The Fender Telecaster : A Short History

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This is my Short History video on the Fender Telecaster. I go from the first prototype to the end of the CBS years and the beginnings of the many, many vintage reissues that have been done since.

This is the forth video in my history of famous gear series, "The Fender Telecaster". I've done, "The Fender Champ", "The Fender Princeton" and "The Fender Deluxe Amp" in the recent past to much acclaim (or such acclaim as can be found here on YouTube, :)

Five Watt World is a channel dedicated to learning about classics of gear and in finding ways to minimize the gear we use and maximize the music we make.

The following books helped make this video possible as research resources. ***
Thanks

"The Fender Telecaster" by A.R. Duchossoir

"The Fender Telecaster: Life and Times of the Electric Guitar That Changed the World" by Dave Hunter

Thanks for watching. And welcome to five watt world.
Keith
***Five watt world participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions by linking to Amazon. In simpler language, this means that whenever you buy something from Amazon from a link on here, I receive a small percentage of its price.

[RickBeato]

I own 3 Tele’s and realized that I knew nothing about them after watching this. Thanks Hypes!!

[alextryan]

This is a great video and I admire the speaker's ability not to blink or move his eyes for 21 minutes straight.

[Tyrell_Corp]

Being highly informative aside, I appreciate the mature and stoic delivery here. It’s a breath of fresh air from all the annoying ego driven productions on YouTube. Just like the Tele... less is more. Great job 👍

[robinleebraun]

My oldest brother says he owned several late 50’s and early 69’s Strats and Telecasters in the late sixties. At the time, they were literally a dime a dozen. Some ended up in the Rochester town dump. They could fund his retirement if he had them all today. But you never know what is going to be valuable in the future.

[TheTrollMastah]

Ironic that Fender couldn’t use the name Broadcaster and now Fender owns Gretsch hahaha

[jaredfreestone]

At the end of time, after human civilization; all that will remain will be cockroaches and Teles...and the Teles will be in tune"
- Greg Koch

[paulgeorgia]

The only thing I dislike about my telecasters is that I have retune them once every three months

[scottnewellguitar]

I had never heard the ES="Electric Spanish" thing before. Amazing!

[Fugettaboutit]

I've had this dream a few times. I'm suddenly transported to 1964. I walk into a big music store in Memphis, and there are Fender Stratocasters...a few current ones, and a few from the 50's that some have traded in for new ones. There's a blackguard Telecaster that's been there for years and they're just trying to get rid of so they've marked it down a lot...same with that 1959 Gibson Les Paul in the corner which no one will touch. I pick out a sunburst 57 Strat, the Lake Placid Blue '64, the Tele and the Les Paul tell them I'll take them along with that new Fender Super Reverb amp.  

Bill comes to just shy of $1300 for the lot. I'm beaming with joy...so I ask the clerk where the nearest ATM is....he stares at me and asks "The nearest what...?"

And then I wake

[AndrewMasters]

I'm 32, and have my first tele showing up in 2 days. I feel prepped and ready.

[TraneFrancks]

I always thought of Teles as "cowboy guitars" and had precisely zero interest in them. One day, I walked into a guitar shop here in Tokyo and there was this cheap, Japan-built Tele on the wall. Somehow, the combo of sunburst finish, black pickguard and maple neck called out to me. That was in 2000. It's been my Number 1 ever since. It's been upgraded with Fender Pure Vintage '64 pickups and CTS pots. I've played it enough that the poly finish is wearing off the edges of the fingerboard. Some things you just don't see coming.

[kraytkopacki]

I clicked on this video thinking that i know everything about teles. BUT MAN THIS WAS SO GOOD

[misterschubert]

I love how I can use my tele to paddle a canoe to the local lakeside gig, shake off the water, play two full sets, and then paddle home again. And on the rare occasion I need to use a clip-on tuner, it won't harm the finish...

Leo Fender wasn’t a musician himself, but worked closely with working musicians who gave him vital feedback on his designs and were indispensable in the development of the Telecaster, Stratocaster, and Amplifiers. His floating Tremolo design was one of his greatest contributions to the design of the Strat

[rumrstv]

I believe George Harrison famously played the rosewood Tele in the Let It Be Sessions not the Magical Mystery Tour ones. He's shown throughout the LIB film playing it.

[CC-tezf]

Many guitars have passed thru my collection over the last 40 years, but the one that keeps me honest is my Telecasters. There's something about it's simplicity in design that beckons one to dig in a little harder to see how you can shape the tone. But, there's nothing old-fashioned or simple at all about the bridge pickup design. It's unique and still one of the most wonderful tone crafting inventions ever. Love this video - I've lost count of how many times I've watched it. It's like a 300 page book on Telecasters in 21 minutes. Love this channel!!!!

[OscillationOverdrive]

Mike Bloomfield! Thank you for mentioning him. He often doesn't get his credit for a huge contribution to blues and rock. Great work on this history!

[josueguevara]

Great video. One of the most iconic Tele players of contemporary music is Jonny Greenwood with his 1994 Tele Plus featuring Lace Sensors pickups

[docjeffry]

This video is how I discovered Rick Beato's channel. Thank you for the history video...

[deltavistastudio]

WOW! That "Rosewood Telecaster", most beautiful guitar I've ever seen!!