Fender American Deluxe Telecaster Ash Electric Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

I'm not employed by Fender, have many terrific guitars from Gibson, Fender, Martin – most US, some Fender made in Mexico which are nice playing, quality instruments. They all need their tweaks here and there to get to your personal level of playability and satisfaction. As for Telecasters, currently have 3 including this new one in Miami Blue (we'll get to that in a moment) and this is hands down, the absolute best Telecaster I've ever played or owned. It is SO comfortable – out of the case (which is a new style and impressive on its own merit) was flawless. Put a strap on, tuned and felt something odd – nice lightweight alder, it felt different, smaller, more comfortable . . . it's the same size of course but the edges of the body are more rounded than the typical hard flat Tele body I've been familiar with for so long. The neck heel is contoured, the fretboard edges are rolled and fret wire are like butter! Pickups and push button which activates both pickups in series make the tone range so wide. Very impressed to say the least. Now, the Miami blue shown in stock photos here and elsewhere looks much lighter and brighter than in person. The actual color is darker with a greenish tint to it. Either way, the guitar is not going anywhere but would like you to be aware and search for pics on Google until you see or have a grasp of what the range of photos capture. It's not a traditional Fender color but looks fantastic – I know you will not be disappointed.PJ

In my previous review I stated that four saddles kill tone… but I meant six saddles. Four have way better sustain, brightness, and punch… but less adjustable for intonation. Six saddles on the American professional II killed the tone. For that reason the performer sounds way better, plus the push push option just sounds muddy… not worth the added cost except sounds decent for gain on the middle position. The neck on both the professional II and performer are both great it just comes down to personal taste on thickness. I have the performer, a Classic Vibe, and just bought the professional II. Returning the professional II and keeping my others that I think sound quite a bit better for clean playing. But the professional II is very well but and sounds good… just not as good… again probably because of the six saddles…or wimpy sounding pickups… I'm not sure why. But still a very well made guitar… just try them all before buying…Thad

There's no such thing as a perfect guitar and because of that I don't like to give 5 stars in any review but this Telecaster is exceptional. I own 20+ guitars including high end Strats, Les Paul customs, a Lucille and an outstanding USA made vintage Gretsch. I love all those instruments but this Telecaster is something special. It's the most versatile guitar I own. This Telecaster can play as sweet or as nasty twangy as you want. It can do any genre with style. This telecaster is the only instrument I've ever owned that didn't need any adjustment after purchase. It came out of the box in absolutely perfect intonation. There were No sharp fret ends like on cheaper models and the action was perfect. I couldn't find any imperfections anywhere. The neck is smooth as butter, slick and fast, very nice. The V-Mod pickups are outstanding, with all the punch you would ever need. I also like the angle molded heel cut where the neck meets the body. All I did was put on a new set of Fender Bullet 9-42s and she was ready to go. I can't recommend this guitar highly enough if you need or want an exceptional Telecaster. I've played virtually all the other models and brands of the Tele and while some of those were excellent guitars, some were cheaper, some more expensive but none were as good as this version of the Telecaster in my opinion. It's just an outstanding guitar. I'm thinking about buying another one for my son because he won't leave mine alone. You need to play it through a good tube amp to get the most out of it but it still sounds great out of lesser amps like say a Fender Champion 100. I use a tube screamer pedal and a vintage tube Fender Reverb and vintage Gibson tube Dual medalist amps mostly. This Tele still sounds very good even when using some of my digital practice amps. I can't find anything wrong with this guitar. I just wish that I had found it sooner.Dennie

As a Fender guy, I can’t recommend the Nashville Deluxe Tele more. It pairs perfectly with my American Pro Strat with Shawbuckers. Pros -The flat, 12” fretboard radius is very comfortable -The noiseless pups offer signature Fender tone with humbucker level noise -Locking tuners are a great feature to come stock on this model -The block saddles offer an immense amount of sustain -The guitar was ready to play out of the box. I lowered the action a bit to personal preference but it played great from the time I pulled it from the box Ultimately, this feels like a premium Telecaster and wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from this compared to an American model. The tone and playability is on the same level. Kudos to AMS for quick shipping and flexible payment plans. As a gear head, this was surprisingly my first time ordering from this site as I generally order from other dealers out of habit. AMS has won a new customer over with quality service and availability.Jason S.

I’m age 67 and retired. I have played acoustic guitars since age 10 and had absolutely no experience with electric guitars. Got bored over the winter and decided I wanted an electric. Since I’ve become used to good high end guitars I wanted good quality without over spending. Color is a personal thing…I chose the white. It’s very good looking. Back to the important stuff. It took a while but I am enjoying this tele immensely. I got online and looked at basic adjustments and tweaked the action and intonation a little. It’s just simply easy and fun to play and the quality overall is really good. Simply no complaints or regrets. I do play with friends but we are an acoustic group. This tele is just for my personal enjoyment. I chose the Fender Champion 40 amp for a starter and it served it’s purpose well. Since I know I will stick with this guitar I do want to upgrade to a tube amp to bring out more of what this guitar can sound like. Keep in mind that I am new to electrics, but my 5 star rating is based on not just what I’ve mentioned but the exceptional value that I think this guitar is.Barry in Ohio

It is an awesome guitar and I absolutely love some of the premium features like the locking tuners. Pickups sound great. Guitar had a small chip on the nut and was delivered with a broken string and some scuff marks along the bottom of the guitar. I will definitely need to do a setup on the guitar.Chris

Overall: Always wanted a Nashville Tele but several things were stopping me from buying it. I could have made some mods myself but that kind of defeats the purpose of a new guitar. No bridge + neck pickup option was a biggie.No locking tuners. All my guitars have locking tuners. 3 saddles instead of 6 individual. I just prefer the 6 even for a Tele.No noiseless pickups. Now they've also done a couple of things I wasn't necessarily looking for but are nice addition. The rolled fingerboard edges are a really nice touch as well as the belly cut. Again, not expected but very nice additions especially since I can roll my own fingerboards but have never attempted my own belly cut on a Tele and probably wouldn't but they are really nice on my G&L's. For the not so great stuff. The neck had entirely too much relief in it but this was rectified with a truss rod adjustment. I did have to do a fret level, crown and polish. The guitar also had a bit of fret sprout and some sharp ends. I easily fixed these issues but would understand others might have to take it to their local tech for a fret job. After a little work on my part the guitar plays wonderfully. The neck is really comfortable. This is every bit as good a guitar as the US produced Fender's I have played recently. The sounds are exactly what you would and should expect from a Nashville Tele. Overall, this is a very well made guitar. Played 4 gigs with it over the New Year break and I gotta say, this is probably going to be right there onstage with my EBMM's. No, it's not as good as my Cutlass and LIII's but it doesn't need to be. I think this guitar is a great bargain and I'm pretty picky. Fender finally got the Nashville Tele right. It's really nice to see.Richie

What a absolutely beautiful instrument. I got mine surf green and the online pictures don't do it justice. Guitar arrived flawless and played great out of the box. Action seemed a little higher than I like, but still plays great with the vintage frets to my surprise. Definitely has that telecaster sound with very nice cleans and twang. Also hitting it with a tube screamer or distortion pedal it has a snarl. Playing through a PRRI, 78 SFDR and 67 Vibro Champ. The C shaped neck does seem slightly beefier than other C shapes on my AVRI strats, but I find it just as comfortable and a nice difference. Clay inlays look really good on the rosewood neck also. There is also a tint to the neck that's more than what was on the previous line of AVRI guitars but I think it looks good.Don

This telecaster is legendary. First, the noiseless pickups immediately distinguish this tele from others and result in ZERO hum and stays that way on all pickups. Second, the C-shape fretboard design makes for effortless phrasing. Third, this guitar is impressively light (much more so than my strat) and is therefore my go-to guitar for gigging. And I should add the unique color configuration makes this tele stand out from the rest. Apparently "Aged Candle Apple Red" is Fender's own thing. Finally, I should note that I run this guitar through my Marshall DSL40CR. The combination makes for great depth and a fullness that rivals my strat — including on clean tones. I'm very happy with this purchase and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a compliment to their rig (particularly if you have a strat and want to expand the universe of sounds).Chad the Bad

I got this guitar on September 14th, 2021, and have had some minor issues with it. When I receive this guitar, it was perfect. Not a single case of fret buzz, the nut was perfect, and it was an all around great guitar. However, after about a month. I realized the tuners were a bit out of wack. I would be a bit flat, and turn the tuning peg over and over and over, only to not tighten the string at all. Then when I finally did one last turn, I'd be sharp by a whole note! Whatever, just replace the tuners. I had been putting that off. The next issue was a bit weird. I play really hard, and over time, the bridge pins were starting to get loose, and eventually a whole screw came out, and I had to take the guitar to a tech. I know this is probably user error, but still. I eventually just decided to turn it into a Jonny Greenwood tele, with lace sensors, a kill switch, and all. And let me tell you, this guitar is perfect now. The neck is (and always was) exactly what I was looking for. It's a bit thinner that my Squier Affinity Strat, but I like a thinner neck. Bottom line, I would recommend this guitar if your okay with getting new tuners. No one else I know has had problem with the bridge, so consider that. (P.S. I forgot to say that the stock pickups are amazing! I almost just kept them, they sound really good)Cory

For over 10 years, I've been casually searching for just the right Telecaster. I've tested out many over the years (new and used), and with the wide variety of neck styles on different models and series, I just never found the right one. When Fender announced this 70th Anniversary Broadcaster earlier this year, something told me this might finally be the one. So I decided to roll the dice and order one from MF without first playing one and I'm thrilled to report that it not only met but also exceeded all of my expectations. I was most concerned about the U-shaped neck – not being a fan of so-called "baseball bats" of the early 1950s. It's just slightly more chunky than a modern Tele, but it's extremely comfortable and it only took me about a day to get completely comfortable with it. Now I absolutely love it. The action is perfect and there's no buzzing whatsoever up and down the neck. The Custom Shop Blackguard pick-ups sound fantastic. They are super-hot and give that classic Tele tone. Before playing it, I was a little disappointed that Fender decided to include the wiring kit to duplicate the original Broadcaster blending-mode as a user-installed option instead of wiring it this way at the factory, but after hearing these pick-ups the way they are, I won't be re-wiring it anytime soon. I had mixed emotions about the lacquer finish with the see-through wood grain when looking at the photos online, but in person the guitar looks fantastic. My only reservation is that the lacquer makes the back of the neck a little tacky but over time this should work itself out. I've already noticed that after a week of playing it has already improved. One other thing about this guitar that still amazes me is the weight. It is perfect – not too light and also not a boat anchor hanging around your neck. I also love the custom American-made G&G deluxe tweed case. Do yourself a favor and order this guitar while you still can!Lou Z.

I bought this in order to not duplicate what I left behind during a 3000 mile move last month, after doing enough research to learn that an Esquire is significantly different from a Telecaster. Indeed, this guitars sounds quite different, and in my view can stand in for a Gretsch but with better feel. The chunky neck is vintage and not 70's style as some have stated. I have tiny hands so was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it feels up and down the neck. Not slippery at all either. The natural finish is darker than in the photos, but it's still nice to see pine grain. Heavier shellac than I expected, but it sounds great. Not as much tonal range as other Fenders, but I didn't buy it for that. I'm going to try all-nickel strings when I get it set up, for an even more vintage sound, but it's great with the Fender nickel plated steel strings.mhschmieder

I finally have a Telecaster, and not just any Tele, but possibly the nicest one I've come across. I absolutely LOVE the color scheme (though I wouldn't mind a slightly lighter colored fret board – rosewood or pau ferro)! Everything about this guitar screams quality and attention to detail. It plays well and sounds fantastic! I have a Gibson SG, Epiphone Sheraton, Fender Jazzmaster, and now this Tele Ultra and so far, I think this is the best sounding guitar out of the bunch. It's certainly the best playing and best feeling out of all of them. The Jazzmaster is close, but this Tele simply kills it! Don't sleep on this one, folks.Devin R.

This is a great guitar, but not for everyone. Try to play one if possible before buying, as this thing is nothing like a standard telecaster, especially when it comes to the neck. If you're looking for a great working man's guitar with many of the best features of a tele, les paul & strat this may be a great axe for you. I respect Gibsons, but personally I'd take this over an LP any day. This guitar has a lot going for it: a great feeling neck with jumbo frets, the awesome (if not necessarily true to the original 70s) wide range pickups, the 4-knob control setup, the gorgeous looks… This thing plays and sounds like a dream. However, there is one thing you should be aware of before buying this guitar. You might have to swap out the pots, as others have mentioned here. Most humbucker equipped guitars come with 500 kOhm tone & volume pots, but for some inexplicable reason Fender equips these guitars with 250 kOhm pots (or at least they did when I bought mine a year and a half ago – for reference, the original Tele Deluxe from the 70s had 1 Mega Ohm pots). This gives the guitar a darker, and I would say muddier tone. If you're into jazz or blues or really heavy, dark stuff this may work for you. But if you need a brighter tone that cuts through (as many people buying teles are looking for) you'll need to swap out all the pots for the 500k's (or at least the bridge circuit pots). This is no simple task on this guitar, as the wire routing inside is tight and getting the wires back in and the pickguard back on successfully without breaking a wire or solder joint is extremely difficult. If you're serious about buying this guitar and you want a bright, clear tone, budget in the time and/or money for this modification just in case you're not happy with the out-of-the box tone. The quality of this guitar is excellent. I own 4 made in Mexico Fender instruments and they are all high quality. I say they all can hold their own against made in the USA Fenders or guitars from other companies any day of the week. The fit and finish on this guitar is perfect. Everything works perfectly (I've had it for over a year, and played it extensively, including lots of gigs). It still plays as smoothly as butter. No issues. The price isn't terribly cheap for a made in Mexico axe, but you get a lot of guitar in this package. Even with the not so modest price tag I would've rated it an 8 or 9 if it weren't for the fact I had to change the pots.Strict9

This guitar is incredible. I was shopping in the MIM price range and highly interested in Fender since buying a Fender acoustic a few months ago. I happened upon this model as a Level 3 Scratch and Dent – it was marked down very substantially – it arrived without the gig bag and had a somewhat significant ding at the bottom near the strap button, but that is well worth the discount!! Not sure how much use this guitar got before coming to me but the plastic is still on the pick guard, it's set up nearly perfect with needing slight adjustment for intonation. The wide range humbuckers are insane and capable of everything from warm jazzy tones to crunchy blues to brutal metal – super versatile. It's virtually 3 different guitars made into one instrument. Tele body, Strat bridge (fixed), neck, and headstock, and LP controls and layout. I took the chance with buying an open box because I was comfortable about the 45 day return policy. I'm so glad I did it – I got way more guitar than I was even looking for.Codeks theBeatCook

Man it was a hard road to get to this guitar but it was absolutely worth it. I've gone thru quite a few phases over the last 20 years & have owned everything from PRS, to Taylor, to Fender, to Agile, to Gibson, to Ibanez & so many more. I've played the best to come out of America & I've played the worst to come out of Asia & everything between. I decided on the 72 Deluxe because I wanted something different. I've outgrown the desire to "fit in" & I was sick of sounding like everyone else. Everyone's familiar with the warmth of a Les Paul and the spank of a Tele or Strat, but I've owned them all & none of them offer very complex tones in my opinion. You mostly have to rely on the amp and EQing to make them sound "different". On their own, they're either this or they're that, thus the reason why so many guitarists own multiple guitars. The 72 Deluxe Tele is unique in every aspect. From the Wide Range pickups, to the Strat neck, to the volume/tone knobs, and to the most important thing of all…the sounds this thing can produce! It's perfect for a 1-guitar-kinda-guy like me who likes to rely on 1 trusty axe for all my playing needs and desires and doesn't want to look or sound like every other guitar player. Does it sound like a Tele or a Strat? No, it does not. Does it sound like a Les Paul? No. Does it sound like a mix between them all? Perhaps, but I wouldn't just label it an in-between guitar because it has its own unique character that has nothing to do with either a Tele, Strat, or LP. This is the guitar I've been searching for all these years but never knew it! The highs are crisp & much clearer than a traditional humbucker-equipped guitar minus the dreaded "ice-pick" factor. The lows are nice and round, without being overpowering & mud-inducing. The mids are very well-voiced. That's where this guitar really shines. The mid-range just hits that sweet crunchy-not-nasally spot for me every time I hear it. You just have to hear it for yourself I guess. Each pickup configuration has its own unique characteristics. The bridge has a little Tele spank & a lot of clarity on cleans & saturates very nicely when overdriven. I'm extremely happy playing everything from mildly distorted blues licks, to punk & hard rock, to chunky palm muted djent bliss. The middle position has a little Strat spank & it's great for clean strummed chords, blues & jazz licks. The neck pickup sounds equally good clean or overdriven. Perfect for leads, blues, jazz, & just an all around nice warm tone. The neck is one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, features on this guitar. As good of quality, if not better, than most American made necks out there. I mean, it's absolutely dead on. When set up properly, the action is low with zero buzz & I tune down to drop B & I'm only using 11s. That says something. It's comfortable and extremely fast. Honestly, it's probably the best neck I've ever played & that's including a couple of Paul Reed Smiths. The tuners are solid & rarely allow the strings to go out of tune if you know how to properly string an instrument. The input jack & toggle switch aren't the greatest quality but they're cheap & easy fixes. I've seen a lot of others comment on swapping out the pots in favor of 500k versus the stock 250k pots. Yeah it'd be interesting to hear the difference but personally, I have no problem with the way it sounds now so I probably won't ever bother unless I get really bored someday. Not to mention that's no easy fix for most do-it-yourselfers. What more could I ask for in a guitar? Not much really. It's unique in terms of looks & tone. It plays beautifully. It blends the warmth of humbuckers with the spank and midrange of a single coil & the result is a sound all its own. It's reliable. It's exactly like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Not too thin, not too thick, it's just right.fryeguy

Overall: Always wanted a Nashville Tele but several things were stopping me from buying it. I could have made some mods myself but that kind of defeats the purpose of a new guitar. No bridge + neck pickup option was a biggie.No locking tuners. All my guitars have locking tuners. 3 saddles instead of 6 individual. I just prefer the 6 even for a Tele.No noiseless pickups. Now they've also done a couple of things I wasn't necessarily looking for but are nice addition. The rolled fingerboard edges are a really nice touch as well as the belly cut. Again, not expected but very nice additions especially since I can roll my own fingerboards but have never attempted my own belly cut on a Tele and probably wouldn't but they are really nice on my G&L's. For the not so great stuff. The neck had entirely too much relief in it but this was rectified with a truss rod adjustment. I did have to do a fret level, crown and polish. The guitar also had a bit of fret sprout and some sharp ends. I easily fixed these issues but would understand others might have to take it to their local tech for a fret job. After a little work on my part the guitar plays wonderfully. The neck is really comfortable. This is every bit as good a guitar as the US produced Fender's I have played recently. The sounds are exactly what you would and should expect from a Nashville Tele. Overall, this is a very well made guitar. Played 4 gigs with it over the New Year break and I gotta say, this is probably going to be right there onstage with my EBMM's. No, it's not as good as my Cutlass and LIII's but it doesn't need to be. I think this guitar is a great bargain and I'm pretty picky. Fender finally got the Nashville Tele right. It's really nice to see.Richie

What a absolutely beautiful instrument. I got mine surf green and the online pictures don't do it justice. Guitar arrived flawless and played great out of the box. Action seemed a little higher than I like, but still plays great with the vintage frets to my surprise. Definitely has that telecaster sound with very nice cleans and twang. Also hitting it with a tube screamer or distortion pedal it has a snarl. Playing through a PRRI, 78 SFDR and 67 Vibro Champ. The C shaped neck does seem slightly beefier than other C shapes on my AVRI strats, but I find it just as comfortable and a nice difference. Clay inlays look really good on the rosewood neck also. There is also a tint to the neck that's more than what was on the previous line of AVRI guitars but I think it looks good.Don

This telecaster is legendary. First, the noiseless pickups immediately distinguish this tele from others and result in ZERO hum and stays that way on all pickups. Second, the C-shape fretboard design makes for effortless phrasing. Third, this guitar is impressively light (much more so than my strat) and is therefore my go-to guitar for gigging. And I should add the unique color configuration makes this tele stand out from the rest. Apparently "Aged Candle Apple Red" is Fender's own thing. Finally, I should note that I run this guitar through my Marshall DSL40CR. The combination makes for great depth and a fullness that rivals my strat — including on clean tones. I'm very happy with this purchase and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a compliment to their rig (particularly if you have a strat and want to expand the universe of sounds).Chad the Bad

I have twenty Fenders, including seven telecasters, and this is better than all of them. The neck feels like its been played for years, and the shape is perfect. Heavy rolled edges make it a pleasure to play with my thumb over the neck. First guitar I have bought that I had to raise the action slightly on the top two strings. Set up for fast playing or chords straight out of the case. The colour is sparkly brownish, but looks black in most light. Very well made guitar. The pickups are noiseless and are silent even with pedals. They sound like standard pickups, no loss of signal because of the extra windings for the noise cancellation. Sound fine. I must say, the pro 1 series pickups sound better. All in all a lovely instrument, well worth the extra few quid.STEVEN T.

Overall: I have an Ultra Strat in Cobra Blue, an Ultra Jazz Bass in Texas Tea, a Les Paul Standard Gold Top and other guitars. This has the most beautiful finish (Sunburst). Way better than the picture or videos. The tone is amazing. Light weight at 6.2 pounds. Officially my favorite guitar. Add to that they shipped it to me in 25 hours after promising 5 days. Ordered Monday noon and here it is. They had it in a warehouse near Reno and I got it next day. zZounds you ROCK.William

The Fender Ultra Telecaster Texas Tea is an amazing guitar, at first I noticed the D-Shape neck and quickly adapted to it. The neck feels silky smooth, hand glides over frets and is easy to play. The sound from pickups are brutally brilliant, and wit the S1 switch built into the tone knob, sends a slightly different signal, bit more gain with full richness depending on the selector position of course. I went initially seeking for the Jimmy Page Dragon Guitar and walk out of the shop with this Ultra instead, and for the few hundred dollars more, this guitar is totally worth it. The look of it is killer, and so classy – if there is an ultra guitar series in your guitar shop locally, don't hesitate to pick it up and test it out. This guitar is HOT! It's difficult to see in these photos but the colour under certain light angles are different and has small sparkling metallic substances mixed in with the colour. It's a black oily dark grey/brown. The neck has a vintage tone colour and the rosewood neck and skunk stripe just makes this guitar special.Jim T.

I have twenty Fenders, including seven telecasters, and this is better than all of them. The neck feels like its been played for years, and the shape is perfect. Heavy rolled edges make it a pleasure to play with my thumb over the neck. First guitar I have bought that I had to raise the action slightly on the top two strings. Set up for fast playing or chords straight out of the case. The colour is sparkly brownish, but looks black in most light. Very well made guitar. The pickups are noiseless and are silent even with pedals. They sound like standard pickups, no loss of signal because of the extra windings for the noise cancellation. Sound fine. I must say, the pro 1 series pickups sound better. All in all a lovely instrument, well worth the extra few quid.STEVEN T.

Overall: I have an Ultra Strat in Cobra Blue, an Ultra Jazz Bass in Texas Tea, a Les Paul Standard Gold Top and other guitars. This has the most beautiful finish (Sunburst). Way better than the picture or videos. The tone is amazing. Light weight at 6.2 pounds. Officially my favorite guitar. Add to that they shipped it to me in 25 hours after promising 5 days. Ordered Monday noon and here it is. They had it in a warehouse near Reno and I got it next day. zZounds you ROCK.William

The Fender Ultra Telecaster Texas Tea is an amazing guitar, at first I noticed the D-Shape neck and quickly adapted to it. The neck feels silky smooth, hand glides over frets and is easy to play. The sound from pickups are brutally brilliant, and wit the S1 switch built into the tone knob, sends a slightly different signal, bit more gain with full richness depending on the selector position of course. I went initially seeking for the Jimmy Page Dragon Guitar and walk out of the shop with this Ultra instead, and for the few hundred dollars more, this guitar is totally worth it. The look of it is killer, and so classy – if there is an ultra guitar series in your guitar shop locally, don't hesitate to pick it up and test it out. This guitar is HOT! It's difficult to see in these photos but the colour under certain light angles are different and has small sparkling metallic substances mixed in with the colour. It's a black oily dark grey/brown. The neck has a vintage tone colour and the rosewood neck and skunk stripe just makes this guitar special.Jim T.

I was expecting vintage-looking hardware and the nostalgia of Fender's glorious past with the tone of a Mexican-made Fender. If this is what Mexico can do, they've just set the bar quite high for themselves. It competes with all of my MIA Fenders for overall component, finish and build quality. Simply gorgeous instrument which looks much better than these pictures, which really don't do it justice! I get the feeling this line is somebody very important at Fender's baby because I'm telling you there's a lot of pride put into this guitar. I've never done an intonation test on a Fender without having to make several adjustments. This thing was set up PERFECTLY. The aged-nickel Strat-style bridge is familiar and easy to adjust. The vintage chrome tuners require you to clip the strings and insert the end straight down into the middle of the peg but your reward for this extra work is a guitar that stays in tune much longer! The neck is slightly fatter than your standard Tele with a natural taper and excellent playability for those with bigger hands such as myself. The synthetic bone nut is probably the only thing I will replace but that's just my preference and there wouldn't be a thing wrong with keeping it on. I have the aged natural finish which is the only proper finish for this model if you ask me but if you take exception to the way mine looks you won't find anything wrong with the way it sounds. These pickups are something else! Really the big surprise of the whole package. Open, aggressive, responsive to pick attack. More mid-range than a standard Tele that's for sure but with plenty of low-end and sparkle and highly adjustable. You will find the tone you're looking for but I must say this guitar shines when played more aggressively like filthy southern rock or Texas blues but can also handle punk, hair metal and more with its awesome trademark growl! The same pickup can put out silk and butter for jazz, country or folk with a simple change of picking style.TheSparky

These tuners will not accept heavy strings! Fender does not publish this info but after a little experimenting it seems that the diameter of the string hole in these tuners is about 0.46, so the heaviest standard set of strings you can put on this guitar is 0.10 – 0.46, this is completely unacceptable. I had to replace these immediately, while I do like the replacement tuners a bit better the stock tuners seemed fine and if I could get my preferred stings in them I would have kept them (replaced with Kluson 6-In-Line Revolution Series F-Mount Tuners – great tuners). When I unboxed this Tele I immediately saw fret sprout. The fret ends themselves were nicely contoured and not sharp, but the tang of each fret was poking out. It wasn't enough to break the finish but it made for an unpleasant playing experience. I called Musicians Friend about this and was given the option of returning it and was told that I would be responsible for shipping costs. I sent Fender and email and they were quick to respond and let me know that all their guitars have a 90 day warranty (thanks Fender!). I was able to take it to a Fender authorized repair shop and had the fret sprout addressed free of charge. While I had the guitar in for service I had the new tuners installed, a new nut installed and the saddles replaced. Because I use heavier strings I do anticipate some issues with the nut of any guitar, but surprisingly I think this nut would have worked after getting worn in just a bit. I knew I might have a hard time with these stock saddles. I do a lot of palm muting and those little screws grate my hands after a while. I don't hold anything against Fender or MS for the saddles or nut, I knew those might be issues for me based on my preferences. The stock pickups and electronics are actually pretty good! I bought this planning to replace them with the new cunife pickups, which I did, but I'm not convinced that the cunife are that much better.MCY

I only played a friend's genuine 1975 Tele Deluxe for a few minutes once, but I have other Telecasters, including a U.S.-made 60s reissue, and this Vintera 70s Tele Deluxe is fantastic-super comfortable to play, great sounding, and beautiful just to look at. A bit on the heavy side, but I don't mind that at all. If you want a Tele sound that approximates the old 70s Wide Range humbuckers, this one does it better than a lot of previous reissues did (and now even you can switch these pickups out with Fender's new CuNiFe Wide Range humbuckers if you're really determined to get as close as possible to the sound of the original pickups). I've always preferred rosewood fingerboards but this maple fretboard feels great to me and doesn't have the stickiness I used to experience with maple fretboards in decades past. The guitar is super solid-as one reviewer wrote somewhere else, it's "built like a tank." I love the vintage white finish, which is just gorgeous and eye-catching. The two humbuckers blend beautifully in the middle position, and the sound breaks up nicely through a good tube amp. (I have a Vibrolux reissue, and this guitar pairs with it better than I expected.) Give one a try-I bought mine based on many good reviews of this Vintera model and have been very pleasantly surprised ever since I received it. Very hard to put it down!Christopher

I have been playing guitar for over 50 years. Used to be in a garage band (in high school). My son is almost 14, has taken formal lessons since age 4 years. I play around with the guitar but he is the musician. We both love this telecaster. It plays so smooth and sounds fantastic, whether I'm playing a Beatles' song or he's cranking out Guns 'n' Roses or Slip Knot, it does the job very well. Between the two of us; we have two Strats (one from Fender's custom shop), a Rick 360/12, Gibson and Epi LPs, a Hofner Ignition bass (viola style) as well as a Hofner viola style 6 string, a Martin D28, Guild F412 (12 string), an LTD/ESP bass, a fender bass, Yamaha 12 string, 2 Gretsch Electromatics, Epi E160J, a Dean V body, an E.C. Rich Warlock, an Epi Casino, an Epi ES 339 Pro and several more at his mother's house as well. I added this to only point out that we appreciate good quality instruments and this telecaster is as good in every way as any of our others.Todd

Recently picked up one of these Teles and I'm really enjoying it. It feels really good and plays very well. The Shawbucker pickups sound awesome and even though they are humbuckers, they are very clear sounding ones that still keep that Tele sound, just a bit fatter and a bit warmer. My only real criticisms so far are 1) Being a Deluxe, I kind of wish it had the Stratocaster headstock like it originally did in the 70s, and 2) Being a slightly more modern version of the Deluxe, I wish it came with locking tuners. Other than that, I have no real complaints. Very pleased.Jim Smith

Well, I love this guitar! I’ve been playing strats, Gibsons, blah blah blah I love them don’t get me wrong! But from the moment I plug this guitar in it was love! Silky smooth action, total ear candy sounds from the pick ups in all positions! Very versatile! What a great guitar! Way to go fender!Larry Pearson

I used to own a 1953 Telecaster that I sold in a moment of stupidity so I have first hand knowledge of this vintage instrument. I had heard that they had successfully recreated a match to the vintage instrument in the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster. Mine is a late 2017 model and the workmanship is first class. It also has the "U" neck with the 7.25" finger board radius, the blonde butterscotch paint and the modern wiring. It has the same look and feel of the old one. It has the same twang and sustain as the old one too. I did have the adjust the bridge so the strings are just slightly higher off the fingerboard. The main difference between the old one and the new one is that the old one, the paint was highly worn on the back of the neck and I did miss that on the new one. If you are trying to decide what guitar to buy, I would highly recommend this one.todadamson

P'ups not excellent for dry playing at a loud gig if you need silence from your instrument. Outside of that, this is the best dang guitar I've ever owned, (out of 29). Neck is extremely comfy, might not be for you but it's okay to be wrong. Both pickups sound like keepers, and the hardware and case are high quality as well. Needed some additional time for set-up, but was well worth the effort.Andrew M

I just got a lefty for $350 or so and man it is impressive. Set up pretty well out of the box. Finish is perfect trans butterscotch blonde. Neck feels great and I love the finish (wont need dressing). Bridge looks fine, tuners are so so. A bit on the heavy side with the pine body no contour. With some mods this will be a player fo sho. This guitar is nice enough that I couldnt care less about the Squire branded headstock. If you want a platform to mod this is probably it. Feels better than any MIM Tele Ive held. Get one today if possible!-c.luckee74

All I really need to say here is Fender Telecaster, right? Truly excellent and legendary tone, feel, style, and versatility in these new line Fender Tele "Specials". Mine was perfectly playable directly out of the box with a quick tuning after receiving via a cross country mailing. And the look of these vintage Blonde models? Ooh la la !! Yes, I love it. Recommended? Absolutely!guitar-czar

I’m a student guitar player but wanted a good quality instrument that will last me for years to come. I believe this instrument does this. A friend who is a much more experienced guitarist than I am tried it and was also impressed.Reviewed by Absolute Music custo

This is an awesome Tele for someone looking to pick up a US Made guitar, at a good price. I also have the US Special Strat (with a Maple fret board), as I was looking to get a wide variety of sounds. While this also has Texas Special Pickups, the two models still manage to be entirely different animals. The neck is fantastic and there are no issues with buzzing frets.The finish is high gloss and really pops. I swapped out the black pick-guard, for a mint green, and the combination of the vintage bridge set-up and head-stock, gives it a great vintage vibe. Every time I go to put this down, I just end up picking it right back up again.D

For over 10 years, I've been casually searching for just the right Telecaster. I've tested out many over the years (new and used), and with the wide variety of neck styles on different models and series, I just never found the right one. When Fender announced this 70th Anniversary Broadcaster earlier this year, something told me this might finally be the one. So I decided to roll the dice and order one from MF without first playing one and I'm thrilled to report that it not only met but also exceeded all of my expectations. I was most concerned about the U-shaped neck – not being a fan of so-called "baseball bats" of the early 1950s. It's just slightly more chunky than a modern Tele, but it's extremely comfortable and it only took me about a day to get completely comfortable with it. Now I absolutely love it. The action is perfect and there's no buzzing whatsoever up and down the neck. The Custom Shop Blackguard pick-ups sound fantastic. They are super-hot and give that classic Tele tone. Before playing it, I was a little disappointed that Fender decided to include the wiring kit to duplicate the original Broadcaster blending-mode as a user-installed option instead of wiring it this way at the factory, but after hearing these pick-ups the way they are, I won't be re-wiring it anytime soon. I had mixed emotions about the lacquer finish with the see-through wood grain when looking at the photos online, but in person the guitar looks fantastic. My only reservation is that the lacquer makes the back of the neck a little tacky but over time this should work itself out. I've already noticed that after a week of playing it has already improved. One other thing about this guitar that still amazes me is the weight. It is perfect – not too light and also not a boat anchor hanging around your neck. I also love the custom American-made G&G deluxe tweed case. Do yourself a favor and order this guitar while you still can!Lou Z.

I bought this in order to not duplicate what I left behind during a 3000 mile move last month, after doing enough research to learn that an Esquire is significantly different from a Telecaster. Indeed, this guitars sounds quite different, and in my view can stand in for a Gretsch but with better feel. The chunky neck is vintage and not 70's style as some have stated. I have tiny hands so was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it feels up and down the neck. Not slippery at all either. The natural finish is darker than in the photos, but it's still nice to see pine grain. Heavier shellac than I expected, but it sounds great. Not as much tonal range as other Fenders, but I didn't buy it for that. I'm going to try all-nickel strings when I get it set up, for an even more vintage sound, but it's great with the Fender nickel plated steel strings.mhschmieder

I finally have a Telecaster, and not just any Tele, but possibly the nicest one I've come across. I absolutely LOVE the color scheme (though I wouldn't mind a slightly lighter colored fret board – rosewood or pau ferro)! Everything about this guitar screams quality and attention to detail. It plays well and sounds fantastic! I have a Gibson SG, Epiphone Sheraton, Fender Jazzmaster, and now this Tele Ultra and so far, I think this is the best sounding guitar out of the bunch. It's certainly the best playing and best feeling out of all of them. The Jazzmaster is close, but this Tele simply kills it! Don't sleep on this one, folks.Devin R.

Overall: Always wanted a Nashville Tele but several things were stopping me from buying it. I could have made some mods myself but that kind of defeats the purpose of a new guitar. No bridge + neck pickup option was a biggie.No locking tuners. All my guitars have locking tuners. 3 saddles instead of 6 individual. I just prefer the 6 even for a Tele.No noiseless pickups. Now they've also done a couple of things I wasn't necessarily looking for but are nice addition. The rolled fingerboard edges are a really nice touch as well as the belly cut. Again, not expected but very nice additions especially since I can roll my own fingerboards but have never attempted my own belly cut on a Tele and probably wouldn't but they are really nice on my G&L's. For the not so great stuff. The neck had entirely too much relief in it but this was rectified with a truss rod adjustment. I did have to do a fret level, crown and polish. The guitar also had a bit of fret sprout and some sharp ends. I easily fixed these issues but would understand others might have to take it to their local tech for a fret job. After a little work on my part the guitar plays wonderfully. The neck is really comfortable. This is every bit as good a guitar as the US produced Fender's I have played recently. The sounds are exactly what you would and should expect from a Nashville Tele. Overall, this is a very well made guitar. Played 4 gigs with it over the New Year break and I gotta say, this is probably going to be right there onstage with my EBMM's. No, it's not as good as my Cutlass and LIII's but it doesn't need to be. I think this guitar is a great bargain and I'm pretty picky. Fender finally got the Nashville Tele right. It's really nice to see.Richie

What a absolutely beautiful instrument. I got mine surf green and the online pictures don't do it justice. Guitar arrived flawless and played great out of the box. Action seemed a little higher than I like, but still plays great with the vintage frets to my surprise. Definitely has that telecaster sound with very nice cleans and twang. Also hitting it with a tube screamer or distortion pedal it has a snarl. Playing through a PRRI, 78 SFDR and 67 Vibro Champ. The C shaped neck does seem slightly beefier than other C shapes on my AVRI strats, but I find it just as comfortable and a nice difference. Clay inlays look really good on the rosewood neck also. There is also a tint to the neck that's more than what was on the previous line of AVRI guitars but I think it looks good.Don

This telecaster is legendary. First, the noiseless pickups immediately distinguish this tele from others and result in ZERO hum and stays that way on all pickups. Second, the C-shape fretboard design makes for effortless phrasing. Third, this guitar is impressively light (much more so than my strat) and is therefore my go-to guitar for gigging. And I should add the unique color configuration makes this tele stand out from the rest. Apparently "Aged Candle Apple Red" is Fender's own thing. Finally, I should note that I run this guitar through my Marshall DSL40CR. The combination makes for great depth and a fullness that rivals my strat — including on clean tones. I'm very happy with this purchase and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a compliment to their rig (particularly if you have a strat and want to expand the universe of sounds).Chad the Bad

I give it five stars, It really is a nice guitar, I have had many teles and guitars in general. This tele is light and plays like a dream and honestly you could spend another grand or two on a custom shop and I'm not sure it would play any better or sound better. Maybe a pickup change to your preference, otherwise I wise choice. From one guitarist to another, I bet you can't put this guitar down and I'm a les paul Guy902timothy