Is there a quintessential Tele solo?

[davidge1]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Wild Jimmy Spruill on Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City."

Wow, you actually know who played that solo? That's one of my all-time favorite guitar breaks. My mom used to have a compliation album of 50s stuff that I borrowed when I was in high school and never returned, mostly because of that song. That solo just killed me when I was a kid, the way he repeated one very simple lick and just changed it very subtly each time. I didn't even know it was a Telecaster until now. :)

[blackguard1135]

I'm not so sure.

I really take a risk on this thread by saying that I hear a lot of the "country hot dogger" players cramming sixteen thousand notes into one bar.

I'm not going to mention names cause I really do respect those guys: their playing usually makes my jaw drop.

But it usually doesn't melt my heart like Jimmy Page's solo on "Since I've Been Loving You" or anything Roy B ever did or Keith's solo in "Sympathy For The Devil," which by the way, I'm pretty sure was not a Tele, but a triple pickup black Les Paul Custom through a Vox AC-30—probably gained out with some device and probably super light strings.

How about Keith on "Down The Road Apiece" or "It's All Over Now?" (I know, not a Tele)
Michael Bloomfield played fast enough for me— and along with Roy, coaxed more tone out of a Tele by digging in to those strings than any of those
"Hey, look how fast I can play and get an amp named after me" guys.



phrasing boys! that's where good soloing lies

[OutlawSteph1975]

Originally Posted by davidge1

James Burton was the beginning of modern country guitar playing as we know it. His playing on this song is the best early example of that style. Without James Burton, John Jorgenson wouldn't be playing the way he did on Hello Trouble (another Buck Owens song...Ralph Mooney's steel solo on the original version is great also)

So true! James Burton is one of those guitarists' guitarist. I listened to Jorgenson, as well as Clarence White and Buck and Don Rich for many years before I knew much about James Burton. But the point is, Burton's style is so fundemental and easy for anyone to dig whether they are a guitarist or not.

[J-man]

Originally Posted by 120BPM

Can some one please clarify something that will completely change my thinking - I've seen a fair bit of Led Zep stuff and it appears Jimmy Page is using a Gibson - it sure looks like the Gibson headstock. Also that double neck 12/6 string monster which appears in that recent DVD of theirs.

Whats the go on this one? I'm a little dazed and confused

He used a Les Paul for most of the later live stuff but the early live stuff, and much of the studio stuff he used a Telecaster.

[LDM]

For Christmas, my wonderful sister gave me the 'Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival' DVD, which dates from around 2004, I think. Apart from Clapton, the show features a multitude of fine players like Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, BB King, Santana, JJ Cale, and so on. Every track a gem, but for me the standout solo was from Vince Gill, playing 'Oaklahoma Borderline'. The best Tele solo ever? That depends on what mood I'm in! When I'm listening to my MP3 Player, it's the 'Tele' half of the solo on 'Don't Worry Baby' by Los Lobos. Other times it's almost anything by Junior Brown, just for the eccentricity of his soloing. And yes, I think there's enough Tele 'DNA' in that thing of his for it to count!
I really recommend the Crossroads DVD.

[Brent Hutto]

There have been plenty of good suggestions for quintessential Tele solos. Here's my candidate for an intro that's the quintessence of Telecaster...

The opening dozen bars of "Mule Skinner Blues" by the supergroup Muleskinner introduced a whole new concept of bluegrass to the world. No one can imagine what Clarence White would have come up with by now if his life hadn't been cut short by that stupid drunk driver.

http://transbay.net/~bhutto/MuleSkinnerIntro.mp3

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by austintele

bob dylan "tombstone blues"

BLOOMFIELD!!!!!! When I saw his pic on the back of the 1st Butterfield LP holding that Tele decades ago I knew I had to have one.

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by davidge1

Wow, you actually know who played that solo? That's one of my all-time favorite guitar breaks. My mom used to have a compliation album of 50s stuff that I borrowed when I was in high school and never returned, mostly because of that song. That solo just killed me when I was a kid, the way he repeated one very simple lick and just changed it very subtly each time. I didn't even know it was a Telecaster until now. :)

Yeah, he was great. I think all of his early stuff was with a Tele but I believe he switched to a Les Paul later on.

[Todd68]

Originally Posted by J-man

He used a Les Paul for most of the later live stuff but the early live stuff, and much of the studio stuff he used a Telecaster.

Page used a Telecaster live up to January 9, 1969. After that he used a Les Paul. He later used a Telecaster with a b-bender on the 77 tour (for Ten Years Gone). He used it for Hot Dog on the 79 shows and 80 tour. Page used a Tele at the Arms concerts too (83). Still, "Stairway" and Zep I have Page playing the great Telecaster.

[120BPM]

Originally Posted by Todd68

Page used a Telecaster live up to January 9, 1969. After that he used a Les Paul. He later used a Telecaster with a b-bender on the 77 tour (for Ten Years Gone). He used it for Hot Dog on the 79 shows and 80 tour. Page used a Tele at the Arms concerts too (83). Still, "Stairway" and Zep I have Page playing the great Telecaster.

Well I'll be - I'm wondering how many others wouldn't have known that either. Magic stuff lads! Cheers

[Todd68]

Originally Posted by 120BPM

Well I'll be - I'm wondering how many others wouldn't have known that either. Magic stuff lads! Cheers

When I'm not being a dad, working or playing guitar, I'm collecting music (live stuff mostly). I have hundreds of live Zeppelin shows, and have read far too many books on the band. I guess I'm a bit of a music geek! Maybe I should learn how to golf!

[blue metalflake]

Originally Posted by Keifer

With millions of great tracks laid down by Tele pickers over the past several decades, there's just no way that I could make a call on which one was the 'cat-daddy' solo of all.

This is a lot of sense. There's 50 odd years, in so many styles, by so many pickers. For me it would come down to picking a favourite player, then taking a shot at one of his numbers.

There's been some great ideas so far - know what - they're all classics.

[franchelB]

that "Stairway to Heaven" might be the "quintessential Tele solo", BUT I think an "honourable mention" should go to Pete Anderson's "Fast as You" on Dwight Yoakam's album!

[davidge1]

Originally Posted by Brent Hutto

There have been plenty of good suggestions for quintessential Tele solos. Here's my candidate for an intro that's the quintessence of Telecaster...

The opening dozen bars of "Mule Skinner Blues" by the supergroup Muleskinner introduced a whole new concept of bluegrass to the world. No one can imagine what Clarence White would have come up with by now if his life hadn't been cut short by that stupid drunk driver.

Brent, that's awesome! Nashville West is one of my favorite albums, but I never knew Clarence White played any bluegrass type stuff on a Telecaster. Is there any other electric guitar on Muleskinner? I thought that album was all acoustic bluegrass until I heard your sound clip.

[tomtheguitarguy]

Originally Posted by 120BPM

Can some one please clarify something that will completely change my thinking - I've seen a fair bit of Led Zep stuff and it appears Jimmy Page is using a Gibson - it sure looks like the Gibson headstock. Also that double neck 12/6 string monster which appears in that recent DVD of theirs.

Whats the go on this one? I'm a little dazed and confused

I believe Jimmy played a Telecaster on many of the early Led Zeppelin albums - and that's what they're referring to. It wasn't until later that he switched on over to Gibson. Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken.

Ooops, I guess I didn't scroll down far enough - I see that the question was answered.

tomtheguitarguy

[davidge1]

Originally Posted by blackguard1135

does lots of notes a good player make? I'm not so sure.

I really take a risk on this thread by saying that I hear a lot of the "country hot dogger" players cramming sixteen thousand notes into one bar.

I'm not going to mention names cause I really do respect those guys: their playing usually makes my jaw drop.

But it usually doesn't melt my heart like Jimmy Page's solo on "Since I've Been Loving You" or anything Roy B ever did or Keith's solo in "Sympathy For The Devil," which by the way, I'm pretty sure was not a Tele, but a triple pickup black Les Paul Custom through a Vox AC-30—probably gained out with some device and probably super light strings.

How about Keith on "Down The Road Apiece" or "It's All Over Now?" (I know, not a Tele)
Michael Bloomfield played fast enough for me— and along with Roy, coaxed more tone out of a Tele by digging in to those strings than any of those
"Hey, look how fast I can play and get an amp named after me" guys.

phrasing boys! that's where good soloing lies

I couldn't agree with you more. There are a lot of country players who like to play entire solos of nothing but eighth notes with no space between them. As far as Im concerned, it's really monotonous – no matter how impressive their technique might be.

However, your comparison is really unfair. You make it sound like most rock players are all about soul and feeling, and most country players are only about technique. We all know that's not true...just listen to any heavy metal album. Then listen to Nashville West if you want to hear some really incredible country playing...not one fast lick on the whole album.

[Todd68]

Originally Posted by tomtheguitarguy

I believe Jimmy played a Telecaster on many of the early Led Zeppelin albums - and that's what they're referring to. It wasn't until later that he switched on over to Gibson. Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken.

Ooops, I guess I didn't scroll down far enough - I see that the question was answered.

tomtheguitarguy

Here is an interesting site to check out regarding Page's studio gear.

http://www.mikesguitarsite.co.uk/gear/led_zeppelin/

[davidge1]

Originally Posted by tomtheguitarguy

I believe Jimmy played a Telecaster on many of the early Led Zeppelin albums - and that's what they're referring to. It wasn't until later that he switched on over to Gibson. Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken.

I read that the entire first Led Zepplin album was done with only a Telecaster and a small Supro amp.

[Brent Hutto]

Originally Posted by davidge1

Is there any other electric guitar on Muleskinner? I thought that album was all acoustic bluegrass until I heard your sound clip.

It's mostly acoustic guitar (lots o' pedal steel though) although there's at least one other cut that has some Tele licks in it. Can't recall right off which song it was.

I'm a big fan of Pete Rowan's voice, if not always his material. Muleskinner has plenty of Pete's high lonesome tenor from back when he was practically a kid. Lots of Clarence goodness (Tele and otherwise), lots of amazing harmonies and an amazing variety of styles and instrument, what's not to love? Right now I'm listening to Footprints in the Snow and Clarence is doing his usual amazingly tasteful and tasty acoustic guitar fills and solos.

Some folks love the summertime when they can walk about...

[Still_tryin !]

Roy Buchanan's Hey Joe solo from a double cd . It is a live recording and i can't find the disc I think it's 1972..Well worth a listen.

[mudshark]

One impossible to choose; however, I always loved Jesse Ed Davis' solo of Jackson Browne's "Doctor My Eyes."............nice slow burn.

[Rock on]

Originally Posted by J-man

A big +1 for Stairway to Heaven and just about any other Zeppelin solo!

same

[Rock on]

Originally Posted by J-man

He used a Les Paul for most of the later live stuff but the early live stuff, and much of the studio stuff he used a Telecaster.

is this the dragon tele that he used?

i cant see the dragon on any pics of it? can someone clarify where the head is and the tail is and stuff.


Thanks

[Philo]

Roy B--Sweet Dreams (Check it out in "The Departed")
Jeff Beck--Cause We've ended up as lovers
Robbie Robertson--King Harvest