Why The Telecaster Is The Best Electric Guitar - ASK ZAC EP 33

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Although I started on the guitar in 1985, by 1992 I was a full-fledged Telecaster guy. In the ensuing decades, I have not deviated an iota from my love of the senior solid-body guitar. Here I tell how I fell for the Telecaster, and how the simple, pure elegance of the Telecaster design gives it an edge over all of its many electric guitar brethren. 

Gear for this video
1967 Telecaster - stock except for steel compensated saddles, and the tone control is wired to the bridge pickup only.

Pyramid "Jimi Hendrix" pure nickel round-core string set

Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:
TC Polytune
Mirage compressor pedal

[fivewattworld]

And I pulled out my Tele for my video this week....coincidence(?) or the universe speaking truth?

[nigelvonshredman]

I don’t need to watch this video as I already know that the tele is the best guitar.... I just come for the validation 🤣

[richrorex]

I bought my Tele in 1967 . I still have it. I still play it. It has been the most reliable, stable and durable guitar. Stays in tune for months. 👍🎶

[jamesfetherston]

I think overall it is astounding how many things Fender got just about perfect: The Telecaster, Stratocaster, the Precision bass, the Jazz bass, plus the Bassman and deluxe, deluxe reverb and all the other amps. Not too many companies in music manufacturing have that scope of victories.

[christianstevens]

I’ve seen a Tele dropped down a flight of stairs to the gasps and screams of utter terror.
Picked up off the landing, tuned back up and spend the entire night on stage working flawlessly.

PS- during your intro to every video I’m constantly reminded of a Clapton tune from “No Reason to Cry”.
I’m sure you know it too. 😊

[WillyPDX]

There are lots of great guitars and people have their own favorites, but I agree with Zac, the Telecaster is the greatest guitar design ever. Simple, sturdy, beautiful, and way more versatile than many people realize. And when you think how little the original design has changed since its inception decades ago, it's really truly amazing.

[clevebaker]

One guitar to rule them all!! Fender Telecaster! The Stones got a hundred killer tunes out of Keith’s tele! Great show 🎉

[shanewalton]

Since about 1964 until his death last year in 2019, my father owned about 70 guitars. I reckon 65 of them were telecasters

[paullewis]

Keith Williams AKA. Five Watt World did an item "How many guitars do you need" answer just the one -- a Tele. My first electric guitar was/ is a Fenix Tele over the years I've modded it this way and that but now it's back in a conventional Tele set up and if the house was on fire it would be the first thing I'd run for. It's not a vintage Fender it didn't cost mega bucks ( or pounds should I say over here) but it plays sweet and is like an old friend . Thanks again for the periods of calm sanity you bring during these troubled times we seem to be enduring at the moment .

[codyhudman]

Cool quiet morning, sitting on my patio, sipping coffee from my just arrived "Ask Zac" mug and watching your latest video. Great morning! Thanks for all you do Zac!

[frozendivots]

Hated the Tele in the 80s but I realized soon after that was because I wasn’t good enough make it sound good. It didn’t have the high gain Humbuckers with my excessive distortion to cover my weaknesses. Then around 1990 I woke up and the Tele made me a real player.

[bensempek]

The Tele and its raw, simple design is in a way unforgiving...it forces you to be disciplined and keeps your playing honest. Thanks Zac for your program and insight!

[jgoodell]

Thank you for giving Mr Albert Lee some recognition. He does not get nearly as much as he deserves.

[tubedude]

A Tele is all you need .Many consider it a country guitar but it is so much more . Leo got it right the first time and has hypnotizing beauty to boot

[HanmerMusic]

Thank you for your advice on Tele modifications- great info. Was a strat guy for 30 years... I have matured to understand the “ genius of simplicity” - the Tele is glorious-

[ioodyssey]

Started playing guitar in '77. First "real" guitar - a '95 Strat Plus. Later a PRS24 and a Gretch hollowbody. About six month's ago I got a Player series Tele after playing one in a shop and loving the sound and the neck feel with the glossy top/satin back and the neck shape being really close to my Strat. (really bad - so NOT set up of of the box - but I sorted that out) Since then I mostly play the Tele. After seeing this video a couple weeks ago I picked up a standard bridge and compensated brass saddles(less than $25 for both on ebay) and I am really loving this guitar. Next week I'm adding locking tuners because I like them. They're a favorite feature on my Strat. I added a three string tree to stop a ringy G behind the nut and some super knurly knobs bringing my total spending on this to $730, which suits my budget. Love playing it through my kit built five watt tube amp - no effects - just a cable and all the Tele techniques I can pick up from youtube.

[mrartistbill]

I've been playing a Tele for about 50 years and I still learned something about them from this video. I've tried dozens of other electrics and I do own a Strat and a Les Paul, but the Tele is what i pick up to play 90% of the time. If the house was on fire I'd grab my Tele and my Martin and that is all I would need.

[davidjessee]

I chuckled when u said " the ceiling fan broke the headstock clean off at the nutt!!"😆

[larryyork]

It’s so simple design, but it forces you to become a better player to tame.it. I have three and love them all.

[matteolatorre]

I liked your way to explain why Tele is still today (one of) best guitar ever created. I'm a bass player (Stingray player), but I am an owner of a Tele. I played that for few years: it has a great sound, perfect substain, good comfortability on neck, and his switch allows to have a lovely versatility. On medium/ bass frequency it have not enemies for me. Its a guitar with most great identity, from A LOT points of view. I still have not courage to sell it, its beautiful too 🤷🏻‍♂️ Greetings from Italy, and sorry for my englishh😂