I was given a Mexican Tele that was in pretty bad shape when I was like 13 , my first guitar. I fixed it up and now I'm almost 30 still playing it and it sounds amazing, I'll never get rid of it.
Ive been playing for 45 years, and I had all kinds of guitars. Now I only use Mexican Fenders, as they are awesome, and I can get atleast 2 for the price of 1 American version. and I find no difference, and if you see a difference - change that part (pickup, hardware, etc) still way ahead.
I know this comment section is old but, in 1998 i was 16 and i worked all summer long at a pilot truck stop and saved till i reached 700$. Dad asked me if i wanted a car or do i still want that candy apple red telly, guess what, i got the telly. I still have it to, been jamming it for 20years! I lov it
@BW MadDog [retired] Tele is it's own intrument. There are songs I would rather use a Tele for and songs I would rather use a Strat for, but they are both great in their own right. The fact that Tele is still in production and widely used 70 years after it's introduction as the first commercially successful solid body electric speaks volumes.
@BW MadDog [retired] I think you can change minute things like shave the heel for better access, upgraded tuners/bridge but the design itself is so idiot proof. Whether it's a $60 beginner guitar from amazon or something from Fender CS/Suhr/etc.
The Tele is the ultimate "it grows on you" guitar. We all dislike its looks and go for the Les Pauls and the Stratocasters. Then we realize how awesome it is... the tones, the versatility, the indestructibility. And actually it looks very cool, too, in its own understated way.
You nailed it it John. I got my first first Tele (American Series in 2003) for my 60th birthday .... my wife bought it! I have a Strat, Epi Sheraton2, Ibanez Ar300, and a "63 Fender L series Jazzmaster. I'm still in love with my Tele for the comfort, versatility of my Tele .............. I rest my case (I'm 74 years young now & still playing in bands).
Tim Castle Find a Squire 51.Its aStrat body with a Tele neck.Inexpensive and aint nothin' wrong with it.(Ok,you could give it the usual Squire upgrades) Idont know the difference between a Tele neck or Strat neck myself.
I am a kick in the arse off being 60 years old. I have played in bands ( or rather, I have fronted bands as a singer songwriter ) for the best part of 40 odd years. I am no great guitar player,, yet I am a huge guitar enthusiast. I have owned lots of guitars over the years and, although Telecasters have always been my personal favourites ( due to the versatility you so perfectly demonstrated John ) I have only just bought my first Tele style guitar. I hadn't a large budget so, like I always do, I did my research and I could not get past the Harley Benton TE52-NA for its price to quality ratio - so I ordered one - and at just £129 ( well actually, i went for a package which included a lovely, well padded gig bag and an extra set of strings, for just £153 ) Thomann delivered my guitar in just 5 days ( including weekend days ) I must say, I am absolutely blown away by this guitar. I have owned Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Epiphone, Gretsch, Burns, Godin, Eastman, Yamaha, Aria guitars ( and a few more ) but none have been any better than this beauty. Ok, some of them have more refined finishes but each and every guitar is basically a different piece of wood and all woods have their own personality ( even if they come from the same species ) I don't know ? Maybe I just hit real lucky with my Harley Benton but it is absolutely outstanding in every way. The neck is a dream. The Roswell pickups are sensational ( I had considered an upgrade but I am not touching them - they are as good as some of my band members expensive Telecasters ) even the tuners are fine ( 'though I may put some locking tuners on it at some stage ) ... sorry for rambling on John but I totally concur brother : the Telecaster is my favourite guitar ! x
A Telecaster will , always bring you home ! And even after 70 Years , of experience it's a Master in Music ! And John Robson , will make it Complete ....Thanks Again . People will like it ! 💕💕💕
I wish I hadn't watched this. I've been going back and forth on trying to justify another guitar and this made me decide to pull the trigger for a tele. I've owned 2 over the years and got rid of them for not good reasons but they're always in the back of my mind. John is right about the Tele.
Nice video. Entertaining. I have four teles myself. I love them. If I could only play one guitar, it would be a strat because that guitar gives me a couple more options. But if I couldn't have the strat it would be the tele hands down. FYI: Leo was not a guitar player or a designer. He was trained as an engineer. That's why his designs solved just about all of the problems associated with electric guitars because that was his mindset from the start.
Count me in there as well. Every time I'm having trouble getting what I want out of all of my other guitars, I know my Teles won't let me down. And they'll do anything. You can play anything on a Tele.
It's the treble pass capacitor on a Tele volume control that adds to the versatility, it keeps that top end pinging through when you back of the volume. As I never used to tone control on my Tele (which has been mine for forty years this year) I replaced it with a rotary switch with which I can bring in three different value capacitors - the standard one and two others of higher values for varying degrees of pass which let middle as well as top through, plus an option bypassing them all. The space between the two knobs also now has two little switches, one of which puts the pickups out of phase, and the other gives a single coil sound to the humbucker that was already in the neck position when I bought it. Three bits of customisation, and no holes drilled in the wood!
Just bought a Squier Affinity Tele and love it. You are so right about it being so versatile. I was amazed how it can go from nice sparkling cleans to serious dirty with just three controls. Awesome playing man, thanks for the vid.
As I was looking for pickups here in RUclips, I accidentally stumbled on this video.and now I appreciate my SX telecaster which my wife bought me..😊 Thanks man..I subscribed on your channel.. Keep safe..👌🤟
I couldn't look at a Tele without thinking....what was Leo thinking!? But then it slowly drew me in. I just got my new Squier Tele August 21, 2020. I now love how it looks and works :)
Took me 40 years( and a bunch of guitars ) before I got my first telecaster ( Squier 50's classic vibe ) and I could kick myself in the a** for waiting so long... what a great guitar. This video is spot on, and btw, the Squier is killer at 400 U.S. dollars, not sure I'll need anything else.
Ended up buying an american professional tele. I just wanted a simple guitar with a hard tail and when I played it there was something special about it even compared to the professional/elite strats I played.
A family friend still has the Fender Telecaster he bought new in 1963, it was gigged for the best part of 50 years, built to do a job and built to last, I on the other hand only own one guitar and that is a Squier Affinity Telecaster, it's getting on for 10 years old and looking honestly road worn, in the time I've owned it I've had expensive guitars that I thought I liked at the time but just couldn't get attached to so sold on, the Telecaster stays because I love it.
I loved this video. I had been playing acoustic for years and decided to buy an electric on a whim one day when I happened upon a stand set up at a musical event. I hadn't the faintest clue on what I wanted. The shop was selling "Vintage" guitars, and I chose a Tele because the Strat looked like it had too many features it would take me years to master. I still haven't mastered my Tele, but you make me think I made the best choice at least.
Hi from Strayya (thats Australia in english). My first Tele is a 2014 MIM 52 reissue road worn bought for my 60th birthday. Since then I’ve added a Squire thinline with wide range humbuckers and a Squire Tele with P90s. Stunningly good guitars for the money.
I've got 9 guitars including a Fender USA Strat Plus, Hamer Artist (double cutaway LP), Gibson Flying V and Fender Mex Deluxe Tele (3 pickups). The Tele is in my hands most of the time.
Love your videos , I agree 100 % with your Tele views ! I have been playing guitar since 1963 , I remember the first time I heard a Tele live . I was in a high school talent show , and one of the lunch ladies sang a tune . There was an old guy playing guitar for her. I was 15 years old , thought I was doing pretty good , with a rig that was pro . The guy playing guitar for the lunch lady had a old tweed champ and a blackguard , butterscotch Tele . His rig was already old , and pretty beat up , but it sounded like heaven . There is nothing like a Fender Guitar being played thru a Fender tube amp ! I was a lot more years before I bought a Tele , because in those days it was not cool to be old fashioned . Now I'm old , and have owned so many guitars , I still play every day , and although I own about 15 guitars , I always have at least 2 Teles , and 3 Fender amps . I love Strats , but hands down the most versitle guitar in the world is a Fender Telecaster , and I will argue that with anybody . After 56 years of playing guitar , I know what I like !!
you ve convinced me ! - i ve been out and bought a korean squier Telecaster on gumtree, bought some kluson vintage tuners and tonerider pickups - to work now to put it all together - total cost about £260! thx for the video
John, I find this analogy useful when explaining an idea related to your #3 point: You’re learning golf, but can only afford 3 clubs. A 5W, 7i and a wedge (for long, medium and short shots, respectively). Q: What will happen after 3 years of playing those clubs? A: You will be an expert in manipulating your swing to get the desired distance, height and curve out of those 3 clubs. You’ve been forced to develop and rely on your skills to milk those 3 clubs for all they have to offer. Will your rich mate with 14 clubs be under the same pressure to learn such skills? No. Will your mate ever be as good as you? Probably not. The “14 clubs” here are off course a stand-in for timbre and wiring variations from knobs, switches and pedals, vs the “3 clubs” (pickup positions on a Tele). You can off course take that concept a stage further with a Gordon Smith GS1 or a LP Junior - there you have only one club. I’m not a golfer, and neither are most people I talk to, but most non-golfers will know enough about golf for the analogy to be effective.
From the Fender camp, Tele style guitars are my favorite. From the Gibson Camp, SG style guitars are my favorite. Both are basically just slabs of wood with a neck, strings and some electronics thrown in (well, maybe a bridge and tailpiece, as well 😉). Neither one is what I would call "fancy", but they both get the job done and they do it extremely well. If I could only have one guitar, it would be a Tele, but with a Tele and a humbucker equipped SG, I could basically play anything.
I agree 100% but on two points, for me, No tummy cut, body sticks into my ribs and, that damned stoopit ash tray bridge I kept hitting with the pick. I sorted the ash tray on my G & L, simple job. Hacksaw, file, emery paper, neat! No more striking the bridge instead of strings and It makes muting, er, cleaner. Making a tummy cut not poss' as it's a channeled body and I'd end up cutting into the hollow. Feel a solid classic vibe coming on, like the man says, Tele's are great for modifying. Nice video John...
Floatlane I know what you mean about the lack of contours. A strat feels more "fitted" against the forearm & ribcage. Having said that, I don't find a tele UNCOMFORTABLE, it's just that a strat is more comfortable. A bit like the difference between Doc Marten boots & a pair of slippers 😀
What You said is spot on well done mate! I have have a American standard strat and many others My telly is my go to guitar if I’m filling in for a band I’ve never worked with as it does it all very well This is great information for any one serious about guitar.
Based on the modest title, I assumed this video would be, well, modest. I was wrong. As you Brits like to say, this video is "brilliant." Your demonstration of the instrument's versatility was impressive (ie your inspired playing) and startling ( I've played teles for years and hand no idea!). Thanks for this. And who are the 38 clowns who gave this thumbs down?
Great representation! Being of the shreddy persuasion, I always stayed clear of these because "Bruce Springsteen played one". Thought it was funny looking, simplistic, etc. A friend of mine bought me a Fender Baja Telecaster for a birthday gift & after a proper intonation & a bit of fixing up, I will never leave it! Proudly head over heels. 😃❤️
i agree with you totally , spent the last 3 years messing around on gibson and various p90 /humbucker guitars [thought i needed a shorter scale] just back to tele, home again !
Yeah... there's something comforting about picking up a tele, hitting an open E chord & just feeling it resonate. Every time I pick mine up I always think "why do I ever play anything else?"
Bought one for about 120 bucks new and put 120 into the electronics and about a half hour of time into the setup. Just sold my strat because I don’t play it all that much now. The one you didn’t cover is the Thinline model which is a monster in its own right.
alexandru onofrei Always thought the headstocks were kind of funny looking too, but I eventually just learned to live with it. Goofy looking, but at least it stays in tune pretty good. 😂
Great video, the tele in my opinion , is truly, the most versatile, electric guitar that there is, you won't find to many Les Paul ,s SG,s or 335,s in country music, but your sure going to see a whole lot of telecasters in rock and every other kind of music!
Just recieved an offer of a gibson les paul traditional 2017 (£2300) in mint condition for my 2017 (£1390) pro tele and just couldnt do it. I love the les paul tone but the gritty tone of a tele i just adore too much!
That was really good and great fun. I would, however, like to see you playing a Tele dressed as the semi decomposed Big Bird. Now that would be a design classic. Cheers JR!
Love this. I tried a friend's Tele recently and fell in love with it (been playing a Strat) and now I'm trying to find the right Tele for me. You've shown that I don't need humbuckers to play metal!
An instrument loved by Keith Richards through to Andy Summers. Two very different and famous rock guitarists! There is a huge list of great Tele players.
Very nice Rob🔝You Should write a Book about it. The Leo Fender story about how and why he had the ideas for this guitar and the strat also is amazing. Last week i odered a Squier Affinty Tele and it is amazing,and its my first Tele that i had for years after i lost my collection years ago. Somehow i tuned it full step low and puttin a capo on the 4. fret and tuned it then with the capo on in Full step up and it sounds exactly like this style》 Albert Collins...Yeah phantastic...(Im a huge Blues Fan and i decided to dedicate different guitars to my idols of the blues and there different style)Anyway this will not be my last tele😉 Greeting to the UK🇬🇧 😎✌ ps 》 You are a great guitarplayer 🔝
half decomposed big bird from sesame street.. hahaha! I love ya John Robson! I got me a tele copy cause of you. SAwtooth Surf green. INSTALLED A SIX SADDLE BRIDGE AND ROLLER STRANG TREES. DANg caps lock.. gonna do a mod on the muddy neck pup to make it more trebley.
Reason #6: It doesn't look, feel, or sound like a Strat! Not to bash Strats, they're wonderful guitars and many of my favorite guitarists play them, but they just don't do it for me. I have short fingers, and the narrow neck on the Tele just fits me perfectly. It's an incredibly stable platform, so it stays in tune wonderfully. And it can do something Strats simply can't (without rewirirng it anyway), you can select the middle position which runs the bridge and neck pickups together, giving that chimey yet bassy tone. And being a singer/guitarist, the simplicity of the Tele is just perfect for me. When I'm busy singing and playing, and the sound isn't quite right, I can easily fix it without even looking. Easy peasy! And since most other guitarists I've played with use a Strat or a Gibson, the Tele gives me a unique set of tones that don't get lost in the mix with what the other guy is playing, but still blends perfectly. I personally have 10 guitars, all different makes and models. I love them all, and they each have their special purposes, but it's the Tele that I grab 95% of the time because it never fails to put a big grin on my face. And did I mention that the Tele looks dead sexy? Thanks, John, for the great video!
I should have spelled that Tele, my edit button doesn't work. By the way, many people complain that they have to retune their Teles every four or five months.
Your head looks shiny in this one John! You are spot on with this though. I built my own Tele, and it had every right to be a piece of poo, but it’s actually my favourite guitar by some distance. Love the concept of squeezing every last drop from such a simple instrument, and it absolutely does do everything very well...
Great video- informative and entertaining! You've helped me to move off the fence (Strat vs Tele). I still dig the Strats- but I'm starting to Love the Teles!
I've tried lots of Les Pauls and was even given a free Gold Top by Gibson. I sold it a few months later. I think I've owned 4 or 5 Tele's since. Yes, I have a strat and an arch top Epiphone but I PLAY a Telecaster.
Picked up a Standard Tele (made in Mexico) yesterday at the local Guitar Center. I'm taking it through its paces now - it's kind of hard to put down. From what I can tell it does everything this guy says. Lot's of range without adjusting the amp - it's all coming from the guitar. As they say, less is more and with volume, gain and pickup selections, Teles are down to the bare necessities.
I can’t play the strat anymore as the strings are too loose or slinky etc and love my tele deluxe with humbuckers etc but definitely want an original tele with the standard tele setup ! Great guitar !
I have had a harley benton te52 fantastic guitar for the money never owned a tele being a lefty ,my other guitars left to gather dust, love your channel bud✌
Thanks, mate! Yeah... the telecaster is the one guitar I couldn't live without. I used to be a dyed in the wool strat player until I got a tele. It's a ballsier & more versatile sound, I find. Thanks for watching!
For me the beauty is in it's simplicity.
I was given a Mexican Tele that was in pretty bad shape when I was like 13 , my first guitar. I fixed it up and now I'm almost 30 still playing it and it sounds amazing, I'll never get rid of it.
Ive been playing for 45 years, and I had all kinds of guitars. Now I only use Mexican Fenders, as they are awesome, and I can get atleast 2 for the price of 1 American version. and I find no difference, and if you see a difference - change that part (pickup, hardware, etc) still way ahead.
Having (at 66 years of age), gotten my first Telecaster when I was 14, I've been in love with the "Tele" for over 50 years!
I've been in love with the "Tele" for over 50 years. Having (at 66 years of age), gotten my first Telecaster, I am in awe!
I know this comment section is old but, in 1998 i was 16 and i worked all summer long at a pilot truck stop and saved till i reached 700$.
Dad asked me if i wanted a car or do i still want that candy apple red telly, guess what, i got the telly. I still have it to, been jamming it for 20years! I lov it
66!You must remember this band that was around back in the 60s called The Beatles.They were really good.I mean really good
It's just amazing how much Leo Fender got right on his first go round.
@BW MadDog [retired] Tele is it's own intrument. There are songs I would rather use a Tele for and songs I would rather use a Strat for, but they are both great in their own right. The fact that Tele is still in production and widely used 70 years after it's introduction as the first commercially successful solid body electric speaks volumes.
@BW MadDog [retired] I think you can change minute things like shave the heel for better access, upgraded tuners/bridge but the design itself is so idiot proof. Whether it's a $60 beginner guitar from amazon or something from Fender CS/Suhr/etc.
The Tele is the ultimate "it grows on you" guitar. We all dislike its looks and go for the Les Pauls and the Stratocasters. Then we realize how awesome it is... the tones, the versatility, the indestructibility. And actually it looks very cool, too, in its own understated way.
I hate the way they look, I never really wanted one.....then I bought a cheap one, played it...and now I own 3...
I had the same feelin, now i really like mine
I didn't really care for the look until I saw one I wanted and now I love the look.
I just dont like the blocky look of the body and the head on it. But i fucking love the thing i own so meny
I hate telecaster before, then i bought it and never love another Guitar now😂
I felt the same, now I have eight.
You nailed it it John. I got my first first Tele (American Series in 2003) for my 60th birthday .... my wife bought it! I have a Strat, Epi Sheraton2, Ibanez Ar300, and a "63 Fender L series Jazzmaster. I'm still in love with my Tele for the comfort, versatility of my Tele .............. I rest my case (I'm 74 years young now & still playing in bands).
first class vids they are informative,logically cynical and humor filled.go to the top of the class John Robson.
straight to the top
I’m a Strat guy, but have been thinking of purchasing a Tele!
Tim Castle Find a Squire 51.Its aStrat body with a Tele neck.Inexpensive and aint nothin' wrong with it.(Ok,you could give it the usual Squire upgrades) Idont know the difference between a Tele neck or Strat neck myself.
I have one Strat (HSS) and 4 Teles...Tele is easy to go ga-ga over. Try one..you will buy it.
Beware, they are addictive...
They are uniquely different, and both FANTASTIC in their own way. you learn something about your technique, when you switch between them.
Doooooo iiiiiiit
0:30 - reason 1 (price)
1:58 - reason 2 (versatility)
5:46 - reason 3 (simplicity)
6:56 - reason 4 (modifications)
9:02 - reason 5 (design)
I just bought my first Telecaster, after ownin and playingg a variety of different guitar models, and absolutely love it!
The telecaster may be the perfect guitar
I am a kick in the arse off being 60 years old. I have played in bands ( or rather, I have fronted bands as a singer songwriter ) for the best part of 40 odd years. I am no great guitar player,, yet I am a huge guitar enthusiast. I have owned lots of guitars over the years and, although Telecasters have always been my personal favourites ( due to the versatility you so perfectly demonstrated John ) I have only just bought my first Tele style guitar. I hadn't a large budget so, like I always do, I did my research and I could not get past the Harley Benton TE52-NA for its price to quality ratio - so I ordered one - and at just £129 ( well actually, i went for a package which included a lovely, well padded gig bag and an extra set of strings, for just £153 ) Thomann delivered my guitar in just 5 days ( including weekend days ) I must say, I am absolutely blown away by this guitar. I have owned Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Epiphone, Gretsch, Burns, Godin, Eastman, Yamaha, Aria guitars ( and a few more ) but none have been any better than this beauty. Ok, some of them have more refined finishes but each and every guitar is basically a different piece of wood and all woods have their own personality ( even if they come from the same species ) I don't know ? Maybe I just hit real lucky with my Harley Benton but it is absolutely outstanding in every way. The neck is a dream. The Roswell pickups are sensational ( I had considered an upgrade but I am not touching them - they are as good as some of my band members expensive Telecasters ) even the tuners are fine ( 'though I may put some locking tuners on it at some stage ) ... sorry for rambling on John but I totally concur brother : the Telecaster is my favourite guitar ! x
I just bought a Harley Benton tele with filtertron style pickups. It's my first ever tele and probably the best sounding guitar I own right now.
A Telecaster will , always bring you home ! And even after 70 Years , of experience it's a Master in Music ! And John Robson , will make it Complete ....Thanks Again . People will like it ! 💕💕💕
I wish I hadn't watched this. I've been going back and forth on trying to justify another guitar and this made me decide to pull the trigger for a tele. I've owned 2 over the years and got rid of them for not good reasons but they're always in the back of my mind. John is right about the Tele.
I own 2 les pauls and bought a fender player baja tele 4 years ago and LOVE it.. it is simple and versatile and frankly addictive once you get one
I have a Baja too! Talk about some great tones! 😃
And you're right..... they ARE addictive.
Your playing is fantastic, it don't get better than telecasters :)
Try G&L Legacy Strats they are cosmic.
Listen to Brad Paisley he can make it sing .
Well said and well done.
This is one of the best videos that i never saw (lterally)
Nice video. Entertaining. I have four teles myself. I love them. If I could only play one guitar, it would be a strat because that guitar gives me a couple more options. But if I couldn't have the strat it would be the tele hands down. FYI: Leo was not a guitar player or a designer. He was trained as an engineer. That's why his designs solved just about all of the problems associated with electric guitars because that was his mindset from the start.
Dude you have some sweet chops. Telecasters rule.
Count me in there as well. Every time I'm having trouble getting what I want out of all of my other guitars, I know my Teles won't let me down. And they'll do anything. You can play anything on a Tele.
It's the treble pass capacitor on a Tele volume control that adds to the versatility, it keeps that top end pinging through when you back of the volume. As I never used to tone control on my Tele (which has been mine for forty years this year) I replaced it with a rotary switch with which I can bring in three different value capacitors - the standard one and two others of higher values for varying degrees of pass which let middle as well as top through, plus an option bypassing them all.
The space between the two knobs also now has two little switches, one of which puts the pickups out of phase, and the other gives a single coil sound to the humbucker that was already in the neck position when I bought it. Three bits of customisation, and no holes drilled in the wood!
Nice mods 😄
I’m with you! If I could only have one it would be my tele for sure.
Just bought a Squier Affinity Tele and love it. You are so right about it being so versatile. I was amazed how it can go from nice sparkling cleans to serious dirty with just three controls. Awesome playing man, thanks for the vid.
I had a Jay Turner tele I change the bridge pick up I put in a Seymour Duncan... I love the way that guitar plays.
As I was looking for pickups here in RUclips, I accidentally stumbled on this video.and now I appreciate my SX telecaster which my wife bought me..😊
Thanks man..I subscribed on your channel..
Keep safe..👌🤟
I couldn't look at a Tele without thinking....what was Leo thinking!? But then it slowly drew me in. I just got my new Squier Tele August 21, 2020. I now love how it looks and works :)
Took me 40 years( and a bunch of guitars ) before I got my first telecaster ( Squier 50's classic vibe ) and I could kick myself in the a** for waiting so long... what a great guitar. This video is spot on, and btw, the Squier is killer at 400 U.S. dollars, not sure I'll need anything else.
I love my Tele because it plays everything so great. I have Fishman Fluence pickups on mine and sound awesome and no noise to boot.
Ended up buying an american professional tele. I just wanted a simple guitar with a hard tail and when I played it there was something special about it even compared to the professional/elite strats I played.
uwotm8 Nice one, mate! Let me know how you get on with it as a daily player 🎸😁
A family friend still has the Fender Telecaster he bought new in 1963, it was gigged for the best part of 50 years, built to do a job and built to last, I on the other hand only own one guitar and that is a Squier Affinity Telecaster, it's getting on for 10 years old and looking honestly road worn, in the time I've owned it I've had expensive guitars that I thought I liked at the time but just couldn't get attached to so sold on, the Telecaster stays because I love it.
I loved this video. I had been playing acoustic for years and decided to buy an electric on a whim one day when I happened upon a stand set up at a musical event. I hadn't the faintest clue on what I wanted. The shop was selling "Vintage" guitars, and I chose a Tele because the Strat looked like it had too many features it would take me years to master. I still haven't mastered my Tele, but you make me think I made the best choice at least.
John, You're just a monster on guitar ... I enjoy your videos very much ..
Reason nr. 5, you served just hillarious! Thanks for that! And still, there is deep wisdome in that! Greetings!
I love watching John's playing on his videos! He is the coolest chap on the internet!
Hi from Strayya (thats Australia in english). My first Tele is a 2014 MIM 52 reissue road worn bought for my 60th birthday. Since then I’ve added a Squire thinline with wide range humbuckers and a Squire Tele with P90s. Stunningly good guitars for the money.
The two main reasons I personally love the Telecaster; The history of it's players, and the look.
I have a strat. Which i 💘 about 10 mos ago i bought a g & l asat classic tele. Love them both all the guitars i will ever need!!!
I've got 9 guitars including a Fender USA Strat Plus, Hamer Artist (double cutaway LP), Gibson Flying V and Fender Mex Deluxe Tele (3 pickups). The Tele is in my hands most of the time.
Love your videos , I agree 100 % with your Tele views ! I have been playing guitar since 1963 , I remember the first time I heard a Tele live . I was in a high school talent show , and one of the lunch ladies sang a tune . There was an old guy playing guitar for her. I was 15 years old , thought I was doing pretty good , with a rig that was pro . The guy playing guitar for the lunch lady had a old tweed champ and a blackguard , butterscotch Tele . His rig was already old , and pretty beat up , but it sounded like heaven . There is nothing like a Fender Guitar being played thru a Fender tube amp ! I was a lot more years before I bought a Tele , because in those days it was not cool to be old fashioned . Now I'm old , and have owned so many guitars , I still play every day , and although I own about 15 guitars , I always have at least 2 Teles , and 3 Fender amps . I love Strats , but hands down the most versitle guitar in the world is a Fender Telecaster , and I will argue that with anybody . After 56 years of playing guitar , I know what I like !!
Thanks for sharing 😄
you ve convinced me ! - i ve been out and bought a korean squier Telecaster on gumtree, bought some kluson vintage tuners and tonerider pickups - to work now to put it all together - total cost about £260! thx for the video
Tonerider Pickups are the business. Four of mine have Vintage Pluses, won't go back to anything else.
Incredible demo of the versatility of the Tele, and the fact that is was designed to be a workingman's guitar.
John, I find this analogy useful when explaining an idea related to your #3 point:
You’re learning golf, but can only afford 3 clubs. A 5W, 7i and a wedge (for long, medium and short shots, respectively).
Q: What will happen after 3 years of playing those clubs? A: You will be an expert in manipulating your swing to get the desired distance, height and curve out of those 3 clubs. You’ve been forced to develop and rely on your skills to milk those 3 clubs for all they have to offer. Will your rich mate with 14 clubs be under the same pressure to learn such skills? No. Will your mate ever be as good as you? Probably not.
The “14 clubs” here are off course a stand-in for timbre and wiring variations from knobs, switches and pedals, vs the “3 clubs” (pickup positions on a Tele). You can off course take that concept a stage further with a Gordon Smith GS1 or a LP Junior - there you have only one club. I’m not a golfer, and neither are most people I talk to, but most non-golfers will know enough about golf for the analogy to be effective.
You said it all in the same manner a tele exists, simply, directly and purposefully
That metal track was fire my man. I didn't know you were that good muh brotha.
Great video. I always wondered what it was that people see in the Telecaster and this answered my question comprehensively.
I've always said a Telecaster isn't a guitar, it's a love affair.
From the Fender camp, Tele style guitars are my favorite. From the Gibson Camp, SG style guitars are my favorite. Both are basically just slabs of wood with a neck, strings and some electronics thrown in (well, maybe a bridge and tailpiece, as well 😉). Neither one is what I would call "fancy", but they both get the job done and they do it extremely well. If I could only have one guitar, it would be a Tele, but with a Tele and a humbucker equipped SG, I could basically play anything.
GamesandCake I have a telecaster and an sg and one acoustic. No need for anything else, you and I think alike.
The Tele just looks like such a classy instrument
I agree 100% but on two points, for me, No tummy cut, body sticks into my ribs and, that damned stoopit ash tray bridge I kept hitting with the pick.
I sorted the ash tray on my G & L, simple job. Hacksaw, file, emery paper, neat! No more striking the bridge instead of strings and It makes muting, er, cleaner.
Making a tummy cut not poss' as it's a channeled body and I'd end up cutting into the hollow.
Feel a solid classic vibe coming on, like the man says, Tele's are great for modifying.
Nice video John...
Floatlane I know what you mean about the lack of contours. A strat feels more "fitted" against the forearm & ribcage. Having said that, I don't find a tele UNCOMFORTABLE, it's just that a strat is more comfortable. A bit like the difference between Doc Marten boots & a pair of slippers 😀
I totally agree, the last part on who is a designer is the best.I have a black USA maple tele. dreaming about a butterscotch tele. thick finish.
What You said is spot on well done mate! I have have a American standard strat and many others
My telly is my go to guitar if I’m filling in for a band I’ve never worked with as it does it all very well
This is great information for any one serious about guitar.
Thank you-I like Telecasters too.
You're a wild masterful player, you do the Tele justice
Based on the modest title, I assumed this video would be, well, modest. I was wrong. As you Brits like to say, this video is "brilliant." Your demonstration of the instrument's versatility was impressive (ie your inspired playing) and startling ( I've played teles for years and hand no idea!). Thanks for this. And who are the 38 clowns who gave this thumbs down?
loved the video, and love the Telecaster!!!!!
Good job John. I agree with you. Function comes first.
You are an inspiration to us beginners, cheers John.
Very informative and entertaining. I especially enjoyed Lurch doing the countdown.
Great representation! Being of the shreddy persuasion, I always stayed clear of these because "Bruce Springsteen played one". Thought it was funny looking, simplistic, etc. A friend of mine bought me a Fender Baja Telecaster for a birthday gift & after a proper intonation & a bit of fixing up, I will never leave it! Proudly head over heels. 😃❤️
I have made quite a number of partscasters over the past few years and every one of them has been a Telecaster.....i just love the things.
Great breakdown! I always will have a soft spot for the Tele.
Excellent, John. Fun and 'formative.
Great video! Awesome insights like Leo's purpose for the instrument! After some many years and still holds true!
love my squire tele........
Same here
i agree with you totally , spent the last 3 years messing around on gibson and various p90 /humbucker guitars [thought i needed a shorter scale] just back to tele, home again !
Yeah... there's something comforting about picking up a tele, hitting an open E chord & just feeling it resonate. Every time I pick mine up I always think "why do I ever play anything else?"
Bought one for about 120 bucks new and put 120 into the electronics and about a half hour of time into the setup. Just sold my strat because I don’t play it all that much now. The one you didn’t cover is the Thinline model which is a monster in its own right.
Telecaster is probably the greatest design ever. It’s 100% pure function. Total homerun. SG is next for me.
Hello John I really enjoy watching from across the pond.
Great name on your album.
Apart from the headstock it is a briliant guitar :))
alexandru onofrei
Always thought the headstocks were kind of funny looking too, but I eventually just learned to live with it. Goofy looking, but at least it stays in tune pretty good. 😂
freaking awesome demo.
I bought a Sawtooth Telecaster. It was brand new for $140 Canadian that's 82 Quid to you. It's in butterscotch and at that price you can't go wrong.
Great video, the tele in my opinion , is truly, the most versatile, electric guitar that there is, you won't find to many Les Paul ,s SG,s or 335,s in country music, but your sure going to see a whole lot of telecasters in rock and every other kind of music!
Just recieved an offer of a gibson les paul traditional 2017 (£2300) in mint condition for my 2017 (£1390) pro tele and just couldnt do it. I love the les paul tone but the gritty tone of a tele i just adore too much!
That was really good and great fun. I would, however, like to see you playing a Tele dressed as the semi decomposed Big Bird. Now that would be a design classic. Cheers JR!
Great chops!
just bought a origanal 78 telecaster, love the bridge tone
Love this. I tried a friend's Tele recently and fell in love with it (been playing a Strat) and now I'm trying to find the right Tele for me. You've shown that I don't need humbuckers to play metal!
An instrument loved by Keith Richards through to Andy Summers. Two very different and famous rock guitarists! There is a huge list of great Tele players.
John 5 of Marilyn Manson and White Zombie/Rob Zombie uses the tele religiously
Very nice Rob🔝You Should write a Book about it.
The Leo Fender story about how and why he had the ideas for this guitar and the strat also is amazing.
Last week i odered a Squier Affinty Tele and it is amazing,and
its my first Tele that i had for years after i lost my collection years ago.
Somehow i tuned it full step low and puttin a capo on the 4. fret and tuned it then with the capo on in Full step up and it sounds exactly like this style》 Albert Collins...Yeah phantastic...(Im a huge Blues Fan and i decided to dedicate different guitars to my idols of the blues
and there different style)Anyway this will not be my last tele😉
Greeting to the UK🇬🇧
😎✌ ps 》 You are a great guitarplayer 🔝
Best 5 reasons to buy one!
ALWAYS GREAT PLAYING JOHN!!!!!\M/
half decomposed big bird from sesame street.. hahaha! I love ya John Robson! I got me a tele copy cause of you. SAwtooth Surf green. INSTALLED A SIX SADDLE BRIDGE AND ROLLER STRANG TREES. DANg caps lock.. gonna do a mod on the muddy neck pup to make it more trebley.
You have certainly upgraded your background scenery from when this old video was made. Like your videos. Hope you are well.
Cheers mate 👍
Metal, Blues, Jazz, Country it can do the lot..
Reason #6: It doesn't look, feel, or sound like a Strat! Not to bash Strats, they're wonderful guitars and many of my favorite guitarists play them, but they just don't do it for me. I have short fingers, and the narrow neck on the Tele just fits me perfectly. It's an incredibly stable platform, so it stays in tune wonderfully. And it can do something Strats simply can't (without rewirirng it anyway), you can select the middle position which runs the bridge and neck pickups together, giving that chimey yet bassy tone. And being a singer/guitarist, the simplicity of the Tele is just perfect for me. When I'm busy singing and playing, and the sound isn't quite right, I can easily fix it without even looking. Easy peasy! And since most other guitarists I've played with use a Strat or a Gibson, the Tele gives me a unique set of tones that don't get lost in the mix with what the other guy is playing, but still blends perfectly. I personally have 10 guitars, all different makes and models. I love them all, and they each have their special purposes, but it's the Tele that I grab 95% of the time because it never fails to put a big grin on my face. And did I mention that the Tele looks dead sexy? Thanks, John, for the great video!
Weird Old Uncle Kenny Thanks mate 😀 Good point about the sound standing out from the crowd in a world full of strats & Les Pauls 😀
Bang on with all five points.
Well done sir well done!!!
I love my Tely. I bought it about five years ago. Wish I had bought one when I was a teenager in the mid 50's.
I should have spelled that Tele, my edit button doesn't work.
By the way, many people complain that they have to retune their Teles every four or five months.
Your head looks shiny in this one John!
You are spot on with this though. I built my own Tele, and it had every right to be a piece of poo, but it’s actually my favourite guitar by some distance.
Love the concept of squeezing every last drop from such a simple instrument, and it absolutely does do everything very well...
Great video- informative and entertaining! You've helped me to move off the fence (Strat vs Tele). I still dig the Strats- but I'm starting to Love the Teles!
Good one bonny lad, love telecasters, many thanks.
I've tried lots of Les Pauls and was even given a free Gold Top by Gibson. I sold it a few months later. I think I've owned 4 or 5 Tele's since. Yes, I have a strat and an arch top Epiphone but I PLAY a Telecaster.
Picked up a Standard Tele (made in Mexico) yesterday at the local Guitar Center. I'm taking it through its paces now - it's kind of hard to put down. From what I can tell it does everything this guy says. Lot's of range without adjusting the amp - it's all coming from the guitar. As they say, less is more and with volume, gain and pickup selections, Teles are down to the bare necessities.
Love my '17 MIM Telecaster!
I can’t play the strat anymore as the strings are too loose or slinky etc and love my tele deluxe with humbuckers etc but definitely want an original tele with the standard tele setup ! Great guitar !
I own a Mex Teli and it's wonderful, for sure in butterscotch blond, what else
I have had a harley benton te52 fantastic guitar for the money never owned a tele being a lefty ,my other guitars left to gather dust, love your channel bud✌
Thanks, mate! Yeah... the telecaster is the one guitar I couldn't live without. I used to be a dyed in the wool strat player until I got a tele. It's a ballsier & more versatile sound, I find. Thanks for watching!
Awsome video from an awsome studio...