I have to admit that I started off playing guitar in my teens by getting a Squire, I loved it! I stopped playing guitar once I moved and life just happened, finally decided I wanted to pick up guitar again and felt I had outgrown my squire so this time I decided to really go out on a budget and get a really expensive fender. Months later I realized that I was unhappy with it, it didn’t make sense to me since I paid soo much money for something that I thought would not only sound good, but be a good quality instrument. Fast forward a few more years and I purchased a Fender Player Tele and I was shocked by how remarkably happy I was, it reminded me back to my squire days, it was magic all over again. Just goes to show that price doesn’t matter as much as I had originally thought. The player series is a high-mid tier guitar to own and I didn’t have to pay so much for something that I resonated soo incredibly well with. This all taught me a valuable lesson and now I’m happy with what I own. 🤓
For anyone hung up on the use of pao ferro as opposed to rosewood (because, let's face it: Brazilian rosewood was stunning), keep in mind that Mister Fender was an engineer who utilized any woods available at the Fullerton area lumber yards all those decades ago, and I have a feeling he would have given the nod to an exotic wood such as pao ferro had it been readily available back then.
Could have used this a few weeks ago!! Bought a used oly white professional II. Love it, I only have a spark amp but the tone is awesome. Love the twang!! I'm a beginner, 7 months in, practice everyday. I'm 45 and a metal head but started learning guitar and all I wanna do is, learn country chops and zztop licks on a telecaster.
I'm a bassist. Been thinking about buying a Tele for a long time. I finally got one- a MIM Player with single coils and a beautiful quilted sunburst top. Looks, feels, and sounds beautiful. I'm happy I chose a Tele. Thanks for aiding me in this decision.
I played bass in punk and indie bands as a teenager. At some point my buddy gave me his old acoustic guitar so I could mess around on that to teach myself guitar. After a couple years getting comfortable on the acoustic I needed to get myself an actual electric guitar. I ended up finding a used MIM '72 reissue Telecaster in a sunburst body and rosewood fretboard. It's taken some beatings over the past 20 years but I still love the way it sounds and plays. I got a new amp recently and it made my tele's tone sound even better than before.
For lefties the Telecaster choices are: Squire Classic Vibe 50s, Fender Mexican Player, American Professional II, American Original 50s, Fender Japan and Custom Shop.
I've been playing guitar now for over 35 years and have always been a Gibson Les Paul guy. I've owned Fender Strats and one Tele and that Tele I have missed the most when owning Fenders. Sad I got rid of it. Strats I could never really find one that fits my hands, play the way I want, except for my guitar teachers lol. Yea, he's not selling his lol. Late last year I purchased a Fender Modern Plus has an HSS configuration used. Strat pickup in the middle and the lipstick neck that I love a lot. For $400 it was a steal but it doesn't have that fat single Tele bridge pickup. Yes, that makes all the difference in a Telecaster IMO. It's great for what it does, another tool. Me being picky needing a Tele that sounds like a Tele, I have recently purchased a Fender American Jimmy Page Mirror Telecaster and I'm totally in love with it that I also went and got The Dragon MIM Jimmy Page one. I like the Mirror American one the best of all not because it costs more, it plays and sounds the best. I'm not done with Telecasters, the next one will probably be the American Ultra or Ultra luxe, a 70-year anniversary Telecaster or Broadcaster. As I said, I've always been a Les Paul guy but as of late??? these Telecasters sound so awesome, twang and the fat single bridge are so fat!! it inspires more hybrid picking, pop, and double stop. The Tele can do it all and I mean all. All guitars are tools, sound different, and that's why I have different ones. The next Tele will be an expensive one I will just have to eat more Mac N Cheese more than I'll like. It will be worth it lol, thanks for the video.
Respect that you gave equal justice to each price point - there’s a lot to be said for each guitar you reviewed, but the less expensive models can do great things in the right hands. Also thanks for the nice explanations of the different models - very clear and helpful for someone like me looking to get into teles
Thanks, Cooper! I like the "Silver Belly Tour" shirt! I've been rockin' my Silver Belly Stetson that I found in Reno in 2003 after a 25 year hunt (The movie "Urban Cowboy" priced those hats beyond the reach of us ranch hands and seasonal Fish & Game grunts in Montana and Idaho for several years so we'd have to wait until demand faded.) with a narrower brim than most. You provide a great breakdown of Telecasters!
I have an Affinity maple neck, and I love the bridge design with it. An important point is to find an amp that enhances its basic output. I use it with a Vox VT 50 (perfect condition, in a pawn shop where no one knew what it was = $100 U.S). Plugged in and played straight, and you've got the Tele sound of the Police. Also, great for upgrades.
I feel like the fretboard should match your hair. Honestly I don’t like maple fretboards but haven’t played roasted. Give me rosewood or ebony but I’m down to try pao ferro too.
@@jmihendrix4 Ah, really? Do you like ebony? I'll have to give it another shot. The Sterling Cutlass I played had a roasted maple fretboard, I think. The Jatoba on the RGA Ibanez was very good too. Cheers.
4 and 1/2 years ago, I bought a Fender Standard (future Player) Telecaster. I love it so much. It is such a nice guitar. The Telecaster is such a sturdy and musical guitar. I still want some other guitars, but I have no plan to replace my Telecaster.
Great chops Cooper but would have liked to have heard some rock and jazz licks and adjusting knobs to show us the variety of tones found in these guitars. Good summary of the various models and obviously there is something here for everyone. A good intro to the world of the telecaster. Thanks!
Yeah, his chops are super impressive but that style of playing is a bit distracting and when a note doesn't ring for more than a millisecond it's hard to really tell any difference in tone. Also overdrive/distortion is where I hear the most difference between cheap vs expensive pickups and there was none of that.
@@ryanhurst3859 yeah I agree with that. Overdrive and distortion separates the pretenders and the contenders. I do not like harsh overdriven tones with tons of bass and treble but no mids. I want it to have a healthy midrange but not harsh and ice-picky. Creamy smooth distortion where it cleans up a bit when you dial the volume knob on your guitar back a little. If the hairs on your arm stand up when you hear it you are in the zone!
Little known fact... For many years the Squier Classic Vibe guitars were made in the Grand Reward factory in China (production has recently moved to the Cort factory in Indonesia). Fenders Modern Player guitars were also made in this Grand Reward factory, and are VERY similar in terms of fit and finish to the Squier Classic Vibe guitars. At one point, some of the guitars got mixed up, and Squiers went out badged as Fenders, and Fenders went out badged as Squiers.
The Vintera 50's neck profile won me over hard in the beginning of my Tele exploration - so far it's the #1 candidate for my next guitar (and first Tele!). The pickups punch far above their weight class as well.
I appreciate this video! I’m amazed at what players like Jimmy Johnson could do with a basic tele but understand that at the end of his life he was using 2 different models. I’d love to know which. All these are great options.
I’m kinda bummed that you didn’t mention the American Performer line which comes in between the Player and Pro II. I have a Performer and a Player Series Tele and both are great guitars. I’m thinking about branching out a little and would love to see you guys do a similar video about basses
Yes! Why no love for the American Performer series? I have a telecaster in sonic satin blue -- killer. For some reason, this line seems to be ignored in most discussions I see on various channels.
I have a American ProTelecaster Deluxe and an American Performer and while I really do like my Deluxe I think the American Performer is AMAZING. I prefer the tone and volume knobs on the American Performer and overall it feels like it has a better finish to the fretboard. The deluxe has the smoothed and rounded fretboard and I feel like it was done in an ugly manner… maybe they wanted it to seem played in but it just looks sloppy to me. The pickups on the deluxe are nice but overall I actually like the Performer just as much.
Great run through of current Fender and Squier Tele range with good playing kept, helpfully, to clean tones, and some refreshingly realistic observations about things like fretboard woods and bridges etc. I love my MIJ Fender 50s but if I didn't have that I'd run to that fiesta red Vintera.
I'm always amazed by Cooper's playing! Funny that you start off by saying the Tele isn't just a country guitar and guess what? All the demos were country, ha, ha, ha! Most famously, Jimmy Page's telecaster sound sold a lot of Les Pauls, that says it all.
I have a Nashville deluxe “07” model,the neck on this guitar is very smooth,recently i bought a squier cv50 i changed the saddles and string tree, great sounding guitar.
Interesting comparisons. I've always been a Strat player but a friend of mine offered me a Classic Vibe Squier Tele. It has a pine body and a nice figured maple neck and it's definitely growing on me. I usually keep it in open G for those Keith Richards moments and it also works well as a slide guitar. Great value guitar.
You mention the Squier CV ele, but not the American Performer Series. I‘m playing the one with humbucker and it‘s a very versatile guitar and I love it🤷🏼♂️
I’d agree with fretboard material not having a huge tonal difference but I don’t think it’s just aesthetics. I tried a bunch of guitars recently and wasn’t a fan of the maple fretboards. Granted, most were Squier Classic Vibe with glossy fretboards but just preferred the feel of a rosewood (or whatever it is).
Also consider the G&L ASAT guitars. I've had a few - and still own 3 - and they're great guitars if you're not hung up on the headstock decal. Plus, they really are *Fender* guitars.
Indeed, that L in G&L is for Leo (Fender). There is a video from Andertons about a G&L factory tour where they spend some time in Leo’s former office, very interesting to watch
You could also argue that they are the truest Fender guitars, since they are the culmination of Leo’s final vision for his designs, especially the Comanche.
There is a difference between coil tap and coil split a lot of guitars use coil splitting my PRS uses coil tapping. splitting takes a coils out tapping reduces windings.
If you are buying a Player I’d recommend you get it from a good local dealer. This is may not be typical but my Player Telly came with control knobs binding on the facing strip, fret buzz in a couple of places and two weeks in the input jack nut came loose. despite stretching & re-stretching & changing strings repeatedly, it would simply not stay in tune for more than a two hour session. I love my ‘93 American Strat but the MIM Player Telly went back after 3 weeks. When I’m ready to try again I’ll jump a price notch or two or venture outside the Fender brand.
I've got the Limited Edition Player Series in my avatar and a G&L Fullerton ASAT Classic. Thought about downsizing the stable but can't seem to part with either. Maybe I got lucky but the Player I got was perfect. No sharp fret ends. No intonation problems. Plays and sounds like a dream. Roasted maple neck (spoiled me) and Custom Shop Nocaster pickups.
Great explanation of distinguishing between the different models! And also, great job about not focusing on the study of insects! (that was hilarious!!!)
That American pro 2 sounded so good out of all of them to me, Even with the RU-vid sound quality just something about it if you're plugged directly into the amp on all these
I was really disappointed with the Am Pro II pickups. I've had the Miami Blue one in this video for about a month and it sounds thin and characterless in comparison with previous Teles I've owned (including my Squier Classic Vibes!). Its middle position is really nice and it beats them all when the gain gets cranked up though. Just wish I could have it both ways given I paid £1549 for it!!
Great job Cooper! You play some fabulous licks. I had a fender Classic Vibe Tele Thinline that I bought used. The pickups were trashed, the neck was way out of whack but it was clean. The neck straightened out with the truss rod adjustment. I bought a set of American Standard pickups from my local guitar store, upgraded the pots and ended up with a beautiful, hot and awesome overall guitar. Teles are great for modding.
I was really keen on getting an Ultra, then when I saw they'd added SS Frets I was sold on going for a luxe model... until I saw the headstock wasn't natural. Really spoils it for me. I'm waiting for next year's models now. Thanks for the video, I love hearing you play.
Got a G&L Tribute Tele (it was crap). Been changing parts a bit at a time. The body is the only original part. It's a great tele now and it's a cool as the other side of the T-Bone steak that just hit the grill.
1:18 "A lot of people probably think of it as a country guitar, but really it's been in the hands of every type of musician forever since its inception in the early 50s. So, you know, it doesn't have to just be country. Rock 'n roll, jazz, pop music? I don't--y--y'know, there's more genres than that. All kinds of stuff." Proceeds to play the same finger lickin' country riff for the next half hour. I love it.
You sound like you on all of them and your thoughts on tonal impacts is right on the money in my opinion. Personally no matter how many tonal options a guitar has, I don't use em.
i have a tele from fender bought it in 2003 that was sold as a 52 Industrial standard with a U profil😁 vintage tuners an a backolite pickguard in a candy case it looks like a honey Bee plays good the only thing i did gave it to a guitarluthier cause the neck pickup was to jazzy and a kondensator was inculded in that case - installed and ready also a bridge with 6 saddles ,but i dont change the 3 brass saddles the guitar plays good and is very ok .last Monthsep.2o23 i bought a tele body thinline swampash /alder 3 tone sun burst double Binding cutted for a Humbucker in the Neck -1540gr nitro lack , i put a american performer Fender Neck flat sawn marple 22Jumbo frets kinda tusk saddle from fender us the neck is really comfortable and perfect on that Body it fits perfect and staggerd tuners , a creamy pearl pickguard for singel coils the pickups are 51Fender Nocaster not handwound ,the saddles are 3 brass pieces- 250k fender pots 22 nf orange drop treble bleed for single coil,3 way switch a solid one and 3positions so it looks like a 69 thinline ok but normaly that guitars have 21 frets trussrod on the neckend but i think when im ready with it it sounds good -so that is the tele for me and i ve tons of fun to screw the parts together ok i´t´s not cheap but i like it even if i can´t install the original Fender input Jack so i did it like it was on a cheap squire
I had to watch other videos to help me understand the tele. You did a great job of showing how the tele works in country music but no demo in other styles. Also, there is no demo on the thinline.
I have 2 American Standards - '88 sunburst and a '99 aquamarine - both with rosewood 'boards. I have a 2010 American Special with maple that I will probably sell soon. I also have a Celtic Esquire that is all mahogany with a set neck and a single humbucker and volume. It's really more like a LP jr.
@@peterklein5861 so tell me if I am wrong but one of the diff is the neck shape. From the vid CV 50s has a rounder neck and CV 70s a flatter neck. Because I have small hand, neck shape is really important. I have more than enough problem with power chord and thumb muting!
Please skip the Affinity series, sir. In fact, I recently bought a Monoprice Classic DLX stratocaster and was so impressed with it that I bought the Classic DLX Telecastor. Again, I didn't go for the lower-end versions of those either. I believe that the Monoprice DLX guitars are on the level of Squier Classic vibes.
@@anthonynguyen9779 The CV 50s neck is actually quite thin in my opinion! I've not seen a 70s so can't compare, but the 50s is a nice slim C shape, not fat in the slightest.
I agree with your comments on the gloss necks. I buy necks and shave /shape them to buyer's wishes. ( Terry from Oz). BTW they all sound pretty good and I lost count after 28 Telecasters in the early 80s.
I can’t get along with a humbucker in the neck and SC in the bridge. When I flick to the bridge pickup for a solo, I want things to get louder, not quieter!
Always wanted a Tele, going back to the '70s . Finally in the market during Sq's Blk and chrome era, '03 or so. Nothing grabbed me. Give a Fat Tele a chance. Sorta an Andy Summers type. 20th Anniversary edition. Ok but action was high....Partial mill and dress. Turned out great. Next was an AllParts cup for the output jack. Sorry, Leo :)
