how I got my first Fender...

jhundt · September 7th, 2005, 01:08 PM

A reply to an earlier post (players who switch from Fender to Gibson) got me to thinking how and why I became a Fender player.

In the mid to late 60's when I started, I could have gone either way. I seem to remember that everyone was going Gibson. By the time I was in High School, that's all I saw.

I really liked a group called the MC5 out of Detroit; the one guy had a Mosrite but that was a weird-looking guitar. The other guy had a Strat, and I started fixating on that guitar. I decided that I had to replace my Harmony-by-Heathkit with a real guitar - like that Strat!... but since I was 15 with no money I didn't know how...

One day I bought "Guitar Player", and there was a full-page center-spread ad for the Strat - it was white w/ rosewood and it was beautiful. I hung that picture on my wall and stared at it for 6 months.

Then by chance a shady deal came my way, and I managed to convince my 18-yr-old brother to front $100 bucks so I could buy a like-new 1968 white Strat w/ rosewood neck (w/case) - exactly like in the picture!

Ever since then I have believed whole-heartedly in "visualization", and I frequently hang up little pictures to inspire me.

I still have (and love) that Strat, though back in '80 I picked up a matching '68 Tele that quickly became my #1 go-to guitar.

BTW the shady deal did not involve stolen guitars, and no guitar owners were injured during the process. An insurance company might have taken a small loss, but I suppose they made it back over the years. And I was just a dumb kid who wanted a guitar in the worst way...

ravindave_3600 · September 7th, 2005, 02:27 PM

I was about 15 or 16. Spent all my time listening to Bruce, PT, and Keef. And that year Rolling Stone ran issues with those three on the covers, all playing teles.

I knew nothing about electrics (Fender? Gibson? Silvertone? KMart? sure!) but I started looking around, and when I found one in a pawnshop in downtown Tucson, it went home with me.

28 years later, I've still got it.

Lost_N_Austin · September 7th, 2005, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Ever since then I have believed whole-heartedly in "visualization", and I frequently hang up little pictures to inspire me.

I have a Joss Stone screensaver background on my computer screen.

Geyser · September 7th, 2005, 03:27 PM

I started playing in 1992 or 1993 in high school. I always wanted to be a rock singer, but by hanging out with some musician friends, I learned some power chords on my old Fender nylon-string. I still have that guitar but don't play it much. It seems to be a 3/4 size and it needs some serious adjusting and I don't know much about maintaining acoustics (but that's another story). I'll probably save it for when my son gets a little older.
I wanted to rock out a little harder so a friend brought me down to Guitar Center and helped me pick out a used electric. We settled on an Aria Stray Cat which was a Strat copy (I still have this one too) and a small Crate practice amp. The salesman gave me a package deal of $199 bucks (I think) plus threw in a strap and a bunch of picks to get me started. I then went out and bought some popular tab books (Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, etc) and started subscribing to THREE guitar magazines (Guitar World, Guitar for the practicing musician, and Guitar Player). I was hooked. I spent all four years at college noodling and playing and reading every magazine cover to cover, whether they were taking about David Mustaine or David Torn.
Finally when I got out of college, I moved back to my hometown and formed a band (Geyser). I quickly realized that the beginner equipment I had was not going to cut it. So I went and got a Crate Vintage Club 30. A couple months later I had enough for a guitar so I went to the store, hoping to get a Strat. All the "cool kids" I knew played Strats, as well as some of my heroes (Hendrix, Frusciante and Billy Corgan). I played some Strats but for some reason decided to try a Tele. It was a 99 American Fat Tele. This guitar just roared. I remember it being about twice as loud as any of the Strats, yet had a similar neck. I didn't know anyone who played a Tele at that point so I thought it would be a unique choice.
I played the heck out of that guitar and amp and it all came to an end about two years ago when my car, packed with gear, was stolen. I got the car back, but not my beloved Tele, Crate tube amp and Big Muff pedal. Sigh. Anyway, I eventually got another Tele (and a Strat... and a Les Paul... and a 2x12 Deville). Whew, I'm out of breath from typing all that. I should get some work done...

T Prior · September 7th, 2005, 03:37 PM

I think it was '64, I had a new Gretsch Tennesean,( thank you George Harrison) it fell and the neck broke at the body joint...

I went to NYC ( from Ct.) shopped a trade on 48th street..

At Rudy's, he took the broken Gretsch along with I think $40 for a brand new Telecaster, Rosewood Neck / Blonde...

that is my story and I'm stickin' to it...

Been on Tele's and Strats ever since , had a few Gibsons included along the way ..but as of now 7 Fenders, no Gibsons, 1 Epiphone Wildkat ...1 - '68 Guild Acoustic D35 which I did buy new from Manny's...

Honga Man · September 7th, 2005, 05:00 PM

...fresh out of college, playing guitar several hours a day and realizing that bass was my true calling.

It was a 1985 MIJ Fender Performer Bass in Burgundy Mist Metallic. I had to put it on layaway since I didn't have the money for it.

Even though I still play acoustic guitar and my Tele at home and at the odd jam session, that first bass (I've since bought two other Performers) has played at countless gigs and even been the "house bass" at dozens of jam sessions.

The best part of all this foolishness?

I played it last night at band practice. 8)

RevMike · September 8th, 2005, 06:14 AM

1985, I was 17 and in 11th grade. I had already been playing for a few years on a Kent (I think?) guitar that my uncle got me for $5. Got a job in a fried chicken place in Raleigh, NC. and managed to sock away enough to buy my blonde Squire Tele. Had a zillion guitars since, but I still treasure that guitar. It was and still is a really nice guitar. I still will occaisionally gig with it. Heck, I just might use it tonight!

Mike Murphy · September 8th, 2005, 09:58 PM

to pay some taxes - or some other such stupid thing. I'd gotten the Gretsch - a '59 - at an auction in Philly in the 70's. So there I was, guitarless for the first time since I was about 13. Don't know what it was that got me in a Fender kind of way, but I went to a guitar show and paid a couple of hundred for a black 80's Strat. That was about 4 Fenders ago. Leo was a genius.

Aen · September 9th, 2005, 12:04 AM

I sold all my tattooing equipment, quit the industry, and bought a Fender Toronado. WHich I soon sold to get my Tele. Best $600 i ever spent, then got $350 back, then spent it, then got $300 back, then spent some more.

Sage green tele 4EVAR

rhomco · September 9th, 2005, 08:00 AM

I was 17, just made the leap from "The Ventures" to British invasion groups. Played in a garage band called "The Living End" (well before the famous Aussie band) booked out of town for friday & saturday nites in a raunchy joint in Odessa, Texas called "Snug Harbor" playing a Rickenbacker and a demo Gretsch (of course) thru a Vox AC-30 sitting on a stolen chrome suitcase stand from the motel :). Woke up Sat morning and hit the pawn shops in Odessa and walked out with a Fender Tele, maple board, butterscotch body, black guard in the case for $60.00 out the door. God it sounded great! Had to have been a 50"s model as worn as it was but I could not say for sure now. Could'nt wait to get it home and strip it! Yep! you guessed it, I painted it purple with Krylon spray paint (still get tears in my eye when I think about what I did to it). Traded it in a few months later on a brand new white tele which cost $250.00 case and all! Lord I wish I had either one of them and the vox back today!!!!
True story,
Rob

Pretty Thing · September 9th, 2005, 08:25 AM

Always wanted to get a guitar, didn't have my eye on any one in particular. I was at a small local rock show and one of the bands were raffling off a Crate GX1200 head and 4x12 cab. I said what the hell and bought 2 tickets. You guessed it, I won that amp with not a guitar in my house! I went on vacation with my parents and there was a small shop next to our place... I went in the first day and played a few guitars... I went in every day for 4 days playing guitars in that store... I narrowed it down to a cherry sunburst Squier Strat and an Ibanez Artcore. I picked up the strat because it just spoke to me.

6 months and an '83 Fender Twin Reverb II later I bought that Ibanez from GC! The strat needless to say is pretty much retired now that I have my MW Tele and my Ibanez monster.

ddewerd · September 9th, 2005, 09:11 AM

When I was 12 (back in 1972) I wanted to learn to play guitar. I had a friend of mine whose dad owned a music store. They had a fire there and I ended up buying my first guitar from the "saved" leftovers. It was a Fender F-25 acoustic that I paid $50 for.

I had that for a month or so, but really wanted an electric. I saw an ad in the local (small town) newspaper for a garage sale and there was an amp and guitar for sale. I didn't really know much about guitars back then, and I ended up paying $200 for a Telecaster ($75) and a Tremolux amp ($125). The Tremolux was cool - it was a separate head (50W) that screwed to a tilt back cabinet with dual 8" speakers. The lady said it was her son's and had been sitting in her attic for several years, and she just wanted to get rid of it.

The Tele had the original orange lined, light brown case, and turned out to be a 1963. I am guessing the amp was a 63 or 64. I sold the amp way back (wish I hadn't) but I still have the Tele. It's still my #1, and although I own several other guitars (acoustics, electrics, bass) I never felt the need to buy another Tele. It's kind of nice not to have GAS

So I own exactly one Tele, my beautiful 63. I did a crappy refin job on it in about 73 (hated the Lake Placid Blue or whatever it was). But it has my personality all over it, my dings and scratches, my memories (OK, well there was a stretch in college...).

And the cool thing is my wife understands my obsession - she said that it's not surprising since I've known my guitar for 3x the time I've known her. I was travelling once on business and there was a bad storm (tornadoes, etc.). She grabbed the 3 dogs, the 2 cats and my Tele and holed up in the bathroom to ride it out. How cool is that?

OK, well whatever....

Cheers,
Doug

TJNY · September 9th, 2005, 09:20 AM

...I finally wanted to play what I've heard all these years. I also started getting in blues music and started seeing alot of local shows which made my longing to do what they do grow by leaps and bounds.
I layed out $100 for a cheap acoustic and stuck with that for about 1 & 1/2 years. I have a barber who is a musician and he told me a girl at the pizza joint next door was selling a MIM strat with an amp for about $300. I bought it and that's my first and still my only Strat.
Then this year, I discovered the Tele and really liked the shape. I did some research and liked the sound of it as well. Got my wine colored MIM tele off Ebay for $317 shipped to my door.
Exciting story eh?

Oh yeah, I still don't play lead very well...... :(

tjalla · September 9th, 2005, 09:25 AM

... that "became" mine

That was in '85, I still use it to this day, tho I changed the neck for a fat U maple neck - the stock neck has Buddy Guys signature on it, (and needs a refret), so its put aside for sentimental value.

fwiw - you can see and hear this guitar at my website below, in the audio/video secion.

freshmattyp · September 9th, 2005, 11:12 AM

In 1986, I had been playing for about 2 years on a cheap Ibanez acoustic. I decided that I needed an electric to add to my collection. At the time I was really into REM, and my first choice was a Rickenbacker. Then I found out how much they cost. I was waiting tables at the time and could afford about $250. After playing a bunch of guitars, I settled on a Squier Tele. I really wanted a black one, so the shop said they would order one for me. Fast forward 4 months, no guitar. I think the shop owner is getting sick of me checking in all the time and hounding him for my guitar. They had a CAR MIJ 62 Reissue that had been there for at least a year. The owner said, "Gimme $50 and the red one is yours".

Sold. I still have that one. The Ibanez is long gone. I did eventually get a Ric, but that's another story. ;)

September 7th, 2005, 01:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 54 Posts: 2,811 9 Photos	how I got my first Fender... A reply to an earlier post (players who switch from Fender to Gibson) got me to thinking how and why I became a Fender player. In the mid to late 60's when I started, I could have gone either way. I seem to remember that everyone was going Gibson. By the time I was in High School, that's all I saw. I really liked a group called the MC5 out of Detroit; the one guy had a Mosrite but that was a weird-looking guitar. The other guy had a Strat, and I started fixating on that guitar. I decided that I had to replace my Harmony-by-Heathkit with a real guitar - like that Strat!... but since I was 15 with no money I didn't know how... One day I bought "Guitar Player", and there was a full-page center-spread ad for the Strat - it was white w/ rosewood and it was beautiful. I hung that picture on my wall and stared at it for 6 months. Then by chance a shady deal came my way, and I managed to convince my 18-yr-old brother to front $100 bucks so I could buy a like-new 1968 white Strat w/ rosewood neck (w/case) - exactly like in the picture! Ever since then I have believed whole-heartedly in "visualization", and I frequently hang up little pictures to inspire me. I still have (and love) that Strat, though back in '80 I picked up a matching '68 Tele that quickly became my #1 go-to guitar. BTW the shady deal did not involve stolen guitars, and no guitar owners were injured during the process. An insurance company might have taken a small loss, but I suppose they made it back over the years. And I was just a dumb kid who wanted a guitar in the worst way...

September 7th, 2005, 02:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
ravindave_3600 Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boise, USA Posts: 897	I was about 15 or 16. Spent all my time listening to Bruce, PT, and Keef. And that year Rolling Stone ran issues with those three on the covers, all playing teles. I knew nothing about electrics (Fender? Gibson? Silvertone? KMart? sure!) but I started looking around, and when I found one in a pawnshop in downtown Tucson, it went home with me. 28 years later, I've still got it. __________________ Want my guitar to sound like BBQ tastes! check out the band at http://www.brightredtie.com

September 7th, 2005, 03:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Geyser Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 291	First Fender (long story---I'm bored at work today) I started playing in 1992 or 1993 in high school. I always wanted to be a rock singer, but by hanging out with some musician friends, I learned some power chords on my old Fender nylon-string. I still have that guitar but don't play it much. It seems to be a 3/4 size and it needs some serious adjusting and I don't know much about maintaining acoustics (but that's another story). I'll probably save it for when my son gets a little older. I wanted to rock out a little harder so a friend brought me down to Guitar Center and helped me pick out a used electric. We settled on an Aria Stray Cat which was a Strat copy (I still have this one too) and a small Crate practice amp. The salesman gave me a package deal of $199 bucks (I think) plus threw in a strap and a bunch of picks to get me started. I then went out and bought some popular tab books (Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, etc) and started subscribing to THREE guitar magazines (Guitar World, Guitar for the practicing musician, and Guitar Player). I was hooked. I spent all four years at college noodling and playing and reading every magazine cover to cover, whether they were taking about David Mustaine or David Torn. Finally when I got out of college, I moved back to my hometown and formed a band (Geyser). I quickly realized that the beginner equipment I had was not going to cut it. So I went and got a Crate Vintage Club 30. A couple months later I had enough for a guitar so I went to the store, hoping to get a Strat. All the "cool kids" I knew played Strats, as well as some of my heroes (Hendrix, Frusciante and Billy Corgan). I played some Strats but for some reason decided to try a Tele. It was a 99 American Fat Tele. This guitar just roared. I remember it being about twice as loud as any of the Strats, yet had a similar neck. I didn't know anyone who played a Tele at that point so I thought it would be a unique choice. I played the heck out of that guitar and amp and it all came to an end about two years ago when my car, packed with gear, was stolen. I got the car back, but not my beloved Tele, Crate tube amp and Big Muff pedal. Sigh. Anyway, I eventually got another Tele (and a Strat... and a Les Paul... and a 2x12 Deville). Whew, I'm out of breath from typing all that. I should get some work done...

September 7th, 2005, 03:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
T Prior Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 871	I go back a bit farther.. I think it was '64, I had a new Gretsch Tennesean,( thank you George Harrison) it fell and the neck broke at the body joint... I went to NYC ( from Ct.) shopped a trade on 48th street.. At Rudy's, he took the broken Gretsch along with I think $40 for a brand new Telecaster, Rosewood Neck / Blonde... that is my story and I'm stickin' to it... Been on Tele's and Strats ever since , had a few Gibsons included along the way ..but as of now 7 Fenders, no Gibsons, 1 Epiphone Wildkat ...1 - '68 Guild Acoustic D35 which I did buy new from Manny's...

September 7th, 2005, 05:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Honga Man Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 576	I got mine in 1991... ...fresh out of college, playing guitar several hours a day and realizing that bass was my true calling. It was a 1985 MIJ Fender Performer Bass in Burgundy Mist Metallic. I had to put it on layaway since I didn't have the money for it. Even though I still play acoustic guitar and my Tele at home and at the odd jam session, that first bass (I've since bought two other Performers) has played at countless gigs and even been the "house bass" at dozens of jam sessions. The best part of all this foolishness? I played it last night at band practice. 8)

September 8th, 2005, 06:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
RevMike Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 1,041	Does a Squire count? 1985, I was 17 and in 11th grade. I had already been playing for a few years on a Kent (I think?) guitar that my uncle got me for $5. Got a job in a fried chicken place in Raleigh, NC. and managed to sock away enough to buy my blonde Squire Tele. Had a zillion guitars since, but I still treasure that guitar. It was and still is a really nice guitar. I still will occaisionally gig with it. Heck, I just might use it tonight!

September 8th, 2005, 09:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mike Murphy TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cape May, NJ, USA Posts: 55	Had to sell a really sweet Gretsch 6120 . . . to pay some taxes - or some other such stupid thing. I'd gotten the Gretsch - a '59 - at an auction in Philly in the 70's. So there I was, guitarless for the first time since I was about 13. Don't know what it was that got me in a Fender kind of way, but I went to a guitar show and paid a couple of hundred for a black 80's Strat. That was about 4 Fenders ago. Leo was a genius. __________________ No deadline too realistic! (Where's my groovy username?)

September 9th, 2005, 12:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
Aen Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 942	I sold all my tattooing equipment, quit the industry, and bought a Fender Toronado. WHich I soon sold to get my Tele. Best $600 i ever spent, then got $350 back, then spent it, then got $300 back, then spent some more. Sage green tele 4EVAR __________________ Alt-country and psych-rock-tronica! Hey, be happy you can choose one genre for yourself! http://www.myspace.com/aenpage

September 9th, 2005, 08:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
rhomco Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Crowley, Texas Posts: 694	My first Tele was in 1965 I was 17, just made the leap from "The Ventures" to British invasion groups. Played in a garage band called "The Living End" (well before the famous Aussie band) booked out of town for friday & saturday nites in a raunchy joint in Odessa, Texas called "Snug Harbor" playing a Rickenbacker and a demo Gretsch (of course) thru a Vox AC-30 sitting on a stolen chrome suitcase stand from the motel :). Woke up Sat morning and hit the pawn shops in Odessa and walked out with a Fender Tele, maple board, butterscotch body, black guard in the case for $60.00 out the door. God it sounded great! Had to have been a 50"s model as worn as it was but I could not say for sure now. Could'nt wait to get it home and strip it! Yep! you guessed it, I painted it purple with Krylon spray paint (still get tears in my eye when I think about what I did to it). Traded it in a few months later on a brand new white tele which cost $250.00 case and all! Lord I wish I had either one of them and the vox back today!!!! True story, Rob

September 9th, 2005, 08:25 AM	#11 (permalink)
Pretty Thing Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Punxsutawney PA Age: 25 Posts: 176	Always wanted to get a guitar, didn't have my eye on any one in particular. I was at a small local rock show and one of the bands were raffling off a Crate GX1200 head and 4x12 cab. I said what the hell and bought 2 tickets. You guessed it, I won that amp with not a guitar in my house! I went on vacation with my parents and there was a small shop next to our place... I went in the first day and played a few guitars... I went in every day for 4 days playing guitars in that store... I narrowed it down to a cherry sunburst Squier Strat and an Ibanez Artcore. I picked up the strat because it just spoke to me. 6 months and an '83 Fender Twin Reverb II later I bought that Ibanez from GC! The strat needless to say is pretty much retired now that I have my MW Tele and my Ibanez monster.

September 9th, 2005, 09:11 AM	#12 (permalink)
ddewerd Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Willow Springs, Great-State-of-Texas Age: 48 Posts: 637 21 Photos	2 of them When I was 12 (back in 1972) I wanted to learn to play guitar. I had a friend of mine whose dad owned a music store. They had a fire there and I ended up buying my first guitar from the "saved" leftovers. It was a Fender F-25 acoustic that I paid $50 for. I had that for a month or so, but really wanted an electric. I saw an ad in the local (small town) newspaper for a garage sale and there was an amp and guitar for sale. I didn't really know much about guitars back then, and I ended up paying $200 for a Telecaster ($75) and a Tremolux amp ($125). The Tremolux was cool - it was a separate head (50W) that screwed to a tilt back cabinet with dual 8" speakers. The lady said it was her son's and had been sitting in her attic for several years, and she just wanted to get rid of it. The Tele had the original orange lined, light brown case, and turned out to be a 1963. I am guessing the amp was a 63 or 64. I sold the amp way back (wish I hadn't) but I still have the Tele. It's still my #1, and although I own several other guitars (acoustics, electrics, bass) I never felt the need to buy another Tele. It's kind of nice not to have GAS So I own exactly one Tele, my beautiful 63. I did a crappy refin job on it in about 73 (hated the Lake Placid Blue or whatever it was). But it has my personality all over it, my dings and scratches, my memories (OK, well there was a stretch in college...). And the cool thing is my wife understands my obsession - she said that it's not surprising since I've known my guitar for 3x the time I've known her. I was travelling once on business and there was a bad storm (tornadoes, etc.). She grabbed the 3 dogs, the 2 cats and my Tele and holed up in the bathroom to ride it out. How cool is that? OK, well whatever.... Cheers, Doug

September 9th, 2005, 09:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
TJNY Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 1,134	When I turned 35..... ...I finally wanted to play what I've heard all these years. I also started getting in blues music and started seeing alot of local shows which made my longing to do what they do grow by leaps and bounds. I layed out $100 for a cheap acoustic and stuck with that for about 1 & 1/2 years. I have a barber who is a musician and he told me a girl at the pizza joint next door was selling a MIM strat with an amp for about $300. I bought it and that's my first and still my only Strat. Then this year, I discovered the Tele and really liked the shape. I did some research and liked the sound of it as well. Got my wine colored MIM tele off Ebay for $317 shipped to my door. Exciting story eh? Oh yeah, I still don't play lead very well...... :(

September 9th, 2005, 09:25 AM	#14 (permalink)
tjalla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,687 7 Photos	Dad's 60's RI MIJ Strat... ... that "became" mine That was in '85, I still use it to this day, tho I changed the neck for a fat U maple neck - the stock neck has Buddy Guys signature on it, (and needs a refret), so its put aside for sentimental value. fwiw - you can see and hear this guitar at my website below, in the audio/video secion.

September 9th, 2005, 11:12 AM	#15 (permalink)
freshmattyp Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kansas City Age: 42 Posts: 899 18 Photos	In 1986, I had been playing for about 2 years on a cheap Ibanez acoustic. I decided that I needed an electric to add to my collection. At the time I was really into REM, and my first choice was a Rickenbacker. Then I found out how much they cost. I was waiting tables at the time and could afford about $250. After playing a bunch of guitars, I settled on a Squier Tele. I really wanted a black one, so the shop said they would order one for me. Fast forward 4 months, no guitar. I think the shop owner is getting sick of me checking in all the time and hounding him for my guitar. They had a CAR MIJ 62 Reissue that had been there for at least a year. The owner said, "Gimme $50 and the red one is yours". Sold. I still have that one. The Ibanez is long gone. I did eventually get a Ric, but that's another story. ;)