So, please excuse me for the little story first, it just explains things a little.
My dad passed away in November, whilst he was still able he told me that when he got better he wanted to buy me a guitar and amp for looking after him. Sadly that wasn’t to be. He always wanted me to get one of those ‘country guitars’ as he called teles but that was never my thing before so never did (but I will be shopping for a CS blackguard at some point in the future).
So the idea being that whenever I play these I’ll be thinking of my dad.
I’m not going to skimp here, this is a buy once and keep forever because it means something. I want to get something I know he would have approved of, so whilst I know there are a myriad of fine boutique makers I’m looking at Fender first. My dad loved Buddy Holly, he used to tell me about the first time he heard ‘That’ll be the Day’ on the radio in 1957
Has anyone got any experience of the 57 custom tweed deluxe? I’m up with how it sound but what about construction? The pics I’ve seen look point to point but Fenders own pics are bound to make it look good.
Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks guys
Comments
My comments on my own findings - bit of a one trick pony, albeit a very nice trick. Prob too loud for general home use (volume is almost on / off) but often too quiet to gig. Others my offer different feedback depending on the band setting.
Sounded fab paired with a ptinceton a la Mike Campbell!
Mine did have an issue and went back to fender for a new transformer under warranty, although I think issues are fairly unusual.
Overall, lovely thing to have and own - given the new price now I don't think I'd buy new again. I recently acquired a lazy j20, which does it all a bit more flexibility, and there are other boutique choices that will do the same.
Great reason to be considering one to connect you to your dad BTW! Good luck.
I’m fortunate enough to own a direct vintage clone, with nos, so it’s that age old argument of whether you want the name or do you want the tone.
Have you also looked at Louis electric?
https://louiselectricamps.com/
Jesse did all the things you’d want to improve the original 5e3
Bandcamp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJjNHrm4eo0&t=0s
At about £2100 street price, the '57 Custom Deluxe isn't the most overpriced product Fender sell but that sort of money will get a secondhand Lazy J or something else nice like a new Victoria https://www.coda-music.com/amplifiers/victoria-amplifier-20112-112-combo-with-half-power-switch.html
I’ve played more 5e3 and inspired by amps than I can remember and the Fender CS version is firmly in the bottom three. I found it one of the most generic and least characterful of all the options.
I bought mine over 15 years ago to compliment my vintage 335 and Strat and it didn't really open up the gates of Heaven for them... It wasn't until I got a (ahem) a Harley Benton TE25 Anniversary Tele a few months back that sonic Nirvana happened. That thing where all you do is turn up the guitar vol and it goes from Angels bathed in honey to gates of Hell opening...That.
They are *THE* magic pairing out of my 12 electrics.
A J20 shits on any of them.
I also have had the EC Tremolux- it was rubbish compared to the Fender 57 RI let alone anything else.
The Clapton is a generic 5E3 with Trem. The real gem of the Tremoluxes was the 5G9, not the 5E9.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.