I have at least one somewhere. It’s a Tele that doesn’t sound especially Tele-like. It’s been on a video I think. I LOVE Teles, but it’s Dan’s guitar. ;0)
11:40 is priceless M: So give me some open chords D: OK. **Adds verb and delay and plays gorgeous complex fretted chord with a harmonic** M: **What the....how..what...oh come on!**
I was completely astounded at how different Red sounded in Mick's hands vs. Dan's. Wow. That was the best demonstration of "tone in the fingers" that I've ever heard, and it was a single chord.
mattiv1 +1, especially Casino. They don’t seem to get much coverage on guitar stuff in general, which is a shame as IMO they are quite their own thing and I’d love a bit more on how they play with pedals especially.
Name the 52 tele Butters -- after the Southpark character and the fact it is butterscotch blond.... OR maybe call it Ol' Yeller... since its old and kind of a yellow color
Nice video, I really like to watch you two. Yes is totally two different guitars...only have visual simularity. is like you compare all today cars. All have weels, all have doors, engine etc, you use tham to go from point A to point B. Mostly people who don't know how sound come from electric guitars, they usualy buy some cheap good looking guitar and buy good pickups to replace them...yes is gonna sound better,but you wil not get maximum from pickups. Truth is shape of body, body mass(what type of wood) pick up resonance different, dipends what high have magnets, neck with rosewood neck give more bright tone than maple neck...even you just take same telecasters only with different neck-s you will get different sound. Even if you take off paint on some place on guitar is gonna give different sound (like Steve Rey do on his strat) Most important what people also forget is sound comes from man and you two are what makes people to watch this videos. Keep going greetings from Serbia.
Red is a very special telecaster. I've heard plenty that sound like the ash-body custom, and it's funny because even the cheaper Am Std telecasters can get in that ballpark. As for Red, I think acoustically it rings pretty loud, and the different saddles and the rosewood board are the biggest reason for them to be closer. In general hardware can make a pretty big difference in the sound of the guitar, wood, not quite as much. That being said, I find the fretboard to make a huge difference in some of my favorite instruments.
60s Tele pickups are very different than 50s. Same goes for Strats. I think both sound exactly what they should sound like. There's a video of American Vintage guitars on Guitarist. The differences between the 64 and 52 are pretty much the same differences shown here. The same is true of American Original videos on Andertons. Most Telecasters are designed after the early 50s. Most aftermarket pickup builders don't even make 60s Tele pickups. Everyone thinks a Tele should sound like an early 50s. I thought that too until I played a AV64.
If you want to compare 2 telecaster you have to raise pickups untill that 52 has the same volume power as the red one on both pickups. Than it would be fair comparisson. All 2017 CS Telecaster come with very low setted pickups. Nocasters come to life only close to strings. Especialy the relicked ones, they have treated pole peaces , which takes some power off the magnet. And they sound weak in low position.
Main difference I hear is just output from pickups. Blondie is more like a traditional tele output and Red is just super high output for a tele. I think I prefer Blondie...I like a tele to sound as vintage as possible. I also like the way Blondie plays with pedals more. However I think I would keep both, they do different things
For me, comparatively speaking, the EQ curve of the '52 is like a Celestion Blue with sweet upper-mid clarity, smooth top, and low-end rolled off a bit. The '63 is more like a V30, a little scooped in comparison with higher output, bigger bass, and brighter tip-top end. I too prefer the '52.
Pickups certainly make some difference, but the timbers are a big deal too. It all matters, despite some very passionate arguments to the contrary online. You play enough of them, the more it all makes a difference. :0)
The ’52 reissue sounds more articulate than the ’63 reissue. The ash body, brass saddles and the flat-pole, old-style pickup will do that. BTW, I have found that my ’52 Tele (not a reissue) sounds best with the bridge pickup set as low to the body as possible. This produces less magnetic pull on the stings and opens the sound up nicely. IMO, volume ought to come from amplification, not from the guitar pickups.
Huge kudos for the Ted Greene reference. He got some pretty amazing tones out of the bridge pickup, too:) Really an otherworldly talent. You can play anything on a Telecaster that can be played on an electric guitar.
Might sound daft, but they sound a little like the differences betweeen a Tubescreamer & Klon to me....Red has a weightier low mids, Blackguard has a fizzier upper mid-range. Both sound spectacular though - very jealous! :-)
The middle position on the relic sounds absolutely stunning, but there's so much variation to be had by tweaking the pickup heights. I've done the same to my own tele, which did sound a bit flat. Once I spent some time with a screwdriver she came to life. Perhaps the relic will do the same?
Somehow the 52 sounds clearer to me...especially on the clean stuff. I think it does have something to do with the midrange you were talking about. Think it sounds great and is a good one next to Red!!
Both great tele's, something about an ash Tele though ! Dan seeing the 2 Tele's made me think I haven't seen the Krauster for quite a while now, have you still got it ? fallen out of love with the neck ?
BOTH guitars have that magical TELE sound. Yes they are different, but WHO CARES!! Red is clearer and louder “snappier”, but I would take the 52 for Jazz or maybe “Clapton” type blues/ pop. Both are marvelous!!
I only ever use TONE all the way up. Only recently I’ve found a few sounds I like with the tone control but 99% of the time I just leave TONE on all the way
I bought my first Tele aa few weeks ago. I absolutely love it. Purely by coincidence, it’s exactly the same spec as Dans 52 except is relic rather than heavy relic and it’s a nocaster. Same 65 C neck, same pickups, same woods, same odd dull patch on the pickguard! I had to look twice at Dans to spot differences. Great great guitar, and instantly recognisable Tele tone. The only time I’ve instantly loved a guitar without needing time to get used to it.
Man, this episode was fascinating on so many levels. The Teles both sound awesome in their own way and to learn of the construction and design refinements between the '52 and '63 models are incredibly interesting. It's also fun to see Mick following Dan's shapes and licks (a scene I've witnessed in countless writing sessions) but also how relaxed the musical simpatico is between the both of you. And oh boy, that Analog Man Sunface...I could listen to that hazy sparkle until the cows come home. It sounds like the sun feels on the back of your neck on a summer afternoon.
I'm curious Dan what was the original bridge on red? Was it a vintage tray 6 saddle? Chrissy Hynde's 65 has a 6 stainless saddle tray bridge, but not sure if that's original.
msgflava well if it's peruvian or bolivian coffee than it's probably buffered bypass, brazilian coffee is usually true bypass and don't take buffered signals really well
I did the same with my 62 reissue Strat... + thicker strings tuned a half step down. The result is a tonal jump forward. The only thing I have to do now, is practice to play better ;-)
Both are gorgeous sounding guitars. Seriously. The red one is hotter, the 52 sounds more Tele. Both are fantastic Teles. That Red Tele to me sounds like a guitar that you would play if you could only play one guitar. It can do it all.
I have a 1975 rosewood fingerboard tele. I love it. I just sold an American vintage reissue 1952 tele. My dilemma is, should I get another mid 70s rosewood fingerboard tele, or should I go for a custom shop 59 or 63 rosewood board tele. I used to own a 1959 back in the mid 80s. I sold it to help with the purchase of our first home. Best wishes, mates.
ya need ta' name that yeller geetar - 'BENJI' - they both off yellow and look like they been drug thru a back alley.....luv ya guys...be friendly to pets....
Call up Fender and give them the serial number, they can pull up a full spec sheet for you! I think we are all curious to the spec of that red Tele, it's something special.
Great episode guys. As fascinating as the difference between the guitars is, the amazing thing is how, when you swapped instruments, the maple Tele in Dan's hands sounded more like the Red Tele. I always knew that much of the tone is generated is generated by the hands, but that was an astounding audible proof.
I believe very early tele (esquires broadcaster nowcaster and 52-53??) tele were wound with 43g wire on both pups- this of course does take off top end and makes the guitar more middy. I love the white guard era when they went with the 42g heavy formvar on both leading to a more mid scooped spankier tone I think also the earliest had A2 or A# (again-can'r remember which) and the later 50s had the A5 which also lends to the mid scooped sound.
Teles always have so much of everything. Strats are like the mellow uncle stoned in the corner. Teles were designed like a lap steel and with that big hunk of metal surrounding the bridge pickup the top end is insane. Hence why country players for all these years have picked them beautifully. I love a clean Tele it’s almost stupid in a kind of way having a dirty Tele - it’s like some kind of reductionist theorem. Taking the top end out etc. When dirty time. Plug in a Strat. I like the 52 better here. More personality. More Tele spank more classic Tele sound / the 63 is a rock guitar. If you guys start getting into les Paul’s you’ll find serious insanity as well -/ a standard vs a custom is like milk chocolate and dark chocolate. It was a cool video / check out Nash’s teles. I got a Nash 63’ relic for my clean slide delay stuff and it’s amazing. All the best.
so much to the discussion that wood makes no difference:-) I played a lot reliced guitars and I really don´t like the idea of doing that to a guitar, but all of the reliced Gibson and Fenders I played sounded better. In the end I will buy a "pre srcached" guitar myself....
The overriding impression here is that the guitar used actually matters little compared to the quality of the pedals, amps, and speakers. Expensive chords sound even more expensive with more expensive gear. Incidentally the bridge pickup on Ol' Red is much closer to the strings than conventional wisdom would permit.
Aarrgghh .... NOS, Closet Classic - the amount of nit picking is so hard to keep track of! Wa-Hey Dan, you are not the only guy who played 100 teles trying to find a new one, I steered away from most black plate teles because that "U" shaped neck was just too much, I like a nice "C" shape myself. Congrats on finding one that fits for you!!
I have the coveted pleasure of performing a set up and intonation job on a 1952 Telecaster today. Thank you for this video. Your timing is impeccable. I'll have video on my RU-vid channel later today.
Easy decision for me. Red for rock. Marilyn (Cuz she's blonde and American) for more traditional tele sounds. Both are great. Congrats on the new mistress Dan. Cheers!
Sphlangy.. or whatever you call her, sounds great.. If possible, please let us know pickup details for both guitars. And please rename that darling black guard. Even something as unimaginative as Blondy is a far more respectable name. Just saying.. 😉 None the less, congrats on the purchase. Bloody brilliant stuff.. most of all, cheers for the update 🍻🤘🏾
The relic job on the '52 is beyond tacky... I was going to say than the 63's was much more sensible, but lo and behold it's actually real wear and tear by Dan!
I agree with you about the finish. I love guitars with a very thin nitro or oil finish. I love how it feels to the touch. And I also have the feeling that it sounds different. That's why I have the older and "cheap" Worn Brown and Tribute P90 Gibson Les Pauls. I like them much much more than the "fancy" standards with high gloss finish. I mean, yes, a flame maple top looks awesome, but feeling and sound is more important to me than the look.
Hey guys would have been useful to get your opinions on the sound of the guitars unplugged (I know the sound might not have recorded well) but I've got a tele that is so lively unplugged it sounds almost semi like. I bought it having tried three identical guitars years ago but two of them were dead compared. Definitely makes a difference to the sounds when amplified.
Great show guys! Really interesting. It certainly shows that whilst all Teles have that "Teleness" thing, they are also different. I have an American Special Tele (which is my number one) and it's different again. Some very tasty playing there too chaps!
Great stuff, guys. I also have two Teles: an original ‘53 and a ‘96 (Cunetto) Relic Nocaster. Both fab guitars but quite different in both sound and feel. The ‘53 is raw, twangy & yet darker than most folks expect. The blackguards aren’t as hifi as later Teles. Soft V neck, unusual for a ‘53. The Relic has a bridge pickup wound with 43 gauge wire (the hotter early sound Mick mentioned) and is a rowdy rocker. Slimmer, flatter neck. Been looking for ages for a rosewood board Tele to complete the set.
Would it have been an idea to compensate for the volume, just to get a better comparison? Ah, you did about halfway through. Of course, all personal taste, but maybe would've been better to drop the height of Red's instead? Maybe not. At 21:43 the sound is incredible
When Dan bought the ‘52 he told me its name was “Schplangy” but I never did ask him (or ever hear) exactly what the red ‘63 was named; what is “Red’s” name? (BTW: I just recently bought a 2014 MIM Baja Tele which I’ve named “Baja Red” so that name is taken.)
When I got my ‘52 loaded with new pickups it immediately became my #1, but where have i heard that tone......? Can’t think of a song, or a player.....hmmmmm.... IT WAS DAN!! Love it.
Look. It's time for Dan to give the cherry red back to Fender to clone it and make a signature series so we can all have a go. Mind you, schplainey is no slouch...Dan's last solo was magic!
It would be nice if you could pick up a Squier Classic Vibe Tele from Andertons to compare with those two amazing teles. I say it because the Classic Vibe is made from pine wich is what the first teles were made from, and even if its a totally diferent price range you could tell the wood diferences. The 52 is nice but that Dan's red tele is amaaazing! Nice show!
This is actually not even a good comparison for 50s vs 60s teles. Reds pickups don't sound like any 60s style pickup I've heard. Usually they would be lower output than a 50s style. But you can tell in this video that red is much louder. They goofed and over wound that bridge pickup or something. Sounds awesome tho
Would have been good to hear Mick play a proper song on each guitar, clean, through the Super Reverb. End of comparison. Is the old one wired with modern 3 way selection or the old blender style?
If you listen to the '52 after raising the pickup, I would argue it's too close to the strings, you can hear an unpleasant clippy harsh attack transient. You don't want that!
Red = awesome... but... I think I do prefer the 52 tho... I'm a maple neck person for feel and look... beauty (and sound) is in the eye of the beholder I guess... :)
A while back I watched the video on Ol' Red and I looked up the pickup specs and had my local guy wind a set with similar specs to put in my mim std telecaster. I don't know if it sounds like Ol' Red, but it sounds great.
Weird connection for me this as I have a the blonde CS 52 Tele (time machine series) but with the 59 bucker in the neck (Keef style), but my go to Tele is a red one (named Christine after the car, due to a load of freaky stuff that happened to other guitars whenever I took it out to a gig) I had it Custom built for me by a guy in Warrington (RayGunRelics).. Was never my main guitar until I put a cheap pair of Tonerider Vintage IIs in it, and boom, suddenly it had its own unique sound... I get more comments from people about its sound than any other guitar I play.... Actually been thinking of reversing the 59 mod back to a single neck pup as its never really done it for me... Nervous thing tinkering with the high end stuff and will probably leave it to the guy who created Christine!!! Great mid week treat this episode, loved it chaps.
