When I play my Tele you realise your really playing the orrginal Electric Guitar I love the solidness of it plus its the only guitar that can do a spot on impression of a beeping car alarm at least mine does lol.
Gibson: our electrics will have carved arched tops, multi ply binding, mother of pearl inlays, will be built using centuries old luthiery techniques. Leo Fender: just screw a stick to a plank.
@@apophispnw5717 Everyone knows the Strat is probably the WORST guitar you can use to play heavy metal or any of those other things. So not a candidate for the swiss army knife of guitars, by far. Honestly, you can't get better than the SG for swiss army knife capabilities. Can do everything the rest can or can't.
I never heard of Josh Smith, came here looking for info about teles and was blown away by Josh’s playing. Haven’t seen such clean, fast, and musical playing in a long time. He has a fluidity on the instrument that is rare.
@@actionjacksondanhi! Is the course very fast and difficult? I’m not a beginner at all and I’d like to buy it but I’m afraid of the fact that Josh can explain things too fast. Can you tell me something about it. Thanks.
@@francescodefendi3201it is a bit more advanced and requires you having the fundamentals down. So far it is very conceptual, focusing on developing your own style.
I’ve had a telecaster for fifteen years. It’s the only electric guitar I’ve ever owned. It can make any sound it want it to and plays like butter. Sometimes I think I want another guitar so I’ll go to the local music store but just end up playing the teles.
The only guitars i found to really have a different sound are jazzmasters in the middle pickups position. Most guitars are the same food with a little different seasoning/recepy
I can not agree more. had an original '61 my whole life, always looking for "the holy grail" so , went through a couple strats, a Yamaha, drooled over a couple les Paul's. always a little frustrated, fooling around looking for that certain sound . every time I'd go back to my teli , it's like ahhh ...its been here all the time at home. waiting for me...dummy! It's like fooling around on the best woman you ever had....dummy! Anyway, went and bought a squire 50's vintage vibe to ease off on my vintage one . it is Awsome! Love the neck pick up that is more usefull than the vintage neck one. you are right ....greatest guitar ever !
It makes me feel good whenever I see the Telecaster getting some love. I really feel that it deserves all the love and appreciation we can give it. Good old Leo Fender hit it out of the stratosphere (pun intended, hehe) when he created the magical instrument that is our beloved Tele.
Until your input jack wears out the wooden retainer and you gotta fix it again and again. But the tele is getting lot of love for Midwest emo music since looks matter more than functionality
@@0megalul309 Well. yeah, there's that little thing with the jack, but it's a fantastic instrument other than that. I mean it also digs into your ribs because of the shape.... but it sounds amazing and it's super versatile. LOL
@@rylieriley here a Telecaster lover....the little issue with the jack, well, nothin' that can't be fixed, and easy and quick job....the ribs???....well, i'm still alive......this year, 2022, it is the Telecaster birthday, 70th anniversary....and the 60th anniversary of the release of love me do, the first official release of the beatles...this is the year...greetings from south queensland, Aus....
@@mytelecasterworld3336 I love Telecasters! My number one, go-to guitar is a Tele Custom. I was sort of joking about the rib thing (LOL). Thanks for your comment, I enjoyed it.
Minimalist designs that have never been improved upon: the bicycle (2 circles + 2 triangles); Chuck Taylor All-Star shoes (canvas + rubber), and the Telecaster (slab + neck + strings). The Tele is perfectly imperfect.
@@estebanb7166 No, not really. Perhaps some material improvements have come along, but the basic minimalist designs, which was his statement, haven’t changed.
I always certainly thought I was a Strat guy. A month back ordered my first Fender Tele and weeks later sold my strats, The Tele I got fit my needs now. You are right when you said you gotta give a chance to the telecaster at least once in your life! Game changer in the past and nowadays as well!
1975, I was studying and saving hard as a 14 year old could. it was time. “Hey kid, how about this -new this, and new that ?” Answer: How about that used Tele on the wall, the blond one ? “That’s the bass teacher’s, he needs to sell, its a ‘68 and costs as much as This new whatever next to it ?” Answer, “is it original ?” “Yeah kid, What’s a 14 year old kid going to do with that ?” My guitar teacher emerges from his teaching room - , “Tear your ass off is what hell do with that “........ Me, at 14 “I’ll take it.” I’m approaching 60 years old now. I still have it - It remains THE standout amongst many of what I own. Smith is correct in this video, as was my beloved guitar teacher - The Tele is a driver.......and will enable you to tear someone’s ass off through their ears........in whatever genre you wish.The Wabasabi of guitars “perfectly flawed”. Very Soon, it will be time to let it go now. Hopefully to another promising, hard working, appreciative young person.........The music never stops.........nor should it...... Wabasabi
I could could take it off your hands. I'm 17 and wanting to learn the guitar. I'm already learning bass keys and I'm pretty good at drums. Let me know!
Alas I come to you, great in spirit, poverty of funds. Looking for that spiritual Gandalf of Fender, so that I may carry the torch, knowing that it will never belong to me, but a younger soul. We are all but links in 5e great chain
1:13 Every single amp, guitar, and pickup review since the dawn of RUclips say this. "If I roll the volume up, it breaks up and if I roll the volume down, it cleans up." As if it's unique to that instrument or amp.
C'mon guys, don't be so superficial and grumpy. I have like 8 different guitars and each one reacts in its own way, alter the dinamics, and none like that Tele. Weaks the signal, changes the dinamycs, bright and twang. It changes, depending of the pickups type, state, values, height, age and the same for pots, not the same range... apart from pedals and amps....and so on, not so minimal differences becomes huge when you are the player.
It took me over 20 years of playing humbucker metal guitars to discover the secrets and charme of a tele. I'm planning a partscaster from Warmoth right now and I'm absolutely stoked about it!
Jesus, there are seemingly a million and one absolutely amazing guitar players! Everywhere I turn are jaw-droppingly great guitarists. This dude rocks.
After 30 years of playing guitar I bought my first ever Tele.....this thing is AMAZING!!!! Does everything from metal to blues and then has its own unique sound, why did it take me so long!!!!
i asked myself the same. played strat and 335 for 30+ years, then bought the first tele. then a second, then a third. now the strat and 335 are just my collectors items lol
I think there’ll be a 2051 century edition telly..caster.its that good..lets start to design that model..a model fit for its next century… A flying Vee maybe with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and son et lumiere and camera to capture the rapture of the mosh pit…
@@gururajchadaga yes but it’s part of the charm. It’s just something that can’t be explained. When I was young I hated Telecaster’s they just grow on you with time. Just wish I had accepted how good they are when I was younger.
Totally agree! Yes I will switch between my Teles, my Strats, and my Jazzmaster once in a while, but if I was restricted to one guitar it would be a Telecaster.
There is something utterly captivating about the basic simplicity, ergonomic ruggedness, and spine tingling sonic experience of a Telecaster. Once you become hooked on one, the relationship is similar the bond of a cowboy to his horse.
What an amazing demo for the Telecaster guitar - add the versatility of the guitar and the versatility of the player - you can't go far wrong. Well done Josh !
I started with a strat and I love it but was always drawn to the tele sound, looks and history...it blows my mind how such a simple guitar can do so much.
At 66 I paused 55 years of drum percussion, always wanted a Telecaster On stage in the back, I fell in love with many gifted guitarists, Chewy, ( Joe) was my best lead, " Silas, Green" Florida space coast, well he played them all but showed me the beauty of the Telecaster. Into it month 2 AMAZING
I saved my pennies and bought a new Tele in 1967. I began playing in bar bands. It's now 55 years later and I still play in bar bands and I still play Teles. They are the perfect guitar for me and my music.
I have two Player Series and one old Standard. The six saddle bridge makes them even more great. I have also two Strats but I always come back to the Telecasters because they are easier to handle. The simple set up has all I need.
I got a Tele 20 years into playing and wish I started with it. I haven’t looked back since. I used to think they were ugly and didn’t get it. Now, I love it. I truly does it all.
So many people pick up a tele and leave the knobs on ten and say, "Oh. That's what this guitar sounds like." The tele has some of the most responsive controls I've ever heard. I still think the bridge pickup with the tone rolled off slightly and some strong overdrive thrown on is one of my favorite sounds in the guitar world. Use your knobs, people! I also think the tele neck pup is one of the most underappreciated sounds in the industry. So smooth all the time.
Can't agree with you more! Strat guy through and through for nearly 4 decades who always had volume at 10 and on a whim bought a Chinese Modern Player Thinline 3yrs ago which I had a love hate relationship with, until I got it set up by a pro and started experimenting with the volume and tone knobs and overdrive nuances on the Vox. Wowsers!!!! SO responsive! I knew something was up when the guitar builder who did the set up said he was a straight Tele guy who only played the neck pick-up told me he'd buy it from me if ever I sold. Agree, people are missing the point about the responsiveness this guitar has to slight volume and tonal adjustments.
God bless Leo Fender for bringing [us] the Telecaster. Thanks, Josh Smith, for showcasing what is the most powerful, expressive and versatile electric guitar ever created. Cheers!
Well stated, and well played! I still lust for a Les Paul with P-90s, not to mention other Gibsons that may have humbuckers, but Mr. Smith is correct in asserting that no other solid body electric does so many things so well.
Been at it for 50 years. Started playing rock and play mostly bebop today on a D'Angelico New Yorker. Over the years I've owned most guitars from a Strat to Les Pauls, 335, etc. For whatever reason I just never even tried a Telecaster because I thought it was mainly for playing country music and it looked a little funny to me. Last week I finally purchased one for kicks because a number of my favorite guitarists play them on occasion. Man, I was missing out all these years. Great playing by the way.
1st thing I noticed when I got mine is how it induces nuances in the playing. There is so much contrast between a heavy and a light touch in this guitar, it actually made me a better guitarist, even if I'm still not good :) what a pleasure anyway
Absolute guitar beginner (outside of a very basic understanding of fretboard logic from the ukulele) and learning on a Squire Tele has been a blast but that dynamic range of sound is also what makes it feel very unforgiving of any little mistake. Like I'm skipping the training wheels or something. Not that I dislike that. It reminds me of when I was an art student and how the years i made the most progress in terms of accuracy and confidence was when i stored away my erasers and only drew in ink. My favorite bit of technique I've picked up from a Jazz Tele player on youtube: using middle position and getting a twangy-er or mellower sound based on how close you pick to either the bridge or neck pickup.
@@DixyRae You should try an Esquire. One pickup, three position switch. The magic comes from where and how you hit the string. I own 3 Teles and an Esquire, the Esquire made me the player I am.
I was contemplating which guitar to buy. I had the 62 mij model in my reverb cart. I was watching this video… looks really similar. Same colors. So… I bought it while watching. Thanks for your video. It just got me a dream guitar just from watching. Keep making these. Videos.
Great playing josh. Truly a tele is versatile. After watching John 5 videos and this one you make a great point. Famous players that used a tele: Prince Bruce Springsteen Keith Richards Jimmy Page Brad Paisley. That's all the people that I can think of.
Great demo video and great picking. The Tele has everything you need and nothing you don't. It's simplicity and solid design are it's strong points. I'm a bassist and feel the same exact way about the Precision bass. Is it the best bass? Who knows but it will solidly cover any gig you ask it to. Another design Leo got right.
My favorite bass is, weirdly enough, the Univox Hi-Flyer. I got one in a horse-trade years ago - it was in a Walmart sack when I got it, so as you can guess, it needed a lot of love to get it up and running. The kid I got it from had stripped the body and tried to spray clear poly on it, but he let it dry for about 10 minutes before he started handling it, so it was full of fingerprints and cat hair and whatnot. I refinished the body in antique gold. The bridge pickup that still worked kicked 11.75 ohms(!), and I built another pickup for the neck position at a more sedate 6.5 ohms. I wired it up like a jazz bass with a coil-cut for the bridge pickup where the selector used to be. Totally shielded the cavity with metal tape. You can plug that thing in under the buzziest of fluorescent lighting and it will make no sound whatsoever - until you hit a string.
Well done Josh! You prove that there is no such thing as a pure 'jazz' guitar, wether its a solid or hollowbody guitar. The STYLE of the mujsic is in the PLAYER.
I understand the love for a telecaster. I have a 87 MIJ squier tele. I love it. It’s hard for me to own another guitar because the necks don’t feel like my tele. Cheers.
I'm a Teleholic. I put in the 3rd pickup for all the strat tones and a switch for the front back pickup tone. The more chips I get the more I love it! I've got the see through butterscotch and play it through a bordeaux 65 Princeton reissue - and oh delicious, delicios!!! I know, I got it bad:)
Yes the Telecaster has always been in my little guitar arsenal. At one point it was my only guitar. My goes Telecaster goes to every gig, rehearsal, jam etc. Leo Fender got it right the first time - Genius!
When I started playing guitar 30 years ago, I really did not like the Telecaster at all. But today, while I consider myself a Strat guy, I am more an more attracted to the simple design of the Telecaster.
I swear I could write the same thing...been playing since the late '80s, never liked the Tele and thought it was always too "ice-picky". I've been a Strat guy the whole time, started adding more guitars for tonal reasons (Gretsches for my Rockabilly tones), a few LPs for tone and the love of the full neck. Even a Gibson Firebird but still no Tele. Well, I can't justify spending $1,800 on one when so many tell me I can get a quality model in the $600 - $850 range but I have really heard specific tones played clean that I am looking for that only a Tele, or some Tele clones, can deliver......especially that "bluesy chime" of just the neck pickup.
It’s true, the Tele is the only guitar I’ve come across that is competent in most genres, just with stock pickups and gets better depending on how you want to mod it. The best mass produced all round, pound for pound electric guitar ever designed imo.
Wonderful playing. Am new to the Tele, but you made me shut my laptop and pick up the guitar for an hour - thanks for that. It's an amazing instrument. It's unforgiving in its simplicity but rewarding beyond measure in its clarity. When I pick up my Strat afterwards, I play that so much better thanks to Tele time.
@@shanewalton8888 Not really, the Tele was still ok when he made the switch to the LP Standard in early May 1969. Page hd been thinking about doing the move but was "looking for a really good one" until he bought Joe Walsh's.
And unfortunately for every budding guitarist who saw the iconic pics of him with his LP (like me) went and bought one ..and then played it and said ..”wait , that doesn’t sound right..it’s all woofy and muddy and weighs a ton” And eventually after much money spent discovered the Tele sounds more like Jimmy Page ...well except for heartbreaker mainly 😄🤷🏻♂️
@fattphilosopher I believe he played an LP live mostly cos of the hum cancelling pups and the higher signal into the wall of amp stacks.🤓 no pa’s in those days it was all raw power and big volume out to the audience..I wonder if he has tinnitus like the other guitar hero’s of the day? Plus it looked cool as f#ck hanging down by his knees 😄😎
Iago B that may be but Joe Walsh uses a Tele on the Hotel California solo and not surprisingly Billy Gibbons uses a Tele on his Netflix special. They eventually convert.
I have a telecaster made in japan and for me is a magic guitar, I like to thing telecaster guitars are like axes, like plug and play instruments, useful in every genre, mine has an amazing country rock tone but also a very sweet and bluesy upper pickup, such a gem.
I think the tele fits that role well but specifically the early to mid 60s teles. A close second for me is a good 335. Between those two guitars, you have a lot of ground covered.
Josh is right, you can do damn near anything with a tele. It is truly a wonderful guitar to have in the arsenal. It also makes a good skull crushing home defense weapon.
Out of all my Telly type guitars the one I love the very most is my Larry Carlson T7 with a Roasted Maple 🍁 neck! Great pickups, thick frets and practically plays itself 😊
Theres something about the neck and string tension as well on the tele, it's perfect. I can do things with much more ease on a tele. I have an sg, strat and a lp. The tele is my go to guitar now , it's just so unique and perfect and so simple. Uncomplicated so I can focus on playing , Leo fender got it right and here we are.
same here man. I didnt realize how much I would love a maple neck as well (my tele has a maple glossy fretboard and it was the first time I had tried anything different than rosewood) my fingernails would tend to dig into the rosewood grain and it would distract me sometimes where my glossy smooth maple fretboard does not give this problem and I can focus with more confidence in my playing. Teles rock
I love the telecaster because of its versatility; it can play literally any genre of music perfectly and the look of it. It’s so..basic, yet badass. It doesn’t have the flashiness of a les Paul or Stratocaster, it’s raw as hell. It’s my favorite guitar
I’ve always been a Les Paul guy but I recently bought a Fender Tele(2019 Blue Cloud Rarities Edition) and it is really amazing! Granted I won’t get rid of my les Paul’s but I will definitely be playing mt Tela a whole lot!
I "picked one up" around 1985, bought it off some kid for $200 bucks. It's the most amazing guitar I've ever played, when it's plugged in it starts to sing when I get within ten feet of it, and I swear that playing it feels like a religious experience. In fact, it so moved me that I began wondering about it's provenance. I took it apart and dated every single piece of it - electrics, hardware - everything that had a serial number on it. Turned out, much to my surprise and absolute joy, that it's an all original 1959 Tele. I still have it and, despite being slightly tempted to cash in on it over the years, I will never part with it.
Awesome video. Amazing playing. You can see your love for the instrument so clearly. I have a 60th anniversary on layaway right now at my local music shop here on Long Island. Go Yankees!
I bought my 1st tele a few months back. Just like u I was amazed at how many different things this guitar does so well. I've played guitar since I was 5. I'm 43 now & this is the 1st time I've ever sat down & tried to play the electric guitar. The whole reason I bought a tele was b/c I heard Jeff Beck say that a tele is the only guitar that won't hide your playing. He sd the tele is the 1 guitar that requires you to up your game b/c it will show u each & every way your playing is lacking. I have to say that I am so glad I got it. I love this thing! Best guitar ever! No lie!
I only use Tele's for the same reason Josh made this video. Versatility is required in my playing repertoire as a cover guitarist. Yes, a 345/355 is amazing, LP Junior with P90, etc, etc. But I need one guitar or 3 in my case using different tunings, that can be shape-shifted to sound like other guitars with some pedals and tone/pick-up adjustments very quickly...And for me, my Tele's fills the need...👍🎸🎼🎵🎶
I have a rock, it is amazing. It’s hard, dirty and uncomfortable but it can do everything. It useful as a hammer, it can knock out an adversary, bounce across the water and I can even play a beat with it on a tree log. If you chip it just right it can work as a screwdriver or even a knife. There’s no other rock quite like this one!
you need one that weighs 6lbs pickups working properly 0.012" relief treble string height at the 12th 1/8th " Bass 3/32" Pickup Height both pickups when string is depressed on last fret Treble side 1/8" Bass side 3/32" 9- 46 strings all these settings are vital to the correct working of our beloved telecaster. Good luck.
I've got 5 Guitars, 1SG,2 Strats,1Jazzmaster and 1 Tele,by far the Tele is the funnest to play Even with Slide,it loves slide.I will be getting at least 1 or 2 more Teles in the future,just love them and I'm aStrat guy originally.If I had only 1 guitar it would be the Tele for sure
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I literally went out and got a tele after watching this video. No joke. Amazing guitar.
MIA?
When I play my Tele you realise your really playing the orrginal Electric Guitar I love the solidness of it plus its the only guitar that can do a spot on impression of a beeping car alarm at least mine does lol.
@@ushnicyuvnikof2748 lmao
I play teles almost exclusively. I'm not a quarter as good as Josh, but I feel like I made a good choice since he is a tele guy
The day I bought my first Tele changed everything. It stays in tune better than anything else I've ever laid my hands on.
The real magic here is in Josh Smith fingers and musical fantastic ideas...
Dude he's insane
One of the best right now.
Telecasters are great guitars, but let's hear it for Josh - a truly blinding guitar player!! I absolutely love his playing!!!
Gibson: our electrics will have carved arched tops, multi ply binding, mother of pearl inlays, will be built using centuries old luthiery techniques.
Leo Fender: just screw a stick to a plank.
Well said!
And yet they asks the same price as the more complicated Gibsons :)
@@keesketsers5866 except they don’t
HahahaAAaaa.
@@keesketsers5866 bruh their player series teles cost like half the price of an standard les paul
Tele's are the Swiss Army Knife of the musical world. They are awesome.
DuckTalesWooHoo1987 pfft ok boomer
@@overtonesnteatime198 respect your elders
@@overtonesnteatime198 Les Paul fan boy
I would say a strat is the swiss army knife. 3 PUs 5 way switch. 2 tone knobs. Any sound you desire.
@@apophispnw5717 Everyone knows the Strat is probably the WORST guitar you can use to play heavy metal or any of those other things. So not a candidate for the swiss army knife of guitars, by far.
Honestly, you can't get better than the SG for swiss army knife capabilities. Can do everything the rest can or can't.
I never heard of Josh Smith, came here looking for info about teles and was blown away by Josh’s playing. Haven’t seen such clean, fast, and musical playing in a long time. He has a fluidity on the instrument that is rare.
I am working thru his blues highways course on TrueFire, Josh is incredible
@@actionjacksondanhi! Is the course very fast and difficult? I’m not a beginner at all and I’d like to buy it but I’m afraid of the fact that Josh can explain things too fast. Can you tell me something about it. Thanks.
@@francescodefendi3201it is a bit more advanced and requires you having the fundamentals down. So far it is very conceptual, focusing on developing your own style.
@@actionjacksondan ok, thanks for you kind informations. 🙏🏻👍🏼👋🏻
I’ve had a telecaster for fifteen years. It’s the only electric guitar I’ve ever owned. It can make any sound it want it to and plays like butter. Sometimes I think I want another guitar so I’ll go to the local music store but just end up playing the teles.
I have a cheap Epiphone Les Paul Jr. with a bolt on neck with one P90, it's great but not quite a tele.
Yep me too Haha
The only guitars i found to really have a different sound are jazzmasters in the middle pickups position. Most guitars are the same food with a little different seasoning/recepy
Hard to get a Strat sound, unless yours is a Nashville set up.
Just because you hate tobacco doesn't mean that everyone has to....
I can not agree more. had an original '61 my whole life, always looking for "the holy grail" so , went through a couple strats, a Yamaha, drooled over a couple les Paul's. always a little frustrated, fooling around looking for that certain sound . every time I'd go back to my teli , it's like ahhh ...its been here all the time at home. waiting for me...dummy! It's like fooling around on the best woman you ever had....dummy!
Anyway, went and bought a squire 50's vintage vibe to ease off on my vintage one . it is Awsome! Love the neck pick up that is more usefull than the vintage neck one. you are right ....greatest guitar ever !
It makes me feel good whenever I see the Telecaster getting some love. I really feel that it deserves all the love and appreciation we can give it. Good old Leo Fender hit it out of the stratosphere (pun intended, hehe) when he created the magical instrument that is our beloved Tele.
Until your input jack wears out the wooden retainer and you gotta fix it again and again.
But the tele is getting lot of love for Midwest emo music since looks matter more than functionality
@@0megalul309 Well. yeah, there's that little thing with the jack, but it's a fantastic instrument other than that. I mean it also digs into your ribs because of the shape.... but it sounds amazing and it's super versatile. LOL
@@rylieriley here a Telecaster lover....the little issue with the jack, well, nothin' that can't be fixed, and easy and quick job....the ribs???....well, i'm still alive......this year, 2022, it is the Telecaster birthday, 70th anniversary....and the 60th anniversary of the release of love me do, the first official release of the beatles...this is the year...greetings from south queensland, Aus....
@@mytelecasterworld3336 I love Telecasters! My number one, go-to guitar is a Tele Custom. I was sort of joking about the rib thing (LOL). Thanks for your comment, I enjoyed it.
@@rylieriley I never had a problem with the ribs but the forearm is a different story.
Minimalist designs that have never been improved upon: the bicycle (2 circles + 2 triangles); Chuck Taylor All-Star shoes (canvas + rubber), and the Telecaster (slab + neck + strings). The Tele is perfectly imperfect.
@@0megalul309 put a Les Paul or oval plate on the guitar when the original messes up.
All those things have been drastically improved upon.
@@estebanb7166 No, not really. Perhaps some material improvements have come along, but the basic minimalist designs, which was his statement, haven’t changed.
The violin, cello etc
Brought to you by Converse.
I always certainly thought I was a Strat guy. A month back ordered my first Fender Tele and weeks later sold my strats, The Tele I got fit my needs now. You are right when you said you gotta give a chance to the telecaster at least once in your life! Game changer in the past and nowadays as well!
1975, I was studying and saving hard as a 14 year old could. it was time. “Hey kid, how about this -new this, and new that ?” Answer: How about that used Tele on the wall, the blond one ? “That’s the bass teacher’s, he needs to sell, its a ‘68 and costs as much as This new whatever next to it ?” Answer, “is it original ?” “Yeah kid, What’s a 14 year old kid going to do with that ?” My guitar teacher emerges from his teaching room - , “Tear your ass off is what hell do with that “........ Me, at 14 “I’ll take it.”
I’m approaching 60 years old now. I still have it - It remains THE standout amongst many of what I own. Smith is correct in this video, as was my beloved guitar teacher - The Tele is a driver.......and will enable you to tear someone’s ass off through their ears........in whatever genre you wish.The Wabasabi of guitars “perfectly flawed”.
Very Soon, it will be time to let it go now. Hopefully to another promising, hard working, appreciative young person.........The music never stops.........nor should it......
Wabasabi
I could could take it off your hands. I'm 17 and wanting to learn the guitar. I'm already learning bass keys and I'm pretty good at drums. Let me know!
Man that’s a hell of a story. I bet that Tele looks and sounds even cooler now with all those miles on it. Thanks for sharing!
@@andrewschmal6004 When he passes on. Show respect.
Alas I come to you, great in spirit, poverty of funds. Looking for that spiritual Gandalf of Fender, so that I may carry the torch, knowing that it will never belong to me, but a younger soul. We are all but links in 5e great chain
how about write your own paper and stop the silly preaching about Telecasters ?
1:13 Every single amp, guitar, and pickup review since the dawn of RUclips say this. "If I roll the volume up, it breaks up and if I roll the volume down, it cleans up." As if it's unique to that instrument or amp.
first thing I thought when i heard that
C'mon guys, don't be so superficial and grumpy. I have like 8 different guitars and each one reacts in its own way, alter the dinamics, and none like that Tele. Weaks the signal, changes the dinamycs, bright and twang. It changes, depending of the pickups type, state, values, height, age and the same for pots, not the same range... apart from pedals and amps....and so on, not so minimal differences becomes huge when you are the player.
Don't forget every overdrive pedal too
so true man
Lol
It took me over 20 years of playing humbucker metal guitars to discover the secrets and charme of a tele. I'm planning a partscaster from Warmoth right now and I'm absolutely stoked about it!
I have a Squier Tele and I love it. So much versatility for such a simple instrument.
Jesus, there are seemingly a million and one absolutely amazing guitar players! Everywhere I turn are jaw-droppingly great guitarists. This dude rocks.
After 30 years of playing guitar I bought my first ever Tele.....this thing is AMAZING!!!! Does everything from metal to blues and then has its own unique sound, why did it take me so long!!!!
i asked myself the same. played strat and 335 for 30+ years, then bought the first tele. then a second, then a third. now the strat and 335 are just my collectors items lol
The telly has a pedigree, lots of guitars haven’t..the telly has millions of followers for a reason.
I think there’ll be a 2051 century edition telly..caster.its that good..lets start to design that model..a model fit for its next century…
A flying Vee maybe with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and son et lumiere and camera to capture the rapture of the mosh pit…
Isn't it uncomfortable? I have never played a Tele but it looks uncomfortable.
@@gururajchadaga yes but it’s part of the charm. It’s just something that can’t be explained. When I was young I hated Telecaster’s they just grow on you with time. Just wish I had accepted how good they are when I was younger.
Totally agree! Yes I will switch between my Teles, my Strats, and my Jazzmaster once in a while, but if I was restricted to one guitar it would be a Telecaster.
The Telecaster is the AK-47 of guitars
Well put
These stays in tune better than my acoustic...literally, and they great for midwest emo
you right there.
@@hathaway.1166 the only reason for the tele , midwest emo and nothing else
@@hathaway.1166 why i got one man
I have played acoustic for 10 years, and just got my first Tele this weekend. Love at first strum! Fender broke the mold when they made this guitar.
There is something utterly captivating about the basic simplicity, ergonomic ruggedness, and spine tingling sonic experience of a Telecaster. Once you become hooked on one, the relationship is similar the bond of a cowboy to his horse.
What an amazing demo for the Telecaster guitar - add the versatility of the guitar and the versatility of the player - you can't go far wrong. Well done Josh !
I started with a strat and I love it but was always drawn to the tele sound, looks and history...it blows my mind how such a simple guitar can do so much.
At 66 I paused 55 years of drum percussion, always wanted a Telecaster
On stage in the back, I fell in love with many gifted guitarists, Chewy, ( Joe) was my best lead,
" Silas, Green" Florida space coast, well he played them all but showed me the beauty of the Telecaster.
Into it month 2 AMAZING
He really is just an absolutely outstanding player, wonderful stuff.
that jazz part tho
I saved my pennies and bought a new Tele in 1967. I began playing in bar bands. It's now 55 years later and I still play in bar bands and I still play Teles. They are the perfect guitar for me and my music.
I have two Player Series and one old Standard. The six saddle bridge makes them even more great. I have also two Strats but I always come back to the Telecasters because they are easier to handle. The simple set up has all I need.
I got a Tele 20 years into playing and wish I started with it. I haven’t looked back since. I used to think they were ugly and didn’t get it. Now, I love it. I truly does it all.
I love me a telecaster, but my go to is a LP w/ P90s. I just love the spank on the mids and the sound of the rhythm position.
This guy is such a monster player. Unbelievably good.
So many people pick up a tele and leave the knobs on ten and say, "Oh. That's what this guitar sounds like." The tele has some of the most responsive controls I've ever heard. I still think the bridge pickup with the tone rolled off slightly and some strong overdrive thrown on is one of my favorite sounds in the guitar world.
Use your knobs, people!
I also think the tele neck pup is one of the most underappreciated sounds in the industry. So smooth all the time.
OK! I'll use my knob. 😜
Totally, gain it up and roll it back. And I love the neck pickup on mine. Agree.
Can't agree with you more! Strat guy through and through for nearly 4 decades who always had volume at 10 and on a whim bought a Chinese Modern Player Thinline 3yrs ago which I had a love hate relationship with, until I got it set up by a pro and started experimenting with the volume and tone knobs and overdrive nuances on the Vox. Wowsers!!!! SO responsive! I knew something was up when the guitar builder who did the set up said he was a straight Tele guy who only played the neck pick-up told me he'd buy it from me if ever I sold. Agree, people are missing the point about the responsiveness this guitar has to slight volume and tonal adjustments.
God bless Leo Fender for bringing [us] the Telecaster. Thanks, Josh Smith, for showcasing what is the most powerful, expressive and versatile electric guitar ever created. Cheers!
Well stated, and well played! I still lust for a Les Paul with P-90s, not to mention other Gibsons that may have humbuckers, but Mr. Smith is correct in asserting that no other solid body electric does so many things so well.
Been at it for 50 years. Started playing rock and play mostly bebop today on a D'Angelico New Yorker. Over the years I've owned most guitars from a Strat to Les Pauls, 335, etc. For whatever reason I just never even tried a Telecaster because I thought it was mainly for playing country music and it looked a little funny to me. Last week I finally purchased one for kicks because a number of my favorite guitarists play them on occasion. Man, I was missing out all these years. Great playing by the way.
1st thing I noticed when I got mine is how it induces nuances in the playing. There is so much contrast between a heavy and a light touch in this guitar, it actually made me a better guitarist, even if I'm still not good :) what a pleasure anyway
Absolute guitar beginner (outside of a very basic understanding of fretboard logic from the ukulele) and learning on a Squire Tele has been a blast but that dynamic range of sound is also what makes it feel very unforgiving of any little mistake. Like I'm skipping the training wheels or something. Not that I dislike that. It reminds me of when I was an art student and how the years i made the most progress in terms of accuracy and confidence was when i stored away my erasers and only drew in ink.
My favorite bit of technique I've picked up from a Jazz Tele player on youtube: using middle position and getting a twangy-er or mellower sound based on how close you pick to either the bridge or neck pickup.
@@DixyRae You should try an Esquire. One pickup, three position switch. The magic comes from where and how you hit the string. I own 3 Teles and an Esquire, the Esquire made me the player I am.
Josh...you are killing it.
I agree! Simple Yet Complex in it's ability to Play so many different styles!
First time hearing this dude. Speechless. Dude can pick.
Agree! Use my G&L ASAT ( Tele) for everything - blues, jazz, rock, and even metal. Can’t go wrong it.
It's OK...We won't hold it against Ya !!!!!! just kidding......
I was contemplating which guitar to buy. I had the 62 mij model in my reverb cart. I was watching this video… looks really similar. Same colors. So… I bought it while watching. Thanks for your video. It just got me a dream guitar just from watching. Keep making these. Videos.
Great playing josh. Truly a tele is versatile. After watching John 5 videos and this one you make a great point. Famous players that used a tele:
Prince
Bruce Springsteen
Keith Richards
Jimmy Page
Brad Paisley. That's all the people that I can think of.
I ALMOST CHANGED THE CHANNEL TILL I SAW IT WAS YOU. GREAT OPINION AND YOU ARE ONE HELL OF A PLAYER.
Great demo video and great picking. The Tele has everything you need and nothing you don't. It's simplicity and solid design are it's strong points. I'm a bassist and feel the same exact way about the Precision bass. Is it the best bass? Who knows but it will solidly cover any gig you ask it to. Another design Leo got right.
My favorite bass is, weirdly enough, the Univox Hi-Flyer. I got one in a horse-trade years ago - it was in a Walmart sack when I got it, so as you can guess, it needed a lot of love to get it up and running. The kid I got it from had stripped the body and tried to spray clear poly on it, but he let it dry for about 10 minutes before he started handling it, so it was full of fingerprints and cat hair and whatnot. I refinished the body in antique gold. The bridge pickup that still worked kicked 11.75 ohms(!), and I built another pickup for the neck position at a more sedate 6.5 ohms. I wired it up like a jazz bass with a coil-cut for the bridge pickup where the selector used to be. Totally shielded the cavity with metal tape. You can plug that thing in under the buzziest of fluorescent lighting and it will make no sound whatsoever - until you hit a string.
So true Josh.
Been a Tele guy forever.
Great seeing you my friend.
I honestly feel he’s the modern day SRV. so much feeling in every single note . I’m blown away, and I play jazz
Well done Josh! You prove that there is no such thing as a pure 'jazz' guitar, wether its a solid or hollowbody guitar. The STYLE of the mujsic is in the PLAYER.
I understand the love for a telecaster. I have a 87 MIJ squier tele. I love it. It’s hard for me to own another guitar because the necks don’t feel like my tele. Cheers.
Had a five-way switch put in mine, and now it can even get pretty close to those positions 2 and 4 of a Strat. VERY versatile guitars.
Great video. Great guitar. Josh is a monster player. Always awesome to see him play and demo anything
I'm a Teleholic. I put in the 3rd pickup for all the strat tones and a switch for the front back pickup tone. The more chips I get the more I love it! I've got the see through butterscotch and play it through a bordeaux 65 Princeton reissue - and oh delicious, delicios!!! I know, I got it bad:)
The sound of a Fender Tele inspires you to learn/write/play a song as you hear it in so many hit songs.
Yes the Telecaster has always been in my little guitar arsenal. At one point it was my only guitar. My goes Telecaster goes to every gig, rehearsal, jam etc. Leo Fender got it right the first time - Genius!
I just think they’re aesthetically beautiful with a simple design.
I been playing for 3 months on an starter kit and today is the day i go buy my new tele so excited
Always loved the rigid neck, way forgiving in all styles. Would be the one to keep if I had to pick one. Love the quick range of sounds.
Thank you, Josh. Awsome as ever. ❤
The way this guy slides effortless through styles makes me want to throw away all my guitars
😂😂😂😂😂😂
It should make you want to practice 🤪
couldn't have said it better myself 😂
Monotone Lol it should make you get a Tele. He’s a great player tho
This dude is fucking amazing.
My dream guitar. Hopefully I will own one one fine day.
Albert Collins, the Ice Man, made me a fan of that guitar.
When I started playing guitar 30 years ago, I really did not like the Telecaster at all. But today, while I consider myself a Strat guy, I am more an more attracted to the simple design of the Telecaster.
I swear I could write the same thing...been playing since the late '80s, never liked the Tele and thought it was always too "ice-picky". I've been a Strat guy the whole time, started adding more guitars for tonal reasons (Gretsches for my Rockabilly tones), a few LPs for tone and the love of the full neck. Even a Gibson Firebird but still no Tele. Well, I can't justify spending $1,800 on one when so many tell me I can get a quality model in the $600 - $850 range but I have really heard specific tones played clean that I am looking for that only a Tele, or some Tele clones, can deliver......especially that "bluesy chime" of just the neck pickup.
I've rocked with Telecasters for 55 years now!
It’s true, the Tele is the only guitar I’ve come across that is competent in most genres, just with stock pickups and gets better depending on how you want to mod it. The best mass produced all round, pound for pound electric guitar ever designed imo.
You are 1000% right about everything you said! The only thing a person needs to do is pick the right amp for their sound, because its limitless.
"like you can play jazz with this guitar" ...well he can
Lol. Well put
Hahaha yup
Right. Not something I can do!
Yeah
Patrón w
Wonderful playing. Am new to the Tele, but you made me shut my laptop and pick up the guitar for an hour - thanks for that. It's an amazing instrument. It's unforgiving in its simplicity but rewarding beyond measure in its clarity. When I pick up my Strat afterwards, I play that so much better thanks to Tele time.
You make everything with strings sound just great. So tele or strat or even gibson is no Mach for you. You are just great 👍
Such a great video! Thanks for your overview and modeling Josh!
Jimmy Page played a Tele in Led Zeppelin's first album even though he is famous for the Les Paul. Tele's are a top 5 guitar to own for sure.
He only really switched to LP cause his Tele broke. The Stairway solo is a Tele
@@shanewalton8888 Not really, the Tele was still ok when he made the switch to the LP Standard in early May 1969. Page hd been thinking about doing the move but was "looking for a really good one" until he bought Joe Walsh's.
And unfortunately for every budding guitarist who saw the iconic pics of him with his LP (like me) went and bought one ..and then played it and said ..”wait , that doesn’t sound right..it’s all woofy and muddy and weighs a ton”
And eventually after much money spent discovered the Tele sounds more like Jimmy Page ...well except for heartbreaker mainly 😄🤷🏻♂️
@fattphilosopher
I believe he played an LP live mostly cos of the hum cancelling pups and the higher signal into the wall of amp stacks.🤓
no pa’s in those days it was all raw power and big volume out to the audience..I wonder if he has tinnitus like the other guitar hero’s of the day?
Plus it looked cool as f#ck hanging down by his knees 😄😎
Iago B that may be but Joe Walsh uses a Tele on the Hotel California solo and not surprisingly Billy Gibbons uses a Tele on his Netflix special. They eventually convert.
Love, love your enthusiasm for the Telecaster
Telecasters really do have a place in every genre..Josh is right! 🤘🔥
I have a telecaster made in japan and for me is a magic guitar, I like to thing telecaster guitars are like axes, like plug and play instruments, useful in every genre, mine has an amazing country rock tone but also a very sweet and bluesy upper pickup, such a gem.
I think the tele fits that role well but specifically the early to mid 60s teles. A close second for me is a good 335. Between those two guitars, you have a lot of ground covered.
The player is the sound people. Nice chops, Josh Smith !
I dig how the automatic subtitling says "applause" when he plays some slick lick.
I love the simplicity of a Tele, excellent playing by the way.
Josh is right, you can do damn near anything with a tele. It is truly a wonderful guitar to have in the arsenal. It also makes a good skull crushing home defense weapon.
Out of all my Telly type guitars the one I love the very most is my Larry Carlson T7 with a Roasted Maple 🍁 neck! Great pickups, thick frets and practically plays itself 😊
Theres something about the neck and string tension as well on the tele, it's perfect. I can do things with much more ease on a tele. I have an sg, strat and a lp. The tele is my go to guitar now , it's just so unique and perfect and so simple. Uncomplicated so I can focus on playing , Leo fender got it right and here we are.
same here man. I didnt realize how much I would love a maple neck as well (my tele has a maple glossy fretboard and it was the first time I had tried anything different than rosewood) my fingernails would tend to dig into the rosewood grain and it would distract me sometimes where my glossy smooth maple fretboard does not give this problem and I can focus with more confidence in my playing. Teles rock
I love the telecaster because of its versatility; it can play literally any genre of music perfectly and the look of it. It’s so..basic, yet badass. It doesn’t have the flashiness of a les Paul or Stratocaster, it’s raw as hell. It’s my favorite guitar
It's notable how the simplest guitar, with the fewest pickups and controls is also the most versatile
I’ve always been a Les Paul guy but I recently bought a Fender Tele(2019 Blue Cloud Rarities Edition) and it is really amazing! Granted I won’t get rid of my les Paul’s but I will definitely be playing mt Tela a whole lot!
I "picked one up" around 1985, bought it off some kid for $200 bucks. It's the most amazing guitar I've ever played, when it's plugged in it starts to sing when I get within ten feet of it, and I swear that playing it feels like a religious experience. In fact, it so moved me that I began wondering about it's provenance. I took it apart and dated every single piece of it - electrics, hardware - everything that had a serial number on it. Turned out, much to my surprise and absolute joy, that it's an all original 1959 Tele. I still have it and, despite being slightly tempted to cash in on it over the years, I will never part with it.
Awesome video. Amazing playing. You can see your love for the instrument so clearly. I have a 60th anniversary on layaway right now at my local music shop here on Long Island. Go Yankees!
Josh is a monster ,great guitar player
I bought my 1st tele a few months back. Just like u I was amazed at how many different things this guitar does so well. I've played guitar since I was 5. I'm 43 now & this is the 1st time I've ever sat down & tried to play the electric guitar. The whole reason I bought a tele was b/c I heard Jeff Beck say that a tele is the only guitar that won't hide your playing. He sd the tele is the 1 guitar that requires you to up your game b/c it will show u each & every way your playing is lacking. I have to say that I am so glad I got it. I love this thing! Best guitar ever! No lie!
I got my 67' Tele used in around !974 and I will never sell it. £180 well spent.1000's of gig later still going strong and signed by Steve Cropper :)
I only use Tele's for the same reason Josh made this video. Versatility is required in my playing repertoire as a cover guitarist. Yes, a 345/355 is amazing, LP Junior with P90, etc, etc. But I need one guitar or 3 in my case using different tunings, that can be shape-shifted to sound like other guitars with some pedals and tone/pick-up adjustments very quickly...And for me, my Tele's fills the need...👍🎸🎼🎵🎶
I have a rock, it is amazing.
It’s hard, dirty and uncomfortable but it can do everything.
It useful as a hammer, it can knock out an adversary, bounce across the water and I can even play a beat with it on a tree log.
If you chip it just right it can work as a screwdriver or even a knife.
There’s no other rock quite like this one!
I just joined the tele family with an American Performer. My god...I’ve fallen in love. A joy every time I pick it up.
100% Agree. I'm the AP owner since november 2019 and have also fallen in love. Best wishes.
I’m pretty sure my tele is broken, it doesn’t sound like that when I play
You just need to buy a more expensive tele and then you'll be able to play like this
Not for me neither..it’s broken it’s broken 😂😂
Me too bruh
you need one that weighs 6lbs pickups working properly 0.012" relief treble string height at the 12th 1/8th " Bass 3/32" Pickup Height both pickups when string is depressed on last fret Treble side 1/8" Bass side 3/32" 9- 46 strings all these settings are vital to the correct working of our beloved telecaster. Good luck.
BEST REPLY EVER.......YOU MAKE PEOPLE SMILE....and Laugh..............
I’ve purchased many different guitars over the years and THIS is the one I’ve settled on.
Love it!
Pretty sure he could make a potato with a neck sound great.
potatoes are no good for Jazz!!!
Hahaha! J A Z Z - T A T E R!!
TATERCASTER!
Zucchini
What your saying is very true. It is not about the guitar, but the hours of practice you put in your craft.
Love the Telecaster, and Josh Smith is a monster guitar player
Just got mine an i feel the magic.
What he says in the first minute ..truer words never spoken 👌
I've got 5 Guitars, 1SG,2 Strats,1Jazzmaster and 1 Tele,by far the Tele is the funnest to play Even with Slide,it loves slide.I will be getting at least 1 or 2 more Teles in the future,just love them and I'm aStrat guy originally.If I had only 1 guitar it would be the Tele for sure
I even checked if I was not watching the video on a faster speed. The flow on that playing!
Sometimes the original is the best.
bought my first electric, a telecaster a few days ago and waiting for it to ship, really cant wait to try it out.
I don't even play guitar but this makes me want a Tele.
Yep I love my Tele. Out of all the guitars that I've owned, it can truly cover any sound.