Is the New Tele Worth Buying? | 2019 Fender American Ultra Telecaster Texas Tea | Review + Demo

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Episode Guide:
0:00 - Intro - Check Links In Description!
0:15 - What Is Ultra?
0:29 - What's New? Ultra VS Elite
3:20 - First Impressions
6:19 - Inside Look
15:29 - Tone Talk
17:41 - Tone Demo
19:49 - Final Thoughts
21:48 - Condition
23:05 - Blacklight
23:27 - Case + Candy
Mentioned Videos:
Fender Ultra Series Explained: • Understanding the NEW ...
Fender Ultra Unboxing: • I Went New Guitar Shop...
Today, we are taking an in-depth look at the new for late-2019 Fender American Ultra series Telecaster to see what is new from the old Elite Series.
The biggest new features are the new colors, slightly different fretboard radius and the new sculpted heel joint which allows for easier upper fret access. Will these change the way you play like Fender advertises? Not really... but it is a really nice telecaster.
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[@Trog]

reverb.com/item/29685490-video-2019-fender-american-ultra-telecaster-texas-tea?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly 0:15 - What Is Ultra? 0:29 - What's New? Ultra VS Elite 3:20 - First Impressions 6:19 - Inside Look 15:29 - Tone Talk 17:41 - Tone Demo 19:49 - Final Thoughts 21:48 - Condition 23:05 - Blacklight 23:27 - Case + Candy

[@Daddy53751]

I love the Telecaster, and I’ll tell you why. When I asked my wife for a stack of cash to by a really nice tele, she told me to kick rocks. I then asked her “is that your final answer?” She stated that I had over a half dozen, and I should play those. So I told her “fine! I’ll just make my own.” She told me to knock myself out. I knocked myself out, and became a luthier!!! It’s WAY more fun than just buying them, and I owe it to the Telecaster.

[@lickwindowsdaily6989]

Youre like the Doug Demuro of guitars

[@kevinryan1359]

Hahaha soo true

[@LetsJamMan]

He really does show all the quirks and features lol

[@LieutenantTickles]

He's one shirt short

[@ayoutubeaccount864]

Holy cow he is

[@thenumber1bobo]

equally as fucking annoying

[@fleshbhones]

That's gotta be the coolest new finish I've seen from fender. Cant wait to see one in person!

[@TheNewenglandboys]

I just bought the ultra tele in ultraburst. Love the guitar. Beautiful sound. Easy and smooth to play.

[@bluesysamurainao4557]

I like your demo!! I could listen to the quite real raw tone.

[@brendantso4749]

This was really interesting dude! Keep doing what you do!

[@jasoncolemanarizonaloanoff1574]

This is by far my favorite guitar in my collection. The D neck profile just feels sooo smooth. The quality and over all feel just amazing.

[@SeanZetterlund]

Out of all the new Fender Ultra Teles, I'm digging that Texas Tea finish the most!

[@blacklotus3205]

I’m a purist. Cannot go past the butterscotch blonde!!!

[@benallmark9671]

Ya totally groovy

[@Riverdeepnwide]

My '77 Dodge Aspen had a very similar finish, an entrancing black/gold metallic colour. Lovely!

[@BlackPhillip666]

I got the Tele in Texas Tea. The color in person is even more stunning.

[@mrvn52]

Fret eraser's do a great job of polishing frets without damaging the fret board and no metal shaving stuck to the pick-ups, eliminating time consuming masking.

[@MikeFromNashville]

This is my favorite, in a few years I may pickup a used one. Great review man!

[@nazmoking3171]

Great review as always! This is quite a nice guitar - well finished with very nice options and design. I'd love to have one. Sadly, I'm not much of a noiseless fan. Sounds good with the S1 switch engaged.

[@virgiljjacas3955]

Man ... !!! That is almost perfect. The " Texas Tea " is beyond comparison.

[@samnicholl6579]

I love this channel! You’re so interesting to listen to and have an infectious enthusiasm, thank you :-)

[@riviecc]

Glad they came out with these Ultras. Was able to pick up a 2019 brand new American Elite 4 under twelve hundred bucks on a clearance. I like the change to the truss rod wheel at the bridge on the elites and the 4th generation noiseless pickups.

[@terrydummitt]

First time watching. Best review of a guitar I've seen so far... great job!!1

[@darrtetzy]

That finish is stunning. Now, imagine that guitar with a back route and no pickguard... Sign me up.

[@diogocostajazz2234]

I would love to watch a video like this about the Professional II Tele, great video btw! Great info

[@TheKaappari]

Locking tuners absolutely make your tuning stability better if you have a trem. That is because when you use the trem the string wound around the tuning post would get looser and when the trem returns to level position the windings around the tuning posts might not get as tight as before.

[@cflowers69]

Played one of these at the shop the other day. Very nice. Also the thinline version and again, very nice guitar.

[@powerwegy]

My first guitar was a Tele style body guitar from some company called "infinity", the color was so good. Like this one, it looked black but when you shone the light on it it had this dark pine flaky green that made it worth it for me.

[@Locoandchooch]

The Elite was silver and raised, on mine anyway. However I’m going to buy this new one, in white. Fender should use dowel pins in their necks, X pattern.

[@brianbond7856]

That looks so sweet!!!! The price is ridiculous but I gotta get me one I live that Texas tea finish

[@MrBladle]

I'm loving the riffing on this episode!

[@cafestudiosinc.1702]

Thanks buddy you're awesome! I have an old deluxe with a silver spegetthi logo no border. Older logos include gold with black border and silver with black border.

[@jimmyjimmy951]

Best looking Tele yet IMO...👍🇦🇺🐨

[@opensourceq]

im so hype for ur jazzmaster reviews edit: dang son that s1 adds some Beef. like serious brisket

[@bigearl33]

I love the look of a bound tele

[@lovewalruss]

Beauty. Gonna get one! Excellent review thx.

[@Faulheit]

im loving these, but my wallets still waiting for a new squier

[@ronj9448]

You get more for your money used. I'd suggest waiting for a used squier and you'll be able to find something that sat in a closet for 3 months before it was sold back. Good luck.

[@darrellbrock4788]

I was where you were years ago, wanted a Martin but had to settle for a Sigma (which sounded great by the way), later I wanted a Gibson les paul but had to settle for an Epiphone but look at me now. I own a Martin D-41, a brand new Martin D-45 that I lucked into on musiciansfriend .com for $2800 off, a Fender American professional strat I bought new for 20% off, and after I get this tax return I'm getting a $2500 to $3000 Gibson les paul and the Fender Telecaster in this video. The point is that you will get there but it will take 2 things: time and work. To get ahead, and I had a long way to go from being raised in a 4 room rat infested shack with no running water and an outhouse, to where I am today. It was hard but I married and had 2 kids and used this philosophy to give them the world and eventually things I wanted along the way: work all the overtime you can get and be the one the boss can rely on to work the dirty jobs. Many a night I would come home after 16 hours wore out. Ease off in the summer some but work like a dog through the cold months. I worked hard sweaty dangerous work in the coal mines through my youth, so if I could do it then so could you. Smiling faces from a happy family and the toys I picked up along the way were definitely worth it.

[@ronj9448]

@@darrellbrock4788 Your career inspires a few blues tunes. Glad I took the route of a mathematician. I get to practice guitar in my office too.

[@darrellbrock4788]

Mathematician sounds great, many people don't realize that math is fun. Honest to God, a lot of people do puzzle books to work the mind, but I have an old algebra book that is 1st and 2nd year high school algebra and I go through it chapter by chapter doing the problems, then I start over. It's just like solving puzzles.

[@craigssellingmine]

save ya money! $140 fire fly on its way here

[@edwalmsley7956]

Great review. Thanks for your insight!

[@johnfair62]

I bought the arctic pearl white one. Waiting for it to get here. I want the Texas tea version, but figured most people will buy that one. I hope I like it. Your reviews was great!

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Absolutely fabulous looking Telecaster, I am really surprised you are selling it to be honest, it’s a keeper for me.

[@txtele]

I absolutely love the color of this guitar I saw one the other day in person and they look incredible they really do

[@danellett9274]

always loved tellies,love the texas tea color.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Very comprehensive review cheers Paul , Liverpool UK

[@davehopping7212]

For everyone who came down with sticker shock.....This has more features-a LOT more- than Teles did in Da Golden Age,and for significantly less money.The $250 you'd have paid in 1958 for a new Tele with tweed case works out to $2200 in today's money,and people didn't carp about it.They just saved up.I did.

[@Blkojo]

A rational comment. Thanks.

[@eliwebster509]

When I first saw the ad, I thought these were just black with white binding. Which is my favorite Telecaster finish, ever. But this is even cooler, I think. I just love white binding on Telecasters.

[@willowrose3092]

Just bought mine. Beautiful in every way. ❤️

[@ChapmanMusic]

Brilliant review. Thank you :)

[@craigssellingmine]

Great Review! What a beauty! Those pickups have really high measurements. I was hoping that you'd measure the resistance of the pickups in the Series mode. Might be a 13 ohm Humbucker!

[@johnbraucher1499]

Not usually into teles but that Texas oil color is badass!

[@ShotGunRoleModel]

I love that look and finish

[@lucaszembrzuski]

This has to be one of the best sounding guitars on Your channel ever, i normally not a tele guy, but theese comfort cuts and binding, and sound.... If i could afford i would get this one :) And a hss cobra blue strat, this guitar breaks my heart, because i cannot afford it, my first guitar was a hss dark blue Korean Squier, and i miss it alot, unfortunately Fender does not make dark blue guitars anymore..

[@jpeterman57]

You better check again! They got one bro.

[@kilgoretrout3966]

i have the earlier iteration, being an American Deluxe J-bass. it has the silver logo...This line from Deluxe to Elite, now to Ultra i by far my favorite. They keep enough tradition, yet they add advances. A client left his "new at the time" Am Deluxe Tele cherry burst, S1, compound radius, and unlike the Ultra, it has a micro tilt adjustment on the neckplate....a really nice feature to get the angle just how you want it, without shims. That guitar was like butter, and felt like it had always belonged in my hands.

[@Beizeiten78]

I own this guitar now, like this actual one... I converted it to an Esquire, custom wiring, swapped the bridge pickup, and added a three-ply parchment/black/parchment Esquire pickguard. It’s perfect now.

[@DiogenesNephew]

That aluminum pickguard is horrible on the fingernails

[@Beizeiten78]

@@DiogenesNephew They also rattle a bit, because they’re so rigid, they don’t hold to the body between the screws. You could add masking tape underneath to the perimeter, but yeah, best to ditch it altogether.

[@toskafloah]

I’d love to see a pic of this if you still have it

[@Beizeiten78]

@@toskafloah I do. Not sure how I could show you though.

[@AdultsAreTalking]

Nothing like making it your own! 🤙🏻 Can always respect tasteful mods. I have a J Mascis tele on its way to me that's going to get a makeover.

[@bluesingmusic3443]

Beautiful Telecaster. Love my 1992 USA. One question, the way they're attaching the neck now, (great idea on the contour for your hand up there),I'm wondering if the new method (instead of the old rectangle neck plate)would cause problems as the years go by. Perhaps it's too early to tell. I know the old system mine has & many others(except the CBS 3 screw method)have stood the test of time. All in all as a Tele fanatic, it may be the mist beautiful Tele I've ever seen(love the Texas Tea, I've always been partial to the old 00 sunburst). Great presentation btw, I just found this video. I've not been following Fender's new releases, since 2014. Actually when FMIC quit sending out their Frontline Catalogue, I wasn't able to keep up. Anyway I've heard the "Pro" line is actually the old American Standard renamed. Any info from fellow Fender Fanatics, would be appreciated.

[@waldoespinosa5348]

Wonder what the read would have been on the middle position with the S1 engaged!

[@seanhershey3390]

Rickenbacker glosses their rosewood necks...I'd love to see you do a RIC review...( or a Gretsch)

[@shaunw9270]

I have a 330. I would love to know what Austin makes of Rickenbacker guitars . The rosewood on mine is ,I think , Caribbean rosewood , and it's absolutely beautiful 👌

[@ayoutubeaccount864]

Fretboard not neck Sorry that annoys me so much though

[@dougsguitarlounge3617]

I love the Texas Tea finish,just beautiful!👍👍

[@jordanmolacek]

So close to buying one... just a beautiful guitar. Need the Texas Tea.

[@donaldholman9070]

Great video. Thank you for sharing

[@nobodyspecial6881]

All these new fenders you've been showing off are making me want to take a trip to Guitar Center just to look around. Have a good day.

[@keriwilliams8980]

That's the whole idea

[@nobodyspecial6881]

@@keriwilliams8980 I know, and I'm broke.

[@craigthomson3621]

Nice Tele for those who are willing to consider specs that are not 100% Traditional / Vintage. Not sure about value for money at the increased retail prices, though adjusting for inflation they are not too different from top of the range Teles in the 50’s and 60’s. I would have retained the Elites truss rod wheel adjuster, and used stainless steel frets. I think every Tele should have the S1 switching. Being a lefty the Ultra series is not an option for me. I have a lefty Elite Strat, Professional Strat and Professional Tele. I have added locking tuners to the Professionals as they make so much sense and it is a no drill upgrade (they pop right into the holes of the original non-locking tuners).

[@tendingtropic7778]

thank you for this, I ordered the same one. do you still have it? question: is it normal that engaging the S1 switch makes the sound quite a bit louder (and thus a bit more hum)? and also, when trying to lower the bass side of the neck pickup >3.3mm, i starts to wiggle in the pickguard. Normal? thanks!

[@simonhawker9277]

Black gold texas t. Jed clampett model. Love it. Get it?

[@jeromepeters9842]

Have to agree,I love the finish

[@DavidHilbertM]

Nice video! Didn’t realize it would be routed for a humbucker at the neck. Any opinions on installing one? Love the looks! But I’m a huge fan of a humbucker in the neck position.

[@jdohse73]

That is one of the sexiest guitars ever!! 🤩

[@robotsongs]

I'm kind of surprised how unimpressive the clean sounds are.. Did you leave your Mark V 25 at the same settings that you use for your Gibsons? I find that when I switch between Gibsons and fenders on my Mark V 25 I really need to adjust the tone stack. Even switching from clean to fat does a lot to help when it comes to playing on single coils.

[@oldgeezergaming5602]

I got the ultra tele in blue with parchment scratchplate and maple neck looks and plays amazing

[@Dethride69]

Great video! I’m not trolling I promise but I’m curious why you’re keeping the truss rod wrench? I’ve collected a drawer full over the years and just assumed everyone else has too.

[@avilionstars]

steel wool treatment? is that something you're supposed to do when you get a new guitar?

[@markjamesmeli2520]

PLASMA RED love it. Beautiful sounds and looks.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Austin those two smaller screws 7:30 are an interesting feature which is rather uncommon on Teles. Danny Gatton modified his bridge plate and screwed the front down like that. My G&L ASAT had an intermittent buzzy vibration until I screwed the front of the plate down. The strings really rang out afterwards. The barrel knobs 8:40 can be strengthened by filling the void around the slot with epoxy, a coiled wire of the correct gauge or a machined ring as seen in my pic at the left over there. 👈🏻 It took awhile to find my little barrel knob on the stage after an exuberant flip of the switch. Crawling around with a flashlight half blind and my ass stickin' up in the air it got a laugh, "All part of the show folks". Oh, and a word to the wise; never bend over in front of a drummer. 👉🏻 🙄

[@BDanielsOfficial]

I have a Tele, maple body, maple neck, Texas special in the bridge, Gibson burstbucker in the neck. The best Fender I've ever played.

[@sonoman9095]

Daniels, what is the neck shape (C,V,other), radius, fret size and model. I appreciate your help.

[@DomCAFC]

What a superb review

[@SG-wj2qj]

It's a gorgous tele. The finish, hardware and material. But the price... it's a bit steep for what it is. I saw texas tea in person. Incredible.

[@Snookiwatanama]

Back in my day the best American stats and teles came with custom shop pickups.I don’t think the new fender pups sound bad at all but guitars are getting very hi-tech.

[@mailvilla]

06/27/2020: What do you think of Fender Noiseless Generation-4 pick up for Spank, Quack, and CountryTwang sounds without using a delay, reverb, compression pedal?

[@hanashe4599]

A good review. I know I wouldn't want to buy this one from you though with you tearing it apart and than stealing pieces from the case, but to each his own. I appreciate the review though. Some of the best angles of the guitar I've seen. And now I definitely want one.

[@b.rodclark7349]

Why's there a skunk stripe when the neck has a rosewood fingerboard?

[@shellsjoint]

Awesome video!!!

[@Mudhoney1991]

Was just wondering what you were using to get that awesome dirt tone. 18.35. Love that tone. I brought this tele back in February. Texas Tea. I love it. Its my 1st tele though It's quieter than my stratocaster. I don't have nothing to compare it too. Is it normal for tele to be quieter than other guitars,

[@pskemster]

There is also 1200 grit polish paper. That would work the scratch off the fret board!

[@TheRnB69]

This is random but what are your thoughts on plekking a guitar right out of factory or just plekking a guitar in general?

[@MrSmiley1964]

So the Logo used to be Silver. I've looked at a lot of expensive Fenders. But when did they get rid of the clunky, old fashioned Jack Cup and put in the modern one?

[@gordonpenny1842]

Love It! Killer looks, rich sounds Great review. Thanks Trogly

[@michaelmoore7975]

@8:42 Also substitutes as a valve core removal tool for your tires.

[@koenig427]

That body is the same as the Black Elite Telecaster I have, everything from the bridge to the S1 is the same. But you have two bar codes, I wonder if the bottom one is for a Elite, and they resprayed is from the black to Texas Tea and added that neck carve. Also the Fender Logo is 100% silver and it looks awesome in the light, sometimes it looks black and others it what ever color the lights in the room are.

[@PNWGuitar]

I love the look but I couldn't justify the money. I get an upcharge for some better pickups but I dont get why they removed the body side truss adjustment wheel.

[@einfussganger]

No mention of the rolled edges on the fretboard? I was so tempted to get one of these, but then came across a killer deal on a Richie Kotzen. Love the thick neck on that thing.

[@eduardo0796]

Any chance of you trying the Vintera series? Please try one of those 70s Vintera Strats or get an original 70s Strat!

[@bluesingmusic3443]

There is Anderston Music (if I spelled it right) on YT. They demo a lot of guitars. I found this after watching some of their vids on various Fender guitars, they also do comparisons like a Squire version, vs Mexican vs various US built,up to Ultra. Check them out.

[@smittenthekitteninmittens2679]

man i love teles..this is just beautiful...wish i could afford a lefty :D

[@markkozielec2200]

This is the first video I’ve seen of this finish where you can see it’s not just black. Really cool finish. I won’t pay $1900 for it, but a cool finish nonetheless

[@andreis5975]

There is an amazing deal on musiciansfriend.com where you can get an open box for 1500. I just got one and it’s amazing!!

[@seangrexa4707]

Decal looks new, gold w no outline and almost looks raised? I like it!

[@REAL_MPSS]

I have a Telecaster. It's a MIM from 1995. I think called "Squire Series" It has Fender Telecaster sticker in black and in the tip of the head it says Squire (where Custom Shop would be if I were rich). I keep seeing the same thing for sale and people obviously remove the Squire part and sell them for way more than I paid. Do you know anything about these?

[@BAgodmode]

This is actually the exact guitar I am getting. Traded out from my 2017 American Pro Strat, which I loved, but. . . I mean its a strat that is really good, but I already have like several american strats, and I've never owned a tele. And I am from texas so texas T for me.

[@user-dh4qc5qu5d]

Fender Ultra Telecaster in other colors. Are the slots under the pickup guard the same? Are there three slots for the pickup?

[@smeerdude]

Great review, I bought one and reviewed It on my channel also. Great guitar!

[@A.D.D.O.C.D.T]

Would it be worth it to get the ultra over the American original 60s ? I am trying to decide between those two atm. Good video ,cheers mate.

[@BRINK_Music]

Next level guitar review, incredibly informative. Great job!

[@kirkwilliams2127]

And mine came with a completely loose output jack. And it was Plek’d. Sweetwater. Have had awesome luck with them but not on this one. Trying to decide if I should keep it, it’s not that great.

[@alpyuce1569]

Hello there, it seems and sounds raelly impressive, I think to buy it, but can you tell me the height of the case, I will try to put it into Plane very thanks

[@grumpymikeguitar]

Hmmmm, at first, I didn't think I liked the gold flake in the black finish, but now, the more I look at it, the more I think I have to have it. Great!!! Like I really needed to spend over 2 grand on another guitar.

[@TerScott1]

Let me know when they have an American Ultra Telecaster but in the Nashville, 3 pickup version. Thanks.

[@fleezy2008]

I do like that it has the middle pickup position already routed and that the neck cavity can accommodate a humbucker. That it comes pre-upgradeable is a nice surprise.

[@bluesingmusic3443]

@@fleezy2008 you are correct. I thought the same thing when I saw the routing on the body.

[@nnalujim7848]

There is long waiting time for tele Texas tea finish. I ordered mine from GC in Nov. 27, and run thru many issues. First, I received display model that had few scratches, so I returned it in the same day, and specifically ask for New one non opened. I wasn’t in rush since I went to Europe for Christmas and New Year. I was so excited when I got email from GC that is ready for pick up. I finally got it on Jan. 4. The supposedly to be new guitar appeared to be in worse condition that previous one. Very visible Seam lines on the back and even on front, vertical cracks run above the pickguard. The box indicated few other GC addresses before ends up in my hands. No plastic covers on pickups, all tags attached to headstock dirty, scratches on the back. I still want this model but in new condition. I lost hope to get it from GC.

[@GregSummersMusic]

* Nnalujim this is common from GC and sad. One of the few places I don’t order guitars from. Will always drive to find a store to see it first hand. Sweetwater is my go to for online ordering of guitars.

[@bluesingmusic3443]

You can call Fender Musical instruments customer service about this. Their number is 800-856-9801 I've been dealing with them over 20 years. They're always helpful,& can probably solve your problem. They're on Pacific time, so if it 1pm on East Coast it's 10am there. Hoping this helps.🎶👌

[@milesaboveu]

That's why you don't buy shit from GC. Common knowledge.

[@Darm0k]

I don't normally like black guitars, but that finish looks pretty awesome.