Who was the first player to influence you on the Telecaster

[golfnut]

For me it was the guy in the video below. I've had many influences on the Tele since but he was the first and biggest. And I'm talking about the lead guitar player not the singer.

[newtwanger]

Keef. For the Tele...Absolutely. Keef was the first.

[golfnut]

Originally Posted by newtwanger

Keef. For the Tele...Absolutely. Keef was the first.

Yes he was an influence for me but not quite as much because he played a Tele Keef played lots of different guitars. I've never seen Ray with anything but a Tele and to me was the first that I took notice in that super country picken style that is carried on by the likes of Brent Mason, Brad Paisly Redd etc. There were others that certainly came before Ray Flack but he's the first I noticed.

[Nighthawk]

Peter Waltz....

[jhundt]

+1 for Keef R. When and where I grew up the Tele was not in style. But when KR started playing them regularly I noticed.

[TG]

Believe it or not...Paul McCartney.

The picture of him with a sunburst tele on the inside of the 'McCartney' solo album sleeve really made an impression on me when I was a kid, and there are plenty of good guitar licks on it as well, some played on that guitar....obviously. Had a lot to do with me getting into playing guitar.

[Robsocal]

My first recollection of learning what a Tele was came form an article on Roy Buchanan in some guitar magazine in the late '70's/early '80's. He was on the cover with his Tele, and I was intrigued by its "primitiveness" and simplicity. I dove into the article, and after reading it, I have always equated his skill and mystique with that Blackguard Tele. Since then, rightly or wrongly, I have associated Telecasters in other contexts with excellence, taste and reverence for great playing. Clearly, I still do.

Whenever I see a guitar player break out a Tele, I initially presume that he is going to be a cut above the rest. They usually have been. It seems like many players who choose Teles are really into playing above all other showmanship and/or fanfare. I like lots of different guitars, but there is nothing like a Telecaster.

[blingdogg]

Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys was the first Tele-player I ever listened to. I love his music!! (even though he doesn't play the Tele as much these days).

[brokenjoe]

One more for Keef. Used to play his way, but the tele made me play differently over the years. I blame the guitar!
Actually, I used to think that a tele was one of the ugliest guitars out there. Now, I revel in its simplicity.
Of all the popular timeless guitars out there, the tele is probably the hardest to play. You've really got to learn how to coax sustain, vibrato, and tone out of it. But as we all know, once you do, it's a thing of beauty!

[falconer]

James Burton in "A Black and White Night."

[his dudeness]

brad paisley after watching his 5th gear concert on cmt. i gained a whole new respect for him and what the tele can do in the right hands. up to that i had written it off as the stereotypical country guitar, and while it may largely be that, it can also be much more if you can work the strings.

[mgwhit]

Andy Summers first. Joe Strummer later (after I realized I was never going to play as well as Andy).

[golfnut]

Originally Posted by brokenjoe

One more for Keef. Used to play his way, but the tele made me play differently over the years. I blame the guitar!
Actually, I used to think that a tele was one of the ugliest guitars out there. Now, I revel in its simplicity.
Of all the popular timeless guitars out there, the tele is probably the hardest to play. You've really got to learn how to coax sustain, vibrato, and tone out of it. But as we all know, once you do, it's a thing of beauty!

Its funny I've heard others comment on the ugliness of the Telecaster. I think its the nicest looking guitar ever made and every time I see one it turns my head like good looking girls turn the heads of most of us men.
As for being harder than other guitars to play, I guess because its the first electric I picked up I don't find it harder than other types. I find strats and les pauls harder to feel comfortable on. I don't even like the teles with the contoured shapes on the body for supposed comfort.

[his dudeness]

i used to think teles were ugly as sin, but then i started to realize that they have very beautiful qualities about them even in spite of the small headstock and single cut. i think the looks thing is just preference, as is the playability factor. i love fixed bridges and the tele has the best fixed bridge around. if i could find a 22 or 24 fret tele i would be in heaven as both of my "real" teles are 21 fret and unless you play Eb tuned stuff on it in standard tuning you end up limited in that sense.

[vtcyclist]

Who made me see the tele as a nice capable guitar instead of simplistic, outdated, country prop? My guitar teacher. Now I don't want to play anything else. Sold my strat. etc.

[microphonic squeal]

Buck Owens and Don Rich

[Hecks]

Joe Strummer. Though it's not like he really "played" it the way other tele players do, mostly he just bashed on the thing, but I loved what the Clash were and I loved their sound and to me that telecaster is what made it happen.

[JackStraw]

Keith and Clarence. Martin Carthy also played a Tele with Steeleye Span but I didn't know it was a Tele until later.

[DMace]

Springsteen - 'Darkness on the Edge of Town'. That tone! Plus, when I was a little kid I had a poster of him playing live and I'd just stare at that Tele (not really even knowing what a Tele was at the time). Way cool.

[jazztele]

i didn't get influenced by telecaster players until after i bought one, really. I bought one when i was 17, because i wanted an american made strat. or so i thought. ended up not liking any of the strats, but falling in love with a tele...

fast forward 10 years, and i discover this place, and soon i'm listening to all kinds of tele players i had never heard of!