Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster (vs Epi ES-339 Ultra)

Fender Acoustasonic Tele (vs Epi-ES-339 Ultra)

As I am the proud owner of a Epiphone ES-339 Ultra, I'm also very interested in other electric guitars with an acoustic pick-up system. One of these rare guitars is the Fender Acoustasonic telecaster.

fender acoustasonic fishman aura

Like the Epiphone ES-339 Ultra, the Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster is some kind of a hybrid. Apart from the "normal" electronics, both guitars have a little extra, something that perhaps doesn't attract the players who are into the the authentic sound of a Telecaster or a ES-339, but for those looking for an extra (acoustic) sound  in a typical Fender Telecaster or ES-339 body, they deserve a closer look. What makes these guitars different from the rest is the built-in acoustic pick-up system. I reviewed my Epiphone ES-339 Ultra with the Shadow Nanomag acoustic pick-up here (the good) and here (the bad). The Acoustasonic on the other hand uses the Fishman Auro system for acoustic sounds.

Fender Acoustasonic with Fishman Aura-technology

Fender came out with the Acoustasonic Telecaster in 2010, and later that year it won the "best of the show" award at the NAMM. Understandable as the guitar stands out in the crowd due to the innovations packed in it.
The Acoustasonic Telecaster is available in white and sunburst and at first look it seems to be a regular Telecaster as we all know them.
At closer look you can see that the iconic Telecaster bridgeplate is replaced by a rosewood bridge in the same style. Under the rosewood bridge Fender mounted the Fishman acoustic pick-up, and this one is the big surprise! Here the Telecaster get's the unexpected acoustic sound. At the top - side of the Acoustasonic the Fishman pre-amp is located. It has all the functionality and controls for the acoustic part of the guitar. Further more the neck pick-up is a Fender single-coil Telecaster, and the normal Telecaster controls for tone, and volume are set on the Acoustasonic Telecaster body. Nothing weird going on there.

Two outputs are available for the, seperate or mixed, acoustic and electric, pick-up systems. Both systems can be played and combined by using 1 amp or an electric and an acoustic amp, making it possible to play all styles of music you can imagine, and more. The body is hollowed which should help to generate a deep warm acoustic sound, and lower the weight a little bit as all the electronics bring in a little extra. Old Telecaster looks, new sounds!

fender acoustasonic telecaster fishman controls

Fender Acoustasonic vs ES-339 Ultra

The Epiphone ES-339 Ultra and the Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster have lots in common. They each have, in their own way, a classic well loved body type. Both instruments use innovative electronics to bring, next to the 339 and Telecaster sound, a (modulated) acoustic sound to live. Hollowed bodies, seperate controls for magnetic and acoustic pick-ups, double output to split and mix the sounds. The Acoustasonic with Fishman and the ES-339 Ultra with Shadow's Nanomag; both systems are discretely mounted in the bodies.

The controls for the acoustic pick-ups are located at the back of the guitar(Epiphone ES-339 Ultra), and at the side-top of the guitar (Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster). I would prefer the controls located at the side-top. My ES-339 Ultra has them on the back, and you have to move the guitar away to use them. I think Fender did a better job with the Acoustasonic telecaster, speaking in terms of ergonomy. When it comes to making a choice between the Fender and the Epiphone I think it all depends on the looks and charactaristics of each guitar. You either love the Fender or the ES-339. The body types and electric sounds of the Acoustasonic and the 339 Ultra have their own color, and as both acoustic systems are well developed, and offer balanced acoustic tones, there's the choice.

fender acoustasonic telecaster sunburst