Fender American Standard Telecaster (3-Color Sunburst) Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Dean Athans
from New York City, NY USA
October 19, 2006Music Background:
Currently not gigging musician

Fender American Telecaster Left Handed

I play standards, jazz, and a little R&B, solo and in a trio. Own a couple of archtops that have the tone I like, but not at higher volumes. This Tele, with the right setup and amplification (Acoustic Image Clarus IIR/Raezers Edge NY8 cabinet), allows me to get a warm and clear sound that is 95% of the way to my favorite archtop's ideal sound.

The neck is great, and it can take heavier gauge strings without any problems. I'm using the Thomastik Infeld BB013 set (.013 - .053, Nickel roundwound), and they are as easy to play on as with my archtops.

The tone switch is usually set to the neck pickup, but the other two positions are also useful at times. The tone control is somewhat useful, although I usually leave it at about halfway. Artificial Harmonics come out nicely through the bridge pickup.

This axe provides very even output levels throughout all registers. It appears that great care was taken in crafting an instrument that has the right amount of sustain and sweet tone, without adding muddiness to chordal playing. Comping with walking bass fills the sound space beautifully, even if the woodier tones from an archtop might be more like Joe Pass.

For those who have never played a Tele, be forewarned that it is not light in weight. This one is not the heaviest I have played, but it is too much for more than an hour at a stretch. Get a good strap and a stand on which to rest it between sets and you will not be sorry.