Fender Player Series Telecaster (How Good Is It?)

Fender Player Series Telecaster (How Good Is It?)
How good is this guitar really? Is it the real deal? This is the most affordable of the Fender Teles. It's made in Mexico, and those instruments have usually been very good. So which issues does the guitar have (if any), how does it feel, and how does it sound? That's what we'll be checking out today.
Enjoy!
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[@MrPolevaulter]

Check out more guitar reviews: kzbin.info/aero/PLNaLwTdlpQNGXHK9wPm1kYNDwFvMLQ7ES Or get all my music (for FREE if you want it): www.patreon.com/elmojk

[@kennethc2466]

Easy fix for the switch is a small O ring. Put's more pressure to the fit. I see this on after market switch hats quite commonly. Thanks for the video, and that Tele sounded great. Hope you get the dead fret sorted.

[@robphillips8351]

Hey if you end up changing pup's on the telecaster,here are 3 you may want to check out.. 1 DiMarzio tone zone tele.. nice low end and mids, singing sustain more than a lot of full size humbuckers, but still retains sone tele tonality... Seymour Duncan quarter pounder tele pups pretty good bass response more gain available than the stock pup's.. good classic rock to hard rock tone's, and fender deluxe drive telecaster pups.. about the same amount of gain on tap as the Seymour Duncan quarter, but More emphasis on upper mid range 3k ish range.. for shredding it up the tone zone tele pup wins, Duncan and deluxe drive tied for second but DiMarzio tone zone tele pup is the pup that rules out of the 3 for shredding, fusion, prog etc. But the deluxe drive and quarter pounder retain more of the t telecaster twang, bite, sting or whatever descriptives they call Duncan hot rails is another one but with the stock mim telecaster bridge the pickup mounting hole in bridge plate has to be widened out mostly on the ends.. Dremel, and a few smaller files k work well for that.

[@stuartoliphant7551]

The cool thing about a tele is the super bright treble you get from the bridge. There's nothing else like it; you either love it or hate it. It definitely cuts through the mix. I like the blend you get in the middle position with a tele as well; it's a great clean sound. When I play mine, I plug straight in to my Blues Junior, adjust the gain and reverb and enjoy. There's something kind of pure and unmasked about it. The telecaster is a players guitar; there's nowhere to hide.

[@shanebooth1365]

Even with hot rails in one of my teles it still retains some of that.

[@bryangoodwin6626]

That high bridge sounds like no other. So clean and bright.

[@codymyersofficial]

I bought myself one a few months back and, yeah, it's awesome. I had bought the Player Series Stratocaster a couple months before and really liked it, so I decided to try the Squier Tele Classic Vibe. Sent that back and upgraded to Player Telecaster. It's now my main axe.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool bananas :)

[@edwilkinson4388]

What makes the player better than the classic vibe?

[@andjusticeforall8813]

@@edwilkinson4388 my brother has the 50s squire so I can compare Finish is better, much nicer neck, the main noticeable difference is the clarity of the pickups, the player sounds like a true authentic tele Squire is around $600 new here in Australia Player is $1000 new The very second you purchase the squire it’s worth probably $350 used Player $700 easy probably 800 Buy the mim player if you can afford it

[@ChoppaWhoppa1]

I thought a Classic Vibe would run circles around a sloppily built Mexican product, but ok.

[@dotkennedy7443]

I put a player series tele neck on a squier tele, all new pups and wiring. Love it!

[@dennisszejman6390]

I played a strat all my life and then got this guitar in surf pearl green, really beautiful. It sounds so much brighter, feels lighter and more comfortable to play. I love it and would recommend these to everyone. Great video.

[@Charlieboy2680]

I just bought a player series telecaster plus top for 599 used. Came with Fender locking tuners and a really nice hard case. I had some gear i wasn't really using so i traded it in for the guitar. Ive owned a squire tele and liked it. I'll coms back and leave a proper review when ive played it for awhile. Your playing sounds great, thanks for the review!

[@michaelpond6386]

The joke; what’s the difference between a Mexican and a California Fender? About $700.00 and 50 miles.

[@joshuagarcia7501]

Imo Mexican fenders are better - the “made in USA” is so overrated

[@BroJones93]

Yeah, it’s “you can get a Mexican made telecaster made my Mexicans or you can get an American made telecaster made by Mexicans.

[@canyonproductions7683]

😂

[@mediastarguest]

1:55: With all due respect that neck joint does NOT look tight at all - although I have seen worse in guitar stores where I live, here in Europe. I picked up a Player series recently and put it back in horror at the millimetres of gap on both sides of the neck-body joint. I'm not a luthier so I don't know how seriously this defect affects the guitar's sound but the sloppy build quality is not a good image for Fender. I suppose this is something that will often be noted with the bolt-on neck method that Fender uses but if the Corona made Tele Performers have very little to no gap then why shouldn't the Player series necks be attached with the same level of workmanship ?

[@michaelpond6386]

@@mediastarguest you my friend are in Europe, could be shipping issues, a second. What store would put an item like that out for display? The high end cb Squires are at least as good as the lower end Fenders. The Mexican Fenders are about as well made as the non custom shop Fenders . I can’t see paying 300 to 700 more for an American made Fender when the quality does not equate to a finer instrument.

[@caseylee12]

I got one for my son. The alnico pickups have it awesome. It's as fun to play as my Professional Telecaster. Great guitar!

[@jonreed3789]

Had my butterscotch player for 6 months now. Love it. Thanks for this

[@MrPolevaulter]

Great to hear!

[@Thebluesguy]

I bought one in 2018 and i really like it. Its a really good sounding easy playing guitar. I also have an American pro ii that i bought 6 months ago , both guitars are great 😊

[@dragan4658]

Fender makes good telecasters. I want one one day in a honey colour with matching fretboard or roasted maple neck with brass saddles! Thanks for sharing Elmo, congrats on your first tele!

[@stephanvenner2939]

Great Guitar.I bought three of them as I play in a Band.They Rock the place and I don't want to change.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@pumpdumpster]

The Tele/Marshall combination sounds really good, it´s a keeper.

[@friedrudibega6384]

I got mine for $600 usd. I really like it. It’s my first tele. My pickup switch knob is also loose. I find the pickups a little lacking in personality. Plays great and sounds good. I had some Fender locking tuners sitting around so I slapped them on. Bought a four way harness, ‘64 pickups, ashtray bridge, and a bone nut. I anticipate great things. There are some really good sounds in store. Personally, I think it was worth the money and is worth the upgrades. Your mileage may vary. Very fun guitar Great vid! Thanks, Elmo!!!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@kingatheist7231]

I've loved every Tele I've played from budget ones to Fenders. My axe of choice is an orange version of this one and it's great. It's the best guitar I've ever had. Before that I had a squire bullet tele and I was extremely happy with that too. I'm not very tech savvy so all I can say it that the guitar seems to suit every style I play and I think it's beauty is in its simplicity. I haver a thing for the shiny maple fretboards too.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool!

[@routinehead2481]

I have one and have had it for almost two years and love it to bits!

[@craigpidruchny4474]

Great playing!

[@cageliner]

I have a 2014 Standard Tele. I replaced the bridge with the ashtray plate and compensated barrel saddles, and replaced the guard with a 5-hole. I mounted the neck pickup to the wood. It sort of looks like a '50s Tele with a '70s neck. I like it and have had no issues with it, but I do like my Vintera '50s Tele better. Either one sounds great on the neck pickup.

[@danielkristan8680]

One heck of a guitarist and the guitar sounds nice but different people may make it sound different. Great job of playing and excellent style . 5 stars to you. The best I have seen and so keep on rocking. I follow you and guitar mastery method. You rock.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you very much :)

[@billhannum4117]

I own several Gibson Les Paul's and American fenders. I am just amazed at the quality of build of the newplayer series . I don't think at this price point any thing on the market can touch these . With minor upgrades this player series strat can be as good as a u.s production strat. I want the tele next . The pick ups get a tad splatty on the bottom with gain but can be dialed in .the feel and quality of build on my player strat makes putting in a set of Texas special pickups worth it . These guitars are worth the money and then some . Sorry u had issues with yours the strat I received was actually set up well and had no issues bought a fender hard case for it .

[@ClaytoonsNet]

I got a 2018 mim tele that had the exact same issues. An intonation tweak fixed the high E on the 10th fret. And I wrapped a little piece of electrical tape around the top of the switch to give the knob a snugger fit. Other than these quality control issues, Great guitar!

[@genarotapia6388]

Great video Elmo, those rolled eyes man LOL!. Cheers from México.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@christophervincent8420]

I bought a player series strat when it first came out with the player series. I am not getting rid of it. It is amazing.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool!

[@christophervincent8420]

It plays great. Now, I did change out the pickups. I liked the Tex-Mex. They are not expensive, but in my opinion, sound much better. My wife gifted me with locking tuners. It feels perfect in the hand. No sharp edges. Sounds amazing and plays great.

[@bluesentertainment248]

Your playing is amazing !

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@juanespinosa8064]

That MIM tele is really nice.Especially the price.I love that butterscotch color on it.I was very lucky to have foud a slightly used American tele ,highway series in a burst satin color,maple neck. I regretted pawning i off a few times when i was down and out.I got it back and never let it out of my hands anymore.I paid $650.00 for it back in 2006.

[@kevileno3158]

bought my first telecaster today! it was a butterscotch player series as well!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool!

[@gerryh61]

I have the limited edition player with ‘51 nocaster pickups and it is a fantastic sounding guitar!

[@vyvynylification]

I was thinking of getting it. Do you think they're a proper update over the alnico V's in the regular ones?

[@jimcamp2423]

Sounded pretty nice into the Marshall, would love to hear that thru the typical battery of iconic Fender tweeds, black & silver faces.

[@Ben-xl7ft]

I bought my first Tele Player today (butterscotch as well) and I’m super excited to have it as I explore more blues in my playing. Great review and really awesome playing. Cheers from 🇬🇧!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@kingatheist7231]

So you're the one who bought the last butterscotch. I had to go with capris orange lol

[@tylerdurden5122]

@@kingatheist7231 🤢🤮

[@canyonproductions7683]

Elmo- you so connect w this guitar!

[@juhatarkka9867]

The proper depth of the nut slots depends on the string gauge - what works with lighter gauge might not work as well with slightly heavier strings.

[@Fawkes1978]

Great video as always, A little bit of nerdy detail I noticed is that your guitar seems to have a spacer underneath the string tree! That was not so when Henning reviewed the player series a while back (tele, strat and mustang). The string trees on those did not have a spacer underneath them, making the high E and B strings go out of tune due to the steep angle created by putting the string tree flush with the headstock. He managed to fix the issue using Graphtech string trees like the ones on the Nick Johnston Schecter. As for the switch tip, the old trick is to pinch the switch shaft with a pair of wire-cutters creating a dent in it for the plastic to grab onto or you can always use the non-permanent solution of a few layers of masking tape! I'd get a replacement "Top Hat" switch tip which makes it easier for the fingers to get between the volume knob and the switch. By the way, <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="650">10:50</a> is not a guitar review! You are just showing off! 😉😢😊

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers :)

[@74Rasel]

Thx for this video 👏👍

[@marcogretsch7028]

7.57 solo.. now I want to buy it, great sound! ⚡

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

Mine kicks ass! All my Mexican Teles and Strats are so much fun to play. Consistent quality. You may have to setup to your liking but that's a minor thing for most players.

[@domejunky]

Great timing - was on the fence about a used one, to replace a Mexican standard that I didn't gel with. It's killer for your style of guitar - normally I can't stand listening to people just shredding - but on that Tele it's less clinical, with more grit - really listenable

[@moogdome2562]

I bought one just over a month ago through a well-known UK store, without playing first, being assured, it would be OK straight from factory. It came and the neck was not straight, One of the frets was to high, and the end of the frets was very rough. I took it to a Luther, He said it must have been rushed out from the factory although it was passed OK. Please be careful and go to a store to play one or too before buying. Luckily. The neck wasn't too thick, the action low but just right. Incredible playing by the way. I went for the Black maple neck, looks amazing.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks :)

[@lendelrosario4352]

Sometimes I can’t follow your fingers because of your inredible speed! Very good demo. Convincing. I’m gonna grab one. Thanks.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@SkonrokkenTV]

Great review! Subscribed! Good playing too. More Santana and Hendrix pls.!! Rock on! Love the Gary Moore lick there.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you :)

[@RJW14]

Yooooo that jacket _O_ I remember using a player strat years back to test delays. They sound quite good together. Check out this for lessons he captions while missing the notes. 😂

[@gcr28]

They list for 799 in the states, you could probably get a discount on that though especially now that the player plus series is out. I just picked up a deluxe nashville tele, also made in mexico. Build quality is excellent, I have zero issues with it. I had it plek’d and set up for 10’s. It plays perfectly I’m loving it. I love the satin finish on the neck, it is so nice, the player plus series has the satin neck. Anyway, I like your videos, great playing.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@Ottophil]

I just got one new for 720 in usa. The 80 bucks off was for a sale they were having

[@transmissionggb2820]

bought one yesterday at a knock down price and was really happy with it, then went home. I met my daughter (15) and her first boyfriend and he is very nice and likes guitars and rock music. so I show him the new telecaster and he asks where I go to get it, I tell him then he asks, did you see the Strat for sale, second hand on the window of the shop? I say yes and he told me it was his old guitar, it was worth £1000 second hand and he now has a custom American made Strat. He was 14 years old.

[@silversulu]

Be interesting how a Sire T7 would lineup, but then again those are more epxensive...but the neck work on those looks amazing.

[@josephbelcher2568]

Useful mod for volume swells; reverse the volume & tone knobs and reverse the control plate so the volume knob is nearest to hand and the switch is farthest.

[@J0nny61]

Hi Elmo, I have a Squier Classic Vibe tele in the same colour. I have to say the quality is outstanding, it was my go to guitar before I got my first USA FSR Stratocaster last year. I bet if you tried them blindfold you couldn't tell the difference. Love your vids, thank you very much.

[@MrPolevaulter]

And thank you :)

[@ferox965]

I preferred the neck on the CV, but the pickups on the Player.

[@wb00]

@@ferox965 I've played both back to back and pulled the trigger on the CV. I liked the neck and especially the pick ups better as they sounded warmer than the Player yet not muddy.

[@rodrigobelinchon2982]

The pick up selector plastic tip also came loose in my MIM strat! and I tried a made in USA in a store and guess what... also loose. The best fix is putting a bit of electrical tape between the selector and the plastic tip.

[@greggriffiths9053]

Thinking about picking up one tomorrow had to watch a review to get some idea if it's any good.

[@stevedavis8329]

paid 1800 bucks for an Ultra. Came with first and second string issues from the nut not having been filed out correctly. Some other issues as well. That was my third Fender in a row that had to go back because of quality control issues. That shouldn't happen at that price point.

[@darrenj.griffiths9507]

I have a Mexican Fender Telecaster in a darkish blue. I was very worried when I got the guitar because of some silly guitar shop saying how bad they were after I purchased it elsewhere. I was going to replaced most parts, check if there was another cavity for a secon pickup etc or just sell the damn thing. Luckily, I didn't! I love the guitar and has some great tones, stays in tune and feels fantastic. No problems (yet) with the pickup switch, no dead notes, nut looks fine (so far) Yup, I'm keeping it! 🙂 I only purchased it (second-hand) for £450

[@vyvynylification]

Bad advice from those guys. These are really good guitars, regardless of price. I own a ltd player tele and it has made me wonder why I paid triple the price for ANY of the American ones I held

[@yellowsnout]

Picked up a player tele and it is excellent. Quality is way higher than my talent level. Love the feel. Maple neck. Now I want a rosewood to match.

[@CLA82529]

Yeah after I got my maple tele, I realized I also want a rosewood one 😂

[@greenslider]

Great clip. I have a cheapo, rock bottom, basswood Chinese Sunsmile thinline, bought from an importer who re-badges them. Uncooperative truss rod, cheap hardware and what was a stupidly flimsy input jack...love her to bits..and can't explain why. The tele is maybe a hard template to totally get wrong?

[@doneriksen5599]

I have a Squiet Classic Vibe 50's Telecaster and it weighs 9 pounds. A little heavy on the shoulder and back. Right now I'm caught between getting a Fender Player Tele or their new Player Plus with the 12" radius fretboard.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Sounds amazing through that Plexi..

[@Error-su3gv]

Thx for the video, really like your approach to these reviews. Would be great if you would test Tokai's chinese and/or japanese versions of telecaster (not too many of those reviews around). Kiitos videosta.

[@officialtl96]

my dream tele

[@watercolour7606]

Thank you for a wonderful and and informative review. I purchased a butterscotch one ( I think played for a few hours by previous owner)for £350. In my experience .10s and ,11s gauges pull on the neck too much giving a high action and a concave bow. In my view .9

[@MrPolevaulter]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@olafburgermann806]

It seems more and more common to have problems at this price range now. I bought a PRS SE 28-08 Eriza Verde a couple of months ago. The set up was terrible in general, but the nut was especially bad with very high action at the first fret. It also had a gap between the nut and fretboard at the high E. Not seated property. Also had damaged wood on the body under the poly finish. It cost me £900. I sent it back. Contrast that to a Korean made SE Custom 24 I bought a few years ago, which cost £600 and was the best set up guitar I have ever played out of the box. No build issues either. I want to try a Schecter next as the set up and build on those are still meant to be fantastic.

[@MrPolevaulter]

You might be on to something there.

[@ARsAndGlocksOhMy]

I just bought a Schecter C1 Platinum with EMGs a week ago. That’s my 4th Schecter and 4 great guitars.

[@brunovidana7837]

The Nick Johnston signature is one of the best HSS strats i have ever owned. It’s my workhorse guitar next to my player Tele.

[@kmichaelp4508]

About time you got a Tele. The only other that would be a better value would be a KMPINION custom bespoke. But that would be a lot of money. About the same price as a fender custom shop. You gotta love a Tele 😬

[@simondavid2519]

I bought one used (only “defect” is a small ding in the back) for 500€ and it’s awesome !!! :)

[@sublyme2157]

I bought one back in 2018 or 2019 and it was fantastic. Fit and finish, tone, and playability were all top notch. Ended up selling it because I'm not a Tele guy, but I do occasionally miss it :) All of the new Players Series guitars I've handled in the last year (the COVID era guitars) have had cheese grater fret ends. Hopefully they get that squared away because these are really great instruments.

[@Nightbreed82]

I got a "COVID era" Vintera Telecaster and it also has the cheese grater frets ends. It's not the worst fret job I've ever seen, but the worst I've ever owned. I thought I just got a bad one, but the more I read I realize that's par for the course for the Mexican Fenders of the last few years.

[@sublyme2157]

​@@Nightbreed82 Despite a few quality quirks here and there, I have a feeling these COVID era guitars will be highly sought after and collectible in the decades to come. Maybe hold onto anything with a 2020 serial number :)

[@Nightbreed82]

@@sublyme2157 Hey that's a great point, I never thought of it that way!

[@WithStringedInstruments]

Same experience. My Tele sounds great. However I had to fille down all the fret ends. They did not set the intonation at all and the action was too high. Once i did all the setup, it is a great guitar.

[@journeyquest1]

Page used one (blonde w rosewood fingerboard) given to him from Beck. Same guitar used to play solo in Stairway to Heaven and entire first Zeppelin album..

[@MrPolevaulter]

Nice :)

[@talkychris]

Your playing is superb. The guitar sounds great and no doubt partly thanks to that superb Marshall amp.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@toledo2983]

true words, definitely Try before buy-

[@robinkershaw]

Nice demo.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@nieko3038]

Hello Elmo just followed you here and on Instagram. Its all strat on the last one 😄 A tele must be part of the arsenal. I own a Squire affinity in butterscotch. Nice and cheap and great to mod (I will do it anyway)

[@thefrogking481]

Good to see the Tele get some respect. Some think of it as only a Jazz or Country flatpicker instrument. Interject Jim Root and John 5.... Sound comes from the fingers more than the tool.....the Tele has been relevant for 70 years for a reason, and I love my 71 model. My custom USA Showmaster HH and my 71 Telecaster will always have a home.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Teles sure are nice :)

[@chriswinchester6268]

I switched out the bridge and the tuners and now its the perfect instrument for me. :-)

[@benjaminck6768]

Did you go traditional bridge or keep the modern style saddles?

[@chriswinchester6268]

@@benjaminck6768 I prefer the modern saddles due to the intonation and comfort but i love the traditional more.

[@bbbro34]

They're fine guitars, but the MIM's have gotten really costly, and we're talking about $100-200 difference from USA made on some models. I have a new Strat Performer and I think it's great, and I got a good deal on a 'new' b-stock one and it was about the same price as the Mexican made, in some cases cheaper...mine is a Lake Placid blue with a maple neck and that bigger 60-70's CBS headstock which is purely aesthetic, but I love it. Great guitar, and there's a cool mod Fender did which allows the player to get the neck and bridge pick ups working together (kind of a Tele-sound there) as well as having all PUs on at once, jumbo frets (totally digging that) and Yosemite hand wired PUs, a lot of headroom on those. It's sweet.

[@sproutley1]

Returned my fender player for a classic vibe tele. The fender played ok and sounded good but I thought the CV embodied the very ethos of the telecaster, and have some extra cash to upgrade some of the squier components.

[@guilletjean-jacques5107]

i think the same thing about the CV .

[@Anthony-qh1xv]

You are SO GOOD at playing!!!!! the best I have ever seen In my life. Great job!!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you :)

[@ferox965]

I definitely preferred the necks of the Squier Classic Vibe and Fender Player Plus

[@samrichards589]

Actually sounds great, I have a buttercream strat hss I’m the player. Love it

[@chadking3194]

I have a player tele and an older 2014 cv butterscotch tele. Neck on the player is a little bigger but fretwork and attention to detail was not as good as on the Squier. Sound wise pretty similar. The cv pickups are pretty good. The selector switch knob fell off my player as well. The neck wood on player has some natural dark spotting which isn’t bad but not top grade wood used on the US teles I guess. If you can get a good cv tele they are a great deal and sound playability as good if you can live with a slightly thinner neck on cv. Sand the cv neck down a bit to knock off the gloss and it’s like butter. I do play my cv more than the player for what it’s worth.

[@peterklein5861]

Agree with all of this. The thinner neck on the CV did bug me a little when comparing it to this, but not massively. The CV pickups are a little more vintage sounding, which I really like when clean. Think I preferred the Player pickups with gain though.

[@chadking3194]

I guess I got used to the cv neck now the player neck takes time to get used to. You are right about the pickups.

[@hbohm1996]

Love the honesty of your reviews. I’ve had a fender player strat for over a year that I just didn’t love. Shimmed the neck to get the action I like and I just can’t put it down. Love it. Keep doing what you do mate. Love from Sydney Australia

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool, thanks!

[@edwinwise6751]

Bought 1 last summer. Great neck , finish, action, tone, substandard electronics , fretwork, small craftsmanship details… for time and money spent trying to make it stage ready, would have bought the us performer . This is above an entry level , but it’s 1/2 the price of the us version for a good reason

[@dingusfuzzklonnkt2755]

You should learn how to work on guitars. You're talking about $9 in pots, the switch is the same, 30 minutes to round over the edges, and an hour on filing a bone nut. No the guitar isn't as nice as my 17 Elite but double the price for the player, hell no. The American series has the exact same issues, the guitars are both made by Mexicans 75 miles from each other and 2/10 from both series are dogs. They are double the price because of basic economics not value.

[@superelectic45]

Mine came with full size CTS pots what more do you want?

[@DirkDillingerBlues]

Sure love the spank and sparkles that mine chimes out, the Alnico 5's are sweet !

[@purplerocket666]

Nice review and playing (as always). As a long time player (veeery long time) i think beside the real Yngwie guitars this is your best now. I own several of these and in my opinion the question if this is the REAL deal the answer is simply YES. The next step would cost you more than 1000 € if you want a better one. The selectorswitches on mine fell off too but only when they had a bad contact. I changed them and put duesenbergs (metal) with a screw. Dead note? I had a gibson les paul (american made) with more than one dead note. On the Tele it can be string height or a dead string. I never had problems with a bad filed nut. BUT what i chang on all of my fender guitars is the deaduglybadaascocksucking stringtree. Graphtecs do a great job on mine. So there's only one question left! Why Elmo, why did you -from all the colors that you could get- take a mustard color. There's some nice reds and blues. Mine are black or white. Even the sunburst ones look cool.

[@maelstrom5517]

Guess he went with a classic look

[@Alpha_WK]

Telecasters are the only guitar I feel comfortable with. Fantastic sound and tonal variety. The only issue I’ve found is slightly sharp fret ends which is where MIM cuts costs I believe. Disclaimer: I’m not a professional guitarist so there might be things I’m missing. That being said, MIM Fender Telecaster is an awesome guitar.

[@Tilbily]

A good Tele alternative that typically doesn't need doctoring right out of the box is the Godin Stadium.

[@benallmark9671]

Great guitars

[@yetigoosecreature8682]

A few minor quality control issues there. I would expect that of a budget guitar, but as it's got a Fender logo on the headstock that should shout "high quality always".

[@BoundaryElephant]

Very cool to hear someone play the ass off a tele. Thanks!

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

I tried a tele out in a store & the nut on it wasn’t right & was hard to chord. The strings must’ve been a quarter inch off the fret @ the nut, well maybe not that much but it wasn’t .018 thousandths for sure. You would think that someone @ the factory would have seen that. That’s a nice one you got there!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, it's weird that a guitar of this price can have such a basic flaw.

[@michaelsingley5641]

Is it in standard or down half step Mr. Elmo J K? Brilliant playing by the way. That guitar seems to suit you. I'm 63 - play drums since 12 and guitar since 32 and you're one of the best I've ever seen. 🎸

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! Standard.

[@toadstkr]

I have an American Special wasn’t a whole lot more but in my opinion a lot better. More refined neck, better frets, Texas tea pickups, grease bucket tone control, and vintage bridge which I think sounds better.

[@reymondgopog426]

No matter what, be it Fender or Squier, a tele will always sounds fantastic to my ears...

[@ianparr1533]

My wife got me one of these earlier this year. My first Tele. It looks exactly like yours but doesn't sound like yours for some reason! The nut and setup on mine was fine but I think the shop had worked on it (it had been damaged in transit so my wife got a big discount on it). The switch tip fell off before I'd played a note! I have filed off the fret ends a little - they weren't bad but they were nothing like as smooth as my other guitars. I also put a Graphtec string tree on it to help the tuning stability on the E & B strings. I've not had to do anything else to it apart from tweaking the intonation for my choice of strings. It plays nicely and cuts through a band mix very well. I'm very happy with it.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool :)

[@leverge1]

Hi Elmo, nice test. You just to try a little on this Bon Jovi song 😃

[@happy_92]

You're a delay guy and and I'm a reverb guy. Your playing is damn good.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@Konrademu]

Hey, How about a Harley Benton MS-60 VW Vintage Series review ? :) Fender just released a Curt Cobain memo Jag-stag, and this guitar from HB it's kinda similiar , so maybe you could review this HB ?

[@Matthew_Scan]

I’ve never owned a Tele that might be my next guitar 👍

[@bradleykirkland247]

I just bought a used one of these for $595 from Guitar Center figuring it’d be worth taking a gamble on it with their 45-day return policy. Thought it was a steal of a price and couldn’t risk leaving the store without it because I assumed it wouldn’t be there the next time I was there.

[@tommyandersson224]

It seams to be a pretty good shredder guitar👍🎶

[@RebeccaHindle]

I got mine for £550 it's all black I only changed the plate so the volume button is abit further away and had a professional set up and I got them to put 10s on. My plastic nob not come off

[@erickubica9998]

I have a USA built tele I bought in 2003, the plastic knob on the pick selector fell off the first week. I have never replaced it but it's kinda annoying. Great review by the way guitar sounded great!

[@erickubica9998]

*pickup

[@peterklein5861]

Pretty much the same thing happened with my brother in law's American Vintage 52 Reissue Tele! Annoying for a £1300 guitar.

[@erickubica9998]

I think Fender has been dropping the ball lately

[@rodrigobelinchon2982]

it is ridiculous honestly . same here with my 2002 MIM strat , and also happens with USA models

[@erickubica9998]

I think they should get back to the basics. Not more dumb finishes, S1 switching systems, or pickups named after various peppers. Just good quality good sounding strats and teles

[@verruckterwissenschaftler]

It is ridiculous that a bad note and a selector switch and setup getting out of the shop for that kind of cash is typical Fender. Fender Custom Shop is no different. Expect a luthier when you buy a fender. Awesome playing.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@kennethc2466]

Ah, I own 3 Fenders, none needed a luthier.

[@misterknightowlandco]

It’s a telecaster. No matter which priced model or what company makes it, that damn switch tip always comes off.

[@kennethc2466]

@@misterknightowlandco Yep! An O-Ring sized to fit between the switch hat's grips and interior wall fix it every time, even on after market hats. Been doing this for almost 20 years.

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@misterknightowlandco 🤣

[@mikespadafora9077]

I love the combination of the tele and the Marshall. Are you using any sort of attenuation?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Just a volume pot in the loop of the Marshall. Sort of works like a master volume if I've understood correctly.

[@tommyandersson224]

If you want a tele type guitar, try schekter A great versital telecaster 👍Stay safe my Eastern naboer 🎶

[@aritradutta1581]

make a review for player plus guitars when you get your hands on one

[@MrPolevaulter]

Maybe at some point. Just bought 4 guitars to review.

[@DjkKelly]

Nice demo dude, new life in the old dog, ha ha

[@oza8578]

In the current time, they are now $849.99 in the U.S. Find a gently used one for $100 to $150 cheaper and then it's a great deal.

[@twoshedsjackson6478]

Many years ago. A Telecaster came with a chromed metal cover for the bridge and bridge pick-up. Useless if you want to palm-mute but not everybody does. What happened to it?

[@lucasc5622]

It was always in the way