This Tele Has a Hidden Pickup! | 2020 Fender Brad Paisley Signature Esquire "Secret Agent" | Review

[@Trog]

Brad's new Esquire is pretty cool! It has enough special features to make it pretty interesting as well 🔴Buy Mine on Reverb: reverb.com/shop/troglys?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly ❓Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/ 🎸New Guitar Day Program: troglysguitarshow.com/ngd/

[@rondobondo6600]

Awesome Brad Paisley telecaster

[@douglasmiranda9986]

you gotta check out the first action garage master that was given to anyone who bought a Volkswagen in the early 2000s

[@partyboy101games3]

@@douglasmiranda9986 ive head of that. lol

[@DDE_ADDICT]

early teles were pine close to spruce

[@hkguitar1984]

A pretty cool guitar, glad it has a real lacquer finish. Great review, thank you.

[@scoobers90]

Trogly, I know you're a Gibson guy but I recommend digging into 50s and 60s Fender history. Some fascinating stuff.

[@joshualessore7652]

especially considering Les Paul was gonna work with Leo Fender if he wasn't so devoted to the gibson company despite the fact they kept shitting on him

[@erickleefeld4883]

Leo and Les knew each other socially, as part of the guitar scene out in California. Leo sent Les an early Broadcaster/Telecaster, hoping to land him as an endorsing artist - but Les wanted something more elegant.

[@EFRANEED]

This

[@VodkaSelekta]

@@joshualessore7652 Gibson - Shitting on people since the very beggining.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

@@VodkaSelekta Huh? Making amazing guitars is shitting on people? 🤔🤷🏼‍♂️

[@petercfraedrich]

My guess is they needed something harder to go around the paulownia; while its very light its also a very soft wood, capping with spruce or maple would help protect it from dings and whatnot. also, paulownia is a very porous grain and capping it with a closed grain would help keep the finish from being absorbed too much.

[@hkguitar1984]

Agreed, much easier to apply a finish like this on the Spruce.

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

@@hkguitar1984 Guitar Mill makes Paulownia bodies and the have a hard wood insert option for the screw holes.

[@jrjones6334]

I just got this guitar, an definitely wasn't expecting how lightweight it is,

[@DylanKarbo]

Would be better without the relicing.

[@tball5677]

The relic ruins it

[@Hickeroar]

@@隠れた I don't like this relic job because it's one of the most horrible, lazy relic jobs I've ever seen. It's just a shiny new guitar that has the paint sanded off it in a couple spots. I can respect a well done relic job. This is just...the absolute worst.

[@mightyV444]

@@隠れた - "Relic sells more than non relic"? Really?! I'd seriously doubt that just looking at all the Dislikes in the comments! And there's definitely no one writing "Wow, I LOVE that amazing relic job!" either 😄

[@A_A_ron-Phillips]

Relic sucks. Such a stupid fad. Yes, that’s just my opinion.

[@RoboSteave]

Let me jump on this bandwagon. I don't want to buy a new guitar that looks old and worn. Even less do I want to buy one that looks like somebody tried to make it look that way. Just not for me.

[@cre8alotdesignjohnaydelott770]

I actually really like this guitar

[@jerodjmoore]

It is a phenomenal guitar.... Found one on clearance when I was put near Buffalo NY.... But I was on my motorcycle... Silver sparkle one...guy was getting a divorce.... 500 😭

[@riddled9655]

@@jerodjmoore kk$

[@cre8alotdesignjohnaydelott770]

Jerod Moore For that price I would take a electric sander to it and relic some more.

[@Raque2]

almost the only channel that i watch EVERYday

[@Astro_-im2jl]

Ya same I never miss an upload

[@rondobondo6600]

Me too 😹😊 it's a awesome channel 🙂🤣

[@landonbailey]

so you don't watch it every day right?

[@scooter2873]

@@landonbailey HA HA CHECKING UP ON YOUR NEMISIS EH!!????!!!!

[@scooter2873]

LOL JEALOUS MUCH !!!! this is why I Don't watch you anymore!

[@Astro_-im2jl]

I love the green screen of the field in the back nice touch

[@landonbailey]

Spruce Springsteen

[@DennisJPolson]

😂 Landon!

[@porcelainthunder2213]

Paulonia is a fast-growing asian tree (native to china and surrounding contries) it is HIGHLY invasive in the US, and was once brought here as a lumber crop tree when it escaped into the wild. It is characterized by its large leaves and purple flowers in the spring. It looks somewhat like ash, but It is most closely comparible to Eastern White Pine, as it is not dense or heavy (it is classified as a softwood). Its often used for trim mouldings, siding, and some furniture. But it is lighter than pine. Its is the second lightest wood after balsa. Be careful with the screw holes, they easily strip with paulonia because it is so soft.

[@bobstigler]

Wikipedia rules!

[@porcelainthunder2213]

@@bobstigler no wikipedia used. Just familiar with the trees.

[@kurosumomo]

​@@porcelainthunder2213 you're missing a "w' there in the name. Paulownia.

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

its also a tone sponge. Doesn't sound good at all.

[@porcelainthunder2213]

@@kurosumomo yep. You are correct

[@christaylor7332]

Forgot to mention that I’ve been getting some great tones from the secret agent pick up. If the guitar’s plugged in directly it can be a lot lower in output but using some fx it gives you a great Strat tone. I would not lower the bridge pick up because it’s nasty the way it is mmm mmm good. Check it out.

[@eddiejr540]

One of the best necks I ever felt was a soft-v on an Eric Johnson strat...it was fantastically comfy!!!

[@terrycoyle9791]

the silver sparkle was an ode to the great Don Rich!! and Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. and nothing beats the sound of twin guitars especially Tele's thanks I was looking to buy...

[@imnotfishing]

I’ve had the original silver model since it came out and used it 5 nights a week at my gig in Naples. ( till it was cancelled back in March) I replaced the pots with Emerson stuff , put on a Glaser bridge, changed out the pick guard for a clear one and had the frets leveled. PROS: light weight, great fat neck, excellent pickups. CONS: volume and tone pots. I found this to be the best gigging guitar for covering a lot of styles and being comfortable. The light weight is really great and neck dive not an issue. I also had to replace the input jack because it wouldn’t work with my right angle wireless unit. I was really interested in this one but not after seeing this. You really can’t use these professionally unless you do about $500 worth of upgrades. Thanks for the review Austin. You just saved me about 2k.

[@Wargasm644]

It’s a shame that sparkle top is destroyed with that cheesy relic’d finish. When Brad Paisley got his new was it worn too? So many nice guitars ruined with this silly fad. Unfortunately, doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon. Is there a “non relic” model available for us that don’t dig on cheesiness?

[@TK-fk4po]

I like the light relicing and dings and such but I don’t like the very obviously sanded edge where your right elbow rests. That just looks completely fake. I see some custom shop models that get a relic job looking pretty realistic but these lower end models never get it right.

[@Wargasm644]

@@TK-fk4po lower end at 1400$ nonetheless

[@TK-fk4po]

@@Wargasm644 Seriously. For MIM.

[@drzecelectric4302]

Actually he bought his and it was painted black with the finish coming off and to his surprise a paisley finish poking through. So yes it looked worn like that when he got it.

[@Wargasm644]

@@drzecelectric4302 interesting. But at least that’s a real “story” and not a fake relic job.

[@hvincent5854]

I love Esquires for their sound and simplicity. The sound of the bridge pickup and the electro socket are about the only things I like about this guitar.

[@jefferson4245]

I grew up in the 90s when glitter and sparkle finishes were ultra popular, so I always dug the silver sparkle. I always think of the Fender promo video of the GoT guitars that had Brad Paisley, Scott Ian, Tom Morello, and Nuno Bettencourt, and Brad really holds his own with those shredders. Rhett Schull did a video a couple of weeks ago that talked about the different tone single PU guitars.

[@jfinester]

Brad’s a terrific player.

[@patrickbrown8540]

He didn’t hold his own, he stole the show!

[@BLeeMuller]

I really like this guitar but I can't spend almost $1500 on a mexico tele

[@ak47dragunov]

And people wonder why buyers look to China

[@charlesbolton8471]

I haven’t played one of these yet, but I bought the Brad Paisley signature Tele the week it was released in 2017 and it is worth every penny that it cost. It is the best sounding Tele I’ve ever owned. It has the best neck of any Fender guitar I’ve ever played and I’ve been playing Fenders since the late 80s. I’ve been waiting for my local Fender dealer to be able to get one of these since they were announced, but they haven’t been available. I actually bought the Seymour Duncan Secret Agent pickup when they first released it, and I have it in an Esquire copy. Although, I don’t dislike the Secret Agent pickup I think I like the Twisted Tele neck pickup in signature Tele better. So for me the reason to buy one of these is the black sparkle finish which I think I would like a little better (but I do love the silver sparkle which looks so much better in person than it does in pictures or videos and the same is probably true of this one). The two Brad Paisley signature Fenders are definitely not for everyone, but every one I’ve talked to who has one (and most people who have played them) feel the same way about them as I do.

[@showtime3162]

Yeah I agree with that, it comes down to how well it plays and sounds for me to see if it’s worth the price.

[@TeiasDoMultiverso]

Here in Brazil a jim root mexican are 16 to 20 k, my dream if it was only 1500 lol

[@monstrok]

The new overhead light really helps with the color and other visual features (like sparkles) for the reviewed guitars. Great decision on the installation!

[@danjudson5661]

The top part missing the paint doesn’t look like a relic it just looks weird and fake

[@mariodriessen9740]

Absolutely. I like a 'natural' reliced look, but this is ridiculous and, indeed, screaming fake. I used to work in a vintage guitar shop and I've seen countless old guitars, but literally none of them were missing such idiotic huge chips of paint.

[@DaniSutarz]

I just got one not too long ago, and the neck is definitely gummy initially. After playing it everyday for a week I can definitely agree that it takes a bit to break it in and bending was a bit rough. Now it's absolutely effortless and I'm so stoked that I bought this. Great review buddy!

[@scarletbond2716]

I love it but the price? Wish there was a none reliced option

[@kampfkustomer2343]

Now this is pretty neat. I liked the silver Paisley teles I tried. Pauwlonia is a good sounding body wood.

[@AgressiveElevatorMusic]

Oof. That neck pickup definitely isn’t doing it for me. My favorite teles have humbuckers in the neck so I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum

[@duanewelsh5611]

Pawlonia is very soft, dents easily. That's probably why they sandwiched it. I have a custom built Tele all pawlonia body weighs nothing even with a bigsby.

[@shanedeel2]

I’m not a country fan but I saw a brad paisley concert at Charlotte motor speedway and he was one of the best guitarist I’ve ever seen!

[@finoroverato7640]

That Duncan neck pickup is the one nashville pickers use for a middle pickup. Legendary Guitar luthier Joe Glaser does that mod on 3 pickup tele’s

[@christaylor7332]

Bought one a couple of months ago at a decent discount. Can’t point to any one aspect that I can attribute to the fact that I love playing it. Swapped out the pick guard and smoothed the back of the neck. Try it with an AC style amp and some boost. BTW you can’t see the goofy relic spot under your are when you’re playing ; )

[@goosegaskins]

You still digging it?

[@christaylor7332]

@@goosegaskins Yep. That bridge pup is great, body is light and I love the old school neck.

[@goosegaskins]

@@christaylor7332 Excellent, thanks for the reply! And how about that neck pup?

[@bwaters23]

@@goosegaskins I like it. Adds a couple of very useful tones. Quite different from the bridge.

[@goosegaskins]

Cool, thanks!

[@phillippitts6294]

I like fenders a lot . You couldn’t give me one with that neck pickup. And I love Seymour Duncan’s. ☠️☠️☠️👍🏼

[@rosieotis]

Wish Fender would consider stepping up the gigbags on these nicer MX models. Thinking like G&L and PRS .....

[@gkott78]

Just bought mine. In the past year I found that I am a Tele guy. I bought an American Pro II, a Vintera Road Worn 70s deluxe, a Limited Edition Player, and this one. I did actually buy a Jimmy page Dragon, but I got a dud. The frets were terrible so I returned it. I own Gibson Les Pauls, PRS guitars and Strats.... but after 20 years of playing I found my "home" in Tele's. Well and this Esquire.

[@warren8464]

I've just tried this guitar today in a shop, really liked it, very inspiring, nice acoustical tone. Charming instrument.

[@nixternal]

This is one of just a handful of signature guitars I've been interested in. Nice little review!

[@cosminpetruescu520]

Ever since I have heard of this guitar, I wanted to know how they had that hidden pickup installed. I had search a long time for someone to open it up, and you’ve done it. Thank u

[@buddyholly9960]

I only know these guitars cause of lutherer Perkins

[@paniccleo]

Very attractive guitar. I found it funny that they aged the ferrules but the neck plate looks brand new.

[@Adamantiummonke]

Hi Trogly Im trying to find a Janick Gers (Iron Maiden) guitar is there one and can it be brought, Cheers.

[@silverpairaducks]

Google is a thing

[@missmymountain]

There was a time in the late 80s/early 90s when I could sell a Paulownia (whole tree) for $8,000. The craze only lasted a few years but made me a good bit of pocket change. These trees were sold (not for instrument making that I know of) and shipped overseas for some type of Japanese bridal gift. It's interesting to hear that the wood is also used for instruments. Maybe someone will come back by to buy some more from me, lol.

[@xanderraymondcharles]

LETS GOOOO!!!! best part of the dayyy

[@przemyslaw1235]

☺️nice to see you👍👌

[@buddyholly9960]

Stay metal Ray do you like Luther Perkins and if so what do you think of his guitar playing in Johnny Cash's band

[@jacobbockover1628]

Before truss rods a v shape helped compensate for the string tension

[@PastelComGini]

More recently it is used as body material for low-cost electric guitars, as the core for lightweight touring skis, and for surfboard cores. It is used in guitars as the core body, then laminated under a more durable wood. (from wikipedia)

[@paulrogers6037]

Buying a relic guitar is like buying a new car that's already been dented.

[@clarkbabin9799]

At that price it should have a hard case. I'm not a Paisley fan but this guitar looks and sounds awesome. Would love to see them do a Harley Davidson inspired guitar.

[@ryan_riffs]

I bought a Cort guitar from the early 2000's from my local pawn shop that has a V shaped neck and I freakin love that neck shape. Wish it was more common.

[@billnelson9413]

G.E. Smith says that light bodies with heavy necks are the secret to the best sounding Telecasters because of how the neck pulls the strings to resonate so you want it to be neck heavy. It makes no difference if you wear your guitar a bit a higher like I do.

[@espcarolkinder]

Brad was born & raised about 20 mins south of me, less than a 5 hour drive from Trogly. The street he grew up on is of course named after him now. One of his first guitar makers still makes paisley guitars….crookcustomguitars.com. Roger Hoard does demos for Bill Crook-he was one of Brad’s first influences. Tiny Glen Dale, WV is first known for Brad, and then for being a major speed trap!

[@steveisolis]

Could you swap out the neck pickup with a regular tele pickup?

[@bigmikeyz0071]

The bridge pu is designed specifically for Fender BP models. It’s based on a 60's vintage and the BP tele has a cs twisted tele neck pu. I personally love the twisted tele neck pick up. I also got a Mason b bender tele with Seymour Duncan’s it’s a bit more versatile. I got a great deal on my BP tele and the shop threw in a tweed case. Prs is doing gig bags on silver skys. its a like a 300 upcharge for a hard shell. Lol I didn’t know what model the BP was I just liked the silver sparkle, light weight, and how it played.

[@TeleCathster]

Perfect timing! I’ve been looking at esquires. Couldn’t understand when I read the Fender specs that this had a neck pickup. Thought it was a copy/paste error!!

[@lalumieredumonde]

They crack the finish with huge and quick temperature changes.

[@appetiteforguitar]

Just tried one of these... feels lovely to play and sounds amazing. Good chunky neck. The one I played had broken in strings and felt really easy and forgiving. Very nice... had never heard of Brad Paisley before trying this, so no bias! Definitely on my short list now though...

[@willhutton5791]

Please review a Jim root signature.

[@xy9394]

I think the electro socket output jack is also a great improvement(no mentioned), along with the other features, the best fender guitar I’ve ever owned….of course I had to replace the pick-guard.

[@powbobs]

I much prefer my silver one. It sounds amazing.

[@midsalazar1]

I have the original (silver) BP Tele. In addition to the light weight from the woods used, it has more resonance and makes for a better unplugged playing experience than other electrics I’ve played.

[@santrixhimself3679]

Hidden neck pickup looks dope at least

[@showtime3162]

I wanna see him do a comparison with harley benton, they even do stainless steel frets I believe. Cant ignore them for the price.

[@killainmaccallan4700]

I made this Harley Benton strat kit, love it. Good player

[@jeffmartinez6073]

It looks like you enjoy playing this guitar. Playing and spending time is what it's all about. My #1 is a Tele with Broadcaster wiring. Hours sometimes go by and to me it feels like 20 min.

[@TheGhostGuitars]

Thanks, I was looking for the specs on the neck pickup. I'm building a 2007 Japanese Standard Stratocaster 1H and was thinking of using adding this neck pup which actually sounds very similar to the Hot Stack Strat (and also looks nearly identical), probably due to it's greater distance from the strings it's a bit more tamer than expected from a Hot Stack Strat but is still usable! Thanks for the tip on dropping the bridge to balance the two pups, I will also do the same on my guitar!

[@alexandrechamberland5790]

I thought it was a dummy coil :(

[@gorlagOv]

Its pickups sound good. I want them to do an American one that isn’t “aged”.

[@youkronify]

That was the point. Brad wanted to put it directly into the hands of the musicians to make them their own. Without them costing a fortune. So there won’t be an American version.

[@NightProductionsDK]

@@guitarocd9984 rosewood telecaster?

[@NightProductionsDK]

@@guitarocd9984 shame. My personal dream instrument, wonder who my favourite guitarist is

[@gorlagOv]

@@youkronify you can buy a new American made Tele or esquire for 2k. 500 dollars more. I’m not asking for a custom shop model. I don’t like aging I like to do that myself. From playing. That’s all I am saying.

[@terrypussypower]

@@guitarocd9984 George Harrison played a beautiful all rosewood Tele on the Apple roof gig. Never heard of him playing it much after that, so maybe it looked better than it played.

[@marklund9]

With a $1400 price tag I'd expect a hardshell case, Gibson has been doing the same thing lately!

[@bryantwalley]

I was curious about that also and found out that they were doing the soft cases because many people were not using the case and did not have a place to keep it.

[@sidiox7857]

Esquires are the best!

[@Guilhem74]

Totally!

[@powbobs]

Crook Custom Telecasters are made of paulonia. The spruce caps are there for protection and secure screwing. Paulonia is almost like balsa wood.

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

I played the Silver one and ‘got it’ once I plugged it in. It’s his sound. Just not his guitar. We all know Crook is his guy and if I’m getting a Paisley signature..it better have a G-bender. With that said, I’m inspired to do a vintage build of my. Maybe even using a cheap used ‘Vintage’ brand guitar as my base.

[@mightyV444]

"I wanna see the sandwich inside the body" 😄 The "phone number on the pick-up" joke was a good one, too! 😁

[@MakewithJosh]

You should send it back, the paint looks worn off in places. Scarcasm warning: Yes I know its meant to be like that. I just don't understand it, new things should look new, old things earn their patina.

[@MakewithJosh]

@@CaptainCraigKWMRZ Just doesn't make sense

[@teslapete4461]

it's tougher to bend and play because you're used to playing lower tension Gibson's with a shorter scale length. :)

[@lance134679]

I've been looking forward to this. I don't get to try a lot of guitars, but I did get to try the silver BP Tele - it played and sounded great, very traditional, lightweight, easy to play. I didn't really dig its look, however. I like the black sparkle a lot more, and I know the pickups will be great. I did notice in the silver guitar that the neck pickup was also a bit quieter than the bridge. Thanks for the demo.

[@shanewalton8888]

Great video! I love when Austin showcases cool guitars instead of all those "Sue Authentic" models.

[@patrickkeenan6331]

The V neck was, in fact, a design used before the invention of the truss rod, as it provided rigidity for the soft woods used to make the necks, not because your "hand is a V shape"....

[@kiltymacbagpipe]

Nice finish. I’m a sucker for a glitter finish and the pick guard sets it off nicely.

[@antonyyuryev9750]

This neck agent* is for situation when you're playing in to driven amp and on a bridge you have a nice girth and when switch it to the neck position - this thing became cleaner and less mud in comparation with you standart neck PU's

[@PeterSz73]

So this can be duplicated on any telecasters by just lowering the neck pickup flush or below the pickguard, correct?

[@antonyyuryev9750]

@@PeterSz73 no... as you see in video it's very hot... 10k... and it's a rail stile... if you just put under pickguard standart one... it will be so quiet so it will has no sense....

[@mylemonblue3070]

Great review. Beautiful looking guitar. My thought? It's got Telecater wiring and 2 pickups? Not a dig on Fender but it's not really an Esquire, now is it? Nothing wrong with Esquire styling and all but it is what it is.

[@TheMidnightModder]

Why did Esquire's have a selector switch with only 1 pickup? What happened if you moved the selector switch to the neck position? Would the guitar stop making noise?

[@jeffmckinnon5842]

I like light guitars. Many people get hung up on wood and I am no exception but when you see a guy on stage with a strat in his hand and then you find out later the original recording was an SG or PRS or something it makes you wonder if gear really matters that much. A good pedal board can make anything possible so I say make them light and leave them in original condition when ever possible.

[@markuyehara7880]

The reason for the spruce sandwich is probably because paulownia is extemely light but VERY soft. Because of that, it can be problematic to screw into securely. The spruce gives the screws something to bite into.

[@daveferrato3371]

Love what you do and loyally follow and watch, You are very thorough in your evaluations and love that you have the guts to take things apart and expose the guts.I have been playing and a gear head before your parents were born, yet you have taught me a lot. In my humble opinion, you might consider getting a little deeper into the playability and the sounds rather than focusing so much on aesthetics. Also in your playing demos, I find that you need to have the guitars hit the amp a little harder to really hear the sounds of the pickups. Thanks for listening. Keep up the good work. I might have some pieces you may like down the road a bit.

[@-CLASSIFIED-]

i think this would be the one tele i would buy , has some interesting tones to me imo. plus its kind of a sneaky lookin one

[@SuperFurry100]

I like the finish. The ageing job is a bit dodgy though. That said, it sounds amazing.

[@lightninggod4348]

Did you happen to write down the measurement you set the bridge pickup height from the strings?

[@burrencrawler]

You could have three hidden pickups..! Two under the pick guard, middle and neck. Also piezo Bridge pickup, a push /pull control and off you go.....

[@alanpablokranjac3289]

The only thing I don't like from this guitar is the relic

[@OldGriz708]

I have to agree. Natural waring tells a story, relicing is the cliffs notes version.

[@jeffreytucker905]

Pawlonia wood is interesting. It's so light that it's comparable to balsa wood. However, it sounds good when sandwiched with other woods.

[@anthonyitzie4652]

What distortion pedal are you using. It sounded really good, I have a esquire and it never sounded that good.

[@buddyvincent9205]

I like the "Secret Agent " pick up. Might have to buy a couple.

[@michael.davides]

I always love when Tele's have that channel route so you can adjust the truss rod without taking the neck off.

[@hkguitar1984]

I picked up a special 90° angled slotted screw driver type tool specifically designed to reach into the heel end of a Fender neck to adjust the truss rod. That tool is extremely inexpensive and saves a lot of time and frustration when adjusting a typical Tele or Strat truss rod. The tool is called a Truss Rod Crank and is sold by StewMac.

[@michael.davides]

@@hkguitar1984 Oh awesome, thank you!

[@lueymeteora1410]

I'd like a white guard on it. Let the black sparkle be the feature. It's too busy otherwise.

[@_-_Michael_-_]

Kinda like that pickup there. Makes more sence to have it there than have classic esquire wiring with dark circuit... If they make then like 11-13k they would have even more output. But im surprised that tone isn’t that mufled from having pickguard in way. Would like this one, if one gets for sale used in my area would take it.

[@CA10Z]

One pickup appeal? get rid of the pickup switch selector. One or both control knobs could be used as a on and off switch. Two knobs on the plate is a good look.....I've done it. Don't have it anymore but it was a looker.

[@NewHopeAudio]

Would love to see you demo the Jason Isbell & Chrissie Hynde signature Telecasters. I’m a huge fan of both but the neck on the Isbell isn’t vintage correct (I’m so confused..) and the prices of both of them are extremely high to me. Kinda like this Paisley “Esquire”. I like this color but I’d rather it be a true Esquire with the Eldred mod or something. That back position with no tone control is an Esquire signature sound. I love Fender but their signature guitars are really weird to me that they’re now being made in Mexico. I guess it’s to get more artist models created & in people’s hands. However I can’t help but remember when John Mayer left Fender in part because he didn’t want his signature guitar made in Mexico (at least I’m fairly sure that was on reason) Anyway great work once again! Love the videos & demos.

[@aaronperrotta7055]

I've always loved Fender as well, but I'm just not sure about what they're offering these days. They've really put a lot of thought into their new lines especially the Ultra and American PRO II, but I think they could've done much more with the finishes and I can't stand those taller frets. As far as the signatures built in Mexico, I tried the Page dragon Tele not too long ago and the neck barely fit in my hand.

[@erickleefeld4883]

It’s an interesting novelty, but why not just get a regular Telecaster? (Say, a Brad Paisley signature Telecaster.)

[@ReidAWarren]

They already exist! Quite a few models too.

[@charlesbolton8471]

The only reason to buy this over the signature Tele is the neck pickup and/or the black sparkle finish, because all the other specs are identical and the Tele is $175 less expensive.

[@cdnpunk2270]

it's a dummy coil? for noise cancelling?

[@b.rodclark7349]

You also get one bridge pick up with the Telecaster too! No mention of the Electrosocket? Sounds like the volume was rolled down with the Secret Agent pickup.

[@TheQakman]

Don’t get the relic BS. Just like buying a brand new Corvette that has rock chips and stress cracks.

[@mightyV444]

To me, the road-worn look does not work with this kind of finish, at least.

[@kerryjones6613]

IF FENDER IS GOING TO CHARGE YOU $1400 FOR A TELECASTER IT SHOULD BE AMERICAN MADE WITH CASE

[@rodneyshuffler5810]

My experience with the secret agent is the same as yours, it's so much quieter that it's nearly unusable. There are three different volume levels, bridge alone and then when you go to the middle position and gets a little bit quieter but in the front it gets even more quieter.. it's a cool idea that didn't get executed well. Honestly I'd like my hundred and thirty bucks back. LOL

[@Madakalim]

I like a plain maple neck on Fenders but dont like Fenders in sparkly colors. Relic-ing new guitars is quite rediculous to me as well. I also dont know how I feel about hidden pickups. Sort of scary lol! Great review though as always man!

[@therugburnz]

I'm somewhere between wondering and sure if they could have with one push\pull switch have both the two pickup three sound version & the one pickup three sound version. I guess it could be done with one Six position customized thing.

[@EastEndBandit]

I have a 85 guild nightbird gg and it has a sitka spruce top with a chambered mahogany back 300 ever made but the spruce creates a beautiful sound acoustically and I’d bet that is a great guitar better than most

[@Andyjpro]

Synthetic material is better than bone these days. I like Graphtech Tusq much better. It's consistent and easy to work with too. It has definite advantages in a manufacturing environment

[@simonpark843]

Thank you for this video. I'm seriously thinking about getting one of these so seeing this video has been a big help.