Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster VERSUS Taylor T5z Classic Comparison I Which Hybrid Rocks?

[@andyguitar]

Taylor has so much more versatality in sound choices, even the single acoustic settings can be changed into a variety of sounds with the treble/bass controls. Love my T5Z. Its a joy to play.

[@officialWWM]

I’ll bet you’ve never even played the Fender 😂

[@andyguitar]

@@officialWWM you're right, I haven't even seen the Fender. But I'm judging from the sound on this video

[@officialWWM]

@@andyguitar fair enough. All I know is the Fender has changed my life for live playing. I used to play a lot of loud rock gigs and always played a Tele but nowadays, I find I’m playing a lot of solo or duo gigs (post COVID syndrome) and being able to get amazing “plugged in” acoustic sounds with a very familiar body and neck shape has been a godsend. I’m sure the Taylor is a beautiful guitar…every one of their acoustic guitars I’ve ever picked up has been beautiful but that T5z is $3500 here in Australia and that’s just crazy money to me!

[@SuperEdge67]

@@officialWWM I’m a tele player as well. But the playability on the T5z is amazing. Its a joy to play.

[@officialWWM]

@@SuperEdge67 I’m sure it is but it’s over priced.

[@patrickmckinney4819]

I'm a total Fender fan boy. Got 2 strats, a tele, fretless j bass, and bass vi. Had the acoustasonic tele and liked it. Once I tried a T5z, I had to make the trade. After a year with that, I went and got the 12 string version as well.

[@cv7900]

I agree, I have several tiles and Strats. but once you've played a T5Z going to an accousatasonic is like using a toy. (still own both and the fender just sits in the rack unplayed)

[@garlandlabat4922]

I moved from a Taylor 414ce to a T5 due to arthritic fingers and it has enabled me to continue to play acoustic. When I was trying to decide, I played both a T5 and a T5z. I decided on the T5 with the natural spruce top. It seemed to me to produce the best approximation of a full body acoustic when plugged in. I have been very happy with it playing in our church band for the past two years. I play through a Kemper and my most useful profiles are L.R. Baggs Session DI, '65 Fender Bandmaster and Vox AC50. Not surprising, the L.R. Baggs is a great profile with the T5. But surprising (perhaps) the '65 Bandmaster is an "wonderful" profile for the humbuckers. My preferred are the humbuckers, sometimes parallel, sometimes in series and they even work well played through the Baggs Session DI. A lot of the time, even though I'm supposed to be playing acoustic, I'll actually play electric when it seems that's what the song needs, even though there is an electric guitar playing lead. The Vox AC50 is one of my favorite amps for playing electric guitar. So, I've said all of this to advance the idea that the T5 (as well as the T5z, I would think) can be incredibly versatile depending upon how you use it, and those two tone controls, for boost and cut, in conjunction with the appropriate amp, will yield some awesome tones. And I can switch amps and pickups with simply the flip of a switch!

[@Runoratsu]

The Taylor, right off the bat, sounds SO MUCH MORE like a real acoustic. The Fender sounds like a bad piezo E-Acoustic from the 2000s, compared.

[@PCModelBuilder]

I've had a T5z for about three months now and it is just a joy to play. It feel so good in my hands. I am not a great player by any means but it is just my favorite guitar by far.

[@gerimayawhyte154]

Great demo. Both sound really good. I feel like a lot of demos for the Acoustasonic don't amplify it properly which makes a huge difference because of the modeling. It needs to be on a flat PA speaker. Also thanks for playing a simple straight ahead rhythm it makes a huge difference A and B ing guitars. That being said you really turned my head with the Taylor 5Z. The variety with the electric settings was awesome.

[@dividedbytimestudios]

I played both those the other day, they both have something cool, but a Taylor T5Z pro would be the bees knee

[@cv7900]

Agree , the Taylor is in another category completely. build, finish, playability. the accoustasonic seems rudimentary in comparison.

[@thomasdemartino6109]

Thank you for the review of both instruments. I do agree with you in that it’s definitely up to what the player is leaning towards, (more acoustic functionality or electric). I did try both and feel that I wanted to have a “normal” body feel underneath me for the acoustic stuff then have good acoustics sound with an electric body. I opted for a used Classic T5z in Sassafras and a/b it to a Fender SFXII amp for the acoustic shaping, and through a GT-1 for the electrics. Thanks again for really spending less then 15 minutes on this too. I also feel that all you really need to choose here.

[@donmunson4802]

I was looking for a realistic acoustic tone when I played both of these. I have the elecrtic tones covered many times over with my other guitars, so that was not what I was listening for here. Between that acoustic tone and outright playability, the T5Z pushed all the right buttons.

[@OntarioAndrews415]

Thanks. Good overall review. Cheers!

[@drgunney]

I bought the Fender Acoustisonic Jazzmaster from your Amarillo store and I absolutely love it.

[@im58woody]

I think you should explore the T5Z a bit more. You kind of glossed over the acoustic sounds and moved on to the electric side. I would have liked to hear more about how the bass and treble controls are able to shape the sound. Also how different pedal effects work with it. Mainly reverb and delay.

[@tarpley-music]

We’re definitely going to revisit the T5z (hopefully in a different wood combo) at some point, and we have been working to improve the videos by increasing the length and depth of the demos. Definitely a work in progress, but it’s constructive criticism like yours that lets us know how to make changes for the better. Thanks for your feedback!

[@im58woody]

@@tarpley-music Glad to hear that you are going to be doing more work on the T5Z! The video work you do is done very professionally and all us guitar geeks appreciate what you are doing. Nobody wants to watch low budget, poorly prepared content because it doesn’t help us make decisions about what to invest our money in for a new instrument. So thanks for listening to our suggestions. 👍🏻

[@motokev2727]

The fender actually sounds better for acoustic sounds. I have the mexi jazzmaster version. I tune it down 1 step. The Taylor is better built/quality.

[@JTB--]

How does the Taylor sound unplugged for noodling on the couch?

[@fc2p]

I’d go with a jazzmaster acoustasonic

[@im58woody]

I have owned 2 A6’s by Godin and the stock humbucker is muddy sounding. The acoustic tone isn’t as accurate as the Fender. The best setting is the acoustic pickup with about 30% of the humbucker dialed in to warm up the piezo. I have owned the regular T5 which is a larger body than the T5z. I really didn’t understand how to use it then. I wasn’t able to get a great acoustic or electric tone at the time. I recently tried the Jazzmaster Acoustasonic and it is easily the best option out there for a hybrid guitar if you want better acoustic tone. The Taylor is the superior guitar if you lean to wanting more electric tone options.

[@QwikVidz]

I think i dig the fender. Didnt think i would cuz it looks ridiculous but seems so versatile. The Taylor is cool but the Fender sounds more woody

[@circaSG07]

I picked up a fender at a store last night, I didn't feel a bit impressed. I felt uninspired. They just bolted on a hollow body with an acoustic bridge to their electric guitar necks. the digital modeling doesn't hold any saving grace for me. The fenders didn't feel like a good product in my hands. But nearly every time I pick up a taylor, although a particular guitar may not sound perfect, they feel great as you hold them.

[@tarpley-music]

Taylor’s philosophy, at least Bob’s philosophy (not sure about Andy), is playability first. If it doesn’t feel good in the hands, then it doesn’t matter what it sounds like because you won’t be playing that guitar for very long.

[@Da_Publick]

The Taylor sounds like a thinline Acoustic Electric guitar being played through one of those effects pedals that can make one sound more like a solid body. The Fender didn't work for me, brother. I'd rather save my money and get the Taylor.

[@mboyer68]

This is about Taylor acoustics. The T5 will be my next purchase. I've owned acoustic guitars but play mostly electric. I did the buy one, get a mini for really low price. I sold the mini pretty quick because it was like many of the previous acoustics I've played. But the 110CE, the cheapest Taylor they offer...i didn't play an electric for 18 months. Everything else just sounded like shit. Playing a Taylor is like taking your first hit of a drug, unless you want to be addicted you better just not touch it! The sound is incredible. Every chord and note sounds like angels in heaven. Okay, that was over the top...but only a little!

[@jiggerification]

to my ears, taylor good for an electric player wanting the occasional acoustic tone, fender the opposite. I've played both, the taylor very easy under the hands, great setup etc. the fender not quite the same finesse. in the end i bought the acoustasonic to fit a specific sonic space in my band but would happily own the taylor as well.

[@TMoody]

Taylor in for the win.

[@Whatsamattau2]

No comparison; The Taylor sounds better and looks A LOT better than the Fender..which imho is downright ugly

[@James-cn9no]

Not even close. Fender makes great electrics. Always fallen way short in acoustics.

[@Andy123Harris1]

And did you notice how he was trying to be polite about the way the Fender played. I love my Fender Am Pro II - it's my go-to against a LP Custom, 339 and PRS Custom 24. I was hoping the Acoustasonics I played in the store would feel similar. They just didn't. Taylor acoustics have always had great playability, and that's carried across to the T5 series...

[@cv7900]

absolutely agree @@Andy123Harris1

[@drewgraysonxoxopanda]

This like comparing a Honda to a Lamborghini

[@yarbgreat1]

Theres a Godin Hybrid too, the A6. That guitar would probably be perfect for me if the acoustic portion of it didnt sound so thin. I wish the Acoustasonic had a neck pickup that was clean and routed to its own output and volume control. That way I could run that into an electric guitar rig.

[@officialWWM]

It’s the Fender all day long for me! It’s overall, just a better playing experience.

[@Vincentioia]

Thank you.

[@tarpley-music]

Thank you for watching, Vincent!

[@byromtaylor6482]

The Taylor all day every day looks better sounds better ...

[@kendalljamesmusic]

I’d choose the Taylor- based completely on appearance.

[@tarpley-music]

Agreed. It’s by far the better looking of the two guitars.

[@KeithJCarberry1]

the acoustic stuff on the acoustasonic sound great but the single coil sounds like shit honestly. everything on the t5 sounds great. it also looks about a hundred times better, even the one you were playing which is their ugliest model. i say this as a massive fan of fender. the acoustasonics are very disappointing imo. never played the acoustasonic personally but i've messed with the t5z at a guitar center once. it was fun to play

[@ytrezazerty1]

Taylor is better for me.

[@laarydickman6147]

Taylor unplugged sounds like a dead strat 'cuz it it uses electric strings.

[@cv7900]

you should play them both unplugged, the t5 is much better sounding. the fender unplugged sounds like you're playing through a cardboard box.