I started playing guitar last year (discovering amazing channels like this in the process) and I’d always wanted a les Paul but when trying one out at GuitarGuitar, I saw a polar white tele and fell in love. For my birthday this year my wife bought me a beautiful butterscotch blonde tele and it’s my pride n joy.
Mick, the chat is always a treat, further enhanced by the presence of Rosie at the start, the little beauty. My Tele history: bought two, sold two. I've tried, my word I've tried. Dan would be horrified, but my butterscotch USA first attempt was a 2001, lovely weight, great shape MN, but I just couldn't get on with the thing and it was swapped out. Waited 12 years and bought a Custom Shop, which stayed with me 9 years because I *thought* I loved it. I did, but it was always a bit of a fight which, in a J Mascis style, could be proper fun at times. Then I finally bought a Strat and, for me and the humble Fender workhorse, that was the end of that. Lesters with chunky necks and 62 profile Strat RW board necks are just the bees' knees. But lordy I appreciate seeing a Tele in the right hands. What a noise. As usual, bravo! Happy Friday :)
Very interesting, as I had a similar experience, but the other way around. Had an unbelievable Strat (both aesthetically and sonically) I ended up trading, as I did not connect with it because it didn't fight me. Teles and LP for me :)
As a player of 30 years, I have found your channel to be inspiring in terms of focusing on the musicality of sound and playing. You guys truly inspire me in ways I never realized. Cheers from the States!! 😀
The best bit of this is you remembering the beginning. That feeling of being free of everything (except the odd exam) was so utterly liberating. It's what I crave still when I climb back up on stage at 44. That little pub gig, in my case in Godalming, near Guildford, having generally bought a new set of strings at Anderton's a few hours before. As you say so often Mick - Happy Days!
I can so relate to this. My main guitar has been a strat for nearly 25 years. I bought a MiM tele around 2002, but I never really bonded with it. However, after having a watched a couple of years of TPS, with Dan getting amazing sounds out of his tele, I ordered a set of Twisted Tele Fender Custom Shop pick-ups late last year. It's like a different guitar, and now I play it and love it every bit as much as my strat. The journey never ends. Great stuff, Mick. Thanks.
TPS has a bad habit of making you want every piece of equipment they use…and I love it! I enjoyed your playing as always Mick, and just realised you and I have identical twin dogs.
I’ve always felt an affinity with Mick… I always assumed it was the love of guitars, great guitar players and tasty tone but no… I saw Rosie and then I realised ‘aha! He’s a Spaniel person!!!’ 😀👍🐶
Mick - this vlog is perfect in so many ways. Two non-Tele scenes that really connected with me were the delivery anticipation (that’s exactly the way I am on delivery day) and the 5 second scene of you and Rosie walking together, side by side, to the other building. A man and his dog. Just a wonderful visual! Cheers from Long Island!
This is the gold of TPS Mick, that human touch. Yes, you can kick a pedal, but without the feel of strings, wood, various bits of metal and magnets... Top job my man. We all appreciate it 🙂
@@ThatPedalShow You're very welcome, and my pleasure. Maybe a rename is in order? "That Human Show (with some talk about electronics and shit)" Maybe not easy on the algorithms however.
First time I ever saw someone playing a Tele, and recognized it for the guitar it is, it was being played by Roy Buchanan - which is probably why I've always thought two things about it: 1. It's for seriously good guitar players ("put that down, son, you're not ready for that") 2. Teles should be Butterscotch Blonde with a maple board. That said, this is a beautiful guitar, and you've earned it, Mick. Enjoy!
Mick alone with ** adjusts spectacles ** a Tele?! Okay I'm in! Mick in his element (i.e. trying different things and journeying to the next "better question") is my spirit animal. Glad to hear Dan is just moving house and hasn't been sacked though lol ;-)
I unboxed my Jason Isbell telecaster yesterday! Actually, I'm now playing it while watching this video. My first telecaster and wow: what a sound, what a feel and what a look! After just one day, I'm not saying it's my favorite guitar, but...it's one of my favorite guitars :-)
@@ThatPedalShow I think it's one of my best guitars: so easy to play (I leave the bridge and saddles stock), those notes ring out majestically like only a tele can and I enjoy it a lot. It sort of wants to be played, and not be put down in a corner. I had some guitars over the years so I think I can be a good judge ;-)
This was a treat. Fun to "hang out". Couldn't agree more on letting the guitar take you where it wants to go. Some place new? Congrats on a new magic carpet. -G
Thank you Mick, I enjoyed this episode very much, while recovering from a bad cold. Always a pleasure to hear a distinctive "Tele Twang". It keeps the spirit high. I love the brutal honesty of these machines. I really hope you enjoy your new purchase and that we will see you play it a lot. Cheers!
Great great video. Mick, you are the most forthright presenter in all of guitar RUclipsdom. The encouragement to just foot for a guitar you like and don't be afraid to get in and have a go at tweaking it up to taste is fantastic. Bravo
Hey, Mick. So glad to hear you’re an Isbell fan. I’ve been following him since the DBT days and he’s one of my favorite artists. I actually have a 1986 MIJ ‘62 Custom Tele that I changed to a black pickguard after seeing Jason live with his Custom Shop that inspired this guitar. Fralin pickups and compensated saddle upgrades made it my #1 for many years. Cheers on the new guitar!
Coincidentally, I bought my first tele this week after playing an 80’s American standard strat for decades. I’m enjoying it. The show has certainly helped me get my head around the differences and how to spank them in their own particular way. Just watching this now whilst waiting for my Belgian Tripel to mash. I love Fridays!
I know this is an old video, but I'm utterly exhausted and it autoplayed. I was just sprawled on the couch with you nattering away in my ear, when suddenly something happened. My energy levels started to replenish. The transference of New Guitar Energy is truly magical.
Fun aside, I've got two MiM road worn guitars, one of those Andertons FSR purple Teles from 2018 and a Strat from 2019. I also own a 61 CS Strat, which was 4 times the price. If I'm truthfully honest to myself and the world, there's not much difference between USA CS and MiM roadworn! I added new pickups to the RW and polished the frets and then it's CS level imho! Sure, the relicing/aging they do on the MiM roadworns is always the same, I guess they apply it from a template. But who cares? The only reason the CS Strat has become my major guitar is the 20% of mojo you get for 80% of more money.
I just got the purple RW tele as well and I was tempted to start changing things around straight away. It has now been over a week and I think I really like the way it sounds stock. The frets seem to be a consistent issue with these, mine need polishing. The pickups are just right, twangy but not ice picky at all. Love the fat neck (nice flame on mine!) and have been "burnishing" the back a bit with a leather strop. A worn soft leather belt would work too, it didnt take long and made it smooth as silk. I think the custom shop works with graphite powder as I have noticed blackened hands after playing a few new ones? Anyway, need a RW board tele now, lots of options w C necks but Id like something bigger? The Squier J Mascus Jazzmaster neck profile would be perfect on a tele if you are listening Fender!
@@SergioFigaroa I've tried a bunch of different ones over the years. First simply Fender custom shop 69s. Which, after all the trying out were actually one of my favourites, especially in the neck position. Low output, very chimy. Then I've tried Kloppmann 65s and 67s. Kloppmann imho offers the most variety of era correct pickups. I liked the 65s more than the 67s. I ended up with Monty's Retro Wind. Love these so much! Before them, I also tried his 62s, they were too middy/muddy for me. What this try-out haul taught me tho is that I prefer underwound pickups with very low output. That might even be the essential conclusion: Even if you listen to all the sound samples and specs, at the end of the day, you will probably have to try a couple of different ones and simply choose the ones you like the most. I know it sounds stupid, but to be brutaly honest, there's no voodoo magic when it comes to pickups imho. It's magnets surrounded by a certain type of copper wire with a certain amount of windings. So there are your three variables: magnets, wire, windings.
You need to get a micro mesh kit. The most perfect way I’ve ever polished frets! Compound and a Dremel does a worse job. Also, the Gotoh compensated brass saddles are my favorite. They intonate perfectly and they’re not crooked like so many others.
I LOVE when i open RUclips an there is a Mick’s vlog, every time it feels like i got a treat. Love to see you on a Tele mate! Beautiful guitar and content as always. Looking forward for more!
@@ThatPedalShow Also! When rewatching the ATB episode I realized that the custom Tele you guys played had a skunk stripe in the neck! Good news in regards to the accuracy of the Jason Isbell Tele :)
I feel like my whole joy in buying used is being able to fix things up the way that I like. I got a used Tele a decade ago and on the first day dinged the headstock and a friend gasped and I thought "It's only going to get worse from here..."
Great show, thanks Mick. That Jerry Donahue clip. I still clearly remember how he totally stole the show in that documentary and his wonderful humble smile at the end of the brilliant string bending section. I was fortunate enough to have a quick chat with him at Music Live, or whatever it was called, at the NEC, when he was demonstrating his Peavey signature guitar. I particularly thanked him for his memorable contribution to that documentary. What a player, what a great bloke!!!
Thanks so much for doing this…❤ as a result I went to my not so local guitar shop and they had two but one was definitely talking to me more than the other…it’s an instant win…I’m a one cat kinda dog so away with the Les Paul as the bloody thing was over 11lbs and never stayed in tune… Initial impressions I’ve bonded with it more than the Paul already…I did polish mine up a bit as the finish was flatter than yours … Agree a guitar wants to take you somewhere ! Thanks Mick
@@ThatPedalShow Yes an update if you're interested is that a bit of autoglymn resin polish with the pick guard off just gave a bit of luster back to it....My tech had it and the frets ends all needed doing with a lump and bump in the frets also as you would expect. Interesting the use of a single string guide as Strats sometimes have two...he put a spacer under the guide to reduce the break angle and recommended at least 3 winds on the lower strings to try and get a lower break angle also so they are all as consistent as possible...no show stoppers oh and Callaham vintage brass saddles Thinking of flipping the controls around to a vol / tone/ switch with same orientation
I just bought a Vintera road worn Telecaster Deluxe yesterday! This video is the perfect set up companion for me today. This is my first nitro finished guitar and I have you folks to thank for that. Smells glorious!
@@ThatPedalShow Thank you so much for the content. You guys have really helped me focus on what I want from my gear and saved me a whole lot of money and ass pain in my search for a guitar (and gear) that I will love. The telecaster is such a freeing and simple instrument. Perfect for getting me out of my head and into the music. I hope it does the same for you. Again, thanks for everything!
Dan's red telecaster changed the way I look at these guitars. I can't imagine not having a telecaster in my life at this point. Congratulations on a beautiful instrument!
After playing Strats for 30 years I finally found a Tele that ‘worked’ for me last year. Maybe there should a disclaimer somewhere: Telecasters are for the over 45’s only?
Well...this guitar arrives at my house tomorrow. It will be my first true tele in 30 years of playing. I don't know why I waited so long, but I bet this is going to be one of my all time favorites. The Isbell Tele just has the classic tele sound I want. Can't wait!! Thanks for all the details on this gorgeous instrument.
Cool, so, how do you like it? I'm having a serious inner conflict whether to choose this one or a Vintera 50's strat. The issue is, no dealer within range has the Isbell sig at their store, feels risky to buy it due to a video :D Although it sounds brilliant
I could watch this all day long. Take notes, Netflix! What a beautiful guitar, even straight out of the box, but your mods and fixes will bring it closer to how you want it and that's all that matters. I'm glad you found a Tele that can speak to you and make you want to play it. Congratulations on your new acquisition! New Guitar Day is the very best day. Cheers, Aaron
Great guitar, Mick. Stew-Mac sells a set of "Fret Erasers" that polish frets brilliantly. For action setting I usually set it down to just buzzing, raise it to not buzzing, and then raise it just a bit more for clear string resonance, bending clearance, etc. Given the highly imprecise nature of guitar playing, to begin with, the stretching of the strings during normal play, and all, I don't obsess over intonation too much. Close is always good enough. You know, I had a thought when you first started to play into that DR with no pedals. I thought that everything that any guitarist needed to make great music with it already was there, similar to a good piano. Think of, say, a Steinway grand just sitting in a room. It's ready to do whatever a player can do on it, from chopsticks to Paganini's La Campanella. It wants nothing else. Oh, sure reverbs, delays, etc. add nice things to guitar sound and there's nothing wrong with that. But with regard to music itself, that Tele, or any good guitar into a good amp, plain and simple is all a musician requires to make great music. Maybe it's nothing very profound, but that's what I was thinking and I wanted to share it with you. Cheers, mate.
I’ve never played a tele before…being a lefty I haven’t come across one appealing to me. This guitar looks absolutely stunning! Can’t wait for tps break down video about teles your guys wisdom has been a blessing thanks!
I totally get you on this one. I've owned several Teles over the years and have never felt at home on any of them. I've always been able to bond with Strats and Jags (and moreso lately with Gibsons and acoustics)... but, as much as I love the sound, Teles and I have never gotten along. I suspect though that I'll never understand relicing!
Ha! Relic’ing is two things for me. 1. Completely takes the fear away from the guitar - HIT IT! And 2) I just love the look. But I fully understand it’s a polarising feature!
Guitar tech here. T-Cut is always what I use to polish up frets when I'm doing setups. Works great! If they're really rough then I'll use varying grades of fret polishing rubbers, but 95% of the time T-Cut works great. Oh and Mr Sheen polish to clean the board, and then lemon oil/Dr Ducks Ax Wax for conditioning on Rosewood etc 😊
Mick, you're a fabulous human being. I fell in love with the picture of the Isbell Tele back in January when Fender released the news. No demo videos or reviews at this stage. I jumped in an ordered one after a couple of Friday night beers and then spent the next 4 months worrying whether I'd made a daft decision in buying a guitar completely blind, even before they had shipped one out of the factory. I got mine delivered a month ago and love it (no mods made yet!) and it is great to see a review like this to confirm I'd made a wise choice!! Really useful to see the set up tips and sounds you can get out of the actual guitar I own. Gold dust! Thanks Mick.
When you hear Dan’s tele it just reaffirms how good a sounding guitar it really is. Obviously they’re two different guitars but man Dan’s guitar really is a heavy hitter!
I “discovered” Telecasters late at age ‘63, and three years later, my thinline is my #1, and my McCarty has left the building. I like Mick’s tone regardless of what he picks up, but I have to say that these are the best cleans I’ve ever heard from him!
Dearest Mick, look at my name I'm in my late 50s been playing guitar since 6. Been a strat only guy whole time . Bought a 53 white blonde black guard tele 2yrs ago please don't tell my strats . LOVE THE THING.
The Mexico-made Fenders seem to hit that sweet spot between quality and affordability, especially the past five years or so, where some big name artists are perfectly comfortable associating their name with them.
If you never did these videos on this guitar, I would have never heard of Jason Isbell ... and my life wouldn't have been as fulfilled as it is now - thank you :)
Killer sounds. Like the look of the Chrissie Hynde Tele too (which has the truss rod adjustment at the right end and the right ashtray! - but the saddles would need swapping out!!). Might be a crazy thing to say, but I wish I wasn't so bonded with my poly finish Tele I only bought about a year ago. It's an '88 MIJ '62 reissue, I suspect the same as the one you had! Had to have it re-fretted as it'd been played to death (maintaining vintage frets and radius, much to the surprise of the tech). The bridge pup was warped like a banana so I fit some House of Tone Texas Tea T-types. Absolutely fantastic guitar now, 7.4lbs... if only it had a nitro finish!!! The MIM Roadworn stuff is excellent. I have a 2014 60's roadworn Jazzmaster and it looks to have the same neck relicing treatment the Isbell has - the dull body finish looks way better after a bit of buffing, but it's actually starting to check a bit now, and will no doubt look even better when I've dropped more tools on it!!!
I have just started getting into the Strat, after decades of hardtail-only, and light strings too, but I think that I want a custom Strat body with no relief contouring. Radiused like a Tele. 🤔por quoi?
I can proudly say I am one of first 5 gents subsciptions and love seeing MICK excited about his arrival of his new Axe...Chears from Newport Beach, CA. 🤙🏿🏝
You are the first person who has admitted they hit the Fender website as much each day as I do. I have no idea what I am after I just love the announcements and the new runs of guitars so much I love checking it out all day.
I love these vlogs so much! I like hearing first impressions, Mick’s thought process for improvements, the process and finally the product! Thoroughly entertained- great work!
This was one of the best episodes for my personal taste. This is cool insight into a setup the Mick way (where you see some of the treatment he does to get the weathered look, the intonation with the tele bridge saddles etc.
Mick, do you know what the rating or spec is for the capacitors on your new Tele and on Red? Brilliant fascinating captivating vlog as always. Your playing always gives me goosebumps and tears (now there's an album title...) 👌🏻
@@paultwiselton1996 For what it’s worth I have a CS Tele with Texas Specials that I always thought was a little too forward (upper mids) sounding for my taste. One day I was with it at my local store and I thought while I’m here… We found it was loaded with a dirt cheap ceramic CAP 0.022u. Swapped it for a PIO Vitamin Q 0.047u which I have previously used on a brash sounding CS LP that was also loaded with a cheap ceramic 0.022u CAP. It worked a treat on both the LP and the Tele. That’s a $15 part and 3 minutes work to swap. In my experience it’s not just about changing how the tone POT performs when rolling off the tone control. For me each time I change a CAP, I do it with overall tonal presentation in mind. If I want a smoother/warmer character from a guitar I swap to PIO 0.047u. If I want a more lively/open/forward character I go for PIO 0.022u. It’s all personal preference, but I have found this to be one of the cheapest and most effective mods to adjust the overall tonal presentation of a guitar. Cheers
I'm a big fan of Jason's work, so this was a great watch. Southeastern is the kind of record that takes you apart and puts you back together with every listen. Good to know you're a fan too. Cheers
Firstly....Sir Mick (OBE, MBE) I spy a Strat body on the side of your desk with no finish? What's the score with that? Secondly....Klon in the birdcage has made my entire week. And finally, this video already promises to be fantastic and I am 4 mins in....Have a great weekend guys!
I just noticed something odd about that ... single-cut guitar of yours, Mick. It's missing the middle pickup, a trem and a pot. Also, the headstock looks like it's not a strat. I think they fooled you at Andertons. :D
Thanks for the in depth video of this guitar Mick. I just ordered one and while I'm waiting for it to be shipped, like any normal human I'm binge-watching videos of it and downloading pictures.
Loving the SQ anecdote! People love to make a joke of Rossi & Parfitt - imo both severely under appreciated players. Pretty certain Parfitt did the 56 Wound E on before SRV ;) Respect the Quo!
@Halli Day - Francis Rossi, songwriter, guitarist and singer of Status Quo is frequently making jokes in interviews - often quite self deprecating ones. Or Rick-deprecating ones!
I had read on several forums I belong to about the GFS/Artec big pole “Fatbody” Tele pickups and how great they sound. They’re only $60 a set so I ordered a set to try. They are the perfect Tele pickups for a Strat player, it amazed me how good these cheap pickups sounded. Much glassier and more Strat like than the typical Tele set. I tried them on a Squier but actually ended up getting another set and a 4-way switch and replacing the Duncan’s on my Blackguard style Tele with them and it sounds amazing.
@@ThatPedalShow I've had mine 2 weeks from today. I've had six telecasters over the years, a few American standards and a couple of AVRI but really do prefer the Isbell tele over the others. I had to have the bone nut recut and changed to Mangans 10.5 that really suit the guitar well.
Hey Mick, congrats on the new Tele :) As per saddles, I personally found the Gotoh SW-3 adjustable saddles to be my personal preference, I believe Suhr is also mounting them in their Alt-T's. A thing I also do often on new guitars is to seat the neck, which can sometimes give you some frequencies back. Have fun with your new Tele! :)
@@goswo you loosen the neck screws a little, while the gitar is strung up and under tension. This will pull the neck into the neck pocket. If it was loose, you will hear it click into place. Then re-tighten the neck screws.
I love it when your left knee starts going Mick, it’s clear to see how much you’re into it! Oh and please please please bring back the podcasts! I miss them dearly
The Fender MIM Tele's have been unbelievably good lately. Watching you ding it up intentionally and then talk about how you accidentally ding up new guitars. I was changing the pickups in my Tele and the screwdriver tip slipped and scratched my finish. First war wound of many for my lovely Tele! Cheers!
![Let's Talk About Fender Telecasters [And T-Shaped Objects £139 - £Thousands] - That Pedal Show](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2TTeJtjJd5Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Rosie cam:
1:30 Rosie gets to eat a biscuit
2:09 Rosie receives a package
39:43 Rosie is terribly excited about the new saddles
Thanks for the "highlights package" 😂
I started playing guitar last year (discovering amazing channels like this in the process) and I’d always wanted a les Paul but when trying one out at GuitarGuitar, I saw a polar white tele and fell in love. For my birthday this year my wife bought me a beautiful butterscotch blonde tele and it’s my pride n joy.
Mick, the chat is always a treat, further enhanced by the presence of Rosie at the start, the little beauty. My Tele history: bought two, sold two. I've tried, my word I've tried. Dan would be horrified, but my butterscotch USA first attempt was a 2001, lovely weight, great shape MN, but I just couldn't get on with the thing and it was swapped out. Waited 12 years and bought a Custom Shop, which stayed with me 9 years because I *thought* I loved it. I did, but it was always a bit of a fight which, in a J Mascis style, could be proper fun at times. Then I finally bought a Strat and, for me and the humble Fender workhorse, that was the end of that. Lesters with chunky necks and 62 profile Strat RW board necks are just the bees' knees. But lordy I appreciate seeing a Tele in the right hands. What a noise. As usual, bravo! Happy Friday :)
Very interesting, as I had a similar experience, but the other way around. Had an unbelievable Strat (both aesthetically and sonically) I ended up trading, as I did not connect with it because it didn't fight me. Teles and LP for me :)
9 years is a long time to pretend to love a thing. I think you just forgot that you truly loved it. People change.
As a player of 30 years, I have found your channel to be inspiring in terms of focusing on the musicality of sound and playing. You guys truly inspire me in ways I never realized. Cheers from the States!! 😀
Bloody brilliant, innit?!
Sounds superb!
Congrats on the band getting more exposure btw. You've got some fans in the US.
Who knew Mickalus was a specialist at relic’ing? 😄
As a Canadian, "bloody brilliant, innit" would be exactly what I'd say if I wanted to sound stereotypically British :)
Saint Mickalus, patron saint of dropping screwdrivers on guitars.
The best bit of this is you remembering the beginning. That feeling of being free of everything (except the odd exam) was so utterly liberating. It's what I crave still when I climb back up on stage at 44. That little pub gig, in my case in Godalming, near Guildford, having generally bought a new set of strings at Anderton's a few hours before. As you say so often Mick - Happy Days!
YES! That’s what it’s all about!
I can so relate to this. My main guitar has been a strat for nearly 25 years. I bought a MiM tele around 2002, but I never really bonded with it. However, after having a watched a couple of years of TPS, with Dan getting amazing sounds out of his tele, I ordered a set of Twisted Tele Fender Custom Shop pick-ups late last year. It's like a different guitar, and now I play it and love it every bit as much as my strat. The journey never ends. Great stuff, Mick. Thanks.
I like strat for clean and slightly dirty and tele for rock and country
TPS has a bad habit of making you want every piece of equipment they use…and I love it! I enjoyed your playing as always Mick, and just realised you and I have identical twin dogs.
Awesome! Nice one Matthew!
I’ve always felt an affinity with Mick… I always assumed it was the love of guitars, great guitar players and tasty tone but no… I saw Rosie and then I realised ‘aha! He’s a Spaniel person!!!’ 😀👍🐶
Ha! Awesome! All hail the crazy spaniel!
I've been a huge fan of Isbell all the way back to his time in DBT, glad to see he has fans across the pond.
Englishman here. Isbell is the greatest lyricist since Dylan. So much love for that dude!
Will be seeing me fifth London Isbell show November next year. Just about my favourite artist.
Mick - this vlog is perfect in so many ways. Two non-Tele scenes that really connected with me were the delivery anticipation (that’s exactly the way I am on delivery day) and the 5 second scene of you and Rosie walking together, side by side, to the other building. A man and his dog. Just a wonderful visual! Cheers from Long Island!
I had to look away during the "extra relicing". You've gotta give us a chance to look away in the future!!! 🤣🤣
Me too, made me wince😂😂
This is the gold of TPS Mick, that human touch.
Yes, you can kick a pedal, but without the feel of strings, wood, various bits of metal and magnets...
Top job my man. We all appreciate it 🙂
Thank you Martyn!
@@ThatPedalShow You're very welcome, and my pleasure.
Maybe a rename is in order? "That Human Show (with some talk about electronics and shit)"
Maybe not easy on the algorithms however.
First time I ever saw someone playing a Tele, and recognized it for the guitar it is, it was being played by Roy Buchanan - which is probably why I've always thought two things about it:
1. It's for seriously good guitar players ("put that down, son, you're not ready for that")
2. Teles should be Butterscotch Blonde with a maple board.
That said, this is a beautiful guitar, and you've earned it, Mick. Enjoy!
Thanks Phil! Yep, it’s a grown-up’s guitar for certain. Cheers!
Mick, this was amazing: amazing guitar, amazing pup, amazing tones and playing! Dan: rest up, mate. We miss you!
Thanks!
Mick alone with ** adjusts spectacles ** a Tele?! Okay I'm in! Mick in his element (i.e. trying different things and journeying to the next "better question") is my spirit animal. Glad to hear Dan is just moving house and hasn't been sacked though lol ;-)
I unboxed my Jason Isbell telecaster yesterday! Actually, I'm now playing it while watching this video. My first telecaster and wow: what a sound, what a feel and what a look! After just one day, I'm not saying it's my favorite guitar, but...it's one of my favorite guitars :-)
Congrats! Hope you dig it as much as I do!
@@ThatPedalShow I think it's one of my best guitars: so easy to play (I leave the bridge and saddles stock), those notes ring out majestically like only a tele can and I enjoy it a lot. It sort of wants to be played, and not be put down in a corner. I had some guitars over the years so I think I can be a good judge ;-)
This was a treat. Fun to "hang out". Couldn't agree more on letting the guitar take you where it wants to go. Some place new? Congrats on a new magic carpet. -G
Brilliant video. For those who don’t prefer the talking part - you’re missing out folks!! Amazing insights.
Thanks Danny!
Thank you Mick, I enjoyed this episode very much, while recovering from a bad cold. Always a pleasure to hear a distinctive "Tele Twang". It keeps the spirit high. I love the brutal honesty of these machines. I really hope you enjoy your new purchase and that we will see you play it a lot. Cheers!
I'm 46, and I just got my first Tele : an American Standard from 92 !
Great great video. Mick, you are the most forthright presenter in all of guitar RUclipsdom. The encouragement to just foot for a guitar you like and don't be afraid to get in and have a go at tweaking it up to taste is fantastic. Bravo
Mick, you do these videos extraordinarily well. Thank you for taking us on this journey with you.
Hey, Mick. So glad to hear you’re an Isbell fan. I’ve been following him since the DBT days and he’s one of my favorite artists. I actually have a 1986 MIJ ‘62 Custom Tele that I changed to a black pickguard after seeing Jason live with his Custom Shop that inspired this guitar. Fralin pickups and compensated saddle upgrades made it my #1 for many years. Cheers on the new guitar!
Niiiiice! Yeah man, looking forward to meeting him one day maybe. Maybe, ha!
Coincidentally, I bought my first tele this week after playing an 80’s American standard strat for decades.
I’m enjoying it. The show has certainly helped me get my head around the differences and how to spank them in their own particular way.
Just watching this now whilst waiting for my Belgian Tripel to mash. I love Fridays!
Oooh, that’s a beer!
Fabulous. Loved the closing remarks about different guitars taking you to different places / head spaces. So true! 👍🏼🎸🌈
I know this is an old video, but I'm utterly exhausted and it autoplayed. I was just sprawled on the couch with you nattering away in my ear, when suddenly something happened. My energy levels started to replenish. The transference of New Guitar Energy is truly magical.
Amazing! Nice one Grant. Hope you’re feeling more chipper now!
Fun aside, I've got two MiM road worn guitars, one of those Andertons FSR purple Teles from 2018 and a Strat from 2019. I also own a 61 CS Strat, which was 4 times the price. If I'm truthfully honest to myself and the world, there's not much difference between USA CS and MiM roadworn! I added new pickups to the RW and polished the frets and then it's CS level imho! Sure, the relicing/aging they do on the MiM roadworns is always the same, I guess they apply it from a template. But who cares? The only reason the CS Strat has become my major guitar is the 20% of mojo you get for 80% of more money.
I just got the purple RW tele as well and I was tempted to start changing things around straight away. It has now been over a week and I think I really like the way it sounds stock. The frets seem to be a consistent issue with these, mine need polishing. The pickups are just right, twangy but not ice picky at all. Love the fat neck (nice flame on mine!) and have been "burnishing" the back a bit with a leather strop. A worn soft leather belt would work too, it didnt take long and made it smooth as silk. I think the custom shop works with graphite powder as I have noticed blackened hands after playing a few new ones? Anyway, need a RW board tele now, lots of options w C necks but Id like something bigger? The Squier J Mascus Jazzmaster neck profile would be perfect on a tele if you are listening Fender!
Just got a 2021 vintera road worn 50s LPB tele, what pickups did you swap for the “custom shop” sound? This one comes with 50s vintage hot pickups.
@@SergioFigaroa I've tried a bunch of different ones over the years. First simply Fender custom shop 69s. Which, after all the trying out were actually one of my favourites, especially in the neck position. Low output, very chimy. Then I've tried Kloppmann 65s and 67s. Kloppmann imho offers the most variety of era correct pickups. I liked the 65s more than the 67s. I ended up with Monty's Retro Wind. Love these so much! Before them, I also tried his 62s, they were too middy/muddy for me. What this try-out haul taught me tho is that I prefer underwound pickups with very low output. That might even be the essential conclusion: Even if you listen to all the sound samples and specs, at the end of the day, you will probably have to try a couple of different ones and simply choose the ones you like the most. I know it sounds stupid, but to be brutaly honest, there's no voodoo magic when it comes to pickups imho. It's magnets surrounded by a certain type of copper wire with a certain amount of windings. So there are your three variables: magnets, wire, windings.
You need to get a micro mesh kit. The most perfect way I’ve ever polished frets! Compound and a Dremel does a worse job.
Also, the Gotoh compensated brass saddles are my favorite. They intonate perfectly and they’re not crooked like so many others.
I LOVE when i open RUclips an there is a Mick’s vlog, every time it feels like i got a treat. Love to see you on a Tele mate! Beautiful guitar and content as always. Looking forward for more!
Thank you!
@@ThatPedalShow Also! When rewatching the ATB episode I realized that the custom Tele you guys played had a skunk stripe in the neck! Good news in regards to the accuracy of the Jason Isbell Tele :)
Possibly the BEST Tele demo I've ever seen!!! Great playing!!!
Woah, thanks!
My two favorite things in this whole world are TPS and Jason Isbell. RUclips broke into my house and woke me up for this video.
Ha! Well, sorry he’s not in it. But hey, his guitar is. Thanks Joshua!
I feel like my whole joy in buying used is being able to fix things up the way that I like. I got a used Tele a decade ago and on the first day dinged the headstock and a friend gasped and I thought "It's only going to get worse from here..."
Great show, thanks Mick. That Jerry Donahue clip. I still clearly remember how he totally stole the show in that documentary and his wonderful humble smile at the end of the brilliant string bending section. I was fortunate enough to have a quick chat with him at Music Live, or whatever it was called, at the NEC, when he was demonstrating his Peavey signature guitar. I particularly thanked him for his memorable contribution to that documentary. What a player, what a great bloke!!!
Thanks so much for doing this…❤ as a result I went to my not so local guitar shop and they had two but one was definitely talking to me more than the other…it’s an instant win…I’m a one cat kinda dog so away with the Les Paul as the bloody thing was over 11lbs and never stayed in tune…
Initial impressions I’ve bonded with it more than the Paul already…I did polish mine up a bit as the finish was flatter than yours …
Agree a guitar wants to take you somewhere !
Thanks Mick
Nice one! Hope you enjoy it man. The polish is a GREAT idea!
@@ThatPedalShow Yes an update if you're interested is that a bit of autoglymn resin polish with the pick guard off just gave a bit of luster back to it....My tech had it and the frets ends all needed doing with a lump and bump in the frets also as you would expect. Interesting the use of a single string guide as Strats sometimes have two...he put a spacer under the guide to reduce the break angle and recommended at least 3 winds on the lower strings to try and get a lower break angle also so they are all as consistent as possible...no show stoppers oh and Callaham vintage brass saddles
Thinking of flipping the controls around to a vol / tone/ switch with same orientation
I just bought a Vintera road worn Telecaster Deluxe yesterday! This video is the perfect set up companion for me today. This is my first nitro finished guitar and I have you folks to thank for that. Smells glorious!
Nice! Enjoy that guitar Lincoln!
@@ThatPedalShow Thank you so much for the content. You guys have really helped me focus on what I want from my gear and saved me a whole lot of money and ass pain in my search for a guitar (and gear) that I will love. The telecaster is such a freeing and simple instrument. Perfect for getting me out of my head and into the music. I hope it does the same for you. Again, thanks for everything!
I do have to say, that is an extremely beautiful Telecaster
Dan's red telecaster changed the way I look at these guitars. I can't imagine not having a telecaster in my life at this point. Congratulations on a beautiful instrument!
Me too! Long live the Telecaster!
i love that record too, Jason was 3rd guitarist for DBT, thats how good that band is , btw. But Jason was so accomplished in his own right. fantastic.
This guitar thankfully made me aware of Isbell. Best and most in depth review of this guitar yet. Thank you!
I had a good laugh at the “ Relic-ing” portion of the show. Great vid, Mick.
After playing Strats for 30 years I finally found a Tele that ‘worked’ for me last year. Maybe there should a disclaimer somewhere: Telecasters are for the over 45’s only?
Well...this guitar arrives at my house tomorrow. It will be my first true tele in 30 years of playing. I don't know why I waited so long, but I bet this is going to be one of my all time favorites. The Isbell Tele just has the classic tele sound I want. Can't wait!! Thanks for all the details on this gorgeous instrument.
Cool, so, how do you like it? I'm having a serious inner conflict whether to choose this one or a Vintera 50's strat. The issue is, no dealer within range has the Isbell sig at their store, feels risky to buy it due to a video :D
Although it sounds brilliant
@DevilsAdvocate92 Oh man, so sorry I missed this. I love this guitar. What do you end up getting?
I could watch this all day long. Take notes, Netflix! What a beautiful guitar, even straight out of the box, but your mods and fixes will bring it closer to how you want it and that's all that matters. I'm glad you found a Tele that can speak to you and make you want to play it. Congratulations on your new acquisition! New Guitar Day is the very best day. Cheers, Aaron
“Take the opportunity for a bit of extra relicing” LOL
Great guitar, Mick. Stew-Mac sells a set of "Fret Erasers" that polish frets brilliantly. For action setting I usually set it down to just buzzing, raise it to not buzzing, and then raise it just a bit more for clear string resonance, bending clearance, etc.
Given the highly imprecise nature of guitar playing, to begin with, the stretching of the strings during normal play, and all, I don't obsess over intonation too much. Close is always good enough.
You know, I had a thought when you first started to play into that DR with no pedals. I thought that everything that any guitarist needed to make great music with it already was there, similar to a good piano. Think of, say, a Steinway grand just sitting in a room. It's ready to do whatever a player can do on it, from chopsticks to Paganini's La Campanella. It wants nothing else. Oh, sure reverbs, delays, etc. add nice things to guitar sound and there's nothing wrong with that. But with regard to music itself, that Tele, or any good guitar into a good amp, plain and simple is all a musician requires to make great music.
Maybe it's nothing very profound, but that's what I was thinking and I wanted to share it with you.
Cheers, mate.
I’ve never played a tele before…being a lefty I haven’t come across one appealing to me. This guitar looks absolutely stunning! Can’t wait for tps break down video about teles your guys wisdom has been a blessing thanks!
What? You don't like butterscotch blonde teles that weigh 10 lbs? Seriously, as a fellow lefty I feel your pain.
Bravo Mick. Here for all the tele love. My LSL has changed my life. Great work as ever.
did you get a T bone? what model woods?
As a final step to smooth out the fret slots, try "flossing" the slots with the actual string or even a string that is a tiny bit thicker.
I save the bits of new wound string snipped off during restringing for exactly this. Works great!
Thanks for the tip 👍🏻
Travelling alone, What a track
This guitar is such an eye candy. A real treat. It sounds like dream, and I bet it plays like one too.
I rarely comment on videos, but this one is incredible. So thorough, candid and easy to watch. Thanks for putting the time in to make it.
Thank you kindly!
Imagine being that guitar and when you see light breaking through your box you see Mick’s smiling face. Every guitar’s dream come true!
Hahahah!!! Hilarious!
I totally get you on this one. I've owned several Teles over the years and have never felt at home on any of them. I've always been able to bond with Strats and Jags (and moreso lately with Gibsons and acoustics)... but, as much as I love the sound, Teles and I have never gotten along.
I suspect though that I'll never understand relicing!
Ha! Relic’ing is two things for me. 1. Completely takes the fear away from the guitar - HIT IT! And 2) I just love the look. But I fully understand it’s a polarising feature!
Guitar tech here. T-Cut is always what I use to polish up frets when I'm doing setups. Works great! If they're really rough then I'll use varying grades of fret polishing rubbers, but 95% of the time T-Cut works great. Oh and Mr Sheen polish to clean the board, and then lemon oil/Dr Ducks Ax Wax for conditioning on Rosewood etc 😊
No way! Thanks E!
Mick, you're a fabulous human being. I fell in love with the picture of the Isbell Tele back in January when Fender released the news. No demo videos or reviews at this stage. I jumped in an ordered one after a couple of Friday night beers and then spent the next 4 months worrying whether I'd made a daft decision in buying a guitar completely blind, even before they had shipped one out of the factory.
I got mine delivered a month ago and love it (no mods made yet!) and it is great to see a review like this to confirm I'd made a wise choice!!
Really useful to see the set up tips and sounds you can get out of the actual guitar I own. Gold dust!
Thanks Mick.
When you hear Dan’s tele it just reaffirms how good a sounding guitar it really is. Obviously they’re two different guitars but man Dan’s guitar really is a heavy hitter!
2:25 "Hi this is Chef John with... Fender Telecaster!"
I “discovered” Telecasters late at age ‘63, and three years later, my thinline is my #1, and my McCarty has left the building. I like Mick’s tone regardless of what he picks up, but I have to say that these are the best cleans I’ve ever heard from him!
Dearest Mick, look at my name I'm in my late 50s been playing guitar since 6. Been a strat only guy whole time . Bought a 53 white blonde black guard tele 2yrs ago please don't tell my strats . LOVE THE THING.
yes!
I love the look of a double bound Tele
So want one of the Candy Apple red double bound with a Bigsby Tele’s!
Think they look insane!
The Mexico-made Fenders seem to hit that sweet spot between quality and affordability, especially the past five years or so, where some big name artists are perfectly comfortable associating their name with them.
@@sethlover6498
Runaway inflation sucks.
A $1000 purchase in 1995 requires $1800 in 2021.
Please, please play this guitar on future shows. You play it so well.
If you never did these videos on this guitar, I would have never heard of Jason Isbell ... and my life wouldn't have been as fulfilled as it is now - thank you :)
Ah man, that’s COOL! Thanks you!
Killer sounds. Like the look of the Chrissie Hynde Tele too (which has the truss rod adjustment at the right end and the right ashtray! - but the saddles would need swapping out!!).
Might be a crazy thing to say, but I wish I wasn't so bonded with my poly finish Tele I only bought about a year ago. It's an '88 MIJ '62 reissue, I suspect the same as the one you had! Had to have it re-fretted as it'd been played to death (maintaining vintage frets and radius, much to the surprise of the tech). The bridge pup was warped like a banana so I fit some House of Tone Texas Tea T-types. Absolutely fantastic guitar now, 7.4lbs... if only it had a nitro finish!!!
The MIM Roadworn stuff is excellent. I have a 2014 60's roadworn Jazzmaster and it looks to have the same neck relicing treatment the Isbell has - the dull body finish looks way better after a bit of buffing, but it's actually starting to check a bit now, and will no doubt look even better when I've dropped more tools on it!!!
Always said, even people who "aren't in to Tele's" just haven't played or found the right Tele. There really is a Tele for everyone.
Yes, one with 6 saddles, chamfered body, 3 pickups (including humbuckers), lightweight and rounded neck joint
I have just started getting into the Strat, after decades of hardtail-only, and light strings too, but I think that I want a custom Strat body with no relief contouring. Radiused like a Tele. 🤔por quoi?
Hahaha!!!
I never liked them.
Then I found “the one.” I’ll sell my foot instead of that Tele
@@hoboroadie4623 sounds like you want an Ibanez RG550 then
Love it, Mick, really enjoy the ‘personal journey’ type of content as well as the regular stuff.
I can proudly say I am one of first 5 gents subsciptions and love seeing MICK excited about his arrival of his new Axe...Chears from Newport Beach, CA. 🤙🏿🏝
Thank you J! Greetings to Newport Beach. I met a guy who played bass for Eric Sardinas once. He was from there I think.
If I bump 😏 into YOU and DAN I'm buying BEERS all NIGHT. 🍺
Sounds better than Dan's red to me. And by that I mean more "3D". Could be the strings but over all I prefer the Isbell verson and sound ...
Maybe on phone speakers...
that ukelele russian doll joke was pretty good mick, well done
You are the first person who has admitted they hit the Fender website as much each day as I do. I have no idea what I am after I just love the announcements and the new runs of guitars so much I love checking it out all day.
Mick - I love how you've got a protective towel and piece of denim underneath the guitar and then just lob a screwdriver at the top!
Ah, protecting the table Steve. True story! Hahahaha
Nice.
Also maximum respect to the mighty mighty talent of Jason Isbell - one of the greatest living songwriters
I love the lack of f's given about the finish. The only scar that ever bothered my is when my capo melted the headstock face of my LP JR DC.
I love these vlogs so much! I like hearing first impressions, Mick’s thought process for improvements, the process and finally the product! Thoroughly entertained- great work!
This was one of the best episodes for my personal taste. This is cool insight into a setup the Mick way (where you see some of the treatment he does to get the weathered look, the intonation with the tele bridge saddles etc.
Every time Mick deliberately nicks the guitar I feel like Frodo watching Gimli try to break the One Ring.
That moment at 43:16 is a hate crime.
@@PhilAlbinus I almost vommed
Mick, do you know what the rating or spec is for the capacitors on your new Tele and on Red? Brilliant fascinating captivating vlog as always. Your playing always gives me goosebumps and tears (now there's an album title...) 👌🏻
@@paultwiselton1996 For what it’s worth I have a CS Tele with Texas Specials that I always thought was a little too forward (upper mids) sounding for my taste. One day I was with it at my local store and I thought while I’m here… We found it was loaded with a dirt cheap ceramic CAP 0.022u. Swapped it for a PIO Vitamin Q 0.047u which I have previously used on a brash sounding CS LP that was also loaded with a cheap ceramic 0.022u CAP. It worked a treat on both the LP and the Tele. That’s a $15 part and 3 minutes work to swap. In my experience it’s not just about changing how the tone POT performs when rolling off the tone control. For me each time I change a CAP, I do it with overall tonal presentation in mind. If I want a smoother/warmer character from a guitar I swap to PIO 0.047u. If I want a more lively/open/forward character I go for PIO 0.022u. It’s all personal preference, but I have found this to be one of the cheapest and most effective mods to adjust the overall tonal presentation of a guitar. Cheers
@@PhilAlbinus love-crime
Tool: (Exists)
Mick: Time for a little bit of extra relicing
I'm a big fan of Jason's work, so this was a great watch. Southeastern is the kind of record that takes you apart and puts you back together with every listen. Good to know you're a fan too.
Cheers
Great description. Perfect!
I adore these long form videos from you. Be it a pickup rabbit hole on blue or a new guitar breaking in, they make my day. Positive vibes to you man.
Firstly....Sir Mick (OBE, MBE) I spy a Strat body on the side of your desk with no finish? What's the score with that? Secondly....Klon in the birdcage has made my entire week. And finally, this video already promises to be fantastic and I am 4 mins in....Have a great weekend guys!
Ha! It was the beginnings of a partsacaster… and then it got shelves. Maybe I’ll pick it up at some point!
I just noticed something odd about that ... single-cut guitar of yours, Mick. It's missing the middle pickup, a trem and a pot. Also, the headstock looks like it's not a strat. I think they fooled you at Andertons. :D
Hahahahaa!!!
Are you sure its not missing two humbuckers and a neck repair
Quo is why I play guitar. My first ever proper gig I saw, age 12, lost count of how many times Ive seen them since. Such an inspiration. Love it!
Thanks for the in depth video of this guitar Mick. I just ordered one and while I'm waiting for it to be shipped, like any normal human I'm binge-watching videos of it and downloading pictures.
The unboxing music is in my head forever linked to RedLetterMedia. I expected something really goofy to happen. ;-)
Love RedLetterMedia especially when they are talking about Star Trek of course.
Loving the SQ anecdote! People love to make a joke of Rossi & Parfitt - imo both severely under appreciated players. Pretty certain Parfitt did the 56 Wound E on before SRV ;) Respect the Quo!
Always respect the Quo!
@Halli Day - Rossi can't stop making jokes!
@Halli Day - Francis Rossi, songwriter, guitarist and singer of Status Quo is frequently making jokes in interviews - often quite self deprecating ones. Or Rick-deprecating ones!
My first proper guitar was also a MIJ ‘62 reissue (sunburst, double-bound) tele! Still have it, it’s a 1996. LOVING the Isbell tele… congrats Mick!
Thanks Ryan!
I had read on several forums I belong to about the GFS/Artec big pole “Fatbody” Tele pickups and how great they sound. They’re only $60 a set so I ordered a set to try. They are the perfect Tele pickups for a Strat player, it amazed me how good these cheap pickups sounded. Much glassier and more Strat like than the typical Tele set. I tried them on a Squier but actually ended up getting another set and a 4-way switch and replacing the Duncan’s on my Blackguard style Tele with them and it sounds amazing.
No 😭 so I’ve only played tele’s… I bought a fender vintera 50’a road worn start and I love it.. but now I’m getting tele fever again 😂
Rosie! We need more Rosie on the show.
What? You want a whole lotta Rosie?
@@markhamstra1083 Boom tish 🥁 I see what you did there 😊👍🏻⚡️
Yep. Less guitar, more fluffy pooch.
"looks right" and "feels right" is the most accurate description I can think of when setting up a guitar.
I've got one and they're superb. I'm here watching this with mine on my knee playing the guitar whilst watching.
Yay! Isbell brothers. :0)
@@ThatPedalShow I've had mine 2 weeks from today. I've had six telecasters over the years, a few American standards and a couple of AVRI but really do prefer the Isbell tele over the others. I had to have the bone nut recut and changed to Mangans 10.5 that really suit the guitar well.
Hey Mick, congrats on the new Tele :)
As per saddles, I personally found the Gotoh SW-3 adjustable saddles to be my personal preference, I believe Suhr is also mounting them in their Alt-T's. A thing I also do often on new guitars is to seat the neck, which can sometimes give you some frequencies back. Have fun with your new Tele! :)
Interesting. How do you “seat the neck”?
@@goswo you loosen the neck screws a little, while the gitar is strung up and under tension. This will pull the neck into the neck pocket. If it was loose, you will hear it click into place. Then re-tighten the neck screws.
@@tomaszbaran ohh great advice. Thanks :-)
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Makes me feel like I should be less precious about my guitars! Nice instrument Mick.
Totally! Soooo many people don’t get Relics. But to me it’s all about not being afraid of it and giving it some welly.
I love it when your left knee starts going Mick, it’s clear to see how much you’re into it! Oh and please please please bring back the podcasts! I miss them dearly
Ha! Thank you! Yes, we really need to solve the podcast thing. Cheers!
50:00 I could listen to this all day. Goosebumps
And yes, that Tele puts you in a different head space and you play differently... :)
You should do a video like you did with strats, but with teles.
We’ll be doing exactly that very soon.
Sounds great! Now I want one. Jason Isbell truly is an outstanding singer-songwriter, musician, artist...Great playing!
The Fender MIM Tele's have been unbelievably good lately. Watching you ding it up intentionally and then talk about how you accidentally ding up new guitars. I was changing the pickups in my Tele and the screwdriver tip slipped and scratched my finish. First war wound of many for my lovely Tele! Cheers!