Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe - Overview and Best Prices

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe Review
Add to Compare
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
  • From Fender's 2019 Vintera series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Wide Range Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Wide Range Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Strat Strings-Through-Body Hardtail bridge
  • Fender Thin C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Fender Vintage F Stamped tuners
  • Weight between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.05lbs (3.7kgs)
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe Specifications
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe
General
Brand: Fender
Year: 2019
Configuration: HH
Strings: 6
Made in: Mexico
Series: Vintera
Colors: Sunburst, Brown, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No
Body
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Strat Strings-Through-Body Hardtail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Tuners: Fender Vintage F Stamped
Fretboard: Maple
Neck Material: Maple
Decoration: Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5"
Shape: Fender Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.8'' (20.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.86'' (21.8mm)
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Wide Range Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Wide Range Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3
Knobs: Bell
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls: 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No
Hardware Color: Chrome
Show Diagram
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's switch options

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 68
Sound 73
Build quality 60
Value for money 72
Overall Score 67
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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

Price Overview

Its average competitor's price is $980, which means that the Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe is within the average price asked for this kind of guitar. This takes into account all instruments of the same category in our database with 6 strings and Fixed bridge that are made in Mexico.

User Reviews & Feedback

Not all instruments are created equally. That's why it's important to have different opinions. Here's what our users who have played this instrument say. If you've played it before, help others by voting below!

Weight

Vote

Tuning stability

Vote

Neck speed (thickness)

Vote

Neck access to high frets

Vote

Neck profile shape

Vote

Fret edges

Vote

Pickups noise

Vote

Pickups power

Vote
No Reviews Yet

Often Compared With

Explore All From Fender >

Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the neck profile, scale size, fretboard radius, and nut width, we can conclude that the Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's construction favors people with relatively small hands.

Nevertheless, this comes down in the end to personal preference. Make sure you test this guitar—or another one with similar characteristics—before buying.

Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, which means that it's a good guitar to start with as a complete beginner. 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 to get used to.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Videos

Vintera Series '70s Telecaster Deluxe | Vintera Series | Fender
Watch this to find out WHY your Telecaster isn't cutting it - Fender Vintera 70's Telecaster Deluxe
Fender Vintera '70s Telecaster Deluxe - Sound Demo (no talking)
Fender Vintera 70’s Telecaster Deluxe - Review
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe MN, Vintage Blonde | Gear4music demo

How Lightweight is it?

We found that the Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe weighs between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.05lbs (3.7kgs). This was recorded from some online retailers that publish the weight of the instruments they sell.

Playability

Scale Length

Scale length is the distance the strings will span between the bridge and the nut. It can tell you a lot about the overall playability and tone of the instrument. A longer scale length means longer distance between frets, brighter tone and more string tension—which means lower action, but more difficult bending of the strings.

Here's the Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's 25.5" scale length compared to other common sizes:

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe Scale Length Comparison
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's scale length (at the top) compared to other popular sizes

This is the same scale length used in Stratocaster guitars, and it's one of the main reasons they have such a bright sound. It's considered a long scale when compared to most non-baritone guitars.

Since the distance between bridge and nut is relatively long, you'll need to give the strings more tension to get them in tune. This higher tension will allow for a couple of things. First, you can get a lower action (get the strings closer to the fretboard) because the strings won't 'wiggle' too much when pluck and won't cause fret buzz. This can allow you to use lower tunings without increasing your string gauge, and it will make it easier to press down the strings fast.

However, the frets will also have a wider separation between each other, which can make it harder to play, especially if you got small hands. The higher tension will also make the strings feel stiffer, so bending will require more strength.

More with the same scale length:

Neck Profile

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe Neck Profile
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's neck profile

The neck profile tells you the thickness (neck depth) and shape in cross section. Every difference will completely change the feeling and comfortability of the neck. This is a highly subjective thing, but most players indeed prefer certain types of necks (like Cs and Ds) because they feel nice in most hands.

The Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's neck thickness is approximately 0.8'' (20.3mm) at the first fret, and 0.86'' (21.8mm) at the twelfth.

These measurements were taken either from the official Fender website, or, in case this information wasn't provided, by researching multiple online marketplaces and forums where owners of this model have posted their measurements.

It has a C type neck. C-shaped necks like this have been the most popular for the last years. The reason is that they feel good in most hands. It's generally a thin neck that doesn't get in your way when playing fast, but that also has enough mass to give your hands a comfortable grip for chords if they aren't too big.

Thin necks like this make it easier to move your hand across the neck and it helps when playing fast solos, especially if you like to leave your thumb free while playing high on the fretboard. However, thinner necks are also weaker and will need adjustment more often than a thicker neck.

More for different hand sizes

Fretboard Radius

When it comes to fingerboard radius, personal preference will dictate which one is better for you. However, most people seem to agree that a more curved (lower) radius will make it easier to play chords while a less curved (higher) radius is better for soloing and bending.

The Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe has a 9.5" fingerboard radius.

Here's an image comparing this fretboard radius to other popular choices:

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe Fretboard Radius Comparison with Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's fretboard radius compared to others

This is the most common radius for Stratocaster guitars. It's considered curved when compared to most other models. This allows you to play chords very easily without muting strings accidentally and gives you more space between strings for fingerpicking. However, this curve also gives the guitar less allowance for lower action. If you bend too hard at the high frets, some of your notes might get muted because the curve will make the string fret out.

Compound radius fingerboards give the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, the Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe has the same radius across the board.

More with the same fretboard radius:

Playability compared to main competitors

25.5'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
9.5'' Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.688'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.688'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.685'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe Nut Width
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe Nut Width

The Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe has a nut width of 42mm (1.654''). This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Frets

The Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe has 21 frets. Even though 24 frets has become really popular, there's still a good reason to get fewer frets; the pickup at the neck position will be further away from the bridge. This makes the neck pickup achieve a warmer tone. You might want this if you're playing Jazz or similar genres.

However, if you don't care about the warmer neck pickup, more frets will always be better. It's always nice to have the option to play higher notes if you want to.

It comes with nickel silver frets, so they won't last as long as stainless steel frets. If you use your instrument a lot, you might need to replace the frets after a few years. But this is unlikely as most people change instruments before this happens.

Fret Size

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe Fret Size Comparison
Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's fret size (in orange) compared to other popular sizes

Finally, let's talk about fret size. Some people prefer tall frets because it's easier to press the strings and perform bends since there's less friction against the fretboard. On the other hand, some people like shorter frets because they like to touch the fretboard when playing, or because they got heavy hands and tend to press too much on the string and alter the of the note pitch accidently.

The Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's frets are Medium Jumbo size. These sit somewhere between a Jumbo and a Medium fret. They're not quite as tall as a full Jumbo, so you'll still feel the fretboard, but you won't feel it as much as with medium frets. This is a good size if you want to make it easy to press the strings but would also like a little bit of ''feedback'' to know when to stop pressing so the notes don't go out of pitch.

More with the same type of frets:

Playability Score

Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68

Tone

Wood will have little influence in the final tone of an electric guitar or bass. Instead, the hardware, especially the pickups, will be the most important thing to look at. Bur first, let's see the quality of the wood.

Wood

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder Body
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple Neck, Fretboard

Alder Body: This is a lightweight type of wood that was popularized by Fender. According to them, it's a wood that offers a balanced tone but that favors the upper midrange slightly.

Maple Neck and Fretboard: This is one of the most popular types of wood used in all kinds of guitars. It's heavy, strong and compact, which makes it great for necks. However, it's also used for fretboards, bodies and tops due to its light color, resistance and beautiful patterns. When it comes to tone, it highlights the mid and high frequencies.

More made with the same wood:

Pickups

This guitar comes with pickups from one of the top brands: Fender. So you can expect well built pickups with great sound that shouldn't need an upgrade anytime soon.

These are passive pickups, so you can expect a rounder sound and a moderade level of output.

The Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe's configuration is HH. With this pickup combination, you'll get warmer tones and more output than using single coils. Humbucker pickups cancel the noise that single-coil suffer from, which also results in a warmer tone. This pickup combination isn't only for high-gain music like Hard Rock or Heavy Metal. Their warmness is also popular for Jazz, Indie, R&B, Blues and more.

More with the same pickups

21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Fender Wide Range Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Fender Wide Range Humbucking Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Fender Wide Range Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Fender Wide Range Humbucking Neck Pickup
21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Fender Vintage-Style 70s Single-Coil Tele Bridge Pickup
Fender Wide Range Humbucking Neck Pickup
21 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Fender Wide Range Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Fender Wide Range Humbucking Neck Pickup

Versatility

It comes with the popular 3-way switch that is present in most guitars. For more versatility, players tend to prefer a 5-way switch, although it all depends on what you want to use your guitar for.

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with more options for coil split or coil tapping. This makes it less versatile than some competitors.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 6 strings, Solid Body guitar with HH configuration and Passive pickups, we'd recommend it for genres like Hard Rock or similar. However, you can use almost any guitar for any genre. This is just the typical type of music for this particular one.

Sound Score

Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 73

Build Quality

Country of Origin

Knowing where the instrument is produced is a good way to know how well it's built. Some manufacturing countries are known for having higher quality standards. For example, most expensive instruments are made in the US or Japan, but there are some exceptionally great countries—like South Korea—that are building a good reputation.

The Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe is made in Mexico. This is the country that some American brands choose for building really good, but cheaper guitars. You can expect a guitar that offers a good price-quality relationship, although they don't get the same quality control as the ones built in Japan or the United States.

Bridge

6-Saddle Vintage-Style Strat Strings-Through-Body Hardtail: The advantage of fixed bridges is that they don't require any kind of set-up. This makes it extremely easy when changing strings because you don't need to adjust anything besides tuning the guitar. Also, the fact that the bridge is directly attached to the body will help to increase sustain. The disadvantage is the lack of versatility since you can't create the same vibrato effects as with tremolo bridges.

More with the same type of bridge:

Nut Material

Another important thing to analyze is the nut material, as it's one of the most important aspects that can affect the sound and playability of your guitar. A well-cut nut will make sure it stays in tune and will make it more comfortable to play.

In this case, the Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe has a Synthetic Bone nut. One of the best nuts you can have is a Bone nut thanks to their rich tonality and resistance. The problem is that they're a natural material, so different bone nuts will have inconsistent tonal properties. In other words, one bone nut might not sound as well as the other even when they're made from the same piece. Synthetic bone helps with this by giving you a high-quality, consistent nut that resembles the tone produced by bone.

Neck Joint

The neck joint is the part where the neck of the guitar meets the body. There are three main techniques to attach both parts together: Set-In, Bolt-On and Neck-Through. The latter two provide different advantages, although neck-throughs are the most expensive.

This guitar has a Bolt-On neck joint. Even though this type of neck was looked down upon for a long time, nowadays bolt-on necks are well built and provide just as much sustain as any other join method. First of all, it's cheap to make because it consists of simply 4 bolts that attach the neck to the body. And you can travel with the guitar more easily, swap out the neck if you damage it, or upgrade to a more comfortable neck later on.

More with the same build:

Build Quality Score

Quality of materials 61
Features 50
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60