Fender Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster | Review and Demo

Today we're taking a look at the signature model of one of today's greatest singer-songwriters, Jason Isbell. This double-bound telecaster embodies all of the classic-inspired heavy country tones that Isbell achieves on stage and in the studio. From a guy who is one of the biggest gear nerds in country music today, we had high expectations for this guitar-- do you think it lives up to the Isbell hype? Let us know!
Clean Demo - 6:59
Overdrive Demo - 8:36
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[@BasswipeNC]

I like the fact that he gave his honest assessment of the backplate. That tells me he is not BSing you about the things he does like. We need more reviewers like that. He shot straight and we need a ton more of that in this world right now.

[@jdstan9650]

Jason’s song “Stockholm” has the line “ship’s in the harbor and birds on the bluff/don’t move an inch when their anchor goes up.” I think it has something to do with that. That design (on the neck plate) is his logo...he and his wife Amanda Shires both have that tattoo. If you have seen his signature D-18, same logo is inlaid on the fretboard...

[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

The backplate was a tattoo that he and his wife got while they were in New Zealand! He decided to use that instead of signing the guitar! Thanks to you guys review, I have now purchased one!

[@studiorat81]

The neck plate design is his logo, which is taken from a tattoo he got after getting out of rehab and cleaning up his life.

[@SeaDrive300]

Very surprising that these guys wouldn't realize that it must have some significance to Jason. Why would he slap some "truck stop T-shirt logo" on his signature Tele???

[@studiorat81]

@@SeaDrive300 Yeah, it’s pretty obvious these guys didn’t do their homework, or really even care much about this guitar. They spent most of the video talking about everything else except the guitar they were holding.

[@SlainteMhath]

Yeah, this bit destroyed the "we dig Isbell" credibility of this entire thing.

[@mikesides617]

So embarrassing for them. The Stage Version of this logo during the last tour was crazy cool. Totally lit up, color changing, bright, and amazing. Watched it do it’s job at the Fabulous Fox here in ATL was so cool. Poor guys.

[@morganghetti]

@@mikesides617 what's embarrassing is the grown men in this thread getting upset that they weren't familiar with his logo.

[@Steve_ATL]

I like the neck plate emblem. I'll take that over an actual signature.

[@mirkosommerfeld4058]

I get my Jason Isbell Telecaster before two weeks in Cologne germany. Great look and it sounds amazing. I had Telecasters they are much more expensive and glossy shine. This Jason signature is my favorit guitar for the rest of my live. And i love the backplate 🤟😍

[@roymontero4066]

How is the neck shape? Is it chunkier than the MEX jimmy page tele? Thanks

[@JS-nf1sn]

What an awesome guitar. Jason was a guitar player first, before he was the best singer/songwriter in the world. The fact that it's a MIM means that normal people can actually get one. Thanks for the video. I think these will sell well.

[@PopsKustojo]

I’m just here for Cooper’s demos 😅 got it in slow 0.25x playback. Gots to git it clean 😂 Wonderful people, you two ❤️

[@LesleyLesPaul]

Cool demo 🎉

[@JoseSalas-wn7im]

Nice sounding and good looking Tele. Now if it’s worn in...that comfy feel, then I’m sure it will be a popular “must buy”.

[@catchingup6359]

Received my JB Signature a couple of days ago, and am deeply in love with it. Y'all failed to mention the nitro finish? Also, some descriptions say it has compensated saddles (it doesn't). That chocolate satin burst, the rosewood fingerboard, the clay-looking markers, twisted tele neck pick-up, and that funky neck plate with its backstory ticked all the boxes for me. Now, if I could only make it sound as good as Jason or Cooper are able to do....

[@MYdjANDkaraoke]

Do you know what is in the bridge? I have the twisted tele set already in my American tele so although I love this guitar, I don't think I'd get it if it has the same pickups as one I already have.

[@catchingup6359]

@@MYdjANDkaraoke I think the bridge is a pretty standard tele bridge pick-up. I’ve not been able to find any documentation as to what it is. Maybe when Trogly reviews it we’ll find out.

[@MYdjANDkaraoke]

@@catchingup6359 yes I love the way that guy tears a guitar apart. Though I'd never do that to my own

[@roymontero4066]

How would you describe the neck shape, is it oval c like the jimmypage mex tele or round c ?

[@catchingup6359]

@@roymontero4066 I have zero experience with the Jimmy Page MIM, but I would consider it a rounder C at the neck; feels more like my 50sCV Squire, and not as deep or thick as the Baja Tele neck. The JB has a very nice feel to it, with a satin nitro finish.

[@evr1136]

Guy says he watches and listens to tons of isbell but has never seen anything to do with the neck plate design. Okay buddy 👌🏻

[@charlesbolton8471]

I guess they never saw his now discontinued Martin signature model, either.

[@zachsmith3376]

I'll be honest I've been a longtime fan of Isbell and I didn't know. Sweet lookin guitar

[@karlwetzel5466]

Ships in the harbor and birds on the bluff 🎶

[@chrisegg7936]

i keep going back and forth between one of these and picking up a classic vibe squier tele to mod the hell out of. But after the first strum at 7:00, i know i need to spring for the isbell. Between the pickups and the nitro lacquer, it just sounds absolutely killer. Thanks for the help!

[@thomasmaier3479]

Excellent review/rundown on the guitar. Cooper, your tone with going straight into the amp is amazing. All the other videos of this guitar seem too biting and bright. The tone in your video is very well balanced. Bright at times when asked for but not done overly so. I'm considering getting one of these top end MIM teles. I'm just looking to find one that's not too weighty. Many of the places that list weights are showing a weight around 8 lbs. Maybe I can find one closer to 7. We'll see. Thanks again for such a great review!

[@phishphan5732]

Where is the white top hat switch tip?

[@czechplastik]

Ensenada are making some fantastic guitars at the moment. MIM stuff really gets a hard time but it doesn't deserve it anymore.

[@adamdoran235]

I've had my Fender Road Worn Player Tele, the first of the road worn line from back in the day I believe - with SD 59 in neck and Tex Mex in the bridge, for years and I won't sell it. Musicman, LSL, Fender USAs, Friedman Vintage Ts have come and gone but my MIM Tele is a keeper.

[@michaelaiello9525]

I didn't know about the tatoo, but hell yeah, if I purchased a signature, I'd prefer it to be something unique like the neck plate rather than a signature on the headstock. The Isbell model is on the top of my Tele wish list. I have a Custom Vibe 60's double bound Sunburst Tele and I've been contemplating my mods. I am going to take a bunch of that heavy lacquer off the neck, put on compensated brass saddles and eventually upgrade the pups. Dang, if I black guard it, it'll be a budget friendly Isbell twin. Nice review, but probably not wise to poke too much fun about something when you're not 'in the know' about it.

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

Close ups of the features you’re talking about would help 😁

[@johnheath970]

Maybe it's a "Sailor Jerry Tattoo". A thing for travelers. Frances McDormand just won her 3rd Oscar for being one.

[@joshuasummers6109]

I know you guys are worked up about the neck plate, but is no one going to mention how good this MIM sounds into a HOT ROD?!? That neck pickup is especially Stratty...

[@chrisegg7936]

according to Jason’s demo on fender’s channel, he was attempting to get a strat-esque tone out of this neck pickup

[@timnewman1172]

Change to a tort. guard, flip the controls, and I'm there! Love the burst Teles with a rosewood neck!!!

[@timnewman1172]

How about specs, neck radius, etc???

[@baileyandthebadhabits9254]

What do you mean flip the controls?

[@timnewman1172]

@@baileyandthebadhabits9254 swap the tone & volume pots, turn the 3-way switch 180°, and put the control plate on with the switch in the rear. The control knobs will be forward but still in the same places and the 3-way is out of the way when you do volume swells, etc...

[@adamdoran235]

@@timnewman1172 just like my Road Worn Player Tele (the first of Fender's Road Worn line). It makes so much sense.

[@tater8]

I'm pissed that I don't get notifications for uploads even though I have them turned on. Side note, my "I'm a guitar nut" shirt came in the mail two days ago. The amount of people reading my shirt in public makes me laugh. Repping Alamo Music Center in the upper plains

[@GuitarMav]

In Australia these are being pre listed for $2799, placing them above what you can get a professional II here for. Mexican made guitars are great, I have owned many of them and have been very happy with the build quality, but that is insane Fender.

[@roymontero4066]

Depends on what you're looking for.....pro doesnt have binding andlacquer

[@edwardmcguigan1442]

Digging it man

[@BradfordRB68]

I’m wondering if I can buy this telecaster looking brand new??

[@jackblack2321]

Cooper looks very fit in this video..I think he has been working out

[@Ones_Complement]

I'm with Chris, I dig the neck plate.

[@tannerhinton7717]

Which version of the hotrod deluxe is that ?

[@mikesides617]

This Logo is JIandthe400 Unit’s Rolling Stone’s Lips.

[@jeremyrhoads6899]

The plate is a tattoo he and is wife got in New Zealand that they adopted as their logo.

[@bobdelair02]

Nice guitar ❤ I hope at this price point though that Fender Mexico did put some extra effort in QC and set up....

[@Alanoffer]

To me the Mexican reliced fenders are more realistic than the USA custom shop,,, the road worn ones especially

[@rcpilot2007]

The neck plate logo is from a tattoo that Jason and his wife got when they were in New Zealand on his wife’s 30th birthday.

[@auramac]

Why?

[@rcpilot2007]

@@auramac You'll have to ask Jason about that..

[@morganghetti]

Why do you even know that?

[@rcpilot2007]

@@morganghetti I"m really really smart....

[@chrisegg7936]

also lay off these dudes about the neck plate thing lol. There is literally nothing less important on this guitar than the neck plate stamp, whether it has great personal significance to Jason or not. He even says that’s why it’s his only “signature” part of the guitar, so you can enjoy it whether you know anything about Jason Isbell or not.

[@michaelogden5093]

Not winning a rodeo is fine so long as your trying to win one.

[@allendean9807]

John Bollinger says the neck plat engraving is based upon a tattoo he and his wife share

[@omer452]

Guys i sent you a message on Instagram but no one answered, i want to make a purchase Where can i contact you?

[@erasmogonzales7428]

This guitar is getting pushed hard. It’s a great guitar!

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

I don’t know who Jason Isabel is, and I don’t normally like reliced guitars, but that’s pretty damn sweet

[@michaelgranka7904]

You have to check him out. I think he and his wife are great people.

[@charlesbolton8471]

I’ve been a fan since his days in Drive-By Truckers. The song Decoration Day in particular is amazing. However, the music he has since he was kicked out of that band in next level amazing. His albums Southeastern and The Nashville Sound are in my opinion two of the best albums of the last ten years.

[@arn999]

10:52 Apparently it's a tattoo he got with his wife. Fine by me! He also didn't want his signature all over the guitar, do that people who are not fans of him necessarily could easily also enjoy the whole package.

[@williamknell864]

That tattoo is also inlaid, centered at the 12th fret on his Martin D-18 signature.

[@edwardmclaughlin7935]

I like everything about this guitar, except those splash marks. Just odd.

[@powbobs]

Splash marks?

[@adamp2201]

Good vid and all but....DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Sigil is Isbell 101.

[@vintagepearlguitars]

He didn't put his name on this! You repeating it several times doesn't change that.

[@baggie12386]

Clueless blokes. They claim to be big fans yet have no idea about the man.

[@skittlybeepbop13]

I dont get why guitar comanies specificaly fender will say its too expensive to do Nitro and charge crazy money for custom shop and american orginial... but then go put it on mexican guitars and fuck it up with road worn and stuff. Like why not just give us nitro mexican or american standard that arnt tinkered with?

[@powbobs]

Ignoring your silly comment on the relic job, the standards are different in Mexico and U. S. are very different for spraying nitro. U. S. Requires a very expensive paint room setup and spraying nitro takes days due to the slow cure time. Mexican wages make a nitro job relatively affordable. Many if not most of us love relic guitars.

[@samuelrutherford8107]

Not diggin the starry night relic job.

[@georgebush2821]

disrespect to isbell on the plate.

[@Allagi22]

Yeah it IS priced high for a Mexican Tele. Way too high. When I saw this guitar retailed for $1600 I figured it was for sure made in the USA. The price tag is outrageous for a Mexican Fender. I love Jason Isbell but IDK man if I had a signature guitar I'd either make sure it was super high quality or I'd make sure it was decent but affordable. This one doesn't do either. I have friends with this, they all mention having to tweak it from the saddles to the nut etc. You can buy a BRAND NEW Made in America Telecaster right now for $1699. You can easily find a decent used one around the $1000 mark. There is 0 reason for this guitar to be that expensive.

[@powbobs]

A guitar with the same features made in the U. S. A. would be $3000 at least.

[@EricM-gm5wz]

People with the attitude that quality can’t come from Mexico is hilarious. Better priced than American and sounds amazing… that hasn’t changed. Ensenada makes great stuff at a better price point.

[@MPNNag]

I just bought the Jason Isbell Fender Telecaster and I thought it was so cool, now I here him against Jason Aldean's "Small Town" we lived through this horrific pain of watching our City's burn for nothing, people losing everything and he stands with the lot against Jason Aldean. I hope I can sell my new fender Isbell Tele before it becomes as worthless as he is now.