Fender Richie Kotzen Signature Telecaster - Can Made In Japan Be As Good As Made In The USA?!
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- Hey guys. In this video I demo the Richie Kotzen Signature Telecaster. This has got to be one of the best Telecasters I've ever played and owned. I also compare the DiMarzio Twang King pickup in this guitar to the same pickup in another guitar to see if I could tell a difference. Let me know what you think of this guitar and the pickups in the comments. Thanks for watching!
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is this guitarra at the same cuality level than a american pro ll ?
I like it better than the pro ii.
I work in guitar shop and we had a few of these along with the Aerodyne Specials come in. The beauty of working in the shop is that I get to play guitars of the same brand from different manufacturing facilities side by side and I will say that Fender Japan is where I would place my money. I believe that unless you purchase a Fender Custom Shop you aren't going to get a better instrument for your money with the Fender nameplate than from the Japanese facility.
The fit and finish is stellar, the hardware is top notch (I especially like they use Babicz trem systems), the necks aren't glossed to the gills, and the frets are dressed to perfection. They are simply effortless to play and that is what inspires players to advance their skills and creativity.
It is difficult to distinguish between the Mexican and lower end USA Fender stuff , which to me doesn't impress much; however, the same cannot be said for Japanese made Fender offerings. Once you play a Mexican or lower end USA next to a Japanese made Fender the differences seem to become more apparent and IMO lend favor to the Japanese in terms of fit, finish, and playability quality control.
what do you think of the Aerodynes , the body is really thin huh ?
@@jixxxxer17 The only gripe that I have with the Aerodyne line of instruments would be that they do not have a tapered neck heel joint, which IMO should be standard on all newly manufactured guitars. I get that such a feature would be out of place on artist and reissue models from earlier production eras, but the Aerodyne uses a 2 point modern style tremelo system so why not use a tapered heel carve to make accessing the upper register more comfortable and effortless.
Now to be fair given the choice of a new MIM Charvel or an Aerodyne for similar MSRP my money is on the Aerodyne all day. I cannot explain the difference but to me the Japanese made units are just an altogether different playing experience. I am more inspired by them and cannot nail it down to any one feature or component. It is something I just feel when I play a guitar. It is like each guitar has its own personality and place musically that it likes to hang out in and I play them accordingly. For me the Aerodyne says I am somewhat of a classic but dabble in the modern era, so while I may not handle like an auto-crosser in the corners I still like to go fast from time to time.
@@killacoiler1707 great info i appreciate it , I'm with you on the MIJ I have 2 early 80's Ibanez Roadstar models with the Super 6 pickups, unbelievable quality, on par or exceeds US models of the same time period, made in Japan all day , Peace !
@@jixxxxer17 I have a 1996 Jagmaster Vista MIJ that I bought new that has an amazing neck on it that blows the doors off the early 2000s China made Squier stuff. The Japanese craftsmanship is what kept Fender afloat when they separated from CBS and were having to move the production facility. The "American" model Fender guitars were majority built in Japan during the transition and the quality was actually better than the small amount of American produced models. My brother has a Tele and Strat from that transitional period that came from Fender Japan and man are they players. I want to check out a Vola guitar to see how they compare to other Japanese brands because they are very well equipped for their price point.
I have this guitar and I absolutely love it. Since I have big hands, the neck was more comfortable than any other guitar I’ve owned. It has all the features I’ve wanted from a telecaster: humbucking rowdy bridge pickup, glassy neck pickup, maple neck fretboard, flame top, ash body, comfort cutouts, abalone inlays, white binding, single ply pick guard, etc. I couldn’t have spec’d it better myself
Great playing! It’s good to finally hear someone, besides Richie, who can make this thing wail👍🏻
Richie’s Tele is completely epic. It’s totally a different animal altogether. It can be the softest sweetest tone and become a fire breathing dragon in a roll of the volume knob and the pickups configuration are so genius. Btw his Japanese Strats are epic too. I think they are better than the American ones by far
Agreed
Stellar playing, Rich. I tried one of these against the US made Dark Knight Tele and the RK won the day for me. Probably the best Telecaster I’ve ever played (and now own). The neck is most definitely big, but still comfortable. Great demo of a great guitar, Sir 👍
Thanks!
Great playing Rich! You brought Richie's Sig Tele to life.
I've seen the Winery Dogs in concert four times, magic stuff, they play well together.
Dang I'm jealous!
Richie is such an under rated guitar player.
I gotta say I have to agree with the title of your video. I just got one a few months ago. I wish I'd bought it ten years ago. Love the fat neck. The pickups sound incredible even with no tone knob. And I like the fact anytime I see Richie playing, he's actually using the stuff he endorses. I sold my american standard Tele because this is the only one I play now.
🤘🏻👍
Hey Rich was able to a Richies Red Strat to my collection, it’s so amazing that all I play is his Tele and Strat anymore. They are seriously that good. I have not picked up even my American professional 2 strat since I acquired the Kotzen axes
Richie Kotzen is a bad dude on guitar! Probably one of the most underrated guitar players around! I’m shocked that he would like such a big neck since he is a shredder. Sounds good!
Yeah me too but as he got older he said thicker necks were more comfortable. I hear most players say so!
If I closed my eyes I could have believed I was listening to Steve Vai. Awesome playing. You’re really mastering the instrument.
Playing is on point today! Congrats on the new guitar. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours, Rich!
Damn Rich, that intro was pretty damn epic. That’s two damns. That’s a keeper for you man. Don’t let that one go.
Can’t wait to hear you playing this at one of your gigs I have been looking at getting one your review and playing has swayed me 👍🔥🎸🦅
Respect the shredding Rich ... Hoards of locusts like baking track & opening intro song your best playing I have heard to date !
Thanks!
What a brilliant demonstration 👍🏻 Thanks 🙏🏻
I’ve had this guitar for about two years, and I love it. I took mine in for a professional setup, and my luthier loved it as well. The fret work is fantastic, and the tone is killer. What are you playing through to get those tones from it? I would love to know your signal path. Great playing, and great tone overall. Thanks!
That was a fantastic review and great playing. Happy New Year
Rich you might find this interesting. I went onto You Tube and found RICHIE KOTZEN demonstrating these pickups on his Tele and went from looking to buy the set after hearing yours, to crossing them off my notepad when Richie played it. You got the magic.
Nice playing again Rich. One lovely sounding and looking guitar.
Wonderful playing...I have a tele that is a bit of a copy of this, but with a slim neck. I always wanted to try one of these though. And, today, when in a guitar store aiming to try a PRS SE DGT (which was not in stock), I spied one of these and gave it a blast. I have small hands...but I really fell in love with the big fat neck on this. It is a killer guitar...massive GAS as a result. The only doubt I have is the lack of a tone control. I love satin necks too... The neck pickup sounded pretty similar in both guitars to me... Thanks for the review.
that looks and sounds great in your hands, Rich!
Tele's are so cool
Japanese factories have been better than USA factories for the past 20 years
I agree with this, for now fender built quality is so good very detail
Dude, try 40.
Great playing and very cool intro tune ! This tele seems to inspire good shreddy vibes. Nice.
Hi @Rich Bischoff, for the "thick fat neck" of this guitar compared to the "U" shape neck, which one is fatter ? or is it the same thickness as the "U" shape neck ?
About the same.
Nice one Rich!....I REALLY like that guitar, and you made it sing!!
Thanks!
I just traded a Gibson LP Special for one of these earlier today, couldn't be happier, I've been wanting one RK Telecaster for a few years. By the way I Really dig your Channel, especially the traveling to the gig adventures.
Thanks! It's a great Tele, congrats!
Hello, great vid. Thanks for posting. As for the sound of the TK btw the two guitars, I think the vol & tone pots might've played a role. Just a guess. Cheers!
Sounds fine on both.
Nice review. Great playing! What effects and amp were you using?😜
I was using the line 6 Helix, on the Soldano amp model.
Kotzen is one of my top five guitar players of all time!! 👍🏾👍🏾 great demo!!
Nice acquisition Rich! Yes the fender did sound better but not by much. Love both guitars! Thanks for sharing!
Thinking about getting one but I usually play thin neck profiles, love Kotzen and love this guitar, nice playing!!
Rich thank you for sharing this. One of THE best sounding Tele's I have ever heard, and your playing doesn't hurt a bit. Great stuff. I am curious if the Harley Benton Tele using the same pickup had the same rated pots and capacitor. I really wouldn't mind converting one of my Tele's into this same configuration with controls and pickups from the ground up. That boost channel is for sure. Let me know. Thanks. Love watching your channel.
Thanks Bob. I'm betting the Harley Benton has cheaper pots etc... but I'm not sure.
I bought my Kotzen tele about 2 yrs ago and keep searching videos on it to see if we all stand by it and the hype. Believe it. Man you are a blistering player! Love this demo. Richie himself must be applauding somewhere. And to my surprise you pull out a HB TE30 which I had as well! Crazy!! With the twangKing in it, it is improved..but those hb pots are meh. All in all Heck ya Subscribing!
Thanks!
Japanese attention to detail and craftsmanship are second to none! Fortunately tried a few Japanese made guitars over the years everyone incredibly well made, way out of my price range but could understand Fender and other brands using Japanese quality!🙂🎸
Hi Rich, really atonishing playing here! Congrats! I would really hope to hear your advice on which would be a better option for jazz-fusion style, between this Fender Richie Kotzen tele (I really love its esthetic) and a Suhr Modern. I know there's price level difference, but that's not of main concern. I'd like to know your opinion on the suitability of those two for jazz-fusion.
I've never played the Suhr so I really don't know specifics. I sure would like to play one though. HA! I love my RK Tele though. I feel like the pickups on the RK Tele make it more of a rock guitar.
@@RichBischoff Thanks for the comment! I also want to try these guitars physically beforing deciding to buy. But nowadays it's just difficult. There are so little on stock.
Some of the designs and finishes of the Japanese Fenders are beautiful and so much value for money, the trouble is they are not allowed to ship abroad any more so you have to use a purchase/ shipping agent to get hold of them.
I've had mine since 2016. I'll never part with it. An absolute beast of a versatile rock machine. It can do anything.
Yup
So, I have one of these and, in my 40 years, it's the best sounding guitar I have ever played. I put the same pick-ups in my boutique telecaster and it sounds nothing like the Kotzen. Mine is from a centre cut piece of ash and it weighs about 30,000 pounds but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I played a lighter one in a local shop and it wasn't as good, good, but not as which settles the tonewood debate for me.
Kotzen pickup way hot i am big fan of dimarzio pickup put them in les paul and awesome tone from the burst bucker and 490T and R pick ups yes i have my Kotzen on order you know your stuff its good to see youtube on top of the game thanks man Cali rocker signing off.
Hey Rich, have you played a JV 60's modified tele? I have the Baja 60s and I love the S1 out of phase but I wouldn't want to get another that sounds much the same.I know you've played the Baja so I would appreciate your thoughts!
I've never played the JV Modified 60s telecasters. I have seen the demos on it. They seem really similar to the Baja at least pickup configuration wise.
@@RichBischoff That's about what I was thinking. Thanks for the quick reply, Rich!
Thanks…it’s been a year since your review. Are you still lovin the this guitar?
My favorite.
Great playing and review live teles, but this is a special guitar
FYI the Kotzen tele probably sounds louder and brighter because there’s no tone pot which will increase the volume and high frequency peak somewhat. I have a similar setup in my Tele with a no load pot and just engaging it tames the high end. Anyways Nice guitar!
owned on a few years ago and regretted selling it....picking up another one tomorrow....yes the neck is fat BUT it plays sooooo damn comfy....I have friends that don't like fat necks and they still love the way this guitar feels
so, Rich, even though this vid is two years old, here’s my question: played one of these and they’re excellent in every way, except one: the two e strings (and especially the high e) are so close to the edge of the finger board, so as to make the guitar (for me) virtually unplayable. The LEAST amount of vibrato on the high e and it’s off the edge of the fingerboard. Any suggestions how to remedy this? Thanks
You must have played a bad one then, because mine is fine. The neck on the one you played probably needs to be adjusted. Easy fix usually.
@@RichBischoff thanks for the reply…
Best demo
You are very professional
wow hello mr shredder.nice playing
Thanks!
Hi Rich!
Can you compare this neck with LP 50´ neck?
Tnx
Wow., I think Robert Baker has some serious competition now you’ve got one of these as well. Great playing as always.
Haha! Does he still have his?
@@RichBischoff I believe so.
Robert sold his RK sig to fund his vintage strat purchase, that was at least a year ago. He replied to a message I put on a Facebook group about the RK sig and it’s weight. He said he no longer had it, but that it was quite heavy.
It's heavier for a Tele, but not Les Paul heavy...
@@RichBischoff Do you have any other vids featuring this tele, had a quick look and couldn’t find any?
The neck quality plus I’m sure better wiring in the Japanese probably make that pup pop better. But to the untrained ear you wouldn’t notice much difference. It also could be due to a lack of tone control that makes the difference??
I’d have to play it sitting down, too heavy for my old man back.
Sounds killer though !!!
Unless it’s Ultra or custom shop I always prefer MIJ Fender over their other lines
I regret not buying the one i played a decade ago
Is that gold hardware really bright gold, or is it toned down quite a bit
It's exactly as it looks in the video.
I have owned one for about 6 months. Quality is TOP notch. Can't find a flaw on it. Pickups sound great, the neck is super smooth. The flame on the top looks great. Super underrated if you ask me. But, I can't seem to get over the bare fretboard. I probably will sell mine due to that alone, having no separate wood fretboard just doesn't feel right to me.
Always felt the Japanese made Fenders were a touch above the USA Fenders. Had a USA Fender Deluxe couldn't wait to get rid of it. However the EJ thinline changed my mind slightly. Between my RK, EJ and an old Japanese Pro Strat I'm spoiled for choice. Most newer USA Strat/Teles don't do it for me. At Custom Shop prices I'd prefer the PRS Silver Sky and with the SE series I got one in a heartbeat Sorry Fender USA you've got to up your game. BTW the Japanese Pro Strat is basically the Ritchie Sambora model but released mid 80s way before the RS. Fender still doesn't use the sculpted heel joint much. Go figure.
Ive had a kotzen tele for a couple years now, and even though my hands are average sized playing thumb over the top chords is easier for me on my kotzen tele than on strats I have with smaller necks. Something about that neck being on a tele also makes the sustain nuts on these guitars. Anyways theres my two cents. Big neck be damned its a sick guitar.
I love it! Thanks for the input!
kotzen is one of my favorite one... On cheap guitar there's too much low spectrum. Its ether problem in tone pots, or even pickups are different from one to another..
Wow!
Leo designed the Telecaster to be very easy and simple to make. So the headline question is more or less a testament to the absurdity of some people in the music industry! - Peter age 71
The HB Tele does sound duller than the Fender. The Fender Tele sounds great.
Question from a tech dummy: I never hear anyone playing country or jazz on this thing. Is there a reason for that?
Designed a little more for Rock, the pickups at least, but you can play country or jazz on it. RK is more of a blues and rock guy though.
Gotcha! That makes sense. If you don't mind indulging one more question (I swear).
If you wanted to play some jazz, what would you do? Pedal assistance, just run it clean through the neck pick up?
Neck pickup is awesome for that.
Thank you so much!
Sweet
Constructive criticism: All that delay you throw on in your demos really gets in the way of hearing how the guitars really sound. It gets in the way of an otherwise good gear demo.
I’ve just bought a Suhr Tele after having played a RK Fender Tele. No comparison…
More info would be nice.
@@RichBischoff The clarity, the feel…think it’s the brass parts, stainless steel frets, the compount radius…the Suhr sound so much louder and twangy, even without being plugged in…
They are two different beasts basicly. Most people can't afford the Suhr stuff. I have always wanted to try one.
@@RichBischoff Feel free to come to my home. Coffee is ready!
@@RichBischoff Subscribed, by the way! 👊🏻🤘🏻
The Richie kotzen tele has one 250k pot for the volume and no tone knob. The other tele you played has a 250k pot for the volume and another for the tone knob. So the Richie Kotzen tele is letting more treble through. That might be why it sounds brighter and more articulate.
Good to know. Thanks
Interesting. I’ve had a Kotzen Tele for about 5 years. One of the first thing I did was change that Tone switch to a push-pull to give me the series and put in a tone pot so I could roll off some treble off the bridge pickup when I want/need to. I wonder how much change I induced into it’s intended design.
I have my heart set on one of these bad boys. But the fat neck scares me. I’ve always loved thin necks
I’d put any of Richies Japanese fenders up against any American fender any day. They are amazing
❤
A tele mais linda que eu já vi
The Richie Tele tone completely blew away the Harley Benton Tele.
The difference could be in the materials used in the bridge.
I was thinking the same thing.
It’s a cheap fix
Oh man, oh man, oh man. lol Tasty.
MIJ > MIA, imo.
Eddie Van Halen!! Get out of that body!!
It's duller in the cheap guitar because it has a tone pot in the circuit...
i think you mean can a tele made in the usa be as good as the one made in japan...
I can't tell where the sound effects stop and the telecaster begins.
You must be deaf then.
japan ... yes...
mexico... no
"Can made in Japan be as good as made in the USA?" Is this seriously a question? It's been well established since the 80's that MIJ beats MIA.
Not so, some mij models are better than mia and vice versa.
Love mine!