60s Telecaster Bigsby
Old-school whammy…
Yes, here we are in 2019, reviewing a design that first appeared on a drawing board 70 years ago. That’s the genius of Leo Fender. The Telecaster never got old. It’s still the perfect workhorse, a tonal chameleon that can take on practically any musical genre.
As its name makes perfectly clear, our Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby pays tribute to the version released in the decade that gave us The Beatles, JFK’S last day out, and the moon landing. And it comes fitted with a Bigsby vibrato.
While the ash body was carried over from the first generation Telecasters, by the early 60s, Fender bolt-on necks were slimmer than ever. Our Vintera nails that ultra-comfortable feel with a profile that’s neither fat nor thin. The 60s Teles generally had rosewood fingerboards. Here that prized timber is represented by the more
eco-friendly Pau Ferro that features on all non-maple ’board Mexican Fender models.
This Telecaster also features a vintage correct 184mm (7.25") fingerboard radius and 21 thin frets. Yes, it’s a fact that you won’t get the same low action and silky upper fret string-bending with these specs that you would expect from a modern Fender 241mm (9.5") radius. That said, this guitar is still a joy to play.
In classic Tele style, our Vintera is bright and bursting with sustain, and that’s before you even plug it in. Amplified, you get that classic Tele punch from the bridge pickup and warmth from the neck unit. If you play country music, you’ll love these pickups. More of a blues fan? You’ll love these pickups. Oh, you prefer classic rock. Guess what…
That’s the thing with a great Tele. It’s the sound behind Johnny Cash, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, and first Led Zeppelin album Jimmy Page. No other guitar is quite as versatile... and this one even has a vibrato to widen your horizons.
While you probably wouldn’t entrust your breakfast to a 70-year-old toaster, this Vintera Telecaster proves just how right Leo Fender got it with his first solidbody electric. The excellent Fender Mexico quality control does him proud too...
In classic Tele style, our Vintera is bright and bursting with sustain, and that’s before you even plug it in