The First Telecasters: the Blackguards, A Short History

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I've been haunted by the look and sound of blackguard telecasters since college. Mike Campbell's playing with Tom Petty cemented the idea that you can do it all with a Telecaster and as he uses a '51 "Nocaster" that's the image that has always stuck with me.
I've chased that down in my own guitars with a butterscotch Strandberg Sälen, modded to a have flat black guard. The combination of blackguard styling along with the amazing ergonomics of the Strandbergs is the perfect combination for me. But honestly, it's the invocation of those earliest Fender guitars that lights me up, just seeing it on the stand next to my writing station makes me smile.
It's very hard to squeeze a "more than a sketch but less than a collector's view" into a 30 minute video, but that's what I try to do with the Short History videos. See the live stream on this subject to talk about the stuff that didn't fit...or...God forbid...the stuff the references, and then I got wrong. :)
Thanks for watching.
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.*** 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.

[cliftongardner]

No matter what you play, if you can’t make a telecaster sound good, the problem isn’t the telecaster. If I had to have only one guitar and no more, it would be a tele. Legendary guitar.

[manofdude]

At Sam Ash in NYC, I asked a Fender rep about the guitar that Keith Richards plays. His eyes lit up, he pulled out a tweed case, handed me a '52 Reissue, and I was hooked immediately. I didn't intend to spend that kind of $ that day, but I eventually had to do it. Still love it today, almost 18 years later.

[ericwarrington]

Man u have this knack for dropping these right when I seem to have that few minutes to give it my attention...just walked into the "studio" and low and behold... 😂...these have become a bright spot in my world Kieth as some of us just crave this kinda brain food..can't get enough... great topics beautifully done...much respect for your work and friendly nature...I hope kind words bring u the same feeling your channel brings me...ty brother

[ArcticonComp]

Our guitarist suffered a catastrophic guitar wiring failure when recording our recent ep. His hollow body just gave up and he had to play the studio sessions with a borrowed black guard (not original 50s though). It didn't take long when he bought a reissue blackguard and now mostly plays that guitar. Truly a versatile instrument and pairs really well with a Fender tweed deluxe.

[timothybailey]

Forrest White was one of my closest friends in the early 1980's. We used have lunch
on Fridays, and he would tell stories of when he met Leo, and the early production woes.
He and Leo would have LOVED this video, and your detailed work is greatly appreciated!!!

[mikepfeifer]

Greetings from Nashville north, Louisville, Ky. Keith, you could read the phonebook and somehow I would find it interesting. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your hard work. It is obvious you spend a lot of time preparing for for each program.
Five Watt World is the “gold standard” for YouTube
Keep it up brother!!! Thanks again.

[fishypaw]

When I started playing electric, it was all about Strats and LPs. That's what my heroes played (so I thought). I didn't know at the time that Jimmy Page played tele on the first Zep albums. I then spotted a nice '62 reissue tele in my local store and had to try it out. Ten minutes later, it was mine. I've since bought and sold other teles, and built my own tele-partscaster, which I'd never sell. For such a simple design, teles sound and feel so good, and they really are a lot more versatile than I used to imagine. Good video as always. Now excuse me while I go give my tele some love.

[mattharrison]

The Ken Burns of Guitar-Tube strikes again! Excellent work Keith, loved every minute of it. I started my Telecaster / Country Guitar Journey in 2019 (25 yrs into the hobby) and I haven’t looked back. Being a Nashville native, I grew up with the sound, but rebelled against it in my youth. Now, I love the Telecaster more than anything and have gained more fretboard knowledge on this path than I could imagine. It was the missing link in my music-mind that has allowed me to play through the changes, anywhere on the fretboard. Thanks 🙏🏻 Again!

[mister-LA]

Wow! This should be the definitive history of the early Telecasters. So much detail, it just can't be absorbed in 1 or 2 viewings. Thanks Keith.

[ericbgordon]

Regarding Mike Campbell and Tom Petty, a favorite moment of mine from TV was when the Heartbreakers were on VH1 Storytellers the day their 1999 album *Echo* was released. During their performance of "You Don't Know How it feels", Mike was playing his Broadcaster while Tom was playing his '57. The lineup of those 2 with Howie Epstein and Scott Thurston with their respective bass and Stratocaster looked to me like the most awesome allotment of classic Fender instruments during the 90s.

[Merjia]

Five Watt World is where history buffs, and gear nerds meet. Love these dives into guitar history

[Stratocus]

About 45 years ago a friend asked me to babysit his Telecaster for a couple of weeks while he was out of town. I wasn't into electrics at the time and always preferred the look of a Strat. Nevertheless, thinking back on that heavily worn slab of ash with it's black guard I wonder what kind of treasure I'd been so dismissive of. Thank you, Keith, for your unique knack of making these pocket histories absolutely fascinating.

[davidfreiboth]

Damn if it didn't happen again ... started getting emotional during the thank you outro. Call me an emotional sap but by the time you get to " ... and thank you for being a part of the Five Watt World", I'm fighting back tears. No other musical content (hell, no other content period) produces such a welling of emotion. Is it your delivery? The script? The heart felt thank yous? The clear passion for the gear that makes the music we love? Don't know but it has become a bit of a test to see whether it will happen when I tune in to the latest Five Watt World content. So far its happens every time.

[interniet]

At 10:22 in the video I misheard "New Telecaster" as "Nutellacaster"

[Celestion]

Unexpected but very welcome inclusion of my childhood friend as a Tele user. Jules started with a bunch of big hollowbody jazzboxes but the fact that he can get such sweet warm tones out of almost the same guitar I play brash blues and punk rock with says a lot about the Telecaster's versatility.

[davidwilliams]

Another great presentation. Informative and fun to watch. I have owned a '51 and '52 telecaster but my favorite is still my leather decorated '54 white guard. The thermometer cases are cool but you just can't beat a red lined tweed case. Thanks Keith.

[kryptonicloser]

I just can’t thank you enough for this amount of information

[buzzawuzza]

So cool to find out about how those early solid bodies have a hand built feel. All through my youth we thought of Fender guitars as being factory products cranked out impersonally on an assembly line. Thank you as always for another excellent and informative video.

[kevinmorris]

Thanks Keith, you sure have a way of giving the history. You bring the fastinating out to see. Thanks.

[ArthurMorgan_]

Keith, I truly admire your work and your detail-oriented production philosophy. one of the best channels on the platform. keep it up, and stay well.