Simple Fender Telecaster tone tip
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- You don't need any pedals or modifications to fatten up the sound of a Fender Telecaster and make it pleasing to the ear. You can do it with just the guitar and any reasonably decent amp.
Simply by setting the tone knob in the middle, then adjusting it up or down as desired while you play seems to work quite well.
This might seem obvious, but if you're used to playing almost any other type of electric guitar, your mindset may be to start with the tone knob mostly full on, then backing it down from there. Just a slightly different way of looking at it that I found helpful, maybe you will too.
video notes :
The settings for the amp e.q. are at twelve o'clock
The gain is at about one o'clock
Boost sound example at about 4:45 in video
"a tele is a car with a manual transmission, you're the one in control"
BEST description of tele tone I've ever heard.
I realize it is kinda randomly asking but does anybody know of a good website to stream newly released tv shows online?
@Everett Guillermo Thanks, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :) I appreciate it!
@Devin Amari No problem xD
it boggles my mind that people would leave snotty comments about a nice, simple, free demo of a concept that many players across many ability levels were too afraid to ask, and therefore never learned. Thanks for making this :)
Hello Normal People, Thank you very much for your comment ! I guess some people find there's room for improvement with the information in this video. Hell, they may be right. You take the good with bad, no big deal. I agree it is odd how some seem to get upset over a guitar video !
All a matter of opinion and ears and besides a side effect of the j is a lot of super crankies have been spawned
Yes, And mainly, I enjoyed the clip, especially the fine playing.
Finally, I find someone who knows what he's talking about, explains it in a way that I can understand, and can skillfully demonstrate by actually playing in a professional manner. Thanks very much.
Love when a guitar tone generates subtitles- When he adds gain it says: “Wow”, “Oh”, “Mama”!
JAJASJAJ
hahahaha
It's just the algorithm enjoying good tones
People who're more used to humbuckers may not dabble too much with tone nobs, but with single coils.. especially telecasters, using the tone nob is crucial I'd say. So, for some folks, this video is useful. This guy's showing that .. that's all.
There's really no need for negative feedback. Thanks for the tone tip.
Never seen WHORE as a contraction. Lol😂
Agreed. Tele is my first single coil guitar and I'm actually enjoying playing with the tone knob to find variety of tone.
Got my first Tele this year and was trying to figure out how I would dial in non-twangy tones for my rock. This is the best tip anyone could have given. I'm so used to the tone knob being all the way up on my Les Pauls that it didn't dawn on me. Thank you so much!
One should always mention that you can also turn the volume down slightly to cut some highs. This works very well for virtually all guitar types unless they have a treble bypass cap installed across the volume pot. There will be less effect with a treble bypass cap installed but it will still work. You can also make sure that you don't have the pickups adjusted to close to the strings. Tele style guitars sound much better with a little more space between the strings and the pickups. People get them too close because they want more volume out of those low output pickups, but adjusting the pickups too close to the strings dampens the action and harshens the sound. Drop the volume to "eight", put the tone knob in the middle of it's range, drop those pickups some and then turn up the amp. All of these things will fatten and improve your tone on a Tele.
Yes! I've had a Tele for the last 6 years and it's been my least played guitar for a long time. I had a country gig to play so out came the Tele. I found such a great tone by having the pickups backed off to where they aren't choking the sustain, then kick on a boost in front of the amp. Makes the guitar and the amp really show off, adds sustain and harmonics, and its easier to dig in and overdrive. Loving it! The tone knob becomes your friend too when you boost it.
Nice tip. Thanls
johnnylance agreed. Ride the volume and tone knobs and listen. You can usually dial in the right tone without adjusting your amp settings.
I use a vox flat4 as a booster. Sounds amazing over my AC30
" having a tele is like a car with a manual transmission " is probably the best and most accurate description I've ever heard about the fender telecaster. A wonderful instrument 😊
Great tip! And that's why you can see Telecasters in different kinds of music, rock, blues, country, pop or even jazz, because that tone knob make Telecasters so versatile, and you have to dig into it to find your tone.
I watched this video about a year ago, at the time I had not really used my Tele for a few years (having changed my live sound for a less ‘effects-heavy’ more natural sound). This simple tone knob tip, which had (duh!) never occurred to me, helped me discover a whole range of new killer tones, and fall in love with my Tele again. Thanks so much.
Thanks Matt !
Tele is just piece of wood with strings and pickups. So plain, so simple. Everything depends on you. As you'll use it - that will be your sound. One tele in 1000 hands will make 1000 different sounds.
.... and, overpriced!
most guitars are just wood with strings, some have pickups and some just have holes in them
@@newgunguy4176 Telecaster overpriced? What?! LMAO
@@c.varela Yes. Overpriced. Or, the Strat is underpriced which would never happen. One less pickup, fixed bridge, no body contours.
@@c.varela I've seen telecasters be priced the same or higher than the equivalent stratocaster. That definitely makes them overpriced.
Great post brother! What is often considered obvious by more seasoned guitarists is either ignored or simply missed by a large percentage of newer players. Thanks for having the intelligence and self assurance to pass on this useful information without sounding condescending. If you allow me, i'd like to add, that newer players not forget to explore their particular amp's 'sweet spot' for useful settings. Doing so will help you to find your own voice faster. I agree, Teles are very expressive and versatile guitars.
Great advice for people who've been hammering humbuckers for years. Just bought my first tele and looking forward to actually using my tone knob. Thanks man.
Good demo. And the VOX does justice to a Tele in my opinion. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us.
0:43 that bright tone is my favorite. You call it harsh and criticize it, but it sounds so sharp, bright, shimmery and punchy, which I love.
Hi Chaim, there is no right or wrong to it, it's all just opinion, and you're not alone, many people disagree with mine ! But it's all good, do what makes you happy.
@@NicholasBrockmueller I agree with your opinion in this case. I don't like the brash shrill highs when the tone is too high up. You demonstrated how unpleasant that can sound. Great playing, by the way!
That little part at 3:15 was honestly amazing!!! Very similar to something my dad wrote in the 80s. Love it and it sounds great!!!
I just bought the Fender Deluxe Thinline Telecaster. It is now my favorite guitar. Thank you for the tips.
Coming from an acoustic background, the tele always gave me the closest feel to an acoustic guitar. I love the way they feel and sound. It's a natural!
Hi Doug, I love how simple they are. Everything you need and nothing you don't!
@@NicholasBrockmueller exactly!
@@dougnice67 middle position or bridge? :)
@@Renav21 both
Leo F. designed the guitar with a tone control in the first place. Granted that the way the tone control interacts with the pickup selector was different way back in the beginnings of the Tele than now...we have what we do now because the changes that Fender incorporated came with the suggestions from the player community and Fender listened. This changes gave the player even more tonal control and like Nick pointed out, the picker is given control because of that one knob...which many players ignore.
Kirk Bolas are you good mates with Leo F. Do you go dress shopping together. Ah.. no. You're just a douche
Hi Richard, neck pickup is stock, bridge pickup is Seymour Duncan STL52, FYI, if you ever have to replace an original pickup with an aftermarket one, do your research, You may have to wire positive to negative to get correct polarity for hum cancelling etc..as is the case with Duncan Tele pickups ( including redirecting the little "jumpwire" ground wire !).
I follow the Steve Cropper method...switch in the middle and both knobs wide open! The Fender Telecaster is The Wheel. Thanks, Uncle Leo! 😎✌🏻👍🏻🎶🎶🎶🎶☘☘☘
Tasty Green Onions !
@@NicholasBrockmueller Absolutely! Thanks for the fantastic vid!
I started doing that a few weeks ago and then your video shows up confirming my thought. That is so cool and adds so much to the playing. Thanks, man.
Always been a strat guy. But now, my start spends most of its time on the stand and my tele is my main everyday instrument. Love the tele... there's just something uniquely special about it.
Hey Andy, the point I was trying to make is that when I play my Tele, I find it helpful to start with the tone knob set to the middle, then bump it up or down as needed depending on which pickup etc..As opposed to a Gibson or Gretsch, where most people generally start with it at 10 then backit off as needed. It's just a suggestion. Simple.
I have been using humbucker guitars for years and years! When i got my tele i learned to use the tone knob and i am pleased to say that it is transferable to my humbucker guitars as well :)
Hi Nick, I disagree, if you like the high treble sound of a telecaster that's great. The point I was trying to get across ( not very well), is that a telecaster is not just a one trick pony. It actually has wide tonal variety. Thanks for the comment, take it easy.
Good demo, and good advice. Teles are underrated. SO versatile.
Hi Dean, I'm only suggesting setting the tone in the middle as a starting point. It seems to help most for just jamming, etc..I find for recording, around 7 or 8 is better. Of course it also depends on which pickup youre playing, amp settings, etc..It's just a slightly different approach to getting there, that I've found helpful.
This might be the most useful thing I've been taught about playing a Telecaster. Now I set the tone in the middle and bump it up and down depending on what I need. I think of it as having treble on tap if/when I need it. Thank you for making this.
You're welcome Tim, glad it helped !
Never thought of using the tone control knob.
Now if I can just learn how to change the volume.
JIMJAMSC volume knob also reduces treble...
Not on a Tele - there's a treble bleed, rolling off the volume makes it brighter before it goes quiet.
Simon Timperley standard Tele wiring doesn't have a treble bleed. That's a modified wiring. You will lose treble backing off volume.
Jonathan Brazee Oh, must have read it wrong, sorry. All mine do and everyone I've ever seen has and all the ads say "Tele treble bleed" but you live and learn. Thanks.
Well, vintage ones do / did as standard it seems, all mine ever had them (including Squiers from the 80s) I figured it was standard like 3 saddles and through the baclk stringing, but aparently not. Who knew..?
Tele's sound amazing when you roll the tone off a bit on the bridge. Love it.
Sir that riff you started at 3:10 was absolutely beautiful. Respect. I am using this video to help me learn to adjust the sound on my tele that I am getting on Friday. And after your video I’m sure I made the right choice in guitar
When I do tone adjustments- back off just a touch from 10 on both volume and tone, then set the amp to make it sound sweet. I’ve got the pickups buried on mine- the neck sounds like a strat bell. With pots dialed back just a bit, there’s a little high end treble loss, so the amp is adjusted accordingly, and if I ever need to give her a boost I go full on. I’ve got 1Meg analogue pots and high output Texas Specials with a 4 way switch- 1:bridge, 2:neck, 3:neck with an in-line treble sucking capacitor (that’s how Leo designed them initially- look it up. Gives a dark jazzy tone) and 4:both pups in series.
Teles are way more versatile tone wise than they’re given credit for
I've told my students for thirty-five years, just buy a Tele, and be done with it.
^ Sounds like great advice to me.
It's definitely a myth that tele's are one trick ponies. Probably spread around by people who leave tone on 10 all the time. For a while now I've thought that the tone control on a guitar is at its most important when it's on a tele. Thats the key to it's versatility, of which it has plenty. Rock, blues, jazz, country.....clean, crunchy, sustained and compressed.....you can get it all out of a tele.....doesn't sound much like a one trick pony to me.
I have a Fender stratocaster ‘56, a gibson Les Paul Classic, an Ibanez RG, but The best guitar i ever played is The Telly, with seymour duncan alnico 2 that i owned some years ago.. will, i recently bought a new telly. It’s The best guitar for What i do. (Rock n’roll, pop punk, punk rock, hard rock). Telly Rulez!
Telecaster can do it all if you know how to use one.
Tele’s are just awsome
Im getting mine soon a fender telecaster custom shop 52 butterscotch heavy relic limited edition it has such an amazing dirty sound 👌🏻
Tried multiple teles and hated them. Going to get a PRS soon.
I'm one of those guys: I just leave the Tele tone at 10. I tried turning it down. Holy crap, it does make the tone fatter and the sound a little creamier! I just never thought of trying that before. We are all so used to trying to squeeze every ounce of brightness out of other guitars, but we don't have to do that with Teles which are so well-endowed with treble. Very good suggestion.
(It's the opposite of cooking. If you use too much salt, you can't reduce it afterwards. But if a guitar has too much treble, it's easy to just take some away -- if you think of doing it!)
@@mbuchart2927 yup
I started out as a drummer, then took up the guitar at 30. Didn't know much, just banged the hell out of em like I did my drums! Got away from both over the years and getting back into guitar now. I'm older and wiser now. I was just experimenting earlier in the week with my Tele's tone knob and realized the different tones I could actually get from it! Rather than running it wide open like I did as a younger guy. It makes a big difference!👍😎🎸🎶
The Tele maple neck with lacquer finish and 9.5 radius is all I need. Feels just right.
i can't get enough of that glossy finish on the neck, absolutely love this guitar
I've always been a "Strat guy" but I've got a Tele also and man I just love it. I consider it the Swiss Army Knife of guitars. It will do anything. A Tele with a fuzz is a glorious sound when people know how to use them.
It's the combination of volume and tone controls on a Telecaster. I set both to mid-range to start with and mark the knobs (or center the knob screw hole) to indicate the mid-position.
This video has opened so many doors for new sounds with my tele, thanks!!!!
Extremely helpful, and wonderful tone. Didn't expect such a bright guitar to be anything besides ice picks on a Vox, but low and behold, it sounded great.
I like the way you have the control plate turned backwards. I got the idea from watching Bill Kirchen's videos and set my own tele the same way. I like it that way much better.
Thanks very much Jay, I agree, the Vox really brings out some cool nuances of a telecaster that you just don't get with other amps.
Good advice. I got my Tele in 1964 so my pups are wired differently. Tone suggestion works great on bridge but middle is only one pup activated and neck pup has no tone control. Prewired for the " dark side".
Nice chops and demo. Thanks.
Thank you
My brother took his 72 fender telecaster and had a set of the older Bill Lawrence humbuckers put in the tele and wow what a sound,he was a honky tonk picker for 3o yrs with that tele and he of course he played rock n blues,everyone he let sit in and play it they just loved the sound n most of them tried to buy it LOL HIS answer was noway.
Great video. Simple tips, but almost certainly overlooked by many.
I'd never really considered starting with the tone in the middle. Perhaps it was designed with that in mind.
what may sound bright in the living room may I actually cut through the mix in a live situation.
I still haven't found a genre of music that a Tele can't do. I play mostly heavy metal, blues, and rock. My Tele is my go to guitar. And it's not even fancy, it's a Squire Affinity with vintage brass saddles. Still does everything I need it to. I love it. The saddles made a world of a difference.
Hi Sam, I actually do get your point. You are probably an experienced player who knows his stufff. Not everyone is. That's why the title says "Simple". have a nice day.
Smart. Very smart approach to keeping a telecaster and not leaning into something different because mostly people don't do this
Hi Bryan, thanks ! I understand your point, but newer players who might have passed on getting a Tele because they can often sound too sharp, may reconsider and go try one for themselves.
I have a Mod Shop Custom Tele with the Texas Blues PUPS. I love the tone. This has become my favourite guitar to play. I also have a Les Paul Traditional and an American Standard Strat.
Totally agree, the Telecaster tone control is unlike any other. I have seven distinct positions of the tone control - and a five position selector switch with series and series out of phase. Don't need any pedals.
Yes. The reverse control plate. Simple but brilliant.
Thanks for bringing that up Chris, you are exactly right, you have to fit into the mix, sometimes more treble, sometimes less. Same with midrange. I wish I would have touched on that, thanks.
Yep, spot on advice, thanks. No guitar responds to tone and volume adjustments better than a Tele, IMO.
Thanks for the vid. I am new to electric guitars have always played acoustic/classical and ukes. My first electric guitar was a Les Paul for about 2 weeks lol. Took it back and got me a tele. I looves it!
Thanks very much Jake, that is exactly the point I was trying to get across. Take care.
Good video. A lot of these videos just show what guitars sound like with too much overdrive. I like being able to hear the clean side of the guitar also. Good job, thanks...!
Thanks Jim
If you’re getting a bit of a squawk out of the amp (Vox AC-15 or 30 right?) and you move it around a lot, first check for a loose tube. If not, then you might want to pull the tubes and eye them to see if there is any discoloration in one or more. If they look ok check the connections to make sure nothing is loose (tube mounts) and reseat each tube. Put them back where they came from and let it warm up good. If you get the same sound it would be worth $25-$30 or whatever is charged in your area to have a guitar shop or electronics store check it for you. It might only be a $.50 resistor if your lucky. Vox may also send you to an authorized repair shop. Check that stuff well so you don’t void a warranty. If it’s out of warranty you’re on your own. I liked the licks you were playing. It sounds really good. Excellent tips for many of the young and new players as they try to find "their sound ". Good luck!🤘
I run a tele into a solid state twin and I love the sound of it. I have had other people that play with me talk about how amazing it sounds especially through a solid state. I have NOS pickups and usually role back on the tone just a bit to take off the sharpness.
Thanks for the basics. Never apologize for teaching well.
Thanks Stephen
04:55 that tone is perfect 👌
I'm putting a TBX on my Tele. The G&L ASAT is the perfect guitar IMHO.
GREAT video for players who are new to the world of the Telecaster. Kudos!!
Hi Rob, cool, I'm glad. I like it because if you bump it up a little for the neck pickup, then switch back to the bridge, it's not immediately harsh, because it was'nt topped in the first place.
dude..when i see that switch on the back end..i know u got the right one. best guitar ever made.
Hi XYZ, Thanks ! Some people genuinely disagree and/or just plain don't like the video. I'll take that, and often even agree. But then there are some that just have a stick up their amplifier.
Telecaster. Everything you need, nothing you don’t
Paul G except a humbucker, whammy bar, 24 frets, or anything else cool
zoom zoom
@@Ottophil role the tone knob all the way down turn the amp up you get the humbucker sound
Buy some pedals for all the other stuff
@@AvanRoyOfficial Took me 10 years to discover this. Oh well...
@@tmkent never too late
Good video, I have a Baja Tele and it didn't take me long to figure out that you NEED to roll a bit of volume and tone off to get a nice sound. Personally, I think rolling volume down to about 8 and volume to 8 is enough, halfway takes too much Tele character away. I like the bite, but it can be quite harsh.
I like manual transmission reference. I always say they are like a Swiss Army knife and can do anything!
Yes, I agree, a Tele is the only guitar I've ever used the tone knob on regularly
The tele and the Vox AC series are a match made in heaven. Well Dartford actually, but you know what I mean 😂.
Thanks for the video. I love the Telecaster. When used creatively it has so much variety in a relatively uncomplicated guitar!
Oh why I'm use tele is because its damn bright and I'm play lead and need cut true. And I'm play 0.11-0.52 in E-flat. Tele always be a telecaster 😊 best regards from Sweden 🇸🇪
The attractive thing about the tele is the brights and the LOWs.
Yo mate! Thanks for the Tele Tone (TM) tutorial. It was really helpful because I'm new to a tele. I've been playing a Les Paul (copy) for years but always loved the great sounds that seemed to be coming out of telecasters. So finally I just bought a fine imitation - Vintage brand V62. Your tute will help me wrestle the "trebly beast" and get the best music outa my tele (copy) ha ha. Cheers from Australia (where Fenders cost $1500)
Beautiful guitar, and you play it extremely well. I've always played Tele's because of the beauty and simplicity, the volume and tone knobs don't obstruct my playing as do the Strat's.
However, the Tele really deserves a nice Fender amp, maybe a Peavey Classic 30 Blues amp to really get that Tele sound. I love Vox amps, just not with a Tele.. That's just me though.
Brilliant! This solved a big part of my head scratching!
Tele and a Princeton RI a match made in heaven!
Just bought 76 meant Tele ..did not know much about them ..thank you for the information..why so many negative comments..people are assholes
With the whole tone knob off and the bridge pickup and a crunch and warm tube distortion you get the intro of Whole Lotta Love :D
Hi Irfan, No, this is a special edition tele, it comes with reverse control plate so the player can reach the volume knob with the pinky finger to do volume swells if desired.
Personally, I like Matt Schofield's method: By turning the know through its entire rotation, find out the point where it has the most dramatic effect on the tone. Set it there, and tweak it subtly to taste thereafter. This method is equally effective with guitars, amps, and pedals.
get a good graphic EQ and turn down those harsh 3K frequencies and just boost a little midrange and some 8K and try to rid yourself of that ear-piercing frequency range but still retain enough clarity/highs to make it sound nice. You just need more control over the frequencies than a standard old amp can provide (in case you can't get what you want that way). Those amps have preset frequencies for the mid and trebel knobs so you're stuck. Just go watch a Johnny Hiland vid and see his setup. :)
Good video Nicholas. Rolling back the tone control on a telecaster's bridge pickup makes it much easier to achieve a good country picking tone. On mine, I found that the neck pickup was too muddy when the tone was rolled back, and have wired the guitar so the tone control only works on the bridge pickup. Regarding strings: I used to fit 9s but went to 11s (which I felt improved the overall sound) and have now settled on 10s, as a good compromise between sound quality and playability.
That seems to be a common mod. Shawn Tubbs and Dan from “That Pedal Show” do that on some of their Teles too.
@@jkta97 Thanks Jeremy. That's an old post of mine! I've reverted to 9s on my guitars now, but haven't put the tone wiring back to stock.
Hi Robert, the neck pickup is stock, but the stock bridge pickup (which I liked) was losing power so I had to replace it. This bridge pickup is a Seymore Duncan stl52.
Great tones. Really useful video. I have a G&L ASAT but same applies obviously. Looks a nice Tele. What you are saying makes the Tele a very versatile guitar.
Hi Allister, I've been very happy with mine, I did have to replace the bridge pickup because it was losing power, but now it's all good ! congrats on your new axe !
Hi Robbie, thanks for the comment. I don't know for sure if that's what they had in mind, but I think it makes sense.
Is that money for nothing knockoff at 4:56…sweet demo man. I’m actually picking up a used one tomorrow. Cheers.
Hello JRyan ! It was no song in particular, I was just winging it. I hope you enjoy your guitar ! Thanks
Watched a play that incorporated a 20 piece orchestra, including an electric guitar. I heard a rocking Les Paul, Bright Teles, and a great 335 sound. At the conclusion I walked by the Orchestra Pit and talked with the guitarist. I was amazed that he got all those sounds out of an unmodified American Standard Telecaster and a Fender Super Reverb. He told me he had used no effects and that is tone knob that most guitarist just leave on 10, was changed on every song to fit the mood needed.... I flashed back to the 70s when guys were removing all tone knobs (Eddie Van Halen), and just laughed.
great video. Finally !! - a guitar player who actually knows how to use the damn tone controls on his axe and amp--instead of bitching about his pickups or whatever and then blowing money on upgrades or pedals. 👍💯❤
Simple, direct and some great playing as well. Thanks!
Hi Matt, yes and no. It's more for people who may think twang is all that a tele can do.( myself included, at one time) I'm not anti-twang, when it's done right.
Hi Blue Shore, I've never tried flat wound strings, so I honestly don't know. Just start with amp e.q. and guitar tone knob in the middle and adjust to taste (and circumstance). Depending on what you're doing, you may want more treble to fit into the mix. When I record my Les Paul, I often find my tele fits in best with it with the treble turned up pretty high. When just jamming you may want alot less treble, So I guess mostly just e.q.
If any player didn't figure this out in the first 30 minutes of playing, they need to give up guitar and play the radio. Thanks for the time invested though, and your playing is killer.
"Teles are like a manual transmission." Its the perfect analogy. Teles and stick shifts are a little frustrating at first, but having total control over a wide range of tone/torque makes the guitar/car feel like it's an extension of you. If you know how to drive a stick or a tele, you'll almost never get stuck in a rut.
hi CM, it is a Mexican butterscotch ash that comes stock with the reverse control plate, everything is stock except the bridge pickup, which is a Seymore Duncan STL52. The amp is a stock NightTrain 15. Thanks for the comment !
I bought it, but kept the pick ups stock, put on a bone nut and fender locking tuners.
Tone git a bit clearer with a bone nut.
love it...
Nicholas Brockmueller
Just bought my first tele type guitar love it thanks for the tips 👊😎