Rodriguez Dottie Goldtop #396

Tele snap meets Les Paul sustain: a 6.9 lb goldtop Dottie with a Fralin Blues Special and a P-90.

If you've ever wanted the snap and clarity of a Telecaster and the power and sustain of a Les Paul in one guitar, Tommy Rodriguez's Dottie is that idea fully realized, and this goldtop wears the Les Paul half of its heritage proudly.

The recipe is a smart one. A mahogany body with a maple cap and a 24.9" scale give it warmth, weight in the low mids, and long, even sustain. At the bridge, a Lindy Fralin Blues Special sits in a Callaham Vintage Tele bridge for all the bite, twang, and clarity you'd want, while a P-90 in the neck adds a thick, vocal voice with plenty of fatness when you push it. Dual volume and tone controls with a three-way switch let you blend the two into everything in between.

What stays with you most, though, is how it plays. The C neck carve is comfortable from the first chord, the medium jumbo frets and 10" radius make bends feel effortless, and at just 6.9 pounds it balances beautifully and resonates against your body. It responds to the lightest touch, and notes bloom and hang in the air. We have played a lot of guitars over the years, and this one stopped us in our tracks.

Finished in nitrocellulose goldtop with a natural back, it's a deeply musical instrument, built by someone who clearly knows what players are looking for.