Female guitarists and Teles

John Thigpen · December 17th, 2004, 10:07 AM

The thread about common myths about the Telecaster got me thinking about how popular Teles are with female guitarists. I think I can name more women who play Teles than any other guitar. Chrissie Hynde, Susan Tedeschi, Meredith Brooks, Averil Levigne (sp?), Deborah Coleman, etc. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? Any theories?

John

Paul G. · December 17th, 2004, 10:31 AM

Thus confirming what my mother, my sisters, both wives and every girl I ever dated has said.

P.

eryque · December 17th, 2004, 11:01 AM

I remember reading a quote from a female guitarist once (Susannah Hoffs, maybe) that said she like teles because they look smaller and better proportioned on women than strats. I think that's true, espedially for smaller women. Strat can look a little ungainly with the longer upper horn.

Jimo · December 17th, 2004, 01:20 PM

They usually smell much, much better....cheers!---Jimo :D

moonshiner · December 17th, 2004, 01:21 PM

Sheryl Crow likes to use teles... If you do a search, there is a thread with a picture of her from the ACL festival in a SKIMPY skirt and an even purdier tele...

I have only seen Susan Hoffs from the Bangles use Ricks... The girls from the Go-Go's may have had a tele or two... I don't know...

What DO I know?

Jupiter Beach · December 17th, 2004, 01:58 PM

I have a theory that Avril Lavigne is secretly copying me. First she stole my hairstyle, now my guitar!

:x

OutlawSteph · December 17th, 2004, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

Strat can look a little ungainly with the longer upper horn.

Sitting down, the upper horn can knock into your chest.

Other than that, I prefer the Tele vs. the Strat for the same reasons the guys do!

jwells393 · December 17th, 2004, 02:24 PM

I definitely agree with Jimo...............

kp8 · December 17th, 2004, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutlawSteph

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

Strat can look a little ungainly with the longer upper horn.

Sitting down, the upper horn can knock into your chest.

Other than that, I prefer the Tele vs. the Strat for the same reasons the guys do!

That is funny cause bonnie raitt says the opposite. she says that she like the strat cause the contours are comforable for a uhmmmm .... full figured woman... etc...

-k

TG · December 17th, 2004, 03:41 PM

Sharlene Spiteri (sp?) from the band Texas uses one too. I read that she got it because it looked just like the one she saw Joe Strummer using on TV with the Clash when she was little. Obviously made a big impression. Plus it was made in '68....the year she was born.

Ignatius · December 17th, 2004, 04:07 PM

Also Sue Foley, a great blueser from Canada. She lived down in Austin for quite a while, and I've caught her twice. Plays a Tele straight into a RI Bassman, sounds great.

bluehonky · December 17th, 2004, 04:27 PM

I just saw the band setting up for our holiday party here at work and sho' nuff there is a female guitarist with a Telecaster. I think I'm in love.

bluehonky · December 17th, 2004, 04:27 PM

I just saw the band setting up for our holiday party here at work and sho' nuff there is a female guitarist with a Telecaster. I think I'm in love.

Montana_Dawg · December 17th, 2004, 05:14 PM

Susan Tedeschi
Meredith Brooks
Anita Carter
Meridian Green (of Parsons-Green fame)
Nancy Wilson of Heart has picked a Tele on occasion
Deanna Carter

Seanycaster · December 17th, 2004, 05:54 PM

I saw Shirley Manson from Garbage play an Arctic White Tele on MTV too.

Miss Tango · December 17th, 2004, 06:52 PM

A well balanced guitar with a nice slim neck, that would be my theory.

chubbyjackson · December 17th, 2004, 06:57 PM

PJ Harvey, too.

noodle_world · December 17th, 2004, 07:59 PM

ANDI

kp8 · December 18th, 2004, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodle_world

ANDI

ÇªÇÏÇÏÇÏÇÏ!

¶ó¸é¼¼°è¶û ¶Ç~¿Á °°ÀÌ »ý°¢Çß¾î¿ä.

kp8

petebradt · December 18th, 2004, 02:07 PM

Anita Cochran! Great Tele-picker.

zane · December 18th, 2004, 11:52 PM

mary cutrufellow

Walter Broes · December 19th, 2004, 12:13 AM

MandyMarie! :D

kp8 · December 19th, 2004, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walter Broes

MandyMarie! :D

yeah and she can play that thing too!

...still got those clips on my computer.

-kp8--

noodle_world · December 19th, 2004, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kp8

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodle_world

ANDI

ÇªÇÏÇÏÇÏÇÏ!

¶ó¸é¼¼°è¶û ¶Ç~¿Á °°ÀÌ »ý°¢Çß¾î¿ä.

kp8

great minds think a like

Kingpin · December 19th, 2004, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jupiter Beach

I have a theory that Avril Lavigne is secretly copying me. First she stole my hairstyle, now my guitar!

:x

I thought she stole that hairstyle from Marcia Brady!

My daughter prefers to play her Squire Strat, although I tried to steer her towards a Tele when we bought it. She likes to make fun of the "puny Tele headstock" on my guitars. I told her not to judge a guitar by the size of its headstock, and fortunately, the meaning of that joke is lost on her!

Caper · December 19th, 2004, 05:16 PM

teleman53 · December 20th, 2004, 01:48 AM

Lindsay Lohan

Montana_Dawg · December 20th, 2004, 03:07 AM

Emmylou Harris

Many pics of her and a pink paisley (James Burton's?)

j0shua · December 20th, 2004, 03:25 AM

i remember a jennifer paige music video with a tele.

TimJ · December 20th, 2004, 04:58 AM

[pointless theory alert]

I think it's partly because Teles have less of the 'macho rock guitar guy' image than Les Pauls or Strats...obviously there is also a weight issue with Les Pauls (not wishing to sound patronising, some girls still play them anyway). Of the Gibsons around, SGs seem to be more popular with the laydeez than Les Pauls.

Stencil · December 20th, 2004, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chubbyjackson

PJ Harvey, too.

Whenever this topic comes up, Polly Jean almost always gets forgotten, and yet the Tele perfectly suits her passionate/violent/romantic/angry style. (And yes, she did play all the guitar tracks on her latest album.)

I'd ask her to marry me, but I doubt I'd survive the experience.

Cheers,

D°

Colo Springs E · December 20th, 2004, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul G.

Thus confirming what my mother, my sisters, both wives and every girl I ever dated has said

....I'd only remove the word "generally..."

:)

-Eric

Colo Springs E · December 20th, 2004, 08:09 AM

....nailing that G chord. And is that someone jumping for joying at her guitar playing??

Cool pic...

-Eric

tonytrout · December 20th, 2004, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montana_Dawg

Emmylou Harris

Many pics of her and a pink paisley (James Burton's?)

Nope, that's not James's tele......the saddles are differnt than what was on James paisley tele then..........

JCG · December 20th, 2004, 11:05 AM

I don't know the answer as to why numerous female players gravitate towards the Tele as their primary instrument?I've never really given it much thought. As a female player myself, I have a Tele in my aresnal, but I own, and I'm also comfortable playing a wide variety of guitars. Everything from Les Pauls, to strats, to PRS, to Mcnaught. It's all up to the individual player and whatever works for him/her.

But on the subject of great female Tele players, I'll throw my idol Sue Foley into the mix. :D

Bonneville Bruce · December 20th, 2004, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Montana_Dawg wrote:
Emmylou Harris

Many pics of her and a pink paisley (James Burton's?)

Nope, that's not James's tele......the saddles are differnt than what was on James paisley tele then..........

I believe that is Ms. Emmylou's Tele, the only electric guitar that I have heard of her playing. Her one and only lead guitar part is on a Tele on her "Last Date Album" on a Buck Owens tune. Harris plays lead guitar on "Buckaroo" part of the "Buckaroo/Love's Gonna Live Here" Medley, sensationally.

Thanks for the pics link, I downloaded almost every one of them for my collection.

Long Live Queen Emmylou, Long live rock.

Bonneville Bruce

December 17th, 2004, 10:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
John Thigpen Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Rock Hill, SC Age: 54 Posts: 229	Female guitarists and Teles The thread about common myths about the Telecaster got me thinking about how popular Teles are with female guitarists. I think I can name more women who play Teles than any other guitar. Chrissie Hynde, Susan Tedeschi, Meredith Brooks, Averil Levigne (sp?), Deborah Coleman, etc. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? Any theories? John

December 17th, 2004, 10:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
Paul G. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 904	It's just proof that women are generally smarter than men. Thus confirming what my mother, my sisters, both wives and every girl I ever dated has said. P. __________________ Listen to your mother

December 17th, 2004, 01:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jimo Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 807	Not only smarter..... They usually smell much, much better....cheers!---Jimo :D

December 17th, 2004, 01:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,171	Sheryl Crow likes to use teles... If you do a search, there is a thread with a picture of her from the ACL festival in a SKIMPY skirt and an even purdier tele... I have only seen Susan Hoffs from the Bangles use Ricks... The girls from the Go-Go's may have had a tele or two... I don't know... What DO I know? __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

December 17th, 2004, 01:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jupiter Beach Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Toronto and London, Ontario. Posts: 221	I have a theory that Avril Lavigne is secretly copying me. First she stole my hairstyle, now my guitar! :x __________________ So they're looking for a new face, with a voice to go along I can tell you right now that ain't my style I don't do no sing alongs

December 17th, 2004, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,407 44 Photos	I remember reading a quote from a female guitarist once (Susannah Hoffs, maybe) that said she like teles because they look smaller and better proportioned on women than strats. I think that's true, espedially for smaller women. Strat can look a little ungainly with the longer upper horn.

December 17th, 2004, 02:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 65 Posts: 14,522 101 Photos	I definitely agree with Jimo............... __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person.

December 17th, 2004, 03:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
TG Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 48 Posts: 6,622 9 Photos	Sharlene Spiteri (sp?) from the band Texas uses one too. I read that she got it because it looked just like the one she saw Joe Strummer using on TV with the Clash when she was little. Obviously made a big impression. Plus it was made in '68....the year she was born.

December 17th, 2004, 04:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ignatius Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,156 1 Photos	Also Sue Foley, a great blueser from Canada. She lived down in Austin for quite a while, and I've caught her twice. Plays a Tele straight into a RI Bassman, sounds great.

December 17th, 2004, 04:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
bluehonky Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lehigh Valley Posts: 136	true I just saw the band setting up for our holiday party here at work and sho' nuff there is a female guitarist with a Telecaster. I think I'm in love.

December 17th, 2004, 04:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
bluehonky Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lehigh Valley Posts: 136	true I just saw the band setting up for our holiday party here at work and sho' nuff there is a female guitarist with a Telecaster. I think I'm in love.

December 17th, 2004, 05:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
Montana_Dawg Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Oregon, but from Montana Posts: 591	Susan Tedeschi Meredith Brooks Anita Carter Meridian Green (of Parsons-Green fame) Nancy Wilson of Heart has picked a Tele on occasion Deanna Carter __________________ I would rather be a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, than be a one trick-pony out of a job.

December 17th, 2004, 05:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
Seanycaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 929	I saw Shirley Manson from Garbage play an Arctic White Tele on MTV too. __________________ (\__/) ( >.<) (")__(")

December 17th, 2004, 06:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
Miss Tango Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Great Britain Posts: 265	A well balanced guitar with a nice slim neck, that would be my theory.

December 17th, 2004, 06:57 PM	#17 (permalink)
chubbyjackson TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: sag harbor ny Posts: 74	Tele women PJ Harvey, too.

December 17th, 2004, 07:59 PM	#18 (permalink)
noodle_world Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 273	ANDI

December 18th, 2004, 02:07 PM	#20 (permalink)
petebradt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Niner Country Posts: 4,255 12 Photos	Anita Cochran! Great Tele-picker.

December 18th, 2004, 11:52 PM	#21 (permalink)
zane Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Panther City,Tx Posts: 1,029	mary cutrufellow

December 19th, 2004, 12:13 AM	#22 (permalink)
Walter Broes Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Age: 39 Posts: 571	MandyMarie! :D

December 19th, 2004, 05:16 PM	#26 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,170 7 Photos

December 20th, 2004, 01:48 AM	#27 (permalink)
teleman53 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 321	Lindsay Lohan

December 20th, 2004, 03:07 AM	#28 (permalink)
Montana_Dawg Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Oregon, but from Montana Posts: 591	Emmylou Harris Many pics of her and a pink paisley (James Burton's?) __________________ I would rather be a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, than be a one trick-pony out of a job.

December 20th, 2004, 03:25 AM	#29 (permalink)
j0shua TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 54	i remember a jennifer paige music video with a tele.

December 20th, 2004, 04:58 AM	#30 (permalink)
TimJ TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 81	[pointless theory alert] I think it's partly because Teles have less of the 'macho rock guitar guy' image than Les Pauls or Strats...obviously there is also a weight issue with Les Pauls (not wishing to sound patronising, some girls still play them anyway). Of the Gibsons around, SGs seem to be more popular with the laydeez than Les Pauls.

December 20th, 2004, 08:09 AM	#33 (permalink)
Colo Springs E Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 5,984 5 Photos	Kirsten... ....nailing that G chord. And is that someone jumping for joying at her guitar playing?? Cool pic... -Eric __________________ "Enjoy your life, be good to kids, don't do meth..." -Colin Cowherd

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

December 20th, 2004, 11:05 AM	#35 (permalink)
JCG TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Danbury,CT Posts: 24	I don't know the answer as to why numerous female players gravitate towards the Tele as their primary instrument?I've never really given it much thought. As a female player myself, I have a Tele in my aresnal, but I own, and I'm also comfortable playing a wide variety of guitars. Everything from Les Pauls, to strats, to PRS, to Mcnaught. It's all up to the individual player and whatever works for him/her. But on the subject of great female Tele players, I'll throw my idol Sue Foley into the mix. :D