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This model is basically a hybrid model with the best hardware of the late 50's Teles and the finishing of a early 60's Tele ("Custom Color" & rosewood fretboard). The American Vintage pickups, a '52 in the neck & '58 in the bridge, sound great. The bridge pup has treble out the wazoo but a very responsive tone pot makes it easy to get a bright tone sans the "icepick". The brittle tone is also softened by vintage style uncompensated brass saddles on the American Vintage "ashtray" bridge. (The pickguard has the space needed around the bridge to mount the chrome cover for that genuine vintage look. I raided my 76 Tele for the chrome cover and its vintage orange lined Tolex case. It looks really cool but I don't have it on when I play - you can't palm mute the strings.) The intonation was nearly perfect and the action was well within the acceptable range. This guitar is gorgeous with the faded Sonic Blue finish and the mint green pickguard. Fenderita (Fender of Mexico) is currently in transition due to new laws regarding sourcing of wood, especially rosewood. Pau Ferro ("Ironwood") is now used in place of rosewood and it's not a bad move. Pau Ferro is a dense and tightly grained hard wood very similar to ebony. Mine has the PF fretboard and I prefer it to RW. In closing I want to address the expanded tonal options due to the 4 position pickup selector and "S-1" phase switching circuit. These offer great extra options but, truth be told, the 'standard +1' settings sound so great you'll forget about the S-1 switch. This guitar is a winner.

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