James Burton's 1952 Tele - The Beginning of the Telecaster Craze - Ask Zac 143

[@domicam100]

My brother ,and I still have our 65 telecasters we got for xmas, in 65.

[@fiddlix]

James Burton get well soon. I’m praying for your complete and speedy recovery. What a fantastic episode Zac. Thank you.

[@elvislives-gl4rv]

I would also include Keith Richards' tele, Roy Buchanon's and Danny Gatton's 52.

[@admarhermans1]

I’m a bassist. I play bassguitar. Have been since 1986. But I love (almost) everything guitar and I love to learn about the history of music. So, this channel is one of my favorites. And, a bassguitar is also a guitar, 😉. 🖖

[@robertmitchell2178]

Another great video Zak. The important historical aspect of your videos is really important to all of us people interested in guitar and guitarists. Most enjoyable is your conversational speaking manner!

[@J.C...]

James is loved and respected beyond words here in Shreveport. 👌🙏

[@nazmoking3171]

Even though I don’t care for country music I find myself attracted to these videos and enjoying them. Keep up the good work Zac and just want to let you know we appreciate it.

[@mikejordan6093]

Love your channel. Huge James Burton fan. Thanks for dedicating this episode to him. He's had some health issues lately. Prayers and good vibes to James - a God of popular American music!

[@CC-te5zf]

This is the ultimate run down of THAT Telecaster! Home run Zac!

[@louisdombrowski4198]

🙏✝️ for Mr. Burton! Great Video, I remember watching the original airing of Ozzie & Harriet and never even knew the name of Ricky's guitar player but I definitely paid attention to those guitars that were played.

[@calsurflance5598]

This was great Zac. Thanks for all the research you put into these videos. Well done. 👍 Have you ever had the opportunity to chat with James? Joe Chambers did a great interview with him not to long ago. (RIP Joe) It just goes to show what you can do with just one guitar. Dick Dale played one Fender Stratocaster he called the beast, from 1961 until he died in 2019. He let me play it many years ago. It lived up to its name. Prayers go out to James Burton!🙏🙏

[@TheNewenglandboys]

Zac, great video. James Burton is my guitar idol. Amazingly he couldn't read a note of music and he is a guitar legend! I try to emulate his playing but from a young age he just had a gift. Would love to hear more about him. I watched the Ozzie and Harriot shows as a kid and was always anxious for the end when Ricky would do a song. Elvis was, as they say, the King and it was a testament to James being a great guitarist playing for probably the greatest singer entertainer that ever lived. Another of my favorites back in the day was Reggie Young who also played for Elvis. Again, Great video! Keep em coming!

[@stratman2023]

Hi Zac, fantastic episode. Thanks!! BTW another great book is Arlen Roth's Nashville Guitar. It came out in the 70's and included a floppy vinyl record. This was the first book I could find that taught pedal steel bends for telecaster and lots of other great lead and rhythm ideas a la James Burton.

[@garymartinko5479]

This was the best episode ever!

[@billhodgesguitar]

Thanks Zac. Great info on James. I first saw James when I was a kid watching Ozzie and Harriet.

[@StillTcB]

James Burton what a guy! Seen him live and met him many times!

[@will4gzus]

Awesome vid, James’ influence on rockabilly, rock n roll and country guitar is legend

[@toneydavis9802]

Zak...I was snooping a look at the books on your shelf. I saw one on Buddy Emmons. Not knowing who he was I figured if he was influential enough to be on your reading list then I should look him up. Man have I been under a rock. I am 67 so pretty sure I have heard his music but did not associate his amazing skill with a name. There are tons of video of him with other amazing artist aplenty. It is gonna be a great winter discovering Buddy Emmons. You inform and inspire in so many ways and dont even know it. Thanks Zak!

[@AskZac]

It's a great book

[@StandbyCymbalist]

thank you for always adding context to your stories Zac. this epi was wonderful.

[@jakeryanshepard]

love that emmy lou record !

[@guitarpicker6844]

Another great episode filled with knowledge. Awesome job Zac and thank you.

[@J.C...]

Wooohooo! James Burton! Hometown Hero! 🙏❤️ Proud to be able to say I'm from the same city he is!

[@mikemckenna4924]

Please get well soon James wishing u a very speedy recovery

[@bobk7118]

Best wishes for James !!! Not another quite like him!! Great vid Zac!!!!

[@EddieLeeGrovesMusic]

Hey Zac, I have that same old Guitar Player Book. I was given to me when I was a kid learning how to play by one of my musical mentors. Love that book and it is priceless to me.

[@ranchoricardo]

This was great, Zac! I remember reading an interview years ago (in some long-forgotten guitar magazine) in which Hank credited James Burton as the reason why he and the Shadows (and Cliff Richard) decided to purchase Hank's original red Stratocaster. According to Mr. Marvin, he "wanted to sound like James Burton" and assumed that James must be playing the most expensive guitar in the Fender catalogue... which at that time was the red Stratocaster that Cliff and the Shadows eventually ordered.

[@1980bwc]

The greatest lesson I learned from this video, is that James should be kept away from paint at all costs! 😂 Hope he's feeling better. Another awesome video Zac. Thanks

[@bsherbine]

Thanks zac! Your vids are important historical accounts

[@catherinejohnson3550]

Just had a chance to watch this. Really enjoyable and well done. As a parent who spent the money on an American made Tele for my son, I can also say it was worth it. He proved he was serious on a Squier Strat and then an Epiphone Gibson. I fed him lots of music history, including James Burton. But it was Muddy Waters red Tele that sent my son down the Tele path 🙂

[@mamulcahy]

I always love your videos. Thanks Zac!

[@joeriffanucci]

Thanks so much Zac, that was fantastic. Time to strap on a telecaster 🙂

[@slicksnewonenow]

Suzie Q... The deceptively simple tune that NO BAND ON EARTH can play correctly. Everyone I've tried to work that one up with is stuck on the CCR version... And no Deafer... Uh, I mean DRUMMER, can hear the "incredibly subtle" cowbell in the original recording. I gave up trying to do a cover recording, or even trying to play it live, about twenty years ago...🤣

[@kevinolear6717]

I still have that book. I lived in that book for years! Thanks Zac.

[@iannicholls7476]

Great video Zac and some tasty playing at the end. Thanks.

[@TommySG1]

Hello again Zac, Keith ( aka Five Watt ) and yourself always do such a great job discussing guitars, amps and players of the past 🤙 Thanks for sharing everything you’ve learned and noticed, always a pleasure and fun to watch.

[@AskZac]

Thanks

[@markdeweese9288]

Love you James my prayers are with you

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Fascinating story on the '52 guitar. I bought a Telecaster in 2007, red with white pickguard. There was a JB signature model, but wasn't keen on the neck. So I bought the red one alongside. Didn't realise till much later that JB's first Tele was red too. I began to look it up and saw photos on the early '69 Elvis concerts, before the Paisley. Look forward to the Paisley story.

[@alexandrebeauvilain6488]

Such an inspiring and devoted musician. Great vidéo as usual.

[@AskZac]

Thanks so much!

[@aluminati9918]

Simply love these stories, Zac! Can’t wait for the pink paisley.

[@flintdavis2]

Guess I gotta put my name on my pick guard. These are cool cats to copy. Thanks Zak

[@Barry101er]

Great details, thanks! I love how he couldn’t stop himself with customizing that tele! Suzy Q: I love the Suzy Q scene in Apocalypse Now; always makes me chuckle.

[@williamwallace2325]

And, of course, James played guitar on Gram Parson's solo albums. If I remember correctly, Gram said he wanted Elvis's band (The TCB Band--Burton, Glen Hardin, Ron Tutt, Emory Gordy) for his solo albums or he wouldn't do it. Legend has it, anyway.

[@dejadejayoutube]

ive been using the ask zac intro lick/exercise for a few months now(cheers) and its a joy to play,...i noticed in the intro you have full palm contact and thumb over the top (of the no doubt chunky neck). Coming from the 80's 90's , lets say the thin neck profile era:), I can't underestimate the impact that must have had on my approach to just about every left hand positioning decision. I play that riff in an almost "shredder,lol:)" like position, thumb firmly reinforcing behind the neck. Even my acoustics have pretty thin profiles, none of them are fat enough for me to fully cup the neck for the support and comfort required for those positions . I really have gone another step towards appreciating why a big neck is so immensely important for some players,... which seems to be mentioned quite often on guitar KZbin to say the least:). I'll definitely experiment with one of these bigger necks sometime, it really intrigues me. +great video as always 👍

[@captainzeb1969]

Great video. Enjoyed the solo at the end.

[@user-et2fj8xm5l]

Hey Zak! Just the thing to get my morning in the right track. Love your content..

[@robertbarnes9745]

Well done sir!

[@BuckeyeBassMaster78]

Sending prayers to you James

[@Telecastersanonymous]

The only video I can find of hello Mary Lou with a James burton solo on it, James is playing a jazzmaster I think. Do you have a link to that video of James with the tele?

[@AskZac]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sH3OdIqKZ9OYq6s

[@Telecastersanonymous]

@@AskZac you’re the man, thank you

[@NickRatnieks]

I saw James- and met him at a Billy Swan concert in central London- the I00 Club to be precise in 2007. Anyway, he was playing a Telecaster- the one that has what looks like flames all over it- black and red. When I saw him with the Hot Band in 1976, it was the Elvis TCB Band Paisley guitar you also featured. 1962- Album Seven By Rick- so many great tracks but "Stop Sneakin' Around" has such great guitar from James. I have that June 84 magazine with the JB interview!

[@Tonetwisters]

I am a big fan of the wiring of this guitar as used in the era of Ricky Nelson, with the out-of-phase middle position. My very first guitar was a 1954 Stratocaster I got for Christmas in 1963. However, I began playing on my brother's archtop/electric Harmony around 1958/59, and then his 1960 Jazzmaster. The cost of that '54 Stratocaster was $75, a fortune for my divorced father, at the time.

[@J.C...]

Wow. Didn't know James had a Silvertone like Jimi and Duane & Gregg. My first 2 guitars are modern Silvertone S-styles. Still have them.

[@UltimateElvisGuitar]

Incredible video, my friend! Thank you for all the research! ⚡️

[@stevehobbs6686]

Great lesson, enjoyed it, thanks.

[@gr81dorn]

“The most important Telecaster of all time” is a bold statement… I realize chronology is largely anchoring your statement and lots of folks thereafter may never have played a tele if not for JB’s influence, but I’d argue that “Clarence” is maybe more significant in that it is foundational to the genre now called Americana, country rock, Southern California country and a lot of rock and pop resulted in that sound and style as well as the obvious mechanical/technical innovation of the string bender. While I think of James Burton’s influence on songs and music, I feel his tone isn’t so quintessentially “tele twang” that he’s not often the first name considered during discussions of “best tele players ever”, right or (more likely) wrong. I think it would be fun to have you do your top tele player each decade starting in the 50s and see where the torch passes. Maybe give your top 3 each decade and choose a winner. That would cool.

[@edmoss2020]

Great stuff zac

[@mjvicc1952]

Bassist Joe Osborn was also a member of Ricky Nelson’s band. I’m presuming during the same period that James Burton was Ricky’s lead guitarist. Is it a coincidence that both were Louisiana natives or did they know and/or play together? I know this question is a bit off the reservation but the session musicians, Swampers, Wrecking Crew, Staxx, Funk Bros. ect.are aging or no longer with us and their story is so fascinating. Thanks.

[@_alexsams]

Great upload Zac, thank you! 10/10

[@chrisquinn9104]

Have you considered doing and episode on Jeff Beck’s Yardbirds/Esquire period? Boy did he get a lot of sounds out of that thing. First psychedelic single (Shapes Of Things), as well as so many other amazing clean, dirty and fuzzy sounds. Revolutionary! I would hope that would be a good time for you

[@AskZac]

Its a great one

[@johnnymalmsteems198]

Great stuff Zac 🔥

[@Heavenreck]

Awesome 👌. Thanks for sharing. I also now wonder why he removed the finish only at the back. Maybe it was to prevent the guitar from slipping up and down whilst sitting or playing standing up, as gloss finishes tend to do that. I also wonder why he chose basswood for his signature Fender guitar and those three rather strange looking strat style Pickups after having played a vintage styleAsh Tele for most of his career?

[@AskZac]

I don't understand the sig model, and I owned one in the 90s.

[@Heavenreck]

@Ask Zac agree it looks cool but it's an odd one for him.

[@GerhardGroenewald10]

Thanks for the show Zac. I think the most "normal ' people heard CCR Suzie q version first . Thanks to the internet KZbin James Burton Become one of my top guitar players.

[@erestube]

I heard Suzie Q as an elementary school student before CCR's was released. It was still in pretty heavy rotation in the 60s. As a result, CCR's blew me away!

[@jeffsquires6620]

The only TELE I can think of that is close, is DON RICH'S silver sparkle.

[@MrBritrider]

Hi Zac, i visited the Smithsonian in Washington DC December of 2022. As you enter the museum, to the left was a display that featured a James Burton display. The display showed a Fender tweed amp and a Fender Esquire that supposedly James played on Otis Redding’s Dock On The Bay. Do you know anything about this Esquire? I took a cell phone picture of both pieces. Love your videos. They actually inspired me to build my own Tele.

[@AskZac]

That's Steve Cropper's gear

[@MrBritrider]

@@AskZac Dammit, why do I get JB and SC mixed up? I’ve done it before. ☺️Thanks for the correction 😊

[@everettnapihaa6111]

Screaming J. Hawkins...James would say alot of people cut the rug on Suzy Q and that the drum beat very aggressive and new at the time. After he started using banjo strings he was approached by Ernie Ball saw an opportunity offered to make guitar strings just like banjo strings just for him like..."James, we can just make these guitar strings like this for you" then James made a comment about 'slinky's. Elvis was adamant about wanting James's Fender Paisley...oh yeah, he wrote Suzy Q when he was 14 yrs old! He jammed with Ricky's twin sons sometime after their fame and Rocking times in the 90's...in I think it was Ricky's recording studio seems he was reminiscing. What a great young life..and all the way through his illustrious career! I'm a 67 yrs old Rock and Metal musician and James Burton is among my top 5 guitar hero's!!! Peace Zak...as Ringo would say...Peace and Love!!! Damn he's 82 looking 42!

[@larryflanagan8799]

I saw James Burton at a guitar show, Tulsa, 1995? Get well soon.

[@barkeater9606]

My favorite telecaster was Don Richs’ silver sparkle telecaster. Fender should do an affordable version of that guitar.

[@gr81dorn]

That would be cool. The brad paisley silver sparkle is actually pretty fantastic. If they just do that double bound and matching headstock, that would be worth the extra, but that would make the MIM version probably be close to $2k. Not sure they have it in them to make it affordable.

[@davidkellner8465]

Nice pickin' on the Working Man Blues solo

[@jpalberthoward9]

The Emmylou Harris album sleeve parked underneath all the James Burton pictures is a cool synchronicity since he was the guitar player on that album. Another neat little coincidence is on the Ozzie and Harriet show, there was a neighbor, a teenage girl named Emmylou.

[@hunkydorian]

I looked up "Believe What You Say" and found a tv performance by Ricky and James, who was that day slinging a Rickenbacker of all things. Must have been some commercial tv thing.

[@genebrenner855]

A really good bio of James. Always so tasteful even back in the Ricky days. But the idea of him using "banjo strings'" I think is a bit of a stretch. Usually, guitarists who wanted lighter strings back then would buy a set of regulars, available everywhere. They were closer to today's light string acoustic set than anything. They would throw away the 6th string and install all the rest, starting with the the 6th, now all one gauge lighter. That left the first string and that's where the banjo string comes in. A 1st string banjo string, depending on the gauge, is an .009 or .010. PERFECT! How do I know this? Because I did it before Slinkys or the Fender 150 set came out. I don't remember looping a ball on the first. There may have been ball end banjo strings back then. Another point: Banjo strings are very light. Maybe the 3rd wound banjo string could go on the 4th string on the guitar, but that's it as far as the lower strings. I hope James recovers from his recent hospital stay.

[@badseedsfolkrockky1395]

how do you use that banjo string zac .black diamond strings throw away the low E use the banjo string G string unwound for your hi E .i don't know if you can get black diamond strings anymore. there were no gauged strings yet burton started the unwound G string trick. i hope he gets well soon. great video.

[@david25876]

Would love to see a review and what you think about the American Pro II tele’s.

[@nicko6710]

Would love to see you involved with the people from the Musicians hall of fame, I'm sure you could contribute a great deal after the passing of Joe.

[@ahg1358]

Checked out Amazon , I think the guitar player book is back in print ?

[@AskZac]

It is a different version. Not the same content

[@telecasterbear]

Thanks for diving deep Zac. Converting original purchase prices to current dollars keeps us grounded as to the investment needed at the time.

[@jerrystephenson1172]

Yes, his parents made a significant investment in his career & likely sacrificed in the act.

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@jerrystephenson1172 Exactly, I think that’s a very good point that needs to made. Today, for some reason, so many people have the misconception that Fenders were created to be “affordable” guitars for the masses, and that is simply not true.

[@tacmason]

That red paint on the neck is a glitch in the Matrix !😮

[@jerrystephenson1172]

So he refinished the tele several times. You refer to him having modified it. Did the pups & electronics stay stock?

[@AskZac]

It seems he only modified the appearance.

[@John-vk4gs]

Best JB video ever ! Thanks Zac! What was the song at the end ?

[@AskZac]

Workin' Man Blues

[@Robowx]

I had that book!

[@kylealanhobbs]

How perfect! I just got the James Burton Hot Licks video.

[@Kurtis-Schubert]

Did James use a capo like that? Sounds great! Thanks for the info on that historic guitar.

[@AskZac]

I believe so

[@michaelvicchiarelli7627]

Great episode! Curiosity asks what amp did he play his brand new Tele through?

[@AskZac]

He had a small Gretsch amp in the 50s before getting larger Fender amps.

[@mjvicc1952]

WOW, you really do your homework! You my friend are truly “The Master of All Things Telecaster”. Really enjoy your channel as it not only entertains but brings information and insight to our love of the guitar and the masters who wield them. Thank You and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy & Healthy New Year.🎉

[@misterknightowlandco]

Doing a little shopping and found your video. Would I be better off getting the American vintage ii 52 telecaster or James’s current signature model with the 3 lace sensors and paisley flames. Never played lace sensors before but it’s a pretty sweet looking Tele.

[@rickboone1090]

Since the 1972 book is out of print, could it be digitized and made available again?

[@AskZac]

Here is hard copies www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30811514504&cm_sp=det-_-bsk-_-bdp

[@rickboone1090]

@@AskZac Hey Zac...thx for responding! I know the book could be purchased as you mentioned that in the video. I was asking about digitization more for preservation than purchase. Could they be digitized and stored (scanned and PDF?) to ensure they are preserved? That was more my line of thinking. 👍

[@Troy1g]

Fantastic please teach that solo,

[@guppybill]

Still need a Tele. Not just any Tele. I'll know it when I play it.

[@stevekent]

Is it possible the red paint on the neck (11:06) is a photographic anomaly? The curvature of the paint mark looks suspiciously similar to the curvature of the upper front wing of the tele….or is the paint mark seen in other photos at that time?

[@AskZac]

Its in multiple photos

[@jonathanfowles4228]

… and now on a (brief!) video clip…! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gImolXRqbaZmh7s

[@AskZac]

Fantastic video!

[@thatguyherb1]

Good old J&S in Shreveport LA!! LA Hayride was a big freaking deal! Tos Guys could be heard on KWKH, right?

[@smelltheglove2038]

Hey! I have that shirt! I dig it.

[@AskZac]

Thanks! Nice avatar

[@steveogden5087]

I have a pristine copy of that book in my bookcase. Not for sale!

[@jfinester]

That Tele had the pickups wired out of phase. (At least I assume it’s that Tele-he could have had more than one.) Teles up to ‘67 weren’t designed to have both pickups on at the same time, and some of them left the factory out of phase. You can hear it on James’ solo on Traveling Man by Ricky Nelson. Get well, James!

[@AskZac]

Correct! I for got to mention that.

[@gregglaughlin8625]

Note- Jimmie Haskell was the defacto producer of all the early Ricky Nelson hits.

[@jchavins]

in other interviews of Burton he has stated that early on he discovered that he could move a 3 position switch on a 3 pickup guitar between positions and get the out of phase sound. Do you know anything about this ? Did Burton actually create one of the first Nashville Teles or did one of his artist models come with a 3 position switch ?

[@AskZac]

His pickups were out of phase with each other. You can hear it on numerous recordings

[@jchavins]

@@AskZac my question is which guitar....is it possible to even do that on a two pickup Tele ? inquiring minds want to know.....lol

[@AskZac]

On the 52. Yes, but the pickups would have to be wired or wound out of phase

[@olafbigandglad]

Working Man Blues is your favourite Burton solo? I know I haven't heard anywhere near all of them, but so far, I think my vote goes to Stood Up.

[@olafbigandglad]

Except maybe that was Joe Maphis. Oops.

[@geemac7267]

BTW, that $2600 price tag for Burton's Tele in today's money is even more impressive when you factor in the median income in 1952 was $2300.

[@johncox2552]

May God bring him thru!

[@tomgnau]

What do think of the modern Burton signature telecaster, Zac?

[@AskZac]

I had the USA version, and wish I had gotten the MX version.

[@tomgnau]

@@AskZac That doesn't surprise me. I like Lace Sensors, but a lot of old-school players don't care for them.

[@geemac7267]

I love your content. You're very knowledgeable and have some good Nashville connections to get details we don't often hear anywhere else. After those compliments, I hope you'll allow me a question without thinking I'm being a jerk, because I certainly am not trying to be. Why is your channel called "ask Zac"? If the opening of this video, for instance, began "a lot of you have been asking me what I thought was the Tele that began the Tele craze and here is the one I think did it" then the "ask" part makes perfect sense. But you don't seem to answer any questions in your content. Maybe I've missed them, but I don't think so. Anyway, just curious. And keep up the good content, no matter what you call it.

[@geemac7267]

And I do realize I've just asked Zac a question, but you know what I mean.

[@stanbarnhart6677]

I remember an ask zac episode where he explained all that . Goes back to when he worked for Paisley as his guitar tech .

[@AskZac]

It started with a column I wrote for Vintage Guitar Magazine for 15 years called "Ask Zac" and then morphed from there. I do a monthly livestream where I answer questions.

[@geemac7267]

@@AskZac Thank you, Zac. Now I know, and as GI JOE always told us, knowing is half the battle.

[@edwither8284]

So the original pickups on that guitar stayed good over all those years?

[@AskZac]

As far as we know

[@SteveSelvidge]

Did he mod the electronics?

[@AskZac]

No