Welcome to the second instalment of Axe Tracks from String Theory, an attempt to embrace the guitars and the landscapes we come encounter on our pursuit of six-stringed fulfilment.
In this post, we'll be delving deep into Tele-land with a comprehensive look at the Fender Telecaster Classic Series 60s and its upstart brother, the Fender Telecaster Standard. The Standard was purchased in the town of Pewsey at the foot of the Wiltshire Downs, and herein lie the Tracks: A circular ten mile voyage into the beautiful down-land.
Welcome back to Axetracks.
Episode 2: Telecaster Battle Royale & The Vale of Pewsey.
The Axes: 2004 MIM Fender Standard Telecaster & 2004 MIM Fender Classic Series 60s Telecaster
Ever since Leo Fender cobbled together together the Broadcaster in the dusty post-war back-room of his radio servicing shop in Fullerton CA, the subsequently named Telecaster is lauded above the Stratocaster as THE instrument that changed the course of popular music. It has barely changed either in form or function during the last seventy five years and sits resplendently at the top of the pile as the Godfather of rock and roll.
But what happens when two such swaggering behemoths of rock and roll are forced through the saloon doors of the same workshop? After the melee of upturned tables and clumsily drawn Derringers, we have ourselves a Mexican stand-off. Buckle up for our comprehensive electric guitar review. Leaning against the bar in one corner, we have a 2004 MIM Standard Telecaster finished in aged white, and staring, teeth clenched by the door is the upstart, an '04 Classic Series 60s Telecaster in ebony. Both guitars whilst excellent entries to the Telecaster canon, nonetheless demonstrate two subtly different versions of the classic design.
Seeing as the the Tele has such an illustrious history, I figured I'd start this electric guitar review with the 60s Classic Series. The 1960s are widely seen as the golden age of the Fender Telecaster, All the nagging initial design faults with the Broadcaster had been ironed out by this point and the guitar was fast gathering affection among the great and good of the rock 'n' roll scene. In homage to this era, at the turn of the millennium, Fender released a reissue of this iconic guitar featuring a host of authentic 60s appointments. These include a vintage three-saddle bridge, 'Ping' vintage tuners, a subtly dark tinted C-shaped maple neck with classic headstock logo, neck-heel truss rod adjustment, an authentic 7.25” radius and narrow-ish medium frets. Sonically, this guitar blasts out lashings of that effervescent Tele twang, owing to the vintage-voiced alnico-loaded single coil pickups. Plenty of mid-range attack on offer here,
The Standard Telecaster conforms to a slightly more modern 'player friendly' blueprint with features such as 6 individually adjustable bridge saddles for precise intonation tweaking, truss-rod access from the headstock, sightly fatter medium jumbo frets, modern closed-unit machine heads and a contemporary 9.5” radius. The example I've been lucky enough to get hold of has a lovely dose of genuine road-wear, meaning the neck lacquer has worn to a cosy satin feel. Plugged in, the pickups on this guitar belt out a subtly more rounded and less abrasive tone than the 60s.
Ensenada, 'The Cinderella of the Pacific' has given birth to two superb Telecasters here and it's now time to decide which one of these to take to the ball. For my money, the Standard Telecaster shades it by a nose. The 9.5” radius feels dreamily smooth shifting between chords toward the nut and firing off licks further up. The six saddles, while not a traditional Tele appointment, allow a little more flexibility when setting the guitar up too.
That said, both guitars make it out of this gunfight alive and kicking. These guitars are available for sale here at String Theory so check out the shop and don't forget to sign up to my mailing list for exclusive offers and discounts.
The Tracks:
Walk: Wiltshire Downs - Pewsey Loop: 17.48 Km
County: Wiltshire
Difficulty: Moderate. Total elevation climb: 251m
Time: 3:17
Route: Clockwise incorporating stretches of the White Horse Trail, Mid Wilts Way & The Kennet and Avon Trail. Beginning at the Northern edge of Pewsey and taking in the Villages of Oare and Wootton Rivers via Huish Down and the Kennet and Avon Canal (Ignore the 'Start Point' on the map)
From the northern suburbs of Pewsey, eight miles south of Marlborough, the first half of this loop follows the White Horse Trail directly north to the Village of Oare and climbs Huish Down, joining the Mid Wilts Way as it traces the crest of the ridge in an Easterly direction, eventually descending and veering right into Wootton Rivers. The last leg follows the Canal back to Pewsey.
The route begins at Hollybush Lane in Pewsey. As the road abruptly turns left, the Lane itself continues straight, becoming an ancient tree-lined footpath. Crossing the meandering Avon stream and Kennet & Avon Canal in swift succession, the trees disappear as the path continues across open fields.
Leave the lane 400m after crossing the canal by taking a slight left and continuing on the White Horse Trail as it bisects a wheat field, before crossing a road. Look out for wild raspberries growing in the hedge as the path crosses Sunnyhill Lane.
Half a kilometre directly northwards, having been accompanied by a field boundary on the left, join the Mid Wilts Way as it veers slightly left along Pound Lane into the small village of Oare. A ‘strip’ village, meaning a settlement that coalesces either side of a road, Oare is a picturesque village that dates back to an Anglo Saxon settlement. The word ‘oare’ translates as ‘slope’ in Saxon and this is evidenced by the village’s location butted up to Oare Hill and Huish down immediately behind the village.
Briefly join the A345 before taking a left past the Primary School and venturing right along a field boundary to swiftly and arduously surmount Huish Down, taking a well earned rest on the commemorative bench and appreciating the view of Oare and Wiltshire beyond.
At the summit, turn right at a right angle and rejoin the White Horse Trail as it follows the crest of the ridge in an Easterly direction. After once more crossing the A345, the trail hugs the curve of the ridge as it bends Southward to encompass a spur. The long grasses up here were teeming with butterflies.
At the point of this spur, turn sharply left to rejoin the Mid Wilts Way and continue to follow the ridge line toward Martinsell Hill. The views from the top at a vantage point enigmatically called Giants Grave, are a stunning tableau of patchwork fields overlooked by scattered and isolated conifers.
Through a jinking S-bend, the MWW becomes a shaded scrubby path that descends gently over the course of the next mile, before taking a sharp and inauspicious right turn, descending further for 400m along a path and then along Forest Road past comely houses into the ancient village of Wootton Rivers.
At the southern end of the village, Forest Road encounters the Kennett and Avon Canal. Follow the towpath for two miles before meeting the WHT again and retracing your steps up Hollybush Lane.
Wildlife:
Grey Wagtail patrolling bridge above the clear waters of the Avon Stream.
Yellowhammer calling across the fields from the tree tops
Butterflies: Comma, Essex Skipper, Marbled White, Red Admiral
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