Review : Fender Jimmy Page Dragon Telecaster
Let me be clear right off the bat, I am not reviewing the 5 digit priced Custom Shop version, I am reviewing my own made in Mexico Fender Jimmy Page Dragon Telecaster.
When I was looking for the artwork for this article, I thought to go to the Fender website as they would have artwork for their guitars. Maybe the guitar is already no longer being built, because the only Jimmy Page Telecaster returned by a search is the Mirror version. Then again, Fender's website is not the most usable one out there. Fortunately I was able to grab all manner of Fender artwork from Long & McQuade's excellent web store.
At it's core this is a Fender Mexico product. What that means is that it is a very well put together instrument that plays well and sounds great, with a price premium for the Jimmy Page "signature" on the headstock and the Dragon artwork. It's not really his signature, that's only on the Custom Shop version, but as I own an original Jimmy Page Les Paul, I can verify that the signature looks like Pagey's.
This guitar comes with pickups specified as Jimmy Page 59 Custom Teles. I do not know what that means in real life, but it does sound good, and when you add in some pedal power, Communication Breakdown sounds like it is supposed to. But you and I know that you can make a regular Telecaster sound right if you have access to an old Tonebender, or a decent clone thereof and the right valve amp. Despite the moniker, you will not be nor play like Jimmy Page, but there is a bit of a rush that comes from playing the Dragon.
The artwork is well done with bright vibrant colours aligned with Page's original that he used poster paints on. The pick guard is not identical to the original of course, but will likely last longer and has the right look. You can string either through the body or through the top-loading bridge, your choice.
As is consistent with most Fender products right out of the factory, the stock strings are crap, so plan on an immediate replacement if you are not fond of pain or bleeding. This isn't just Fender of course, Gibson factory strings are perhaps even more horrible. Fortunately good strings are not expensive and my Dragon was refitted near immediately with Ernie Ball Paradigm Electrics, a string that I really like. I did not go with my normal set, staying with the gauge that came on the guitar which I believe to be 10-46s. That's what's on it now anyway.
It's got a classic Telecaster sound, with a bit more bite due to the hotter pickups. It's a bit more brittle than either my '67 Custom Shop or my 60th Anniversary which purports to be like a '51 but it sounds good nonetheless, just different. These are not top of line pots or guts but are not marked for immediate replacement. It's a good Mex Tele with a cool paint job. The rosewood fingerboard takes away some of the brittleness I would expect combining these pickups with an all maple board.
The neck is a custom oval C shape as preferred by Mr. Page and is finished with nitrocellulose lacquer. It feels good and has the expected 7.25 inch radius. The body is Ash and the topcoat is polyurethane. I would prefer nitro but it is what it is. The guitar includes a vintage style hardshell case.
Setup out of the box was decent, with no major tweaks required other than the near immediate string change. Unlike the more expensive nitro coated white blonde Mirror version, the Dragon didn't come with all manner of case candy so I went with a simple white strap and use a set of red Fender strap lock washer rings to hold it in place.
I like it. It's fun to play, sounds good, and has a really cool vibe. I find it similar but punchier to a 50's Tele that I have had for about 20 years out of Fender Japan (which is a real compliment). I would say that both the 60th and the '67 Custom Shop are better instruments with better body tone and overall playability. That said, it's a reasonably priced (sort-of) limited access piece. Mine is out of the case and in a rack so it gets played. Some might want one as a closet queen, but I expect that the Custom Shop versions will spend more time down that path. I own other Fender products out of the Ensenada Mexico factory and have found every one of them to be a well built instrument, a couple of them better than a Corona built Eric Clapton signature. Don't let the fact that this is a Mex built guitar get in the way of owning one if it appeals to you.