Sound:
Although the sound is just killer, I only rated it as a "9" because I felt they could have offered more with the S-1 switching system. My friend has an American Deluxe Strat HSS with the S-1 and he gets something like 12 different configurations. With the Tele, you get the standard bridge, neck, bridge+neck in parallel and bridge+neck in series. If I had my way, I would've added a phase option with a pop-up tone knob or something. Yeah, I know...
Feature:
The washed cherry color option is breath-taking when you see the guitar in your hands; the web photos do it no justice at all. Despite appearing as a simple and plain white band, the binding has a spectacular effect on the guitar's lines. The belly cut on the backmakes this guitar fit like a glove. It's easily the most comfortable guitar in my collection. When you go to a music store and start pulling guitars off of the wall, looking for that magic fit and inspiration, this one really comes alive. I knew the moment I picked it up that I had to own it. I was really in the market for a maple neck Tele though... So I bought two! My other is an American Standard Tele with the ash body and maple neck. Anyway, back to the Deluxe... The rosewood neck is fast and furious. I had never even held a Tele before I snagged the Deluxe. One very minor note is that the abalone fret markers (dots) are difficult to see in dim light. Normally, this doesn't present a problem, but I also have Les Pauls and I'm not kidding, the Tele neck just feels like it's at least an inch or two longer than the LP. Switching from one to the other takes a minute or two to get acclimated to the difference. Sounds like whining, huh? Having said that, this Tele Deluxe can EASILY hang with the LPs. Sure the sound is different, but if you've played a really good LP (because they are not all the same), you'll instantly be smitten with the Deluxe. It feels that good.
Ease of Use:
Brad Paisley said the Telecaster is essentially a cutting board, a baseball bat and some strings. Danged-near indestructible. I'd agree with Brad on a Standard Tele, but the Deluxe feels like absolute luxury. If you're used to playing decent Asian-made guitars and get handed a PRS Ten Top, you know that feeling of "ooh" and "ahh" you get? Same with the Deluxe. Instant buttah. The fit of the guitar's body against your own and that magical neck... Wow. I need a cigarette. Ha!
Quality:
Fender pulled out all of the stops on this one. Everything about this guitar screams quality and care. The finish is flawless, the fretboard looks hand-selected and it even looks like the dots were purposely positioned for perfection. The chrome is dazzling and the pearloid pickguard combined with the washed cherry sunburst finish will bring tears to your eyes when you see it under the stage lights. The factory set-up was spot-on perfect and it just begs for locomotive Telecaster lead runs.
Value:
My friend with the American Deluxe Strat? He's hot for a LP, so I lent him my '81 Custom with EMGs for the weekend. He came back all doey-eyed, singing Gibson's praises, but hating the pricetag. Then I lent him the Tele Deluxe. Yep, he's singing a new tune now. He said, "Gee... I can have a Deluxe with a rosewood neck AND another one with a maple neck AND have change left over from what I would have to pay for a Paul." I own an '89 LP Standard w/ EMGs as well and I'd take two Telecaster Deluxes over one LP too. That's no dig on the Pauls, the custom still ranks as my favorite of the 14 guitars in my closet, but this Tele Deluxe is THAT GOOD, it occupies the number two position. I'll say this though: I've never opened my Les Paul case, cracked open a beer and just looked at it for 15 minutes. It's a common occurance with the Tele Deluxe. It's beautiful. Money well spent.
Manufacturer Support:
I've had zero issues with this Tele; I've owned it for about a year now. The American Standard did have a siezed fastener in one of the the bridge saddles. The local store gave me a free set of String Saver brand saddles with a free install. They offered a replacement Fender set, but they had to order them and I didn't want to wait. I guess it helped that I was buying two American Telecasters and they were installing a new set of EMG-T pick-ups in the Standard with one of the EXG tone circuits and a pearloid pickguard when they discovered the siezed fastener! Ha!
The Wow Factor:
Fender brought sexy back! Yes, Brad, it is a cutting board, a baseball bat and ssome trings; but it's the sexiest damned cutting board I've ever owned. Not only do I want another one, my friend is eye-balling his first one as well. Like the way I said "first?" These things are like Lay's Potato Chips, I'll bet you can't have just one.
Overall:
To sum it all up: Of 14 guitars, this is the one I show off the most. It's a guaranteed "ooh and ahh" everytime. I'm telling you, the pictures don't do the washed cherry sunburst justice. And the pearloid pickguard and body binding make for major eye candy. None of that would matter if it didn't perform; this guitar is smoking hot. I've been playing guitar for 30 years and I've never even looked at Telecasters until last year. I like it so much that I bought two. Teles are all I look at now. There's a maple neck version in my local music store... I covet it. They also have a new minty green one with binding on the body... I MUST OWN IT. Even if you've never considered a Tele, try this one out at your local store. I'm a 80s rawk and metal guy and always thought Teles were for country guys and Bruce Springsteen... Not true. If you like a smooth guitar that fits like your favorite jeans, grab one off of the wall and give 'er a test ride. I'll bet you dig it.
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