Why Did You Want A Telecaster In The First Place?

Far Rider said:
I blame @DirtySteve completely. A few years back (before he fell down the LP rabbit hole) he was building Tele style's and they were awesome. I found a used Players Tele at GC and snapped it up. Had never seen one that had 3 pickups (Tele neck, Strat Middle and a Humbucker in the bridge).


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I had the sister version of that guitar—

The Fender Modern Player Telecaster Thinline Deluxe (whew! Say that three times fast!)

I just couldn’t bond with it for some reason and let it go to someone else who (I hope) is appreciating it..,
 
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Chris Neel kept going on about them. And then I was at Bananas At Large, just idly pulling guitars down for yucks, and I played a Made in India Squier Vintage Modified Tele that had been discontinued. This one had been overlooked - the strings were corroded - but even with bad strings it really rang out, and had a sweet neck. So I bought it.
 
Hmm, I don't really think any famous artists came into it. Although I've always been fond of Keef on numerous levels. And of course this guy:

strummer.jpg

My first Tele I got because it was cool, a Fender with a neckbucker and 5-way switching, and I picked it up for something ridiculous like $125 USD (long story). The other one I currently have (a '52 AVRI) I got because a bandmate wanted to sell it to me for $450, again, well below value. Here's them both:

Telecasters Brownie and Blondie with mini-stack Peavey Triple XXX Marshall Lead 20.jpg

I've had a couple others. One was a blonde/blackguard MIJ Squier (which I sold when I got the '52 AVRI), and the other was a beater Frankencaster a buddy sold me for $100 because he needed dosh to finish up a recording. I gifted that'un to the other guitarist in my main band on his 10th anniversary with us, as a sort of combat pay:

Mitch Violet Frankentele Telecaster anniversay squared.jpg
 
Because my guitar teacher Danny Gatton played one.
He seemed to think it was the greatest thing in the world.

But you can give a total crap guitar to a great guitar player, and they play it and it still sounds great.

Look at all the hit songs John Fogerty recorded with a Kustom solid state amp.
He didn't need any Marshall, and he didn't need any effects pedals either.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Because my guitar teacher Danny Gatton played one.
He seemed to think it was the greatest thing in the world.

But you can give a total crap guitar to a great guitar player, and they play it and it still sounds great.

Look at all the hit songs John Fogerty recorded with a Kustom solid state amp.
He didn't need any Marshall, and he didn't need any effects pedals either.
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Absolutely. My youngest is a pretty decent player. He’ll plug any one of my electrics into my 20w Traynor. Sometimes thru my pedal board if it’s out. Other times straight into the amp and just tweak the onboard reverb and tremolo. He sounds awesome.

I’ll pick up the same guitar. Same signal chain. Change no settings. And sound like…… well…… not good.
 
Brian Krashpad said:
Hmm, I don't really think any famous artists came into it. Although I've always been fond of Keef on numerous levels. And of course this guy:

View attachment 103392

My first Tele I got because it was cool, a Fender with a neckbucker and 5-way switching, and I picked it up for something ridiculous like $125 USD (long story). The other one I currently have (a '52 AVRI) I got because a bandmate wanted to sell it to me for $450, again, well below value. Here's them both:

View attachment 103393

I've had a couple others. One was a blonde/blackguard MIJ Squier (which I sold when I got the '52 AVRI), and the other was a beater Frankencaster a buddy sold me for $100 because he needed dosh to finish up a recording. I gifted that'un to the other guitarist in my main band on his 10th anniversary with us, as a sort of combat pay:

View attachment 103394
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The sunburst with the neck humbucker is a MIM model called a “Tele Special“…

That’s the same model as my pinstriped signature* model, “Big Tex”….

I have played three different examples of the Special Tele, and all were superb, especially in light of their pedigree and price.

Here’s the story of Big Tex, and how I modified it, to make it “mine”:




*note Sarcasm Font
 
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Fiesta Red said:
The sunburst with the neck humbucker is a MIM model called a “Special Tele”…

That’s the same model as my pinstriped signature* model, “Big Tex”….

I have played three different examples of the Special Tele, and all were superb, especially in light of their pedigree and price.

Here’s the story of Big Tex, and how I modified it, to make it “mine”:




*note Sarcasm Font
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You're right, thanks, but

willy-wonka-wonka.gif


It's actually "Telecaster Special" rather than "Special Telecaster." The "Tex-Mex," in front of "Telecaster Special," was used in adverts at the time but I've never been clear as to whether it was an official part of the model name.

That said, it helps to use the "Tex-Mex" bit, because Fender later used the model name "Telecaster Special Edition," which is frequently clipped to "Telecaster Special," and applied it to a totally different Tele that didn't have a neckbucker! See, for example:

2011 Fender Telecaster Special Edition 6-String Electric Guitar Made In Mexico | eBay
 
Brian Krashpad said:
You're right, thanks, but

willy-wonka-wonka.gif


It's actually "Telecaster Special" rather than "Special Telecaster." The "Tex-Mex," in front of "Telecaster Special," was used in adverts at the time but I've never been clear as to whether it was an official part of the model name.

That said, it helps to use the "Tex-Mex" bit, because Fender later used the model name "Telecaster Special Edition," which is frequently clipped to "Telecaster Special," and applied it to a totally different Tele that didn't have a neckbucker! See, for example:

2011 Fender Telecaster Special Edition 6-String Electric Guitar Made In Mexico | eBay
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You may be right…I know the first iteration of hecho-en-Ensenada Telecasters with those features (made between 1994-1997) were called the “Tele Special”—a part of the “Special/Deluxe Series”

My highly modified and customized and pinstriped Telecaster that I nicknamed “Big Tex” is a 1995 Fender Tele Special (per Fender’s customer service, after I sent the serial number to them).

From the factory, it had the same bridge, a five-way switch and coil-tapped humbucker…I love the first thing listed and removed the latter two.

They may have made another series in the 2010’s—you said yours is a 2011—and given it a slightly different name…the Fender Tex-Mex Special Telecaster

My correspondence with Fender:

Date (of manufacture): 9/20/1995
Model Name: Tele® Special
Model Number: 013-5502-(Color#)
Series: Special/Deluxe Series

Body: Poplar with an Ash Veneer Top
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Maple (9.5” Radius/241 mm)
No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.650” (42 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Vintage Style
Bridge: Vintage Style
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black

Pickups: Special Design Humbucking Pickup (Neck),
Special Tele (Bridge)
Pickup Switching: Special 5 Position Blade
Positions:
1. Neck Humbucking Pickup
2. Tapped Neck Humbucking Pickup (Front Coil)
3. Bridge and Neck Pickups
4. Bridge and Tapped Neck Humbucking Pickup
5. Bridge Pickup

Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone

Colors: (306) Black,
(307) (Vintage White),
(328) Crimson Burst,
(332) Brown Sunburst,
(Polyester Finish)

Strings: Fender Super 250L’s (.009 to .042) Nickel Plated Steel pn#073-0250-003
Unique Features:
Source: Mexico
Accessories: None

U.S. MSRP: $559.99
NOTICE: Prices and Specifications Subject to Change Without Notice

INTRODUCED: 1994
DISCONTINUED: 1/1997
DISCONTINUED COLORS:
COMMENTS:
WRENCH SIZES:

For any follow up questions, please refer to ticket number: 10097

Best Regards,

Jeff Krause

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Consumer Relations Department
8860 E. Chaparral Rd. Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85250

consumerrelations@fender.com

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Fiesta Red said:
You may be right…I know the first iteration of hecho-en-Ensenada Telecasters with those features (made between 1994-1997) were called the “Special Tele”

My highly modified and customized and pinstriped Telecaster that I nicknamed “Big Tex” is a 1995 Fender Special Tele (per Fender’s customer service, after I sent the serial number to them).

From the factory, it had the same bridge, a five-way switch and coil-tapped humbucker…I love the first thing listed and removed the latter two.

They may have made another series in the 2010’s—you said yours is a 2011—and given it a slightly different name…the Fender Tex-Mex Special Telecaster

My correspondence with Fender:

Date (of manufacture): 9/20/1995
Model Name: Tele® Special
Model Number: 013-5502-(Color#)
Series: Special/Deluxe Series

Body: Poplar with an Ash Veneer Top
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Maple (9.5” Radius/241 mm)
No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.650” (42 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Vintage Style
Bridge: Vintage Style
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black

Pickups: Special Design Humbucking Pickup (Neck),
Special Tele (Bridge)
Pickup Switching: Special 5 Position Blade
Positions:
1. Neck Humbucking Pickup
2. Tapped Neck Humbucking Pickup (Front Coil)
3. Bridge and Neck Pickups
4. Bridge and Tapped Neck Humbucking Pickup
5. Bridge Pickup

Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone

Colors: (306) Black,
(307) (Vintage White),
(328) Crimson Burst,
(332) Brown Sunburst,
(Polyester Finish)

Strings: Fender Super 250L’s (.009 to .042) Nickel Plated Steel pn#073-0250-003
Unique Features:
Source: Mexico
Accessories: None

U.S. MSRP: $559.99
NOTICE: Prices and Specifications Subject to Change Without Notice

INTRODUCED: 1994
DISCONTINUED: 1/1997
DISCONTINUED COLORS:
COMMENTS:
WRENCH SIZES:

For any follow up questions, please refer to ticket number: 10097

Best Regards,

Jeff Krause

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Consumer Relations Department
8860 E. Chaparral Rd. Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85250

consumerrelations@fender.com

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No, mine is one of the '95-'97 ones. As the Fender blurb you quoted clearly says, the model name is "Tele Special." Not "Special Telecaster" or "Special Tele." You keep reversing the correct order. "Special Tele" is the listed name of the bridge pickup. Not the guitar model.
 
Have with noticed a trend, me & tele's ..when my fender amps go.. the tele's go first then the strats. Nothing against them, have done some decent songs on em.
 
BFT Gibson said:
Have with noticed a trend, me & tele's ..when my fender amps go.. the tele's go first then the strats. Nothing against them, have done some decent songs on em.
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I know I'll never part with my '66 Super Reverb, even though it's effectively retired from gigging. But if I were to ever let go of any of my Fender guitars, the cheapie Jagmaster and very nice MIM '50s Classic Series Strat would go before my Teles.

I'm just not a Strat guy. At all. I've had like 5 Strats (I had a sixth for just a couple weeks) over the years (one was actually a USA Peavey Predator) and usually had one, but at various times have gone for a year or more Stratless. Tbh, didn't really miss it.

My two Teles ain't goin' nowhere though, they're both too important to me.

BK wighat Brownie Super Reverb.jpg

BK kneel w Hoyt & the HotHeads @ Backstage Lounge Blondie Telecaster AVRI '52.jpg
 

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In the early days of ebay, I thought that I would put together a Tele. I wanted it to be a Broadcaster though. Mainly because of Roy Buchanon and Mike Campbell. I love Campbell's sound on Damn the Torpedoes. It sounds good and is decent enough to play, but I still don't get Teles and making the sound like a Tele. I can get them to sound like anything but traditional Tele sounds.

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Then, I bought this in 2015 to see if maybe I needed an actual Telecaster. It was one of the Mexican '50s Classic Teles with nitro-lacquer finish. I changed the pickguard and saddles to something more pleasing.



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