I first started playing a Fender Telecaster way back in college. I played a lower-end model that cost about $400, but that guitar was always close at hand — starting in my dorm room and then later when I got married and started having kids.
It was black and white, just like all the classic guitars I remember from the best bands of the 60s and 70s. The joke about the Telecaster is that it could fall off the back of your truck and still be in tune when you picked it up, and I took that concept literally. I sometimes would bring the Tele with me to jam at a friend’s house, never thinking about damaging it.
Recently, I tested a Fender Vintera II 60s Telecaster that’s bright orange and had some of the same feelings of nostalgia for a guitar that serves so many purposes.
This Tele reminded me of the one I owned with much improved tones (thanks to the Alder wood used in construction) and — of course — better overall electrical components and construction.
Fender describes the wood this way: “A classic Fender tonewood known for resonance, punch and clarity, alder has a balanced and lively tone with beefy mids and a robust low-end.” Totally agree with that.
I used this Tele with a small Positive Grid Spark Go amp that I’ll be reviewing soon, and also through a guitar interface connected to floor-standing speakers in my office.
I was instantly comfortable on the 7.25-inch radius fingerboard, which felt like home to me. The beck is a throwback to the 60s in its designs, using what is called the “C” profile. All I know is that my fingers fit perfectly around the neck, and I was able to jam like I was back in college again.
I’ve always liked the Tele because it feels right in my hands — not too heavy, not too cumbersome, great sustain on every note — and yet not overly expensive, either. This model costs $1,150 which is a reasonable price for a classic like this.
Could you drop it off a truck and still expect it to stay on tune? I don’t think Fender would like me to test that, but I do know the three-saddle bridge that uses the classic through-saddle design (the strings insert through a metal bridge) means you won’t notice a lot of slippage. The whole guitar feels like it is made to last for decades.
And the sound — it’s my favorite from Fender. There’s a natural twang to the Tele that comes through loud and clear, like it was made for alternative rock with a hint of country. Thai is not a guitar for playing heavy metal, and the more subtle tones and crunch are a good match for my musical tastes — think Wilco and The National mixed together.
Overall, the electronics, the alder construction, the heavy and solid feel, and the neck size all worked in tandem to impress me with the latest classic Tele. It’s a guitar made for me.
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