Custom Telecaster FMT HH Review

The Fender Custom Telecaster FMT HH guitar features a voluptuously carved and bound figured maple top, a bound and set mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard, and a super slim contoured mahogany body.

Features:	9.3
Sound:	9.5
Action:	8
Reliability:	9
Impression:	9.8
Overall rating:	9.1
Users rating:	7.8
Comments:	11

Featured review by: unregistered, on march 10, 2007

Price paid: $ 450

Purchased from: Dixie Music

Features: This guitar is simply amazing. To start off with, it was made in Korea. But I do not see where this is such a big deal. I played other teles from the states here, and did not see nor hear any difference. I have a midnight blue finish, something of a rarity I suppose because I haven't seen another one anywhere. As it states in the title, it has an gorgeous flamed maple top (FMT). It has a set mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard. It has two humbuckers. Some come with Duncans, but mine came with Fenders. Both seem to work just fine. It has two knobs, one tone and one volume. THe tone knob has a coil tap, which means it makes a humbucker a single coil pickup, something only customs have. This guitar sounds incredible and looks almost better than it sounds. // 10

Sound: I play everything from U2 and Pearl Jam to Killswitch Engage and Pantera. Due to its twin humbuckers and coil tap, this axe suits all my music needs. I am currently using it with a Fender Frontman 15G amp, a POS, and this guitar even makes that amp sound good! With the bridge pup, you can get that heavy, metal crunch (with a good amp/pedal). Then with the neck pup you can pull out some tele 'twang for that Johnny Cash tune. This beast can do it all. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: I haven't messed with this guitar since I've bought it. The action and pickup heights are dead-on, with no buzzing at all. All of the inlays, abalone inlays, that is, look fantastic. One of my favorite things about the looks of this guitar is the hardware, headstock, and neck. The neck is finished all the way down, and is the fastest neck I've ever felt. The headstock matches the body of the guitar. And the bridge and tuners are both pitch-black, which really adds to the appeal. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I am not in a gigging band right now, but I know that this thing could take life on the road. The set neck is very stable, as is all the hardware. I would No Doubt go without a backup with this thing. Though I want strap locks just for safety sake, the buttons are entirely solid. Besides, this thing weighs about 14-18 pounds, so you don't even really need strap locks. But it never hurt to be safe. // 10

Impression: As I've said, this guitar is No Doubt the best I've ever played. It suits all of my guitar needs. I have been playing for a little over three years now, and this is a great step up from my trusty Squier. IF it were lost or stolen, I'd buy it again that day. That includes Strats, other Teles, Les Pauls, and SGs. Nothing can be its versatility and its beautiful looks. If you can, I highly recommend buying this guitar. // 10

overall: 8.8

Reviewed by: stevezapp, on october 16, 2006

Purchased from: M and M Guitars, Southampton

Features: 22 jumbo frets on a rosewood board, Flamed Maple Top finish in black cherry burst. It has black chrome hardware (which faded to a lovely aged colour after a few months), floyd rose fixed bridge, two Seymour Duncan humbuckers, three control knobs (two tone, one push pull selector to Switch between single coil and humbucker outputs and one volume). It has a glued set neck. It is also the thinest/lightest electric I have come across. // 9

Sound: This guitar has a fantastic sound due to its humbuckers and push/pull coil tap. This means you can change from a Telecaster sound to a Les paul sound at an instant. The resonation and sustain are also fantastic. There really isn't a sound you can't make with this guitar. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: I received the guitar with a standard set up, which peformed brilliantly (pick up height, string height etc). There is only one complaint I have about this guitar (and the reason I sold it) is that it drops out of tune very easily. I gig with a band and couldn't use it on stage because of this problem. I had it looked at, but apparently it's a problem inherent with all teles. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I gig with a band and couldn't use it on stage because of the tuning problem. I had it looked at, but apparently it's a problem inherent with all teles. Everything else though (hardware etc) is awesome, fully reliable. I am very careful with my guitars, so I hadn't dropped it, but the finish looks quite durable. // 8

Impression: I play all sorts, but mainly classic rock/modern rock. I've been playing for about 3/4 years. I sold this guitar for a 1989 LTD edition import USA Fender Strat which I play through a Fender FM 100w transistor amp with a 4X12" cab. If you play at home or with mate, get this guitar! For the price it is an absolute steal. I would not however reccomend this to a live player. I am not joking when I say how this drops out of tune, he slightest hammering and she goes. // 9

overall: 9.2

Reviewed by: PRSkicks, on august 19, 2005

Price paid: $ 600

Purchased from: Musicians Friend

Features: The fret count on this baby is 22 jumbo, with mother o pearl moon inlays. The FMT in the name stands for flamed maple top, (took me forever to figure that one out) which is maple on top of a mahogany body and neck. The set neck gives a nice solid feeling that should be essential to any and all guitars. Its a string through body even though there is not a floating bridge, and there is no back panel in conjuction with the strings. The guitar has a three-way pickup selector with one volume knob and one tone knob. The tele came with two Seymour Duncan humbuckers and nonlocking tuners. I think my guitar playing will soon involve a guitar with a floyd rose system, because this Telecaster just doesnt really cut it as far as heavy metal goes. All in all, the Telecaster FMT is awesome and very versatile. // 8

Sound: This Tele does anything you want it to do. The weight (heavy for a Fender) and the maple top allow for wonderfully smooth tone. I love tapping on this guitar, the jumbo frets make the notes nice and clear and loud. This Telecaster is loud regardless if it is plugged in or not; the set neck allows for a lot of resonance. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: I thought the action on this guitar was perfect. The jumbo frets make it more likely to play easier with ten gauge strings; so it worked out wonderfully with a slightly high but convienient action. I think the only thing that bugs me about this guitar is that I think the bridge humbucker is adjusted a little too high for my liking, but it was a screw here and a screw there and all was well and right again. Other than the one pickup, I found that the 3-way selector worked wonderfully and was nice and unnoticeably silent. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I have used this guitar live. I didn't need think I would need to use a backup and lo and behold; I didn't have to. The versatility of the guitar allows for hours and hours of jamming. Also, the guitar goes down to drop tunings excellently. For example, I played on my friend's Les Paul (not a super top-of-the-line one, mind you but a Gibson nonetheless) while it was in drop C, and the strings seemed loose and slack compared to the performance of this Telecaster. // 10

Impression: I play Indie, metal, hardcore, classic rock and sometimes jazz, these humbuckers are absolutely perfect for just about any style of music. I play throught a Fender Deluxe Hot Rod w/a Boss Metal Zone and a DigiTech RP80. If this guitar was stolen I think I would just buy the blue version of itself. I mostly compare this to other Telecasters, mostly because the twang is nonexistent but the tone completely leaves others in its wake. // 10

overall: 8.4

Reviewed by: rockn_regan, on april 21, 2005

Purchased from: Rennisance Music

Features: This guitar is a Telecaster Custom not a Custom Classic Tele I. The Fender Telecaster Custom has comes with two Semour Duncan humbucking pickups and a push pull cap. This guitar comes in a mohogany body and neck with a flame maple top (FMT). The neck is set into the body so it's a 1 piece. It comes in crimson red transparent, blue transparent, black cherry and amber. I choose athe the crimson red it really brings out the vibe in the fmt. It also comes with a 3-way selector. The push pull cap splits athe humbuckers into single coils for that sweet thin rhythmic tone. // 10

Sound: I think this guitar is extemely versatile it is an amazing lead guitar. The Seymour Duncan humbucker in the bridge position is from a '59 Les Paul and the neck is a '59 reverse polarity pickup its great for athat thick meaty tone. I have played this guitar threw a number of different amps and have found that it sounds really good threw all of them. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: I thought that this guitar was set up very well it comes with a rosewood fingerboard and jumbo frets when I got it the guitar had been threw a factory set up so the fret were al oiled up and so forth. // 6

Reliability & Durability: The strap locks are quiet solid the finish is excellent (polyurethane). The hardware is pretty reliable all though I haven't had too long, I think it is pretty dependable extemely light weight and and a great feel. // 8

Impression: This guitar is an excellent guitar for any type of player, it's very versitle and can be used in alot of different types of music. But if your looking for that tele tone this is not the guitar for you. This guitar sounds identilce to a Les Paul. // 10

Comments

[elgranmapache]

I bought this guitar a year ago. It's awesome, it allows you to play extremely fast, whcih is great if you are a lead guitarist. I've tried it with Evolution's DP158/159 hambuckers, and it sounds pretty close to Steve Vai. Great guitar

[RedHotFan182]

i was thinking about getting it and putting emgs in it
id have a very unique guitar
how many teles do you see out there with emgs
would this be a good idea?

[BloodBlooms]

to the middle reviewer: there are a couple things that could contribute to the Tele's ease of dropped tuning over the LP. the main thing is that the Tele has a longer-scale neck which equals greater overall string tension. other things like different strings on the different guitars could've made a difference too.

[DevinRoss]

I've had a FMT Telecaster for over a year now, it's a very versatile guitar, I have found using heavy strings really wakes up the humbuckers, it lacks the "twang" of a traditional Tele, but I also have a Lite Ash Telecaster for that sound and I'd replace either one in a heartbeat if I had to. My ol'Strat usually sits in the case nowdays.

[millynell14]

does any1 know how many were made altogether?

[millynell14]

whoever thinks that there is blue one that's wrong i did some research and its a QMT instead of FMT but yea i suppose they're still pretty damn close though

[millynell14]

RedHotFan182 wrote:

i was thinking about getting it and putting emgs in it
id have a very unique guitar
how many teles do you see out there with emgs
would this be a good idea?

well it wouldn't be a first, not VERY unique, but reasonably unique i know sum1 with them on a telecaster with emg's dunno what it is dont think its a fender though

sounds quite nice but ive just ordered 1 of these and i mite find sum new pick-ups dunno yet

up to you, but i would say do it!

[timeslikethese_]

iv had mine for 2 years now, and heavier strings definitely brings this guitar to life. do not buy this guitar if you are looking for a traditional tele sound. amazingly fast and smooth, and so easy on the eyes

[nirvanapwns]

millynell14 wrote:

RedHotFan182 wrote:

i was thinking about getting it and putting emgs in it
id have a very unique guitar
how many teles do you see out there with emgs
would this be a good idea?


well it wouldn't be a first, not VERY unique, but reasonably unique i know sum1 with them on a telecaster with emg's dunno what it is dont think its a fender though

sounds quite nice but ive just ordered 1 of these and i mite find sum new pick-ups dunno yet

up to you, but i would say do it!

if you´re thinking jimm root from slipknot/stone sour the it is a fender

[mastercpm13]

Ive had a fender fmt telecaster for almost 2 years now and it was well worth it i love this guitar.

[The_Ross]

I'm more of a hard rock/metal kind of player, and I could never see a standard Tele doing Black Sabbath any justice, so I never showed much interest. I stumbled across this model and it raised my eyebrow. After about an hour of research and hearing a few clips of the output, I was scanning ebay. Low and behold, I found a crimson red for $500, new. That was today. The only downside is the suspense. I haven't been this excited to play a new guitar for quite some time. Now I play the waiting game...