Fender: Classic Player HH Strat

Yet another freshie by Fender: Classic Player HH Strat. It's, em... another Strat but deliciously equipped with a pair of Wide Range humbucker. Pair with that alder body, how would it sound like? Here:

Fender: Black Top Jazzmaster HH (ltd edn)

Another fresh entry by Fender- the HH Jazzmaster from the Black Top series. Despite being limited edition, this is something worthy to check out as it features an alder body; the other HH Jazzmaster is the Moden Player version but that has a mahogany body so it sort of moves away from what a traditional Jazzmaster should be. OK so the humbuckers shouldn't be there at all if 'traditional' is the case. Interesting addition, nevertheless.

Fender: Triple Tele

Another intriguing release by Fender in its Classic Series selection- the Triple Tele. You'd argue it's another Tele out there now fitted with 3 single coils & you're darn right it's another Tele but those single coils- they are actually 3 bridge pickups. How do we know this? Simple- 3 mounting screws, not the usual 2 side screws for the neck. I'd like to try this one out as soon as it gets here to hear how this would sound in action.

Fender: Rascal bass

Another newbie by Fender & it looks good. I love short-scale basses & this one seems to offer something different in terms of tone options. Yes, Fender has the Jaguar bass that offers some switching options but the Rascal here has a 5-way selector so you get a very guitar-like familiarity. Add to that a push-pull switch & there you have it- a lethal shorty with some voicings to boot. It won't be a piggy-breaking affair either as the Rascal here is a member of the Classic Player series. Something to look forward to, yes? :-)

Fender: Cabronita Telecaster

Here's a little deviant Telecaster that you might just like- the Cabronita. It's been getting lots of favourable appraisal from people who tried it, citing the pickups' tasteful chemistry with the guitar.

When I picked this guitar up from the stand, it felt rather hefty despite the body wood being Fender's regular alder selection. Everything else was a standard Telecaster affair; a simple, no-frills, slab body guitar, ready to rock. No complaints in terms of playability but that pickup toggle selector might be in the 'wrong' place for many Tele players who are accustomed to the 3-way blade-type positioned under the pickups (viewed from a strapped-on position) instead of this one being under the bridge.

Tone-wise, the FideliTron humbuckers were conceived to manifest a nice zing in use with the hollow body guitars of yore but in this guitar, they remain bright & chirpy. This is further compounded by the fact that the average Tele is a bright, twang-tastic player. Some of us might be a little disturbed by the fact that there's no tone control to help us accentuate some bass so if you decide to keep this guitar dynamic in this sense, do get a good EQ unit on the ready. Either that or plug this guitar into an amp with at least a 3-Band EQ on board.

Fender Cabronita Telecaster

Availability: Swee Lee Co (BB branch)

Price: $979