How did you end up getting hooked on a Tele? - Page 2

moonshiner · May 11th, 2006, 03:40 PM

TDPRI!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually no.. but I didn't see anyone say it yet...

Fourth Feline · May 15th, 2006, 01:20 PM

I went to see a local blues band in a bar circa 1980. It was then then I first discovered the blues and the enigmatic telecaster. I remember thinking that if the blues was the truth, this guitar was the voice of the truth ...

Later the guitarist tried Les Pauls and ES 355's but the band were not happy when he did. That battered telecaster could just break your heart, pin you to the wall and loosen your fillings all at the same time.

It was years later before I got one. I was just afraid because I knew I would have to 'up my game' to sound o.k on one. They do not carry you if your technique is sloppy, but the day I could make a decent sound with just a tele and a 15 W tweed combo, I knew I was eventually becoming a guitarist. The quest goes ever on ...

Platefire · May 15th, 2006, 01:53 PM

Yeah the Tele is tagged primarily a country guitar but as you say a lot of blues players used them and I see them turning up even in Metal bands. The thing about a Tele
with the right amp you can even make it sound Les Paulish if that's your desire. Pretty flexable when you start playing with tone. Something about that old fender bolt on neck, radius and action on a mapel fingerboard I would perfer over Gibson every time.

Vol. Knob · May 15th, 2006, 01:54 PM

I first plucked my Dad's Epiphone Casino when I was 5 years old, in 1975. After that, I kept a garage sale $5 acoustic in my room, I only knew 5 chords until age 15. At 15 I was a Motorhead/Black Sabbath loving metalhead while everybody else was Crue/Ratt, or Maiden/Preist. I dug heavy music played on more classic instruments and liked Strats, SGs, and Rickenbachers instead of the more fashionable pointy headstock superstrats. I ended up playing super cheap Hondo and Lotus Les Paul and SG Copies for a decade. I feared single coils, mostly due to hype about output and hum. However, I always dug the way the Telecaster looked, as if it was the MOST primative of the classic old electric guitars, yet I foolishly feared that their playability and sound would be unweildy, so I never even played one at a store.

Fast forward to '95, my musical tastes shift to include Jazz, the more underground rock acts of the '60, '70s, and '80s, Punk, Country, Bluegrass, Flamenco, etc, as well as still appreciating the Metal of my youth. my main guitar has a pair of coil tapped 'buckers, and I always run as a single in either position. I never used them as 'buckers. My secondary guitar is a Squier Strat with 5 springs on the whammy and the bar is removed entirely (effectivly a hardtail), and I only use the neck or the bridge pickups. So on a whim I decided to sell my guitars and buy one nicer guitar.

I set out to find something with two single coils and no whammy. The Telecaster became an obvious choice, but after playing several, I was turned off. I nearly bought a Jaguar that had a really great tone, but suddenly saw a pair of '69 Thinline RI's on the wall the day I showed up with the money. When I played the first one, I was hooked. I took it home.

Currently the Telecaster is the ONLY electric guitar for me. Just last year I sold my Stratocaster to buy a '52 RI to go along with my trusty '69 Thinline RI.

Telemarkman · May 15th, 2006, 04:21 PM

LOTF wrote :

Quote:

Listening to Roy Buchanan, possibly the greatest blues-rock Tele player ever.

Not possibly - certainly !

But Steve Cropper made the Telecaster my axe of choice
in the early 60's, and it still is today. :D

Fourth Feline · May 15th, 2006, 06:26 PM

Telemarkman mentioned Steve Cropper; it was certainly Mr. Cropper that taught me that it was better to play less rather than more - especially in a larger band setting. Good taste never goes out of style !

tonytrout · May 16th, 2006, 12:13 AM

How did I get hooked on a telel? Two words:

JAMES BURTON!!!

TELECASTERbstrd · May 16th, 2006, 12:18 AM

I heard Ray Flacke playing w/Ricky Skaggs on the radio in high school back in the 80's and I was just starting to play. I had a friend that played blues on a Tele and could tell the tone. I was the one that would say "That's a Tele" when a song came on the radio. My friends would ask "how do you know?". I don't know, but I did know and now... I really know cause that's all there is as far as I'm concerned.

degsycaster · May 16th, 2006, 03:51 AM

Hello from England! Over here in the 70's/80's one of the big chart acts was a band called Status Quo. As a child I was obsessed with this band and their 2 Tele' line up, so, when I got my first gutar aged 16 in 1986 (a horrible Hondo Les Paul junior copy!) I was desperate to get my hands on Leo's finest invention. I finally did - a late 80's *** Squire, and it was a pig! Subsequently I went through Strats, Les Pauls, Flying V's, S.G.'s you name it I had one.
In the 90's I got married, had a child and downscaled my Les Paul std and Marshall half stack for a US Tele std and a Hot Rod Deluxe and I've never looked back since. Tele's are so versatile. People just dont get past the classic twangy tele reputation but they should. I currently have a 60's Classic Mexican Tele that keeps my Les Paul Classic and S.G. standard in their cases. I think the Mex Classic series is the best VFM Tele' currently available. I know now that guitars may come and go, but I'll always have a Tele' in my sonic arsenal.

tjalla · May 16th, 2006, 04:32 AM

Live at Montreaux, 92-93 8)

LOTF · May 16th, 2006, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

LOTF wrote :

Quote:

Listening to Roy Buchanan, possibly the greatest blues-rock Tele player ever.

Not possibly - certainly !

But Steve Cropper made the Telecaster my axe of choice
in the early 60's, and it still is today. :D

I used to have an album by Roy, "Loading Zone," if I recall correctly, where the two of them actually played together. It contained some of Steve's best lead work (he was obviously inspired by playing with Roy). Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it on CD. :(

But I sure would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at those sessions....

Definitely two of the best Tele pickers ever!

Raymondo · May 16th, 2006, 07:54 AM

In 1990 i was 15 me and my friend Greg were playing baseball on a car park in the local village i pitched to greg he twatted the baseball out of the park over the fence on to the rail road track. we checked the coast was clear and my friend pulled up the barrier while i wriggled underneith. i eventually found the ball which was nessled amoung aload of crap that had been fly tipped on the bank. just as i turned to head back to the fence someone pulled up at the top of the slope, thinking it was the police or station master i made a run for it tripping on an old pram believe it or not and nearly nocking myself out. myfriend said hey look whats in here, i excitedly looked, it was a battered nacked telecaster the neck was still attached it looked so old and rubbish we nearly left it there. but we took it home even stopping now and then to see if it made a good bat! (i know o my god) anyway we took it to my grandads house who played guitar he took one look at it and was mesmerised we asked him if it was any good he said it was the most beutiful guitar he had ever seen me and greg looked at him thnking he had lost it, it looked about 40 years old. He told us it was destiny that i found it and i should learn to play emidiatly. we spend 4 weekends restoring the guitar grandad would source origional part that needed replacing but most of the hours were spent delicatly cleaning the parts inside and out and oiling movable parts. i have never played another guitar apart from a telecaster. but this particular guitar was stolen not a day goes by i dont think about it and that magical day

PUCKBOY99 · May 16th, 2006, 09:07 AM

I picked one up & it fit !!!

It fit my hands, body, the music I listen to...the music I play.

It's a classic that will humble you & put a smile on your face in the same sitting.....

Big Lug · May 16th, 2006, 09:08 AM

1972... Jim Messina ("Loggins & Messina").

I was so used to (and enamoured with) the sound of a Marshall with either a Les Paul or Strat that when I heard his playing it was like a breath of fresh air.

I still enjoy listening to his playing and tone on those albums.

rhomco · May 16th, 2006, 09:21 AM

I saw my first Tele on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 or 65. The Kinks did "You Really Got Me" and the lead player had a white Telecaster. I guess it really got me because I found a 50 something Tele at a pawn shop for $60.00 and I have not been without a Tele since that day.
Rob

Telemarkman · May 16th, 2006, 10:45 AM

LOTF wrote :

Quote:

I used to have an album by Roy, "Loading Zone," if I recall correctly, where the two of them actually played together. It contained some of Steve's best lead work (he was obviously inspired by playing with Roy). Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it on CD.

But I sure would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at those sessions....

Definitely two of the best Tele pickers ever!

You can buy "Loading Zone" from amazon.com
A rather wild version of "Green Onions"........

collinsman · May 22nd, 2006, 06:08 PM

My first good guitar was a blonde 68 Tele that I put on layaway ( believe it or not ) at a Pawn Shop for either $125 or $175, not quite sure, back in 71" when I was in HS, and to this day I just love the tele sound and vibe.

captain gorgeous · May 22nd, 2006, 06:28 PM

been playing guitar since about 1990 but only got my first tele in 2003. had a picture of one (blonde w/maple) on my wall for about 3 years while i saved. make that didn't save anything and waited till me credit was good enough to get a gold card.

anyway, i was swayed by the sound and look of keef, jeff buckley, steve cropper, george harrison, albert lee, luther perkins, rich robinson and (i know this is sad but i feel i should be honest) dan whatsisname from the counting crows. what can i say - i was really into them at the time. good player. oh seeing norah jones at the shep's bush empire about that time didn't hurt either. don't think it was jim c (sorry jim) it was adam... his name escapes me. dash it all. that guy had tone and taste in buckets.

captain gorgeous · May 22nd, 2006, 06:41 PM

dan vickrey

captain gorgeous · May 22nd, 2006, 06:54 PM

and Adam Levy

Platefire · May 22nd, 2006, 07:25 PM

Thanks for a the good tele stories! Great stuff! Every Tele player has a story when they made their Tele connection. I had a ball with mine Sat night again over
my moded Sivertone 1482 trying out some vintage 12AX7 Mullard's. Platefire

6942 · May 22nd, 2006, 08:07 PM

Played acoustics, since 1967.
My first electric guitar, was only last year!
My kids, all play acoustics, and humbuckers.
Wanted me to play electric with them.
So, on the advice of an old friend, bought a TELE.
It's been great!!
Sorry I hadn't bought one, years ago!! :D

Rick Towne · May 22nd, 2006, 09:27 PM

on the first Gram Parsons album. Hearing Bernie Leadon's bender on Take It Easy and Peaceful Easy Feeling, and seeing Al Perkins with the breadboard Evans bender on tour with Stephen Stills and Manassas that same year sealed it.

fancychords · May 22nd, 2006, 09:45 PM

ther are a lot of good players out there but in my opinion the tele players always seemed to be better...g.e.smith i think said it once that a tele was the guitar he compared it to motercyles and said "it's like do you ride a motercycle or do you ride a harley""...

May 11th, 2006, 03:40 PM	#41 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,168	TDPRI!!!!!!!!!!! Actually no.. but I didn't see anyone say it yet... __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

May 15th, 2006, 01:54 PM	#44 (permalink)
Vol. Knob Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 567 79 Photos	I first plucked my Dad's Epiphone Casino when I was 5 years old, in 1975. After that, I kept a garage sale $5 acoustic in my room, I only knew 5 chords until age 15. At 15 I was a Motorhead/Black Sabbath loving metalhead while everybody else was Crue/Ratt, or Maiden/Preist. I dug heavy music played on more classic instruments and liked Strats, SGs, and Rickenbachers instead of the more fashionable pointy headstock superstrats. I ended up playing super cheap Hondo and Lotus Les Paul and SG Copies for a decade. I feared single coils, mostly due to hype about output and hum. However, I always dug the way the Telecaster looked, as if it was the MOST primative of the classic old electric guitars, yet I foolishly feared that their playability and sound would be unweildy, so I never even played one at a store. Fast forward to '95, my musical tastes shift to include Jazz, the more underground rock acts of the '60, '70s, and '80s, Punk, Country, Bluegrass, Flamenco, etc, as well as still appreciating the Metal of my youth. my main guitar has a pair of coil tapped 'buckers, and I always run as a single in either position. I never used them as 'buckers. My secondary guitar is a Squier Strat with 5 springs on the whammy and the bar is removed entirely (effectivly a hardtail), and I only use the neck or the bridge pickups. So on a whim I decided to sell my guitars and buy one nicer guitar. I set out to find something with two single coils and no whammy. The Telecaster became an obvious choice, but after playing several, I was turned off. I nearly bought a Jaguar that had a really great tone, but suddenly saw a pair of '69 Thinline RI's on the wall the day I showed up with the money. When I played the first one, I was hooked. I took it home. Currently the Telecaster is the ONLY electric guitar for me. Just last year I sold my Stratocaster to buy a '52 RI to go along with my trusty '69 Thinline RI. __________________ I have a few bands: 7 Mysteries Zerababyl Inflammatory Rhetoric

May 16th, 2006, 12:13 AM	#47 (permalink)
tonytrout Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brasstown/Murphy, North Carolina Age: 32 Posts: 438 6 Photos	How did I get hooked on a telel? Two words: JAMES BURTON!!! __________________ Phil. 4:13; Jer. 29:11

May 16th, 2006, 12:18 AM	#48 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 745	I heard Ray Flacke playing w/Ricky Skaggs on the radio in high school back in the 80's and I was just starting to play. I had a friend that played blues on a Tele and could tell the tone. I was the one that would say "That's a Tele" when a song came on the radio. My friends would ask "how do you know?". I don't know, but I did know and now... I really know cause that's all there is as far as I'm concerned. __________________ Howdy Y'all, most of my stuff pertains to country music. my MySpace Music Hill Country Horseworks

May 16th, 2006, 03:51 AM	#49 (permalink)
degsycaster Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Suffolk, England Age: 38 Posts: 522 35 Photos	How I Came To The Telecaster Hello from England! Over here in the 70's/80's one of the big chart acts was a band called Status Quo. As a child I was obsessed with this band and their 2 Tele' line up, so, when I got my first gutar aged 16 in 1986 (a horrible Hondo Les Paul junior copy!) I was desperate to get my hands on Leo's finest invention. I finally did - a late 80's *** Squire, and it was a pig! Subsequently I went through Strats, Les Pauls, Flying V's, S.G.'s you name it I had one. In the 90's I got married, had a child and downscaled my Les Paul std and Marshall half stack for a US Tele std and a Hot Rod Deluxe and I've never looked back since. Tele's are so versatile. People just dont get past the classic twangy tele reputation but they should. I currently have a 60's Classic Mexican Tele that keeps my Les Paul Classic and S.G. standard in their cases. I think the Mex Classic series is the best VFM Tele' currently available. I know now that guitars may come and go, but I'll always have a Tele' in my sonic arsenal. __________________ To twang is to live!

May 15th, 2006, 01:20 PM	#42 (permalink)
Fourth Feline Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Yorkshire, England. Age: 50 Posts: 669	I went to see a local blues band in a bar circa 1980. It was then then I first discovered the blues and the enigmatic telecaster. I remember thinking that if the blues was the truth, this guitar was the voice of the truth ... Later the guitarist tried Les Pauls and ES 355's but the band were not happy when he did. That battered telecaster could just break your heart, pin you to the wall and loosen your fillings all at the same time. It was years later before I got one. I was just afraid because I knew I would have to 'up my game' to sound o.k on one. They do not carry you if your technique is sloppy, but the day I could make a decent sound with just a tele and a 15 W tweed combo, I knew I was eventually becoming a guitarist. The quest goes ever on ...

May 15th, 2006, 01:53 PM	#43 (permalink)
Platefire Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Louisiana around Many Posts: 323	Yeah the Tele is tagged primarily a country guitar but as you say a lot of blues players used them and I see them turning up even in Metal bands. The thing about a Tele with the right amp you can even make it sound Les Paulish if that's your desire. Pretty flexable when you start playing with tone. Something about that old fender bolt on neck, radius and action on a mapel fingerboard I would perfer over Gibson every time.

May 15th, 2006, 06:26 PM	#46 (permalink)
Fourth Feline Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Yorkshire, England. Age: 50 Posts: 669	Telemarkman mentioned Steve Cropper; it was certainly Mr. Cropper that taught me that it was better to play less rather than more - especially in a larger band setting. Good taste never goes out of style !

May 16th, 2006, 04:32 AM	#50 (permalink)
tjalla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,869 7 Photos	Albert Collins Live at Montreaux, 92-93 8)

May 16th, 2006, 07:54 AM	#52 (permalink)
Raymondo TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 79	In 1990 i was 15 me and my friend Greg were playing baseball on a car park in the local village i pitched to greg he twatted the baseball out of the park over the fence on to the rail road track. we checked the coast was clear and my friend pulled up the barrier while i wriggled underneith. i eventually found the ball which was nessled amoung aload of crap that had been fly tipped on the bank. just as i turned to head back to the fence someone pulled up at the top of the slope, thinking it was the police or station master i made a run for it tripping on an old pram believe it or not and nearly nocking myself out. myfriend said hey look whats in here, i excitedly looked, it was a battered nacked telecaster the neck was still attached it looked so old and rubbish we nearly left it there. but we took it home even stopping now and then to see if it made a good bat! (i know o my god) anyway we took it to my grandads house who played guitar he took one look at it and was mesmerised we asked him if it was any good he said it was the most beutiful guitar he had ever seen me and greg looked at him thnking he had lost it, it looked about 40 years old. He told us it was destiny that i found it and i should learn to play emidiatly. we spend 4 weekends restoring the guitar grandad would source origional part that needed replacing but most of the hours were spent delicatly cleaning the parts inside and out and oiling movable parts. i have never played another guitar apart from a telecaster. but this particular guitar was stolen not a day goes by i dont think about it and that magical day __________________ space travel's in my blood there aint nothing i can do about it

May 16th, 2006, 09:07 AM	#53 (permalink)
PUCKBOY99 TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SUNNY S. FLORIDA Posts: 21	I picked one up & it fit !!! It fit my hands, body, the music I listen to...the music I play. It's a classic that will humble you & put a smile on your face in the same sitting..... __________________ '93 MIA Tele w/Bardens '97 MIA Thinline Tele Stock p/us (for now) '04 '69 Thinline Tele RI w/Fralins '05 MIM Flamekaster w/Duncans MY STUFF: http://community.webshots.com/user/puckboy99

May 16th, 2006, 09:08 AM	#54 (permalink)
Big Lug Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lower Mainland, the Great White North Posts: 609	1972... Jim Messina ("Loggins & Messina"). I was so used to (and enamoured with) the sound of a Marshall with either a Les Paul or Strat that when I heard his playing it was like a breath of fresh air. I still enjoy listening to his playing and tone on those albums. __________________ "Set my compass North I've got winter in my blood." Robbie Robertson

May 16th, 2006, 09:21 AM	#55 (permalink)
rhomco Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Crowley, Texas Posts: 748	That was easy! I saw my first Tele on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 or 65. The Kinks did "You Really Got Me" and the lead player had a white Telecaster. I guess it really got me because I found a 50 something Tele at a pawn shop for $60.00 and I have not been without a Tele since that day. Rob

May 22nd, 2006, 06:08 PM	#57 (permalink)
collinsman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: " Land Of Ten Thousand Taxes" Posts: 1,119	My first good guitar was a blonde 68 Tele that I put on layaway ( believe it or not ) at a Pawn Shop for either $125 or $175, not quite sure, back in 71" when I was in HS, and to this day I just love the tele sound and vibe. __________________ The Tele, my favorite axe and I love the Players - Albert Collins, Roy Buchanon, Robben Ford, Danny Gatton, Jerry Donohue, & many others.

May 22nd, 2006, 06:28 PM	#58 (permalink)
captain gorgeous Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Angel, North London Posts: 1,886 38 Photos	been playing guitar since about 1990 but only got my first tele in 2003. had a picture of one (blonde w/maple) on my wall for about 3 years while i saved. make that didn't save anything and waited till me credit was good enough to get a gold card. anyway, i was swayed by the sound and look of keef, jeff buckley, steve cropper, george harrison, albert lee, luther perkins, rich robinson and (i know this is sad but i feel i should be honest) dan whatsisname from the counting crows. what can i say - i was really into them at the time. good player. oh seeing norah jones at the shep's bush empire about that time didn't hurt either. don't think it was jim c (sorry jim) it was adam... his name escapes me. dash it all. that guy had tone and taste in buckets. __________________ "What is it with chimpanzees and that middle parting? It's so 1920s." www.myspace.com/daddylonglegsuk http://www.myspace.com/thetacticians

May 22nd, 2006, 06:41 PM	#59 (permalink)
captain gorgeous Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Angel, North London Posts: 1,886 38 Photos	dan vickrey __________________ "What is it with chimpanzees and that middle parting? It's so 1920s." www.myspace.com/daddylonglegsuk http://www.myspace.com/thetacticians

May 22nd, 2006, 06:54 PM	#60 (permalink)
captain gorgeous Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Angel, North London Posts: 1,886 38 Photos	and Adam Levy __________________ "What is it with chimpanzees and that middle parting? It's so 1920s." www.myspace.com/daddylonglegsuk http://www.myspace.com/thetacticians

May 22nd, 2006, 07:25 PM	#61 (permalink)
Platefire Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Louisiana around Many Posts: 323	Good Stuff! Keep Those Tele stories Coming! Thanks for a the good tele stories! Great stuff! Every Tele player has a story when they made their Tele connection. I had a ball with mine Sat night again over my moded Sivertone 1482 trying out some vintage 12AX7 Mullard's. Platefire

May 22nd, 2006, 08:07 PM	#62 (permalink)
6942 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,576	Played acoustics, since 1967. My first electric guitar, was only last year! My kids, all play acoustics, and humbuckers. Wanted me to play electric with them. So, on the advice of an old friend, bought a TELE. It's been great!! Sorry I hadn't bought one, years ago!! :D

May 22nd, 2006, 09:27 PM	#63 (permalink)
Rick Towne Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 818	James Burton 1972.... on the first Gram Parsons album. Hearing Bernie Leadon's bender on Take It Easy and Peaceful Easy Feeling, and seeing Al Perkins with the breadboard Evans bender on tour with Stephen Stills and Manassas that same year sealed it.

May 22nd, 2006, 09:45 PM	#64 (permalink)
fancychords Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: staten island ny Age: 61 Posts: 287	ther are a lot of good players out there but in my opinion the tele players always seemed to be better...g.e.smith i think said it once that a tele was the guitar he compared it to motercyles and said "it's like do you ride a motercycle or do you ride a harley""...

May 22nd, 2006, 10:03 PM	#65 (permalink)
benbo Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Hampton, Va Age: 44 Posts: 775