Just got the 51 and it is AMAZING! I sold Fender in the early 00's and had a 52 reissue, also a nice guitar. But this one is BETTER! I also bought the 61 Strat in Fiesta Red. Not as enamored with the Strat but it is very nice. Think I want the 63 Tele now too!
51 was missing a lot of the mids and harmonic content that the 63 had. Sounded more hollow. The 51 had a nice rhythmic thump, though, and nice and pretty sounding on lead lines. A little less honky and had a sweet top end. But...I think I prefer the '63 overall. Sounded like it had a little more meat on the bones.
I just did that same comparison this weekend at Motor City guitars. Except there 63 was in red. Also stop at guitar center and played the American Ultra. For me it was the 51' reissue that went home with me😊 The pickup output and tones and fretboard radius sealed the deal. The looks are very beautiful. But the looks of the 63' in that translucent red. Stunning
i want to play the '63 (love rosewood on a Tele and that awesome colour) but I want to listen to the '51 (just beautiful clear tone in all pickup positions). dang! 😄
The 51 has more low mids and slightly less treble. The 63 sounds slightly “lighter”. I think it sounds halfway between the 51 and a strat. I own the 63 and used to have a Baja 50s: ash body, maple fretboard, brass saddles, CS pickups. The 51 sounds like a Baja but better. I think the materials and pickups account for the differences between a 50s and 60s tele.
What is the weird thing on the pickguard of the '51 Tele between the neck and bridge pickup? I've seen this exact model but have never seen that on any of the others...
I prefer 51, if you need the right frequency into any song the 51 has more focus I think. The 63 is better for instrumental guitar project. (in my opinion)
This made the decision even harder for me. I like the ‘63 more by itself, but I think the ‘51 would cut more in a band setting (at least for the stuff I play). I wish I could find either of them locally 😅
You must be young cuz you're missing the point...it's a comparison to hear the soul and the subtleties of the different guitars. This is not meant as an insult...I'd far prefer to be young again. To actually hear, truly hear the instrument you need to play it with no effects, no embellishments...just clean, slow tones. We're listening for the tiniest, minute subtleties and resonance...or in the case of the 61, lack of. Every guitar sounds different and every ear hears the same sound differently. You can take 10 exact same models, and there will be differences. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on a guitar with that special thing, you never let it go. You will likely never find it again.
