Eart Vs Fender Telecaster - which is better?

In this video, we're diving into a head-to-head comparison of the Budget Friendly "Eart Telecaster" and the "Fender Players Telecaster." Whether you're a seasoned guitarist or just starting out, this video will help you make an informed decision when choosing your next guitar.We'll explore the distinctive features and playability of both these Telecaster models. Join us for an in-depth look at the "Eart Telecaster" and the "Fender Players PlusTelecaster" in this informative and enjoyable guitar showdown. Be sure to hit that like button, subscribe for more great content, and let's keep the music alive!
Links to products in Video
EART NK-C1
amzn.to/3wL5VTa
Fender Player Plus Telecaster Electric Guitar
amzn.to/3K8zjpm
PickGuard
amzn.to/4dQ6iMC
DiMarzio DP384 The Chopper T
amzn.to/3UJUHGm

[@Trainwreck469]

Too bad you didn't review the Eart before you modded the pickups..

[@DustinRadtke]

Dang it, I totally had that part in the video! I must have deleted it by accident. The original pickups in the EART were a tad on the darker side for a telecaster. The bridge was passable for sure, but the neck was really dark. I swapped in the Chopper T in the bridge and the Twang King int he neck so it was like the Kotzen model guitar.

[@spokes28]

Those companies making guitars between $400 and $2,000 have not yet discovered that people would like to have stainless steel frets.

[@eclipsetheraindanbutler2478]

I have the EART Telecaster and LOVE IT!!! It was my first stainless steel fretted guitar too,and now I'm addicted to them. Lol. I also love PRS SE guitars. I own two, and my girlfriend is buying me a new one for Father's Day tomorrow. I actually bought a Squire Classic Vibe Telecaster that has Fender pickups in it, single coil bridge, and humbucker on the neck... I like the EART far better. You are right, it just feels GREAT! The NECK pick-up... so dark and unique, it almost has a humbucker sound to it.

[@TheElectricfishmusic]

I love the Eart. I have one that I kept stock and one that I upgraded with Tonerider pickups. Highly recommended.

[@sorenahlback]

I have an incoming EART 380 and an order in Tonerider too. Classic Alnico 4 in bridge and Rebel P90 in the neck.

[@Gene_Cali]

The first Eart T-style was built for comfort. I have 4 Eart guitars in different styles, and they are solidly built and play extremely well. Eart listens to it's customers. Thanks Dustin, for sharing. \m/.

[@DustinRadtke]

I was really impressed when I got mine. I thought there was no way I'd like it at that price point, but I was wrong!

[@theshadowoftruth7561]

I have The EART T380 Guitar and absolutely love it.

[@acidbran]

Me too, and I own two Teles that I love as well. The Eart holds it's own. for $1000 less.

[@gregorytranchita2676]

Same!

[@wagonet]

I have owned a eart t380 for a few months and it is amazing. Feels honestly better than my squier classic vibe (im a beginner so budget is good)

[@DustinRadtke]

100% My EART feels better than almost any guitar I've owned at a fraction of the cost. Short of an artist's guitar, I'm not sure I'd buy any major name brand guitars anymore.

[@djrguitar]

When replacing pickups on overseas made guitars you have to check the bridge spacing. Many require “F” Spaced pickups.. Dimarzio has both normal spaced and “F” spaced pickups.

[@DustinRadtke]

interesting, I didn't have the option for the Chopper T, but maybe I can toss a fender bridge in there. I might change my brown one to have gold hardware, so I could swap that over.

[@bushcry1]

Interesting indeed

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

I just got my first Tele after playing for forty years. I had never played one before buying this one. Now I’m hooked.

[@DustinRadtke]

There is just something bout them!

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

On those poly finished over frets' you can tape off the fretboard' use some paint stripper' I get it in the spray can' spray some in a small container and use a small paint brush' brush it on the frets' will usually take 2 applications and it will remove the poly. I've done several like that and usually takes about 45 minutes.

[@danwhite7678]

For that screw use and easy out, drill into screw, then use a left handed drill bit, both ideas should work fine..

[@DustinRadtke]

I'll look into it, thanks!

[@eclipsetheraindanbutler2478]

Oops. I didn't mean to send yet. Good review and comparison. I really liked being educated about the Fender. I DID look at some Fender Player Strats when looking at my new PRS as well, and I noticed the really THICK gloss on the fretboard, now I'm glad I passed if it tends to be on the frets too. Look forward to checking out more of your content!

[@DustinRadtke]

Thanks for the kind words! I never expected to like the Telecaster guitars or budget guitars in general, but here we are! It's a good time to be a guitar player.

[@eclipsetheraindanbutler2478]

@@DustinRadtke yes it IS!!!

[@AndrewAHayes]

Usually when building a Telecaster the fret level and crowning is done after the gloss coat is sprayed onto the fretboard as the level and crowning removes the clear coat that has stuck to the frets, or a very thin masking tape can be applied to the frets and cut flush although I don't think Fender have ever used this method.

[@DustinRadtke]

Interesting. They must have had a gone crazy spraying mine, it's pretty thick. I really had to chip at it.

[@matheaudodds787]

The fret kisser has saved me so much time. I'm a tech, and it's one of the best tool purchases I've ever made. Also, Joe Duplantier of Gojira plays teles all the time and they're a death metal band. He even makes the twang sound heavy.

[@DustinRadtke]

I was so happy when I heard about this tool. So much less work to achieve really great results.

[@minkorrh]

I bought a cheap 'fret tester' (5 sided metal doohickey) , sanding beam, and one of those fret kissers, along with a crowning file. Best money ever spent. Turns a headache into instant playability without buzz or spending much $. I have a kit Tele and a cheap Vietnamese one I paid $120 for. They both play really well with about 1.74 mm action, no buzz, great intonation (surprisingly) and the bridge single coil sounds great with gain.

[@edwinwise6751]

Every time I buy any guitar that’s 1/2 the price of the original us models , I spend way too much time and money to get it stage ready . So I just step up from now on . You get what you pay for

[@DustinRadtke]

I totally get it. I’d rather pay more if it means less work, but sometimes even the name-brand guitars need a lot of tweaking. It's always a bit of a gamble!

[@ruminantmelanoid5444]

I've got an American Standard Tele with a 9.5" radius neck. It's not a baseball bat, but it is certainly thicker than my Player Plus Strat. I will not be buying another Player Plus Fender. The noiseless pups drop output in the in-between positions. I don't know if your Tele does that, but I find it irritating Anyway I love my Tele.

[@DustinRadtke]

There is a slight cut as it shifts positions, but I think I've only had one guitar that didn't do that. I'm just happy it doesn't pop when switching.

[@minkorrh]

Get that finish off the frets with steel wool. Use tape to protect the frets or one of those metal pads with a slot in it. I imagine the Eart plays as good as the Fender, and you'll never need to replace the frets.

[@DustinRadtke]

That was my first thought too, but the coating was too thick. I would have been there forever. :) I seriously love the frets on the Eart! If I ever get a custom shop from somewhere, I'll get rounded edges and stainless on it for sure.

[@MichaelDavis-uc2ed]

Where did you get the custom pickguard?

[@DustinRadtke]

I got it off Amazon. amzn.to/3JKJoZu

[@MichaelDavis-uc2ed]

@@DustinRadtke Thanks for the reply / help. That was quick! 😃👍

[@supernoobsmith5718]

That's not just the Mexican strats. Fender has done that forever on maple necks. Painting right over the frets. I never understood it. I prefer rosewood so I never even thought about it. It's completely absurd that they do that.

[@DustinRadtke]

Really? I had no idea! People thought I was talking crazy until I started chipping it off the fretwire. Good to know! I really like rosewood fingerboards; they feel more natural. You've inspired me to pick up another guitar just to have rosewood again. Variety is good!

[@supernoobsmith5718]

@@DustinRadtke I noticed it on a Clapton Strat I was messing with at a Sam Ash one day in the late 90's. The strings wear through and make a contact patch. But when it's new it's like it's sticky. I knew from that day I would never play a maple board. I was gonna get that guitar too. Had the push button boost and lace sensor pickups. Was very disappointed. Never bought another Fender PERIOD to be honest. Still have my 96 American Std.

[@carlcooperstein]

in a year of playing the eart everyday your frets will still be in brand new condition with the fender if you are a working musician within 6 months you are gonna need a fret job

[@DustinRadtke]

You must be playing like crazy to burn out frets in 6 months. :)

[@snappy-strat-snacks1551]

$300 plus the cost of new PUPS...Lol, I tend to upgrade inexpensive guitars too. Particularly if I like how the guitar feels in my hands.

[@DustinRadtke]

That's valid. Really I could have left it stock, but man that Kotzen guitar sounded so good.

[@lazvt8469]

Playing since 1971...off/on....played a Tele in college out of nece$$ity...when I grew up and picked the eguitar back up in my 40's...I bought Gibsons, etc...tons of guitars. Now.....just give me a Squier CV50 Tele with Lindy Fralin Blues Specials and I'm content. Got it for only $300, used/mint. What to do with my other 20+ guitars....sell and buy some handwired amps.

[@DustinRadtke]

I think I'll still buy one of each big guitars at some point, but playing my Tele just feels right.

[@lazvt8469]

@@DustinRadtke Guess what...I bought ANOTHER Tele yesterday...couldn't pass up on another CV50 in Danish PURPLE from Andertons...lefty....on sale. Plan to drop a set of Lollars to see how it compares to stock as well as its older brother sporting Fralins! I'm sick. But, I did sell my Gibson SG Standard on Reverb yesterday so cash flow and Mrs won't care. ;-)

[@DustinRadtke]

Dang you! I saw the bullet and the roadworn and I did not love them. I love the purple and the neck color on the classic vibe. I didn't know this was a thing, might have to buy one now.

[@lazvt8469]

@@DustinRadtke Purple color CV50 only available in Europe...cost me $75 to ship from England. Lefty only get the butterscotch in US...HAD to get the purple. Act quick....sale won't last. ;-)

[@kenorlob4764]

❤ 14:46

[@janichmondieu6505]

I got my Eart tele before they had a yellow. $269.00. Greatest deal. The neck alone was the finest piece of maple I'll ever afford. 😁

[@DustinRadtke]

I agree, the neck on mine is really nice.

[@brianpark492]

You wany cheap? Check out Donners teles.I bought one for $200 Canadian. Not bad I have to say.

[@DustinRadtke]

I tried a Firefly guitar; it was beautiful, but the neck was terrible and needed fixing. I'll take a look at what Donner has to offer, thanks for the suggestion!

[@Ira88881]

You said you never wanted a Tele and you later said you wanted a Fender Tele forever. Dude… Try to pay SOME attention to what you’re vlogging. And by the way: The Fender blows that other piece of crap out of the water, not to mention its HORRIBLE frets which don’t even reach the edges of the neck. That fret work is an embarrassment.

[@DH-tj6tf]

I have owned Fender mim Player and Vibe sold them both, bought the EART Tele in wine color, new strings, intonation, lowered the action a few turns, I play it a lot, kinda nice to put my late 90's Fender Strat on the back burner for awhile!

[@DustinRadtke]

I really like mine, it does play really nice. Those frets are so nice.

[@DH-tj6tf]

I have never had SS frets bends are like Buddha! 😊