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Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico
VS
Playability
70
Sound
74
Build
75
Value
58
Score
73
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Playability
75
Sound
72
Build
69
Value
62
Score
72
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic vs Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic over Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
1960 Oval C vs Soft V to C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Relic vs Poly
Looks like an old and slightly beaten up instrument
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico over Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Soft V to C vs 1960 Oval C
Combines vintage and modern feeling
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Poly vs Relic
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
62 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic vs Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Twisted Tele Single-Coil vs Fender Gold Foil
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Twisted Tele Single-Coil vs Fender Gold Foil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Flame Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Flame Maple
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic vs Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
21
Same maximum octave
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp
The Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico was discontinued. Check out more current guitars from Fender.

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2020 Time Machine series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • 1-Piece Vintage Michigan Mahogany body
  • Rift Sawn Maple neck
  • Round-Laminated Rift Sawn Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Twisted Tele Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Twisted Tele Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Bigsby B5 Bridge and Tailpiece bridge
  • 1960 Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Schaller F tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico Overview

  • From Fender's 2020 Parallel Universe Volume II series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash body
  • Flame Maple neck
  • Flame Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Gold Foil (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Gold Foil (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 3-Saddle Custom Cut-Off Vintage-Style Tele Bridge with Brass Saddles bridge
  • Soft V to C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh with Pearl Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico

Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame Maple
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Winner: Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic has an SS configuration while the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico has HH pickups.

SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic's switch options
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic compares to the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Bone nuts. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic's brige is a Bigsby Tremolo. Bigsby tremolos are built differently than regular tremolos. They have a stiffer arm, which is something a lot of people like because the arm won't wiggle around a lot. On the other hand, this type of tremolo is more complicated to restring and it might not be as newbie-friendly as other simpler tremolos.

On the other hand, the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic's are Schaller F while the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's are Gotoh with Pearl Buttons

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 75
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico
Quality of materials 61
Features 50
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 69

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic Nut Width
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic Nut Width
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico Nut Width
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.1mm (0.004'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic and Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic Neck Profile
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic's neck profile
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico Neck Profile
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico, on the other hand, has a Soft V to C neck. This neck is also called boat neck because it resembles the shape of the bottom of a boat. It combines the Soft V many people like for playing chords for the first frets, and it transitions to a rounder shape as you get closer to the highest frets. It's a neck that takes a while to get used to, and it's not as popular as a simple C shape.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic Fingerboard Radius
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic's Fingerboard radius
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico Fingerboard Radius
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico favors large hands more than the Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic.

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic Frets Size
Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic's Frets Size
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico Frets Size
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's Frets Size

The Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic vs Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico
General Fender Custom '68 Tele Thinline Journeyman Relic Fender Parallel Universe Volume II Tele Magico
Brand: Fender Custom Fender
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Time Machine Parallel Universe Volume II
Colors: Sunburst, Black, Natural Blue, Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: 1-Piece Vintage Michigan Mahogany Ash
Bridge: Bigsby B5 Bridge and Tailpiece 3-Saddle Custom Cut-Off Vintage-Style Tele Bridge with Brass Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schaller F Gotoh with Pearl Buttons
Fretboard: Round-Laminated Rift Sawn Maple Flame Maple
Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple Flame Maple
Decoration: Micarta Black Dot White Pearloid Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: 1960 Oval C Soft V to C
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Twisted Tele Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Gold Foil (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Twisted Tele Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Gold Foil (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1