Product: Fender '59 Relic Telecaster
Price Paid: US $1,400 used
Submitted
05/15/2001
at
11:28am
by
Anonymous
Features
:
No Opinion
'98 Custom shop Relic. Sonic blue, single-ply white guard, flamey neck with RW slab board, vintage size frets, three intonated brass saddles on bridge, classic Tele set-up, except neck is modern width (1.675 inch or so) and with modern flatter radius, probably around 10". Looks and feels old but plays like a modern guitar due to neck specs. Don't know what the body wood is but its light - the guitar is 7 lbs. and well balanced. Quite resonant played unamplified. I don't think you can rate a Tele on 'features'.
Sound
:
10
Through '64 Priceton sounds like a great Tele should. Neck pickup alone is clear and full sounding - not weak or muddy as they can sometimes be. Middle switch position is classic Tele. Bridge alone is like a Broadcaster (this has a flat-pole pickup) - fatter than the 60s type, which are twangier. This ones great for blues or rock, country too of course but if you want the classic Don Rich twang you need a 60s staggered pole bridge pup. This has the modern wiring scheme and the pots work like they should, doesn't dull out when you turn down, etc. Simple as a stone, 3 great sounds, what more do you need? Telecaster - the first and still the best solid body electric.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Relic job on this is very complete and convincing. People who see it can't believe its not 40 years old.
I'm at least the third owner of this guitar - someone screwed up the nut, I had to have a new nut cut. I can't believe it came from the factory that way. Other than that, A OK. I'm not going to fault Fender for what I'm sure someone else did.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Not only do Teles sound great but if you have to you can hit people over the head with them. Hurts them, but not the guitar.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Dunno.
Overall Rating
:
10
Been playing 35 years plus. My first love was a Tele and I keep coming back to them. Really, you can get any sound you need out of a good Tele if you know how to play. You don't need more pickups, switches, etc. Study up on right hand technique if you don't believe that.
This particular guitar is the best Tele I've had. I was initially scornful of the Relic concept, now I'm a believer. If this one got away I'd be looking for another.
