Fender Blacktop Telecaster HH Electric Guitar (Maple)
This Telecaster dishes out the attitude with dual high-gain humbuckers. Outfitted with chrome hardware, its alder body shines with a polyester gloss finish.
Overall User Ratings (based on 12 ratings)
Submitted July 14, 2011 by a customer from hotmail.com
"USA Deluxe Features on a MIM!"
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I bought it, sold it, and had to buy another with a planned pickup change to Duncans. Just too much overall value on this guitar.
Sound
The tone is obviously not you father's telecaster. It does not have a lot of that telecaster spank that a typical single coil would have, but it does have a whiff of that tone at times. It is a rocker with high gain humbuckers and it can get just pain raunchy. I live for that sound, but don't buy one if you think it's just a tele that's grown some muscles. The damn things on steroids. The reason that I didn't rate it higher is because it has nice crunch, but can get a bit bright to me. I had blacktop strat that I sold because it was thin. This tele is not thin, just trebly - not like an ice pick, but I usually play a Les Paul and it's not as warm as a Paul. I plan to put a pair of Seymour Duncan '59's in it to warm it up a bit.
Features
Best aspect of this guitar are the features. I really appreciate a "belly cut" (contoured body to the layman)in a guitar this reasonably priced. It has 6 saddles for ease of intonation, 22 frets and a nice smooth neck. To top it off, it has a black pickguard (hence "blacktop"). You Fender freaks know that each of those features is normally on a much more expensive model - a real nice bit of features for the money. It would have been a 10 if it had barrel knobs instead of those amp conrol-looking things...easily changed out though.
Ease of Use
Works like any good Strat or Tele. Nice neck, just wish it would have a soft V, but what am I buying a custom-made guitar? Of course not..
Quality
No issues that a good setup won't cure. Fine MIM quality.
Value
Great price point. Look at the features...It has gone up 50 bucks recently.
Musical Background:
Serious Hobbyist
Musical Style:
Hard Rock / Hot Blues
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Submitted December 16, 2011 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Great Axe. Great Bargain. BUY IT!"
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This guitar will be in my arsenal for many years to come.
Sound
These pickups are HOT. Very smooth. From mellow to that old Tele "honk"...I don't know how they do it, but they did it! I love it...Tele spank and mellow smooth in one instrument!
Features
I gave it a 9 because I hate the amp knobs. No biggie, a small and simple change to knurled chrome Tele knobs, and I was good to go! Got the silver/w maple neck. Absolutley breathtaking. Flawless. Beautiful fit and finish. I wouldn't change a thing...except the knobs, of course.
Ease of Use
Super playable. A tiny tweak of the neck with the provided truss rod wrench, a new set of Elixr strings, and I was good to go. Very simple to operate...It is a TELE!
Quality
Flawless.
Value
Completely worth it. A bargain!
Manufacturer Support
Lifetime warrantee on a $500.00 MIM axe....can't beat it!
The Wow Factor
This is a must have for anyone who plays rythm or lead guitar.
Musical Background:
Semi Professional
Musical Style:
Blues, Country, Rock
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Submitted December 3, 2014 by Brandon M in Tucson, AZ
"I "
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Couldn't be more satisfied with fenders Mexico factory after this purchase. Bought this tele sight unseen on an impulse and WOW, MiM is no longer a negative for me now.
I went with the maple neck and it's smooth as silk and so damn bright! the pickups are the stars of the show here, you have everything from blues to metal at your fingertips straight from the box. On top of all of this zzounds ships so fast that I only had to wait two days to play. Ill probably replace the tuning machines as they aren't quite top of the line but the rest of this guitar is staying stock, highly recommend.
Musical Background:
10 years on guitar in the bedroom, trying to make my way to the professional world
Musical Style:
Rock, blues, punk, metal, alt rock
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Submitted August 20, 2012 by George Waltman in Saraland, AL
"Fender Blacktop Tele"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Fender Telecaster, what's not to love? With 2 humbuckers, it's not grandpa's Tele. Mine arrived within 3 days and I love it. I think it would be perfect if it had the splittable pickups with the 5 way switch like the Blacktop Strat (that's a hint for you Fender) Set up was pretty good, action a little high, but I always adjust that anyway. Excellent quality on this one, no sharp fret ends, blemishes etc... I am very happy with my purchase, zZounds four payment plan made it easy to purchase also. I will be a repeat customer no doubt!
Musical Background:
Intermediate...playing for almost 2 yrs..just a jam @ home player
Musical Style:
Rock, Classic Rock, Christian, Country
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Submitted November 10, 2010 by a customer from gmail.com
"Rock workhorse and great for metal with EMGs!"
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This thing is awesome... I will eventually replace the tuners. Other than that I cannot complain about it at all. If it were stolen, I'd buy another one, for sure.
Sound
Out of the box, it sounds pretty alright. I had the desire to put new pickups in it before I even bought it.
The stock pickups are lacking a lot of the clarity that I'm used to, so I put in some active EMGs and its my main guitar now.
Features
Can't complain, it came with the wrenches necessary to adjust most of the parts you would need to.
Ease of Use
Ease-peasy.
Quality
The tuners are lacking in their stability... Not much else to say about it. The rest of the guitar is amazing.
Value
This is a great low priced work horse. I've been using it everyday for the last 2 months and it hasn't faltered in any way.
Manufacturer Support
Can't comment.
The Wow Factor
Its got this vibe/look about it that just made me want to buy it. Its kinda sexy in my eyes.
Musical Background:
Professional Musician, Recording/Mix Engineer
Musical Style:
Rock, Metal, Alternative
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Submitted January 22, 2014 by Ted Macdonald in Carlisle, PA
"Mex craftsmanship...."
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First off, The Mex made Fenders have really come a LONG way since the begining.
This is my 2nd Mex Fender, Both of witch I have purchased in the last 6 months.
I also own 3 USA Fenders a China Fender and a Jap Fender. I must say, The Mex Fenders are rivaling the USA made. This Blacktop Tele was almost spot on out of the box. Intonation was perfect, Neck was straight, The only thing I had to adjust was action, And a lot of the time that is just personal preference. Zero fret buzz even with action set low, And this was with no truss rod adjustment. The electronics are very quite and I honestly cannot find one thing I would have changed! The icing on the cake of course is Zzounds super customer service, Fast shipping and great prices! Don't be afraid of the Mex Fenders,,,,
Musical Background:
Playing guitar for 41 years. Played professionally for 15 yrs.
Musical Style:
Blues, Southern Rock, Metal
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Submitted November 6, 2014 by Paul David L in ireland, WV
"blacktop tele ..silver"
Verified Customer
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picked this up for the blem price of 399.00.. have wanted one since they came out..its a beautiful looking guitar..neck is fast..finish was flawless..according to zzounds blem definition it was supposed to have a cosmetic issue but the truth is.. It was a hardware issue..the neck pickup sounds awful and you cannot use the middle position..it only works for the neck..something must be unhooked...i only use the neck pickup amyway so im not going to worry about it...all in all it is a great guitar..although i am a little diiappointed about the switching not working right.
Musical Background:
30t yrs
Musical Style:
rock/classic rock
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Submitted February 2, 2014 by Edward Owen in Boise, ID
"Fender Black Top Telecaster"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
ZZounds is an Awesome organization. They are world class, top notch in my book. Im in the music business, and use and review a lot of musical equipment, exspecially Guitars. Zzpunds is an important part of my business. They provide top notch service and equipment and a very reasonable price.Zzounds is one of my favorite vendors..Thanks and God Bless ZZ
Musical Background:
Profession Guitar Teacher
Musical Style:
Rock, Blues Contemporary Christian,
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