I did some research, apparently there is a rosewood Stratocaster that was built for Hendrix that he didn't receive because he passed. I'd love to see that in production.
I believe it was briefly in production, I’ve seen the actual model but can’t recall where. Same thing as this but with gold hardware if i recall correctly
I’ve only seen them available via custom order. I own a Greg Fessler master built 2015 ‘68 NOS All rosewood Stratocaster. Came with 3 way pick up selector and the large headstock. I’ll be buried with it
I did som research, apperently George Harrison was a guitar player in a band called The Beetles. They mostly covered old rock songs, but they actually wrote the song ”With a little help from my friends” that Joe Cocker later made famous. The band split up quite early and I think most of them are dead now.
Thanks for this one Jacob. I have one of the George Harrison Fender Rosewood Teles and I have to say its without a doubt my favorite. It just plays and sounds different than a standard Tele. That history lesson was a massive education, and I am a huge Beatles fanatic. I had no clue George did not like that Tele. But I have a theory. Guitarists tend to have "Phases". When you have your "Gibson" phase, you tend to let your Fenders, Grestches and Rickenbackers collect a little dust. George was HUGE into Gibsons at this point in time. He played the 61 SG and the Red Les Paul(Lucy) all over The White Album. So by the time they got to Let it Be, he was still clinging to Gibson for all it was worth. The Tele would have sounded thin and felt a little weird compared to the heft of that Les Paul. So it may have been less hate and more "Eh...not feeling this right now" My theory is, if Fender would have read some of the interviews The Beatles were doing in 65/66, lamenting they couldn't get their hands on Fenders in England due to trade restrictions and had to BUY their own Strats in the states(The infamous Rocky Strat), They could have SENT them a fleet of Strats, Teles, Jazzmasters and Jaguars and I am betting that Rosewood Tele would have been all over Rubber Soul, Revolver and maybe even Sgt Peppers and Magical Mystery Tour. So I think Fender was just late to the party. I have to wonder however, if later on when George switched BACK to Fenders in his solo career, he didn't lament selling the Rosewood Tele. Hence why Olivia purchased it back. You guys are a guitar shop(My favorite one at that!!). I am sure you have people coming back in WEEKLY saying "PLEASE tell me you didn't sell that guitar I just traded in!! That was a stupid mistake on my part"....I am sure George Harrison was no different. Either way, you'd have to pry my Rosewood Tele out of my cold dead hands!! Its one of the best guitars you guys ever sold me!! ;)
Quite aside from its association with Harrison, that is the prettiest, classiest Tele I've ever seen. I've never owned a Tele, but if I did I would want this one.
Harrison used it and a Strat on the Delaney and Bonnie tour (where he played "officially unofficially" in cognito); that's when he gave the Tele to Delaney.
John and George's Sonic Blue Strats were purchased in England after Brian Epstein sent Mal Evans out to buy matching Strats-Rocky still has the worn "Grimwoods-the Music People" sticker on the back of the headstock.
I had a Gibson phase, but kind of hate gibson's so I built a strat around a Les Paul Custom ... meaning: gibson scale length neck, ebony fretboard, and PAF pickup (a clone of a PAF without the nickel cover). Plays and sounds like a Les Paul but in a strat body which is far more comfortable and to me at least looks cooler.
I watched the Get Back stuff on Disney+ and was quite surprised with just how much Fender gear the Beatles had around them. There were so many Fender amps and guitars! Fender must have sent them a boat load.
Yes you are correct. Apparently from what i read years ago was that Vox amps had a deal with Brian Epstein where Vox would supply the Beatles with gear so long as Brian remained their manager and with the caveat that they would not be seen in public with anything but Vox. After Brian passed away, that deal was no longer valid and so that’s why you see the Beatles in the 1968 promo videos for Revolution and Hey Jude using Fender amps and a Fender bass VI. Their sound got rawer and more rockier as well, as heard in the white album. All this because Fender got wind that the deal with Vox was finished and so the head of marketing in Fender had a meeting with the Beatles and said to them basically if you use Fender gear, you can have whatever you want as much as you want. The band had always been fans of Fender, having bought Stratocasters as early as 1965, so they readily agreed. Now, Fender certainly didn’t need the publicity but they knew that a guitar in the hands of the Beatles meant a lot of money for that manufacturer.
The story as I read it was; Fender really did want the Beatle to play their instruments. They went to London and to Seville Row to discuss it with the group. Apparently John Lennon walked in with Yokohama and he was in a terrible mood that day. The Fender folk started to outline their proposal, John cut them off and said; “You give us the guitars and we’ll play them and stomped out of the meeting. The Fender folks were speechless. Not only did the intend to give the Beatles the instruments, but they were prepared to pay the band to play them. The Beatles were a great band, but they were poor businessmen. The already had at least 2 Stratocasters (a matched set of sky blue strats) Brian Epstein bought them around the time of the Rubber Soul sessions. But these were purchased at retail, and there aren’t a lot of photos of them playing these. The psychedelic painted guitar that George used during Magical Mystery Tour is one of those.
The Beatles actually began using Fender gear as early as 1965 when John and George got sonic blue Strats and Paul began using a Fender Bassman amp. During Revolver, session photos how them sometimes using Fender Showman amps too. Fender basses and amps were pretty common during the White Album as well.
I asked Phil about that Tele. He said they routed as much as they could get away with because they knew the Beatles _hated_ heavy instruments, as a rule. Phil was a great guy. He showed me how to play "Born on the Bayou". I have a bunch of his guitars and a few of his prototype necks that I'm still trying to figure out what to put them on. Fender construction and scale, Gibson style headstock.
It’s not entirely related to the video but years ago I had a chance to play a limited rosewood Music Man Axis Super Sport. The neck was full rosewood, the body had rosewood top on basswood body. It was one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played. Too bad I couldn’t have afforded it at the time!
This is the guitar that piqued my interest as an 8 year old. I always wanted to have one, but then fifty plus years later I finally got to play one. Yes, too darn heavy! I now have a nice, light roasted-pine one that is great for my aging shoulders. God Bless George and all Telecasters!!
I owned an original one, for about 2 years. Mine had the Skunk strip and was done just like the maple neck guitars. The top looked like 4 or 5 pieces of Rosewood glued together, back too, it was very Les Paul like heavy. George gave his to Delaney bramlett. The family Harrison Dahni have it back, and paid a kings ransom to get it. I always wonder if it was Brazilian Rosewood certainly looked like it, it had a really thick Poly Finish on it. They have a Darker/chunky tele sound, harder to get that Country Tele Sound out of them, and or the Roy Buchanan sound. I paid in 76 300.00 dollars for it.
Actually tried one in a music store in south east Wisconsin, Kenosha area maybe-been a long long time ago, and was priced around $450 - 475 [ again - too long ago? ]. It was an incredibly awesome guitar to look at, however, it was freaking heavy. It was an awesome player and a thicker sound. Why didn't I buy it -- it was heavy and I like Gibson necks better.....
Great run through of the history of this guitar. One small note is he did use this guitar on some abbey road tracks in the summer like octopus garden, here comes the sun, sun king and maybe a few others
I worked for Phil Kubiki in Santa Barbara in '82 building some of the first Factor and Ex-Factor bass guitars. This is the first I'd heard anything specific about his time at Fender.
In my old job, we considered ordering a rosewood Tele from the Custom Shop, but opted for a Thinline Rosewood Tele figuring this would take a bit more weight off the guitar. It didn't. It also sounded bright as hell. I'd be playing away thinking I'm on the bridge pickup and realized I'm on the neck pickup!
I have a re-claimed redwood tele and I love it. It has a humbucker on the neck and a 5 way switch. Also a 50s neck. I get your talking about rosewood but thought you listeners might find it interesting.
I've always wanted a Rosewood Tele, I love the full rosewood neck and I wouldn't mind the weight at all. My Les Paul is over 11 pounds so I'm used to it
Fender's rerelease of standard USA built Rosewood Tele's were phenomenal! Actually quite light and super resonant with a tone completely unique to that guitar alone.
@@VincentiusTheSecond Yeah but you could get it's effect easier by going with say a tele thinline, with cunife or the regular humbuckers. And the body would be much lighter. Or even a regular humbucker equipped Tele, or even Filtertron equipped. But really I have found out really recently that anything can be EQ'ed to taste, to enhance the MID RANGE, a tele is a very versatile guitar, just depends what you are after. Filtertron pickups are known to be Darker sounding. Japan made Rosewood teles, the reissues in the mid to late 80's were at one time better and cheaper to buy, I saw one it was much nicer appearancewise than my original american 69 model, might have been slightly lighter. It Had made in japan on lower neck just above the Neck plate. Also had the maple skunk stripe.
@@ksharpe10 I do like those thinline teles a lot, but I'd want tele pickups in a tele thats just me. I'm not much of a humbucker fan anymore. My LP is P90 loaded, my strat has texas specials so I'd want standard tele pickups personally. I have seen those Japanese rosewood teles and thats really all I could afford if I ever get one so that's what I have had my eyes on. Rock on brother 🫡
I have an '80 MIJ with a thick poly finish and a very slim neck. It sits well in the hand, only the pickups sound a little thin compared with my other Teles. I also have a Custom Shop Thinline Tele with a matte finish, it's not too heavy and sounds fantastic.
A most interesting and informative vid. It is a beautiful guitar visually, the colors set everything off. Even on-screen, you know this instrument is different. The Tele is such an iconic guitar of music to begin with.
I had one. Bought it for $200, brand new, in New York City, from a pawn shop. Traded it in Japan, for a PA system. Always regretted that. It was a nice guitar, but I was an acoustic guitarist, and didn’t play electric enough to keep it. Don’t remember it being too heavy, I just didn’t have the skill base to give it a workout. It was, however, very pretty.
I purchased a used USA Rosewood Tele in the early 70’s for $250! It was too heavy and didn’t have the traditional Tele sound I was looking for. Beautiful, thought…
I had a custom built rosewood telecaster replica many years ago, late 90s I think. It was a beautiful instrument with an amazing tone, not exactly classic tele, but very warm and rich. The weight didn't seem an issue until I took it to a rehearsal, it was a back breaker!! Never weighed it ( back then I don't remember anybody getting anal about weights) but I would guess it was in the 10-12 lb area! It immediately lacked any appeal!! At the same time I had a Fender Japan Jerry Donohue Telecaster loaded with Joe Barden pickups, now that was a killer guitar!!! Both the guitars got traded out eventually but the JD is the one I regret selling.
At 3:57, there's a listing for a left hand model. Is that just the fingerboard, or a true fully rosewood Tele? I've never heard of that, if such is the case.
I have a question for you guys, and in a way it's related to George Harrison. For me there's a lot of confusion with Gretsch models, particularly around the Jet line. Such as, what is a Duo Jet, and what sets it apart from other Jets? A comprehensive video would really help me out.
@@CreamCityMusic You gotta love the heavy feel. It’s kinda a lost thing. I have a Peavey Predator II , but hardly play the thing. Just too light for me. But I’ve played LP’s since I was 11. 56 next month. ✌️
I have a Brazilian rosewood Tele and Strat.. ( Yes, genuine Brazilian Rosewood) They’re really nice guitars. No, the Tele isn’t the new GH model. Both guitars,have 2 piece book matched top and backs, maple sandwiched. They are both somewhat chambered and weigh about 9 pounds each. The neck are deep V shaped, one piece necks, no glued on slab boards.
Harrison used it and a Strat on the Delaney and Bonnie tour; that's when he gave it to Delaney. BTW if somebody hates a guitar they don't lay it for a month straight or take it on the road on a friend's tour.
That's a great thought. We had done a little digging and we found this interesting comment on TDPRI but nothing citing where the quote came from so take it with a grain of salt: “Ah, the hated rosewood Telecaster that made Harrison never again play a Telecaster for the rest of his life. He said it in various Magazines that it was the worst guitar he had ever used. The least played Beatle guitar of them all. He received it in January 1969 used it for 2 weeks. Between 15th and 30th of January. Then he was so angry at the guitar he never ever wanted to play it again. He gave it away to Delany Bramlet just to not have to see it. Harrison complained about everything in the guitar. The sound was horrible bad. The electronics much much worse than he was used to with other guitars. It was just a real crappy guitar he said. Of course he was accoustomed to much more advanced guitars. But there must have been some other error as well. Delany Bramlet the man George gave the guitar to a couple of months after receiving it gigged with Duane Allan. Duane Allman tried the guitar and felt something was very wrong with it and gave it to his guitar tech. The guitar tech called it ” Worst gigging guitar in the world”. Delany Bramlet did what he could with the guitar. Switching to Humbuckers for instance, but even that did not help. So he kept it as a souvenir at home. Many of his friends thought it was beatiful, but When They tried it they were horrified. None of his friends tried it twice."
I bought one in the '70s second-hand. I never liked it that much, so sold it. There are 6 guitars I regret selling (Les Paul SG, 3 L series Strats, Gibson 335 and a Washburn solid body nylon string. That Tele is not among them.
Good piece, except that the statement about the Beatles not owning Fender guitars until the rosewood Tele is false. John and George obtained matching Sonic Blue Stratocasters in 1965, which George used extensively in studio recordings. George later repainted his in psychedelic colors and it became his well-recognized "Rocky" strat. It also doesn't acknowledge their use of the Fender Bass VI on the white album and afterward.
Do they state that they didn't *own* any? I think they just said they were only really *seen* playing everyone elses guitars, which is mostly true. He had the rocky strat but did he use it publicly all that much?
The Harrison Rosewood Tele IS NOT the Elvis Rosewood Tele. The Elvis guitar still exists- a friend of mine owns it. Elvis sent it back to Fender because it was too heavy for him to fling about. I'll check, but I think that Roger and Phil made 3 prototypes.
Yup, you're correct which is why Jacob stated 'apocryphally' when discussing the Elvis connection to the Rosewood Tele. It was meant as a general statement as opposed to George getting the one that Elvis had. 😅 - The research we've done leads to us believe that six prototypes of the guitar were made.
This one came in at 8lbs 4.7 oz - Check it out on our site! www.creamcitymusic.com/used-fender-custom-shop-limited-edition-rosewood-telecaster-closet-classic-2007/
Too many McCartney references on a George Harrison themed video. That's the guy telling Harrison his songs only "got good" in 1969, while masterpieces like Rocky Raccoon and All Together Now convince the man he's a genius.
@@ShawnKennedy-w2i You shouldn't have to cherry pick with a "genius". But you do. You have to. Cuz he'll go from Yesterday to Bip Bop in a heartbeat, and fill albums with material that wouldn't get a new band a recording contract. To tell someone their songs are no good, when they're your friend, and in the same band as you. I don't know. I've never been in a band like that. If someone's no good at what they do, you kick them out. They had to invent an instrument to accommodate what George Harrison did by going East. He's going from Don't Bother Me to Within You Without You in 4 years. McCartney's going from Yesterday to All Together Now in 2. He's going to keep going back to the 1920s every opportunity he gets. To put a When I'm Sixty Four on every album you do isn't genius. To put one of these songs after every Harrison song that's trying something new, innovative and groundbreaking, seems purposeful. But to tell someone their songs "just got good" when this person's song back in 1966 was THE OPENING SONG ON A LENNON & MCCARTNEY ENTERPRISE, is just low. But he's got a problem with George Harrison. He'll tell the world John Lennon vetoed from the grave a slide guitar solo on "Free As A Bird", which tells you McCartney hasn't listened to a single Lennon album. Because if he couldn't get Harrison to play slide on one of his songs, he'd get someone who sounds just like him (see Jesse Ed Davis). This is a thing you tell a friend? Our dead friend doesn't want you playing slide on his song, and I agree with him? How did you get this vote? Seance? He'll tell the world George Harrison thought Now and Then was fucking rubbish, to the degree Harrison's widow has to come out and say that's not what he thought of the song. He thought THE RECORDING QUALITY of it wasn't good, nor "Beatle worthy." McCartney looks down on Harrison, and always will. But it's those telling him he's a genius, when "Another Day" could have been done by The Archies, and the other songs in his catalogue that bubblegum their way into Dentist's offices and super malls. He's no great lyric writer, has very little to say with what lyrics he does come up with (is a Cafe on the Left Bank all that important to know about? Don't know.) He has albums where there's only 1 or 2 songs that are his "hits." These are the songs he concentrates on, and gets people to quit his band because of. The rest of his material is strictly filler. No busker touches Little Lamb Dragonfly, cuz no one outside of McCartney fans are going to know it. And you never hear him bust out a guitar solo or drum solo on his own albums. He's someone who tells others what to do, when to do it, when not to do it, and if you don't like it, GO. But you never hear him show everyone how it's done.
Barring "Dress Me Up Like a Robber" which has an acoustic solo, which says he's competent on the instrument, but he's not doing anything spectactular or mind blowing, but then again I live in the days where people think Prince was comparable to Jimi Hendrix. So it's wonderfully subjective what impresses any individual.
Why do so many people use that cliche "this is the _______ that nobody asked for?" It's kind of makes no sense because I'm sure there were many people who are asking for this. And the marketing people know about the demand in the market so they probably knew that people wanted this guitar. I've been wondering about that guitar for many years so of course I'm interested in it. I didn't explicitly send an email to Fender asking for it but now that they've done it I'm very interested.
I did some research, apparently there is a rosewood Stratocaster that was built for Hendrix that he didn't receive because he passed. I'd love to see that in production.
That's correct! :)
I believe it was briefly in production, I’ve seen the actual model but can’t recall where. Same thing as this but with gold hardware if i recall correctly
Indeed there is, I saw it at the Dallas Guitar show back around 2007.
I’ve only seen them available via custom order. I own a Greg Fessler master built 2015 ‘68 NOS All rosewood Stratocaster. Came with 3 way pick up selector and the large headstock. I’ll be buried with it
I did som research, apperently George Harrison was a guitar player in a band called The Beetles. They mostly covered old rock songs, but they actually wrote the song ”With a little help from my friends” that Joe Cocker later made famous. The band split up quite early and I think most of them are dead now.
Thanks for this one Jacob. I have one of the George Harrison Fender Rosewood Teles and I have to say its without a doubt my favorite. It just plays and sounds different than a standard Tele. That history lesson was a massive education, and I am a huge Beatles fanatic. I had no clue George did not like that Tele. But I have a theory.
Guitarists tend to have "Phases". When you have your "Gibson" phase, you tend to let your Fenders, Grestches and Rickenbackers collect a little dust. George was HUGE into Gibsons at this point in time. He played the 61 SG and the Red Les Paul(Lucy) all over The White Album. So by the time they got to Let it Be, he was still clinging to Gibson for all it was worth. The Tele would have sounded thin and felt a little weird compared to the heft of that Les Paul. So it may have been less hate and more "Eh...not feeling this right now"
My theory is, if Fender would have read some of the interviews The Beatles were doing in 65/66, lamenting they couldn't get their hands on Fenders in England due to trade restrictions and had to BUY their own Strats in the states(The infamous Rocky Strat), They could have SENT them a fleet of Strats, Teles, Jazzmasters and Jaguars and I am betting that Rosewood Tele would have been all over Rubber Soul, Revolver and maybe even Sgt Peppers and Magical Mystery Tour.
So I think Fender was just late to the party. I have to wonder however, if later on when George switched BACK to Fenders in his solo career, he didn't lament selling the Rosewood Tele. Hence why Olivia purchased it back. You guys are a guitar shop(My favorite one at that!!). I am sure you have people coming back in WEEKLY saying "PLEASE tell me you didn't sell that guitar I just traded in!! That was a stupid mistake on my part"....I am sure George Harrison was no different.
Either way, you'd have to pry my Rosewood Tele out of my cold dead hands!! Its one of the best guitars you guys ever sold me!! ;)
Quite aside from its association with Harrison, that is the prettiest, classiest Tele I've ever seen. I've never owned a Tele, but if I did I would want this one.
We've had that situation happen a LOT! Seems each of us have a story about the one we let get away. :)
Harrison used it and a Strat on the Delaney and Bonnie tour (where he played "officially unofficially" in cognito); that's when he gave the Tele to Delaney.
John and George's Sonic Blue Strats were purchased in England after Brian Epstein sent Mal Evans out to buy matching Strats-Rocky still has the worn "Grimwoods-the Music People" sticker on the back of the headstock.
I had a Gibson phase, but kind of hate gibson's so I built a strat around a Les Paul Custom ... meaning: gibson scale length neck, ebony fretboard, and PAF pickup (a clone of a PAF without the nickel cover). Plays and sounds like a Les Paul but in a strat body which is far more comfortable and to me at least looks cooler.
I watched the Get Back stuff on Disney+ and was quite surprised with just how much Fender gear the Beatles had around them. There were so many Fender amps and guitars! Fender must have sent them a boat load.
They sure did! Fender sent them a bunch as try realized they needed to get on board with them. A bit late to the party tho
Yes you are correct. Apparently from what i read years ago was that Vox amps had a deal with Brian Epstein where Vox would supply the Beatles with gear so long as Brian remained their manager and with the caveat that they would not be seen in public with anything but Vox. After Brian passed away, that deal was no longer valid and so that’s why you see the Beatles in the 1968 promo videos for Revolution and Hey Jude using Fender amps and a Fender bass VI. Their sound got rawer and more rockier as well, as heard in the white album. All this because Fender got wind that the deal with Vox was finished and so the head of marketing in Fender had a meeting with the Beatles and said to them basically if you use Fender gear, you can have whatever you want as much as you want. The band had always been fans of Fender, having bought Stratocasters as early as 1965, so they readily agreed. Now, Fender certainly didn’t need the publicity but they knew that a guitar in the hands of the Beatles meant a lot of money for that manufacturer.
The story as I read it was; Fender really did want the Beatle to play their instruments. They went to London and to Seville Row to discuss it with the group. Apparently John Lennon walked in with Yokohama and he was in a terrible mood that day. The Fender folk started to outline their proposal, John cut them off and said; “You give us the guitars and we’ll play them and stomped out of the meeting.
The Fender folks were speechless. Not only did the intend to give the Beatles the instruments, but they were prepared to pay the band to play them. The Beatles were a great band, but they were poor businessmen.
The already had at least 2 Stratocasters (a matched set of sky blue strats) Brian Epstein bought them around the time of the Rubber Soul sessions. But these were purchased at retail, and there aren’t a lot of photos of them playing these. The psychedelic painted guitar that George used during Magical Mystery Tour is one of those.
@@jaman878 Yoko OH NO could put anyone in a bad mood, especially when she screech howls.
The Beatles actually began using Fender gear as early as 1965 when John and George got sonic blue Strats and Paul began using a Fender Bassman amp. During Revolver, session photos how them sometimes using Fender Showman amps too. Fender basses and amps were pretty common during the White Album as well.
I asked Phil about that Tele. He said they routed as much as they could get away with because they knew the Beatles _hated_ heavy instruments, as a rule. Phil was a great guy. He showed me how to play "Born on the Bayou". I have a bunch of his guitars and a few of his prototype necks that I'm still trying to figure out what to put them on. Fender construction and scale, Gibson style headstock.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing :)
It’s not entirely related to the video but years ago I had a chance to play a limited rosewood Music Man Axis Super Sport. The neck was full rosewood, the body had rosewood top on basswood body. It was one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played. Too bad I couldn’t have afforded it at the time!
That sounds freaking awesome!
Thumbs up for the Puns and the GH impersonation
Enjoyed every bit of it!
Appreciate your kind words! This was a fun one to make!
Great review and video, thanks Jacob. Though my back is aching just thinking about wearing that thing for a set. Cheers mate!
Good summary and love your shirt.
Appreciate that, and thanks on the shirt! 😁
George was already known for playing a Fender at that time. John and George had both been using Strats for years.
This is the guitar that piqued my interest as an 8 year old.
I always wanted to have one, but then fifty plus years later I finally got to play one. Yes, too darn heavy!
I now have a nice, light roasted-pine one that is great for my aging shoulders.
God Bless George and all Telecasters!!
I owned an original one, for about 2 years. Mine had the Skunk strip and was done just like the maple neck guitars. The top looked like 4 or 5 pieces of Rosewood glued together, back too, it was very Les Paul like heavy. George gave his to Delaney bramlett. The family Harrison Dahni have it back, and paid a kings ransom to get it. I always wonder if it was Brazilian Rosewood certainly looked like it, it had a really thick Poly Finish on it. They have a Darker/chunky tele sound, harder to get that Country Tele Sound out of them, and or the Roy Buchanan sound. I paid in 76 300.00 dollars for it.
Actually tried one in a music store in south east Wisconsin, Kenosha area maybe-been a long long time ago, and was priced around $450 - 475 [ again - too long ago? ]. It was an incredibly awesome guitar to look at, however, it was freaking heavy. It was an awesome player and a thicker sound. Why didn't I buy it -- it was heavy and I like Gibson necks better.....
Really appreciate you sharing this! We love to hear these stories! It adds so much color to the rich history of this guitar
@westernrider100 that is wild! What shop? Music Center?
Such a beautiful guitar. Uniquely classy.
That's a beautiful guitar
Absolutely!
Great run through of the history of this guitar. One small note is he did use this guitar on some abbey road tracks in the summer like octopus garden, here comes the sun, sun king and maybe a few others
I worked for Phil Kubiki in Santa Barbara in '82 building some of the first Factor and Ex-Factor bass guitars. This is the first I'd heard anything specific about his time at Fender.
Very cool! The X Factor gear was awesome
Keith Richards also played a Rosewood tele on the Tattoo you tour
In my old job, we considered ordering a rosewood Tele from the Custom Shop, but opted for a Thinline Rosewood Tele figuring this would take a bit more weight off the guitar. It didn't. It also sounded bright as hell. I'd be playing away thinking I'm on the bridge pickup and realized I'm on the neck pickup!
I have a re-claimed redwood tele and I love it. It has a humbucker on the neck and a 5 way switch. Also a 50s neck. I get your talking about rosewood but thought you listeners might find it interesting.
That’s really cool! Bet it sounds incredible
@@CreamCityMusic yes it does.
Is it a custom shop model ? What year ?
i friggin love cream city music i’m never buying from any other store again. ya’ll are the best and the setups are great
great video and content guys
Right on! Appreciate you! Thanks for your kind words :)
ive always loved hows these looked
I have Mij one made in the 80’s and it’s one of the best teles I’ve ever played
The MIJ versions are exceptional
George used the Rosewood Tele during the Abbey Road sessions, specifically on Octopus’s Garden.
He plays it on the rooftop concert as well
Both true! We were checking out the Beatles Gear book while making the video 😁
Didn't he alsobuse it on the (otherwise bassless) Two Of Us from Let It Be?
@@hansvandermeulen5515 He played the bass line with it.Best part of the song,arguably.
@@ShawnKennedy-w2i exactly.
I've always wanted a Rosewood Tele, I love the full rosewood neck and I wouldn't mind the weight at all. My Les Paul is over 11 pounds so I'm used to it
Fender's rerelease of standard USA built Rosewood Tele's were phenomenal! Actually quite light and super resonant with a tone completely unique to that guitar alone.
The sound is like a Chunky Tele sound, harder to get the Country Twang out of it. Darker sound.
@@ksharpe10 Ahhh so a better Tele! Nice to know, I'm a blues guy so I don't like that ear piercing high end anyways. Mid range is all I want.
@@VincentiusTheSecond Yeah but you could get it's effect easier by going with say a tele thinline, with cunife or the regular humbuckers. And the body would be much lighter. Or even a regular humbucker equipped Tele, or even Filtertron equipped. But really I have found out really recently that anything can be EQ'ed to taste, to enhance the MID RANGE, a tele is a very versatile guitar, just depends what you are after. Filtertron pickups are known to be Darker sounding. Japan made Rosewood teles, the reissues in the mid to late 80's were at one time better and cheaper to buy, I saw one it was much nicer appearancewise than my original american 69 model, might have been slightly lighter. It Had made in japan on lower neck just above the Neck plate. Also had the maple skunk stripe.
@@ksharpe10 I do like those thinline teles a lot, but I'd want tele pickups in a tele thats just me. I'm not much of a humbucker fan anymore. My LP is P90 loaded, my strat has texas specials so I'd want standard tele pickups personally. I have seen those Japanese rosewood teles and thats really all I could afford if I ever get one so that's what I have had my eyes on. Rock on brother 🫡
I have an '80 MIJ with a thick poly finish and a very slim neck. It sits well in the hand, only the pickups sound a little thin compared with my other Teles.
I also have a Custom Shop Thinline Tele with a matte finish, it's not too heavy and sounds fantastic.
Those are really sought after! Very cool!
Well it looks pretty great to me
It definitely gets the respect it deserved in the modern era 😊
A most interesting and informative vid. It is a beautiful guitar visually, the colors set everything off. Even on-screen, you know this instrument is different. The Tele is such an iconic guitar of music to begin with.
Many thanks! We appreciate your kind words, Jeff :)
I had one. Bought it for $200, brand new, in New York City, from a pawn shop. Traded it in Japan, for a PA system. Always regretted that. It was a nice guitar, but I was an acoustic guitarist, and didn’t play electric enough to keep it. Don’t remember it being too heavy, I just didn’t have the skill base to give it a workout. It was, however, very pretty.
1971.
Very very cool!
What is that yellow Tele in the top right called? I played one ages ago and now can’t remember what it’s called but it was amazing
I purchased a used USA Rosewood Tele in the early 70’s for $250! It was too heavy and didn’t have the traditional Tele sound I was looking for. Beautiful, thought…
I had a custom built rosewood telecaster replica many years ago, late 90s I think. It was a beautiful instrument with an amazing tone, not exactly classic tele, but very warm and rich. The weight didn't seem an issue until I took it to a rehearsal, it was a back breaker!! Never weighed it ( back then I don't remember anybody getting anal about weights) but I would guess it was in the 10-12 lb area! It immediately lacked any appeal!! At the same time I had a Fender Japan Jerry Donohue Telecaster loaded with Joe Barden pickups, now that was a killer guitar!!! Both the guitars got traded out eventually but the JD is the one I regret selling.
Bet that Jerry was a hot axe! Very very cool! What did you trade it for?
@@CreamCityMusic I think it went in favour of a 335
Great content! 👍The background music added some flavour but it's a wee bit dominant. 😉
Noted and thanks for the input!
At 3:57, there's a listing for a left hand model. Is that just the fingerboard, or a true fully rosewood Tele? I've never heard of that, if such is the case.
The new one(s) should have a maple skunk stripe on the back of the neck, if only for looks. LOOKS, CREAM CITY!
Fair 😅
Interesting. Somehow, rosewood seems a bit incongruous with the Telecaster's home-made, utilitarian look I've always felt it had.
Can't buy me love and couldn't afford one of those Harrison tele's either. I liked the looks of it but that price it was selling for was insane.
Hahah awesome recap/review - thanks!
George gave his to Delaney Bramlett of Delaney and Bonnie. He also gave Bob Dylan the guitar that Bob is holding on the cover of Nashville Skyline.
I remember rosewood.
I have a question for you guys, and in a way it's related to George Harrison. For me there's a lot of confusion with Gretsch models, particularly around the Jet line. Such as, what is a Duo Jet, and what sets it apart from other Jets? A comprehensive video would really help me out.
We'll add that to our list of video ideas!
Roger Rossmeisl is of course the little known and underappreciated genius luthier who worked at Gibson, Rickenbacker, and Fender.
The Beatles used the Fender Bass IV quite frequently.
Surely if there's going to be a signature for Harrison then it'd have to be a Gretsch Country Gentleman.
Gretsch made a signature model for George some years ago, I believe it was modeled after the one he has on the “Cloud 9” album cover
@@SEBBY_SHREDZ_BOI Yes, his 1957 Duo Jet-it seems he no longer had the two Country Gentlemen or the Tennessean after the 1960s.
I love it. Would love one in a LP also. 🤔 maybe Warmouth …
That would be a sick axe!
@@CreamCityMusic
You gotta love the heavy feel. It’s kinda a lost thing. I have a Peavey Predator II , but hardly play the thing. Just too light for me. But I’ve played LP’s since I was 11. 56 next month. ✌️
Great video!
Appreciate that! :)
@CreamCityMusic Seriously great, unexpected video. I will be checking out more stuff on your channel, especially anything Beatles-related.
I wish fender did more bass signature models like an Entwistle signature or a JPJ signature
For real 💥
I have a Brazilian rosewood Tele and Strat.. ( Yes, genuine Brazilian Rosewood)
They’re really nice guitars. No, the Tele isn’t the new GH model.
Both guitars,have 2 piece book matched top and backs,
maple sandwiched. They are both somewhat chambered and weigh about
9 pounds each. The neck are deep V shaped, one piece necks,
no glued on slab boards.
Right on! Very very cool!
@@CreamCityMusic if you have an email, I can send you pictures…
Elvis had one too
Looking at that price sheet, I wonder if there any of those lefty RW teles got made…
You read our mind. While researching the vid we were all asking ‘how many lefties did they build?’
George’s Rosewood Tele doesn’t have Fender “F” tuning keys.
It has normal production Kluson Tuners.
Didn't Dave Edmunds have one, late 70s/early 80s?
Groan! It's a beautiful Tele! Way out of my budget though.
They really went up crazy in price
Harrison used it and a Strat on the Delaney and Bonnie tour; that's when he gave it to Delaney. BTW if somebody hates a guitar they don't lay it for a month straight or take it on the road on a friend's tour.
That's a great thought. We had done a little digging and we found this interesting comment on TDPRI but nothing citing where the quote came from so take it with a grain of salt: “Ah, the hated rosewood Telecaster that made Harrison never again play a Telecaster for the rest of his life. He said it in various Magazines that it was the worst guitar he had ever used. The least played Beatle guitar of them all. He received it in January 1969 used it for 2 weeks. Between 15th and 30th of January. Then he was so angry at the guitar he never ever wanted to play it again. He gave it away to Delany Bramlet just to not have to see it. Harrison complained about everything in the guitar. The sound was horrible bad. The electronics much much worse than he was used to with other guitars. It was just a real crappy guitar he said. Of course he was accoustomed to much more advanced guitars. But there must have been some other error as well. Delany Bramlet the man George gave the guitar to a couple of months after receiving it gigged with Duane Allan. Duane Allman tried the guitar and felt something was very wrong with it and gave it to his guitar tech.
The guitar tech called it ” Worst gigging guitar in the world”.
Delany Bramlet did what he could with the guitar. Switching to Humbuckers for instance, but even that did not help. So he kept it as a souvenir at home. Many of his friends thought it was beatiful, but When They tried it they were horrified. None of his friends tried it twice."
Amazing Story that ELVIS had it before George had it
They are very heavy and I've been playing Les Paul's all my life
That's saying something haha 😆
I bought one in the '70s second-hand. I never liked it that much, so sold it. There are 6 guitars I regret selling (Les Paul SG, 3 L series Strats, Gibson 335 and a Washburn solid body nylon string. That Tele is not among them.
That's a pretty cool list!
Good piece, except that the statement about the Beatles not owning Fender guitars until the rosewood Tele is false. John and George obtained matching Sonic Blue Stratocasters in 1965, which George used extensively in studio recordings. George later repainted his in psychedelic colors and it became his well-recognized "Rocky" strat. It also doesn't acknowledge their use of the Fender Bass VI on the white album and afterward.
Do they state that they didn't *own* any? I think they just said they were only really *seen* playing everyone elses guitars, which is mostly true. He had the rocky strat but did he use it publicly all that much?
So how much does it weigh?
Nice shirt
The Harrison Rosewood Tele IS NOT the Elvis Rosewood Tele. The Elvis guitar still exists- a friend of mine owns it. Elvis sent it back to Fender because it was too heavy for him to fling about. I'll check, but I think that Roger and Phil made 3 prototypes.
Yup, you're correct which is why Jacob stated 'apocryphally' when discussing the Elvis connection to the Rosewood Tele. It was meant as a general statement as opposed to George getting the one that Elvis had. 😅 - The research we've done leads to us believe that six prototypes of the guitar were made.
So, how much does this chambered one weigh?
This one came in at 8lbs 4.7 oz - Check it out on our site! www.creamcitymusic.com/used-fender-custom-shop-limited-edition-rosewood-telecaster-closet-classic-2007/
They also send James Burton one. He didn’t like it either..
Never heard about Burton getting one. Interesting!
There's a Hendrix strat and I think I've seen a Hendrix SG and a Hendrix Flying V so why not a Beatle George Tele?
Totally. The recent Harrison that Fender released is DYNAMITE.
What does it weigh?
is this a maple fingerboard?
Rosewood :)
I like il buy it
you forgot to mention the Epiphone Casino
That’s a whole different video! 😉
That was pun-ish-ing to “listen to what the man said”.
😅😅😅
I really wanted to test on of those when they got released, just for fun. It was for sure interesting, but I wasnt impressed.
It’s a fun experiment!
“Apocryphally” is perhaps not the correct word choice. Fender did send one of these prototypes to Elvis, as well as to Steve Cropper.
It should be noted that Rosewood is considered an endangered species
Great video, man. I could do without the background music though. It's very distracting and annoying to be honest.
1964 wants its paisley shirt back. I want it back too. Not so much that tele. Thank you.
Hahah! Comment of the week
Wow. A long video full of snark about the guitar, and then at the end, “Hey, it’s for sale.”
“On record, Probably saying…”. What? T
Too many McCartney references on a George Harrison themed video. That's the guy telling Harrison his songs only "got good" in 1969, while masterpieces like Rocky Raccoon and All Together Now convince the man he's a genius.
Paul wrote masterpieces from 63 onwards,George,not so much.Cherry picking album filler is hardly an argument.
@@ShawnKennedy-w2i You shouldn't have to cherry pick with a "genius". But you do. You have to. Cuz he'll go from Yesterday to Bip Bop in a heartbeat, and fill albums with material that wouldn't get a new band a recording contract.
To tell someone their songs are no good, when they're your friend, and in the same band as you. I don't know. I've never been in a band like that. If someone's no good at what they do, you kick them out.
They had to invent an instrument to accommodate what George Harrison did by going East. He's going from Don't Bother Me to Within You Without You in 4 years. McCartney's going from Yesterday to All Together Now in 2. He's going to keep going back to the 1920s every opportunity he gets. To put a When I'm Sixty Four on every album you do isn't genius. To put one of these songs after every Harrison song that's trying something new, innovative and groundbreaking, seems purposeful.
But to tell someone their songs "just got good" when this person's song back in 1966 was THE OPENING SONG ON A LENNON & MCCARTNEY ENTERPRISE, is just low.
But he's got a problem with George Harrison.
He'll tell the world John Lennon vetoed from the grave a slide guitar solo on "Free As A Bird", which tells you McCartney hasn't listened to a single Lennon album. Because if he couldn't get Harrison to play slide on one of his songs, he'd get someone who sounds just like him (see Jesse Ed Davis).
This is a thing you tell a friend? Our dead friend doesn't want you playing slide on his song, and I agree with him? How did you get this vote? Seance?
He'll tell the world George Harrison thought Now and Then was fucking rubbish, to the degree Harrison's widow has to come out and say that's not what he thought of the song. He thought THE RECORDING QUALITY of it wasn't good, nor "Beatle worthy."
McCartney looks down on Harrison, and always will. But it's those telling him he's a genius, when "Another Day" could have been done by The Archies, and the other songs in his catalogue that bubblegum their way into Dentist's offices and super malls. He's no great lyric writer, has very little to say with what lyrics he does come up with (is a Cafe on the Left Bank all that important to know about? Don't know.) He has albums where there's only 1 or 2 songs that are his "hits." These are the songs he concentrates on, and gets people to quit his band because of. The rest of his material is strictly filler. No busker touches Little Lamb Dragonfly, cuz no one outside of McCartney fans are going to know it.
And you never hear him bust out a guitar solo or drum solo on his own albums. He's someone who tells others what to do, when to do it, when not to do it, and if you don't like it, GO.
But you never hear him show everyone how it's done.
Barring "Dress Me Up Like a Robber" which has an acoustic solo, which says he's competent on the instrument, but he's not doing anything spectactular or mind blowing, but then again I live in the days where people think Prince was comparable to Jimi Hendrix. So it's wonderfully subjective what impresses any individual.
Hi songs did only get good in 1969. It’s almost unarguable.
@@mumbles215 Well I don't argue with id**ts.
Meanwhile everyone is asking for George's black fur jacket!
That’s a pretty sweet jacket
@@CreamCityMusic where's the Fender RI on the that?
George was wearing Patti's fur jacket on the roof top, just as John was wearing Yoko's coat, because it was damn cold up there.
Kill the background music. Oy
Why do so many people use that cliche "this is the _______ that nobody asked for?" It's kind of makes no sense because I'm sure there were many people who are asking for this. And the marketing people know about the demand in the market so they probably knew that people wanted this guitar. I've been wondering about that guitar for many years so of course I'm interested in it. I didn't explicitly send an email to Fender asking for it but now that they've done it I'm very interested.
Very loud background music ruined your video.
It's a gorgeous guitar. I would happily take it off your hands for free if it's as awful as all that.
Hmmmm…we’ll get back to you on that 😉
With that Tele Rosewood GEORGE play one of the most exquisite and wonderful solos in the Song Let it be among others, So is a BAD guitar Einstein?
According to George, yes! 😉