Fender Telecaster (Under Estimated?)

Playability, Versatility & Tone.

Three words I would use to describe the Fender Telecaster (Highly Under Estimated).  I have to be honest and say I have only discovered this late in life, in fact after playing for almost 30 years.  Its only recently in my life, now my mortgage is paid and I have reached a point of having more disposable funds that I have started collecting guitars and spending  alot more money on them than I did when I was younger, I have discovered the wonders of the Fender Telecaster.

When you are a school boy and you talk about the various topics, Ferrari or Lambourgini, Top Trumps, BMX or Mountain Bike and of course Gibson or Fender for those who play guitar.  I was always a Gibson lad, I wanted  a Gibson Les Paul or a Gibson SG for years, I always wanted the Fender Stratocaster too, but Gibson guitars were my idols.  Disappointingly, I visited Gibson in the USA, did the factory tour which was throughally enjoyable and played several Gibson Les Pauls in the showroom, I should not have tried my idols, I was sadly disappointed, but this may be down to my style of playing as I am not a jazz man nor a heavy rocker.

A few years ago I started buying more guitars and went out the way to find a Fender Telecaster as I had not really tried them, nor did I know a great deal about them apart from what I beleive, is they look great, what I call a basic original guitar style.  I tried several Telecaster guitars and didn't like anything I tried, although I liked the tone they had, so I kept looking, Four years ago, I set my heart on buying a Tele and ended up buying a beautiful American standard Fender Stratocaster, but no Tele.  Three Years ago I search again and ended up buying an Ibanez AS93BLS semi hollow body and an Ibanez AEL2012 12 string acoustic, but still no Tele.

What is it about these guitars thats  fascinates me, I have been searching for one and cannot find anything I like?

Fender Highway One Telecaster

Then it all fell in to place two years ago, during two trips to the USA, when I came across an American made  Fender Highway One Telecaster in South Carolina, I found the guitar that felt right, had the right bluesey tone I was searching, had the right feel on the neck and looked great.  I could never part with this guitar it is superb, played straight through a Fender Hotrod Deville 212 or through an effects unit, it performs everytime and has impressed friends and listeners all around.

Mexican made Fender Telecaster with Ash Body

Then low and behold, I find another on my second trip in the same year, a Mexican made Fender Telecaster, unlike the Highway one, this guitar is so much lighter and has a real hard to find country music tone, which comes naturally from the guitar with little or no effects.


I'm finding now that I am using my Telecaster more than my other guitars and I do have a reasonable collection, they are just so versatile, comfortable and ear pleasing.

I really had under estimated these guitars and its taken me over 30 years to realise what I have been missing.

David Parkes

Ibanez AS93

The Ibanez AS93 (as93bls shown in picture) is a super guitar, low action, excellent tone and fairly lightweight, excellent for gigging and looks so good, its great just left on the wall for display even if you cannot play.

The Ibanez AS93 6-String Semi Acoustic Guitar, Flame Blue. Set-neck construction, dual humbuckers and stunning all flamed sycamore body deliver versatile rock tones.

SPECS
Neck Material: 3pc Mahogany/ Maple
Neck Type: Artcore DX set-in
Body: Flamed Maple top/back/sides
Frets: Large frets
Fingerboard: Bound Rosewood
Inlay: Artcore DX inlay
Bridge: ART1 bridge
NeckPU: ACH1
BridgePU: ACH2
HW Color: GD
Finishes: BLS

FEATURES
The AS93's bridge and tailpiece are solid, stable, and fully adjustable.

The Quik Change III tailpiece on the AS93 provides faster and easier string changing.

The Sure Grip III knobs are designed for precise control with nonslip functionality, along with smooth and classic looks.

Flamed Maple body, high gloss Blue Sunburst finish.
AS SERIES BASICS

* Set-in neck
* ART-1 Bridge
* Quik Change III tailpiece
* Depth: 43mm at tail
* Left-handed model available