If You Could Only Have One Guitar, It Should Be This (Fender Telecaster)

Here are some of my favorite Telecaster options (affiliate links)

Squier Affinity Series Telecaster $249 |

Fender Player Telecaster $849 |

Fender Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster $1649 |

Fender American Vintage II 1977 Telecaster Custom $2199 |

Fender Custom Shop GT11 1963 Heavy Relic Telecaster $4750 |

The Fender Telecaster is one of the most versatile guitars around, and while I truly love guitars like my Novo Serus J or the Gibson ES 335, I think if you really could only have one guitar, it should be the telecaster.

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[fack]

Heard a music store joke recently. No guitar sold more Les Pauls than Jimmy Page’s Telecaster.

[bikeguy]

Agree, the Telecaster is simply the most versatile, beautifully simple and uniquely crafted guitar. Leo was a true visionary.

[jcivantos]

How many inventions can you think of where the very first model ever could not be improved upon and remains the standard forever? Leo Fender was such a genius. When we think of our heroes, it’s always Hendrix, Page, etc. Leo Fender, in his own way, is right up there.

[seamans]

I bought a mexican Nashville tele to be my one guitar right before I graduated high school and it has never let me down. Gives me the unique strat sounds in positions 2, 3, and 4 and delivers the classic tele sounds in 1 and 5. I've neglected it for years off and on due to various changes throughout my life and anytime I got the urge to play, it was always right there ready to go never missing a beat. Teles will always be the guitar I refer people to for first guitar recommendations.

[Stands-In-The-Fire]

The Telecaster is, very literally, the guitar that made the instrument "click" for me. One guitar to rule them all.

[PayneAvenue]

This is how videos should be done. People tend to talk and talk and talk….but never play. I love how after every explanation there’s demonstration keeping us informed and engaged to the end.

[makotomodachi]

I'm a fairly new guitar player, but I loved the instrument for a long time. What brought my attention to the instrument was the sound of a Telecaster and its older brother, the Fender Esquire. I don't own a Tele or 'squire yet but with the advent of the new Sonic series coming out from Squier with a few Teles and an Esquire with a humbucker, I'm super pumped to get one myself and experience the iconic sounds I grew up on.

[nurabsalxc]

I love my dad's Tele Custom I inherited, with the humbucker neck pickup. So versatile and, I don't know what it is, it just melts into your hands. It's like you're twice as good of a player when you pick it up. So easy to play. And staying in tune... it's insane how old the strings are on mine, but they still are ready to roll.

[dlannom]

I’m a Bass player that loves your channel. I feel the same way about a P-Bass. Really enjoying Philip’s channel right now as well.
Thanks for all the great videos and content!!!

[thatswright]

I’ve been trying to decide what my next guitar should be. I couldn’t decide between the Strat and the Tele, but after this video I’ve pretty much decided that it has to be a Telecaster. Also awesome video man. 🤟🎸

[austinbrady]

100% agree. Been playing a LP for 10 yrs & just got myself a ‘63 Tele. They bring different inspiration & I couldn’t be happier.

[grory]

I worked at a club in the '90s, saw a lot of different types of music and artists, and the ones I most wanted to emulate usually played Telecasters. Using that rationale I bought a '73 in '93 and it was my only guitar for over twenty years; is still my primary guitar today. Just out here living up to your premise...

[RobBaartwijk]

Every word is true.

I bought a Squier Tele 11 years ago for $299 and I took 9 years to improve it. Only the wood is original. Pups by Seymour Duncan, Sperzel locking tuners, push-pull pots, new electronics, you name it.

The total cost has been about $900 and my Squier Tele plays like a 'real Tele' only with WAY more options. And is still a lot cheaper that an original US Tele would have cost me.

Also; modding your axe is Fun!!

[guitarman]

Not long ago I would have agreed as for most of the past 40 years a Telecaster has been my only guitar. But a couple years ago I found the most fantastic strat that I've ever owned\played. If I had to choose only one now between my teles, les pauls and my strat, it would be the strat. But I feel so lucky to have them all and wouldn't really want to choose just one.

[pacaya]

I recently bought a budget Tele, and while the pickups are cheap, what stood out to me right away was that distinctive cut it has in the mix compared to my humbuckers that cost 10x more. The humbuckers rock on high gain, but this is more versatile in my opinion. I can't believe I played for 20 years on a strat and Les Paul without trying a T style, but I'm so glad I did! Great video, Rhett!

[georgenaha]

My '66 Tele has been my #1 guitar since the day it came home 30 years ago. I have some other old and new guitars that I absolutely love, but that old Tele covers so many bases so well. Leo's the all time home run king!

[cliftongardner]

Have to agree. I love my SG, and I typically play hard rock, punk, and metal… but high gain with a Tele bridge is a special sound. It’s just so clear and articulate. Then roll off the volume and even through the dirtiest amp it becomes a soulful blues machine. Amazing just how perfect Leo got his very first attempt at an electric!

[trimarchima]

I have long counted on a Telecaster as a go-to guitar. I have many electric guitars on hand and only recently decided to narrow down what I play to Telecasters, one with a maple neck and the other with a rosewood. My Les Paul with P-90s sounds like a Telecaster; you’re right that the sound is there. Running a Telecaster through a Fender hand-wired tube amp is simplicity at its finest. Thanks for the video. Rock on.

[oceantree]

Pretty damn stoked to be getting my first ever Tele for my 50th birthday. I’ve been a Gibson / Epiphone guy my whole life, but after I decided that my SG felt like a giraffe w that super-long neck, and some hair-pulling intonation problems w an otherwise gorgeous new Casino, I pulled the rip cord. Looking around it seemed like Fender typically has brilliant intonation and tuning stability. Having always dug Teles, the decision isn’t a hard one.

[arunraviji]

Very informative video telling me how to get the different tones. Better than most other videos that compare the two and end up with me being more confused and feeling a lot like they’re more similar than different.