Fender Britt Daniel Telecaster Thinline Review

If you're looking for a Tele, look no further

This is my first Tele, and probably my last. What I have to say about it is doubtless measured against my other electrics: a PRS Vela (solid body, Plek'd, single coil on the neck, humbucker with coil split on the bridge) and a Gibson ES-Les Paul of nearly identical weight (semi-hollowbody, with humbuckers, a tad over 6 lbs). Note too that I've owned the Britt Daniel only for two… read more weeks, so these are initial impressions. First question: does this guitar add anything to what I already have, aside from sheer cosmetics? Yes. I would describe the pickups on the Britt Daniel as hot, with the crystal-clear neck pickup a perfect match for the snap of the bridge. In light of which, the S-1 switch is a nice option to have b/c it seems to round out the sound and give it an extra, larger dimension. The guitar does what one imagines a Tele to do, and then some. I would describe the predominant effects as BITE and RING. Right now I'm plugged into a Quilter 101 Reverb with 10" BlockDock, and the Tele stacks up favorably with my Les Paul plugged into a '65 Princeton Reverb reissue (12", with OCD pedal) to provide a whole different soundscape. As for the Vela, I would say it splits the difference, if that makes sense. But I'll have a better sense of things in the coming months. As for the neck itself and fretboard, I found both instantly comfortable. Cosmetically, this guitar is a serious looker, my sole quibble being -- and I feel that the two-grand price tag justifies this quibble -- that Fender should have spent a little more time with the inside ridges of the F-hole. If I can look straight at an F-hole and see a small paint protrusion, then so can a craftsman. Out comes my razor-sharp jackknife to remove the tiny blip of paint that dripped over the edge and hardened. And upon close examination, the inside ridge of the entire F-hole cutout might have been attended to with more care. What matters of course is the finish on the edge of the F-hole as it intersects with the guitar top, which finish is indeed seamless, so I expect no finishing problems. Again, call it a quibble. Everything else about the guitar, cosmetically, is perfect-o, ergo I won't dock it a half-star. All in all I'd say this is a beautiful guitar, with excellent playability and sound. It's everything I was looking for in a Tele, and the absence of locking tuners, for instance, is not in my view a drawback. Also, the case is fab -- I wish every guitar would come with such a case. As my photo suggests, my music room is getting a little crowded. (And the acoustics are in the other room. Maybe I need to stop now?) Thanks to Forrest Powell as ever for his help with this purchase.

---

Cancel Comment

Pound for pound champ

Got a bad back? You need to play one of these. Very light. The S1 switch in middle pozish is Humbuckery and will fatten you up nicely. The twang on the bridge is classic, and the tone knob is very reponsive. The neck pickup is airy and rolled off volume will seat you nicely in the mix for the 'she's singing but I still need to be heard" -thing. The neck is really comfortable.… read more When I first grabbed it was like...thats fat-But its really not, its a nice feel. Beefy yet not over the top. Fretwork, nut, and tone controls great. Not a fan of ash tray but I will either get used to it or it will go. Minus 1/2 star for the sharp saddle screws. C'mon Fender, for 2 grand...take the edge off those saddle screws. I bailed you out this time on my setup. I still love you though. Overall great guitar. Satisfying acquisition.

---

Cancel Comment

I love this guitar

I have about 20 guitars--ES335, Custom Shop 1960 Les Paul, Rickenbacker 360, American Original Jazzmaster, American Strat, American Tele, you name it--and this guitar stands out as one of my favorites. It's the guitar I have been reaching for the most in recent months. The reason is that it has that great combination that one looks for in a guitar: fantastic tone coupled with… read more amazing playability. (Honestly, what else does one need? I guess aesthetics, and here the guitar delivers as well: it's quite the looker.) It's also super lightweight. As for sound, you can get twang, you can get glassy smoothness, you can get jangle, you can get crunch, you can get punk rawness. And you can get the Britt Daniel sound from your favorite Spoon albums. Despite my love for effects, I often just plug this guitar straight into an amp (usually going into a Fender Custom Deluxe Reverb '68 or a Matchless Avalon) and just let the guitar do its thing. Also, Sweetwater's 55-point inspection must have been just right, because the guitar was delivered set up very well, almost as if set up by my local tech. The action is low enough to fly up and down the neck but without buzzing, and the intonation is great. I really, really like this guitar, and I highly recommend it.

---

Cancel Comment