We’ve received one of many latest Fender Teles right here to take a look at if it’s definitely worth the funding.

It’s been a bit since we had a correct new guitar overview on this web site! Typically we’re masking solely impartial builders and smaller manufacturers this yr, however I didn’t wish to miss out on the brand new Participant Sequence II hype totally. As such, I received the prospect to plug within the new Participant II Telecaster within the Birch Inexperienced end. These are going for $799.99 USD, and can be found nearly all over the place as of late.

Necessary specs so that you can know embody an Alder physique with Maple C-shaped neck and Rosewood fretboard. The neck has rolled edges, 22 frets, and a 9.5 in radius. It seems like a barely souped up normal Tele, as a result of that’s precisely what it’s. Different options embody Fender’s deluxe ClassicGear tuners, Participant Sequence Alnico V pickups, 6 saddle string through bridge, and normal Tele wiring diagram.

Demo Time

I plugged this Tele right into a plethora of my favourite pedals together with the Case Research compressor, Summer season College Science Truthful, and Shotmaker Heroine Deluxe. All of these run into the UAFX Dream amp/cab sim. It’s all stuff you’ve heard on this web site earlier than!

My Ideas

Actually, I’m probably not stunned that I like this guitar. It’s simply one other nice Telecaster. At first I used to be kind of questioning why Fender would do one other replace on the Participant Sequence, other than the usual cash seize. However assume on this; there’s at all times going to be an enormous demand for Telecaster-style guitars, as they’re one of many premier and iconic fashions in all of historical past. As new gamers enter, they’ll desire a Tele of their very own. So it is smart to make new ones that add some extra premium options, just like the rolled edges right here.

This guitar felt nice whereas taking part in, with good edges and fret work. The tuning stability was completely common. Not flawless, however not problematic in any respect. It took some massive bends and bashing to get it out of tune, so nothing out of the bizarre and even then, it wasn’t maliciously out of tune both. Basically I feel this might be nice on stage, with a couple of minor tuning tweaks right here and there as wanted.

The sound was crisp and twangy, similar to any good Telecaster. I particularly loved how a lot thump they’d, because it felt a superb bit bassier than different latest Fenders I’ve reviewed. That’s going to be majorly useful when taking part in rhythm guitar on this factor. It doesn’t look like they touched the pickups or electronics up a lot in comparison with the unique Participant sequence, however they didn’t actually should. These are comfortably much more excessive constancy than the usual Mexican-made Teles of my childhood. That’s a superb factor although, because the Participant II Tele is about $300 costlier than teh Mexi Teles of my childhood. A part of that’s inflation from 2010, however the guitar market has additionally seen a rise in demand to match. Plus, the neck work and setup on these are far superior to the entry stage MIM Fenders of yesteryear. The Participant II Tele is overwhelmingly stable. And that’s precisely what it must be!

The massive profitable options listed here are the aesthetics (it seems wonderful out of the field) and the texture of the neck. It’s a participant’s guitar, which is de facto why they went with the straightforward naming and branding on these. It gained’t wow everybody, but it surely absolutely gained’t disappoint both, and I see this as a very nice “second” guitar for newer gamers who must improve to one thing that’s stage or studio worthy. The Participant II Tele can be not too costly that the concept of upgrading pickups or electronics down the highway is implausible. However you don’t actually need to do this, as that is going to sound like a Fender Telecaster. No must say that another manner.