So what inspired you...

[hippietim]

1) to play guitar
2) to play a Tele
3) to play today or continues to inspire you

For me:

1) Kiss got me interested in music, hearing the Stones convinced me I needed to be a guitar player

2) That's easy, my dad ran across an ad in the classifieds for an affordable real guitar - "Hey Tim, is a Fender Telecaster a good one", he says. "Um yeah", I say staring at a picture of Keef. Later that day I had me an Antigua Telecaster to plug into my Acoustic 134 4x10 combo.

3) Playing my own music. I still listen to a lot of styles of music with and without guitars and just try to incorporate elements into my playing. Other days can be fulfilling just playing old Cat Stevens or Black Sabbath tunes. Either way, playing itself is enough to keep me going.

[dean]

1. I spent most of my life as a Tele reincarnated into a human being. I have always loved guitars and the sounds they make. I was playing air guitar before there was air. But I never played a real guitar.

Then, when I was 50, my kid needed to sell a Strat so he could buy a decent amp (I had just bought him a Les Paul for graduation). He couldn't get diddly-squat for the Strat at local stores, so I gave him a fair price and bought it for myself. Figured I'd take lessons when I retired. Well, I decided to start right then, and was totally bitten by the bug and by G.A.S.

2. I quickly realized that I wanted to try a Tele, So I found a James Burton USA Tele (about as far from a real Tele as a Tele can get). Had that for awhile and traded it for a '52 RI. Kept that for a bit and then got a Thinline. Sold that and built my own '52 RI (USACG body/ James Burton Tele neck).

3. I'm inspired by the simplicity and honesty of the Tele form - it is just a great no-nonsense design that keeps on truckin'. I am building my own Thinline from scratch (neck and all), and have at least three other guitar projects going at the same time. A lot of my inspiration comes from the fanatics here on the TDPRI - this is a truly exceptional group.

Thanks,
Dean

[TeleGeir]

Originally Posted by hippietim

1) to play guitar
2) to play a Tele
3) to play today or continues to inspire you

1. Stones. I was 8 when Satisfaction hit the streets, and I just knew. Unfortunately it took another 5 years before my parents knew, 'causing detours via the piano (for which I am gratefull and still love todayl) and the school band (which I hated.)
2. The cover of "Born to run". Again only 6 or 7 years later did I buy one, after a succession of cheaper guitars. But I knew even before that. I'd like to think the first inspiration came from Status Quo, but I am not 100% sure they even played Teles back then.
3. All and everything. And it (the inspiration that is) does not have to be a Tele. I get inspired by music, currently my Bonnie Raitt collections, but more importantly by the events of life, whether it is joy or the blues...

Oh, and as far as Teles go: I should mention my local Fender dealer. Only yesterday was I in to discuss the details of my home studio setup. And he was demoing one of those Zoom recording boxes to someone, doing overdubs of some really funky groove. On a Tele of course!

Geir :)

[MandyMarie]

That's a really good idea for a thread, Tim! I know I'll enjoy reading this one :D


1.) James Burton's solo on "Mystery Train/Tiger Man" (Elvis - Live at the International Hotel) I remember the way I felt when I heard that at 13 like it was yesterday.

2.) James Burton played one - I wanted that sound

3.) The one and only Telemaster...Mr. Danny Gatton.

[Ian]

#1- Playing guitar seriously came about at a grade 6 or 7 Dance at my school. It was sooooo depressing just sittin there , watching other folks hook up. It dawned on me that with nothing better to do on a Friday night than go to a dance , I could at least play w/ the band !!!! It was better than adolesent rejection !!! (LOL) . So I barricaded myself in my room w/ my Quest Attak 1 and the pink leopard print pick I found, and began deciphering Heavy Metal tunes. Before long.....I was playing at those shows. Mind you......the women (girls) still wanted nothing to do w/ me !!!
#2 - Seeing the "People Get Ready" video w/ Jeff Beck. That Tele looked the sh*t !!! The coolest thing ever!!! I soon got my first Tele.
#3 - Inspiration.....boy....thats a tough one. It could be anything from a beautiful woman to that "spark" that flashes through my head w/ a melody/riff /lick.
Listening to Gatton, Vaughn ,Wylde, Van Halen , RHCP, Skaggs, Mason, Prince, Harper, Beck , or some piece of music that makes the hair on your arms stand up on end.
When I moved to Halifax, my first day there, I was sittin at a cafe' on Barrington St. Through the floor to ceiling window , I saw this amazing Asian woman walking South. She moved with such grace and raw sexuality. As I watched her, this riff went through my head. It was a Funk riff in Dm7. It followed every movement of her walk. To this day...I remember that riff...and her walk!!!
Sometimes I'll stumble on a new chord, or lick, and all of a sudden ,I'll hear it in my head. The whole thing....drums,Bass, everything.
I only wish I could call it all up at will!!!
I still get a cool feeling from playing. I just love to play guitar.
A few yrs ago , I was at a music shop trying out some gear. As I was getting ready to leave , I heard this great , tastefull fingerpicking. I can't remember what it was but I was knocked out by the guys taste and musicallity. Nothing flashy , just the right notes intermingling. The guy was playin an SG, bearded fellow, obvoiusly been playing for decades. It was so cool and RIGHT that I made a concious effort to play more tastefully and not so spewey. The Old ...old man finished and placed the SG back on the rack. I left before getting his name. I could only hope that, when I get old like that, I'd play w/ such taste. A few yrs later I met the old,old gent..........turns out.......it was our own Cam!!!! (Who loves ya' buddy!!!!) LOL (It's all true ....'cept for the Old man stuff!!!)
CHEERS!!!

[Nick Fanis]

1.Joe Strummer
2.Keith Richards,Joe Strummer and Bruce Springsteen
3.My band and my songwriting....

[Pedalworld]

How long before someone mentions gettin' girls?




quit lying.......




I only got into it for the tone wood.

[genelovesjez]

1. For me, my interest in playing guitar started way before I knew anything about music. I was at my grandparents' house, about age 7, and my uncle's band was practicing in the parlour. As soon as I saw the guitar player play, I knew that's who I wanted to be. That Christmas, I asked for and got my first guitar.

2. As I got older Telecasters seemed like a cool alternative to Strats - especially in that video of Jeff Beck jamming with Eric Clapton. If I was going to jam with EC, I'd probably bring a Telecaster too (he hasn't asked yet, though).

3. Lots of things still inspire me, but I have to admit that Jimi is the only one who still makes me feel like I did on that day when I was seven.

I guess the child really is father to the man - something that happened when I was seven is still one of the most important things in my life.

[alexbatonrouge]

1. Ace Frehley from Kiss but never wanted a Gibson.
2. dim-witted I needed a guitar with no schnickschnack.
3. the new country guys, but rather the songs than the individuals. (it seems to be only this one guy (BM) who plays 90% and all others copying him (no offense ;-)) - me doing worst trying to :D ).

[pbradt]

I first got interested in guitar after hearing Chuck Berry on the radio, when he had "No Particular Place To Go."

I had a chintzy Stella acoustic for years. Then I heard some Roy Buchanan when I was a senior in high school (about 1972) and it was like a bolt of lightning into my soul.

I made my way to Leo's Music and saw an Olympic White Tele and a SF Champ and with my paper route money, I bought them.

Sorry Mandy, Roy is THE MAN. Nobody ever had the soul Roy had. Nobody.

[Phil Jacoby]

1) Hearing my uncle practice his drums in my grandmother's basement (sho watched me in the days) to Hendrix, Cream and Zep. Had to have a strat - Jimi is a heavenly king.

2) Stumbled upon Mike Stern's Standards and Other Songs and Danny Gatton's NY Stories while looking to get into jazz. Later DG's Relentless sealed the deal. I madde the permanent switch to Teles while in the studio in 1997 by ABing two identical rhythm tracks thru the same Dlx Rev - one Tele, one strat. The tighter bottom end and punch sold me. Plus the shear versatility to got from jazz to blues to roots rock to countryesque styles all from the guitar - simply unbeatable IMO.

3) I have a blast working in sections to tighten up grooves, play off of and against rhythms, navigate changes and just let 'em have it. Sometimes its the calm after the storm, other times the maniacal race to climax. Its always a rush to play, the sound so sweet and inviting, esp bridging gaps between players of differing abilities and interests. Its a thrill!

[sean001]

Keef,
Keef,
The probably never ending quest to get as good at playing this thing as I think I could one day be.

[Hwilliams]

1. My whole family played music and you started on the guitar and I never left it since. Which now I have also started playing the mandolin.

2. It has been my favorite guitar since I could remember just because of it's simplicity. That was what made it
so amazing to me. It's a beautiful thing!

3. Roy Nichols, Redd Volkaert, James Burton, Brent Mason, Brad Paisley, Wade Hayes, Etc. Musicians Of this caliber inspire me to keep at it.

If you can pick up something and loose all track of time and everything else then that is love. I get that when I play my teles. Thank God My wife understands.
HW

[KR]

1) My Dad played and there were always guitars in the house, even though he more or less stopped as he got a family. I was born in 1962 - by the time I was about four and I was used to guitars in the house, there was this little group of four kids from Liverpool who were creating a little stir...you put it together...

2) I played a 335 throughout high school and when I was getting out into gigging land when I was 18 (keep in mind this was 1980, now) it seemed like most people wanted me to get an edgier sound (I was a closet jazzer trying to make do in a world where rock paid). So, casting my eyes about for something that would fit, I heard the Pretenders on the radio and knew that that was the rhythm guitar sound I wanted for my rock gigs - so yes, it was Chrissie Hynde that brought me to the Telecaster

3) I play for a living and it's been a major part of my life for around 35 years. I would lose my house and my soul, respectively, if I ever stopped

[eryque]

Eddie Van Halen got me into guitar playing. I was 9 years old in 1984, and I remember a friend invited me over to his house because he had cable and wanted to show me MTV. "Jump" was the 1st video I saw, and I remember being completely unimpressed with everything, right up until I saw Eddie playing some rhythm part with that trademark goofy smile of his, and then the solo. He was the first rock guitar player I saw that looked like he was actually having fun, and the next couple of VH albums hooked me deeper.

Fast forward 13 years: I'm 22 and have been through both a cheap electric and cheap acoustic and decided to finally really learn to play. Got an Epi Les Paul and started taking some lessons, started getting better quick. Fast forward another year, I'd been listening to a lot of Otis Redding and kept seeing the Blues Brothers movie on TV, and I wanted to be Steve Cropper more than anything else. Got a huge bonus check at work that spring and bought my first telecaster. I'm working on #3 right now.

The biggest inspiration I have to keep playing is to keep improving, and to play live. Every time I see a live band I'm aching to get up on the stage, whether or not I have the chops to keep up.

Gotta keep working on those chops...

[chickenscratch]

Being born in 1968, I noticed a lot of TDPRIers are also children of the 1970's, inspired by the maddness that was: 1) KISS---my after forced piano lessons and a stint in the school band with tenor sax, I was rewarded for being a geek in school one XMAS with a Hohner LP copy just like Ace Frehley's!!! 2) As a teenager in the early 1980's, my LP copy was stolen backstage at a gig with my "New Wave" band... my other guitar was a yellow Chiquita travel guitar, which remained... I traded a dude for his 1971 Sunburst Tele Custom because Prince and Joe Strummer had this cool guitar!!! 3) Good grooves and funky guitar playing in (not just funk), but C&W, Jazz, World Music, Beautiful Blues, and Bluesy Hard Rock still make me feel like the day I got the goosebumps as a young lad!!!!!!!!!!!!

[11 Gauge]

1- My dad, rock music, and an ES 335 copy at the age of 6 got me rolling on things. The coolest thing about that time was that I just wanted to learn to play stuff - chords, phrases, etc. Didn't need to sound like anyone else, have a certain amp or guitar, etc. Just loved the purity of learning to play just about anything that I could. And did most of it by ear, which got my ear trained pretty good. I'm still just an average player at best, but I can pick licks out of a song pretty good.

2-While my dad got rolling on the Tele thing the better part of a decade ahead of me (and hence had a tiny bit of influence) I really ended up there as a result of playing just about everything else out there, modifying and building guitars. I kinda evolved into the Tele. I realized that I didn't want or need a trem, humbuckers, 3 or more pups, anything beyond a 3 way switch, just 1 vol. and 1 tone knob, etc. But guys like Joe Walsh and Roy B. definitely helped move me to the discovery that the 1st solidbody electric ever invented was it for me. I can do anything and everything I want to do with one. For me simpler is better, and nothing strips it all away better than a Tele.

3-I've been thru so many different musical phases. Early on it was rock. Then it got to be heavier rock. Then the heaviest stuff ever recorded. Then I started getting into everything else - blues, country, surf, jazz, ambient, techno, some of the better 80's pop stuff, and all the experimental stuff that's out there. Really it's as deep as you want to go. As a result my stuff would never ever get played on the radio, because it simply draws from too many resources. There is always something out there to inspire me. Lately I've been listening to Celtic Norwegian and soundtrack stuff from Lord of the Rings and different Anime movies, like Ghost In The Shell. It's really cool to try to play this stuff with a Tele. To me it's much more refreshing than just going thru my old rock, country, or surf chops. I never see myself getting bored with what I will try with a Tele.

[Andy R]

1) A friend's dad had a folk guitar and played it poorly but enthusiastically. My 10 year old brain figerred I could do that better, the folks made me save $12.95 for that Sears acoustic!

2)Don Rich, Roy Nichols and Steve Cropper. Actually when I got my first Fender I had a choice between a '63 Tele and a '63 Jaguar, $175 each. Took the Jag....I knew better, but all that chrome! And I'm glad I did, the Jag became firewood after all my stupid mods.

3) The people I get to play with inspire me a lot, I'm constantly challenged by great musicians and singers. The other inspiration is just how darn hard it is to be a good guitar player!

[0le FUZZY]

1) to play guitar

My daddy did and bean a preacher man who played in barz before his cornversion wood not let me. Mamma un-locked the closet and showed me D and G and E cords.

2) to play a Tele

Saw my first one in 52 or early 53 and cause it waz so small and simple lookin I hadda haff one. Before that any lectric waz huge and had a big neck!!

3) to play today or continues to inspire you

After 40 years of stage and almost 50 of jes playin I kant go back. Yew guys help me keep my focus and luv on the TELECASTER and memories of a few years past of real country music keeps me thinkin it will be like it waz then--------again.

No delusions of grandeur fer me any more but the medicine of pickin my bluz and troubles away onna TELECASTER keep me commin back fer more.

Thanx my frens and thanx Bob McLeod fer my most recent healing episode, it waz fun.

Lookin forwardLOOKIN BACK

Yes Pedalworld, the gurlz were a big part of it but more fer playin inna band than jes pickin a TELECASTER.

[tweeddeluxe]

1. My dad who played in a jazz combo and always had music on in the house, Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, Led Zep, etc.
2. Roy Buchanan, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Robben Ford. Last but not least, my friend who let me play his tele.
3. I love it. It's fun, relaxing, inspiring. So much good music to learn, listen to, and create.

Tom

[Brad]

1. When I was 5 yrs old, ( 1960 ) my uncle came home at Christmas. He is (was, now a producer ) an actor in summer stock musicals. He had an incredible singing voice and played an old Goya classical guitar. Hearing him play Maria, Rock Island Line, Tom Dooley, The man that never returns, etc. got me interested in the guitar. Then when the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan...well, that was the last straw! I had to have a guitar. So, next Christmas, my folks got me a stella acoustic.

2. I always thought teles were cowboy guitars. Les Pauls , 335's etc, were the guitars for me. In the mid 70's I was managing a music store and had the opportunity to buy a few teles cheap. I sold most of em right off the bat, but I kept a couple. A 72 Tele Custom with two buckers and a blonde 73. I proceeded to strip the finish of the custom, ( ouch! ) have a new pearl pickguard made cut for two regular buckers. ( installed Lawrence L-500's ) and a ( double ouch!! ) vari-tone. I used that guitar for a few years and sold it. The 73 I modded with a third strat pup ( oh, the horror! ) and drilled out the control panel for a vol control for the strat pup. Wound up trading ( giving ) that one to good friend who needed a tele for a country band he was joining. Went through several others in the years to follow, but I was pretty much a strat man at that point and tele's did not really speak to me. I pretty much quit playing electric for ten years or so. 3 years ago, I happened to see a Fernandes TE-2 ( 62 tele custom copy ) in a store. I had seen it a few years earlier and the guy at the store basically hid it in the back room. The new manager put it out. I was searching for my own voice ( rather than a strat..I was tired of the SRV clone thing and everyone and his gramma had a strat ) on guitar and this Fernandes really spoke to me. I made a low ball offer, he accepted, and I had a tele once again. Only this time, I was ready for it! Changed the pups to a Van Zandt in the bridge and a Duncan Antiquity in the neck and found the tone I had been searching for. I now have a stock 71 Tele and my baby...a chambered mahagany USACG tele that is soooo cool. Wound up selling the Fernandes to a fellow TDPRI'r since the Fernandes was just sitting in it's cas begging to be played and the USACG was not letting me put it down!

3. As far as inspiration today..Believe it or not, the USACG tele is one of the main things that inspires me to play. My style has grown. My touch and tone has grown. I've always loved and played the blues and great blues music old and new continues to inspire me. Not to freak anyone out here, but God inspires me. My nickname when I played in bands 20 years ago was "The Screamer"....due to my lead style. Well, I don't scream anymore! My style at this point is sweeter and richer with a lot more harmonic content. I'm inspired to continue to grow in the direction I'm heading and have those sweet, spanky, rich, corpulent tones I hear in my head translate to the guitar. It's really an on going process.

[Tylercaster]

1. Listening to my dad's Grand Funk records, and listening to his stories about playing in a band, and watching videos of how the girls liked Elvis.

2. James Burton, and the fact that I never saw a tele player that COULDN'T play!

3. As a guitar teacher, never letting my guard down so's one of my students don't come up behind me and walk away with my gigs! There's still just too much for ME to learn.