TEST: Fender Deluxe Tele Thinline CAR

 What has not already been written about this type of guitar. For some the most boring and ugly guitar shape ever, for others the epitome of the ultimate "Twäng", whereby the "scholars" argue to this day, how the same is to be defined at all. The fact is that the Fender Telecaster was born in 1952 and at the same time became the first mass-produced electric guitar. That this instrument, designed by a trained mechanical engineer for purely pragmatic and cost reasons, would become a collection of groundbreaking details, Leo Fender probably would not have thought in his wildest dreams. That he should succeed this clou 2 years later again by a multiple higher with the Stratocaster, probably even less.

In the meantime, countless versions of the "board" have experienced their moment of glory in the almost 64 years and some of them have already left the scene again. One of the variations of the classic solidbody version, however, remains bravely in the second row. We are talking about the Thinline version, which is available for testing as the Fender Deluxe Tele Thinline CAR. Enough of the history lesson, on to the test.

Construction

Telecaster! Well, that means in its classic interpretation a board with 2 single-coil pickups, plus a maple neck and the usual electric guitar stuff like tuners, etc., done! Was nice and cheap at the time and in conjunction with a twin reverb in a volume unbelievable at the time, even in the heaviest big band thunderstorm without any problems. But to leave it only with these rudimentary key data, would do the Fender Deluxe Tele Thinline CAR truly wrong, after all, almost every detail has been changed, improved or simply pimped in recent decades. But stop, there was something else, what is it about the designation Thinline?

Thinline?

With Thinline Fender describes the same Telecaster, which was more or less the answer to the ES series from Gibson. Construction and conception couldn't be more diametrical, but as soon as the customer sees an F-hole, he looks for something comparable. Above the string guide, the Telecaster is indeed hollowed out, resulting in an overall "hollower" and softer sound compared to Solidbody. It doesn't really make the instrument any louder acoustically, but it does take away some of the, depending on the finish, biting sharpness of a Tele. However, you don't have to worry about feedback like on Gibson's full resonance Thick Bertas, the sustain block in the middle of the instrument provides enough shielding in terms of bass feedback.

Hombre

As already mentioned, Fender has changed a few points on the Mexican-made guitar, which non-tele purists in particular liked to take as a point of criticism. Whether the entire production now takes place in Mexico, or whether, as in the past, all components were manufactured in the U.S. to be shipped across the border for wage reasons and then screwed together in Mexico, i.e. were actually U.S. instruments, who knows. Perhaps, due to the current political situation in the USA, a wall will soon stand in the way of economic cooperation.

Neck

In addition to the classic body shape, the neck is made of maple, and its glued-on fingerboard is also made of maple. Although you can now insert the trussrod from the top, they didn't abandon the "skunk" strip on the back of the neck, which was introduced in its time for the one-piece marple necks. Will probably have price reasons to not run another CNC pattern. The shaping may be considered moderate C, Fender-ersk, without alienating the average-user. The neck sits in a rounded version of the neck base, which improves playability in high registers. In terms of body wood, once again the universally usable alder is used, next to ash the most popular body wood at Fender.

Also, the six tuning machines laterally offset to reduce lateral string friction on the saddle may not be missing, but one has decided for a locking version, which provides more tuning stability and faster string changes due to the lower number of turns of the string. That the CAR in the type designation stands for the color Candy-Apple-Red and it is one of the most famous Fender creations, should probably be known to every Fender friend.

One has said goodbye to the three-rider-death-of-the-intonation-ashtray bridge, which was indeed classic, but among us also tonally real junk. Not a musician who didn't get the big howl as soon as he left the register and had to switch to higher fret regions. Six individual stainless steel tabs in Stratocaster flair, with the strings passing through the body, provide the Fender Deluxe Tele Thinline CAR with much improved octave purity.

Electrics

As a pickup 2 in-house windings with the designation "noiseless" are used, further information about resistance, etc. could unfortunately not be brought into experience. A volume control, a tone control, so far so good, but what is a 4-way switch doing on a Tele? Well, in addition to the typical 3-way whirring, a serial switching of the two single-coils was made possible on position 1, a kind of humbucker with huge spacing between the coils :-) Let's see if this additional circuit brings the Tele forward in its original habitat.

Practice

In principle, it explains itself, but for all hopeful young tappers who curiously eye the instrument described here, having not noticed it before. Tele = High Gain = NO! Tele = Heavy = NO! Of course, you can put mini-humbuckers in your Tele and elicit good rock leads from the instrument as a result, but it's the same as playing with an Explorer in a Dire Straits cover band. It all works, but doesn't really fit.

A discreet crunch may be granted to the country classic, even more, the Tele is a prime example of how a good classic rock rhythm guitar has to sound, but the great showcase is clearly in the clean area with the Tele. The pickups are quite convincing, because they do not bite as hard as some of their predecessors, but still have enough character to assert themselves in the best Tele manner in the band context.

If you now drive the amp discreetly into the saturation, the Fender Deluxe Tele Thinline CAR can play out its second strength. A touch of crunch, more compression than half-wave cut, lets the instrument come across very expressively. Here, the first switch position can also come up with a sensible humbucker-alike and provide a decent, "rocking" foundation. Here is plenty of room for other instruments and the singer is not constantly afraid to drown in the compression stroke of a "real" humbucker beyond 14 kOhm.

Yes, and there is the legendary Twäng, which pushes its characteristics forward especially through fingerpicking. Since every listener has his own idea of the ultimate Twäng, it is very difficult to make a definitive statement in this regard. In my opinion, the Fender Deluxe Tele Thinline CAR has enough Twäng to do honor to its family. Maybe a little less than a solidbody, but it flatters the ear a little more and is also much lighter than their sisters, especially in the eighties usually overweight.

Conclusion

As a Fender fan, you can't go wrong with the Fender Deluxe Tele Thinline CAR. The instrument has everything that made the Tele famous and says goodbye to the details for which it is notorious. In addition, the Thinline version lightens up a few grams in weight and takes some of the harshness out of the tone.

However, with a retail price just under 1,000 euros, it also meets plenty of competition, which, however, will probably have to fight for a lifetime against the strongest trademark in the world in the guitar sector. Here, everyone must decide for themselves where their priorities lie.


Additional Informations:

- Fender Guitars is one of the most iconic and revered guitar companies in the world. Founded in 1946 by Leo Fender, the company has been at the forefront of guitar innovation for over 75 years. Today, Fender continues to produce some of the world's most popular guitars, amplifiers, and accessories, and is a favorite of musicians in a wide range of genres.

History

Leo Fender was born in Anaheim, California in 1909. As a young man, he was interested in electronics and began repairing radios and other equipment. In the 1940s, he started building and selling amplifiers under the name "Fender Radio Service." These early amps were popular with local musicians and sparked Fender's interest in creating guitars.

In 1946, Fender released his first electric guitar, the Telecaster (originally called the "Broadcaster"). This revolutionary instrument featured a solid body, which provided greater sustain and reduced feedback compared to hollow-bodied guitars. It also had a bolt-on neck, which made it easier to repair and maintain. The Telecaster was an instant hit, and Fender quickly followed it up with the Stratocaster, which featured a sleeker body shape, three pickups, and a vibrato system.

Over the years, Fender continued to innovate and release new models, including the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar, and the Mustang. The company also became known for its high-quality amplifiers, including the iconic Fender Twin Reverb and Fender Bassman.

In the 1960s, Fender faced competition from other guitar companies, including Gibson and Rickenbacker. However, the company remained popular with musicians, particularly in the burgeoning rock and roll scene. In the 1980s, Fender was purchased by CBS, and quality control suffered as the company struggled to keep up with demand. However, in the 1990s, Fender was sold to a group of investors who were committed to restoring the company's reputation for quality.
Today, Fender remains one of the most popular and influential guitar companies in the world. The company produces a wide range of guitars, including the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, and Mustang, as well as basses, amplifiers, and accessories.

Design and Features

Fender guitars are known for their distinctive designs and high-quality craftsmanship. Many of the company's guitars feature a bolt-on neck, which makes them easier to repair and maintain than guitars with glued-in necks. Fender guitars also typically feature single-coil pickups, which produce a bright, twangy tone that is particularly popular in country and rock music.

Fender's most famous guitar, the Stratocaster, features three single-coil pickups, a vibrato system, and a contoured body that allows for greater playing comfort. The Telecaster, Fender's first guitar, has a simpler design with two single-coil pickups and a bolt-on neck. The Jazzmaster and Jaguar are more complex designs with unique electronics and body shapes.

Fender also produces a wide range of bass guitars, including the Precision Bass and the Jazz Bass. These instruments have been popular with bass players since their introduction in the 1950s and have been used on countless recordings in a wide range of genres.

In addition to guitars and basses, Fender produces a range of amplifiers, including the popular Fender Twin Reverb and Fender Deluxe Reverb. These amps are known for their warm, clean tones and are favored by many guitarists for their versatility and reliability.

- The Fender Telecaster is one of the most iconic and influential electric guitars ever created. First introduced in 1950, the Telecaster (originally called the "Broadcaster") was the first solid-body electric guitar to be mass-produced, and its simple design and versatile tone have made it a favorite of musicians in a wide range of genres.

Design and Features

The Telecaster has a distinctive design that has remained largely unchanged since its introduction over 70 years ago. The guitar features a solid body made of ash or alder, with a bolt-on maple neck and a fingerboard made of either maple or rosewood.

The Telecaster typically has two single-coil pickups, although some models have been produced with humbucking pickups or a combination of single-coil and humbucking pickups. The pickups are controlled by a three-way switch, which allows the player to select either pickup individually or both pickups together. The guitar also has two control knobs, one for volume and one for tone.

One of the key features of the Telecaster is its simplicity. Unlike some other electric guitars, which have multiple switches and knobs to control the tone, the Telecaster has a straightforward design that allows the player to focus on the essentials: the pickups and the volume and tone controls.

Tone and Playability

The Telecaster's tone is bright and twangy, with a distinctive snap that is particularly well-suited to country and rock music. The guitar's single-coil pickups provide a clear, articulate sound that can cut through a mix, while the bridge pickup in particular is known for its twangy, percussive attack.
One of the advantages of the Telecaster's simple design is its ease of playability. The guitar's bolt-on neck allows for easy adjustments and repairs, while the flat fingerboard and medium jumbo frets make it easy to play fast and accurate lines.

Impact and Legacy

The Telecaster has had a profound impact on the history of popular music. The guitar was first popularized by country musicians in the 1950s, who appreciated its bright tone and ease of playability. However, the Telecaster's influence soon spread to other genres, including rock, blues, and jazz.

Some of the most iconic guitarists of all time have used the Telecaster, including Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and James Burton. The guitar has also been a favorite of alternative rock musicians, including Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and Johnny Marr of the Smiths.

In addition to its influence on music, the Telecaster has also had a significant impact on guitar design. The guitar's simple, utilitarian design has influenced countless other instruments, and many other guitar companies have produced their own versions of the Telecaster over the years.

Conclusion

The Fender Telecaster is a true icon of the electric guitar world. Its simple design, versatile tone, and ease of playability have made it a favorite of musicians for over 70 years, and its influence can be heard in countless recordings across a wide range of genres. Whether you're a country picker, a rock and roller, or a jazz player, the Telecaster is a guitar that is sure to inspire and delight.