Telecaster the ultimate Rhythm guitar 

My love of Telecasters came back in 1986. I was recording a demo, in a Studio in Atlanta, using a decent rented, Strat clone. The guitar or the cord kept cutting out. I was upset, time is money. The guy working the board (who to my late 20s eye, looked ancient.) said "Well we've got an OLD guitar in the back. Do you want to try it?' I said Sure. He brought out an old Butterscotch Blackguard with a U neck. Literally blew the dust off it. Tuned it up, switched to the bridge pickup (don't know the wiring configuration, I'm guessing I was right.). strummed a chord...the thing rang like a bell!!! I decided then & there, if I could afford one, I'm buying a Fender Telecaster. Finally got the money 30 yrs ago. I bought my 1992 US Telecaster. I had gotten a good deal on a used Strat some years before, but I kept my mind on the Tele.(If it was good enough for Muddy Waters & others...) Once i got home & plugged that Tele in, I never picked up the Strat again. I actually gave it away. I did put a 5 Way Super Switch on it back in 2015. That gives me Bridge/ Both 1/2 out of phase/ Both Parallel/ Both Series/ Neck. I wouldn't take any money for it. It's been through earthquakes, tornadoes, me dragging it across country, my grandkids, & worst of all me beating on it for 30 yrs!!! Yet it keeps on. It'll handle any job, from clean sparkling tones, to bone crunching power chords, to low down dirty Blues, etc. And it can handle Lead with ease. You might say I love the guitar. My youngest granddaughter gets it plus the rest of my stuff when I pass. I bought her a 3/4 Pink guitar she wanted. She said she needs to practice. Any way you're still in our prayers, Blessings, Gil

Love me some Teles. Just simple, straightforward, bright enough to cut through a mix, versatile enough to be expressive, and they stay in tune like no other production guitar type. I've had Teles shipped across oceans and arrive IN TUNE! And they pair so well with just about any type of amplifier. You don't have to wonder, "will my Tele sound good through this amp?" It will.

Telecasters were never my thing but, the older I get, the more I come to appreciate them. Much more versatile than they appear.

When I was first learning to play, I didn't care for the Telecaster and was drawn more to the Stratocaster. Now, I view them as indispensable. I wasn't ready for a Telecaster then, I had to grow up first to appreciate them.

Today and actually since 2019 and longer $500 will get you a professional quality guitar that's just the way it is now and not going to ever change

That shot of Prince with the bow 🤘🏽.

I've had my Blonde Made In Korea Tele Caster now for about 20 years...upgraded all the Electronics adding a 5 position Switch matched up with Joe Barden Electronic Pickups...you talk about Versatility I have it all and would not part with it ...too much in Love with it ....💕💞💓

I just got a new stratocaster and now I have to get a telecaster

Hi Mike for the longest time when I could only afford one guitar that had to be a strat.The look of a Tele never really did it for me. My friend said I was missing the trick of the Tele and like you have just pointed out the second I actually played one I got it. Now I did buy one and its a Mexican Fender Nasville but I think I need to mod it to get the neck and bridge connected in one position but not sure how to go about it! . Keep the content coming brother.

I was a strat guy for 20 years. I never felt a Tele was necessary. Then one day I spotted the FSR Tele that I now own, and from the second I played that bridge pickup I understood... Nothing else sounds like it.

Glary tele for the win! Works well with a good setup or great platform for a mod. Great vid Old Man!

"Greatest" I don't know, iconic and versatile, heck yes! An essential in any serious guitar collection.

@CGS I only have 1 telecaster changed out the neck pick up for a Seymoure Ducan quarter pounder and a fender hot rod at the bridge love it to bits ;p

Nice! I love my tele! I'm currently building a kind of tele out of old strat body! and strat mod looking tele head stock! hopefully it won't look to bad? Thanks Mike! nice to see you!

Teles are one of the best all arounders there are IMO.

I think a great rhythm guitarist can make ANY guitar a great rhythm guitar (likewise with a great lead player).

Great video, Mike and Padraig :) I want a Tele! It’s a real workhorse - I equate the Tele and Strat to the Hurricane and Spitfire … It was Battle of Britain Day yesterday, so the comparison seems even more apt to me (although it might only be me that thinks of those guitars in terms of WWII fighter planes! 😂)

The only drawback of the Nashville Tele is there is no way to have the bridge and neck on together if it is stock.

The tele neck pickup sound is one of my favorite musical sounds period. They’re not my bag as far as what I play, but man do I love listening to them. Btw, you seen the new Paisley “Esquire” tele? Thing is pretty sick. I thought that it was bridge pickup only, but turns out they put the neck pickup under the pickgaurd which is really cool because you still get the pickup, but it doesn’t take away from the cool finish.

ive got a 07 electric blue with a tone zone in the bridge that will growl with the best of them but if i want i can get chimy with the neck i love my tele i play it more than my gibson to be fair i play through a hand wired vox and i play more melodic sounds but i also play a friends marshall once in a while just to feel that punch at my back and it never lets me down

John5

Prince? Please spare us with the Prince bs