9 Fender Telecasters: Player vs Performer vs Professional vs Vintage and More | Reverb

Fender Telecaster guitars are beloved classics: reliable, versatile, ubiquitous. But with so many iterations, it's hard to know which Tele suits your tastes (and your budget.) Follow along as Joe runs through the vital details that make these 9 Tele model unique.
Read more on Reverb: bit.ly/2JXD6Ip
20 Tele Riffs in One Take: bit.ly/2Yx54P8
0:00 - Intro
2:09 - Classic Vibe
3:25 - Player
4:50 - American Performer
6:35 - American Professional
8:45 - American Elite
10:56 - American Original
12:25 - Jimmy Page
14:33 - Custom Shop
16:38 - Vintage 1969

[@SeanZetterlund]

no such thing as an unreasonable amount of Telecasters

[@michaelloomisiii3475]

I'm currently only at 3 Tele's at the moment.

[@dangreving1094]

Yeah ask John5, he has a shitload of em.

[@adamc7942]

and les pauls!

[@somemod8045]

Right on brother!!! I need one in my life man!!!!!

[@codythedoggo7671]

@@michaelloomisiii3475 Can I have one them ;)

[@federicotietz2929]

My grandmother wants her hat back.

[@sayetka]

Is that her hat or her toilet paper cover?

[@DEFEKTstreams]

she want her panties back too? hehe

[@TheStrataminor]

@@sayetka No, it's a teapot warmer!!

[@ioodyssey3740]

@@TheStrataminor Oh! How gauche. It is called a tea cozy!

[@Joe-mz6dc]

His coolness, gone.

[@avinandandey6418]

FINALLY A VIDEO WHERE THE GUY STARTS OFF WITH A CLEAN TONE

[@wallyh24]

It’s like he reinvented the wheel

[@samtheman123]

The clean sound is like the number 1 thing that determines if a single coil guitar sounds good or not.

[@charles3200]

For reals!

[@chrisashby32]

Selling my car and buying a vintage Tele right now. I’ll never even have to drive anywhere anyway cuz I’ll be inside playing it all day!

[@DA-vn3gn]

this comment did not age well lmao

[@nehemiahzo_]

Dana Aca lmao

[@AqworldsAuildere]

Lmao

[@waynemetallum7623]

good, the guitar holds its value

[@ruechel]

inside? you'll be homeless. BUT with an amazing guitar.

[@pinheadgringo]

Classic Vibe - 2:09 Player - 3:25 American Performer - 4:50 American Professional - 6:35 American Elite - 8:45 American Original - 10:56 Jimmy Page - 12:25 Custom Shop - 14:33 1969 - 16:38

[@Reverb]

Thanks! We added this to the description :)

[@FairyTalesInYoghourt]

@@Reverb the riff is not the same for the 2 cheapest ones :/

[@Octwavian]

@@FairyTalesInYoghourt yeah, the bass note is missing....... Not helping in tone comparison

[@Octwavian]

@gheddi exactly

[@rickyanthony]

Anyone else hear no difference in tone among most of these, through the Princeton? Not a bad thing.

[@unclefoiley819]

After escaping the jaws of death from Coronavirus my wife said that I should get a Fender custom shop Telecaster. What a complete joy to play. In every way. EDIT*Life's too short to play firewood *

[@keithreust4383]

I have been playing MIM tele for a long time, and I must say this firewood has made me a good living

[@SuperEyesClosed]

@@keithreust4383 Keith I understand you're a telecaster guy :). Right now I only have a telecaster from local brand, it's really awesome and beautiful and I felt in love with teles. I mainly play blues rock, stones rock and I want to finally buy a fender, I don't whether to buy a player series or player plus Nash. Is it worth the price difference? Or in your opinion better wait and buy an American one?

[@LieutenantTickles]

The lesson of this video is to get a good amp.

[@sooparticular]

always

[@Rikalonius]

I learned that lesson the hard way.

[@machia0705]

I dislike my Mustang 20 watt. Any budget recommendations? Can’t go above 200.00.

[@randybobandy7534]

@@machia0705 I’d recommend you go for an old Marshall or Fender solid state from the 80’s. Great amps and usually people sell them for peanuts because they’re solid state. Peavey stuff from the same era is amazing too.

[@Ash-fm6ym]

@@machia0705 boss katana mate

[@allthattv2680]

Crunch Sound 2:30 squire 3:48 Player 5:14 Perfomer 7:28 Professional

[@ryzh6544]

There is clearly 0 difference 😏

[@felixfranzen7318]

I have to agree, they sound like Telecasters. Nobody will be able to hear a difference when played with distortion, in a mix, liv setting. But they feel different! The Squiers and Mex ones have a skinnier neck (less nut width) and Mex than the US models and you can really feel that, especially on the Squiers. It feels really cramped when going from an American made one. Also, they have different frets. Jumbos on the Performer, mid-jumbos on the Player (I think) and so on. Japanese models usually have really fat necks and so on.

[@diditlight]

Unfortunately, there's no Fender JP here

[@Renhjarta]

When you overdrive these Tele's I always think of "Should I stay or should I go" by The Clash!

[@captaindash_away5286]

ddddddd g

[@THEQueeferSutherland]

It's always tease, tease, tease

[@lorenzowoodmusic]

Me too

[@phowell333]

But KZbin seems to think they own chord progressions now...they would probably demonetize the video if he played in time

[@ruechel]

@@THEQueeferSutherland says your wife while she's on her kneeees

[@jon.wilson]

They all sound great, just different flavors. Some sound cluckier, some darker, some twangier. At that point, you just buy whatever your budget allows and has the features that you're looking for.

[@Elimnio]

right, but they feel different. a fender feela different than a squier imo

[@andrewjadczak3082]

Elimnio yes, and if a squier feels good then it’s nice to know you saved hundreds of dollars with what this demo video shows

[@SuchaDoofus]

Wow. Thats a thinker...

[@reverberateddreams7958]

They all sound pretty much the same, don't fool yourself

[@Choco_Bada]

tbh after the professional all of them sound quite the same to me.. there are a tiny bit of differences here and there but not enough for me to pay hundreds more

[@WillyPDX94]

Wonderful demo. I especially appreciate how Joe correlated the new model names with the old names I'm more familiar with. Now I finally understand what Fender is shooting for with the new model designations. In any case, the Fender Telecaster lineup remains the best you could ask for. Each model has features that distinguish it from the other models, and all the features make sense! I own the Squier Custom, a couple of MIJ models, and an American Deluxe. I've played plenty of Custom Shop models as well. Even the lowly Squier with a little tweaking (I replaced the pickups) can be totally gig-worthy. Fender rules. And so does Joe whose demos are concise, intelligent, and eminently watchable.

[@marike1100]

Just picked up an American Special Tele in perfect condition for only a $25 more than a new Player Series. Great feeling neck, dark beautiful rosewood, and Texas Special pickups. Can't go wrong with a good Tele. As for recent Teles, the Player HH and American Performer Hum are two gems of the Fender world.

[@LLSicilia]

Yeh, i jumped on the american special too when it was in run out..great deal, love it!!

[@garrygarza4029]

Classic vibe is awesome can say from personal experience

[@mieldecamerun8413]

of course it is, i got both butterscotch 50's and custom 60's, maple and rosewood fretboards and they sound and feel awesome....i got aan american too and i wouldn't say one is better than the other...

[@dougthealligator]

Honestly even the affinity is a pretty decent guitar. Idk if I’d put it up against an American but definitely competes pretty well with Mexican teles

[@vrodri1]

I play Les Paul's. I recently bought an Elite Tele with a blue ocean finish. Now one of my favorite go to guitars.

[@user-pn1bj6os9b]

Great video, Joe play's so well he makes the low end models sound good.

[@adf286]

Great video man, very straight forward and presents valuable information without any unnecessary jokes or trying too hard to be funny. Nice playing too. You earned my like

[@FairyTalesInYoghourt]

Very important notice: Joe didn't play the bass note on the first chords for the 2 cheapest guitars... Therefore you could think they miss low end, but it's not (not that much at least).

[@henrivercambre8698]

Thank you ;)

[@antoinedeseille8913]

Oh god I was totally thinking that...thank you very much !!

[@JordanNexhip]

thank u for pointing that out

[@edc3093]

Really nice demo Joe!! You did a great job of explaining the difference between a Squire Classic Vibe Tele for $400 ranging up to the Fender Vintage Tele for 10x to +30x that amount.

[@guitarocd9984]

These days Fender is making the best guitars since 1965.

[@sandlmv8301]

Maybe since 1969....That 69' tele sounded awesome.

[@aleksifradet1654]

God this really just reinforces my love for low output tele pickups. That Vintage and that Custom Shop. So good.

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

There aren’t enough hat related comments. Come on people.

[@gregjones3671]

Because, after dude Commented, “My grandmother wants her hat back, “ no more Comments were necessary. 🏋️‍♂️

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

Turtle Hosein Hey, your name sounds familiar, where’d we meet previously? Lol

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

Greg Jones Lol. Touché.

[@KM_1983]

What hat? His hair isn't orange?

[@wallyh24]

My grandfather Billy Gibbons wants his hat back

[@TestarossaRocks]

Some of the 80s and 90s squiers were pretty rad and even made in Japan. It was the 2000s that changed it all.

[@artamussumatra6286]

The original run of Squier Affinity’s made from 1996, to 1999 despite being the lowest priced, were, and are amazingly great Axes. Ironically, the more expensive Squier Standard series from the same time period, were generally pretty junky.

[@becky4193]

My mij 1983 squier bullet one plays like an American guitar...

[@DerisedEgami]

Picked up a 2016 AP, last year. Man, what a great guitar! The sound... the feel. Just can't get enough. Thanks for the video.

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

gotta love them v mods. Bring back a classic sound. Fender isn't doing the best shit ever with their newest guitars but I think their pick up types are pretty rockin.

[@artshaw7079]

Surprisingly, i really liked the American performer tele. Oh, and thanks a million for playing all of these guitars through the Brownface Princeton!!!

[@markcarpentier6400]

I'm really glad someone did finally did this.

[@leroyhelander1980]

Outstanding Thank You so much for breaking down the Telleys and some great sounds also!

[@sandlmv8301]

Classic vibe 50's vintage blonde tele with a light sand on the back of the neck and higher treble passing through 1 meg pots and you have a killer guitar.

[@anyhoot47]

Many guitar players love that vintage slab of wood. One of the best playing Telecaster I've ever played was a 1967. However, the Telecaster that has really caught my eye is the Special Edition Custom Telecaster FMT HH. I love the idea of a carved top Telecaster. I would love to see some reviews on the FTM HH. And, I haven't seen one yet but I would love to see a FTM carved top with a Floyd Rose.

[@zeroeure]

The neck pickup tone on the American Pro series from the Tim Shaw pickup was crazy great sounding!

[@maximoskoukos]

Honestly if I close my eyes it sounds like a Stratocaster. Not a fan of that, probably would change out the pickups to vintage '52s

[@keithclark486]

@@maximoskoukos The Shaw picked sucked , Changed mine out for a set of Broadcasters and added a B Bender.

[@vaibanez17]

I have the Tele Modern Player Thinline and I love it. It can go almost full metal all the way dialed back to clean jazz.

[@christiandiaz]

Can’t go wrong with the performer or professional. The performer is my fav due to the grease bucket circuit and the nice tones it can produce.

[@thehound2161]

Just a very nice presentation overall. Great selection of Telecasters from the range and in colors! Nothing wrong with a Butterscotch, but these are more pleasing IMO. The presenter has a great soothing tone and tempo to his voice that is relaxing and lends to you bending in rather than him jumping out at you.

[@McDoinky]

The Hound Love me some joe

[@tonyfdesign]

I thought the Vintage Classic Alnico Session Series USA Mexican Original sounded best. Love those made in Japan pickups!

[@PureMagicStudios]

I got my CS Nocaster, my dream guitar. Simply perfect..

[@666soso]

Thanks for this video, as a tele fan this just cemented what I like about the guitars and how the original models are what I want than a recreation.

[@samhyde6395]

Got a 1998 made in Mexico standard for $175 a week ago and I love it, especially for that price.

[@samhyde6395]

Used is the way to go.

[@dagnastyodi4196]

where can i find one for that price? been looking around for a while now lol.

[@samhyde6395]

@@dagnastyodi4196 reverb would probably be the best bet. Got mine from a friend, its gotta a few dents and dings but plays great.

[@kevinshayne7203]

@@samhyde6395 that only adds character!

[@arey4054]

Btw if you guys want a vintage authentic tele tone for a lot less than the vintage go for the 50s vintera telecaster. I played it at a guitar center then played the vintage and it sounded the closest out of all the teles. It does have a pretty thick neck towards the headstock but it gets pretty standard a little higher up the neck.

[@landonbailey]

The difference is they are all awesome 👌

[@thovex]

truth!

[@Truminashadepressure]

Teles are awesome. Amen!!

[@mikaso]

Very nice demo playing!

[@ZekeForeman]

Could you please do this but for the Jazzmaster models? That would great help

[@mrmimeguy]

17:14 that playing on the bridge 👌👌👌👌

[@Sticknub]

16:23 that cat is a LEGEND i guess you could say hes a teleCATTER

[@joshmaes6184]

This was super helpful. Thanks!

[@joshboydguitar]

Thanks, very useful comparisons

[@danielhartman5086]

Getting a player series Tele in black with maple fretboard on December 17. Christmas present to myself.

[@chaskiandcie]

So... How does it feel to own a tele?

[@jacobflint9359]

Ohhh do you have it yet?

[@tanukibrahma]

Really love the phat sound of the Custom Shop neck pickup.

[@billbettencourt7053]

The American Elite with S1 gives a humbucker tone, he didn’t even mention this. Also the S1 only activates in the center toggle switch position. He was doing motions as if engaging the S1 in each toggle position. I own this guitar, and it is a great Tele! I also have the Squier Classic Vibe but changed out the pups (Seymour Duncan silent - I think called the Vintage pups) and a couple other modifications, it sounds and plays great as well.

[@mindfield7]

Tele’s are great. You can slice a steak on the back, demo a wall in your house, play many styles of music, etc. 🤓

[@lunarslingshot1442]

And it'll be in tune at the end!

[@ZigbertD]

Also great to put the smackdown on an unauthorized intruder on stage... kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3vCgWSsm7-MpZY

[@mindfield7]

ZigbertD that’s quick thinking - lol

[@stratdoc]

Wow that was a bit harsh..but then example set? And probably still in tune!

[@auntjenifer7774]

Keith Richards used as a blunt object to smash a unruly audience member

[@Kitzy]

Joe, I’m very disappointed in you. The only unreasonable number of telecasters is 0.

[@Reverb]

Very true, very true.

[@louonthesun3325]

Interestingly the ones i liked the most were typically the vintage/vintage-inspired ones but that may have something to do with the fact that the guy's playing felt more motivated when he played those (especially with the vintage one.) would have been interesting to hear him play the exact same licks on all guitars (which he did more or less) but with the same energy and intensity as well. Still, was surprised by how similar they all sounded. Would have expected the American/vintage ones to just blow the others out of the water.

[@emo_galaxy9413]

NICE! I like how the playing got better the better the guitar got lol.

[@GandaPrakasa]

Thanks! This is so helpful.

[@brotendo]

Listening via midrange priced headphones, they sound very similar if you bounce back and forth between them.

[@skypekai]

Yeah, there's almost no difference lol.

[@liorauf]

Great video thanks!!!

[@WhiteWolf--]

That American Elite sounds like buttah and then vinegar when pushed! Love it

[@handikaperkasa5709]

This is what we need, thx bro, u solved our problem

[@iadorasjourney]

The higher the price the better the intonation😆that's really funny!

[@bartlettpsj]

Great video - really useful, thanks for doing. I was most shocked how similar they sound - on youtube, thru a mike - yeah sure, some sounded weaker output (e.g. JP) and some slightly richer - but a different amp, mike, eq settings etc would be more significant. Also surprised the noiseless Ultra sounded so similar - normally noiseless lose a little bit the life. So I have 2 questions. 1. Did they sound so similar 'in the room'? 2. What was the playability / tunability / stability like? I thought the US professional had a slight edge on the others!

[@ioodyssey3740]

Cool. I have a butterscotch Player Tele with Plus-Deluxe upgrades by me. = Vintage Fender bridge and tuners, Wilkinson's compensated saddles, Mojotone Quiet Coil pickups, Lucky Dog gnarly knobs, angled-switch cover-plate, and a three string tree to stop the g-string ring behind the nut. It's a great guitar. I love the satin back/glossy top maple neck. For me it just blows away anything else under a grand.

[@badcomma]

I love this video - thanks

[@johndoug4794]

That '69 was the godfather of those 8 younglings, that widdleler as an outro was the bomb.

[@JJblevins]

That neck pickup on the “Chicago special” …. 👏👏👏

[@MartyTheCarGuy]

funny story, I bought a tele about two weeks ago for $40 as the shop thought it was a partscaster. it turned out to be an original 75 and due to its condition i got it appraised for 4600

[@pumpernickel4429]

Of course. What else do you believe in?

[@enricofiori7641]

Thank you for the video, very useful. In your opinion it's better telecaster american performer or Vintera? many thanks again

[@ryanlorenzo4921]

Classic vibe and american original❤️🤘

[@jamesc6137]

Great review btw

[@Tonetwisters]

Great demo. You can def hear tonal improvements as you keep climbing the money ladder. But I would be happy to stop at the American Original. However, I def dig the Grease Bucket thing, which would be a great addition to the AOSeries.

[@dikkeskieven484]

Is there such a thing as an unreasonable amount of Telecasters?

[@iunnox666]

Unless you have other guitars as well, 2. Never understood people who want 20 of the same guitar.

[@codythedoggo7671]

No

[@n0ts0supern0va8]

The unreasonable amount of Telecasters would be 0 Telecasters.

[@30smsuperstrat]

And the winner is, Ibanez Talman Prestige. Purchased right here on Reverb. 12" buttery radiused neck, comfortable offset contoured body, endless sustain, gotoh made in Japan silky tuners, Seymour duncan pickups, and I swapped the bridge for the Duncan Broadcaster. Pure magical classic tones, and modern playability.

[@adamc7942]

the player series one just fkn won my heart

[@luvpinas123]

I just got it last Monday! I'm in love!

[@classicartfoundation639]

I have a road worn player, a hand me down from pop, it's a beaut. Already ten years old when I got it so nice and played in

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

Professional does it for me. I'm weird. Teles must have maple neck otherwise I don't even pick it up at the shop. No idea why🙂

[@SL9SH]

I just got my first tele and first fender a few weeks back, although not a “regular” one as it is a blacktop made in Mexico so that means a hard tail string trough bridge, and double humbucker ,controls are reversed so volume and tone and the selector is at the farthest, also installed EMG 80/60 combo but now I fell in love with it! Coming from les Pauls this thing is so sweet, felt at home and definitely now see why Teles are so loved! The unique single coil twang is so easy to hear!

[@rikweeds2306]

That outro was 👌🏻

[@wallyh24]

Great, now I have the song “Thunder Island” stuck in my head

[@luckitteddu82]

Hi, are there any differences in the size and shape of the headstock between the various telecaster models? American professional looks slightly bigger.

[@UmVtCg]

Nice tablecloth you got on your head there dude.

[@ParaBellum2024]

What do you mean about the Squiers from the 80s and 90s being "starter packs"? The very first Japanese Squiers were very well made, professional instruments (albeit with plywood bodies). The later Korean ones were less consistent, but still of high quality. Given the competition from the likes of Ibanez, Aria and others, Squier guitars had to be equally good. If they were poor quality, they would not have survived just by their association with Fender, and had this been the case, Fender's reputation would have suffered. The "starter pack" models (e.g. Affinity) generally cut corners with body thickness, hardware etc., but you're mistaken if you think the Chinese-made Classic Vibe models are better than the 1980s Japanese Squiers.

[@carlhilton4747]

I had a Japanese Squier Stratocaster, E721921. I made 2 mods to it: upgraded bridge and brass tone block. Everyone who played it or heard it couldn't believe it was a Squier. Like a dummy, I gave it away to someone who ruined it trying to scallop the neck. That was thirty years ago and I still miss that guitar.

[@Fatherflot64]

I liked the '64 red one. Dang those pickups are great.

[@zincChameleon]

People look down their noses the Affinity series, but I've discovered something interesting about them. (I have an Affinity maple-neck Tele). The satin finish necks are like butter to play, and the fret board radius is wider than the specs claim, making it great for complex chords. But more importantly, the pickups-which many consider low-quality and muddy-toned--never go microphonic. I believe the pickups were designed to sound like Jimmy Page's Tele on the first Led Zeppelin album.

[@benallmark9671]

I agree , the affinity’s are total gems.

[@zincChameleon]

@@benallmark9671 Not to say that I won't mod one. I intend to replace the neck pickup with a Guitar Fetish Golf Foil strat pickup. The combination looks to be gold. (pun intended). 😎

[@jamesc6137]

First buy the best tube amp you can’t or can afford. Then buy a guitar with what ever is left over. My tweed blues jr makes my sons mini squire sound great.

[@ralex3697]

So true

[@matthews5531]

So I have an HMT tele from 1991, Baja tele and American standard. The HMT was a crazy Japanese foray into metal that is just to cool to look away from lol.. the Baja has the best tone out of any tele I’ve ever played. If you like the baseball bat neck, they are amazing and got on Reverb for $600. Get one. Should have been on this video. Great video though. Thanks :0

[@thebreakfastmenu]

That JP Tele sure has a great bridge pickup

[@professoroak2252]

Guys, which one do you think sounds and plays better, the Classic Vibe or the Player Telecaster? I like the crispier and more boosted low end of the Classic Vibe, but the more comfortable satin finished neck and Fender logo on the Fender Player draws me closer to it. Please help!

[@McDoinky]

I don't play much guitar nowadays, mostly bass, but I still got a Highway 1 Tele. Any guitarist who stops by and checks it out loves it. I'll return to it someday.

[@mikes062]

There can never be too many telecasters. Ever.

[@ChadWork1]

Oh I thought this was the knitting channel....

[@bluesysamurainao4557]

Nice!! All are great but I prefer custom shop guitars. I can not afford to get a vintage unfortunately. Once I tried a custom shop 64 tele and an AM 60's original series at a shop, they were completely different. I am sure each guitar has different character.

[@CamiloSinger]

Really liked the AVRI even though I'm more into modern specs. The Performer was great too. But IMO the Vintage blew them all out of the water.

[@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747]

I think he was really into the vintage and whacked that thing a little more

[@timohara4077]

Been looking for the right one, I guess it’s the real vintage big bucks, just me, thanks for the review, I heard so many songs most were Lenny kravitz style? spelled wrong I’m sure, just love that country swang thing combo with seventies rock, for me, thanks again for your vid

[@FingerBob]

Squier actually made some amazing guitars back in the early/mid 80s

[@mieldecamerun8413]

the classic vibe series of telecaster by squier are awesome....

[@ronaldmantovani4572]

Very good vídeo. Congratulation.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Love my Telecaster. A Mexican Limited-Edition Natural finish with tortoiseshell pick-guard. I think 2008? A gift from my dad & my favorite of the 70+ I inherited from him a few years ago. ☮️ I put vintage-noiseless in it, but otherwise it’s stock & it’s fantastic. I have many more *valuable* guitars, but for recording and playing shows, That tele is #1 .. It’s just a special instrument.

[@michaelnedoshytko6920]

Those are all great. I've owned the CBS 52 reissue, original 70s custom, standard and deluxe, in addition to Japanese reissue. I don't consider any of the models in the video modern perse. Would have liked to see a tele ultra plus, hh, or even Charvel San dimas style 2. The latter are much more modern imo.

[@luissanders7907]

Honestly, they all sound good.

[@26ruben1]

Dude, I love your videos . you are a great player and you always deliver a wealth of information but ..... the head cover .. I'm just not sure it was the best choice.

[@ipuya]

What about the Vintera series? They're my favorite! Custom shop designed pickups, S switch, 4 way toggle, soft V neck. What more you want?

[@davea9946]

Rosewood? Seriously though the Mexican products are great.

[@samtheman123]

Nice, Ten Years Gone at the end of the Jimmy Page Tele🤘

[@chickenbuttlauncher]

I also noticed that and am surprised you're the only person that actually commented on it, a huge smile went across my face when he started playing it one of if not their best song

[@samtheman123]

It really is a great song with great guitar

[@christopherebeyrol4553]

Nice video! What about the Baja ? close to which one?

[@jayquickfinger]

great video