Fiesta Red
Well-Known Member
Dang it, you’re right…
I’m not the sharpest lightbulb in the drawer, and I got the moniker wrong…
Great guitars, nonetheless.
Why Did You Want A Telecaster In The First Place?
- Thread starter Session 5
- Start date
I’m not the sharpest lightbulb in the drawer, and I got the moniker wrong…
Great guitars, nonetheless.
DirtySteve
Ambassador of Hold My Beer
I just realized I never answered the question. When I replied before I thought I was in a different thread. So...
Back in the late '80s when I barely knew how to play I got to play a friend's 1961 Telecaster. It was the first electric guitar I ever played and all these years later I've never played a better playing guitar and it sounded amazing. I've never experienced anything like that since so I'd have to say an early 60s Telecaster sparked my love for the Telecaster. Unfortunately, I don't currently have a Tele, much less an early '60s one.
Back in the late '80s when I barely knew how to play I got to play a friend's 1961 Telecaster. It was the first electric guitar I ever played and all these years later I've never played a better playing guitar and it sounded amazing. I've never experienced anything like that since so I'd have to say an early 60s Telecaster sparked my love for the Telecaster. Unfortunately, I don't currently have a Tele, much less an early '60s one.
67plexi
Ambassador of Amps
That's a fact on the slab board Fenders My guitar teacher 1983-1985 wondered why I didn't have a Stratocaster I first got a 1973 and a 1977
Mike my teacher wanted to barrow money from me found out why my third Stratocaster 1961 custom color pearl white have had it 40 years now
the best $400.00 guitar in my life. 100% original.
Oldiemurphy
Well-Known Member
Why did I want a Telecaster in the first place? I doubt that I ever gave it too much introspection, except that I liked Fenders in general. My first electric was a Silvertone but my first Fender was a late 50s Duo Sonic, and that was in 1972. I loved that little guitar and then I got a '63 Strat and it played like a dream. I started buying Teles after that... my first was a 60s with a Bigsby and after that I had a sunburst custom, and then a Tele with a chunky neck from a friend-- he had crammed a humbucker into the bridge position and that guitar was a screamer. All these years later, if I had to say why I like Telecasters, it would probably be that they're simple workhorse guitars that sound nice and twangy. But honestly, I just like electric guitars. I wish I had all the good ones that got away over the years.
67plexi
Ambassador of Amps
The first one I played was a 1952 No Caster my guitar teacher Lee let me use it in a recording 1978-1979
Lee would go over the music charts and we would figure out five different approaches on a song then I would go into the studio and record it
I lived in Los Angeles 1977-1980 Lee was hanging out with my wife I think he had me recording in the studios to be with my wife
it did get me out of my comfort zone and I did it made a little money.
I'm on a disco hit Harvey Mason on drums used the No Caster and my 1961 Les Paul SG on the solo amp 1966 Fender Pro Reveb
Lee would go over the music charts and we would figure out five different approaches on a song then I would go into the studio and record it
I lived in Los Angeles 1977-1980 Lee was hanging out with my wife I think he had me recording in the studios to be with my wife
it did get me out of my comfort zone and I did it made a little money.
I'm on a disco hit Harvey Mason on drums used the No Caster and my 1961 Les Paul SG on the solo amp 1966 Fender Pro Reveb
Brian Krashpad
Well-Known Member
No worries! I do similar things on a regular basis.
And yeah, they ARE great guitars. I haven't (not here at least) told the story of how I got mine, used in VG condish for $125 USD, back in the late '90s.
Seller listed in the newspaper (remember those?), for something like $300. But misrepresented it as a "California Series," a shortlived thing where the guitars were sort of "hybrid USA/Mexico." Shaped in Cal, painted in Ensenada, then assembled back in the US. Which were more expensive than MIMs.
When I got to the seller's place, he had sanded off part of the back of the headstock decal! So I knew something was amiss. And I was doubly ticked off because it only had 5 strings, and the seller didn't even have a replacement for me to put on it to try it out.
I was so pissed off I said "Thanks but no thanks" and walked.
Checked the paper a couple weeks later, still for sale.
Called up the seller, told him I'd reconsider if he insured that the guitar had 6 strings on it when I came to check it out. Then he made the mistake of telling me that he was late on his rent and really needed to sell it. Big mistake.
I went back, tried it out with all 6 strings, and offered him $125, take it or leave it.
It even came with a generic gigbag! (I later got a pawnshop Ibanez hardshell case for it.) One of my most versatile guitars with so many sounds!
The above photo was actually in a national Fender print ad and store display, but that's another story.
Fiesta Red
Well-Known Member
I love the hear the tales and travails of how someone acquired a favored instrument—or even a guitar they didn’t like…No worries! I do similar things on a regular basis.
And yeah, they ARE great guitars. I haven't (not here at least) told the story of how I got mine, used in VG condish for $125 USD, back in the late '90s.
Seller listed in the newspaper (remember those?), for something like $300. But misrepresented it as a "California Series," a shortlived thing where the guitars were sort of "hybrid USA/Mexico." Shaped in Cal, painted in Ensenada, then assembled back in the US. Which were more expensive than MIMs.
When I got to the seller's place, he had sanded off part of the back of the headstock decal! So I knew something was amiss. And I was doubly ticked off because it only had 5 strings, and the seller didn't even have a replacement for me to put on it to try it out.
I was so pissed off I said "Thanks but no thanks" and walked.
Checked the paper a couple weeks later, still for sale.
Called up the seller, told him I'd reconsider if he insured that the guitar had 6 strings on it when I came to check it out. Then he made the mistake of telling me that he was late on his rent and really needed to sell it. Big mistake.
I went back, tried it out with all 6 strings, and offered him $125, take it or leave it.
It even came with a generic gigbag! (I later got a pawnshop Ibanez hardshell case for it.) One of my most versatile guitars with so many sounds!
View attachment 103429
The above photo was actually in a national Fender print ad and store display, but that's another story.
That kind of stuff always fascinates me.
Thank you for sharing this tale.