Why do acoustic players like Telecasters

[eastcoast Chris]

I was wondering why most of the primarily acoustic players I know seem to have a Tele somewhere around the house.Mine is a Japanese Jerry Donahue model.

[gfirob]

I think because the Telecaster has an established "vintage" sound in the electric world, associated with rockabilly, country music and so on. It was the first Fender electric (other than the lap steels) and (to me) it has a very beautiful early design. That's how it looks to me, anyway...

[backdoc]

It's simple. Telecasters are awesome!

[Shades of Blue]

Originally Posted by eastcoast Chris

I was wondering why most of the primarily acoustic players I know seem to have a Tele somewhere around the house.Mine is a Japanese Jerry Donahue model.

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm more of a Strat guy. I do like Teles though. I think for me the quintessential guitar sounds are the neck pickup of a Strat, and the bridge pickup of a Tele.

If I had to guess, it's that Fender style guitars sound better clean and do better with low drive than buckers. That's just me...

[guitararmy]

For me, I find a tele good good for strumming because of the fixed bridge and noncontoured body that reminds me of an acoustic...

Like acoustic guitars, they're simple, foolproof, and direct. They get out of the way and let the player come through.

It's so impressive that Leo Fender knocked it out of the park on his very first pitch.

[BT55]

Originally Posted by Shades of Blue

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm more of a Strat guy. I do like Teles though. I think for me the quintessential guitar sounds are the neck pickup of a Strat, and the bridge pickup of a Tele.



If I had to guess, it's that Fender style guitars sound better clean and do better with low drive than buckers. That's just me...

I agree. I’ve owned Tele’s but prefer a Strat or a Les Paul any day over them.

[Dwight]

Who doesn't like Telecasters? I've got five.

[mr. beaumont]

I see a guy play a Tele, my opinion of them automatically goes up. It's like..."Ah...they know."

I think what appeals is definitely the simplicity, and the fact that a tele, unlike a lot of electrics, actually sounds great just simply strummed...

[Johnny.guitar]

Yup. Either a Tele or my favourite is my LP Jr with a hand wound P90. Love P90’s.

[Pickcity]

Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire

Like acoustic guitars, they're simple, foolproof, and direct. They get out of the way and let the player come through.

It's so impressive that Leo Fender knocked it out of the park on his very first pitch.

And to add to his impressiveness is the fact that Leo did not play guitar.

I like Teles because they are simple and straight forward, but very versatile. I love others as well, and have owned many of them, but the Tele is like coming home to an old friend.

I just picked up a new American professional Telecaster last week. Score!

[Goat Mick]

Originally Posted by eastcoast Chris

I was wondering why most of the primarily acoustic players I know seem to have a Tele somewhere around the house.Mine is a Japanese Jerry Donahue model.

You can play anything on a Tele. You can strum cowboy chords like an acoustic, play twangy chicken picking stuff, cry the blues, classic rock, jazz and even overdriven metal. They're just awesome.

BTW those Japanese JD Teles are awesome. I really regret getting rid of the one I had.

[DrJamie]

It's so obvious.

[mikealpine]

For anyone who also likes the Tele bridge sound and the Strat neck sound, there are pickup winders who have Tele neck pickups voiced to emulate Strat neck pickups. Is it perfect? No. But it's pretty close!

I like a Tele because I like the shape of a Tele. The size of it fits my smaller frame, 5' 5", trim and athletic. But I'm not traditional in any way; I like them to have belly and arm contours, and am fine with humbuckers (prefer an option for series/parallel) and so on. Strats work too, but I find the middle pickup gets in my way, as does the selector switch.

[stephenT]

The telecaster is the most acoustic-like guitar of all the electric guitars. Clear dynamic sound, w/ excellent string separation.