Why do acoustic players like Telecasters

[Pickcity]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Why do acoustic players like Telecasters

I'm another one who thinks the question might be faulty, based upon anecdotal evidence from possibly one region. Acoustic guitar players in my region play everything electric under the sun. However, I have experienced the presence of the Telecaster Mafia, whose answer to every electric guitar question is, "Isn't the Telecaster 100% better than all the rest?"

Were I forced to answer the question above, my answer might be, "Just crazy, I guess."

Bob

Until I started reading this forum, I had no idea how many acoustic players don't play electric. On the flip side, I have also discovered that there are quite a few electric players that don't play acoustic...30+ years under my belt and I never realized that some people do not play both.

[Silly Moustache]

Bought one once. put a strap on it. looked at myself in a mirror, removed the strap - took it back.

[mattcran]

Yeah, I have a Tele... And a couple strats... And a few les Pauls, and a prs. I guess I like all guitars, lol.

[Humbuster]

Teles still.... are:

[Goodallboy]

For the same reasons they like any other electric guitar.......

[Michael Watts]

Telecasters are wonderful. I don't own one at the moment but my White Falcon has the tonal bases covered while feeling like an acoustic.

And being covered in gold...

[taylorgtr]

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.

Bill Kirchen said it best.....

"It was born at the junction of form and function."

[taylorgtr]

What's better than a Tele? 3 of them.

[YeOldRocker]

I think the question is based on a false perception to begin with; country musicians do seem to play a lot of Teles, for a variety of obvious reasons, but, while Teles are certainly well-represented among rock players, my perception is that there are far more Strats (or Strat/hybrids or clones) and Les Pauls (or its offspring) among rock players, nevermind Flying Vs. Jazz players mostly play hollowbody or semi-hollowbody, but they don't have to, and other musical styles run the gamut.

Practically all those players will also play acoustic guitars, but - again - I don't think there's a real consensus on which acoustic brand/style is linked to any given genre without multiple exceptions or examples.

I mostly play Strats, myself, and - while tempted once or twice by Tele hybrids with humbuckers (can't stand the "twang" true Teles are famous for) - I just don't care for Teles' looks or feel, and never did. Since all tastes are personal, I think you'll find that - player to player - while we covet guitars in general - we don't necessarily covet the same guitars (can you say Taylor v. Martin?).

If you pose a question based on a false perception/conclusion, you end up with a ridiculously long thread where no one quite agrees with any one else.

Probably as it should be on a forum.

[Steel and wood]

I so wanted a B-Bender Telecaster with a leather cover like Waylon Jennings but settled instead for a blonde Telecaster with a maple board and black guard complete with Bigsby.

Love my Telecaster!

[Humbuster]

Because of this:




Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Well..almost.

55 Thin Skin
62 Dave's Reissue

[Joe Beamish]

I have a Squire Tele that I really like. I upgraded the electronics. The whole guitar just vibrates when I strum it. The neck isn't amazingly comfortable like some of the proper Tele's, but I only paid $175 for the axe. Anyway, it's a cool guitar -- and my only electric.

But my next electric, if I get one, should have a tremolo bar.

Would it be an abomination to have a tremolo bar on a Tele? And if so, what's a good guitar for that?

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by Joe Beamish

Would it be an abomination to have a tremolo bar on a Tele? And if so, what's a good guitar for that?

You typically see Bigsbys. But it's not simply a matter of adding the trem; the whole bridge & pickup assembly has to be swapped out, too. Google some photos.

[Joe Beamish]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

You typically see Bigsbys. But it's not simply a matter of adding the trem; the whole bridge & pickup assembly has to be swapped out, too. Google some photos.

Naturally. I think that's my only problem with Teles....I gotta have a tremolo bar, and yes, swapping out the bridge would probably be an abomination on a Tele.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by Joe Beamish

Naturally. I think that's my only problem with Teles....I gotta have a tremolo bar, and yes, swapping out the bridge would probably be an abomination on a Tele.

If you're okay with working backwards and letting the tail wag the dog, try out different trems and get the guitar that has the one you like. Fender Strat & Jazzmaster have unique trems. If you really like the Bigsby, there's always Gretsch.