the included strap and instrument cable
provoke you to put the guitar into action
right out of the box.
Fender’s hardware choices also indicate
that the Select is designed for performing
musicians rather than the vintage-spec-obsessed collector. Look the guitar over,
and you’ll notice details like staggered,
sealed locking tuners, Schaller-style strap
locks, a synthetic bone nut, and a bridge
with six bent-steel saddles and a brass
plate. (Note: The locking tuners are only
available on the nickel-chrome hardware-equipped models. The gold-hardware-equipped models come with traditional-style tuners with pearloid buttons.)
The Select Telecaster’s electronics include
two single-coils designed especially for the
Select series, and a no-load tone control that
removes the tone pot and capacitor from the
circuit when it’s turned all the way up. This
yields a more direct, open, and uncolored tone.
Comfort and ergonomics concerns played
a big role in the Select Telecaster’s design.
First off, if you’re worried about a heavy
instrument that will have you hunched
over by the second set, have no fear. Fender
imposed a strict weight limit on the Select
Series guitars: Each weighs less than 8
pounds. The rear of the Select Telecaster also
has a tummy cut, and its maple C-shaped
neck features medium-jumbo frets, a contoured heel, and a lacquered, compound-radius fretboard. Rather than the 7. 25" or
9. 5" radius commonly found on more traditional Teles, the Select’s fretboard goes from
9. 5" to 14", which means it works well for
everything from big bends to barre chords
and lightning-speed shred moves.
A Sound Selection
I tested the Select Telecaster through a
Fender blackface Deluxe Reverb and a
Fender Super-Sonic head and 4x12. While
both amps have the potential to deliver
quintessentially Telecaster tones, they can
also reveal the snarling, brittle side of a
Telecaster. But one of the first things you
notice about the Select Telecaster—and,
specifically, the special-design pickups—is
that you get signature Telecaster brightness
and cut, but with a rich fullness that never
gets too spiky or harsh. The pickups aren’t
especially hot, but they give the guitar a
refined and confident voice that matches its
outward elegance. If anything, they might
sound a little too smooth for those who like
their Telecaster tones a little more tattered.
Though the Select Telecaster may sound a
little polished, it’s also a polylingual character:
Whether you’re a country twanger, a garage
rocker, a blues demon, or a jazzer, it’s up
for the task. I used the guitar on a pop-rock
rehearsal where material ran from rough-and-ragged, Keef-inspired I–IV chording to
chimey, Tom Petty-esque Americana strumming, and getting rich tones for both applications was virtually effortless. The chambered
body adds a lively, resonant quality and a
sweet ring to jangly playing, but it also contributes a complex, mellow woodiness for jazz.
Using the neck pickup with the tone control
rolled down to about 7, I got a detailed but
woolly tone perfect for Ed Bickert-style chord
melodies or Mike Stern-style single-note lines.
The Select Telecaster is equally at home
with overdrive. Telecasters can sometimes
get shrill when driven hard, but no matter how high I goosed the gain or how
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aggressively I set the tone controls, the
Select Tele retained its smooth character
and penchant for harmonic bloom.
Although the no-load control’s effect is
noticeable, it can be subtle. In other words,
you’re not going to mistake it for the boost
you get from an EQ pedal. However, its
organic qualities proved a godsend in a loud
rehearsal. When my tone felt a hair congested
during a solo, activating the no-load circuit
gave me a perceptible clarity and openness.
The Verdict
Sonically, visually, and ergonomically speaking, the Select Telecaster is a very well-realized
instrument. Even if you’re a Telecaster purist,
you can’t argue that its design enhancements
don’t make it an exceptionally playable and
rich-sounding guitar. If you have unshakably
romantic notions about the Telecaster as a
rugged rock ’n’ roll machine and consider the
battle scars on Jeff Beck’s peeling Esquire Tele
badges of honor, the Select Telecaster may
seem a little precious. On the other hand, if
you’re among those who’ve sought boutique
alternatives because you’re a Tele player with
champagne tastes, this Fender is as thoughtfully crafted and executed as many of the
astronomically priced boutique T-styles out
there. The truth is, you’d be hard pressed to
find a Telecaster nicer than this at any price—
and at a street price of $2, 150, that makes the
Select almost seem like a bargain.
Compound- radius fretboard
RATINGS
Pros: Luxurious looks with superb sounds and playability.
Fender Select Series Telecaster, $2, 150 street, fender.com
cons: Might be a bit too flashy and polished for those who
favor the Telecaster’s bare-bones heritage.
Tones
Value
