Avery Bradshaw
Brent Mason Telecaster Review
Discover why the Brent Mason Signature Telecaster is a must-have for versatile guitarists. From its Glaser B-Bender to Seymour Duncan pickups, this Tele delivers pro-level tone and performance.
Why the Brent Mason Telecaster Is My New Favorite Guitar
Let’s be honest—who doesn’t get excited about a new guitar? I know I do. Over the years, I’ve cycled through a handful of Telecasters (four, to be exact), each with its own quirks and character. But ever since Fender released the Brent Mason Signature Telecaster around 2020, I’ve had my eye on it. And now that I finally have one in my hands, I can say—it was worth the wait.
I’ve been a huge fan of Brent Mason’s playing for years. The guy’s a legend. And this guitar really feels like it was built with working players in mind. The standout feature for me? The Glaser B-Bender system. It’s a total game-changer.
I’ve tried installing HipShots on my previous Teles, but they never quite clicked with me. The mechanism always felt a bit clunky and unnatural. But the Glaser system is smooth and rock solid.
First Impressions: Looks and Feel
The guitar’s aesthetic is understated but classy—finished in a sleek matte gray with a maple neck and matching maple fretboard. It’s got that clean, professional look.
It’s comfortable to play, well-balanced, and feels immediately familiar—especially with the matte finished neck.
Under the Hood: The Electronics
This Tele is loaded with Seymour Duncan pickups and an incredibly versatile control layout. You’ve got:
• A mini humbucker in the neck position that brings in warm, full-bodied Gibson tones.
• A three-way switch combined with a three-knob control plate, including a blend knob that lets you bleed in the middle pickup with any setting.
That blend knob is especially clever—it’s perfect for taming the brightness of the bridge pickup or adding just a touch of warmth and body to your tone.
The Tone: One Guitar, Many Voices
This guitar is a tonal Swiss Army knife. Whether I’m chasing the classic bright Tele twang, dialing in a fat, bluesy neck sound, or blending tones for something more nuanced—this guitar handles it all with ease. It truly lives up to the “jack of all trades” label, without sacrificing quality in any area.
Brent Mason clearly knew what he was doing when he designed this guitar. It’s built to cover ground—country, rock, blues, session work, you name it. If you’re a gigging guitarist or studio player looking for one do-it-all instrument, this one is tough to beat.
A Personal Touch
Just to add a little something extra to the experience—these photos below are of my actual guitar, straight from the good folks at Sweetwater. They always do a great job with setup and shipping, and this one arrived ready to play right out of the box. The last photo is of me working on some tracks in my studio the first day I received the guitar.
⸻
Final thoughts?
The Brent Mason Telecaster is one of the most versatile guitars I own, and it’s quickly becoming the one I reach for first—whether I’m recording, gigging, or just jamming at home. If you’re even thinking about picking one up, do it. You won’t be disappointed. Let me know your thoughts as well!
Let’s be honest—who doesn’t get excited about a new guitar? I know I do. Over the years, I’ve cycled through a handful of Telecasters (four, to be exact), each with its own quirks and character. But ever since Fender released the Brent Mason Signature Telecaster around 2020, I’ve had my eye on it. And now that I finally have one in my hands, I can say—it was worth the wait.
I’ve been a huge fan of Brent Mason’s playing for years. The guy’s a legend. And this guitar really feels like it was built with working players in mind. The standout feature for me? The Glaser B-Bender system. It’s a total game-changer.
I’ve tried installing HipShots on my previous Teles, but they never quite clicked with me. The mechanism always felt a bit clunky and unnatural. But the Glaser system is smooth and rock solid.
First Impressions: Looks and Feel
The guitar’s aesthetic is understated but classy—finished in a sleek matte gray with a maple neck and matching maple fretboard. It’s got that clean, professional look.
It’s comfortable to play, well-balanced, and feels immediately familiar—especially with the matte finished neck.
Under the Hood: The Electronics
This Tele is loaded with Seymour Duncan pickups and an incredibly versatile control layout. You’ve got:
• A mini humbucker in the neck position that brings in warm, full-bodied Gibson tones.
• A three-way switch combined with a three-knob control plate, including a blend knob that lets you bleed in the middle pickup with any setting.
That blend knob is especially clever—it’s perfect for taming the brightness of the bridge pickup or adding just a touch of warmth and body to your tone.
The Tone: One Guitar, Many Voices
This guitar is a tonal Swiss Army knife. Whether I’m chasing the classic bright Tele twang, dialing in a fat, bluesy neck sound, or blending tones for something more nuanced—this guitar handles it all with ease. It truly lives up to the “jack of all trades” label, without sacrificing quality in any area.
Brent Mason clearly knew what he was doing when he designed this guitar. It’s built to cover ground—country, rock, blues, session work, you name it. If you’re a gigging guitarist or studio player looking for one do-it-all instrument, this one is tough to beat.
A Personal Touch
Just to add a little something extra to the experience—these photos below are of my actual guitar, straight from the good folks at Sweetwater. They always do a great job with setup and shipping, and this one arrived ready to play right out of the box. The last photo is of me working on some tracks in my studio the first day I received the guitar.
⸻
Final thoughts?
The Brent Mason Telecaster is one of the most versatile guitars I own, and it’s quickly becoming the one I reach for first—whether I’m recording, gigging, or just jamming at home. If you’re even thinking about picking one up, do it. You won’t be disappointed. Let me know your thoughts as well!
