Electric Guitar Review

When Fender first announced its G.E. Smith Signature Telecaster back in early 2007 I immediately attempted to get my hands on one for review, but alas, these beauties just aren’t that easy to come by.

I’ve been particularly intrigued by the instrument’s body-mounted bridge pickup, which should help mitigate traditional Tele feedback issues in high-gain situations (something I’ve wrestled with at times with my Tele Thinline,) while also adding a bit of mid-range thickness to this famously twangy guitar.

And hey, those lap steel-inspired fretboard inlays are pretty sweet too.

Fast forward to October 2009, and Vintage Guitar Magazine has managed to publish a full online review of the G.E. Smith Telecaster over on their website, including an insightful interview with Smith himself discussing the details of his Signature Tele––

What was the inspiration behind the unique features of your signature Telecaster?
I think a lot of it was playing my ‘48 Fender lap steel. I was looking at it one day, and I could just see how Leo could have looked at that, and birthed the Telecaster from it. The pickup, knobs, and finish in many ways make it look like a little Tele. That’s where it all started. Playing the ‘48 and just digging its sound – very fat.

You can find the interview with Smith, along with the review of Fender’s G.E. Smith Telecaster in its entirety, over at Vintage Guitar’s impeccable website. Check it out.