Johnny Cash & Telecasters

[GuitarJonz]

Pardon me for not knowing, but did Johnny Cash play or perform with telecasters, or even electric guitars? All the pics I've seen show him with acoustics, usually Martins.

[Johnny Isaacs]

Johnny owned at the time of his death over 70 guitars in his Hendersonville home. Who knows how many he gave away over the years! I'm sure he had an electric or two, but 99% of the time he always played his acoustic guitars. Waylon always said Johnny tried to talk him out of his leather covered Telecaster and when they appared on TV together Waylon let Johnny play one.



Johnny Isaacs

[editorjuno]

Originally Posted by GuitarJonz

Pardon me for not knowing, but did Johnny Cash play or perform with telecasters, or even electric guitars? All the pics I've seen show him with acoustics, usually Martins.

The definitive Cash lead player, the late Luther Perkins, was a Tele picker -- and the signature sound of the Tenessee Three on all the early hits and most of the mid-period ones is the thunk of palm-muted Tele bass strings.

John himself preferred "The Tenessee Flat Top Box" -- he was a rudimentary but solid rhythm player, and wielded his big acoustic like a stage prop, extending both arms leftward as if aiming a saddle gun as he strummed, then letting it swing to its normal position when he sang. He had *enormous* stage presence in every way, including all the visuals and a voice that came through rich, loud, and clear regardless of the venue or who was at the mixing board.

[chickenpicker]

I was never much of a fan of Johnny Cash, but a few years ago, revised my opinion when he came to the UK and appeared on a TV show, performing live, using just his acoustic guitar and his voice.

[TY]

I always thought luther perkins played a Jazzmaster on those older recordings...

[TG]

Originally Posted by TY

I always thought luther perkins played a Jazzmaster on those older recordings...

The earliest stuff was in the mid-50s, before there were Jazzmasters. The electric guitar bits were on a 'borrowed Fender guitar', to quote the JC bio I've just read. I can't remember where, but I read somewhere that it was a Tele or an Esquire. I forget which.

[Rizo]

Luther bought a '55 Esquire and a '54 Champ from a music store in Memphis to use with the Tennessee Two. He fell behind on his payments though and the guitar and amp were repo'd. He had to borrow them back to do some of the earliest JC recordings. That's the white Esquire he's often seen with. I'm sure he made good on the payments though, as he kept the guitar.