Reverend Gristle Master vs Fender Custom Shop Tele's

In this video, I compare the Reverend Gristle Master to 3 Fender Custom Shop Telecasters. The Reverend Gristle Master is less than half the price of a custom shop Tele, can it compete? The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[@brubakersflatcakes9755]

I recently traded some gear in for a 1988 American Standard Telecaster in Sumburst. It happened to be loaded with the Fishman Fluence Tele set. I had no idea what they were. I feel like I hit the lotto with this one. I love the pups and the guitar itself is killer. Ironically, I part of my trade was a Reverend Sensei. The Gristle Master seems like a winner.

[@denismguitar1552]

For $1600 and baked maple neck, locking tuners, treble bleed circuit, noiseless, I’d take that Reverend all day any day!

[@johnl.6930]

Great playing! Thanks for sharing!✌️❤️

[@richardelson3261]

They all sound great and nice playing. I have pretty much the same CS Teles and a Gristle Master. Gristle Master offers more flexibility and easier to shred if you want with that flat 10-14 radius

[@jorisev]

It's amazing how subjective tone can be. Everyone here seems to like the 52, but I definitely prefer the sound of the Esquire. Those Fishman pickups seem to have more output than all the Fenders. Great video by the way!

[@TheStudioRats]

The Esquire is my go to. Thanks for your comment.

[@cliftontorrence839]

I simply adore how each of the four guitars attract us with their own beauty and singular voices. Keepers all ! However, since Blucifer arrived, I've gone from 9 to 4 guitars over the year of covid.

[@rsaragosa]

Well done Paul great video as always. I thought the differences would be more than what I heard they seem to be similar with some subtle differences. I think I like the sound of the pink Tele the best it really sounds good. The Reverend has a more as you said modern tone but it sounds really good and when the boost is engaged it has a gritty tone that the other guitars don't have. I just recently bought my first Reverend guitar and the sound is taking a little getting use to but the playability and feel of this guitar for the money is just crazy good.

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Ruben, thanks for the comment. Yes I agree they are similar. I think the reverend held up against the fenders well.

[@paulanderson6511]

A tele is my next (and my wife hopes my last...) guitar. My last guitar was to fill the P90 need and it was a Reverend Contender 290. I must say it's brilliant. I wouldn't hesitate with a Reverend Gristle Master after watching this. Especially saving $1500...

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Paul there’s always room for one more.

[@mike_aiton]

I saw Greg spank his Gristlemeister in Putney - oh what pure musical joy. One of the most fun gigs I have ever seen. If it’s good enough for him.......

[@user-tv6in5mn5j]

Fender 62, and esquire is best in this video, imho they have more tele sounding, but and reverend is not bad, bassy, fat and fuller than rest teles. I'd try reverend. Thnx for vid comparison

[@Dor_Cohen1]

That 59 is crazy, loved it the most. 52 is great too

[@finishin.my.coffee8780]

Do the Fishman sc's have that touch sensitivity, like the guitar almost plays itself?

[@surrogatesdan4460]

When did they make that awesome blue color?

[@tjjr1062]

62 for the win. They all sound good.

[@billgreen3629]

I came trying to talk myself into a Gristlemaster. Now I want that '52.

[@TheStudioRats]

Yeah I love that 52.

[@keatonfletcher4764]

I know I am pretty off topic but does anybody know of a good website to watch newly released movies online ?

[@keatonjoey3543]

@Keaton Fletcher I use flixzone. You can find it by googling =)

[@kingsleyorion2870]

@Keaton Joey Definitely, I have been using FlixZone for years myself :D

[@keatonfletcher4764]

@Keaton Joey Thanks, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) Appreciate it!

[@jimhova]

I saw somewhere that Greg himself said the Gristlemaster is not as good in some respects as his favorite teles but is plenty good to tour with and more flexible with the 2 different sounds.

[@jayceburns8246]

Ultimately most audible differences between them could be compensated for by adjusting the guitars knobs, amp or pedal knobs. Do you think that it "speaks" or responds faster or different with the Fishman pickups as I have seen claimed?

[@jayceburns8246]

I love that it is "noiseless" and has the 2 different tones! And I have become a fan of roasted necks and compound radius - not to mention it has a chambered body! Haven't played one yet, though.

[@TheStudioRats]

I haven’t noticed any response difference, its a much hotter output guitar than my other Tele’s.

[@robertmarshall2394]

Have to say, I love that 52 Tele. Still think it has the edge on the Reverend, but for the money, it certainly competes. I may be on my own but there's something about the 60ch that appeals to me with single coils. Great video Paul.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Robert.

[@TheOldFlyguy]

They all sounded great. The only thing on this recording is the Gristle is more Bassey. I don 't know if that is a good or bad thing without hearing it live. They highs don't seem as glassy either which again can be a good thing. Certainly great for the money.

[@nige99]

You can pick them Reverends up now for 950 uk pounds second hand . .I had a gristle 90 that was cool if you liked tuning it up every few minutes bigsby bad idea but was very nice guitar.....might get a gristlemaster now tho ....where did you get that one from in the states as I'm after a sunburst one really

[@marcmoldowan4616]

I’ll take the pink tele….. that one sounds the sweetest

[@user-tv6in5mn5j]

Reverend sound more powerfull and fuller. Like it.

[@elevenAD]

cant believe i prefer the Reverend!

[@frankvanheck8905]

Nice Tele's but I would take the Reverend anytime. Maybe you can hear a 1500 dollar difference but I can't.

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Frank, I agree I think the Gristlemaster is really good and definitely competes with the fenders.

[@JorgeSanchez-fg5ef]

The pink one my favorite!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Jorge, it’s definitely got a smoother tone.

[@robertprice5039]

I am still keeping my Fenders and Gretsches for recording, but live I am using my Reverends exclusively.

[@paulzodiacxl4238]

Hi Paul. Couple of questions. How heavy is the Gristlemaster compared to the other Teles? Also, how do you set the tone on your Tele when building your patches, eg full out, 70% etc. Really enjoying your preset pack btw.

[@TheStudioRats]

Hey Paul. Always 100% on the vol and tone. The gristle is chambered so it’s roughly 7lbs

[@paulzodiacxl4238]

Cheers Paul!

[@martinearnshaw]

The pink one rules for me

[@TheStudioRats]

That pink tele seems to be getting a lot of love from this video.

[@lardwinhenriquez9571]

Reverend 👍🏾

[@blankblank7101]

Not a huge difference in tone. Nice comparison and thank you for playing the same thing on every guitar one after another rather than playing a bunch of stuff before switching guitars.

[@TheStudioRats]

No problem!

[@MaPa60]

I liked it, and I own 2 Reverend's already. It didn't quite have the twang and the sweet top end snap of the Fender tele's though. It had a little more strat sound to it, not far from the Fender Player series. So, it's hard for one who already have strats and teles, as it sits a little in between. Looks great, though!

[@joshbabbitt9243]

Gotta ask...what bridge and neck pickups were in the '59 CS Esquire? I must know

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Josh, The neck is a Seymour duncan vintage, the bridge is the one it came with I’m afraid I dont know.

[@kmichaelp4508]

Yep... the reverend does have a more modern sound because of the humbuckers . But I like the sound. I’m not a humbucker person but they got it right. Fishman is really stepping up and blowing out a lot of p/u manufacturers lately. I would definitely buy it!🤐

[@TheStudioRats]

Nice one cheers for the comment Mike.

[@kmichaelp4508]

The Studio Rats , oh yeah! Congrats on the upcoming 8K!!!! You guys have some of the best video content out there.🤐

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks Mike it’s a long slog but we are slowly getting there.

[@cliftontorrence839]

The cases are standard with Reverend guitars. And my 'Blucifer' Gristlemaster just kills. Love your show, mate. Oh, and forgot, the body is Korina. Probably one piece. Very light @ 6.91 lbs. And to steal a phrase : 'For $1600 and baked maple neck, locking tuners, treble bleed circuit, noiseless, I’d take that Reverend all day any day!'

[@campingcomedian]

They don’t come with a case or even a gig bag. I just got mine yesterday.

[@cliftontorrence839]

@@campingcomedian It's your source and/or your pricing. Mine came with the same case as Paul's. Wildwood even did a fantastic set up job and it was in tune right out of the case. Cheers

[@ricktangora9413]

Same here. I’m in the US, and no case with the Reverend.

[@tman6495]

Smoother attack on the 52...and over all tone. (Headphones)

[@baronvonchickenpants6564]

I need a tele

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Baron Von

[@Deliquescentinsight]

to be brutally objective, there is not a whole universe of difference between the sound of these guitars, the Reverend has a definite boost with the Fishman button; I guess it is down to individual taste and how they each feel to you.

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Michael, to me there is a difference between all of the tele’ the pink 52 sounds more woody, the 59 Esquire is bright, the blue 62 is has more mid punch. But yes as you say the Reverend has the boost. Thanks for the comment.

[@voiceofexperience]

I'll have the '62 if nobody else wants it...

[@elbass0]

The Reverend seems to be only slightly cheaper than the Fender American Ultra series. Those have noiseless pickups and the S1 switch. Great neck profile as well. Any particular reason why you didn't go for the Ultra?

[@TheStudioRats]

Hey Justin. No particular reason apart from I wanted the fishman fluence pickups, I’ll check out the Ultra, thanks for the tip.

[@clemadin]

@@TheStudioRats Hello there :) Is there something new about that? I'm right in the middle of those two... Noiseless V4 VS Fluence, hard to find any clear information...

[@alis634]

Reverend sounds more "modern" and fat, a bit less twangy overall (korina body + modern pups). Custom shop teles have a bit more acoustic sound. I love the old tele tone more but for versatility probably reverend is better.

[@majormal1]

All the Teles sound better to my ears. They got that tele bite. The 52 is butter.

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks for the comment majormal1, that 52 tele has been getting some love from this video. Best Paul

[@lukerabin5079]

If you’re in the UK, you can’t get 60hz hum. You operate on 50hz, like the rest of the civilised world.

[@edcherry9282]

The gristlemaster has more high end and output than the custom shop ( funny how you go right out of the box to an overdriven sound..I like to hear the clean sounds first,thats where for me, i can hear tonal differences straight away)...I own both..I think the neck profile between fender and gristlemaster is like night and day..the Reverend takes some getting used to..fretboard seems more flat than the fenders. They look similar but that's where the similarity ends..

[@terminatorx2545]

The fenders blow that thing away

[@sooparticular]

they better at 5k

[@slimturnpike]

The Fishmans sound more like HBs then SCs.

[@sooparticular]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.....hmnnnn

[@garyvancamp3115]

Where is that buzz coming from ????