Here's what I've learned the past year about Telecasters/Guitars :)

Yeah, I'm aware that because of the internet we're in a golden age of guitar knowledge and options! It sometimes freaks me out when I count my pedals (and I know that a lot of folks here have way more than me!) but I also understand I'm learning so much about guitars and music with the internet's help that that kid (me) who taught himself to play with a Mel Bay book in the early eighties would have his mind blown!

I guess the lesson is you just gotta use the gear and not let it use you!

 

I find I play differently (as in different go-to licks, chord shapes etc) with different types of guitars. I have four teles (well three teles and an esquire, to be precise) and I generally play much the same stuff on all of them, but that is quite different to when I play my Rickenbacker or archtop, for example. But I am fairly sure soundwise I still sound like me on everything.
I keep living in hope that I will be able to transfer what I play on one type of guitar to another, which I would consider to make it all worth it, but I am not sure that is really the case, at least for me.

 

I have built a lot of Teles over the last 15 years or so, but I just built a toploader that may be "the one". It's doing everything right.

 

Lawd, I would definitely not retain my wife in such a situation. God bless you sir!

 

We spend far too much time worrying about sound and chasing tone, instead of worrying about making good music. How many horn, woodwind, or string players have a giant collection? I would guess none. They probably have their main instrument, and maybe a backup. If I don't write down which guitar, amp, and pedals I used when making a recording, I can't ever tell which were used on which recording, 'cause after I dial in my preferred sound, they all sound too similar to tell apart.

 

Great thread! The kind of thread I need to read every three or four days, after I went down the rabbit hole of "I need another -better- Tele than the one I'm playing right now...

I had a great practice session the other day: 1,5 hours of pure bliss while practicing ( I think they call this "the flow") and afterwards I looked at my Baja and thought:"Why did you ever think, you needed a better guitar. This one is perfect for you!"

Then of course, there are days when you don't pay attention and wonder how you're ever gonna scrape together the money for that Nachocaster...
Keith Williams of Five Watt World has a couple of insightful videos on this topic on youtube.

Well, back to practice now...

 

Practice? Practice what? I'm too busy contemplating THE best boutique vintage-spec Broad- and No-caster pickups to replace my perfectly fine 1996 52RI stock ones. I have no time to dilly-dally on practice! Besides, my amp is too loud!

 

I say you’re right. A tele is a tele is a tele. You just have to find a good one that’s right for you. OH NO WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!!!

 

I have to say that I'm glad this site, or something like it in 1964, wasn't around cos I would've spent way too much time tinkering and buying and demoing then learning.

Since I found this site in 2007, I have since become a bit of a tinkerer. But in retrospect, as I've just turned 69, I'm not a serious player...exactly. I do a lot in my basement studio but I have the chops I wanted from all the practice and gigging so I enjoy the pleasure of my own playing.

More ways to skin a cat these days. Multi-tasking is a thing now so...enjoy your tinkering and learning.

 

You've been playing for just a little over a year and managed to "own " all these different Telecaster guitars - all in plural?

I guess with that little experience there would be good reason not to hear much difference.

Many of these guitars have very different neck profiles, bridge types and technical features.

With a bit more experience I'm sure you will discover something about one or two, apart from
beginners tone, which will appeal to you. Keep playing and hold on to them all 'cause you still have heaps to learn about the Telecaster.

 

I’ve been playing for over 50 years. I’m as good as I’m ever going to get. As for owning too many guitars...

Bless us and splash us! We wants them. We needs them! Must have the preciouses.

 

That was me and I’ve hire a teacher for a weekly online lesson and heading north! Time to be a player (and collector). I’ll post an update at the end of the year.

 

I’ve thought a lot about this in the few years I’ve been learning to play and collecting gear. I’m pretty clear that if I only had the first guitar, and the first amp I got (they were good enough) and had spent all of my guitar time practicing/playing, I would be a way better player. What i’ve discovered though is that I really like tinkering, adjusting, modding, and trying new stuff; not quite as much, but pretty close to as much as I like playing. Since I got comfortable with that, I’ve been practicing more, and the collecting has slowed a bit. I always have some kind of project going (getting ready to do my first kit build), and I switch up what i’m playing (within my collection)pretty regularly, but i’m pretty comfortable with the pace of things. I’m not rabidly gassing, and I’m not beating myself up over the fact that I don’t play like Hendrix yet.