Face Off: Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster v Xotic XTC-1 

Having owned 5 Fender Teles over 45 years I was shocked when I tried an XTC and sold my 52 avri shortly after and bought an Xotic. The weight of the guitar was the immediate thing, along with build quality, beautiful neck and amazing Raw vintage pickups. Feels weird not to have a Fender Tele after all this time but I wouldn't go back..

I wanted to like the Xotic more because it's cheaper and prettier, but the '51 nocaster is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever heard.

Both sound killer and both sound different. Fender for cleans and the xotic driven for me.

I think I would go with the Xotic just for that neck! 😍

Yeah Fender here.. Although the exotic od section was studio quality tone.

Xotic for me...just a Killer guitar.

Didn’t think I would say this but to my ear the xotic hands down. The fender sounded a bit brittle 👍

One of the things that John Bollinger gets right is he starts every video with a complete rundown of the signal chain. That would have been very helpful. I've got a first edition Baja Tele (when they were Desert Sandstone with a white pick guard)...great guitar doesn't have that Tele bridge Twang. Also have an Vintage American '52 reissue with a Dimarzio humbucker in the bridge. Great pickup actually - but again, doesn't sound like a Telecaster. So I've been jones-ing for the real thing. The Fender hits the mark. Also I love the blend knob, and the dark tone is still useable. I'm assuming a Nitrio finish. I love roasted maple necks, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Xotic was easier to play, but I could play that Nocaster for the rest of my life. So does "Custom Shop" mean it's a one off? Or what exactly is the availability?? Great playing. You're too good to work in a guitar store, but I'm glad you do. For now........

Superb palying as ways, Jack. Gorgeous. I don't think they're the same in any way, apart from the paint job. Both great in their own way, though. Prefered the fender, because it seemed much more melow and I dig the blend function- not a big fan of bridge pups in general. Cheers PS- what amp did you use?

What a player

Good luck on the rest of your season Charles Leclerc, cool to see you play guitar!

Thank you for doing the video 🤗 Great playing as always. I prefer the Nocaster sound in this clip, but when i tried the guitars in store, there was just something special about the feel and playability of the Exotic! Would love to get your thoughts on the strengths of each instrument in these videos as well!

the smile on your face Jack hand picking the fender...priceless! a Pleasure Jack! 🎸🎶🙌

I have 2 Fender Tele’s. Don’t like that Nocaster at all. Man you got a tone that was Both Wooley and Harsh with that High gain kicked in. The Xotic tone was more to my liking.

Hard not to like Fender Tele’s, but impossible not to love Xotic Tele OR Strats. Amazing instruments. Very classical, but with the bit extra that makes the big difference :-)

Preferred the Fender neck pickup, but overall, very close! Xotic is the best alternative to Fender if you want all the fender tone but even better build quality

One thing is seeing and hearing the Xotic, when you actually feel the neck it's no going back. My only complaint is the location of the truss rod.

Are jorts making a comeback?

xotic hands down. The fender sounded very brittle unlike a real nocatser, but the xotic sound more musical.

What are the specs on the Xotic XTC-1? I would love to get one exactly the same. 😃

Fender. How about Jack pits the Patrick James Eggle 96 HSS White Grained Left Handed against the Xotic California Style Classic XSC-2 2 Tone Burst Light Aged Left Handed?

Can you do Vola OZ vs Fender Strat HSS vs Suhr Classic HSS ?? Cheers

Xotic for me. Killer overdrive tone.

What's going on here for drive? Duellist with another drive running into it? Sounds incredible!

Both sound good (thanks Jack), but the Exotic's got a ding: I'll take it at half price :-)))

Fender for me 👍 Xotic was great but comparatively modern

Fender is brighter, which i tend to attribute to the pickups, and lack of tone control. the Xotic sounded killer, but the neck was a little garish for me, appearance wise. both sound fantastic

Great demo 👏

Nocaster sounds more consistent and compact

The Fender here. I want a Suhr vs Schecter!

What color is this?

Ermagerd!! Ive wanted this video for so long! Thank you.

Fender if you want brittle ice pick harshness, Xotic FTW!

Let it be known that Jack can sell anyone a T Style guitar. I feel like he’s the king of the middle position too

The Xotic has a very distinctive "acoustic" guitar sound that I rarely find in a solid body electric. Very interesting. That Tele is a Tele, and it sounds like a Tele... what can I say that hasn't been said. They look alike but they don't sound alike... there, I said it. Lol

Fender except for the bridge wide open. Too bright. Sounded great with a little neck rolled in though. I'd be okay with you just playing Teles thru a Fender amp. Probably bore you to death, but you can make that sound stand alone musically without a band. I could listen to an album of you just noodling around on one.

F wins

The xotic is like 2k less. Not sure the Fender is that much better

Fender 😊

Fender.

Fender

I would really like to aee something more boring such as....a 59 avri vs a 59 custom shop closest classic or a new 60s American original strat vs a 65 fender cs closet classic.. Also maybe if you could get a Carson hess blackguard in vs a fender cs blackguard. Also if you had the money. Anything but I prefer strats. Maybe take a 60s original strat vs a 60s orignal strat with all the finish stripped off. Or a the 2 same guitars vs each other. I would also like to see a

Fender every day. Just the name ‘Xotic’ sounds wank

Face-Off or Knock-Off?! Great technique and building skills but nor originality or creativity. Sorry Xotic...

Fender all the way, the other guitar is just a knock off copy.