Describe the 3 Tele Switch Positions

[Willie Johnson]

Blobby
Squinky
Pokey

 

[cleantones]

Not an easy exercise for me as I have several Teles that sounds quite different: a P90, a HH and a more traditional with 4 positions switch.

Top position is heaven on all of them, that’s what I most play. Bridge for twang, old rock or awake the neighbourhood

 

[Jeru]

- AWESOME
- meh
- AWESOME

———————————
Joseph Heller version:

- Feather in my Cap
- Black Eye
- Feather in my Cap

 

[Lunasdadsince2013]

Crosby, Stills and Nash

 

[middy]

Cher
Sonny
Merle

 

[badscrew_projects]

Crosby, Stills and Nash

RIP neck pickup

 

[Lou Tencodpees]

I've always found all 3 positions very useful, depending on the output of the pickups.

As primarily a Strat player I've found the neck position of a Tele very similar to the neck position on a Strat.

*Throaty, honk, warm*

The middle position great for more rhythmic phrasing with similarities to the middle position of a dual humbucker guitar.

*Ping*

The bridge position can do so much. Roll the volume back and strum out some Peace, Love and Understanding. Crank it and ride the tone knob you get anything from Buchanan to Zeppelin. The other element beside the 2 knobs is where you pick.

*Crunch, clang, crisp*

If a Tele ever sounds strident its not the guitar's fault.

 

[Barrettworld]

Neck - warm
Middle - fat
Bridge - go, baby, go

 

[VWAmTele]

Br-Md-Nk:

Yes
Sometimes
No

 

[johnnyASAT]

The telecaster has only one pickup (the neck)

 

[cyclopean]

Neck: only good if you’re using a blue box.

 

[Novak]

Reality check:

Neck: Smooth "woody" tone, approaches edge of SRV tone, but hums. Mostly unusable
Bridge: Sharp, twangy biting/tone, but also hums. See above
Middle: Moderately smooth with some twang, still has classic tele sound; works well in most situations. That's where my switch is 95% of the time.
YMMV

 

[cyclopean]

Neck: do not use.