Tried one a week ago. Best guitar I’ve ever played. Loved the curved fretboard, fat neck, low frets, pick-ups and finish. It wasn’t my intention to get one (or any Fender for that matter) but it has been calling to me louder and louder every day…

@NickHandleyCreative

8 ай бұрын

I hope you can happily report that you own it now. When a guitar takes up that much real estate in your mind, it’s surely a sign of destiny

I’ve watched a few videos now on the 51. Yours was the first to do a proper job of showing the neck thickness, thanks so much for that (everyone talks about it, but nobody has shown it that I’ve seen at least, until this video). I have small hands, but I think I’m going to give this one a shot if I can find one in the weight range that I’m looking for. I dig it a lot, and it looks like you got a good one! 🤠

@NickHandleyCreative

4 ай бұрын

Thanks! I have small hands too. The way they roll the edges on these makes the thickness feel extra amazing.

Yeah , I’m like you, love the 7.25 radius necks! I’m looking hard at the 63 version of the Tele. Already own the 57 Strat and love it. Good video Nick!

@NickHandleyCreative

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I have the 57 strat too, and I also love that one. I gotta try the 63. I have an American Original 60’s tele that I love, but there’s something very cool about the AVii line!

@ryangunwitch-black

Жыл бұрын

Same. I really dig the 7.25” board. I kept looking at Custom Shop Strats on Sweetwater and falling in love until I saw the boards were all 9.5”. Is the AVII gonna be the Custom Shop Killer? We shall see. If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. If mine shows up perfect it’ll be an indicator that they really are.

@NickHandleyCreative

11 ай бұрын

@@ryangunwitch-black yeah what’s up with all the custom shop axes coming with 9.5” boards? I’d think they’d at least have an option for 7.25” without having to actually order one custom. If they did I’d have a few by now

Such a beautiful combo - a tele & a Princeton. That amp with the blonde tolex is very nice!

You created a few video's I've been dying to find on youtube but just haven't. In particular your AO60 vs AV II 1961 strat comparison! You earned yourself a new subscriber for sure

@NickHandleyCreative

11 ай бұрын

Yes! Thanks man! Hope you got some info that helps you out a bit.

Cool sounds and nice playing ✔️

@NickHandleyCreative

Жыл бұрын

Thanks man!

Agree, your style sounds great and traditional. Which is why I subscribed, vintage rules!

@NickHandleyCreative

11 ай бұрын

Awesome, thank you! Yes - I’m a 70 year old trapped in a 45 year old body. I love the vintage classic stuff 😀

Great First Song! 🎸🖤🔥🔥🔥

@NickHandleyCreative

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!! Just watched the movie, so had to get that one in there 😊

Nice playing, man. I’m glad my AV II ‘61 Strat won’t be coming for a while because it really does seem like Fender is stepping up the QC on this line. Which was my hope. Also, concerning the necks, I’m pretty sure they’re varying them a bit on purpose to be a little more true to the way things were coming out of the Fender factory back in the late 50s and early 60s. Read the wording on Fender’s site. There’s some interesting vagueness there and I like it. And people keep saying they’re all heavy but I lifted one of these Teles off the hook at a GC and was astonished at how lightweight it was. I think these are going to turn out to be a great line once Fender really gets production dialed in.

@NickHandleyCreative

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I totally agree. Ironing out the kinks and that would be awesome if they were purposefully varying the neck thickness a bit to stay true to the original process. For what it’s worth, my AVii ‘61 is very light. I think it’s just luck of the draw on that aspect

Not only the radius but the neck shape on the 57 Strat is the best Fender ever made. Another deciding factor for me was the sound of those pickups. They are killer… don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on custom shop, which I wouldn’t anyway. I have one of the first runs and did have QC issues but the neck and pickups made me keep it. Resolving the QC items was not a big deal for me but for the money spent, but for the cost, it shouldn’t have left the factory. I’m glad to hear they are taking a closer look at the product before it leaves!

@NickHandleyCreative

11 ай бұрын

I’m about to crack open one of the ‘73 strats. We’ll see how the QC is on that one. It’s weird buying guitars sight unseen.

Yeah I got one. Was used to a slim c neck. This is so awesome though you just grab it and go. I'm with you on the sticky feeling on the neck. Great guitar. The only thing is the pick guard is real cheap and flimsy. The pickup selector switch tip fell off on me had to super glue it and the volume and tone knob wasn't put on right they just slip off. But.... Dynamite guitar. I love it!

This is from personal experience, but I've had 3 USA fenders with nitro, 2 with the maple fretboard and yeah, my experience was that is was a sticky neck. (2 AO and one parallel universe) The one with rosewood didnt bother me, but the ample ones yeah, feeling the stickiness on the tip of my fingers made it an unpleasent experience for me. The Urethane fenders with maple, like the standards or professionals didnt feel sticky on the fretboard. I hd the AO 50's tele before, was great though, but sold it. Recently grabbed a Vineras 50's Modified Tele (that is like the same as the Baja Tele), and damn! all those little things I didnt like of the AO, this are covered. 1- The Vintera 50's modified has a satin neck on the back and is uretahne on the fretboard, dont feel any stickiness at all and enjoy it is satin. 2- The frets are medium jumbo, and are not as small as the stock of the AO, that felt really tiny. 3- The neck is a thick soft V that is very nice to the hand. I loved the U shape of the AO, but this one I might like it even more. 4- Love that the neck is tinted yellow. the AO in particular was very white and is just cosmetic, but prefer it tinted. 5- the pickups. the AO are very good, very classic tele. But for my taste, the CS pickups on this one, the broadcaster on the bridge and twisted on the neck I like them better. the bridge has that extar bit of power that I missed, and the neck has that stratty character that I really like. QC, thought the switches or etails on the MIM wouldnt be as good, but the knobs, tuners, toggle switch, bridge, all look same quality as USA. The fretboard edges are not as rolled as the AO, they do more work in those I can see, but suprised on how nice this MIM is. Just sharing my point of view. Great video!!! Love the series youve made on the AVII

What time frame of the 51s manufacturer are the concerning years for the quality control?

I just purchased one and the exception of it being slightly heavy. I find it to be perfect.

My Tom DeLonge strat was a hot mess and a frustrating situation. I had purchased from a small mom & pop, preferring to go that route and support a small business. It didn't go well and was not as easy as it should've been when having to work directly with Fender. Anyway, I have my eye on this exact '51 tele, was considering for a while finding a used '52 from the 00s or 10s, but decided I want new and your vid has pretty much tipped me over the fence. These are beautiful and period correct. Tgis time I'm going to go through Sweetwater because GC... well, GC is GC, so that pretty much leaves Sweetwater and if I have issues I feel like they'll make good on the transaction, from the standpoint of any issues with the guitar and returns.

I too only just discovered the 7.25" radius after thirty years of playing, and I love it. It's the 61 strat I just got in, and it's so good I'm going for one of these too. Anyway, the reason I came to comment: in my experience, nitro necks are only sticky when my hands need washed. I've forgotten to wash them altogether after work before (commercial electrician), and that actually left the neck noticeably stickier and needed a polish after just one play with dirty hands. Unwashed but not filthy may not have that effect, but it does seem to be the only time I feel stickiness.

@NickHandleyCreative

4 ай бұрын

Bro, are you saying my hands are dirty??? My wife would love you 😆😆 In the case of this tele, I know for certain that I was the first person to play this guitar (outside of the fender folks who built it) because the box was factory sealed. The stickiness only lasted for a couple days, then it felt like butter. You can’t go wrong with this one. Especially if you get it used for a good price.

@NickHandleyCreative

4 ай бұрын

Also yes… 7.25” is the way. I recently started to get into the custom shop stuff and in my humble opinion the 9.5” lacks a bit of character. I find myself wishing they had the true vintage spec.

Hey man I love your playing and your reviews. Soundwise, you're recording everything with the room mic? Anything else? What mic is it? Cheers

@NickHandleyCreative

Жыл бұрын

Dude that’s super nice of you to say! Yes - one room mic for everything. It’s an Audio Technica 4033. It’s super bright so it works pretty well for talking

@jfar3340

Жыл бұрын

@@NickHandleyCreative it sounds great!

Do you prefer this one or the 52? Thanks!

@NickHandleyCreative

11 ай бұрын

I ended up keeping the ‘52 mostly because of the deal I got on it, but if price wasn’t a factor it would have been a much harder choice. Probably would have gone with the 51.

Is it really that much better than the MIM 50s Road Worn Tele you had a while back?

@NickHandleyCreative

3 ай бұрын

In full disclosure, I ended up returning this AVii ‘51 and went with the older av i ‘52. In terms of your question - from a broad perspective the American made is probably not all that different than the MIM I had a while back, but if subtle nuances are your thing, then yeah, the American made is better. Specifically the neck carve, finish, body resonance, and pickups are all a little better on the American.

So what's the difference between the american vintage 1 and the american vintage 2 ?

@adriannasanchez468

6 ай бұрын

Just 1

@edwither8284

6 ай бұрын

@@adriannasanchez468 ok,tx

I dont get it why they go with poly base and nitro overcoat? If trully is a '51 "reissue", it should age like one. Just my 2 cents...

@NickHandleyCreative

7 ай бұрын

From what I heard it’s because they wanted to preserve the finish to last a bit longer so they don’t have guitars flaking their finish on shop floors. I’m with you though, I love the all nitro and it’s aging process

@joskorivic

7 ай бұрын

@NickHandleyCreative oh my, do you know by any chance what tele model comes in full nitro? I wanted to get am vintage II as my first tele, but I have all my guitars with nitro and I dont want any poly on my gear. I appreciate the answer

@NickHandleyCreative

7 ай бұрын

@@joskorivic yes! Check out the American Vintage I series that were made from 2012-2017. All nitro. This video might be helpful to check out: kzread.info/dash/bejne/h3ibyrBxd7LScs4.htmlsi=fteotO7pa2hqOI5i

i guess that was the keeper then?

@NickHandleyCreative

11 ай бұрын

I ended up keeping the ‘52. I waffled back and forth for almost a month but ultimately the value hunter in me reigned supreme. Would have cost me an extra $500 to keep the ‘51

Vintage necks weren’t always fat some were some weren’t. Complete misconception.

@DS-nw4eq

5 ай бұрын

That’s nice but Fender is making products that meet todays standards… if every neck was different people would complain about quality control.

@LA-zc9rg

5 ай бұрын

@@DS-nw4eq That’s not the point. It’s mainly just marketing for cork sniffers. Vintage spec the unending chase that’s never obtained. 😉🤣. How convenient for Fender.

Fender have such bad qc ,hope these are different.