Fender American Special Telecaster Review By Parker Hatcher

[@compulsor5853]

So TOTALLY agree: prefer the Special. It's much closer to the traditional construction methods. I actually had to dump a ton of gear at fire sale prices, had a LOT of great stuff go. I kept THIS Tele over a genuine '68, a couple year old Standard etc. This just simply out played and both sounded and played better. Fender has gotten pounded a lot over the years, but today, they deserve a ton of credit. There are more excellent quality, affordable Fender instruments now than ever before. From Vintage Modified & Classic Vibe Squires to the Am. Vintage Fender lines, and Finson's 'return to quality' : it's a great time to be a guitar player.

[@bryanmchugh1307]

hey man...you know what? That was literally one of the very best reviews I have yet seen on the American Specials! Outstanding job!

[@parkerhatcher224]

Bryan McHugh Thank you! I'm doing another one with a rosewood special soon. Hopefully it'll be able to live up to this review! Take care! ✌🏼

[@soulvaccination8679]

This is the greatest electric guitar ever built. Even the classic vibe is a work of art. Great video. Thank you.

[@jamiemaldonado2389]

I had no idea Fender made USA guitars for around 1K and I literally just discovered this out while searching for a guitar around my local town. Thanks for your review!

[@davebarone506]

You make me feel good with Your demo, I own one of these guitars, and already know most of the details, but its just good to hear your approvals and affirmations., not to mention your siulful playing, you really do the guitar justice. I usually play a cheap Squier Strat, with Texas Specials which ive worked with and got to play great, but i think im gonna dig out the American Special asap.......

[@Fight26Fan]

Great review. Most of the time I can't stand listening to the artists interpretation of the guitar at the beginning but you had a real honest, personal way of articulating the guitar that I appreciated. Thanks alot!

[@parkerhatcher224]

Fight26Fan I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes these reviews can get a little tedious and showy. Just being me has served me well. :). Thanks again for the positive comment, and thank you for watching! Take care!

[@PsicoUnderground]

Thanks for the review Parker. I also have that precious, and only, guitar and love the sound of it. I use several pedals and it does shine with them. Although, I prefer the compressor, tremolo, and delay pedals. The guitar screams for blues! Nice taste in Fleetwood Mac, the beggining of the band with Peter Green was amaizing.

[@parkerhatcher224]

It is super bluesy! Anything that has that "spank" is a win in my books. It's a great guitar. I see people changing out the pickups on these American specials and I'll never understand why. Those Texas specials are fantastic. Take care!

[@jimg691]

Great review man, I love the Special too, real nice playing.

[@vidikat]

Nice video, Parker. And good to see you so upbeat. Thanks!

[@parkerhatcher224]

Thank you :). Music always brings out the happiness in my soul. Absolutely love this instrument. I think I'll be doing many many more video's like this. Take care darling!

[@domturzio]

Great video my man ! I just picked one up can't wait till it gets here ,love your playing 👍

[@tomformanek3312]

On mine I swapped the saddles for the brass barrel angled saddles by Barden and preferred by the late Danny Gatton. Intonation is better up the neck. Also swapped the tuners for Fenders 2 pin Kluson-looking set for more of a classic look. Great guitar!

[@flyingformation1878]

Thanks a lot for your review, it is truly fantastic. I love the way you play too. Keep up the good work!

[@parkerhatcher224]

Thank you! I'm actually thinking of posting a re-do of this guitar with a better mic. I'm very glad that people are still enjoying this!

[@andrewguttry6886]

I have a 2017-dated Special in Sherwood green metallic with rosewood fretboard (only available for this year), and it's simply a great guitar.

[@ruiseartalcorn]

I have one of these. Awesome guitar! It'll always be my number one! :)

[@dsalbert9572]

Very cool review/demo! Yeah, I'm on the fence with either the American Special Strat, and this particular Tele- same color you have. I'm starting to lean toward the Tele (simplicity, rawness, character....) Thanx for the vid!

[@barkinstarfish]

Great video. Well done fella!

[@richardknott2021]

very good..easy to listen to you ..you have helped me to make up my mind..thanks..keep up good work..have a good day

[@BrycenGaines]

that was delicious. I love to watch you play and seeing how passionate you are is very exciting to me. keep it up!

[@parkerhatcher224]

Thank you very much ! Many many more instrument reviews to come. Really happy you enjoyed it!

[@kennethjohnson6223]

I thinking about getting one just like that and do the Keith Richards 5 String tuning ; . ) Enjoyed your informative video explaining the differences between the Am. Std. vs. Am. Special.......... I'm getting the Am. Special in the same color.... Beautiful guitar...... I may have to sit down my G&L Rampage Tribute Jerry Cantrell... and clean up my sound with the Tele... wanting play a lil Rolling Stones change things up a bit.... play with open G tuning..... Thanks for the info my friend

[@Can-eh-dian]

You are insane good brah! I listen to your cd often wow what a change....

[@Can-eh-dian]

Redo them? I want them in both voices..

[@Can-eh-dian]

Cas/PARKER redone! I would love!

[@Can-eh-dian]

Fuck everyone would....

[@parkerhatcher224]

Erin Perrault I can't believe I just saw these now! Back in KZbin land :). And heck yes! I'm actually re mixing fighting kids and adding my new voice and some new lyrics :)! It's going to be a load of fun! I'm glad you still dig the record. Hopefully the new one will be just as good. And fighting kids #2 should be awesome. ❤️

[@petejamie2499]

Hi Parker! Great video. I’ve got my American special arriving soon. Was wondering how are the frets on it? Are they smooth on the edges and rolled? Thanks

[@TheSectric]

I got a 2012 model for $650 in perfect condition on reverb. Amazing deal.

[@parkerhatcher9021]

Is that in US dollars?

[@nicolasdiaz3275]

Hello, good review! What is the song at the final of the video?

[@cjcar63]

Hey Parker... coolest video I've found on this guitar to date! I just purchased the exact model/color, only mine is the 2013 60th anniversary issue. Odd coincidence, but mine came set up perfectly as well. Really liking this guitar. Except for the damage UPS inflicted during shipping... really bummed. Filed a claim, and I'm hoping I'll be able to keep it, (with some extra $$ taken off). The damage is strictly cosmetic. Depending on the cost of a factory respray, I might just relic the damaged areas. Like your style. Wish I could play as well. Practice, practice, and more practice. Keep doing your thang bro!

[@parkerhatcher224]

cjcar63 Shipping disasters break my heart. I would go for the relic! You should see this guitar now, I've played it so much it's starting to look a couple decades older than it is 😄 and I absolutely love it. I'm actually gearing up to do another video featuring this guitar, and another one with a rosewood board. They're fantastic guitars. Fender really hit it out of the park with these. I hope your guitar is alright! And absolutely practice practice practice. I think I spent more time playing guitar than doing anything else when I was a kid. I don't even mind that I have arthritis now. It was more than worth it! Keep it up! You're absolutely going to get there 😄. Take care ✌🏼

[@Odyss-d2p]

Sweet guitars

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

I am thinking of getting of this guitar! Would you have gotten the American Performer that replaced this guitar?

[@Skunkwerx]

Nice vid buddy! Dude the girls must flock to you haha! Johnny Depp lookalikey or what!

[@andrewpolitano]

I found that the Special really broke up far too early for me. Mine finish also started bubbling and chipping off not a month after I got it so I ended up sending it back and going with the Professional. While not quite as aggro, it is more versatile imo. Better compensated bridge also. Anyways, that’s my take on it.

[@parkerhatcher224]

Andy That's a bummer. It seems like you ended up with a dud. I have 3 of these now, and I would take them over the professional series any day. Based on the price point, and the made in the US factor. It's a great deal. I'm sorry yours didn't turn out so great. Everyone has their preference. I dig the simplicity and classic vibe of these guitars. They're just the way they were made back in the 50's (Minus the baseball bat neck), and the Texas specials, to me at least sound very creamy and not too bright or screechy. Either way enjoy your tele! The Telecaster has rapidly become my absolute favourite guitar. No matter the model, they're absolutely brilliant. Take care! ✌🏼

[@caseylee12]

Doesn't a special have jumbo frets as opposed to medium-jumbo on the American standard?

[@parkerhatcher224]

Medium jumbo if I remember correctly. I know the new performer series tele’s have reallly tall frets. The American standard and the American special’s have a very similar feel, minus the gloss boards on the maple necks. I actually sold my standard when I bought my special. And there wasn’t any learning curve when I switched 👍

[@tonytribble2977]

They are jumbos

[@JeepinIvan_MTB]

Hey man, I just purchased a performer yesterday in the vintage white and it’s actually really similar to the guitar in the video but there’s one thing I really want to swap out. A black pickguard. It’s just a must for me when having a tele and mine came with the white which is just fine, but I need the black pickguard haha. Do you know the thickness of the one I need to order? I see one ply, 3 ply even even 5 ply. Not sure exactly which one to order. Hopefully you can help me out, thanks !

[@parkerhatcher224]

I know exactly what you mean! The black guards look better to me too. And I believe my new American performer has a 3 ply guard. I’m going to do an updated video comparing the performer to the special, so I’ll take a look at my performer today and double check for you 👍. If I’m wrong about the 3 ply, I’ll let you know. Take care!

[@JeepinIvan_MTB]

Parker Hatcher sweet, thanks man! Appreciate the reply🤘🏽

[@ericstrat3579]

@@parkerhatcher224 looking forward to your Performer vs Special review.... 🎸👍🏼

[@daviddepetrillo8252]

Nice review!

[@urgidover]

Good review, which guitar do you recommend me, a fender tele baja or fender tele American special??

[@parkerhatcher224]

Urgidover Trouble_4_U They're both fantastic. I'd definitely go with the American special, or the new American performer series. In my humble opinion however, the Texas specials in the American special tele's are incredible, I prefer them to the more recent Yosemite pickups in the newer ones. Thanks for watching! Rock on 🤘🏼

[@YOSTINATOR]

thanks for the video. Does the fretboard have rolled edges and can you compare this tele with a baja classic player tele?

[@parkerhatcher224]

Hey bud. Glad you enjoyed it. The fretboard does not have rolled edges. But I personally dig the stripped down sort of feel of the neck. I can certainly obtain a 50's spec baja classic to do a solid comparison with. I'll also do a video with a Mexican tele and an American standard. As well as a side by side with a Mexican fender special run ash tele that I had my eye on. Take care!

[@YOSTINATOR]

Parker Hatcher thanks man... yeah a comparison of it vs. a 50's baja and a 60's baja would be great. even if you don't have them in your hands and just tried them at a guitar store

[@lukecrocker1966]

Having played both in store, I thought they were the two most similar sounding teles, but overall I preferred the Am. Specials punch

[@parkerhatcher224]

Luke Crocker There's just something magical about those Texas special pickups. They have such a smooth tone. And just enough aggression and twang. I'll try to do an A-B with my American standard and capture the beautiful characteristics of both guitars sometime soon. Take care and thanks for watching!

[@parkerhatcher224]

YOSTINATOR Just to correct my previous statement, the edges are in fact rolled 👌🏼

[@veerchasm1]

What gauge strings come standard with those out of the box?

[@xblackcatx1312]

Veer Chasm I think 9s.

[@carlfredriksson5510]

looks like a tele playing Jack Sparrow ; )

[@jurajsumsky4634]

Shut Up And Get In..perfect song.by the way nice review :)

[@parkerhatcher224]

Juraj Šumský Thank you :) have a great day!

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Let’s be clear! No.1 - The Telecaster is the greatest ever electric guitar and No.2 - See No.1…

[@coffeecomics3583]

I want one

[@80sruler]

Parker you look like a mini Steven Tyler

[@parkerhatcher224]

80sruler Thank you! I love Steven Tyler! Big time compliment. Take care! ✌🏼

[@nmfl100]

Sounds very compressed and rough in the video, but I'm sure the guitar sounds great. Nice review, thank you. In your opinion, is this worth the price difference to the Mexican Telecasters?

[@parkerhatcher224]

nmfl100 I was using a mic that didn't agree with my amp. I've since upgraded and will most likely be re doing this review. It is a fantastic sounding guitar. Having owned Mexican, American standards, and this guy here, I would say it's worth the extra cash :). Thanks for watching. Take care!

[@nmfl100]

Thanks for the input. Cheers!

[@jimg691]

And on the 8th day God created the Telecaster. The Alpha Omega of guitars.

[@xblackcatx1312]

Best sounding guitars....Telecasters.

[@mar7348]

What color is this ?

[@parkerhatcher224]

Mar Bocatcat I believe it's "Butterscotch Blonde" or "Vintage Blonde".

[@parkerhatcher224]

I've got one in seafoam green too. It's a couple years older than this guy, and sounds oddly differently. I thought about doing a comparison of the two.

[@boassinfield3]

Vintage Blonde I believe, I have one just the same,

[@charlesm7646]

I personally dig the Twisted Tele in the neck and a Nocaster in the bridge 🤙

[@nugatory626]

Johnny Depp's beard style hehe

[@Nicklowend]

Thats a tele!!

[@Can-eh-dian]

Seafret is so you!

[@Can-eh-dian]

You were there first thought ..

[@Blech319]

W A N K E R.

[@parkerhatcher224]

Blech319 I never quite understood why that was an insult. So I'm just. Not insulted by that. Have fun trolling around! Hope it gives your life some meaning. 💋

[@Can-eh-dian]

If Faith was in more vids they would take off|!!!!!!! Lmao jki bro you are gorgeous!

[@bathtubacoustics2138]

👍🏻❤️

[@Can-eh-dian]

Pm brother

[@Can-eh-dian]

Seafret

[@pedritoortiz5017]

Mexican johnny depp :P

[@parkerhatcher224]

Pedrito Ortiz I'm actually a Trinidadian/German hybrid. But thanks for the compliment! I get that comparison a lot and I never get tired of it 👍. Take care ✌🏼

[@Can-eh-dian]

Get at me me for a few bucks buddy

[@1949-j2h]

Che Guevara