted crushed my Bugera especially who already has a little lacking in the base. Its clear it may be appropriate for country sounds kind Johnny Cash.
Its crunch / overdrive, the picture changes on the other hand, if you play a little on the tone of your guitar, you'll easily Rock'n'Roll his typical perfect for a good tackle Chuck Berry, with a sound that really moved to Rock'n'Roll Rockabilly or solos. Agreements with the stones also work well when you go up a little the crunch.

So whatever the microphone, you can find excellent sound but still it takes a little research to know the material and know set its volume and tone as a function of time / style.

I do almost no HardRock / Metal but I do not think it is the ideal guitar for that. Despite all with a foot Fuzz (I have an excellent Benrod Red Fuzz Germanium) she is doing really well especially on the neck and middle positions for sounds kind Jimi Hendrix or Cream is really perfect.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought this guitar on the internet in September 2012, reading (like you're doing it right now: D) tons of tests, reviews, videos ... I have not tried many models before buying it, I went a little feeling in me based on what was said and tested.
Budget of 600/650 euros, I was looking for as a purchase my first "real" guitar, I did not get wrong, I wanted a guitar I'm with whom I can have fun every day with the same intensity that goes group in my style of music Blues / Rock!

This is what I found, I am quite happy with this guitar, although it should not at all I think something is undeniable: For less than 600 euros (I bought 580 of a famous German seller on the internet: D), you Fender quality, ie a guitar that you keep your life in which you trust. As first real guitar I found ideal, there are strengths we expect from a Fender Telecaster with a personality not found in other Mexican Telecasters more "classic". It is a matter of taste, you should know that you are going to use.
Like any sound installations, it is the law of the weakest material that premium if you like me all tube amp your sound will be faster warm, comfortable, if you play against by a transistor means, do not wait that transcends the guitar sound, this is your amp which bridera.
It is better therefore a material balance.
Conversely, it is also a matter of budget, if you have more I think we need directly from the Fender American ...
The quality / price / resulting sound is really perfect for me.

Ultimately, what I really like about this guitar is the sound, both typical Telecaster and both really original, it is aptly named 60's classic for both rock'n'roll and blues .
Ironically, I think the weak point you can find this guitar are the pickups, which are suitable to use as I do (after a little research) but that will not please everyone, especially bridge pickup quite difficult to solve. Even if I would buy this in a heartbeat, I think I'll end up changing the pickups a day.

In which country was it made? (United States, Japan, Mexico, France ...)
Fender Telecaster Classic Series, made in Mexico. Mine is Olympic White (who is turning slightly beige on this model).

How many frets, what kind of micro as well as their configuration?
I count 21 fret Vintage Style ... it's fine. I have my copy of jumbo Start and I can tell you that the change is felt. These are much more accurate! Excellent.
For microphones, one is in the tradition: two single coil, as everyone knows. A neck in the other bridge (There's also the photo eh). Alnico magnets.

What type of bridge (Floyd, Wilkinson ...)?
This is a vintage notched three bridges. This gives two strings by bridges (and this does not affect the accuracy of intonation settings, contrary to what one might think). By good against these bridges are made of brass (the best would be to change).
Another thing also: I have not had the bridge cover - ouiiiin - yeah, the one in ashtray ...

What are the settings (volume, tone, micro switch ...)?
Always "Fender-tradition": a volume, tone (generally, more attention laughs) and a three position selector. It gives one position - neck alone position 2 - neck + bridge, 3 position - bridge. Everyone knows? Do not care! : P

What type of race?
The handle is a profile in C: not too flat, not too thick. Varnish magnificent stained ash in an orange very very pleasing to the eye!

I have not spoken to the grand rosewood fingerboard, the effective mechanical plate vintage mint green and excellent (the word is not strong enough) violin!
This gives us 10/10 ...

... Unless the selector, the two knobs, condos and bridges m **** to change (not necessarily, the microphones).
We are at 8.5 / 10 rounded up to 9!

UTILIZATION

The handle is it fun?
As said before, it's a profile C: neither too thin nor too thick. It's not the big V of the Classic 50 or the U of the (Start) Classic 70. With polyurethane varnish over there it slides at will. Very comfortable to play.
Otherwise, for small personal anecdote, I'm used to a flat action from the beginning. And, I know if it's the original setting of the mag or Fender but I found myself with this action bulging super (I speak of the extent of the height of the strings, the six, eh ^ ^). Good short, the galley, which, at the beginning I had not even noticed, and then impossible to find the game speed and comfort that I had on my other guitar that has a handle beacoup flatter. I thought it was due to the change in profile and I began to curse this cursed "C": D! And then bang one day I realize that the action is different, I grabs my screwdriver, hack at bridge: Hooray!
Since I made the breeze on my neck every day (rhooooooooo what's that phrase ^ ^)

Access to acute (recent freight) is it easy?
Ben with a heel like that it's still a little difficult to make a bend to the last box to a ptite hand. But with a little practice it could be playable in force.
I personally have no problem with my hands lumberjack Canada: D.

Ergonomics is it good (in terms of shape, weight ...)?
I will not tell stories: the absence of chamfers requires a small adjustment period. Especially if it was used to playing on a Start before, for example ...
Hey! It is a Tele! And it's also a Tele that!

Do you get a good sound easy?
But what does it mean? We take a jack, you plug: this is the absolute sound of the TV! And all the knobs fully siouplait.

SOUNDS

They are suitable to your style of music?
I must say that for a blues rock so it should actually ha-ha-ha-ha! No, but you laugh? Hey ho here we are on TLC!

With what (s) amplifier (s) or effect (s) do you play?
Marshall is perfect for this guitar! A good crunch and ... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Fender Blues Deluxe is not bad either

What kind of sound you get and with what settings?
A slightly crunchy clean neck with the microphone, and we arrive at the very, very bluesy. We climb a little saturation and now the sound is smooth! Whew! As a Danone!
By pushing the crunch on the micro bridge, twang twang twang now she twang twang twang!
A fuzz and I takes off!
For the two sounds at the same time, no problem, we place ourselves in position 2! Oh what a typical ...

What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?
In fact, the micro bridge would certainly not it a pinch of low-channel clear?

Oooooh we will not go to 9 for this little detail. 10! And if upgrade the pickups, it gives us 11: D! Not bad, right?

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
I have ben Euuuuuuuh since early May 2006 which makes us two months.

What is so special that you like most and least?
Kudos for that Fender offers us a new edition of this quality for this award. What a violin!
Rant for the electronic c ****. No no microphones are not that bad).

Have you tried many other models before buying it?
No, no: D! I fell in love, love at first sight. I look for her and not hesitate!

How would you rate the quality / price?
€ 750 in France is the new foutage of face (but I know it's not Fender's fault so I'm not penalize)! In € 500 ~ € 550 in its home country, it's a super good price / quality ratio! I was new to 555 which is extra, and no regrets.
Rhoooo boooon of accooord! To be honest, it's true that I would have preferred to have blackjack: D ...

With experience, you do again this choice?
Yeah, baby!

In fact I put chur dich dich.

Manufacturing Mexico.
- Alder body, poly varnish,
- Maple neck profile C poly varnish, rosewood fingerboard radius 7.5 "
- 21 frets, vintage
- 2 micros simple vintage
- 3 position switch,
- Bridges and bridge vintage style.

7 for the varnish and poly pais matrial of variable quality. The rglage from the factory is not that great either.

UTILIZATION

The handle is plutt enjoyable. The radius is a little low dconcertant to beginners (the button is trs bomb). This makes the game rhythm. The game is on the fingers a bit more dlicat (including bends). The vintage frets, one must love, but they are in the spirit of the guitar.

For usability, it's a telecaster. We like it or not.

Few rglages: we choose the position of the microphones, max volume, tone between 75 and 100% and you can play.

SOUNDS

A vacuum is not duly. The level of sound is not super lev. We feel that the guitar is tufted by poly varnish. It's a shame.

Plugs into an amp (I tried on a small light amp for Royal 8, a Valve King and a big Hot Rod)
- Forcment, I first tried the bridge pickup. It is plutt good! (As against it is ugly: quality plastic average). The sound is aggressive but not too much, a little dry, with good but not too sharp. Is obtained quickly his telecaster.
- Combination pickup / sleeve: nice too. With the tone to 75-80%, this was typical of his telecaster.
- Neck pickup: worse. It was too low, so it can not be rvl all its possibilities, but it is still a notch below the bridge pickup. The sound is feeble and not very Dfine trs. A little too neutral.

Conclusion: we have a vintage telecaster sound, good prices (between 550 and 650 store in general). But it would sound better with perhaps a finer polish or satin finish bte.

OVERALL OPINION

Now that small dtails fchent. It will be understood, the varnish pais, it is unfortunate (though it is relatively Fidler what was the end of 60's, The beginning of the re CBS).

On the guitar I Reue:
- The strings buzzed mchamment. And the microphones was too low (especially that we must remove the pickguard to mount the neck pickup ...).
- Plate knobs silent askew. It's not much, but not super fun.
- Silent key really not nice (large dcolorations).
- There was polish the frets and the nut (the nut has on all guitars I've seen in cons).

Overall, finishes taient not as good as I expected (even when they say bcp well these guitars). The junction body / neck silent not particularly terrible.

I did not watch the shot. It's a good guitar, but I think that enough is not that we keep a lifetime. Leaves change the pickups, as well choose a beautiful Highway One. With its satin finish, it should have more potential.