really broad range that enabled me to move
from brighter Tom Petty-like rock tones to
darker and more aggressive sounds.
The folks at RS and Fralin devoted a lot
of time to designing these pickups, and the
attention to detail is evident in their sound.
The hotter neck pickup was a pleasant sur-
prise, featuring a clear, harmonically rich
color that’s perfect for single-note passages
or fingerpicking. And the middle position
(pickups in parallel) also offered up some
truly funk-worthy textures that were simul-
taneously fat and chiming with a trace of
out-of-phase quack. In any setting, the Fralin
pickups are impressive, consistently deliver-
ing sweet, balanced sounds in both clean and
high-gain applications. The TeeVee Custom
has enough sonic variety to adapt to virtually
any musical style—just like a good Tele.
The Verdict
With its quality components and meticulous craftsmanship, the TeeVee custom
stands out as a top-notch player’s tool, and
its unique synthesis of Tele and V designs
and relic’d look make the RS TeeVee a real
showstopper onstage. But the icing on the
cake is the TeeVee’s full-bodied, muscular
tones and silky playability. This combination makes the TeeVee a professional-level
instrument fit for a guitarist who doesn’t
mind a bit of flash.
Rating:
Buy If...
you’re looking for vintage Tele tone
in a more individual-looking guitar,
and you’re not a wallflower.
Skip If...
the integration of the two classic
designs doesn’t resonate with you,
and you like a Tele-sounding guitar
to look like one too.
RS Guitarworks
Street $3095
rsguitarworks.net
or use a mobile device to download
audio clips of the guitar at
CLICKHere…
premierguitar.com/apr2011
solidgoldfx
visit
www.solidgoldfx.com to see what we’re up to
e: info@solidgoldfx.com t: 514.509.5084
