Fender crosses the streams with the Troublemaker Tele Deluxe Bigsby – a triple 'bucker Tele with an LP Custom vibe
The latest electric guitar in the Parallel Universe Vol II Series is a dashing Tele in a Tux
Fender's Parallel Universe Series offers the brand the opportunity to take a few left turns, throw some curved balls, and in Volume II of these off-kilter, on-brand electric guitars, it can even dress a Tele up as a Black Beauty.
Finished in Tuxedo Black with white binding, gold hardware, and three Custom Double Tap humbuckers, the Troublemaker Tele Deluxe Bigsby has definitely got the air of Gibson's best-dressed LP about it.
There's even white pearloid block inlay on an ebony fretboard carved into a Gibson-esque 12" radius. Of course, no one is going to mistake the two, but with that solid mahogany body and bolt-on mahogany neck, no one is going to be mistaking this for an Esquire either.
Besides, there are a lot of switching options, with eight different pickup combinations making for a lot of tonal range, even before you adjust the tone control.
Other features include 22 medium-jumbo frets, gold hardware, nitro finish, deluxe die-cast tuners with pearl buttons, a special custom neck plate, and it comes in a case with a certificate of authenticity.
At £2,189 / $2,499, the Troublemaker Tele Deluxe Bigsby is not cheap, but this is a premium electric with a no-doubt limited run, so there's potential for the collector. And that Bigsby wobble has proven most effect over the years at loosening control of the purse strings.
If you own a Strat, and a Tele too, maybe it's time to go through the wormhole and cross the aisle with Fender.
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Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars and guitar culture since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitar World. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.
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