It's Tele Thursday! Fender Player Series Telecaster

I looked at the Player Series Strat and the Mustang... not it's Tele time...
Yes, they might have setups issues and need some TLC, but the sounds and the playability is totally there!
Gear from this video at Sweetwater:
Fender player Series Telecaster
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"Make sure to pick up a digital copy of my entire discography, both published and unpublished, at www.therecordl..."

[@aitken1965]

The USA factory and the Mexican factory are within 100km of each other and regularly share parts and components as required. Your MIM Player series Tele shares about 80% of its components, materials, and QC with its made in USA counterparts. The MIM Fenders are excellent quality and excellent value.

[@rydera9121]

The Tele neck pickup is one of the most beautiful sounding things in the world

[@kraytkopacki4034]

Both pups tbh. On other guitars it doesnt make that much of diference what pup its on. But in the tele they are So much diferent

[@bl4454]

It’s my all time favorite guitar tone.

[@samtheman123]

Bridge pickup is also really great!

[@chase4116]

My favorite as well

[@canyonproductions7683]

Strat as well

[@Oilid]

Not my type to complain: I had a shitty day. BUT HENNING IS HERE TO SAVE IT!!!!! 💖💖💖

[@sansocie]

Hope it improves! Peace ✌

[@DMSProduktions]

He saves ALL our days!

[@LeviClay]

I'me with you man! The Tide Pool is the way to go! Would take one of those in a heartbeat!

[@spiketrademark1099]

Have one of these, bought it 3 weeks ago. Enjoyed the video. I don't have stability issues with the tuning, but that could very well be because I did my research, bought in a local shop and they did a beautiful job on quality control and setup, official dealer with full warranty. Really enjoy playing this guitar, would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a Telecaster. Makes no sense to go into the more expensive series, especially when you buy it in a good local shop that checks it for you. Great tips for upgrades in this video as well.

[@Philemmusic]

Hey Henning, you should totally make use of time markers in the timeline to your sections - would be lit as the younglings say

[@randyallshouse1996]

I have same tele he is demoing best guitar ever plays like no other ,great dirty tones great bright tones any one on the fence buy one cant go wrong

[@mojobag01]

I had a bit of work done on mine. Neck adjustment, new nut and 2 new string guides. Now I can't stop playing it and I'm a Les Paul addict.

[@crawltochina]

The bent steel saddles were there on the first models of the Player Series. On the Tele they found out that under some circumstances there were intonation problems. That’s why they changed the bridge saddles on the Player Tele.

[@Ottophil]

Also, now you don’t have height adjustment screws digging itno your palms. I’m a very hard and constant palm muter. Those bend saddles are junk. Ive swapped them in every guitar ive had

[@septoberenergy6542]

I bought this exact same guitar about a month ago and agree completely. It's a great guitar aside from not staying in tune very well. I will look into different tuners and a string tree. Thanks for those recommendations.

[@aphexlane]

I came for the review and stayed for the song. I really like your writing.

[@musicman7773]

Love the Players Series 👏

[@frankiec2765]

Yes the MIMS have come along way!

[@ricardobarron8081]

I bought a player start on sale for $525 plus tax. It was perfect. Love it.

[@frankiec2765]

@@ricardobarron8081 Congrats on your purchase!

[@luisescobedo7818]

@@ricardobarron8081 thats a steal, nice one

[@luisescobedo7818]

This guitar with the hot rod deluxe is so good

[@boomerbassmeme]

Well I didn't expect a hootenanny with Henning "grits" Pauly when I woke up this morning! Must be the tele...

[@terryenglish7132]

Its the Tele. It'll make you twang whether you want to or not. When ever I play one of mine I constantly must resist the TWANG. My God, its only one step removed from Chicken Pickin... Seriously w a Tele you can be Anybody Country of course, but Jimmy Page, Steve Cropper, or the excellent afore mentioned Mike Stern as well.

[@Fnnggjji]

I kept the string trees on mine but put in a graphtec nut and locking tuners. Since doing that my guitar is never out of tune, even if get crazy with the bends. Just a recommendation for anyone who wants to upgrade.

[@TheCodeMonk]

Staggered split tuners is what I went with and removed the string tree (I prefer the split tuners). No problems so far and much better tuning stability. Strings don't pop out on some normal bends I did to test (I don't get too crazy with the bends, but I do some.)

[@TropicalLatitude]

Those very cool happy pants are the star of the show!

[@BedeLaplume]

Thanks for the review Henning, I was looking for an affordable Tele and it seems this one will render those great classic tele tones with Brio..

[@DragisaBoca]

Seriously appreciate the honesty... That bad jazz playing earned my like!

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

I like Tele Thursday! Hope you're well Henning! Hi to your wonderful partner and mom ...and dogs and cats and friends and neighbors! 😎🎸🐦🤘

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

Have to add... Love listening to Hanna singing... that teach ROCKS!

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

Should also mention I have a Fender Modern Player Plus in a beautiful Honey Sunburst over Pine.. yes...Pine wood... it's a very interesting Tele that's more a Nashville set-up... have thought about putting better parts on it... but seems fine for now... and suggestions?

[@Johnny-mb9vy]

Thanks for the tip about asking for a setup, planning on ordering one soon

[@airport1961]

I totally agree with this review, I bought one on line 4 months ago, it really should of got sent back but I do love a challenge. Mine had a buzzing high E string and a wiring issue where it kept cutting out. I went about about sorting the nut at the same time of installing locking tuners. When removing the strings a piece of nut broke off ( that’s the buzzing e string explained). I ordered a Tusq replacement nut, fitted the tuners, sorted the wiring.....I then upgraded to Fender noiseless pickups, changed the string guide too and re strung with 9.5 gauge Ernie Balls. I now have a very nice Tele that is every bit as good to play as my USA Strat. I did all this 4 months ago, seems it’s a common issue. Oh....and the bent steel saddles that were mentioned at the beginning are no longer fitted as they were covering the holes where the strings come through the bridge. Fender apparently recalled the early ones to sort the issue. I put a set of Callaham saddles on mine that I found online for £30. Great review and no regrets about purchasing or upgrading.

[@dlong7146]

I really appreciate your honest review. It's rare on KZbin. I own the guitar and you are 100% correct. It's a good guitar as is. It's a great guitar with a graphtec nut and a set of Fender locking tuners.

[@topdog6742]

I just bought that Telecaster and it's fucking awesome! Look Dude, first off you'll want to do a setup on ANY new guitar PERIOD! I NEVER order a guitar online because whether it left the shop setup or not, it'll likely get out of whack in shipment anyway, and you'll be paying like $65 for a setup. Calling this an inexpensive guitar? I don't know....mine was about $800. I'd call that moderate price (not low end, not high end). Look, the guitars being assembled in Mexico are damn nice! They do great work down there unlike China! Bottom line this guitar stays in tune for the most part, and the tone is awesome, and frankly I played some other shit at the store the other day that was much higher end, and this Tele won the day for me. I took it home just yesterday and started playing it at about 1:30 pm and didn't stop until 2 am the following morning. I literally couldn't put it down for more than 30 minutes. I couldn't wait to get up this morning and I've been at it all day until about 30 minutes ago. I'll probably pick it back up in another 30 minutes. This guitar for $700-$799 is badass! I am so glad I added it to my collection. My PRS McCarty hung on the rack all day today and it's my favorite guitar that I play more than any of the others). Right now, today, this week.....this Telecaster is my favorite. Practically plays itself! (by the way, I put .08/.038 on it).

[@ColinStuart]

As I can no longer change my own strings (5 strokes), I've taught my wife to do it, to make it easier on her I'm thinking of buying some Wilkinson locking tuners!

[@EytschPi42]

good idea

[@rickyl9540]

I've had 2 tele's that wouldn't stay in tune because the nut is too high so when you fret the string it always makes it sharp. Jumbo frets will also affect tuning as the string is stretched if you press down too hard!

[@aitken1965]

I just finished replacing the tuners with vintage style slotted Gotohs (I think) and the bridge with a proper three-brass-saddle compensating model. NOW, it's a proper Telecaster!

[@BeerBenjamin]

Thank you for this video. Really useful and convinced me to get Player Telecaster. Upgraded the nut, string tree (both GraphTech) tuners (Fender locking vintage style) and bridge (Gotoh In Tune) as well as the pickups (Texas Special) and wiring loom. Beast! And actually better built than my 90s USA Strat...

[@frankiec2765]

Hahahahaha....."It's called the Telecaster"......Good afternoon Henning from NY! I think the Player Series Tele is a fairly good guitar for the pricepoint considering they now have Alnico pick ups (used to be ceramic), better pots, improved necks with polished headstocks and block saddles (as opposed to the cheap 3 saddle type the old MIM Teles had). Enjoyed the review, thanks Henning! :-)

[@ColinStuart]

Henning, I had a marvelous experience, with a Music Store (Germany) house brand Tele style guitar! J&D 3 color sunburst, with alnico V pickups, no skunkstripe, ashtray bridge (which fits my old Fender cover)! Strings through OR top loading! A highly figured neck (Maple fretboard)! It fits my hand beauitifly! If there was more that I'd wanted, I'd have to have gone to the Custom Shop! I feel very lucky indeed! The I'm not that much of a newbie, I've been making my living at playing, for 55 years! The cost (from a US vender) was $148!

[@Nasosdag]

I came for the review, stayed for the demo song! :O Thanks for both!

[@ArtDonna84]

ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR DEMO'S and YOUR REVIEWS

[@tomcat2292]

When Setup is done and it must be done after unboxing!You have a very good Fender Tele for the money. 👍

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

The willingness to set up your guitar may vary with the price (only over a certain price, like 500) is my experience. I do think, however, it would be nice when (big) webshops, like Th, Sw, And etc. would have a pricelist for things like replacing stringtrees, replacing tuners etc. Even up until a Peter Green mod on you Single Cut model. It would greatly enhance consumer satisfaction.

[@sansocie]

Anything over $500 should have locking tuners a good bridge and good electronics. Neck and frets need to work on every guitar. Getting a guitar with bad frets and bent neck is a bit like a car with square wheels and no steering wheel. But what do I know?

[@RaxFx]

afaik, Thomann offers such services in the Plek pakages see www.thomannmusic.com/plek_services.html

[@che2335]

Speaking your username makes hockers form in the back of my throat. Thanks for the vids and the loogies Shultzy!

[@Steven_SK]

I love my Players. Yes I did what you suggested to both and I need the Mustang for the hat trick. Good video Henning as usual. Thanks!

[@jorgesilva6454]

I have one Tele MIM Standard from 2013 and I ❤ the sound / playability of that guitar. Planning to buy the Strat Series and most of it because of your review of the Strat version. Thanks! 👍🤝👍

[@ArtDonna84]

You, Rich Bischoff and Anderton's are my "go to's" for guitar critic and reviews. Yes in that order!!! :)

[@dindin3394]

I bought the tidepool a year ago and I love it. It plays and sounds great. Also the tunners have a screw on top, if you tighten it a bit the guitar don't lose the tunning (mine at least doesn't).

[@robinkershaw]

Just got a player series telecaster and had tele Sunday. Cool guitar🙂

[@crawltochina]

Problem with the Player Series is the inconsistency. They generally aren’t setup but many of them have completely untreated fret ends, high frets, I even had two Player Strats here with truss rods that were not working, the nut was already stripped. Fender use very soft metal in the Mexico nuts which is a shame. I did not find a Player Strat that had no flaws. I had 5 of them here. I then bought an American Performer. I couldn’t stand the cheap a** QC in the Mexico models any longer.

[@jimmpanik3402]

always enjoy your videos

[@bohdankhmelnytsky9369]

A natural finish and it would be 👍🏻

[@mickwallingford3030]

Appreciate the honest review.

[@funkydoodycool]

My Player Tele, of the first batch, had bent steel saddles. You couldn't change strings because the body holes didn't line up with the holes in the saddles. It was a warranty "repair", with the saddles replaced with the ones you have there. I also used the same string tree, it's a lot nicer than stock, but mine is black. And for a laugh I installed some Fender locking tuners, mostly to save time with string changes.

[@WithStringedInstruments]

Excellent review. I have this same guitar and I agree with your assesment and suggestions for improvement.

[@sweettoof9002]

I have one of these in the white. I put a $35 3 brass saddle bridge and $45 locking tuners on it. Mine came with really sharp fret ends and a high fret, so it needed a fret level and some other fret work. Now it plays great and I think it’s the equal of the american special that costs $1000. Just expect to do some mods and a little work.

[@ZajoSTi]

Install a black pickguard and ashtray bridge and it will blind you with beauty.

[@23skidoo46]

you don't have to get Graphtech locking tuners. A set of Hipshots w/UMP or Gotoh's for half the price will work just fine and keep tune great.

[@cortviva69]

Awesome review, supported by really awesome tracks and very nice vocals!!!

[@necro5129]

Bought the tidepool tele last week, asked for locking tuners, new strings and a setup before I left. After seeing this I'm very glad I did, it's a great guitar

[@disaudio2431]

Really great review of the player tele! Thanks for your honesty in this review. I actually bought this guitar yesterday and echo your review that tuning stability is a problem with this guitar, but the meat and bones of the guitar are excellent. Will be swapping out the tuners for some fender locking machines in the near future. Cheers!

[@BoundaryElephant]

Those pants are a celebration of life.

[@VMX12k]

Just subscribed! Love the honesty, love the humour, great playing and hey at the push of a button JCM800! magic. Very cool, will stay subscribed!

[@shadowminer9439]

Amazing song at the begining!!!

[@chickenbites8877]

Amaizing guitars these player serfies!

[@dwainmcbain5263]

Mine was setup ok, I added a smidge more relief and adjusted pickup height. those were the obvious oversights on mine.

[@BoundaryElephant]

You guys jam! So cool.

[@TeeFetch]

Poster sticky tack putty shoved in the plastic switch tip/cap with a tooth pick and pressed onto the switch, the cap won't come off.

[@TommyDaleCooper]

Mine stays in tune with stock machine heads even while gigging after a year. I’ve never needed to change them.

[@superrookie-1]

Henning kinda has a tendency to compare to high end guitars without realizing, i could be wrong though

[@Thebluesguy]

I have had no tuning issues on my Players Tele, and locking tuners doesn’t help with that anyway. Locking tuners only make string changing easier/ faster

[@miguelruiz8183]

This dude has a soldano, marshals, oranges, heads dam man !!!!!!

[@superelectic45]

The string tree is exactly like my original '67 Fender, only the second tree for the G and D strings has a spacer

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Man, nice review. I wish you can review Michael Keilly guitars. They are really good.

[@coltoncowan9505]

Why doesn't this guy have more subs he's pretty cool😂👍 always like watching him

[@Spartanm333]

Really appreciate this - I was considering this guitar rather than an American but had seen mixed reviews about quality of this and that. Also some hate (too strong a word) from vintage purists over the modern touches. As a player and an expert reviewer not afraid to challenge the 'brand' lines, you have cut to the chase and blown a couple of myths in the process - excellent advice for the normal guy in the street. At the end of the day, you want a guitar that is stable and enjoyable to play, not a baseball bat that wont hold tune. At least I do. And I expected some mods and set-up out of the box so thank you Henning for the road map to get the guitar straight. Lastly, Robben Ford plays a Tele right? And he agrees with you on the strings Henning. :)

[@the_swoletariat1621]

If they had white blonde with a maple board, I would get the player, but I’m gonna eventually get the Nashville. I’ll get the fishman gristle tones, a fishman single coil, Schaller locking tuners, and.a graph tech nut. It’ll be $1,350 for the Nashville with all of that but it’ll be so versatile, unique, dependable, and (objectively) overall better.

[@idavidcrawford]

The Fender strings just don't stay in tune. I switched them out and stayed with 9's and tuning is spot on. I tried Ernie Ball and Elixirs and both stayed in tune well.

[@davidbarlow431]

Fender strings are better than they used to be but they still suck. I have zero tuning issues with my 08 MiM tele using D'Addario strings. All standard fittings except for Tex Mex pickups. So in short bin the strings then re-assess before shelling out on upgraded tuners.

[@ricekick]

subscribed! ive seen other guitar reviews out there, and ive enjoyed your videos way more. i just got a polar white player series myself and i do agree it does sound amazing, but the little changes you mentioned im gonna try to do them. specially the little metal thing by the 2 strings it drives me NUTS its not lined up. first thing i did change were the tuners, they had to goooo. locking tuners for the win!

[@zvirb]

It is not a Telecaster. It's a weird thingy with a strat style fixed bridge and tele pickups. But that thingy sounds right. So, it's a Telecaster.

[@restfulCube8035]

I'm getting in in black! You can't tell me what to do!

[@bendangzulupongen2408]

Hole, lubricate, Nutholes, slipstick hahahah... No ones gonna make the dirty jokes 😂

[@MatPearn]

Great episode and I just swapped an epiphone Sg for A TELECASTER in your most undesirable colour... Ps. What no black guitars?!?!

[@greggriffiths9053]

I live in Australia and the player telecaster is over $1000 and close to $2000 for a US telecaster just the way it is with exchange rates.Thats if you buy one new in store.

[@saarangnarayan123]

The 9s are at fault, too. I've found that 9s tend to want to go out of tune quicker on Teles than anything else.

[@davidg4726]

Amazing Playing!!! Great Review! 🤘

[@GrzegorzWronkowski]

Just change strings for Ernie Ball 9-42 and it will stay in tune. Tested on my Affinity Squier twice.

[@kimdecell2564]

good video good playing love my tele ,nice pajamas

[@EstelonAgarwaen]

honestly my player strat stays in tune fine. its stock besides some ernie ball strings.

[@PabloGardening]

Same mine is ultra stable

[@edwinwise6751]

He’s right it s an incredible guitar … regardless of price …. However I have had fret problem ,breaking high e s 30 seconds into a song. Not sure wether to send it back or get frets polished.. I have looked at a bunch of these …many have fret issues

[@scampthelazycat9891]

Henning I know the video is about the guitar......but that girl !!!!! oh Man !!

[@jimcamp2423]

That string tree just looks like it has no stem to it, missing the trunk of the tree as it were. That's why it's so low. Really want that Tone King Sky King amp. Who am I kidding the Falcon or Falcon Grande is nice enough and would make a Squier Bullet or Affinity Telecaster sound fine for my tastes.

[@simonsmith2642]

Is the fretboard rolled? I must have that…. I need a beater to play in the living room katana. Something i dont care if it gets scratched or falls over. These sell used for like 700USD today, with shipping. But it sounds good. I love my Broadcaster but its expensive I dont want it out to get knocked around.

[@bucketofnoises7810]

that string tree looks the same as in my Richie Kotzen signature tele, which costs about 2K. I don't think they wanted to save money, it's how they do it.

[@Alfredo78666]

Henning "Lately Defensive Not Eating Pedal Unbiased" Pauly

[@chunkychoncc91]

I think you are reading from the wrong specs sheet, tele has "String-through-body bridge with block steel saddles" , bent steel saddles are in player strats

[@EytschPi42]

that’s what was weird!

[@arialiemeru9129]

Dolphins dont have scales!!🤔

[@PooNinja]

21:41 mmm chicken Pickin with a chicken pick 👍🏽

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

Kinda Hen-pick-ing 😉

[@sansocie]

Wonderful!!!

[@ResoBridge]

The saddle intonation positions look a bit suspect. Modern C - is that the profile that gets slightly asymmetric around the 12th fret area? I think the Player series guitars are really, really good.

[@brandonthompson8413]

Stock tuners are totally fine. Just need to lube the nut well and put some fresh strings on it. I also put the GraphTech tree on mine and have 0 tuning stability issues. I am going to get a set of the fender locking tuners just simply for the ease of string changes. Thinking about possibly doing a pickup swap as well to the Twisted Tele Set. I got the Butterscotch one. It is an outstanding guitar for the money.

[@normanjam5452]

Love your pijamas

[@tomcat2292]

my player setup was a shame. But after good setup you have a great guitar 👍.

[@mightylovebomb]

so I took a look at this review. Thanks :-) - But where can I buy this slipstick in Germany or do you know an alternative product?

[@RaxFx]

Plek, Plek, Plek.. I'm Pleking as fast as I can!!!

[@alexzander907]

i know i want a tele but havent a clue on the colour, imma be here a while

[@kiiroMADE]

Can you tell thomann to sell the visio mounting plates that go on fenders? They sell their tuners but if you have a fender, get out the drill...

[@Dude_Guyman]

For the price.......I'd just buy four or five Monoprice "Telles" and upgrade them all to a level that surpasses the Fender with the leftover money.

[@NisseHesedingMusic]

I never had tuning instability with these tuners on my mexican standard Tele. Strange.

[@ryanspencerlauderdale687]

I’m sorry, Fender. $700 is way too high a price for a guitar that needs as much TLC as these need. I will be buying used.

[@MrDream-zm1pw]

I’ve bought a MIM 2014 strat for $200 and a 2007 American Deluxe Strat w/ case in great/minty condition for $375. You gotta shop around man !

[@mauriziocampese8577]

Hallo there Henning, thank you for the review, what about the frets? My Tele was Horrible, full of tool marks, frets sprout and not polished, my squire that costed less than half was perfect! Found that very disappointing, how was the one you tested? Btw really enjoy the work you do! Mfg Maurizio