i have one that I got used and i got it setup about 8 months ago and since then I have performed with it, recorded an album, and just used it all the time and still to this day the setup is still perfect and the pickups sound amazing. Best guitar I own by far
Great video and great playing as always! I love my tide pool blue Player Tele. I bought it with the intention of upgrading the pickups to Twisted Tele and changing out the bridge. But to my surprise it's pretty perfect as is with everything stock, so no need to upgrade. The pickups punch and the bridge feels great. It plays and sounds wonderful. :D
I have this same model and can only recommend it. Initially bought it to fight of GAS until buying a nice vintage lefty tele, it has sticked with me ever since. I had some mexi and other brand lefty teles in the past and this is hands down the best I ever had. Pros: very light (3.3 kg/ 7.3 pounds), quality made, great sounding, neck pickup usable. Cons: My tuners are stiff and not really fine tuning, takes a while to dial in the right tension, but then they hold tuning pretty well, will be replaced one day. As with any lefty Fender, had to rewire both pots to standard righty sweep, now they are completely usable. The tip switch falls off very quickly on this model. The solution was superglue.
Great review, mate. If it makes you feel better those switch tips fall off their high end guitars as well. They need to have a bolt through them or something. I always end up super-gluing mine in place haha.
While these have gone up in price, they are still great value guitars when you can find them on sale. They play and sound great, but there's no gig bag included anymore which is a bummer. Thanks to Sky Music for the loaner! If you like this video, check out the full series here - ruclips.net/p/PLNYCekIbACISpYj1zBW4d5NUNb_nl6yrQ 🛒 Sweetwater - sweetwater.sjv.io/jrOxne 🛒 Sky Music - bit.ly/3pRj89r 🛒 Thomann - bit.ly/3K34Jhk 🛒 Fender - bit.ly/3fZiRMF 🛒 Guitar Center - guitar-center.pxf.io/ZQynxq 🛒 Reverb.com (Used) reverb.partnerlinks.io/sb1n62kbwgvl (affiliate links)
Get a Tele mate!! I'd played Gibsons, Epis, Gretsch, 7-8 yrs ago l got my first Tele & thought why didn't I do this earlier...they're great..Leo got it right the first time!!
In my experience, The Telecaster is a standard, As is a GOOD Les Paul model,, that said, If you had to pick only One instrument To do all That is a Strat. But Telecaster, Is a wonderful instrument. It is the Original Solid body. The Standard.
I think they're putting the same pickups in the Player series as in the old American Standard series.... Sound the same to me. And they're my favorite pickups!
So right, Shane...from smooth Country with Merle Haggard (Tough Dog Tele) to pickers like Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs, then up the gain for Billy Squire and, my favorite Tele player, Dan Baird! I LOVE a Tele, I have an older '90s MIM...been thinking about putting Ice Queen pups in it. I wonder how the older MIM pups compare to these new MIM pups.
Prior to the advent of the Player Series with their Alnico V pups, the MiM Standard Series Strats and Teles, which the Player Series models replaced, had ceramic pups. They sounded great with the gain cranked but for clean tones these new Alnico V's are - as we say here in Southeast Louisiana - "more better".
One of my fave Teles is the Fender Highway One from 2003/4. If you see one, I'd say grab it as it rocks.I chose it over the Fender ones that cost more and it's great.
Yip, I love mine. it's a 2022 Butterscotch Blonde Player model. Thanks for saying this is the only Telecastor a man needs, it reassures me how I feel about mine.
I own one and play it more than any other guitar. It’s at the perfect intersection of price and quality. I don’t have to worry about it getting a scratch or ding like any of my American guitars. And I honestly think this guitar feels better than some of my guitars that are 4x the price. 😬
I own the black one, exactly the same as the one in the video. It is an awesome guitar, had zero issues with it. I cannot recommend it enough. I like black teles. 😊
I had one just like this when they came out. I shielded mine better and put the Tele jack upgrade in it. I loved it. A friend talked me into selling it to him (at a profit to me) so I sold it. I've regretted it every since. I've been thinking of getting another one. Thanks for "twisting my arm" on it. 🤣🤣 Now I'm putting it on my "get" list.
I have that exact guitar as well, and though I mostly love it, I’m curious if you had the same issue I have with the pots, which is that they seem to have a right handed audio taper, so that while the direction of the knob is correctly reversed for the lefty model, going from 10 to 2 on the pot takes you from 100% to 80% and then there’s a massive drop off from 2 to 0. One of these days I’ll get around to replacing those pots. Other that that I love it. I fell in love instantly when I put my hand on that neck, it’s perfect for me.
That’s exactly what they are. They just use right hand pots connected in reverse. When the American Pro guitars were released they made a point in the specs for the lefties of mentioning they have left hand pots. They dropped that from the specs of the Pro II guitars. It’s naughty that you have to spend over £1500 to get a leftie Fender guitar with controls that work the same as they do on a right handed guitar. I had the pots changed on my leftie Player Tele. You really can’t use the guitar nobs to control volume and tone on lefty Player guitars properly until you change them.
I bought a 2019 butterscotch blackguard player, slightly used, probably a 2nd, with greenish knots in the wood. Love it! I also love my other 2 teles. A well used 2011 MX 60th ann, cracked black w greenish pick guard. Plans to turn it into a Esquire. & a 2017 MX 17 std. All sound different. ❤
Good guitar, for sure. A classic Telecaster. I do advise folks to also check out the G&L ASAT Special. It's a very versatile Telecaster-style guitar, made by the man himself, Leo Fender (and George Fullerton), that can also cover P90-esque and Jazzmaster tones. It's like having three guitars in one. Those two MFD pups are the bomb, and the tone control works well. Possibly the best production Telecaster made IMHO. I have an early 1990s G&L USA version, with the three bolt neck plate and thinner neck. Only downsides to my particular model are the traditional 7.25" fingerboard radius and a slab body (would prefer a 12" and belly cut). You can get them in other versions with flatter radius, belly cut, and/or three pups set up with a five way switch like a Strat. The MFDs give you all the twang, but also some extra low end warmth and punch, and a certain sense of sweetness to the tones. The middle position is one of the cleanest rhythm tones out there. Seriously, I'm not trying to curb anyone's Fender Tele fever or enthusiam, just giving you another option to consider.
I sent my asat bluesboy straight back it was literally a half finished product i couldn't believe the QC on it, i was so upset i really had high hopes! My fender player tele had a great neck and was well set up. I really want to get a squier next to compare all 3 usa mex and indo
@@kremepye3613 I hear ya. Sometimes it is the luck of the draw or other factors. I have had four G&L USA guitars, and have kept two so far. Love this old 1990s ASAT Special, had it about 13 years or so now.
@@Hun_Uinaq You might have to look around, but I am sure they do. They do quite a variety of finishes, contours, neck radii, etc. Almost like a custom shop. They have options through dealers I hear.
Excellent review and demo. Your very skilled, versatile and melodic playing really gives us a good idea of the wide range of tones and also the look and feel of this beauty. I WISH I needed or had room for another guitar - this one seems like a great deal all around. Thanks!
@@intheblues Well, as I mentioned above, I didn't need or have room for another guitar, but I watched your video a couple more times…and…I got it today. It is GREAT! An awesome guitar at a great price. And I can learn to live with all the fingerprints showing :) Thanks for such an in-depth and complete look at it - I respect your takes on all kinds of guitars - a lot. Cheers!
I like this bridge more than the vintage (ashtray) one. I have to admit the vintage one is the classic - it never gets old, but man this looks very slick, modern and shiny. Also the bridge pickup has quite the output. I think is one of the hottest Fender bridge pickups. Volume knob is wired in a way that it turns down volume AND tone simultaneously, which is exactly what you need when cleaning a pushed amp on a guitar. Otherwise the cleans would be too bright and you would need to turn down the second knob as well - tone knob. This is very practical. Just crank the amp, and use the volume knob on guitar. No fuss.
I have this model, and for the price, it is a real winner. The stock pups, especially the neck pup, sound terrific. (The newly designed pups in the Player Series Strats are excellent, too!) I did have to make some minor changes. I prefer the vintage style three saddle bridge* with brass saddles, so I installed one with a '62 Custom Telecaster pup replacing the stock bridge pup. (It isn't as loud as the stock pickup but it is much cleaner with a nice glassy shimmer.) I was going to swap the neck pup for the corresponding '62 neck model, but it sounded so good that I wasn't going to mess with a good thing. (I have three Teles and this is the only one with a stock neck pickup.) The satin finish on the back of the neck is silky smooth. And while weights vary due to the wood used, mine is super light, but rings and sustains beautifully. [* I like the raised edges of the vintage bridge as it gives me a nice platform for anchoring the pinkie of my picking hand.[
@losangulos I used a Fender branded bridge plate. I don't have a link, but they're easy to find on eBay or Reverb. (I prefer the brass barrel saddles to the steel saddles as they take off a bit of the edge, treble-wise.)
I’ve got the exact same rig, player series tele into artist tweed amp, pickups sound fantastic through the amp, It’s probably the most versatile guitar I’ve owned, couldn’t recommend it highly enough
Hi I am from Ecuador. "A few days ago I bought myself this guitar and I'm happy. Honestly, I didn't find much difference compared to high-end ones. It even seemed to me that it sounds better."
I bought the same guitar (lefty) from Austin Bazaar (I’m in Texas). They had various Player series guitars that came with the tweed hard case. No upcharge.
I love a Telecaster. Mine is a 3 Seymour D pickup RW finger brd Nashville B Bender. Very Versatile!!! From Strat to LP Special. Stands out above my Les Pauls for the niche it fills!!!
I bought a "Nashville" a few years ago. The Vintage Noiseless pickups were rather weak and uninspiring*. I yanked them and completely rewired it. I yanked the 1 Meg pots and put in a premium Mojotone 250k harness and installed Fender's Yosemite Tele pickup set, and in the middle position I installed a Player Series Strat bridge pickup. I also changed the selector switch wiring so the middle position was the bridge pup so I could have that classic Tele sound of the bridge and neck pup. I call it the "Memphis Mod" in honor of Memphis Group guitarist Steve Cropper. [* The stock Vintage Noiseless pups are Alnico II's and to my taste were quite weak with a distinct lack of testosterone. The newer Vintage Noiseless pups in the Player Plus Series are Alnico V's and are, IMHO, considerably brighter with greater punch. I sold my Player Series Strat and bought the Player Plus Series Strat. It's magnificent ]
I like the player series tele they are $849 new in the US. Sire T7 is $741 and the neck is amazing! I'm a lefty too and I appreciate your guitar reviews because they are guitars I know I can purchase! Keep up the great videos, and thank you!
As a righthanded player, i think i must be one of the 1% who doesnt need a lefty guitar. 😂 Jokes aside, player series is great for the money. But i prefer vintage style and tone. I have bought a used squier CV 50s tele this year. Looks like new for only 220€. It is from the older china line. It is official a white one, but however the early ones from china look more like a see-through yellowish vintage white. Very beautiful.preowner changed the black pickguard for a oneply white one. Realy fits the overall look. Love the brass saddles, too. I play guitar since 2004 and this was my first tele. I am very happy with it. Great sounding lady. ❤
I have a 1996 Mexican Tele, originally a toploader with 6-saddle bridge. Much easier to play than the ashtray. I converted it to string-through, and swapped the bridge for a Gotoh one with six brass saddles. The one thing I'd really like to see on all Telecasters is a belly cut. I have a Squier Jim Root Tele, with that as standard. My red Tele has one that I made with a belt sander!
Thanks, Shane. I've been keeping an eye out for a Player Tele in Capri Orange for less than AUD$1000 new, but they are creeping up in price quite rapidly. No gig bag with the Player series. You do get one with the Player Plus guitars, but they are around AUD$500 more.
Hi Doogle. Yeah they are getting more expensive each year by the looks of it. You're spot on about the gig bag, there is definitely none included anymore. That orange one is cool. I think I played one in the keys to the guitar shops series I do, looks great.
i didn't realize they put the Telecaster bit there on the lefties headstock .would really bug me lol{ithink I'd take a razor blade and make it a nocaster] .Great guitars but an old Tele head once told me only a 3 saddle bridges sound right so i went for another Mexican beauty a 2019 Vintera 60s Modified and love it . Apart from all extra tones from 4 way switching and the S1 push/push for going out of phase ,i just love the clean aesthetics of the 60s headstock and could look at it all day.
I 100% agree! Great video and review, I own a Player and at first I was turned off by a few things, the fact that it was made internationally and the price. Boy was I WRONG! lol. As soon as I got my guitar and plugged it in I was in love, I couldn't believe how versatile it was and the tones were tremendous, it has become my favorite axe. No way will I ever make that mistake ever again, I'll even go as far and say that I prefer this guitar over my other expensive guitar. Price shouldn't be a musicians main focus, instead find whatever speaks to you and try it out!
Hi Shane, great review of the Fender Tele Player! Have you maybe thought about a review of the Fender Tele Player Plus? Or maybe a comparison between the Player and Player Plus? That would be great! Thanks from Belgium and keep on rocking, Pieter 🤘
Sharp as a tack... as a strat and LP player i've never had a tele, this demo absolutely shows the tele having all the subtlety of a strat and the raw power of an LP.. arrgh seems like time to invest 😮😂
Nice review (as always) Shane! I got a white one, maple board, a bloody purple Andertons one (that brilliant) & another one!! I just got an Eastman Jr...but lve seen the Japanese Tele with the Wide Range at the neck, l blv lm addicted!!
Hey Shane, great sounds. I have one, exactly like that. It delivers on the stuff I do. Just need to practice more to get the most out of it. Of course, Teles are only good for Country Music!!!?? Mate, who could forget those Famous 70's Country Bands that used a Tele like The Clash and The Stranglers. Pete
That's a sweet guitar for the money. I love looks of a shiny black guitar but like you I find it a real challenge to keep wiping the fingerprints off of mine.
I have that exact same guitar! Except I switched out the pickups, the wiring and pots, the jack socket, the control plate and switch and the pick guard. 😂 Love it!
Steve Vai makes those same faces when he plays. But he has a wind machine blowing through his hair. Shane is missing the fan and the hair. But he does have the blues chops.
I have tried many teles over the years, Mexican, Squier, American, and a few knockoffs that I heavily modified. I could not bond with any of them. I guess I’m just not a tele guy. But I love the look of them…🤷♂️
Great review! I just got a tele myself recently. A japan made Cool Z ZTL-2r model. Love it ! The versatility and tones are great! You should find some of the Japanese made only brands like Cool Z or History and review them. Also can you do a review on top loading versus body string through? Did it to mine…::wow….changed from acoustic style tension to Strat style! Love it ! Thanks !
Very Cool, Thankyou Shane. Stunning Guitar and Playing as always. Sounded Amazing. I have my Artist Guitars TC59 as my main "Tele" Guitar for past few years, and am amazed every time I play it as to how Awesome it is, but I also picked up a Donner 'Sunburst' Tele on Black Friday Sales last year for less than $100- Australian ..... too good a bargain to pass up. This has been a real fun guitar and my first Introduction to 'actual' Tele single coils although The TC59 is 'splitable' Humbuckers which are amazing. Although these 2 'Telecaster' Guitars are awesome and have been a lot of fun I will be getting a Fender Player series one day soon. Olympic White I Feel ........ Just Because. lol. Love The Channel. Cheers
I've always been a Strat guy . I love my US Standard 1999 to bits , but recently I've had a real urge to get a Tele . I've only had a couple previously , one was similar to the one you are playing , but it was the cheaper Fender Squier version with the black Fender writing on the headstock . It was decent , but the pups weren't great , and the other was a Fiesta red Squier Affinity , which was also alright , but just didn't do it for me .
Literally going to be picking one of these up next week and then this vid pops up haha. Must be fate telling me I definitely need to buy another guitar :D
Ill be honest with you .I have a 2014mex standard and a 2018 players fenders teles , And the pickups had to go! Dull and muddy ,Replaced with S,D stl broadcaster and tonerider blues ,Now it sounds like a tele should .
Thanks for the review. This is a great looking and playing Tele. I've got the exact same in a right hand model. I also have a Am Std Pro II. They are different but I like them both a lot. But I have to admit I like the Pro better. Its taller frets and slightly wider fret board plays better for me, but that is personal. It also is the only guitar I recall to ever be set up just right for me out of the box - and that's saying a lot. The Player needed a fair amount of work but I am picky. The Pro has that nifty toggle in the middle position. I didn't think I'd like it at first but now I find it very useful. Pickups on both sound different but can't say one is really better than the other, just different. My gig a few days ago got the Pro but I'd have felt great playing the Player too. I've recommended this very same Fender Player Tele to other's as their "first good guitar".
Ive never had one, but love the vintage teles , but the ashtray bridges scare me, i think id lose a finger playing them...i know that sounds stupid, but i am stupid, & idk, i feel like id cut my hand on them, they look dangerous....ill get a vintage tele one day tho, but, as a first telecaster i think i want this one...ive really been agonizing over the decision lately, lol
Love the neck on mine but found the pickups quite unremarkable. It's in the shop right now getting Greg Koch Fishman Fluence pickups put in it (so all new guts).
Have had mine in black for a while now. The pots and switch got noisy after about a year so replaced the electronics, jack, tuners and while at it, replaced the pickups with Fralin Blues Specials. Not a bad guitar after the upgrades. Playability is OK and with the right amp you can get the expected Tele tones.
Hi, I have two classic vibes (a strato and a tele) and I would like to treat myself to a player for Christmas but I'm very undecided between the strato and the tele. Considering that I use them in the same way, which one would you recommend in terms of quality?
Would help to hear how heavy it is/if any neck dive. Also, when you change to bridge v neck mode, put text on the screen so we know what you're doing. Really can't SEE in the vid when you switch over to those modes.
I played a Vintera Tele 60s, then a Player series a couple weeks later. I absolutely loved the Vintera, but the Player felt and sounded so plain compared to the Vintera. But I wonder if it was just that one guitar I played that wasn't so great.
i prefered the vintera series before they rised their prices... i don't like the modern bridge without the "ashtray border" and the strato tuners... ieven prefer the classic vibe pickups sound.... so i bought a tokai and changed the pickups for a pair of vintera 50's ... so happy with my choice
I have too Player Series Telecaster but another color (Butter Scotch Blonde). Really comfortable and good guitar. I checked Player Tele Maple Neck BSB, Player Strat Maple Neck Butter Cream and Vintera 50s Strat Sonic Blue in a music shop at Seville on last year May. Vintera is V shape neck and Im not experienced player and not comfortable for me. I liked Strat but that Tele was more good and I bought it 729 Euro. I didn't regret but all time I was thinking Strat too and last April I paid 749 Euro for Polar White Maple Neck Strat from France. Also this is amazing guitar too. After 3 months, when I back to home I will compare both Player's again over my 68 Custom Vibro Champ and HX Stomp XL. I have a question. My Player Tele has one logo behind of headstock same like Shane's Tele. Is this series different than other? Also I advise to Shane, pls try a review video for Line 6 HX Stomp XL, you never regret.
This guitar is a real value for the price. The real Alnico pickups sound great from low to high gain, the neck and frets feel nice, and the build and finish are all solid. Given that this is a "player" guitar I would LOVE it if Fender added a belly cut (and even a forearm cut! shocking I know) for even more playability. Also it would reduce the weight a bit which I would appreciate with the slightly hefty alder the body on these. (If you've ever played a Japanese Fender with a basswood or other lightweight body, you'll know what I mean). Otherwise a solid choice for most players and one that I wouldn't hesitate to gig with.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
i have one that I got used and i got it setup about 8 months ago and since then I have performed with it, recorded an album, and just used it all the time and still to this day the setup is still perfect and the pickups sound amazing. Best guitar I own by far
Great video and great playing as always! I love my tide pool blue Player Tele. I bought it with the intention of upgrading the pickups to Twisted Tele and changing out the bridge. But to my surprise it's pretty perfect as is with everything stock, so no need to upgrade. The pickups punch and the bridge feels great. It plays and sounds wonderful. :D
I have this same model and can only recommend it. Initially bought it to fight of GAS until buying a nice vintage lefty tele, it has sticked with me ever since. I had some mexi and other brand lefty teles in the past and this is hands down the best I ever had. Pros: very light (3.3 kg/ 7.3 pounds), quality made, great sounding, neck pickup usable. Cons: My tuners are stiff and not really fine tuning, takes a while to dial in the right tension, but then they hold tuning pretty well, will be replaced one day. As with any lefty Fender, had to rewire both pots to standard righty sweep, now they are completely usable. The tip switch falls off very quickly on this model. The solution was superglue.
Great review, mate. If it makes you feel better those switch tips fall off their high end guitars as well. They need to have a bolt through them or something. I always end up super-gluing mine in place haha.
I even forgot that my switch tip even had a tip (it's been so long since I had it) on my Squier Tele!
While these have gone up in price, they are still great value guitars when you can find them on sale. They play and sound great, but there's no gig bag included anymore which is a bummer. Thanks to Sky Music for the loaner! If you like this video, check out the full series here - ruclips.net/p/PLNYCekIbACISpYj1zBW4d5NUNb_nl6yrQ
🛒 Sweetwater - sweetwater.sjv.io/jrOxne
🛒 Sky Music - bit.ly/3pRj89r
🛒 Thomann - bit.ly/3K34Jhk
🛒 Fender - bit.ly/3fZiRMF
🛒 Guitar Center - guitar-center.pxf.io/ZQynxq
🛒 Reverb.com (Used) reverb.partnerlinks.io/sb1n62kbwgvl
(affiliate links)
I keep trying to talk myself into a tele and clearly the interwebs are conspiring to make it happen
haha. RUclips is listening! 😄
Get a Tele mate!!
I'd played Gibsons, Epis, Gretsch, 7-8 yrs ago l got my first Tele & thought why didn't I do this earlier...they're great..Leo got it right the first time!!
Get 1 of every type of guitar
Teles are like a bazooka in Normandy, circa June 1944; they're INVALUABLE.
Trust me, I done been there.
Crank the gain and level the competition.
In my experience,
The Telecaster is a standard,
As is a GOOD
Les Paul model,,
that said,
If you had to pick only
One instrument
To do all
That is a Strat.
But Telecaster,
Is a wonderful instrument.
It is the Original
Solid body.
The Standard.
Got this exact guitar about a month ago. The black on black looks incredible and just wow absolutely blown away with it
I think they're putting the same pickups in the Player series as in the old American Standard series.... Sound the same to me. And they're my favorite pickups!
Thanks!
Dan! Thank you, mate! You rock. 🙏
So right, Shane...from smooth Country with Merle Haggard (Tough Dog Tele) to pickers like Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs, then up the gain for Billy Squire and, my favorite Tele player, Dan Baird! I LOVE a Tele, I have an older '90s MIM...been thinking about putting Ice Queen pups in it. I wonder how the older MIM pups compare to these new MIM pups.
Prior to the advent of the Player Series with their Alnico V pups, the MiM Standard Series Strats and Teles, which the Player Series models replaced, had ceramic pups.
They sounded great with the gain cranked but for clean tones these new Alnico V's are - as we say here in Southeast Louisiana - "more better".
One of my fave Teles is the Fender Highway One from 2003/4. If you see one, I'd say grab it as it rocks.I chose it over the Fender ones that cost more and it's great.
Sweet playing as usual Shane 🙌🔥🤗
Yip, I love mine. it's a 2022 Butterscotch Blonde Player model. Thanks for saying this is the only Telecastor a man needs, it reassures me how I feel about mine.
I own one and play it more than any other guitar. It’s at the perfect intersection of price and quality. I don’t have to worry about it getting a scratch or ding like any of my American guitars. And I honestly think this guitar feels better than some of my guitars that are 4x the price. 😬
I own the black one, exactly the same as the one in the video. It is an awesome guitar, had zero issues with it. I cannot recommend it enough. I like black teles. 😊
Great review and I love how you explain exactly what you're doing with the settings between each sound. Much appreciated!
I had one just like this when they came out. I shielded mine better and put the Tele jack upgrade in it. I loved it. A friend talked me into selling it to him (at a profit to me) so I sold it. I've regretted it every since. I've been thinking of getting another one. Thanks for "twisting my arm" on it. 🤣🤣 Now I'm putting it on my "get" list.
I have that exact guitar as well, and though I mostly love it, I’m curious if you had the same issue I have with the pots, which is that they seem to have a right handed audio taper, so that while the direction of the knob is correctly reversed for the lefty model, going from 10 to 2 on the pot takes you from 100% to 80% and then there’s a massive drop off from 2 to 0. One of these days I’ll get around to replacing those pots. Other that that I love it. I fell in love instantly when I put my hand on that neck, it’s perfect for me.
That’s exactly what they are. They just use right hand pots connected in reverse.
When the American Pro guitars were released they made a point in the specs for the lefties of mentioning they have left hand pots. They dropped that from the specs of the Pro II guitars.
It’s naughty that you have to spend over £1500 to get a leftie Fender guitar with controls that work the same as they do on a right handed guitar.
I had the pots changed on my leftie Player Tele. You really can’t use the guitar nobs to control volume and tone on lefty Player guitars properly until you change them.
a strat guy here but I recognize Teles are workhorse guitars, this one sound very good. Shane, great review and playing skill, as usual
That Amp is what made that Tele sing I own 2 Tele’s through many fender & Vox amps but that amp is it 👍🔥🎸🦅
I bought a Squier Affinity series Tele yesterday, and it plays and sounds great in comparison to the Fender Teles, and it's a great price
Ill go for the Player plus because belly cut is the one thing every guitar in the world should have
Thank you for including a higher gain tone.
A lot of videos dont include that.
I bought a 2019 butterscotch blackguard player, slightly used, probably a 2nd, with greenish knots in the wood. Love it! I also love my other 2 teles. A well used 2011 MX 60th ann, cracked black w greenish pick guard. Plans to turn it into a Esquire. & a 2017 MX 17 std. All sound different. ❤
I love my mim tele.Ive had it for a few yrs great guitar for around $ 1000. Canadian.
Good guitar, for sure. A classic Telecaster. I do advise folks to also check out the G&L ASAT Special. It's a very versatile Telecaster-style guitar, made by the man himself, Leo Fender (and George Fullerton), that can also cover P90-esque and Jazzmaster tones. It's like having three guitars in one. Those two MFD pups are the bomb, and the tone control works well. Possibly the best production Telecaster made IMHO. I have an early 1990s G&L USA version, with the three bolt neck plate and thinner neck. Only downsides to my particular model are the traditional 7.25" fingerboard radius and a slab body (would prefer a 12" and belly cut). You can get them in other versions with flatter radius, belly cut, and/or three pups set up with a five way switch like a Strat. The MFDs give you all the twang, but also some extra low end warmth and punch, and a certain sense of sweetness to the tones. The middle position is one of the cleanest rhythm tones out there. Seriously, I'm not trying to curb anyone's Fender Tele fever or enthusiam, just giving you another option to consider.
I sent my asat bluesboy straight back it was literally a half finished product i couldn't believe the QC on it, i was so upset i really had high hopes! My fender player tele had a great neck and was well set up. I really want to get a squier next to compare all 3 usa mex and indo
@@kremepye3613 I hear ya. Sometimes it is the luck of the draw or other factors. I have had four G&L USA guitars, and have kept two so far. Love this old 1990s ASAT Special, had it about 13 years or so now.
I’ve been on the fence about one for a while. Do you know if G&L make theirs in butterscotch blonde?
@@Hun_Uinaq You might have to look around, but I am sure they do. They do quite a variety of finishes, contours, neck radii, etc. Almost like a custom shop. They have options through dealers I hear.
Excellent review and demo. Your very skilled, versatile and melodic playing really gives us a good idea of the wide range of tones and also the look and feel of this beauty. I WISH I needed or had room for another guitar - this one seems like a great deal all around. Thanks!
Cheers for the kind words. These are a solid guitar for sure and the Player Plus is also a great option from Fender.
@@intheblues Well, as I mentioned above, I didn't need or have room for another guitar, but I watched your video a couple more times…and…I got it today. It is GREAT! An awesome guitar at a great price. And I can learn to live with all the fingerprints showing :) Thanks for such an in-depth and complete look at it - I respect your takes on all kinds of guitars - a lot. Cheers!
Hey Shane, have you seen Danny Gatten playing a TELE with a towel over the fretboard. Priceless. Thanks for the brilliant review once again man.
I like this bridge more than the vintage (ashtray) one. I have to admit the vintage one is the classic - it never gets old, but man this looks very slick, modern and shiny. Also the bridge pickup has quite the output. I think is one of the hottest Fender bridge pickups. Volume knob is wired in a way that it turns down volume AND tone simultaneously, which is exactly what you need when cleaning a pushed amp on a guitar. Otherwise the cleans would be too bright and you would need to turn down the second knob as well - tone knob. This is very practical. Just crank the amp, and use the volume knob on guitar. No fuss.
I have this model, and for the price, it is a real winner.
The stock pups, especially the neck pup, sound terrific. (The newly designed pups in the Player Series Strats are excellent, too!)
I did have to make some minor changes. I prefer the vintage style three saddle bridge* with brass saddles, so I installed one with a '62 Custom Telecaster pup replacing the stock bridge pup. (It isn't as loud as the stock pickup but it is much cleaner with a nice glassy shimmer.)
I was going to swap the neck pup for the corresponding '62 neck model, but it sounded so good that I wasn't going to mess with a good thing. (I have three Teles and this is the only one with a stock neck pickup.)
The satin finish on the back of the neck is silky smooth.
And while weights vary due to the wood used, mine is super light, but rings and sustains beautifully.
[* I like the raised edges of the vintage bridge as it gives me a nice platform for anchoring the pinkie of my picking hand.[
Thats exactly what i was thinking to replace, which bridge did you buy you have a link and or name?
@losangulos I used a Fender branded bridge plate. I don't have a link, but they're easy to find on eBay or Reverb. (I prefer the brass barrel saddles to the steel saddles as they take off a bit of the edge, treble-wise.)
I changed the bridge to a Wilkinson cut away no logo with compensated brass saddles it made a difference in sound and playability
I’ve got the exact same rig, player series tele into artist tweed amp, pickups sound fantastic through the amp, It’s probably the most versatile guitar I’ve owned, couldn’t recommend it highly enough
Hi I am from Ecuador. "A few days ago I bought myself this guitar and I'm happy. Honestly, I didn't find much difference compared to high-end ones. It even seemed to me that it sounds better."
I bought the same guitar (lefty) from Austin Bazaar (I’m in Texas). They had various Player series guitars that came with the tweed hard case. No upcharge.
I love a Telecaster. Mine is a 3 Seymour D pickup RW finger brd Nashville B Bender. Very Versatile!!! From Strat to LP Special.
Stands out above my Les Pauls for the niche it fills!!!
I bought a "Nashville" a few years ago. The Vintage Noiseless pickups were rather weak and uninspiring*.
I yanked them and completely rewired it.
I yanked the 1 Meg pots and put in a premium Mojotone 250k harness and installed Fender's Yosemite Tele pickup set, and in the middle position I installed a Player Series Strat bridge pickup.
I also changed the selector switch wiring so the middle position was the bridge pup so I could have that classic Tele sound of the bridge and neck pup. I call it the "Memphis Mod" in honor of Memphis Group guitarist Steve Cropper.
[* The stock Vintage Noiseless pups are Alnico II's and to my taste were quite weak with a distinct lack of testosterone. The newer Vintage Noiseless pups in the Player Plus Series are Alnico V's and are, IMHO, considerably brighter with greater punch. I sold my Player Series Strat and bought the Player Plus Series Strat. It's magnificent ]
I like the player series tele they are $849 new in the US. Sire T7 is $741 and the neck is amazing! I'm a lefty too and I appreciate your guitar reviews because they are guitars I know I can purchase! Keep up the great videos, and thank you!
I could listen to that opening Jam for another half hour. Great stuff.
Hey thanks so much mate. I love those funky grooves. :)
As a righthanded player, i think i must be one of the 1% who doesnt need a lefty guitar. 😂
Jokes aside, player series is great for the money. But i prefer vintage style and tone. I have bought a used squier CV 50s tele this year. Looks like new for only 220€. It is from the older china line. It is official a white one, but however the early ones from china look more like a see-through yellowish vintage white. Very beautiful.preowner changed the black pickguard for a oneply white one. Realy fits the overall look. Love the brass saddles, too. I play guitar since 2004 and this was my first tele. I am very happy with it. Great sounding lady. ❤
I have a 1996 Mexican Tele, originally a toploader with 6-saddle bridge. Much easier to play than the ashtray. I converted it to string-through, and swapped the bridge for a Gotoh one with six brass saddles. The one thing I'd really like to see on all Telecasters is a belly cut. I have a Squier Jim Root Tele, with that as standard. My red Tele has one that I made with a belt sander!
Two of my favourite bands use black teles with maple neck, blood red shoes and wolf alice!
Thanks, Shane. I've been keeping an eye out for a Player Tele in Capri Orange for less than AUD$1000 new, but they are creeping up in price quite rapidly. No gig bag with the Player series. You do get one with the Player Plus guitars, but they are around AUD$500 more.
Hi Doogle. Yeah they are getting more expensive each year by the looks of it. You're spot on about the gig bag, there is definitely none included anymore. That orange one is cool. I think I played one in the keys to the guitar shops series I do, looks great.
I had a MIM Strat for awhile, I currently have a MiM J-Bass. A Player series Tele is high on my want list.
i didn't realize they put the Telecaster bit there on the lefties headstock .would really bug me lol{ithink I'd take a razor blade and make it a nocaster] .Great guitars but an old Tele head once told me only a 3 saddle bridges sound right so i went for another Mexican beauty a 2019 Vintera 60s Modified and love it . Apart from all extra tones from 4 way switching and the S1 push/push for going out of phase ,i just love the clean aesthetics of the 60s headstock and could look at it all day.
I 100% agree! Great video and review, I own a Player and at first I was turned off by a few things, the fact that it was made internationally and the price. Boy was I WRONG! lol. As soon as I got my guitar and plugged it in I was in love, I couldn't believe how versatile it was and the tones were tremendous, it has become my favorite axe. No way will I ever make that mistake ever again, I'll even go as far and say that I prefer this guitar over my other expensive guitar. Price shouldn't be a musicians main focus, instead find whatever speaks to you and try it out!
Hi Shane, great review of the Fender Tele Player!
Have you maybe thought about a review of the Fender Tele Player Plus? Or maybe a comparison between the Player and Player Plus? That would be great!
Thanks from Belgium and keep on rocking, Pieter 🤘
What an unreal first jam that was. I'm sold on the neck pickup with gain. Just the sound (I think) I'm looking for
I had one, it’s one of the very few guitars I regret selling. Really good neck and you don’t need to upgrade a thing.
Sharp as a tack... as a strat and LP player i've never had a tele, this demo absolutely shows the tele having all the subtlety of a strat and the raw power of an LP.. arrgh seems like time to invest 😮😂
Sounds great, Shane. Fantastic tele
Thanks, Porkchop! :)
Nice articulation. Just smooth af and cool.
I really like what Fender Mexico does with the satin necks
I have the player HH version. Love the body cut. Split coils does not give Tele Twang. Maybe I need another with Telecaster pickups !!!
Shane, when you return the player tele, pickup the player plus.! I love the necks!
I should have pulled the trigger on a 2002 surf green lefty MIM tele when it came up on Japanese Yahoo Auctions last week.
Surf Green is cool!
Great demo and playing, Shane! Thank you for all you share with us!
I agree Shane ya can't go wrong with one ! Cheers mate !
Thanks, Todd! I hope you're doing great. :)
Nice review (as always) Shane!
I got a white one, maple board, a bloody purple Andertons one (that brilliant) & another one!!
I just got an Eastman Jr...but lve seen the Japanese Tele with the Wide Range at the neck, l blv lm addicted!!
Wow that last song at the end super modern !!!
Thanks Shane. What do you think of the Fender Player series versus the G&L Tribute series?
Hey Shane, great sounds. I have one, exactly like that.
It delivers on the stuff I do.
Just need to practice more to get the most out of it.
Of course, Teles are only good for Country Music!!!??
Mate, who could forget those Famous 70's Country Bands that used a Tele like The Clash and The Stranglers.
Pete
That's a sweet guitar for the money. I love looks of a shiny black guitar but like you I find it a real challenge to keep wiping the fingerprints off of mine.
True lefty here, nice review man 👍
The distorted tones on Telecasters are killer! But it doesn't eq like other guitars on recorded tracks.
I have that exact same guitar! Except I switched out the pickups, the wiring and pots, the jack socket, the control plate and switch and the pick guard. 😂 Love it!
@@simon_patterson For real. I bought that guitar and changed everything except the gig bag. Great guitar! 🤪
@@simon_patterson It is! They’re already routed for neck humbuckers so ideal if that’s what you’re after.
@@simon_patterson Hahaha!
Steve Vai makes those same faces when he plays. But he has a wind machine blowing through his hair. Shane is missing the fan and the hair. But he does have the blues chops.
I have one. It is great. The tuners aren't so good. I replaced them as well the pickups. After that everything was ok.
I have tried many teles over the years, Mexican, Squier, American, and a few knockoffs that I heavily modified. I could not bond with any of them. I guess I’m just not a tele guy. But I love the look of them…🤷♂️
Great review! I just got a tele myself recently. A japan made Cool Z ZTL-2r model. Love it ! The versatility and tones are great! You should find some of the Japanese made only brands like Cool Z or History and review them. Also can you do a review on top loading versus body string through? Did it to mine…::wow….changed from acoustic style tension to Strat style! Love it ! Thanks !
Thanks for the kind words and suggestions. I'll see what I can do. I am always on the look out for more lefties and other brands to review. :)
Very Cool, Thankyou Shane. Stunning Guitar and Playing as always. Sounded Amazing. I have my Artist Guitars TC59 as my main "Tele" Guitar for past few years, and am amazed every time I play it as to how Awesome it is, but I also picked up a Donner 'Sunburst' Tele on Black Friday Sales last year for less than $100- Australian ..... too good a bargain to pass up. This has been a real fun guitar and my first Introduction to 'actual' Tele single coils although The TC59 is 'splitable' Humbuckers which are amazing. Although these 2 'Telecaster' Guitars are awesome and have been a lot of fun I will be getting a Fender Player series one day soon. Olympic White I Feel ........ Just Because. lol. Love The Channel. Cheers
What are your thoughts on the Nashville tele?
Wow, nice playing and nice guitar!
I just got one! Left handed sunburst
I've always been a Strat guy . I love my US Standard 1999 to bits , but recently I've had a real urge to get a Tele . I've only had a couple previously , one was similar to the one you are playing , but it was the cheaper Fender Squier version with the black Fender writing on the headstock . It was decent , but the pups weren't great , and the other was a Fiesta red Squier Affinity , which was also alright , but just didn't do it for me .
I’ll stick w my fender 2016 Ltd Ed tele w lindy fralin blues specials.This guitar does sound nice though. 👍🏻
Great sound! Exceptional quality/price instrument!
7:39 ... I thought Shane was going carry on playing the intro to "Tie Your Mother Down" :)
Deam really good high gain tones, for me great for play heavy metal thanks for this review
Great content ,the 99% series is gold 🤘
Tele twang. With the modern touches, what's not to like? Nice jammin', Shane!
Literally going to be picking one of these up next week and then this vid pops up haha. Must be fate telling me I definitely need to buy another guitar :D
haha. The algorythm knows us way too well. I hope you enjoy it. :)
Great demo, the players series are fine instruments.
Ill be honest with you .I have a 2014mex standard and a 2018 players fenders teles , And the pickups had to go! Dull and muddy ,Replaced with S,D stl broadcaster and tonerider blues ,Now it sounds like a tele should .
Thanks for the review. This is a great looking and playing Tele. I've got the exact same in a right hand model. I also have a Am Std Pro II. They are different but I like them both a lot. But I have to admit I like the Pro better. Its taller frets and slightly wider fret board plays better for me, but that is personal. It also is the only guitar I recall to ever be set up just right for me out of the box - and that's saying a lot. The Player needed a fair amount of work but I am picky. The Pro has that nifty toggle in the middle position. I didn't think I'd like it at first but now I find it very useful. Pickups on both sound different but can't say one is really better than the other, just different. My gig a few days ago got the Pro but I'd have felt great playing the Player too. I've recommended this very same Fender Player Tele to other's as their "first good guitar".
I want a tele, but I and tending towards the FGN Boundary Iliad instead, cheaper, Japan made, comes with a gig bag.
Ive never had one, but love the vintage teles , but the ashtray bridges scare me, i think id lose a finger playing them...i know that sounds stupid, but i am stupid, & idk, i feel like id cut my hand on them, they look dangerous....ill get a vintage tele one day tho, but, as a first telecaster i think i want this one...ive really been agonizing over the decision lately, lol
The beginning jam was great. NOW get a G&L ASAT from Indonesia and compare it to this.
They are cool. If only Fender did a double bound version similar to the classic vibe.
Love the neck on mine but found the pickups quite unremarkable. It's in the shop right now getting Greg Koch Fishman Fluence pickups put in it (so all new guts).
Have had mine in black for a while now. The pots and switch got noisy after about a year so replaced the electronics, jack, tuners and while at it, replaced the pickups with Fralin Blues Specials. Not a bad guitar after the upgrades. Playability is OK and with the right amp you can get the expected Tele tones.
So cool 😎 to see a lefty play 🎸. Great guitar chops!👍
Yeah boi! Lefties unite!
@@teleguy5699 sorry....I’m only a righty but love that Tele.🎸👍
@@ckelly5141 She's a beauty!
Im starting to do more midwestern emo so this is a perfect guitar for me
Hi, I have two classic vibes (a strato and a tele) and I would like to treat myself to a player for Christmas but I'm very undecided between the strato and the tele. Considering that I use them in the same way, which one would you recommend in terms of quality?
Would help to hear how heavy it is/if any neck dive. Also, when you change to bridge v neck mode, put text on the screen so we know what you're doing. Really can't SEE in the vid when you switch over to those modes.
Watch his picking hand ...
Switch forward = neck pick-up.
Switch to the rear = bridge pick-up.
I played a Vintera Tele 60s, then a Player series a couple weeks later. I absolutely loved the Vintera, but the Player felt and sounded so plain compared to the Vintera. But I wonder if it was just that one guitar I played that wasn't so great.
i prefered the vintera series before they rised their prices... i don't like the modern bridge without the "ashtray border" and the strato tuners... ieven prefer the classic vibe pickups sound.... so i bought a tokai and changed the pickups for a pair of vintera 50's ... so happy with my choice
Did I hear owner of a lonely heart riff?
Interested in this in sunburst. How’s the action? The one I’m looking at is around $1200?
I'm stuck on an almost desert island far from my telecasters, with just a Strat... I'm missing them badly... 😀
They look and sound great! Nothing wrong with MIM guitars. Shame no case or bag provided at that price point.
I have too Player Series Telecaster but another color (Butter Scotch Blonde). Really comfortable and good guitar. I checked Player Tele Maple Neck BSB, Player Strat Maple Neck Butter Cream and Vintera 50s Strat Sonic Blue in a music shop at Seville on last year May. Vintera is V shape neck and Im not experienced player and not comfortable for me. I liked Strat but that Tele was more good and I bought it 729 Euro. I didn't regret but all time I was thinking Strat too and last April I paid 749 Euro for Polar White Maple Neck Strat from France. Also this is amazing guitar too. After 3 months, when I back to home I will compare both Player's again over my 68 Custom Vibro Champ and HX Stomp XL.
I have a question. My Player Tele has one logo behind of headstock same like Shane's Tele. Is this series different than other?
Also I advise to Shane, pls try a review video for Line 6 HX Stomp XL, you never regret.
The pickups are perfect
This guitar is a real value for the price. The real Alnico pickups sound great from low to high gain, the neck and frets feel nice, and the build and finish are all solid.
Given that this is a "player" guitar I would LOVE it if Fender added a belly cut (and even a forearm cut! shocking I know) for even more playability. Also it would reduce the weight a bit which I would appreciate with the slightly hefty alder the body on these. (If you've ever played a Japanese Fender with a basswood or other lightweight body, you'll know what I mean).
Otherwise a solid choice for most players and one that I wouldn't hesitate to gig with.
This guitar is pretty lightweight man 😂