Harley Benton TE-62CC LPB vs Fender Telecaster vs Squier Classic Vibe Esquire | Guitar shootout!

Today we’re comparing and shooting out my Harley Benton TE-62CC LPB, my Mexican Fender Telecaster and my Squier Classic Vibe Esquire.
Why? Because I recently got the TE-62CC and have been blown away by it, and a bunch of you asked me how it stacks up against Fender and Squier equivalents… so here we go!
Get the TE-62CC here: bit.ly/HBTE-62rwm
Get the Esquire here: bit.ly/CVEsquireLPB
The TE-62CC - which costs €149 (or $141 plus shipping in USA prices) - is a traditional take on the Telecaster. It has a poplar body finished in a beautiful Lake Placid Blue, roasted maple neck with maple fingerboard, and a pair of Roswell Tele-type pickups.
The 2021 Squier Classic Vibe Esquire, meanwhile, costs around €390/$430, and is also pretty traditional. It has a nato body and a vintage-tint maple neck with a laurel fingerboard. It also has a bone nut as standard, and it’s Lake Placid Blue (see a theme here?).
Then there’s my 2014 Fender FSR Standard Telecaster in Ocean Blu Candy. This guitar has an alder body, a maple neck with rosewood board, and I’ve modded it a bit: it’s had a Creamery wide-range humbucker in the neck position, a Wilkinson bridge, and a bone nut installed. This guitar cost me around £400 in 2014, but a new Mexican Tele is a good deal more expensive today.
Where the three guitars also differ is in the neck profiles: the Harley Benton is a Modern D shape, the Fender Tele is a Modern C, and the Squier Esquire is a C. They all share the same Tele scale length of 648 mm /25.5”.
In this video, I play the three guitars in a variety of different styles to see how they compare. We’ll go from clean pop, country and folk sounds to classic rock and indie tones, and even some hard rock and metal.
Here are some links to the various playing samples and info bits:
00:00 Hello!
00:24 Intro and what we’re doing today
01:18 Harley Benton TE-62CC LPB: specs and features
03:03 Squire Classic Vibe Esquire: specs and features
05:53 Fender Telecaster: specs and features
08:03 Today’s rig
Clean sounds
08:43 Reference chords on all guitars/pickup settings
09:43 Poppy barre chords
10:31 Blues progression
11:12 Country ballad arpeggios
11:53 Country lead sound
12:16 Strummed folk pop chords
Crunch sounds
13:10 Classic rock riff
13:56 Another classic rock riff
14:47 Airbourne inspired riff
15:21 AC/DC inspired riff
16:09 Indie rock barre chords
17:24 Droning indie rock riff
18:00 Edgy indie barre chords
18:44 Indie rock rhythm chords riff
19:32 Indie octave chords riff
Higher gain overdrive sounds
20:45 Classic hard rock riff
21:38 Glam rock riff
22:20 Punk rock power chords
23:03 Progressive rock riff (Drop D)
23:50 Chunky modern hard rock power chords (Drop D)
25:03 Rage Against The Machine inspired groovy rock riff (Drop D)
Clean Channel with Revv G3 distortion pedal (all in Drop D tuning)
25:50 Metal chugging riff
26:38 Hardcore punk riff
27:26 Mastodon inspired modern metal riff
27:55 Lead sounds
28:30 Classic heavy metal/sludge riff
30:11 My thoughts
30:40 My Fender Tele has an unfair advantage
31:19 Build quality: Fender
32:41 Build quality: Harley Benton
33:24 Build quality: Squier
34:35 Playability: Fender
35:40 Playability: Harley Benton
36:46 Playability: Squier
38:53 Sounds
42:40 Which guitar do I think is best?
45:09 Final conclusion and goodbye
Check out my full TE-62CC video here: • Harley Benton TE-62CC ...
And my full Esquire video is here: • 2021 Squier FSR Classi...
My setup was as follows: I ran the guitars into my Hughes & Kettner Black Spirit 200 head, and I used my Revv G3 for the heavy distortion sounds. The amp went from the Red Box DI straight into my Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, which went into Logic Pro X. That's it. No post-processing on the sounds was done.
Here’s some links to those bits of gear:
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H&K Black Spirit 200 head: bit.ly/HKBS200rwm
Revv G3: bit.ly/RevvG3RWM
Focusrite 4i4 (this is the newer equivalent of my 2i4, which they don’t make any more!): bit.ly/rwmFR4i4
-----
Enjoy!
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Backing music from the KZbin Audio Library: Duck In The Alley - TrackTribe.
#HarleyBenton #HarleyBentonGuitar #FenderTelecaster #Squier #Thomann #HarleyBentonGuitars #LakePlacidBlue #Esquire
Note: certain links in the description are affiliate links. If you click said links and purchase anything as a result, I will receive a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help to support the channel. So, if you do that, thank you very much!

[@RichWordsMusic]

And here's the timestamps for you people on phones: 00:00 Hello! 00:24 Intro and what we’re doing today 01:18 Harley Benton TE-62CC LPB: specs and features 03:03 Squire Classic Vibe Esquire: specs and features 05:53 Fender Telecaster: specs and features 08:03 Today’s rig Clean sounds 08:43 Reference chords on all guitars/pickup settings 09:43 Poppy barre chords 10:31 Blues progression 11:12 Country ballad arpeggios 11:53 Country lead sound 12:16 Strummed folk pop chords Crunch sounds 13:10 Classic rock riff 13:56 Another classic rock riff 14:47 Airbourne inspired riff 15:21 AC/DC inspired riff 16:09 Indie rock barre chords 17:24 Droning indie rock riff 18:00 Edgy indie barre chords 18:44 Indie rock rhythm chords riff 19:32 Indie octave chords riff Higher gain overdrive sounds 20:45 Classic hard rock riff 21:38 Glam rock riff 22:20 Punk rock power chords 23:03 Progressive rock riff (Drop D) 23:50 Chunky modern hard rock power chords (Drop D) 25:03 Rage Against The Machine inspired groovy rock riff (Drop D) Clean Channel with Revv G3 distortion pedal (all in Drop D tuning) 25:50 Metal chugging riff 26:38 Hardcore punk riff 27:26 Mastodon inspired modern metal riff 27:55 Lead sounds 28:30 Classic heavy metal/sludge riff 30:11 My thoughts 30:40 My Fender Tele has an unfair advantage 31:19 Build quality: Fender 32:41 Build quality: Harley Benton 33:24 Build quality: Squier 34:35 Playability: Fender 35:40 Playability: Harley Benton 36:46 Playability: Squier 38:53 Sounds 42:40 Which guitar do I think is best? 45:09 Final conclusion and goodbye

[@helgt]

This is the best comparison style I've ever seen. Different musical styles! And timecodes! And awesome playing too, of course. This is exactly what the comparison should be. Respect!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot Helgen, I'm really happy you found the video useful! That's exactly why I put the work in on these things :) That and it's fun ;) Rock on!

[@PeteAxeShields]

Everything you could ever want or wish for in a traditional Telecaster says, to me, the Harley Benton wins by a country mile. The fact that it also has a roasted maple neck is a massive bonus ( they stay put amazingly well ) Spend a few quid on a set of decent tuners ( the Gotoh vintage style, staggered locking tuners are great ), a better nut ( I love the Graph Tech Tusq Nuts ) and a set of brass compensated saddles and you have a Tele that will do everything required of it ( and it would still be very affordable ) That is what I would do. Great video by the way.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks for the great feedback! And yes, I have to agree - if we're talking traditional Teles, the HB wins. I am tempted to mod it, and I would do pretty much exactly what you've suggested there. You'd still be under Squier Classic Vibe pricing after doing all of that as well (maybe minus the labor costs, if you're paying a tech!). And what I could then do is ask HB to send me another stock one for a direct comparison - that could be very enlightening!

[@Phoebedumplings]

100% agree Peter

[@NigelOdinson]

@@RichWordsMusic ooooo I like this idea, ALOT! With a Wilkinson Brass saddle bridge and new nut/locking tuners would make a great guitar even better I'm sure!

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@NigelOdinson I know, it sounds like a really nice upgrade! It's definitely on my wish list to do at some point :)

[@garyt.8745]

It doesn't have a roasted maple neck. It has a "caramelised" neck, which is a tinted varnish. Nothing roasting there I'm afraid.

[@ricardofigueiras6453]

The Harley Benton was the best sounding guitar from far! Just a personal opinion, it's worth what it's worth!!

[@RichWordsMusic]

It’s funny, I prefer it for some things too! Those Roswell pickups are just really good at doing the Tele thing…

[@tylerobenshain3036]

Thanks for the reviews on both the videos you did for the Harley Benton. I live in the states and just ordered the shell pink TE and you're reviews helped me pull the trigger.

[@RichWordsMusic]

No worries man, I'm happy you enjoyed the videos and I hope yours arrives safe and you end up loving it as well! I came so close to picking the Shell Pink over the blue :)

[@kollateralschadensbegrenzu4929]

This was by far the best review I've listened to and watched in months! Thanks! Subscribed.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot, I'm really happy you enjoyed it, and cheers for the sub too!

[@chazzer56]

Absolutely amazing comparison and information video about 3 Telecaster guitars. I have never seen anything quite as thorough. I had bought a Harley Benton te62, which I love playing but had begun to wonder if I should have actually bought a more expensive instrument. This video has completely set my mind at ease. All the questions I've been asking, all misgivings I've had, have been taken care of by watching this vid. Thanks so much!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot, I'm really glad you enjoyed it and you were able to confirm that you've made the right choice with your HB. I always say that if you enjoy playing a guitar, and it inspires you to carry on making music, it's the right guitar no matter the price! Rock on :)

[@stevehusten7940]

Another great review! Very thorough. I think I will spring for the HB after hearing your comments. This’ll be my first T-style, and don’t want to drop MIM Fender money on my first T. Thanks again!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks again Steve! I really hope you enjoy your HB - drop me another message after you've received it and let me know how you're getting on with it!

[@lone-wolf-1]

Thank you for this in depth comparison! A 45 minutes vid?? Sooo much work! Very apreciated! 👍🏼👏🏼👌🏼👌🏼 I‘m shockingly surprised how pleasant and melodic the HB-62CC sounds! But not just close, no- by a nautic mile.

[@RichWordsMusic]

No worries! It was a lot of fun to make... and yes, quite a lot of work too :) But I enjoy making these comparisons for myself too. I'm also constantly surprised at how good the HB is, and how easily it keeps up with the Squier and even the Fender. HB really got it right with this guitar... Cheers!

[@peteralbertthomas]

The Esquire sounds really great. The TE-62 has got a great tone to it. The pickups are just spot on 👍

[@RichWordsMusic]

I agree - for what it does, the Esquire is fantastic, and great fun. And those Roswells on the TE-62 are just ideal, and really sound like an authentic Tele should!

[@peteralbertthomas]

Wowed. I just received my TE-62 a little set up and I am absolutely blown away by the quality. You are spot on with your analysis of these guitars. The Neck is so perfect. Smooth as silk. I lowered the actual slightly. Thank You. It’s a winner.

[@rudolfblackwater]

Just got my harley benton te-62cc in charcoal and omg!!! I love it. Thank you for you advice ❤️

[@RichWordsMusic]

That's great, I'm really happy it arrived and you're pleased with it! That is the best feeling. Happy new guitar day and enjoy :)

[@valendis]

I am blown away by mine honestly, soundwise it's brilliant!, the neck pickups sounds great for cleans and the bridge barks with a good crunch!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Really happy to hear that! I happen to agree 100% as well :)

[@Zigger27]

I have a HB CST24 and its an amazing and versatile instrument. Holds up great next to other brands of guitars i owned. Really got me stoked for the TE 62 as well since i always kept a soft spot for telecasters

[@RichWordsMusic]

I'd love to try one of the CST24s, they look great! And yes, the TE-62 really gave the Squier and the Fender a great run for their money. For the price, they're pretty much unbeatable!

[@yonallb]

Love you vids and playing. Glad I found your channel.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Cheers man, I am glad you're enjoying the vids :)

[@Boogiebagel]

Great video, this is exactly the comparison I was looking for.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot, glad you found my video and found it useful too!

[@richardmerget]

Sehr gute Tests, mit direkt vergleichbarem Ergebnis...ohne Selbst Beweihreuerung, die Einzigen wirklich sauberen Tests im Netz...egal ob gesponsert oder nicht. Klang ist Klang bei gleichem Eingangs Material....Weiter so bitte !

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

Fabulous detailed video excellent!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot, I'm really happy you liked it!

[@etibkel]

great review! thx for it.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Cheers, happy you liked it! This was a very fun one to make too :)

[@SnowdriftBoy]

Stirling work Sir!👍🎸

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@markstacey2906]

Yet another guitar I'd like..Another great review 👍 Many thanks for sharing...

[@RichWordsMusic]

Cheers Mark, glad you enjoyed this one too!

[@user-tw4wk4pd4b]

Thanks for the awesome review!! goog job, congrats...

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@albrenguesjean8177]

Thanks for the video ! Might pull the trigger on the TE-62

[@RichWordsMusic]

No worries, glad you enjoyed it! I'm really happy with the TE-62, and it really gave the more expensive guitars a great run for their money. Go for it, I say!

[@sylvain1111]

This needs more views, great video

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks, I agree! Would love some more :)

[@batphink2655]

Totally agree I'd pick the Harley Benton over the Squire no contest, btw your Fender Telecster sounds amazing! You're an outstanding guitarist too Rich, awesome interesting video cheers👍

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yep, there's some magic in that HB alright! And yes, the Tele rocks - it's not a traditional Tele by any means, but it does exactly what I want it to! Someone here told me that model has a ceramic pickup, and apparently that's what gives it the extra snarl (the other guitars have alnico pickups). Glad you enjoy my playing too - always makes me happy when someone mentions that as I know I'm not the fastest or flashiest! Cheers and rock on :)

[@xoxxox5352]

You do a very nice job with your videos, especially in terms of doing thorough reviews of affordable guitars. I found your channel because I recently purchased the Lake Placid Esquire model to mod, but I wanted to see what the reviews on it were like stock. I’m basically just planing to keep the body, swap to a solid rosewood neck, and upgrade all the electronics and hardware. It seems like HBs are very popular these days, and a lot of the younger generations are big fans. I’m typically in the $2,000 and above market for guitars, so I have almost no experience with HBs, but maybe I’ll check one out. I somehow think they’ll disappoint me, as I’m used to USA PRS, Gibson, Fender Martin, as well as many vintage guitars from the 1930s-1960s, but I’d love to be pleasantly surprised. Keep up the good work.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Just saw this one - thanks for the kind words! I think that with HB these days, they're taking advantage of a new generation of players coming through who don't care about brand nostalgia as much as some older players do. They just want gear that looks good and does the job! It's the same with amps - they don't have to have tubes (as everyone who was serious about tone did up until fairly recently) if solid state, digital or plugins do the job they want them to do. But yes, I think you'll certainly notice a clear difference between the HB and the other guitars you mention. They're opposite ends of the scale in terms of pretty much everything. It will be interesting to see if HB start producing more expensive guitars in future - they can build a lot into a €149 guitar, so it'd be fascinating to see them move into the €750 or even €1000+ realm. We'll see. I'd be very interested to hear your feedback once you've got your HB too, so please let me know how it is compared to your expectations!

[@rayfranchi1507]

Wow, I totally and completely enjoyed the time watching this video. 1. I understand why your Fender is your #1 guitar absolutely killer! 2. The Esquire really surprised me, it sounds great. 3. The Harley Benton more than surprised me. What a fantastic Tele period! The price makes it unbeatable. I see a HB TELE in my very near future. Thanks again for a great video!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks so much Ray, I'm really glad you enjoyed the video! Yes, my Tele will be around as long as I am, I think. It feels like home and works for everything I do. But the HB is the standout in terms of value here... I can't believe how well it keeps up with the others! For that price, everyone should have one... and I hope you enjoy yours! Thanks for watching and all the best :)

[@rayfranchi1507]

@@RichWordsMusic I bought a HB Kieth Richards tribute Tele. It weighs a ton,but it sounds really great.

[@Apollwn]

Great comparison, as always. It is interesting to see that the Harley Benton guitars are (perhaps) approaching or even exceeding the quality of Squier Classic Vibes. This was definitely not the case a few years ago...

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it! I totally agree: HB have really upped their game over the past few years. And it's making the other brands sit up and take notice. I just got one of the new Squier Sonics and compared it against the HB, and they're close, but overall the Squier won for me. Still, for the price (and the features they put in for the money) HB is king!

[@augusto4660]

Very very nice Guitar, i got one here in germany for 189€, including a lot of useful modifications. Kluson Locking Tuners, Big Mag Neck Pickup Göldo Bridge etc. Very happy

[@RichWordsMusic]

Those sound like some amazing upgrades, and for €189 that is one hell of a guitar that will compete with many other big name brands! Maybe I need to do some similar mods :) Rock on!

[@11000038]

Excellent review. I was watching with my eyes closed😆 every time i looked up because I liked the sound it was the HB. Its a good thing because I have one on the way. Your fault because I watched your previous video!!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Ha ha, but at least it seems like you've made the right choice! The ears don't lie... enjoy yours when it arrives!

[@650thunderbird5]

Good stuff, Rich 👍🏻👍🏻

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thank you sir, hope you're well!

[@angelikajacob1102]

Great review 🎸👍🎸 thank you 🙏😀

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@macerockson]

Thanks for the great comparison .... very thorough! Question for you. I noticed on one other HB blog that one owner of the 62CC was really annoyed by the string spacing created by the stock bridge. The space between the A and D strings is noticeably wider ... same with the G/B. I can see it on yours as well and indeed on the photos on the HB website. Did you notice this and is it a concern for you? Is it adjustable or would the only fix be a bridge change? Thanks for you consideration Rich.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! Do you know what? You're right! But I hadn't even noticed... and I've been playing this guitar for over a year now! Crazy. So, I guess in answer to that part of the question, it doesn't bother me at all. But now I notice it ;) It still doesn't annoy me, though, and it does not affect my playing in any way. When it comes to adjusting it, you can't really do much with the guitar as it is. You'd either need to get some new saddles (if possible - I actually don't know if any more adjustable saddles would fit the HB bridge), or a completely new bridge, and hope that the strings are not like that because of how the string holes are drilled in the body. I hope this helps, but let me know if there's anything else you need to know :)

[@mickthebandit]

I have a Harley Benton Rosewood Tele and it’s amazing. The Squier Affinity Tele is also great.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Would definitely love to try the Rosewood Tele as well - so many great options out there at affordable prices!

[@LuisVasquezMusic]

So far I'm leaning heavily to the HB. It does so much right. The squier sound like an amazing studio tool for doubling parts or for really chill songs it has a very nice sound. The Fender still has a really nice dark bridge pickup that sounds fatter than what a single coil has any right to be. I feel I can get closer with the other 2 by rolling the tone but maybe not. The more gain you add the better the Fender sounds! That dark pickup really shines there. Honestly, apart from the color(That deep blue is just gorgeous) and maybe some quality control stuff, the HB sounds as good as any mid priced Fender hands down. It's just down to play-ability at that point, but still probably can be fixed and still be cheaper. Edit: Holy crap the Fender actually chugs... like proper chugs... WHAT?

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yeah man, the HB is absolutely the business. For the money as well, it's so good, and it easily gives the other two a run for their money. Someone else said the Fender has a ceramic bridge pickup, whereas the others are Alnico 5, and that accounts for the darker tone. I love that Fender pickup, but it's not as 'Tele' sounding as the HB! And of course the advantage of that is the Fender chugs too ;) Really though, you can do anything on a Telecaster... I love these things!

[@meinvornamemeinnachname715]

Great comparison. Thanks a lot. IMHO the Squier looks the best Somehow I hate to say it, but blindfolded I would choose the HB as the best sounding one. There is all the clearity and definition you expect from a Telly. (I own 3 real Fender by the way.)

[@RichWordsMusic]

Very interesting. I don't think there's any shame in picking the HB! I really is an excellent Tele, especially for the price. And my real Fender hear actually sounds the least like a Tele of all three ;) Rock on!

[@stevehanham9266]

Great review thank you. Before I tell you what I think about the guitars, I would just like to commend you on how you do your comparisons. Most people, believe it or not, don't play exactly the same thing on each guitar! That makes comparing the sound very difficult, for me anyway. So, hats off to you there. 😁 So, if someone is after a close as possible 'Tele' sound, I think that the Harley Benton wins that one. Probably, because of the modifications made to the Fender? I think that the single pickup Squier was at a distinct disadvantage from the start. And definitely sounded the weakest. However, it certainly didn't sound too bad. The Fender definitely sounded darker to my ears and is probably the best "all round" guitar of the three. Incidentally, I have a Fender Baja Telecaster and to be honest, I've yet to play a better Tele and that includes several USA Telecasters that I've tried! Anyway, thank you once again for a very interesting video. Keep up the great work. Cheers and stay safe. 😊😎🎸

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks so much Steve! I'm glad you enjoy the format. I do it precisely for why you mention - it's always something I miss in other videos! And I already saw your other message (that you wrote this before I told you my conclusions in the video) and I suppose we have to say great minds think alike ;) Someone said that the Tele has a ceramic bridge pickup, which is less Tele sounding, and I am sure that makes a difference. The neck humbucker does too, although the Wilkinson bridge actually gives that guitar more twang. And yes, as an overall instrument the Fender is the winner of the three. For Tele tones, though, it's the HB, with the Esquire unfortunately falling a bit behind! I have never had a Baja but I have tried (unsuccessfully) to buy one on more than one occasion used, as I have heard so many great things about them. The one thing that worries me slightly is that they apparently have a v-shaped neck. Stay well!

[@frankperricone2065]

Just purchased my first Telecaster and went with the TE-62 In the surf green. I am realy a bass player who plays guitar for my own enjoyment so I tend to be a little picky about my basses and spend my money on bass gear and do have about 10 guitars, mostly cheaper and do a little moding, I really did my homework on looking for a Telecaster. Was thinking Squier, SX and Vintage. I went with the HB, one because I wanted green with the Roasted neck and it had basically the same appointments as the others but will probably change the nut to Graph-Tech, string trees and probably a little down the line I will get a 6 string saddle and maybe tunners, these are not bad well see after I play it for a while. For toppers I might go with a decent stacked Humbucker in the bridge and switch out the tone knob for a push-pull tone knob. The only thing is us Americans have to pay a little under $85 in shipping costs, I'm on the is coast so the guitar was $135 before shipping so that kinda cuts into my upgrade expense, but before any upgrades my budget was about $300. I have 2 Squier Strats, an 04 I bought new and 08 I bought about 5 years ago used for a very good price that I found out later the 08 Squier body was a half inch thicker and the serial # started with an sx and it was sold in some strat packs in Australia, New Zealand and some parts of Asia, same size of a Fender body. The HB is better then the Squiers Strats. The only draw back is it has a Poplar body but to me it's not that big of deal.

[@yaripedone217]

I prefer the HB. It sounds clearer in all the range, to my ears, and seems to be louder too! It's incredible how good HB did this guitar

[@RichWordsMusic]

It is, isn't it... for €149 this guitar feels, plays and sounds amazing. And it really keeps up with the others! Fender and Squier should be scared ;) Hopefully HB will force other brands to make their own offerings better, which would only be a good thing for us guitarists!

[@yaripedone217]

@@RichWordsMusic Thanks for your answer...and congrats for the very good playing

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@yaripedone217 Thanks a lot to you, I'm glad you liked the riffs 😊

[@PeteMOBie1]

Thanks for such a detailed and in-depth demo with a wide variety of styles and genres. I got carried away enjoying listening to you playing, that I forgot all about the comparison, sorry. They are all good sounding guitars. To my ears the Fender bridge top end is muted compared with the Squier and Harley Benton, possibly due to the brass saddles on the Fender and steel saddles on the other two. Pity I'm left handed because if I had to pick one it would be the Harley Benton as I prefer the brighter top end, lower cost and sonic versatility of the neck pickup over the Squier.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot, I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's always good if you can lose yourself in the music, rather than the gear. That's a god point about the saddles! Some others have also mentioned it could be because the Fender's bridge pickup is ceramic, as opposed to the alnico 5 HB/Squier ones. Either way, to me it definitely sounds the least like a traditional Tele to me! What a shame they don't make the HBs in a left-handed version. Generally they're not too bad as a brand for that. I'm hopeful they'll be releasing more guitars soon (they tend to closer to Christmas) and the ongoing success of the TE-62s might mean they'll expand the range, hopefully with lefties too! Fingers crossed.

[@PeteMOBie1]

@@RichWordsMusic All 3 teles sound good in their own way. Your Fender certainly comes through better with driven sounds and covers the fuller tones you may need. If Harley Benton do eventually make the TE-62 left handed, I'm tempted to get all 4 colours, with Shell Pink as my main choice. There is only 1 left handed guitarist for every 100 right handed guitarists, so manufacturers will find it is not financially or practically viable to offer many left handed models.

[@ricardofigueiras6453]

Since you were responsible for pulling the trigger to the Harley Benton🙂. I just got mine. Super light and super resonant. Perhaps the most resonant in my arsenal of guitars. Super playable guitar, what is really what matters. Not perfect, but i am a guitarist not art collector, and when I see a custom shop Fender completely fuck up, this is perfect. FANTÁSTIC sound. Just changed the strings for the best gouge ever 😉 9,5 to 044. Tunners ok. Nut and contact parts lubricated with teflon bike greese (my old trick). And it plays like a dream. The only complaint, the string trees! Horrible. I had to change them. Thank you, and hope this helps others, because playing a guitar should be accessible to everyone. Take care!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks Ricardo, and I'm supper happy you're enjoying yours! That's also some great feedback - with little bit of money and know how (or a tech!), someone who's not totally happy with the TE-62 can upgrade them to make them next level, and you're still way under Fender prices overall. These guitars certainly make it easy for almost everyone to be able to afford a guitar that plays, looks and sounds great - what an awesome time to be a player! Rock on :)

[@daverobinson22]

I have a couple of HB TE62 DB guitars and they are exceptionally good and I do use them a lot. That said, I liked the Squier CV Esquire a lot to, as it sounded different in a good way, regardless of what you said about it.

[@mikesalt8248]

Fantastic effort Rich ! If i could make a suggestion - the market your aiming at are probably using home amps Fender Champion 20/ Marshall DSL1 not 200 watt H&K Heads just some thing you might consider 🤔

[@Phoebedumplings]

10 ears ago I bought a HB TE03? 89euro, i had the same fears but was blown away

[@RichWordsMusic]

Oh wow, you've been an HB player a long time! It took me a lot longer to pluck up the courage to buy one - wish I'd done it earlier...

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

You’re fond of blue Teles!!!! I find the normal Mex Standards a bit generic. The ceramics are boring too and the 6 saddles don’t help either. Other than that they’re fine instruments but the 3 saddle ashtray and Alnico make a Tele! Your MIM FSR is a stunner!!! That Squier Esquire is a stunner too. I was just playing mine now!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Ha ha, I certainly am! Yep, now I've done this video I'm really thinking about swapping out the ceramic bridge pickup on the Tele. But it is great for the heavier rock stuff. So I don't know! The HB is doing a really good job of sounding like a Tele should for me, and of xourse the Esquire does its own thing :) More people should try them out! I feel like we're both helping the world understand the Esquire model a little bit more...

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

@@RichWordsMusic Ha! Has the MIM a ceramic? An A3 be nice but if you like it don’t change it. I’ve a classic series 72 custom Tele with the fake WR neck pup. I’ve always toyed with the real deal WR but they’re expensive. It sounds fine though. Try the Noventa Tele and Strat yet?

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@KRAZEEIZATION Yeah, my MIM has (had!) ceramic pickups. Of course I swapped out the neck one back in 2014 for the Creamery humbucker. I really like the bridge one I still have in there, but I have come to realize it doesn't sound that much like a Tele ;) For rock and indie stuff though, it's awesome, so I will leave it in and use the Esquire and the HB for the vintage Tele twang! Still haven't tried the Noventas... hopefully I'll be getting to a few music stores in spring and there'll be a couple to try!

[@SirDamned]

really comprehensive video.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Hope you enjoyed it! Cheers for watching :)

[@mike1967sam]

I have a Fender Standard Telecaster from 2013. The Standards were discontinued in 2016 when the Player Series was introduced and I had at the time 2 Fender Standard Strats that I sold, unfortunately. It's a pity because the Standard Series I feel were better instruments than the Player Series that came to take their place. Cheerio.

[@RichWordsMusic]

I absolutely have to agree on that. I've played a bunch of guitars from both series/eras and I have preferred almost all of the Standard models over the Players. I've played some really good Players, but the Standards all seemed to have a little more magic. And of course my number one here is the best of them all, at least to me! Rock on :)

[@jimmyjames2022]

Another awesome compare, Battle of the Blues! Hard to choose. The Squier sounded pretty good but the compression on KZbin favours the higher frequencies. But I'm leery of the recent Squier build and parts quality even the CVs as you've found. Not sure about humbuckers in a Tele yet and the Fender bridge missed the twang as you mention. Harley B same QC problem as the Squier, plus I can't check one out in a local store to avoid problems where I can with the Squiers. Everyone swaps pups these days so I guess the tone is less important than build quality and feel for long term use. I know I like Player series quality and feel from the Lead II, so that's probably the series I'd go for buying a Tele. There's a gorgeous Daphne Blue Nashville in the store...

[@RichWordsMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I agree with everything you wrote. Hey, if that Nashville Tele is the one calling your name and it plays and feels good, then that is the one to get! It's all about what you find inspiring. I would be interested in hearing the pickups in that one... they're the Fender Noiseless ones, aren't they? The Player Series has some lovely guitars in it. Buying HB has always been a lottery (except of course if you're one of the minority who lives close enough to Thomann to actually buy in person!) but I do feel they've been getting better over the years. And as I say here, in agreement with you, the build quality and feel is what is most important. I'm sure my Fender Tele would twang much more if I got some proper traditional Tele pickups in it... and I might just do that soon as I'm enjoying what the HB does so much!

[@jimmyjames2022]

@@RichWordsMusic Yes there is a Deluxe Nashville (Daphne Blue) and a Player Plus Nashville (Opal Spark Blue) at that store hard to choose between the blues. Both have noiseless pups, I read that they are different though haven't seen the technical specs to confirm. The Player Plus has a welcome push pull option that the Deluxe missed to add the neck pup to the bridge like a "regular" Tele.

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@jimmyjames2022 That push/pull would probably seal the deal for me! One other difference could be the necks. The profiles might be different, but I'm not sure. It's always hard to choose between two guitars like that!

[@floriankonig8903]

Great comparison, great video. I wonder a little bit, if some bros here had the speakers muted. The sound of the modified mexican blows the others completely away. The separation between every tone is very good compared to the others where I hear only pulp (my opinion).

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! It's funny, we all hear things differently, but I am definitely surprised at the lack of love the Fender got. You know, there are actually plenty of people who watch/listen to KZbin videos on headphones, and plenty who listen on mobile phone speakers, and it does really give you a different impression... but I would think the smaller the speaker, the better the Fender sounds! Either way, I am glad you are one of the ones who also loves my Tele ;)

[@floriankonig8903]

@@RichWordsMusic Thanks for reply. Yes I celebrate your Tele. I own the harley benton. My one came in a good quality for this price. 10 or 20 years ago it was impossible to buy such a guitar for that money. The Sound is not comparable to a higher priced guitar. Maybe swapping the pickups can make it sound a little bit better. But I guess it‘s the wood. But it’s the same with other cheaper brands. An epiphone sounds completely different than a gibson in my opinion.

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@floriankonig8903 You're certainly right about cheap guitars these days being better than 10m or 20 years ago... I would have loved a guitar like this back in the day when I started! I also think a change of pickups could make the guitar sound a little more elegant - just give it that extra 5/10%. It is sometimes the same with Epiphones too... often cheaper humbuckers can be extremely muddy, and you get amazing clarity from more expensive ones. But not always. Generally though, pickups make a huge difference to the sound. I would be interested to hear your experiences if you do decide to upgrade yours, so please let me know the details and results if you do :)

[@Iggxzy]

this guitar seems like a steal, I just hope Harley Benton would do an Offset Style guitar with a 24 inch scale neck with this kind of build.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Oh yes, brilliant idea! I would LOVE an HB offset at this quality threshold. I have the MS-60, which is loads of fun, but it's very rough and ready compared to these. Only cost me €70 used, though. I have a feeling HB might be upgrading a bunch of models over the next couple of years... just a hunch!

[@alanst.4417]

Hi, Rich! As an all-around, most versatile tele-sounding guitar of the three, not mentioning the insane value, the HB wins for me. It even looks very nice for the money. But the Fender surely wins in build quality, looks, woods used and most importantly the neck shape... Surprisingly great for higher gain stuff as you say. Wonder how the TE 62 compares to the 52 sonically...

[@RichWordsMusic]

Hi Alan! Yep, that's a very good analysis. The HB is a little more Tele-like for me, probably because of the more traditional sounding pickups. Someone else mentioned the Fender has a ceramic bridge pickup as opposed to alnico 5, which could account for the difference and also explain why it does the rock and metal stuff so well! But on value, it's hard to look past that €149 price tag versus what you get... what a superb guitar for the money! Quite a lot of people have mentioned the TE-52 here as well... I sense I'll have to get some kind of a comparison video done soon!

[@alanst.4417]

@@RichWordsMusic thanks, you're my man 😉 Hope you get your hands on the TE-52, that'd be a great shootout! Happy New Year to Germany btw!

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@alanst.4417 Thanks a lot, and a happy new year to you as well! Let's see if I can get a TE-52 at some point then ;)

[@HektorBandimar]

Good comparison video, I did think that the mexican tele didn't sound a good as I thought it would, along side the other two guitars, just my opinion.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, actually the Tele sounds least like a Tele in some ways ;) I was told elsewhere that it's because it has a ceramic pickup in it, which gives it a great modern rock edge, but has less of that traditional Tele twang... but hey, the HB and the Squier have that!

[@mike1967sam]

Being as objective as possible ... and I have nothing against Harley Benton, in fact I just bought a Harley Benton TE-62CC in Shell Pink today (Dec. 28, 2021) but I found the fender telecaster to be by far the best sounding guitar of the 3. It may have to do with the pick ups almost certainly because i don't subscribe to the tone wood theory. The fender tele is beautiful and sounds really good. Cheers. Mike.

[@RichWordsMusic]

I totally get that... we all hear tone differently! I actually prefer each one of these three for specific things. Overall though, I feel the HB does the traditional Tele twang a little better than the Fender. No, perhaps better isn't the right word - more authentically. I definitely agree it's pickups over tone woods too. The Fender Tele is my number one though, and will remain so :) Thanks for watching!

[@dawoud8013]

I want the same but with the body color of the T-52 ! and i'll buy ! i hope that the next T-52 will have the same rosted neck and the same "light" weight.

[@raytorvalds3699]

Yeah those TE-52's sure are gorgeous. The one I had was too, anyway. Shame they are so heavy (among a couple of other things).

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yes, I am wondering if HB will decide to add some more traditional colors to the TE-62 range. I think it would make sense for them to do it! And the light weight would be great - I'm seeing a lot of feedback here from people who loved everything about the TE-52 except the weight!

[@capymusic6319]

What's the riff that you played at the start of the intro? I keep on going back to this and your other te62 vid. I wanna pull the trigger on this one, just waiting for another push before I buy it ahaha

[@RichWordsMusic]

Ha ha, go for it, I'm sure you'll enjoy one of these! They're great guitars for the money. That riff is just one of mine, kind of inspired by The Strokes and Bloc Party.

[@jamescoughlan8193]

That really surprised me, the squire lacked oomph for me and even though I expected the Mexican tele to blow the others away I found myself liking the harley sound more. Strange. Might be worth getting new tuners and bone nut on the harley benton?

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yeah, for traditional Tele sounds the Harley Benton is the most authentic! It’s a top guitar for the money. I might indeed do those mods and that’ll hopefully make it even better…

[@jamescoughlan8193]

@@RichWordsMusic Great comparison video by the way

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@jamescoughlan8193 Thanks, it was a lot of fun to make and I'm glad you enjoyed watching it!

[@sanoj1969]

For me….I must say the Harley Benton. Thanks for a great comparison.

[@RichWordsMusic]

The TE-62 is simply a great Tele for the money. I've had the guitar for a year now and still love it. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@svyat8746]

Я не имею Fender, поэтому мне видимо нравится больше звучание Harley Benton :) а Squier никогда не цеплял, через чур уж звук жёсткого стекла у него, бррр. Формат видео по прежнему клёвый! :)

[@RichWordsMusic]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I totally agree - with the Esquire it's possible to get some very brittle sounds with too much high-end. You can remove this by using the tone knob though. The TE-62 is simply a great performer!

[@Ari_Calamari]

I don’t actually have a clear favourite here, at least audio wise. The esquire excels at some of the clean stuff, so very chimey. Even sounded great with some hair on it, but the metal got too brittle for me, at least in the bridge position. The HB sounded the most balanced, some nice clarity and chime, and sounded great with some gain too. Some of the chuggy stuff got a slight bit thin and brittle, and sort of spikey. Not terrible tho. The fender sounded great, warmer than the other two, if slightly to muffled for my taste clean, especially when I think of a tele sound. The gain sound was quite good tho, and it did metal the best too. It didn’t sound worse than the others in general, just not as tele like. The rosewood looks amazing tho. I didn’t particularly like the HB’s blue color tho, the other two looks great. I would have gone for the shell pink HB personally. Great review and comparison.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks Ari, some great points here! I do think the Fender Tele is the least Tele-like. But it's probably the best all-round guitar of the three, as it copes with gainier stuff better. And I actually bought that exact specific one because I saw it advertised at a store in the UK. I wasn't sure if it was the exact guitar they had though, so I contacted they and they confirmed it. I went and got it straight away! It's the most beautiful guitar I've owned. I'm still sort of in awe at the TE-62... it really does sound like a Tele! It was between the Lake Placid Blue and the Shell Pink for me. In the end I chose blue because I thought I might get fed up with ink one day, but who knows? Maybe one day I'll need another ;)

[@thecatalinstan]

Of course, "blue is the crucial feature here": it has to make you want to pick it up! ❤

[@RichWordsMusic]

Ha ha, it is for sure! I just love blue guitars ;) And like you say, a beautiful guitar just makes you want to pick it up and play it...

[@ColinStuart]

Ron Wood told me in the '70s, as he was playing Zanaitis, and Tokai guitars, "Bottom line, you play the guitar, not the name on the headstock"!

[@RichWordsMusic]

And that is also 100% true! I think brand snobbery is starting to go away a bit with guitars in general, but it may still be a while before we see HB guitars on the biggest of stages. You never know, maybe they'll get to do a Ron Wood signature model one day ;)

[@mattclark1278]

Buy the H-B, upgrade to locking tuners, change saddles (compensated brass or SS) and add a better nut and you're awfully close to a MIM/MIA Fender Tele for $300 US...

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yep, you certainly are! And for less than a new Squier too... these HBs are simply astounding value for money and make excellent mod platforms as well. I might do something similar this year.

[@MrAntpre]

Hi really nice video. add a sire t7 in the bunch. I really would like to know how it compares. However they don't make a blue one 😉

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I would love to try one of the Sire T7s one day... guess I'd just have to settle for another color 😉

[@mikeblue385]

i bought the harley in dakota red. new tuners, brass saddles and i'm still under $200. plays great. don't try to bend the neck. it ain't moving. one less trick in the bag.

[@RichWordsMusic]

That's such a great deal. You can't get a new Squier Classic Vibe for that price, and I'm not sure there's much in the way of quality difference! Yeah, the necks on these aren't going anywhere ;)

[@ColinStuart]

The Fender almost sounded choked through most of the samples, as did the Squier, while the TE 62 sounded the most like my 1967 Fender Telecaster Custom! As I have played Teles for 55 years!

[@RichWordsMusic]

That's really interesting! I definitely think the Tele sounds the least like a Tele out of the three - this could be because of the bridge pickup, some people have told me in the comments, as it's ceramic. But all in all, the HB is the winner here! It really does that Tele thing well, and at a great price.

[@wanwalrus5746]

Great review style :) since you have both- do you prefer the HB TE62 or the JA60?

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it! Hmm, that's a good question. I actually find mysself pickiung up the JA60 way more than the TE-62 these days... there's some real magic in those JM-style pickups! It's super comfy to play too, and I really like the feel and profile of the roasted maple neck. The TE-62 I still really enjoy, but I do find myself picking up my Fender Tele instead 99.9% of the time. (And I don't have a more expensive offset to pick up over the JA60!) Hope that helps a bit :)

[@wanwalrus5746]

@@RichWordsMusic it does really help, along With your reviews! Thanks :)

[@magnushori]

For me is the HB the best sounding Tele. Versatile and most equal tone.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yes, I agree - it's the most "traditional Tele" sounding of the three by quite a long way. Which, when you consider the price, is very impressive indeed! It hangs with a Squier and a Fender no problem.

[@GuglielmoVerrienti]

Thanks for the great video!!! I wanted to buy the HB te-52 but many people say it is very heavy, so I saw this new beautiful te-62 and I love it! How is the weight of the guitars compared? Thank you!!!

[@RichWordsMusic]

No problem, glad you enjoyed it! I haven't tried the TE-52 myself (I would love to though!) - but I notice a few other people here are saying they had TE-52s and they were pretty heavy, so that is maybe something to consider... The TE-62 I have is a great weight :)

[@lurs21]

@@RichWordsMusic te 52 is around 4.5-4.8kg

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@lurs21 See that's pretty heavy!

[@blueeyedsoulman]

Is the Harley Benton routed for the Nashville 3 pickup setup? (Middle pickup route added.)

[@RichWordsMusic]

I don't know - I will need to check that! My guess is no, but you never know :)

[@TheTerracide]

Its not …if anyone wondered

[@AndrewAHayes]

I could not come up with a definitive best guitar as they all had their wins in different styles and different pickup positions, what I can say though is that if I were buying one I would not be buying the Fender as I dont think it represents value for money. I am actually buying a new T type guitar next month and it is a Harley Benton and its the T25 Firemist 25th anniversary model

[@stevehanham9266]

Oh by the way, I'd just like to say that I made the comments below before I listened to you summing up! 😊 Cheers 😊😎🎸

[@RichWordsMusic]

Proof that we are both right, of course :)

[@techheat1987]

The HB and Squire both sounded good for starter guitars but the Fender with upgrades is at another level. I suspect the Fender as purchased would have been very close to the other two.

[@RichWordsMusic]

It's funny, but I believe the Fender had the upper hand right out of the box - I only made changes to it for taste reasons. I suppose it has been well played in though, and has had a few decent setups. But yes, what a great time to be a starter guitar player! So many great choices out there...

[@stevehobbs1199]

Harley benton for me, just in my opinion more value for money

[@RichWordsMusic]

In terms of pure value for money, I think HB is pretty much impossible to beat right now. The specs and features they fit into guitars at such low price points are pretty mind blowing sometimes.

[@stevehobbs1199]

I just think for the value for money, bang for you buck, it's got to be the Harley benton TE62 for me, and I have ordered one.

[@RichWordsMusic]

I agree 100% - no other brand can keep up with HB at the moment for the sheer amounts of specs and features they're able to squeeze into such affordable guitars... and actually make them good! I've had this guitar almost a year now, and I still love it. Enjoy yours!

[@Phoebedumplings]

Build quality…very grey area? I would use the word assembled, great video 👌massive fan of HB btw

[@RichWordsMusic]

OK yep, assembled is probably a technically closer description! Glad you enjoyed thew video too! I'm also a massive HB convert :)

[@1972Georges]

Beyer Dynamic - Also my preffered Headphone. :-). Just bouht this guitar in shell pink. Will modify it to my liking. It will only the neck and body remain. 🙂

[@ianstringer4086]

Can't remember artist name jazz player I bought his hb signature guitar but after a while I wanted a telli so I bought hb telli .the signature guitar cost bought £450 and my hb telli same blue as demo but mine had binding on main body £120. I love it so much I never played the £450 so I sold it on and to this day I love the telli more versatile I think . Of the demo I like the hb the best fuller sounding so that's me 😊

[@Andrzej-uf2zm]

Hello ... well, if they didn't differ in terms of griffins, there would be a credible comparative scale. I see you have the best sound with Harley Benton. Besides, Fender or Squier are not on his heels. In short: Fender - blood sausage, Squier - tunnel light towards Harley, Harley - sound orchestra - has a rock kick! Regards 👌🇵🇱

[@RichWordsMusic]

I guess you wrote this with Google Translate and maybe I don't understand everything exactly, but I get the message! It's funny... lots of people in the comments seem to think I got the best sounds with the Harley Benton. And in many ways, I have to agree ;) It certainly sounds the most like a traditional Telecaster out of these three guitars. Rock on!

[@marcomostroso]

Nice comparison man. I am considering that Harley Benton. I bought the single cut you also reviewed, nice guitar. I am back commenting after a long "virus situation", but returning back to normal life and getting better every day. Hope holidays were better for you than for me and best wishes for 2022. Nice to see your channel growing and collaborations with other youtubers. What a success! Cheers my friend!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Hey man, great to see you back here, and I hope you're well and have great 2022 ahead of you now! The first two weeks of January I was actually ill too (it was a virus, but not THE virus!) but now I'm getting better and it's all good. The HB is really astounding value for money. It's so fun to play, the neck is great, and well, you can hear how good the sounds are from this video. More GAS ;) And thanks - you've been here since the very beginning and I am so pleased you still come back, ha ha! Hopefully I can do some more cool stuff this year as well :)

[@marcomostroso]

@@RichWordsMusic Good to hear it wasn't THE virus and you are ok now. What I saw in the hospital got me scared, that thing can be serious, fortunately it wasn't as hard for me, hard but not as much by far. And yes, I am since the beginning hehe, will keep being around, you are a good guy doing nice content, so I really wish you best of lucks :) cheers man!

[@AdrianGonzalez1987]

love placid lake blue jejeje

[@RichWordsMusic]

The best color for a guitar 😎

[@sublyme2157]

Harley Benton seems to capture the spirit of the telecaster, which is to mass produce a great guitar as cheaply as possible. Expensive Telecasters don't make sense :)

[@RichWordsMusic]

That's actually a really good point! The original Telecasters were made in the same spirit - cheap to produce, and easy to replace parts if one component was out of stock. A working guitarist's tool, essentially. Which is what the HBs can be. I also struggle sometimes when I see these bolt-on guitars selling for thousands of dollars/euros... I suppose the one big difference to back then was that Leo Fender had access to body woods that back then were just cheaper woods - now they're seen as 'holy grail' tonewoods and cost a lot more to use, so the likes of HB end up with cheaper/heavier woods and often use multiple pieces on one guitar.

[@NigelOdinson]

Didnt think about that.... what a great point. Seriously, that's what Leo said the whole purpose of the Tele was. To make it available to everyone by making it as good as possible for as little as possible. Something HB seem to have done better than anyone!!

[@NigelOdinson]

Also would love to see fender go back to their roots, I'm sure they can afford it. But HB have proven you can get diet cheap pickups that are more authentic than the squier and some fender T's - even if they were to lose the 'Squier' sub-brand and just call them all fenders, just giving the Squiers the official fender name and making them to the spec they already do, but just pricing them a bit lower would have everyone running to them and the Tele would be re-born in all its original glory (maybe even put 3 saddles on them all too, with the option of 6 if someone prefered). This would be getting back to their roots and offering pretty much everyone the opportunity to own an official fender spaghetti stamped Tele, at the quality they are already offering in the Squier (maybe a bit more for a little less, i.e 3 saddle bridge and using the best squier pickups in all the models). I know its superficial to drop the sub-brand and call them all fenders, but this actually means a lot to a lot of people and some people dream of owning a fender but it isnt feasible really but they feel 'cheap' just because of the reputation that old squier had for being rubbish even though they are great today, and would feel more proud to own a fender like their idols even if it coat £200 for example, all that's really needed is to change the name and straight away the sales would sky rocket I imagine. Not that it makes a better guitar obviously, but enthusiasts and average hobbyists would be lying if they said they wouldn't opt for a fender logo over a squier if they were the same guitar for the same price, which costs fender nothing really. Maybe even earn more by selling so many more guitars between £200 and £400 because of the logo increase their overall profits I would guess!

[@kaffeice7]

tbh the metal sound goes to the fender, and its easy to tell why but overall actually the winner is HB

[@antonioelle4894]

HB and Squier both have the tele sound, very similar snappy bridge pickup. Fender lacking of brightness it's strange at least to me and it reminds me somehow my old "midrangey" Highway one.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yes, I agree with that comparison. Some people here in the comments have told me it's because the Fender is the only one with a ceramic bridge pickup, so it lacks the Tele twang/sparkle/snap a little. I'm inclined to agree. Not sure what pickups were used in Highway One guitars, though.

[@TheCandel34]

Harley for the win for everything except the heavy distortion. The fender takes it with the metal sound.

[@danielhoky]

not sure if my ear is playing tricks, the Harley Benton blows the others away in terms of the sound, and win by a mile with its sweet price point too. Am i wrong?

[@RichWordsMusic]

You might be right! In terms of sounding like a traditional Telecaster, the HB wins for me as well. And the price is simply outstanding... it's hard to believe that Harley Benton can fit so much quality into that price point. The TE-62 is simply a great guitar...

[@avjake]

The Fender sounds totally scooped with the replacement pickups. So what's the point? Any guitar can be upgraded, so why not put DiMarzios in the HB and try again?

[@RichWordsMusic]

On my wishlist for the future! I actually like the sound of the Fender a lot... but it's the least Tele-like of these three guitars for sure.

[@punkoso4168]

Harley Benton wins for me !

[@RichWordsMusic]

It's a stunning Tele for the money! I still play mine all the time.

[@gernotreinheimer4385]

Out of the box, H.B. is the winner. The Fender sounds somewhat muddy to my ears. Just a pick up question, i think. From clean to high gain the H.B. suited my ears the best. Tone separation is always audible and if someone don´t care about the F decal, take it on stage. The esquire might be no. 2, but lacks versatility. For this price-tag the H.B. is a keeper. Feel sorry for the Fender, but to my impression no. 3. I don´t know how they feel haptic, so i can only judge by the sound.

[@RichWordsMusic]

It's funny, but for me too, the HB is the most authentic Telecaster! It's more like a Tele than my Tele ;) But I love the Tele for indie and rock stuff - it's better for high gain to my ears. And I agree, I do think these guitars would all sound a lot more similar with identical pickups. In the end, though, it's amazing how good the HB is, and how it competes with the two 'brand' guitars! HB are doing something right...

[@raytorvalds3699]

Your Fender has a ceramic pickup in the bridge, where as both the Squier and Harley Benton have an AlNiCo pickup. The Player Series Tele (also with AlNiCo) would've been a better comparison. Still a cool shoot out, though ! Funny thing is, I have a 2015 MiM HSS Strat and I actually prefer the ceramics in it over the Player Series Strat AlNiCo's. Go figure lol. It's all very subjective.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Aha, so that's why! I didn't actually know that, but it makes a lot of sense. I also agree the Player guitars would make better for a better comparison, but sadly I don't own one... maybe in 2022! But you're totally right, it's all about what sounds good to us, and every day for me it changes ;)

[@raytorvalds3699]

@@RichWordsMusic Yeah. In the end, if it sounds good, plays well and stays in tune. It's good. They all sounded good to me.

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@raytorvalds3699 Exactly!

[@yeoldefoxeh254]

Whoa, a Squier Tele with one single coil bridge only? Eeewww I never thought I'll say this but I am overly disappointed in the Fender and even in the Squier. They sounded just awful in clean. Extreme highs and the Squier even had some kind of overtones that were just terrible for me. Specifically crazy that the Fender in split bridge just had so much highs, completely missing that tele bridge vibe altogether. I'm literally happy that I don't have that Fender, I'd cry in shame lol. In crunch it gets way better, the Squier stays terrible but the Fender goes far and nice with that tone on the bridge. BUT I think it doesn't really sound like a tele, have somehow so much body to it that it almost sounds like a humbucker to me. Good vid as always!

[@stephanguitar9778]

Had the HB TE52. Had to sell it on account of being so heavy, 4.3Kgs circa 9.5lbs. Would never stay in tune either.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yeah, that’s heavy. Mine is 3.4 kgs, which is much more manageable, and so far the tuners are all good… I think it can be quite a lottery with buying HB guitars unseen.

[@vadikbudaratskiy7282]

Meine ist 3,2 Kg schwer.

[@andreasf6671]

The TE62 has the perfect weight for a tele, IMO. Wasn't a fan of the 4.3kgs either.

[@raytorvalds3699]

I had an HB TE-52 too. It also was a boat anchor and wouldn't stay in tune either (which I attribute to the nut for the most). It did sound pretty good, though. I sold it as well, mostly for the weight. Plus I got a Fender Tele as a surprise gift from my girlfriend, so it was bye bye HB.

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@raytorvalds3699 Yeah, I'd say anything over about 4 kgs for a Tele is too much. Happy days with the surprise Tele gift though!

[@marcraygun6290]

I have always preferred esquire to tele especially double bound body ones , HB is great but 12 inch radius puts me off

[@RichWordsMusic]

I agree, in terms of looks, it's hard to beat a double bound Esquire! But yes, if you want a more rounded neck, the current HBs won't do the job. I wonder if they'll put out a more vintage Esquire-esque model this year? They just did a new double bound TE-62 DB, so we're half way there!

[@marcraygun6290]

Thing is my regular guitar is a 62 jazzmaster and obviously that is 7.25 radius which I love maybe because my fingers are quite curved naturally on the other hand my friend finds my guitar hard to play

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@marcraygun6290 Yep, that's quite a difference. I find 7.25" fine to play, but I'm not one for bending strings high up on the fretboard! I guess it's also down to neck profile though, and I guess the 62 Jazzmaster has a skinny one! I'd say see if you can find anyone local to you who owns an HB guitar, and have a test play with it! You never know, you might like it...

[@capzisediam5845]

Wow ... you speak as fast as a machine gun shoots ;-) but nice Video ... thx for it. I am from german and want to know what people of other countries think about their guitars !! Nice Sunday Dude !!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Sorry, I do always have to remember to try and speak slower ;) I am glad you enjoyed the video anyway! I live in Germany too, by the way.

[@flyingdutchman450]

I think Harley Benton TE-62 sounds best! TE-62 vs TE-70, which one is better?

[@RichWordsMusic]

As a traditional Tele, I agree! The HB is just incredible value for money. I haven't tried the TE-70 yet, but I want to soon! The specs are quite similar, so I would expect a similar performance and tones...

[@Damir_35519]

How to compare Rangnar from vikings vs Peter from family guy and Maggie from the Simpsons.....who would win in a fight?........i thank you for your time making this video but......no.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Ha ha, I know what you mean but I'd say this video was more like Peter vs Homer vs Cartman. Although not anywhere near as funny ;) These guitars are all variations on a theme, and it's my belief that they're ones many people might consider when looking at going down the affordable Tele route (as I did, having bought all three myself!). The idea is that hopefully it'll help tell people about the similarities and differences between the three models, and I think I generally succeeded there. It's not just about "which is best".

[@CarMoves]

HB and Fender sounded the best -- surprised how muddy and muted the Squier sounded

[@RichWordsMusic]

I agree, I do think the Esquire struggled next to the other two here...

[@AndrewAHayes]

I just watched a video by a novice player comparing the same guitars, I did not know he was a novice to start with until he started to strike the strings, I purposely did not write play as that would be the wrong word, he tried to play a pentatonic scale but almost every note was dissonant, it was painful but hilarious as he thought he was playing, a no a pentatonic a novice was too strong a word to describe what I saw and heard although I will give him kudos for having the balls to start a YT channel on guitars when he cant play, he has bought or claims to have bought over 116 guitars, I think he must have started out thinking the better the guitar the better a player he would become, when I was a kid I had the same outlook on guitar and saved money and was gifted money when I passed my exams to buy a Fender Telecaster although I ended up with a brand new shiny 1983 Japanese Squier Telecaster as it was a much better sounding and better built guitar and even today I would put it up against any Fender Tele, it did however improve my playing as the instrument I had to start with was pants. Edit-: I just realised the video made me think of Les Dawson playing the piano, he was actually a wonderful pianist but could play out of key just as well, it was hilarious to watch and hear!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Oof, I thought you were talking about me for a second! I was actually at a guitar event on the weekend and this discussion came up - the idea that social media allows people to self-publish anything they want on places like KZbin and find a global audience. It's also the case with Amazon for e-books and Spotify for music, etc. Is it a good thing? Well, in theory I would say yes, but of course there's no more quality control on anything. I've noticed it most with e-books... I read a lot and there is now so much rubbish out there alongside well-written books that I'd genuinely want to spend money on and read. Hey though, I'm no pro musician by any means myself... but I like making these videos and I hope they're helpful to some people. And I do respect anyone who is thick-skinned enough to put themselves out there, in a way. Sorry, I'm rambling here! Back on point: these I do think people assume more guitars/gear = better skills. I know I own way too much gear. I also started out on unplaybale stuff as a kid and grafuated, though. These days even the cheap stuff is usually incredibly playable - but, once you get a decent instrument, only practice over the years makes you a better player! I would love one of those early 80s Teles, by the way. I've tried a couple and they are EXCELLENT!

[@BlueCollarLogic]

Wow, the opening 'show and tell', was really pro. Full of info, no hesitation, clean background, great lighting, picture and sound. You've really upped your game, Brother. Consider me subscribed.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks so much! I guess I have plenty of practice doing this now, and a couple of inexpensive softboxes have worked wonders too. Thanks for subbing - glad to have you on board!

[@michaeltherion7459]

Any of these models come left handed?

[@RichWordsMusic]

Hmm, Harley Benton did promise lefties I think, but they don't seem to be available yet. Guess that should happen soon as they're normally pretty good for that. Squier made some Butterscotch Esquires left-handed in the 2020 run I remember (not this LPB one though), and with Fender there's always a few lefty versions of Teles, including in the new Player Series.

[@MBSGAMES_]

Harley benton, generic but good. But looses definition in overdrive/distortion. Esquire has beautiful mids..... Winner for me. Fender just sounds right for it's price..

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yes, this is a pretty decent summary of it. There's something special about the Esquire in certain contexts for sure... could it be that the one-pickup thing really makes a difference? I don't know, but it is GREAT for the kinds of music I love to play. Cheers for watching!

[@stephanematis]

Given this "Trad Tele" conversation, I would think asking Tonefox a chance to borrow and demo their Gold prototype might be an idea (I say Gold, as Henning isn't letting the green one go). In essence, the other extreme ? Yes, it looks like a Thinline 69, but it isn't really. Right?

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yes, that's a fabulous idea! I'm in talks with Uwe from Tonefox and hopefully it'll happen in early 2022. Won't be the green one, no ;) But I think I actually prefer the gold anyway... they're Thinlines, but not as we know it! Fingers crossed it happens soon :)

[@stephanematis]

@@RichWordsMusic Excellent Rich! All the best for the Holidays!

[@RichWordsMusic]

@@stephanematis Same to you, hope you're having a good one!