The first model is just what you'd expect: a dual single-coil Tele (also available left-handed). In other words, you wont have trouble reaching that high D at the top of your E string. It's an excellent value and most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Smith, John 5and Jim Root. When it comes to replicating Fenders iconic designs, theres none better than G&L. Charvel was one of the first big-time manufacturers of Super Strats, so it should come as no surprise that the company also offers an impressive lineup of Telecaster-style guitars, including the popular Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2. Fender Player Telecaster Electric Guitar, Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar | Fender, Floyd Rose Original Series Tremolo Bridge with R2 Nut | Guitar Center, Musical Instruments, Pro Audio, Accessories & More | Sweetwater. The Fender Stratocaster has a five-way pickup selector switch, while the Telecaster has a three-way switch. See, there, someone along the way had let aesthetics get in the way of utility. Led by Ed Lozano, working musician, teacher, and author for over four decades. All rights reserved. Telecaster-style guitars range in price from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars. The average player should get more value out of the Tele, but the Fender Strat (Fender Shop) has some tonal advantages for certain styles of play. The Affinity Telecasters target budget-minded players looking for traditional Telecaster vibe coupled with value pricing and good playability. This innovation also allowed the neck to be quickly removed, adjusted, or entirely replaced. The American UltraSeriesinstruments are Fenders top-of-the-line non-Custom Shop models. The Player Series Telecaster is as traditional as it gets for this style of guitar, but it does feature some more modern elements. Both of the bridges that are installed on these guitars have six adjustable saddles, but the Tele bridge has one piece that extends right below the bridge pickup. Bodies were built using solid pieces of wood, referred to as blanks, and cavities for the electronics were made using a router. Read our full Squier Affinity Telecaster Review. The Squier Bullet Telecaster is the perfect choice for a beginner that wants classic tone in an easy-to-play instrument. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just starting your musical journey, this limited-time deal is your ticket to go all out and make some serious music. Unlike the typical, big bodied jazz models that were the order of the day, the Tele was compact wth a solid body - early models had Pine chassis before Alder, Poplar, Ash and Swamp Ash became more commonplace. This guide will give you the information you need to help pick the right Telecaster for your music and budget. Bottom Line Summary: These are both excellent and venerable guitars, BUT the much safer, easier to play and more versatile one is the Fender Telecaster (Guitar Center / Fender Shop). Owners of those 1980s Teles agree that this Japanese guitar maker was the real deal. Imitation Telecasters, however, much like Super Strats, take liberties with their guitars and include electronics and neck styles that allow the instruments to tackle a range of genres, including rock and metal. Many models on the market today are quite capable of delivering on a range of musical genres. Fender is one of the best guitar manufacturers in the world. Gretsch guitars like this one are some of the most popular country music guitars . That sculpted single-cut slab body. We really like the three-color sunburst finish, in addition to the tidepool blue color. Leos vision of having a Fender in every household shines brighter than ever in todays range of Telecasters. Lyon france. Youve got to let your ears and hands make the decision on which instrument is better suited for you. Each one-of-a-kind guitar is hand-built by a master luthier, using the highest quality woods and components obtainable. However, that isnt necessarily true. Inspired by his 1958 top-loader, theFender J Mascis Telecasteris loaded with a pair of signature pickups and a gorgeous Sparkle Blue finish. These quick tests can help you determine the build quality of any guitar. Categories, More Ways to Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? 1 Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Check Price 2 Squier Classic Vibe '70s Telecaster Deluxe Check Price 3 Fender Player Telecaster Check Price 4 Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster View 5 Fender Player Plus Telecaster Check Price 6 Fender Vintera '60s Telecaster Bigsby Check Price 7 Fender American Performer Telecaster HUM New from $1,099.99 >>. He holds degrees in tech writing from Missouri State University and recording arts from Recording Workshop. If you're after a vintage-inspired Fender Telecaster, take a close look at the Vintera line-up. And the upgraded Fender sealed tuners do a decent job at keeping your strings in tune. To avoid confusion and trademark issues with Gretsch Broadkaster drums, the guitar was renamed as the Telecaster. The pickup tone on the Strats neck pickup is one of the most unique sounds Ive heard from a neck pickup. As other genres, like rock and pop, began to rise, guitarists found other musical uses for their Telecasters. I'm hoping the wise members of UG will help me with this one.. And if anyone says this has been. While humbuckers make great pickups for a wide variety of styles, they're not as good for country music guitar. However, the Fender Strat does happen to have a larger headstock. Fender offers the American Ultra Telecaster with Rosewood and Maple fingerboards. And, of course, it can still crank out that twangy country music you may desire. Factor in that the Telecaster has enjoyed a star-studded roster of high-profile users ranging from Keith Richards to Bruce Springsteen, not to mention an enduring legion of ravenous fans who come out in droves in support of the instrument on sites like The Gear Page and TDPRI, and its unlikely that this icon of the Fender Golden Age will ever fall out of fashion. Pure and simple, this instrument features classic Fender tone styling that evokes and honors the timeless Fender mainstays that came before it and contributed crucial DNA. The company makes great Stratocaster-style guitars and, as you can see, awesome Telecasters too. First and foremost, both guitars share a lot of similar characteristics yet have their share of differences as well. TL;DR:These are both excellent and venerable guitars, BUT the much safer, easier to play and more versatile one is the Fender Telecaster (Guitar Center / Fender Shop). Consider the Classic Vibe. The Fender Telecaster. The brand makes quality instruments, but doesnt always get the recognition it may deserve. However, the sound and the feel of a Stratocaster versus a Telecaster is extremely different. Leo Fender was not a guitar player. However, this has never actually been proven scientifically and is really just a matter of personal preference. No expense is spared with these guitars, from the top-of-the-line hardware to a very nice pickup system. Squiers Classic Vibe series Telecasters are based on traditional Fender models released during their goldan era from the '50s through the '70s. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We are a community of guitar players, and enthusiasts and we want to spread the love for music to anyone with the heart to play. Epiphone Les Paul vs Squier Stratocaster Compared, Humbucker vs Single Coil: Whats the Difference, The Top 8 Best Guitar Books Worth Reading, Telecaster is much more versatile, whereas Stratocaster offers a broader palette of tones, Telecaster is easier to play and tune, whereas Stratocaster is more comfortable to hold, Telecaster has one piece that extends right below the bridge pickup, whereas the Stratocaster bridge that has a two-point tremolo system. purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of Obviously, cheaper guitars are going to feature cheaper pickups, but that doesnt mean they dont produce decent tones. Sign up here. PRS SE Mira Review: Everything You Need to Know. You wont be disappointed. primarily when I think jazz I think big body f hole guitar when I think classical I think acoustic when I think blues I think tele or strat GearFest Online 2023 | Moments to Remember. Although Telecaster come with a lot of model-specific variations, there are some general characteristics to be found on most Telecasters. With the many Telecaster models available today, it may seem difficult to know which ones best for you. You got it. With so many different Telecaster models to choose from today, many of these typical specs will vary on a model-specific basis. Fender Custom Shop Telecasters Visit our corporate site. The two Telecasters are the American Original '50s Telecaster and American Original '60s Telecaster. Check out our roundup review of the Best Schecter Guitars. Not unless you go into a guitar store and give both instruments a test drive. However, the bridge pickup tone on the Telecaster was equally as breathtaking; when I was clean, I received a smooth twang from the guitar, but when I was dirty, there was gravel to the voice of my Telecaster. . Theres just enough shine on it and it doesnt attract fingerprints. And still proving its versatility. I love recording music and filming guitar covers and I occasionally post them on YouTube. From standard '50s and '60s-inspired Telecaster models, to Thinlines, Customs and Deluxes, the Squier Classic Vibe series is a great choice for vintage-flavored Teles. Appearance came next. Fender actually introduced what looks like the Telecaster in 1950, but called it the Broadcaster. It is a bit surprising that the company only gives you a soft gig bag with this guitar as opposed to a hardshell case. Im Dan Hoang. You can create this vibrato effect using the whammy bar thats located on the Stratocaster body. Bath Arguably, no other guitar has enjoyed such diverse and widespread popularity among so many guitarists representing so many different styles. I'm the Guitars Editor for MusicRadar, handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Maybe thats because the Telecaster has a reputation for attracting players of technical renown. Once dismissed as a "toilet seat with strings" the Fender Telecaster rode out a difficult birth to conquer country, blues and rock, and become the most important electric guitar of all. Or treat someone you love to the gift that keeps on giving. Today, you most often see them used in rock and country music. but I have found out that with the right combinations of woods pick ups and pick up height (set up) just about any kind of music can be done effectively with a strat. While this guitar isnt technically a Telecaster alternative (since its by Fender), it is a Mexican made budget Telecaster which is based on the full American Made version. Since 1979, Sweetwater has been committed to giving music makers the ultimate shopping experience. Instead, he routed a pocket into the body and bolted the neck into it, making production faster and easier. Heres how it works. Its younger sibling, the Stratocaster, is arguably prettier but the Telecaster is the ultimate tone machine. He first caught the music-making bug at age 12 when he discovered a love for drums, songwriting, and multitrack recording. "I don't stand cool. Brad Paisley to Jim Root. A Telecaster for metal music? Of course, this likely won't influence your purchasing decisions. Fender Telecasters typically use Ash Wood, which produces a great tone and is very solid, but can feel quite heavy. But with the over, Read More PRS Silver Sky Review: Is it Better Than a Strat?Continue, Are you a budding guitarist looking for an affordable electric guitar that wont break the bank? It quickly set the bar quite high for electric guitars, which were still in their infancy. - Quora Answer (1 of 18): This is a really difficult question to answer for a few reasons. Charvel guitars certainly arent cheap, but theyre attainable. They have historically included models that replicate the axes wielded by such artists as James Burton, Muddy Waters, G.E. Check availability on Reverb Jeffs borrowed blonde Tele (now owned by Muse's Matt Bellamy) was loaded with a Seymour Duncan Hot Tele Lead pickup in the bridge position that he added himself. The Stratocaster and Telecaster are both iconic guitars, but which is best for a beginner? Lets start with all that is good with this guitar: Owners of this guitar point to its ability to access the split coil feature as its top selling point. Its average competitor's price is $1100, which means that the Fender Player Plus Telecaster is within the average price asked for this kind of guitar. The Telecaster design evolved from Leo Fender's prototype to being sold in just a couple of years, and 70 years on it's still making history in the hands of players all over the world. Jeff Beck gave his thenYardbird bandmate Jimmy Page his first Telecaster back in 1966, and the Zeppelin guitarist would later customise it with a dragon motif, coining its name, the Dragon Tele. You could be a little out of tune and not know it. Most Telecasters, for instance, have featured 21 frets. Squier Telecasters Learn More. Every issue delivered direct to your door.