Fender And Gibson Would Never Make This Guitar

[@keymaker_coils686]

I'm finishing a very similar build the next weeks! My first guitar from scratch. A tele shape, carved maple top, walnut back, a tune o matic with a Bigsby and my own hand wound P90s. 24 fret compound radius fretboard 🤘🎸

[@rb032682]

That should sound and play sweetly.

[@keymaker_coils686]

@@rb032682 thanks! I did coil taps with push/push pots for both p90s and I'm super happy with the tones.

[@kevinmorris7722]

All hail the small builders. Looks like they've taken the best parts of the big brands and made it their own. How available are they? A bit bassy on the neck? Middle is spot on. Bridge sounds great for a lead. Too bad people aren't appreciating used quality instruments. Don't care personally. I keep everything as it's usually more to replace it in the future. Nice guitar. Only critique is maybe making the body just a hair thinner in depth. Just for weight. Is it balanced? Very cool.

[@Anjohl]

We're getting close to the point that the spec sheets and overall build quality on guitars are going to be virtually identical, regardless of manufacturer.

[@Angus_Macgregor]

Hi Phillip, Can I suggest that with your guitar reviews, you put a strap on and check how the balance is? I have bought a few guitars that I had you sell after a short while because they had neck dive. Oddly enough, all my SGs have been great, with no neck dive but I particularly note a Yamaha 820CR that I got a few years ago that was literally unplayable because you constantly had to pull the neck up again. I tried everything, a 'sticky' strap, lead weights in the control cavity etc but it was hopeless. So knowing what the balance is when the guitar is on a strap would be a great help. Thanks again for all your great reviews!

[@hkguitar1984]

To bad about the Nut, looks like the slots were cut with a hacksaw blade. I'm all in for a LP/Tele combo, great idea.

[@216trixie]

Especially the small strings. The slots were waaaay too wide and deep.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@216trixie Yeah, at first I thought it was a Left-Handed guitar switched to Right-Hand!

[@ralphclark]

Sounds great. I’m one of those people who feels a bit squeamish about guitars that aren’t a trad Fender or Gibson shape, but I’d certainly consider buying this.

[@jimmyjames2022]

Interesting Tele Paul mashup. Belltone's "Dream Lab" build options don't seem to include mixing pups, like P-90 neck and PAF bridge etc. Or any Firebird HB or mini HB options. But I'm glad to see a few of Lindy Fralin's pickups as a choice.

[@10INCHCRUSHER]

I'd bet that if you put a vintera tele deluxe neck humbucker with a les paul 61 burstbucker bridge pickup, that thing would be unbeatable.

[@belltoneguitars1887]

Jimmy ... currently we only do the filtertron size format for our guitars but we do offer an assortment of different wired pickups from builders that allow you to get a variety of sonic profiles and can be mixed and matched. For example ... a customer wanted Lollar filtertrons which are not on our website offering but this was no problem for us to accommodate this request.

[@chrispfeifer7628]

That may be the best sounding guitar to me that I've heard on any KZbin channel, period. That sounded great. 👍

[@TheMichaelseymour]

couldn't agree more , clarity ...and wonderful character, a very important find .

[@Rickeyhoof]

The nut cuts look a little off for a "custom builder". did they use the same file for all strings?

[@Lagwagon801]

Looks like trash

[@SirSneakerPimp]

Did you listen to Phill say that the company literally just sent him an in shop demo model? Not a customer paid for model.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

@@SirSneakerPimp Why would you build a guitar worse for yourself? 😂

[@johnsalaman1315]

First thing I said. What they have only one nut file..not feeling the $2,500 range either

[@TheGtrmarcus]

Sorry Phil but you should have pulled them up on the sloppy nut work. Saying you can sort it with a bit of string is totally missing the point. It's 2.4k. You wouldn't get that with Texas Toast...

[@jeremyurbatsch4980]

I just found your channel and searched for a Fernandes review. I love the sustainer in these and have owned 3 different ones. Love these videos, I’ve got a lot to catch up on your channel.

[@garyheaton9926]

That guitar has an astounding sound..to me anyway!! Thanks for the demo Phil. Great as always!! 😁👍✌️

[@danielhorsley2259]

This guitar is definitely my vibe (I’m a tele Les Paul player). Great review Phil! Beautiful sounding instrument

[@CarlyonProduction]

Sounds gorgeous Phil! Love the pickups.

[@picksalot1]

The nut slots for the G and B string look too wide, but it is their shop guitar. 🤷 I liked the tone - somehow sounded "mature" to me. Good combination of features on the guitar. Thanks for highlighting small builders. Neat nut slot polishing with the string. I'll have to try that one.

[@limpindug]

Another honest review Phil thanks. Tele shape guitars, I can never figure out if they are trying to be a tele or something else. 👍🥃Respect to you bud.

[@perihelion7798]

Well, I did that years ago, by putting a couple of dual-rail humbuckers in an oak-bodied Tele clone. It sounded like a Les Paul, which I kind of wanted for the experiment. I still have it.

[@henrydiaz720]

Man, if only I had that tendency to keep all my guitars that I got rid of. When I think of some of them I want to kick myself right in the ass. Hard.

[@perihelion7798]

@@henrydiaz720 Common feeling. However, I still have most of my Big Brand guitars. I have a Gibson I bought for $800.00 that is now worth about $2,000.00. I have several that have appreciated in value a lot. But I don't play those. I prefer my own 'Frankencaster' models.

[@morrisgentry8624]

Interesting. Way back in the late ‘60s I played a gold Teisco guitar. It had a Les Paul shape and Telecaster controls layout, replete with the ashtray bridge pickup cover.

[@joshuagriffith7904]

My daddy was a Gibson My momma was a Fender That's why they call me, Mindbender...

[@markmiwurdz202]

Yeah, that's from the song of the same name "Minbender" by Stillwater.

[@ryanandring2688]

That looks like a great guitar, gonna look more into it for myself!

[@elsantoproductora]

A thing of beauty! Thanks for the review

[@haveagoodone5830]

Not being a fan of LP nor Tele myself by any means, I do like what this guitar is and does. Sounds beautifully, has a great neck access and is built with attention to detail, - that's something I would buy. Paying respect to the builder and wishing best of luck.

[@chrisfit]

Nice build! Love the look.

[@darrenblake8990]

That looks exactly like a St Blues from the late 80s early 90s. They were cool guitars. I believe they were handled by Strings and Things.

[@dnews9519]

Yep that's a 1990 St. Blues copy

[@charlesbolton8471]

Why the past tense “were”? St. Blues guitar are still cool. Everything from the ones they built built in the late 70s before they started the St Blues brand all the way up to the ones that are still being built in Memphis now is great.

[@gtr1952]

I missed the premiere. That TelePaul sounds great!! I also love the neck! I have always believed that each guitar has a life of its own Even 2 with identical components, they can sound and feel different. This one has the MOJO!! Rounding over the headstock on the thumb side was a nice touch. It's an indication to me that the builder spent some time with this guitar. If they happen to see this, great job!! 8) JMHO --gary

[@cowlevelcrypto2346]

It's not a TelePaul, it's a LesCaster . 😆

[@lunchb0x1986]

@@cowlevelcrypto2346 good call. Telepaul sounds awful.

[@DavidLee07]

It has a hi fi kind of sound, like a Telecaster with expanded frequency range. I'd like to see a model with a Gibson scale to see how it would change the tone. I agree with @mer red in the comments that I like the shorter scale sound and playability. But this looks like a really well-built guitar, kind of in the G&L kind of range where it's not a barn burner in terms of looks but it sounds and plays well.

[@antoonhermans8953]

the new reverend greg koch gristlemaster has the same kind off vibe , it also has p 90's ( from fishman ) and if i'm not mistaken it has the gibson scale .

[@andyronayne7947]

There was a guitar builder who did a similar Tele/Les Paul mashup, St Louis, they used to advertise in Guitar Player in the 1980’S.

[@77pearcearrow]

That neck pickup sounds great!!!

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

Sounds great, apparently plays great, but, I think, for the price point the looks are a bit indistinctive. The custom ones in the end certainly have more appeal.

[@ryanandring2688]

Yeah I agree! If I bought one I’d try to maybe make it stand out a little more.

[@fgear8670]

Great review-...I bought a Belltone in a custom Iced Tea Burst, great quality and sounds fantastic with the T-90's

[@DavidHBurkart]

This guitar real fills a "tweener" niche. Its custom shop quality, has the looks, a cool name, and performs big. If you are in a band that is LP or Tele-heavy already, the tones will contrast in a blend nicely. Likewise, when played opposite a Strat, it will fill that Tele or LP role just as well.

[@scorpionleader1967]

2 problems. They are hard to find and I already blew through my guitar budget for the rest of the year.

[@leamanc]

Very nice. If I had the cash to burn on that, I’d totally get one. They made something both traditional and unique.

[@joblo2671]

Hi Phil, as a player and guitar nerd for over 20 years, I've always wondered (and never seemed to get a good answer) : what effect does the angle of the neck to the body (as is visible on LPs) have on tone and sustain (versus a fender style that mostly does not seem to have an angle) and...more broadly...why and where is this done, what is the history or story behind this, if you happen to know? Thanks Phil! Keep rockin!

[@BronYrAur1]

The neck angle has to do with bridge height of the tuneomatic bridge and the carved top. If the les paul had a a flat neck angle, the action would be impossibly high. I suppose its a carry over from violins, and mandolins, the carved tops and high bridges required a neck angle of 5°+. Fender style bridges lay flat, and the saddles generally are around the same height as the fretboard, so no neck angle was needed on strats and teles. As for the effect on tone, I can't say, its so hard to have an apples to apples comparison... maybe Phil will have some more insight there.

[@joblo2671]

@@BronYrAur1 that makes a lot of sense, didn't think about the top

[@sesa2984]

Thanks! You see the black on red color scheme all the time but I love the red on black look here. The shape is cool and the proprietary hardware looks awesome. Something old fashioned about it like old school machinery. Cheers!

[@ChrisEck13]

No offense Phil, but I don't really see the '59 Les Paul comparison. The Tele vibe is obvious but there's really nothing similar to a '59 Burst aside from having a neck that could have a similar carve to a '59. I would say it's a little more similar to a Les Paul Special, double P90s, slab body similar in shape to a Les Paul Special. And Les Paul Specials can have the same kind of neck carve as a '59. There's no PAFs, no carved top, no binding. To me it's much more of a cross between a Tele and a Les Paul Special.

[@josephbrewer7026]

Very distinctive tones. Thanks for playing riffs that accentuate the pick-ups nicely. So many fantastic options that aren’t “popular brand” instruments, and this is a fine example. Love this guitar!

[@BluegillGreg]

Phillip, your rock playing sounds especially good on this video. Beautiful guitar, too. Do you know if there's a base plate under that pickup in that big metal "bridge?"

[@belltoneguitars1887]

Greg ... Glad you liked our guitar. The bridge is all machine tooled aluminum with the brass swivel locking saddles. The individual pickups have base plates but there is no separate base plate in the pickup cavity under the bridge. Please reach out if you have more questions!

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

The cuts in the nut seem mighty wide. Otherwise, it looks like a cool guitar. I like the belly carve.

[@ForeverDownByLaw]

Seems cool, but for less money you can get a Fender Tele Pro II Deluxe, which is a great tele/paul. Mine has been my number one since getting it 2 years ago.

[@reececamptenmyers6063]

I think the peavey t60 was also recognized as a les paul and Tele in one though it had a double cutaway body. The one you're showing here is pretty cool too

[@ramilak]

That reminds me a bit of the Radium by Godin, which I own. I bought because I was looking for a strat / Tele / LP hybrid. I'd be curious to see how it stacks up to the guitar you reviewed.

[@rerawho]

Too bad the builder didn’t go with the LP style selector switch. I never liked the Tele selector. My fav is a T style guitar but the ease of access of a LP selector would make the Tele a perfect guitar.

[@garymcaleer6112]

That's an excellent sound, Phillip! Fat freq.response but clean too. No mud.

[@DrGreenaway]

Love it. I'd like to see how to "check the frets." It looks like you played each string on each fret. I'm guessing you were listening for buzz. This seems easier than using a fret rocker.

[@TheMichaelseymour]

this guitar deserves a wider appreciation - what a great sound ...love those p90s .

[@MattSmithMe]

This was done decades ago by St. Blues Guitars. They're still around and are now all handmade in Memphis.

[@DadRockAndGuitars]

This is such a cool guitar! I mainly play my LP and Tele and this is a great blend of both of them. it's something different, but still looks classic and very cool. Also, their online guitar designer is really nice! Well done Belltone!

[@trushack]

Reminds me a bit of those old Gibson Music City models. Has a cool sort of “clank” in the tone that I like! Demo or not, those nut slots look a bit overworked, at least on camera.

[@MajorUpgrade]

Looks really nice.

[@eddiesell8577]

Phil, you should check out Bacchus guitars, Made in Japan, phenomenal build quality for the money.

[@Gerd_Kugel]

I bought a Belltone a year ago. The configuration on the homepage was very helpful. Luckily I took the time to listen to different pickups. The sustain is outstanding. The import to Germany worked, unfortunately with the EU taxes. I'm very happy with the guitar. I confirm the characterization of the guitar in the video.

[@HUGEGUY405]

That guitar with a 58 neck would be awesome! Or just chunkiest neck they got! Baseball bat style!

[@chrisfleischer9862]

Cool guitar and great review!

[@jean-paulschelkens6930]

Something in the range of a G&L Asat Special with the Jumbo MFD pickups?

[@Furtheronmusic]

I use a neck heel design like that on some of my own builds. I don't see any need to thin the body like you say the shape gives you the access you need.

[@jjgson69]

I have a guitar that was put together in 1982 by former guitar store in Minneapolis Knut Koupee, (store Prince shopped). Has a Boogie Body Les Paul body made of Honduras Mahogany with a Zebrawood top. Has a Left handed Telecaster neck/fingerboard that is is solid Brazilian Rosewood. Had a Rockinger Tremolo that sucked so I replaced with an original Floyd Rose. Some of the first EMG pickups, single coil in bridge, humbucker neck. I've since put dual humnbuckers. First Les-Tele guitar I ever saw.

[@fierybones]

The bridge pickup is impressive, both clean and dirty. Sounds closer to a humbucker than a P90. I agree that T V Jones makes killer pickups.

[@TheFairway8]

At first with the black body and red scratch plate i thought it was a Wilko Johnson replica interesting guitar none the less

[@mightywaffle51]

If by basic you mean oozing mojo, yeah she basic lol. Love that sound, would love to try one in person. Very interesting bridge too!

[@b-regsproductions]

Wish they had a 24.75 scale neck, sounds great

[@blaineadams7484]

Sounds more like it's own thing. Not a Tele or a Les paul, how does it stack against the FMT ? I'm going to make this a thing, well maybe

[@Alfredo78666]

Yeah, a Les Caster or a TelePaul, you choose, well your pocket. 07:17 That looks sweet!

[@davitofarito]

Looks nice, but the switch plate is too crowded. They should rout the cavity another half inch and make new plates with that added half inch between the switch and vol. control.

[@Jaundice__]

Sounds nice. Cool guitar that I have never heard of before.

[@tonelocrian]

I dig those TV Jones p/ups. Are they noiseless ? They sound great. Know Your Gear : Can you do a video on pickups & shielding your guitar for no noise ?

[@ryleitdept]

the nut file are so deep for the 1st 2nd and 3rd string

[@BrianSGuitars]

Very cool! I really dig the black with the red guard! Unfortunately they have zero guitars for sale on their website.. :(

[@fretworkband3204]

Made to order?

[@belltoneguitars1887]

Brian ... Glad you liked the guitar. And yes, unfortunately, we are currently sold out of any stock guitars but our main business is making signature guitars based on the guitarist's own preferences. Check out our Dream Lab and design your own Belltone® ! It is not any more expensive than a new, already made guitar on our website.

[@yisuspaz2603]

Cort had one similar... Cort TC model

[@gtrplyr67]

sounds great. i like the neck pick up

[@Wargasm54]

Sooo….I went to their website and there is zero inventory, no pictures of what you can order and no pricing?! Thanks for making me aware of an unobtainable guitar.

[@PhillipMcKnight]

belltoneguitars.com/product-category/create/

[@marcelpacheco7878]

I already have a guitar that does both Fender and Gigson really well. My SG.

[@giotino]

Looks like a great telecaster!

[@rexrathtar3893]

Really like the case, the neck looks nice and the pickups looks much nicer than your regular soapbox P90s. Sounded really good as well. Not a fan of that red pickguard and the weight of the guitar, nor the core concept of the guitar which is a bit frankensteinian. My own tendency is to steer away from nitro finishes. The advantage of the boutique builder is to be free of the shackles of the legacy of the big brands. If you then have a nitro finish, you may as well stick with Gibson.

[@landofahhs_1]

I have mixed feelings about this hybrid guitar...As an original owner of a 69 Tele Thinline and also owning a Gibson Les Paul and a Strat....I would have preferred a middle pickup on this hybrid. To me, the additional sound characteristics would have added another level to the guitar, even without the Strat's trem or bridge. Most Tele owners from my generation used to mod our Teles and add a middle pickup just so we could get that additional Strat sound from them. In this case, it would have been a simple addition that would have still been reasonable and not affected it's cost much. Nice guitar though, no denying that. :)

[@TheMichaelseymour]

well.....that middle position was very beautiful ...i personally would leave it happy at this .

[@davidkurnos3081]

That looks very interesting. Wish store's would offer more variety but I get it.

[@VintageRadius]

That’s a tough price range to compete in with zero brand recognition. I do like the specs though, love a thick neck like that on a “Tele.”

[@teerexness]

One criticism. For $2500, I'd want something more than cheap dots marking the fretboard.

[@mikeh2450]

A guitar costing 2K+ WITHOUT Stainless Steel Frets?!? OK....

[@belltoneguitars1887]

Mike ... Stainless frets can be had if desired ... we build 'signature' guitars only so we can flex on many items as long as the over aesthetic remains a Belltone®

[@rdotpen4046]

@Phillip McKnight - Would you be able to make a video about sustainable guitar companies?

[@stevedriver1476]

There are a stack of hi powered Telles made in Japan. humbucker/p90 setups or Seymore Duncan H/B,s and the build quality leaves fender for dead. Bacchus/ Fugigen, Moon, History, and stacks more where you get a telle and les paul in 1 guitar. And i cant play and know this..

[@smarkalet9078]

I've always wanted to mash up a Tele and a Les Paul. I've thought about which features of each I would keep. Looks like these guys took all the features I would've left off and combined those😂

[@charles3200]

sort of sounds to me similar to a G&L ASAT CLASSIC with those MFD pickups.

[@rudiyantohalim736]

nice guitar, so unique

[@zeppo20]

Very nice guitar.

[@Glicksman1]

Nice sounding P-90 guitar. Definitely a Gibder or a Fenson. You know, nothing sounds like an old Tele neck pickup. With a Bigsby, this one would be for me,.

[@lolwithme36dd]

Phil.. you and those tasty little riffs! This guitar is KILLER! Definitely peaks my interest! Cheers!!

[@kevincothron5089]

Nice instrument.

[@StringsOfCrossroads]

Would have been nice if this guitar had a beautiful flame veneer top and in burst to give it more 59 vibes. Not sure why it’s p90s instead of humbuckers if it’s a nod to 59? I don’t think I would have made the connection had you not mentioned it was a tele/59 LP

[@belltoneguitars1887]

TC ... we are working on a new model with veneer to come out soon. As to pickups ... we offer lots of custom options on our website so YOU decide the sonic profile you want. Thanks for your comments!

[@RCSkunkWorX]

The "Les Tele"

[@danielgulseren9783]

i startet building myself, this one looks great, really nice! like it.

[@jesussavesrick]

Better make sure you want one, because smaller, unfamiliar companies like this are difficult to re-sell.

[@captnb8036]

Thats nice.

[@greencrab6]

How do you find the EQ curve of a pickup, that sounds like something that would be really good for setting up an amp

[@Meddled]

That red pickguard is very reminiscent of Wilko Johnson.

[@johncek7468]

I have a 94 Gibson Nighthawk sp 3. That can get a Les Paul sound Telecaster sound a Stratocaster sound and a SG sound simply amazing guitar

[@soundknight]

Great features

[@elgoogkcuf]

forgive my ignorance but on a compound radius fretboard wouldnt the D and G strings be farther away from the frets when you play on the 12th fret and higher?

[@kirktown2046]

I'd love to be able to afford a guitar like that.

[@ruffcutmagicreview]

Would have to try one to make an opinion.

[@Skeyechi]

this reminds me a lot of Reverend's guitar designs

[@dpatt6175]

All inventory sold out at beltone guitars. What's the point of advertising this guitar If we can't get it