How The Telecaster Came To Nashville - Ask Zac 199

[@donaldnelson8764]

I started playing guitar in 1960 and got my first electric guitar, a Kay Speed Demon, in '61 and then a new Stratocaster in 1963. That is when I started removing the big E string, moving the rest over one space and putting the tenor A banjo string in the small E position. I'm not sure where I learned about but I kept doing it until light guage strings were introduced. I got my first Telecaster, when I returned from Vietnam, in July 1967.

[@ourlifeinwyoming4654]

I put a Telcaster in the hands of a lifelong musician this weekend. He’s buying one now. They just make great tone.

[@sidtone1]

Zac, thanks for great history lesson. My friend Jim Weider told me that Roy Buchanon showed Robbie Robertson how to play high harmonic licks. Then Roy added to Jim “I showed him the wrong way”. One of the great LoL stories!

[@mairenared]

Great history lesson Zac. I've been a big Roy Buchanan fan since the early '70s and loved the way he played "Nancy". I've also seen photos of him playing a sunburst Les Paul with P90s but I'm not sure at what stage in his career that was. I started on Strats but now play a '56 Gold Top with P90s and have also acquired a Tele from a friend. I keep the Tele in open G for slide work and those Keith Richards moments. It's only a Squier Classic Vibe but it had a great sound and plays really well.

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

I personally want an Esquire myself. It’s wild to me you put the pickup in that Esquire. Great video and a wonderful history lesson.

[@grahamsimpson5808]

Hello Zac,, I have loved your musings as a fellow Teleholic for some decades . I was so chuffed to hear you mention Billy Sanford in this episode. I was a live sound engineer for over 35 yrs and I just have to share this: I was employed as systems engineer on a Uk tour by the late great Don Williams in the early 90s, this was reprised for a couple of years and ended with a Live album recording in the Royal Albert Hall. It was my first time working with 'Nashville Cats' and boy, did this influence me , such incredible musicians! Don's band icluded: Billy Sanford, Mike Noble [guitar ], Dave Pomeroy [Bass, what a guy!!!}, Charles Cochran [piano] and Brian Burnett [ Drums}, such an incredible experience, Billy's accompiament to Don's vocals were so haunting and have stayed with me to rhis day! A big 'shout out' also to their FOH engineer Dave Sinko, he kinda helped me mature as an engineer, he got past the gear and direct to the heart and soul of the music, I am so grateful for for his influence upon my career, much respect!

[@besnardphilippe7350]

Dear Zac I’m enjoying immensely that fine Spotify playlist and your wonderfull video content.I’s one of my window to the world of great music and telecaster music in particular. Many thanks for all of that Merry Christmas to you and family Phil (France)

[@vayabroder729]

Wasn’t the Telecaster a West Coast phenomenon first and later on the East Coast? I love seeing them on those ‘50’s reruns of the Grand Ole Opry. Those and all the vintage amps, and the acoustics, hollow bodies, lap steels and the odd Bigsby here and there, Chet Atkins and his old Gretsches, etc.

[@davidreineke1758]

There’s a good book called “Birth of Loud” if I remember correctly. It details the relationship between Leo Fender and Les Paul and how the Tele took over the Western Swing bands on the West Coast first. Great book!

[@NickRatnieks]

Hank Garland borrowed Harold Bradley's Jazzmaster to play the solo on "Little Sister" for Elvis Presley. It is probably Fred Carter Jr on "Girl On The Billboard" by Del Reeves. Jerry Reed got Chet to play a Telecaster- for at least one performance!

[@JackTheSkunk]

Yes, I think he, (Chet), was was with Gibson at the time. They couldn't have been happy about that, but who's going to scold Mr. Guitar? 😅😅😅

[@JackTheSkunk]

I discovered Delbert McClinton's music thanks to a Guitar Player Magazine interview with Billy Sanford. I am not familiar with his work with other artists. Zac...I hope you have some Duane Eddy stories you can share with us in the near future. Duane was my first guitar hero since 1958.

[@VidarLund-k5q]

Chet gave Waylon Jennings a special Telecaster in the sixties.

[@petedazer3381]

I played a strat for 50 years, until I finally picked up a good telecaster. Anybody wanna buy a bunch of Strats?

[@mooseymoose]

In my opinion all Leo should have done was put an arm bevel on the Tele rather than go full Strat.

[@robt5818]

I like both. Of course, the simplicity of a Tele is very cool.

[@outwook]

Could you send the photos of your Strats? Just want to have a look.

[@Ottophil]

@@outwooklol all strats look the same man

[@ryangunwitch-black]

@@mooseymooseI hope you don’t drive the way you Fender. 😂

[@willpipes9795]

My Boss and friend Gene Stewart,the " Country Rebel" grew up with James Burton,We re from Rayville,La,right by Winnsboro,where Fred Carter Jr.was from,and not far from Shreveport.Hes mostly an acoustic guitarist,but actually owns a couple telecasters,just because he witnessed that period over at the Hayride,and knew it was something special.

[@pallisg]

Tak!

[@AskZac]

Thank you!

[@pallisg]

@@AskZac not at all, I really like your stories:-)

[@tulsatoolfool]

You are just a great guy telling great stories...thank you!

[@AskZac]

I appreciate that!

[@brubakersflatcakes9755]

I started practicing guitar around 1980. I picked up my first Tele just a few weeks ago. A 1988 American Standard, Sunburst. Well, its a winner, and a keeper. Love it. It fills a hole in my modest collection.

[@patrickploenzke489]

Oh damn... That tone at 17:00. Nice Zac.

[@sesa2984]

I’m only 37 seconds in but I feel compelled to say this is (one of) the videos I’ve been looking for. Its hard to get clear timelines of Country history from google searches on the internet. Thanks again.

[@patrickstover8766]

Thanks for the spotify playlist! love it.

[@Patrick_B687-3]

I’ve learned so much from you Zac, and love it all. I’m just a music fan, but love it nearly all from Old & Hard Rock, to good Country, Blues and more. I’ve followed you on Spotify, and save every new playlist I hear you talk about. These lists are SO COOL man and such a great idea. Thank very much for the effort to share it with us.

[@jjemsnd7]

Thanks it's in important to keep the history alive and remember who went before us. It's important in every gener, jazz etc. I think it's important for an artist to have a historical link to those who went before. Thanks Zack!

[@tomk1tl39]

I love my Telecasters . . . I fell in love with the Telecaster as soon as I started playing guitar back in the early '80s . . . . I have a Strat, Jaguar and Jazzmaster ( scratch built) BUT my two Tele's are the ones I go to . . . one is a 7.25r and the other a 9.5r . . . I prefer the 7.25r . . . 👍 👍 😎

[@larryn2682]

Scratch built means built from scratch. I doubt it.

[@adamdacevedo]

Thanks!

[@louisdombrowski4198]

Thanks once again for another great episode ,love this kinda thing. Early in the life of the tele Leo gave one to Merle Travis but Merle didn't take to it. Johnny Hiland & Danny Gatton made me realize how much I missed the single coil pickups. Les Pauls & Teles are about everything to me.

[@VidarLund-k5q]

No, Merle prefered his big hollow body Gibson 400.

[@kevinkey7241]

Dale Sellers was a big Tele guy on lots of 70s/80s records, “Backside of 30” & “14 Karat Mind” are 2 big ones

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I love my Strats. And I love my Teles. I’m a Strat guy and very particular about my Strats but less so about my Teles so I will probably wind up with way more of them. Just got another this weekend! Now I’ve got a Tele for standard and one for open G. ❤

[@keokih]

Great history. Thanks!

[@dannymarks988]

Great story well told as always. Thanks especially for mentioning the Toronto connection. In the early 60's the Telecaster was The Toronto Sound.

[@CharlesLRT]

Hi Zac! I got the Tele bug bad and I love listening to you talk about the history of this wonderful instrument. Thank you for sharing!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@thesjkexperience]

You’ll have the sickness when you start building them 🤗

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

Enjoyed this one a lot! .......While you were talking about Shreveport players, I kept thinking about Don Rich and Jimmy Bryant (seeing The Speedy & Jimmy box set on your shelf!), who were obviously also west coast guys and their brilliance in terms of licks and tones, must have influenced the Nashville players, too.

[@albertjabberin739]

Hey Zac, I would argue that Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and California were arguably more influential in developing modern country music than actual Nashville. Bob Wills to Ray Price, Lefty Frizzell, even George Strait (dominated the 80s-90s) James Burton, Hank Williams, etc.

[@sesa2984]

I’d be curious to hear how what we know as the “Nashville Tele” came to be. I’ve heard stories about studio guys routing strat pickups into the middle of their telecasters, and I’d love to know the origin of it. I don’t own one, but for some reason I’m so enamoured of the idea of it. I think, despite using so few different tones myself, the idea of having a swiss army knife guitar is attractive to me. You know, so I can ignore 4 or 5 other positions rather than just 1 or 2.

[@AskZac]

Joe Glaser did it for guys in Nashville in the very early 80s.

[@sesa2984]

@@AskZac Watching that video now! 😂

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Gotta watch this! Probably one of the best solid bodied electrics of all time....I know I have one too! Great stories. Many top names in the guitar session world.

[@bhhNC]

Dickie and Duane were like a second coming and extension of that 2 guitar style, which Bryant/West added inertia to. The Allman Brothers raised the guitar bar and created a new genre on the shoulders of Bob WIlls.

[@artofsoundcc]

Good point and twin fiddles was probably the model for "twinning" guitars

[@larryn2682]

Pun intended (or not) with Dickey from the band Second Coming.

[@davidpeirce7914]

Really enjoyable and informative! Thx

[@mikecorey8370]

Great history lesson. Thanks Zac. I've been a Tele owner since 2014. Didn't play much at first because I was a Srat and Les Paul guy. But as time passed, I found myself going to it more and more. To me, The American Standard Tele is pretty much the perfect guitar.

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

That Jimmy Dickens song has great stuff going on all the time! Who played the steel guitar? Thanks for that one!

[@Joey-xf6sg]

Wonderful video Zac! Can you do a video on James Burton’s solos from “A Black and White Night”? I think that it’s some of his best work, and is terribly underrated.

[@jeffanderson8384]

Added some names to my "watch, listen and learn" list. Thank you Zac!

[@THEItchybruddah]

ALWAYS a “checkup from the neck up!” as one of your locals is wont to opine! You’re a treasure Zac!

[@michaeleaster1815]

Very cool point about the Tele being as strange as the Steinberger and Parker Fly would be later. Similarly, re: 10:57 , in the club days, before they were signed, Edward VH would turn his back to the audience to hide his techniques. So many themes recur over and over again... great video!

[@phillipasby9202]

Great video and interesting history lesson! Quick question - to frame it in modern terms what gauge were guitar strings at the time that necessitated the banjo string substitution?

[@AskZac]

12-53 with a wound 3rd

[@anthonymcgill8035]

Terrific content, Zac…appreciate the research and time you put into this.

[@adadogod]

Love the channel Zac! Which Tele is that you have here? Thanks!

[@AskZac]

A 53 style build a friend gave me

[@user-et2fj8xm5l]

Really dig your content Zac! Just started the clip but you had me with the title..

[@jfinester]

When I first went to Nashville in 1976, everybody I ran into was playing Gibson Les Pauls, and I had a ‘59 Tele. A couple of years later, when I moved there, I saw more guys using Telecasters, and I had a Yamaha SG2000 (the so-called Les Paul killer)! I was either ahead of the curve or behind it-I’m not sure which!

[@chrisnash8411]

Just another interesting and informative video ! I love the channel !!! Been working hard and have missed your streams for a few months... it's gonna be fun catching up! Thanks Zac !

[@joeldowdy404]

Great informational video Zac!!

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

Great episode. Important history. I was surprised when I first moved to Nashville in 2012 that, while many guitarists were playing Tele-type guitars, almost none of them were Fenders. Vintage Teles were prohibitive and it seemed the original company had dropped the ball by making inferior mass produced models and over-priced custom shop models. A player could get an instrument as good or better than a vintage or custom shop Tele for hundreds less from a private builder. Fender appears to have made up some ground in recent years, whether through improved quality control or a more liberal endorsement policy.

[@AskZac]

Thanks, Michael. I have a number of great partscasters, and you have some great MIJ copies.

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

@@AskZac I wish, but I don't have any MIJ copies, just a great pre-lawsuit Fernandes Tele Custom

[@Telepkr]

This in every episode are great they take all the guitar stuff just a step further you can ask for more I have one suggestion for you Zac. The lake great Tom Wheeler was the producer of the greatest offender books on the planet I have them and I see from your videos you have them as well he was the guy he was the man the only guy who even comes close to representing that is you. I was hoping someday you might carry the torch and put out some more books continue the story offender there’s a lot on earth and I think the way you produce these videos is phenomenal but we’re missing that person the historian and I think he would be the perfect guy

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

great episode 199 thx Zac !!

[@trigliderider]

Good entertaining and informative stuff. Thanks for posting.

[@tejas.darwin]

Good morning, Zac! love the channel!!

[@sgholt]

Thanks Zac, as a Tele owner and player, I approve your message...but I still love my strats and humbucker guitars. :) \m/ ah, Suzy Q I was wondering how that was played :) thanks

[@thomasrose7713]

Really Enjoyed this video. An alternate motto for your channel could be… “ the only dive is a deep dive”

[@AskZac]

I like it!

[@danielrose3172]

I love my strat, but i always have to have a tele... They are the guitar sounds i like. Recording them however, makes you realize how versatile a tele is.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I love fender history videos; can’t seem to get enough. History of other brands of amps and guitars just don’t seem as interesting. More videos like these please!

[@AskZac]

Glad you like them!

[@6000geac]

Hey Zac who did all that great guitar stuff on the Del Reeves albums. It totally sounds like a Telecaster to me, I read somewhere it was Fred Carter but wasn’t sure.

[@edkutschke814]

Thanks Zac, very cool as always!

[@david25876]

Interesting content. Thx Zac

[@Nowandthen-zen]

Zach, thanks for the list✌🏻🎶🎸

[@umberto1949]

Zac, GREAT STUFF, as usual! :)

[@AskZac]

Thanks again!

[@Phillip-y6d]

wow, just the last 3 notes of that Little Jimmy Dickens lick - Bliss ❤ Headstrong Lil' King ?

[@AskZac]

Yes

[@walterstreet1467]

How about a show on the G&L telecaster

[@AskZac]

Did one

[@VidarLund-k5q]

Jim Reeves' lead guitarist Leo Jackson of the Blue Boys played a Fender Jazzmaster.

[@livingestudiolivesessions5787]

zak do you use treble bleed?

[@AskZac]

no

[@MatthewLGuidry]

Hi Zac. I’m interested in your take on straps, of all things.

[@AskZac]

Simple leather or an ACE

[@tonyfafoglia2927]

Oddly enough early on with Nelson Burton played a Rickenbacker. There's footage of from the Ricky Nelson Show of Burton playing a Ric.

[@Scaredycat-dad]

Seems like they used to call it stealing, now it’s inspiration 😉, great video Zac!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Telecaster was all over John Fogerty's 1973 country-covers album The Blue Ridge Rangers.

[@brentsims8002]

So going down to lower Broad these days is somewhat a mix where as 10-20 years ago you didn’t gig if you didn’t play tele down there . I was down a couple weeks ago and I see more Gibson’s than I ever have . I have to say I like the diversity even though imma tele guy and do have a couple Gibsons I use here and there

[@Eric-fb2wp]

Zac this doesn't have nothing to do with this video. But ive wondered what you think about Waylon Jennings and his iconic White and black leather wrapped tele? Wonder how you rank his playing or if you know some history that would be interesting. Also ive wondered about his guitar and what it exactly is as its covered in leather. I love the paisley Tele also love the Waylon Tele they look sweet.

[@AskZac]

I need to do a Waylon episode

[@ryanacree]

What about Speedy West? I know he was very early and may not have had much impact on Nashville, but I know he played with Chet and played a Tele.

[@AskZac]

West played steel

[@ryanacree]

@@AskZac Sorry…Jimmy Bryant. Jimmy did an album with Speedy West.

[@malakaisilverman9913]

Man, the further back you go into country, the more authentic it gets. LOVE that “Out Of Business” song. Thanks for the great info and playlist.

[@OldManandtheGHome]

Without watching the video yet, I'm guessing via Bakersfield, California.

[@kjatexas3679]

In some of the early Ricky Nelson videos, where James Burton was playing, James used a Jazzmaster.

[@AskZac]

He only held that for the cameras. He recorded with his 52 Tele

[@VidarLund-k5q]

Leo Jackson of Jim Reeves Blue Boys played a Jazzmaster.

[@mastabad2]

I heard somewhere that the Nashville guys kind of looked down at the Telecaster bc Owens, Rich and the Bakersfield guys used them. Any truth in that?

[@AskZac]

They were mostly jazzers. They wanted fat and smokey.

[@jalapainyo]

Not only do I hear the pickups I hear the tone wood. OMG!

[@jalapainyo]

hey, Zac. Love your chaannel! It's a go to for me for all the material you cover with insight and respect for the history of the subject matter. Side note- my comment was meant for Shawn Tubbs over at Revv amps on his latest video so thanks for liking it even though it was completely incongruous. Cheers!

[@wildbillhackett]

I may be wrong but I think the Ozark Jubilee was just as big or bigger than either the Opry or Hayride for a few years.

[@andreasfetzer7559]

To be honest, its also because the ams and effects developed a lot, a tele with rusty strings on a old 10 watt amp sounded shity in the 50ies.

[@Cheguebuddha]

I only have 3 Teles

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

Waylon's track with Billy Sanford -kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWGwaH2Xhd6gqsk

[@JackBond-in3og]

… then there was also Luther Perkins, helping to craft Johnny Cash’s sound. But for me, nobody had the finesse, tone, and originality of Roy Buchanan. 😎🎶…. Jack Bond

[@peterburi2727]

Always informative Zac, thanks! BTW...real men play Telecasters.

[@sweetwater54]

Why no mention of Buck Owens and the Bakersfield sound in the early 60's?

[@MitchellMaichak-ze7mr]

Read Buck Owens' autobiography , " Buck 'Em " ! He makes some mention of gear , his acquisition of his first Telecaster , and the inspiration for Joe Maphis' hit , " Dim Lights , Thick Smoke , And Loud , LOUD Music " !

[@VidarLund-k5q]

Agree, Buck and Don Rich were great Tele players.

[@RobWiacek-o3v]

I love Teles! I make more Tele bodies than any other. Got em all over the world Rob Wiacek Check guitars

[@NoNameNo.5]

By way a Bakersfield

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

Teles and Strats were Cowboy guitars. It used to be Country Western music.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

Here to remind everyone what fantastic guitar the Telecaster is for Rock and Hard Rock, too... 🤓

[@RobWiacek-o3v]

I love Teles! I make more Tele bodies than any other. Got em all over the world Rob Wiacek Check guitars