Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => The Dressing Room => Topic started by: Dmoney on June 29, 2009, 05:53:39 PM

Title: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Dmoney on June 29, 2009, 05:53:39 PM
a few days ago this was.
i wanted to hate it but i decided i prefered it to a strat, and i'd probably prefer a thinline.
the first tele ive touched in 13 years of playing.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 29, 2009, 05:58:54 PM
Did you directly compare it to a Strat?
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: 38thBeatle on June 29, 2009, 06:46:16 PM
They are superb instruments-hence the fact that they are going strong after all these years. They have an amazing range on tones given the simplicity.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: gwEm on June 29, 2009, 07:02:56 PM
i still think teles look a bit... meh..

but the tone defines rock - really ballsy, especially with hard ash body. am VERY keen, and modifying my Cyclone to take a tele bridge.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Dmoney on June 29, 2009, 07:08:01 PM
im not and never have been a fan of how they look, hence never bothering to play one.
the only one i would consider is a sea foam green thinline.
the one i played was 70's blonde one i think, i dont know much about teles.

i've played strats and grew up playing strats, i prefer a les paul, then an sg.

The Tele felt ok to hold, and not as twangy or jangly as id expected.

i also played a gary moore BFG les paul, which was like playing a baseball bat, and i didnt much care for the control setup. though i am tempted to team up my ltd with a MQ in the neck, probably wouldnt be so good with an MM in the bridge.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 29, 2009, 07:09:34 PM
The Tele felt ok to hold, and not as twangy or jangly as id expected.
Interesting. I've always found Teles to have quite a bit of string tension, which is part of the twang.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Philly Q on June 29, 2009, 07:19:35 PM
I think the really unique thing about a vintage style Tele - and the main contributor to the twang - is the thin bent-steel bridge plate. 

If you replace it with a thicker, inflexible plate it seems to make the sound rounder, with more sustain (which I like), but it takes away some of the chicken-pickin' Tele character.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Denim n Leather on June 29, 2009, 07:21:35 PM
I think the really unique thing about a vintage style Tele - and the main contributor to the twang - is the thin bent-steel bridge plate. 

If you replace it with a thicker, inflexible plate it seems to make the sound rounder, with more sustain (which I like), but it takes away some of the chicken-pickin' Tele character.
*nods*

Probably. I know nothing about Teles, however.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: MrBump on June 29, 2009, 08:22:48 PM
Feelin' the Tele love again!

When I was 15 (I'd been playing for a year or so on a strat copy with the neck held on with rubber bands), I managed to get hold of £200 - working one holiday in a canning factory, as I remember.

I went to the local music store in Wisbech, and I remember there being 2 guitars in my price range - a Vantage Strat and a Tele copy, possibly a Squire.

I knew nothing about how these things were supposed to sound, but when I saw the Tele all I could think of was Status Quo!  And they were pretty uncool back then.

I think that an appreciation of Telecasters snuck up on my as I got older and my tastes changed.  When I was a teenager, leaning "Seek And Destroy" and "The 4 Horsemen", a Tele was NEVER going to work.  But I think that I understand better now how to get sounds out of the simpler things in guitar world, and it doesn't get a great deal simpler than a Tele...

Mark.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: CaptainDesslock on June 29, 2009, 10:29:44 PM
I like teles,

I think they are sorta fugly, but I love 'em cause Jeff Buckley did :)
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: WezV on June 29, 2009, 10:33:55 PM
but I love 'em cause Jeff Buckley did :)

did Jeff Buckley really love tele's??  Its my understanding that he had no interest in gear whatsoever - he just happened to borrow a tele from a friend and didnt give it back

anyway - thats rather pedantic of me.

tele's are great... which is why i just started another!!!
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Ian Price on June 29, 2009, 10:40:06 PM
did Jeff Buckley really love tele's??  Its my understanding that he had no interest in gear whatsoever - he just happened to borrow a tele from a friend and didnt give it back

I did not know that. Checked it on wiki and it confirms it - and there was me thinking I was some sort of Buckley fan!
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: gwEm on June 29, 2009, 10:49:18 PM
but I love 'em cause Jeff Buckley did :)

did Jeff Buckley really love tele's??  Its my understanding that he had no interest in gear whatsoever - he just happened to borrow a tele from a friend and didnt give it back

anyway - thats rather pedantic of me.

tele's are great... which is why i just started another!!!

i really fancy a jazzmaster shaped tele
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: FernandoDuarte on June 30, 2009, 12:25:32 AM
i really fancy a jazzmaster shaped tele
(http://www.warmoth.com/gallery/images/misc_guitar/bill_keaveny_lrg.jpg)
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: gwEm on June 30, 2009, 01:33:29 AM
i really fancy a jazzmaster shaped tele
(http://www.warmoth.com/gallery/images/misc_guitar/bill_keaveny_lrg.jpg)

bit too bling for me - but i love the idea!
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Adam.M on June 30, 2009, 01:35:31 AM
Heh, I like Tele's sound... yet to play one I like the feel of, though. Though I've only played two.

I did just notice, that Agile did/do a 7 string Telecaster

We should totally buy one for Roo :D
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: hamfist on June 30, 2009, 06:07:50 AM
I spotted the lead guitarist in Slipknot shredding on a tele in a video the other day.

Suprised me !
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Ben_W on June 30, 2009, 07:50:44 AM
Yeah, Jim Root from Slipknot has his own custom tele, which actually looks quite nice. Although having EMGs in a tele is strange, I don't think it would feel right!
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Prawnik on June 30, 2009, 09:23:48 AM
a few days ago this was.
i wanted to hate it but i decided i prefered it to a strat, and i'd probably prefer a thinline.
the first tele ive touched in 13 years of playing.

Just wait untill you get your hot little hands on an Esquire. Like a Tele only more so; simpler, twangier, better sustain and harmonics. The trick to taming that twang is to use the tone and volume controls.

n.b. I could see EMGs working for modern country or an active version of Danny Gatton-style sounds, not that I can play any sort of country or that modern country is my thing.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Roobubba on June 30, 2009, 09:26:20 AM
Hello.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Twinfan on June 30, 2009, 09:30:42 AM
Teles are awesome.  They're the Fender for for rock fans.  Just a great raw feel, a big and direct tone, and they just seem to suit being beaten up....

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Relics.jpg)
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: bewithdennis on June 30, 2009, 11:39:25 AM
heres mine..
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Roobubba on June 30, 2009, 11:56:47 AM
I can't help chuckling at the sight of a tele from someone calling himself 'be with Dennis'. Genius!
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: bewithdennis on June 30, 2009, 12:06:25 PM
thank you very much! tis genius dont u know LOL  8)
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Elliot on June 30, 2009, 12:34:16 PM
The only Les Pauls I like are TV yellow Les Paul specials - I suppose its because they kinda look like telecasters!
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: indysmith on June 30, 2009, 01:05:29 PM
Teles are awesome.  They're the Fender for for rock fans.  Just a great raw feel, a big and direct tone, and they just seem to suit being beaten up....

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Relics.jpg)
I want to play that rig!
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: ToneMonkey on June 30, 2009, 01:36:21 PM
a big and direct tone, and they just seem to suit being beaten up....

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Relics.jpg)

Sounds like you're talking about Roo  :lol:
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Twinfan on June 30, 2009, 03:00:41 PM
It's a fantastic rig - Rolling Stones anyone?
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Philly Q on June 30, 2009, 03:40:08 PM
It's a fantastic rig - Rolling Stones anyone?

No thanks.

(Yes to the rig, no to the Stones!)
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: shobet on June 30, 2009, 03:44:45 PM
Teles are awesome.  They're the Fender for for rock fans.  Just a great raw feel, a big and direct tone, and they just seem to suit being beaten up....

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Relics.jpg)
I want to play that rig!

Having played through that, I can say that it is rather nice. It's based on a Delux or did I make that up?
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Ratrod on June 30, 2009, 03:56:08 PM
A Jazzmaster shaped Tele is what we call a Telemaster.

I know what twang is but I don't know what contributes to it. Gretsches twang too but they have much lower string tension, alltogether different bridge and different pickups.

I do know that aluminium and brass bridges twang more that (stainless) steel. Lower DC resistance pickups seem to be better for twang too.
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: gwEm on June 30, 2009, 04:19:17 PM
have just ordered a tele bridge pickup 8) perhaps i'll be allowed in the tele gang?
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: CaptainDesslock on June 30, 2009, 04:57:17 PM
but I love 'em cause Jeff Buckley did :)

did Jeff Buckley really love tele's??  Its my understanding that he had no interest in gear whatsoever - he just happened to borrow a tele from a friend and didnt give it back

anyway - thats rather pedantic of me.

tele's are great... which is why i just started another!!!

I guess that is debatable,

But I figure it this way, once he got more money, he had all the money in the world to buy different guitars, which he did, (I read a story from a shopkeeper in New York who said Buckley even bought an Ibanez from him back in the day!).  However, he never gives up that tele, he uses it to record Live at Sin-e, the official Sony Sessions, his live DVD and pretty much every TV appearance he gives.  That to me is evidence enough that teles must have been his favorite :)
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: Twinfan on June 30, 2009, 05:11:40 PM
Having played through that, I can say that it is rather nice. It's based on a Delux or did I make that up?

No, you're right Huw.  It's like a cleaned up Fender Deluxe.  Awesome for light crunch Stones/Black Crowes stuff  :)
Title: Re: i played a tele for the first time ever
Post by: gingataff on June 30, 2009, 05:17:54 PM
My next guitar's a Tele. 
I'm just trying to decide between a 52 or a 55 :guitar4: