The 20 Telecaster Players That Changed the World

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I could/should have made this one first really as Telecasters have really been on mind this fall. As I say in the video, these are the ones that I think had the biggest impact. I'm sure your list will/might be different. And that's cool. "Put your choices in the comments for everyone to enjoy."
Best,
Keith

[@mznxx319]

Honorary mention for Prince, who played a non Fender tele clone for the bulk of his long career. I'd never have picked up a tele if not for him

[@peterbuckley4690]

Yeah prince!!!

[@1322JAddie]

Absolutely Prince!!

[@KimberlyBowling]

So true! Prince was the man

[@azaraelhyzer3874]

Prince for sure.

[@216trixie]

Hohner

[@BearOfStone]

I would argue that John 5 is a slightly more representative "Tele in shape only" player in a context that's a bit more intense than country/rock, over Jim Root. I don't quite know which has more popularity, but I would wager that John 5 has influenced more players, given the range of playing styles he incorporates. Otherwise, I think this is a fine "gateway" listing to get the wonderful Tele rabbit hole started.

[@psychoarts]

I agree 100%.

[@VixCrush]

I second the John 5 thing. He is a monster player and the tele player whose signature models I lust after..... Especially the black one with the old style head....

[@jayclark725]

John 5 maybe not a popular but as a guitarist he impresses the heck out of me. His playing is amazing.

[@BurtonsChannel]

@@chiefline7084 Yes, he has a tele museum in his house.

[@mangleman9112]

Most definately John 5 should have been included. There ar'nt many of the 20 players you list that are as versatile and proficient in so many guitar playing styles than he is. Also the Telecaster is his guitar of choice and has been throughout his career, and i expect it will always be his guitar of choice, note that there is now a Fender custom shop John 5 Telecaster. If that is not an endorsement for the guitar and the brand Fender, I don't know what is... Nuff Said.

[@alvillanueva2525]

Jerry Donahue, John Jorgenson and Will Ray should be on this list. As the Hellecasters, they were phenomenal.

[@JackTheSkunk]

Which proves why these lists are meaningless.

[@davidfriedli]

When thinking of a Telecaster, Status Quo‘s Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi immediately come to my mind. They definitely made the Tele extremely popular and famous through their music🎸

[@davroshalfbeard8368]

Quo did a load of great songs in the 70s definitely the first guitar band I got into as a kid a Christmas favourite lol dig out the old albums time

[@whitedrguy6503]

Sadly no matter how popular the Quo were in the rest of the world, they never made it the states so are overlooked by Americans. Noddy Holder from Slade played a Tele, and Slade were a great band, once again never made in the states.

[@gliddofglood]

Good points. I also hoped that Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers might get a mention, but once again, The Stranglers were never Big in America. Massively influential in the UK though.

[@kevinjohnbetts]

I was going to mention Quo but you beat me to it by a long way. It's probably unfortunate that they ended up as a parody of themselves but those classic 70s albums will live on after most of the dreck they released has been forgotten.

[@GrumpyOldGit60]

Trouble is... Americans don't know about the Mighty Quo. Their loss, obviously.

[@SSquirrel1976]

The name I didn't see that I would have expected is Prince. That Hohner Tele was the main guitar on his first several albums and it always saw play on his albums and live right up to when he passed. He made sure to play it at the Super Bowl halftime show tho, as well as his famous playing on the R&RHoF version of Whiel My Guitar Gently Weeps

[@peterdvideos]

Yes, I TOTALLY agree! I saw Prince several times live after Dirty Mind, Controversy and 1999 I believe playing that guitar. Totally iconic.

[@jasonremy1627]

Prince had more flashy stage guitars, but he never had a better sounding axe than that Hohner Tele. That performance on the outro solo of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is still my favorite guitar performance of all time. Studio or live.

[@directassault1662]

But not a Tele…

[@stephanleo]

Absolutely!!!

[@norseman61]

@@directassault1662 And THAT’s why Prince is not included on the list. An honorable mention might have been in order, though!

[@chloescat]

It's extremely hard to not mention Roy Buchanan. That '72 record is fire!❤

[@HarkenRoad]

I've often wondered if the studio guitarist who played Marty McFly's freak-out in 'Back to the Future' was influenced by Roy Buchanan's version of 'Johnny B. Goode' from the "American Axe - Live in '74" album.

[@chloescat]

@@HarkenRoad I've not listened to that one. Thanks, another live album to add to the collection. ❤️

[@willcraig6421]

And…..Mike Bloomfield’s Tele work with Dylan and the first Butterfield Band album surely deserve a mention.He was THE American guitar hero among all those Brits in the 60s.

[@chriscoughlin9289]

I'll buy that on the basis of the historical technicality. But the dueling, spiralling fretwork on East West that - at least in part - gave rise to the likes of Tom Verlaine's Television - was all thanks to the legendary Gibson Gold Top.

[@willcraig6421]

Absolutely!!

[@slydogtom]

How in heaven can you leave out Don Rich? The guy invented the sound of country tele. I hear guys trying to play that style all the time. I’ll guarantee you that the big boys all have learned from and admire Don Rich.

[@oldermusiclover]

love the man

[@monadity3883]

Merle should be considered, too. As well as Jerry Reed. Guess they wanted to give a broader relevance of tele with punk, pop and rock.

[@derin111]

No Muddy Waters? But Chrissy Hind gets included as a guitarist? Seriously?

[@kenyonstewart7120]

Agreed. Don Rich and John 5 should have been in there. Opposite ends of the musical spectrum, but both iconic telecaster players

[@shawnuel]

My Olympia WA homie, Don Rich!

[@Jamesharris-lo9nn]

So glad that Danny Gatton was mentioned . While not the most famous on this list he was the most gifted. He is the ultimate Telecaster player. A true virtuoso guitarist and master of the instrument. 🎶🎸

[@beachhunting69]

Sky King is one of my favorite songs

[@jimm3205]

The Humbler!

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

The Telemaster Danny Gatton 😊👌

[@HexxHenderson]

Fortunately, for me as a lifelong Roy Buchanan fan, I ended up in his band playing bass a few years before his death. It’s also worth noting that James Burton was the first guy to put a plain third G string on an electric guitar before that they were all wound. He bought a pack of banjo strings, and used a string out of the package so he could facilitate string, bending. Could you imagine a world without that?

[@MrPhilfridge]

The use of a plain third has been credited to several players over the years. In the UK Eddie Cochran brought that 'trick' over with him. He was recording professionally as a session player before James Burton and i suspect he got the idea from some of the blues players he hung with. so crediting any single player is guesswork really. Don;t know where your located but Cochran is a lot higher rated in the UK as an influence and player than in his native land, which is a shame as he was a real pioneer of rock guitar.

[@valentino3191]

This was a wonderful comment. Eddie Cochran gets passed over a lot and he was so important to the development of Rock and Roll. Gone too soon.

[@bobsaturday4273]

you just made the yt comment section worth reading

[@thaddeusfields4360]

I’m

[@robertdeen8741]

I, for some reason thought Tbone Walker started the solid G string trend. I've been toying with the idea of going back to a wound G. Either that or a six saddle bridge

[@cvdevol]

Just started watching and I hope Danny Gatton is on the list. 💯 Nobody on the planet could keep up with him.

[@Mister_Samsonite]

As others have already stated, I would agree that Prince deserved a spot on this list, especially since a few players on the list don't play "real" Teles either - but boutique copies. Sure he played many other guitars in his career, but that Hohner T-style was "the one" for me.

[@TWfromWI]

Yup, Prince should have been mentioned...also, D. Boon and Syd Barrett influenced my love of Teles

[@Annunaki_0517]

Hey Keith, another great video. One small correction. “The Clash” was the first album from The Clash. “Give ‘em Enough Rope” was the second album they recorded and “London Calling” was the third, followed by “Sandinista” and finally “Combat Rock”. Beyond that, awesome video, thanks again for the consistently great content.

[@plopswagon]

Although it wasn’t released in the US until later. BUT it was the largest selling import of that time. My first pro guitar I bought in 1980 was a Tele because of Joe. I still have it to this day.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

1st Clash album red white green and black screen print cover is the best LP. Janie jones 1st track, police and thieves etc.

[@shipsahoy1793]

My favorites were London calling, and Sandinista. Combat Rock was ok but more “commercial.”

[@BurtonsChannel]

Don't forget 'Cut The Crap' hahaha, horrible...

[@shipsahoy1793]

@@BurtonsChannel yep; at that point it was already over ..

[@Kevin-the-Just]

Ted Greene may not have 'changed the world', but he was one the greatest players of a Telecaster and deserves wider appreciation. Also, as others have mentioned here, Wilko Johnson of Dr Feelgood deserves at least an honourable mention for being a unique Tele voice and having a huge influence on the 70s music scene in the UK.

[@JackTheSkunk]

And Canadian jazz guitarist Ed Bickert used a Tele exclusively as far as I know. Many really fine Tele players made tons of great music but to say that they "changed the world" is a bit of a stretch.

[@patrickstefurak6645]

Ted Greene! Yes!

[@twangbarfly]

Ted Greene was a legend among the guitar cognoscenti, and like Danny Gatton, he abandoned more expensive and sophisticated guitars in favour of the tele. Interestingly, they deeply admired each other''s work.

[@tenbroeck1958]

Ted Greene did change the world, for many musicians, including me. He was like many greats who mainly influenced musicians, and passed as a fairly obscure genius. Watching him live freaked me out - like some picked up the Chet Atkins thing, and somehow added to it. At first I thought he must being playing to some secret taped track, but nope - it was all Ted Greene! .

[@lachlangrant1588]

I think Wilko would tell you that Mick Green of The Pirates should be on the list as well.

[@duranjerome]

Clarence White had some of the tastiest playing I've ever heard. His work on The Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" is so wonderful

[@oldermusiclover]

and now Marty Stuart has that pretty sounding tele

[@Secretarian]

Yes, and was it not on Clarence White 's Tele that the Tonebender made it's first appearance?

[@Secretarian]

Correction. It was the B-bender, invented by the Byrds drummer at the time.

[@TheFlowNetwork]

Great video! The only three I would have added would be Tommy Tedesco (easily the most recorded Tele in history), Mike Bloomfield (the Tele that electrified Dylan) and Muddy Waters (who's 58 Tele named "Hoss" hangs in the RRHOF museum and should have been #1 on this list).

[@mattrogers1946]

Three guys that should have made the list.

[@CaptQuirkBand]

Yup, Muddy Waters as #1 most influential. I was surprised he wasn't even on the list. Jimmy Bryant should have been on there, too. And if you're going to list Brad Paisley and Kieth Urban, I'd say Vince Gill belongs there, too, with the white Tele he's used most of his playing life. Oklahoma Borderline and all the live versions of Liza Jane showcase a powerhouse of a player. Plus, Eric Clapton called him personally to join his Crossroads extravaganzas...not a bad endorsement.

[@CityBlades]

Cornell Dupree would give Tommy a run for his money in that regard. I think Tommy played more TOTAL sessions... but all of Cornell's 2500+ were played on a tele, whereas tommy played all sorts of stuff

[@hempsellastro]

Joe Strummer was heavily influenced by Wilko Johnson (of Dr Feelgood) who played a black Telecaster with red scratch plate. So many players in the mid-1970s were inspired by Johnson’s proto punk style, that from a UK perspective he would have to be on the list. Another UK contender would be Frances Rossi and Rick Parfitt from Status Quo (who had more UK chart hits than any other rock band) and were both loyal Telecaster players for their entire careers.

[@paniccleo]

And Wilko Johnson has said many times that his playing was directly inspired by Mick Green of The Pirates, another Tele player.

[@hempsellastro]

@@paniccleo No Argument with that. I saw the Pirates in their day live - a great night.

[@ceebee491]

That's an interesting thought ... I could sèr Strummer trying that!

[@ceebee491]

Well played with Graham Coxon¡!!! Though, next year we want a placement 🎸🎶🇬🇧

[@paniccleo]

@@hempsellastro ooh, that would have been so good to see!

[@Robomatic]

When it comes to jazz it is Ed Bickert on the Tele. His chord voicing and passing chord choices are unbelievable.

[@bobsaturday4273]

100% CORRECT !

[@DuraLexSedLex01]

Around 1983, as he was playing a gig at the University of Toronto, I had a chat with Ed about his guitar: I was wondering why he was not playing an archtop, the typical guitar for jazz. His answer was disarmingly simple: "The Telecaster does the job. Why bother changing?" He could have played a baseball bat and still have sounded magnificent.

[@joeyclamz2408]

Jeff Buckley is the most overlooked guitarist in recent memory, and yes, an avid Tele-vangelist lol!. His chord work is unconventional and haunting, using voicing unlike anything ive ever laid ears on.

[@UnremarkableMarx]

His was a top loader. Slinkier tone to the classic tele.

[@michaeloberholz5311]

Halleluja

[@RokinLee]

There would not have been a Radiohead without Jeff Buckley.

[@RokinLee]

Black francis, massive omission. When not seen playing a tele would be playing his acoustic guitar through an Ac30. Legend. Huge creative force.

[@ceebee491]

@RokinLee definitely, re. Vocals for sure.

[@johnvender]

One of my best memories of a gig featuring a Telecaster is seeing Muddy Waters at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion in the 1970s playing his red Tele. His playing and tone were magical.

[@raymondmeers]

I was lucky enough to see Roy Buchanan twice in Chicago, my home town. Though I have his albums and love them, hearing him live is a whole different level. Standing stone faced he played with such feel it would touch your soul. He is the reason, that at 72 year old, I finally bought my 1st telecaster. I'll never do him justice in my playing, but he lives in my heart every time I touch the guitar.

[@mwb78]

I am biased, but as a new guitar player who has been a drummer for decades, Jeff Buckley is a hugely influential tele player who died too soon. He is the one who influenced my tele proclivity and that of MANY. Great list.

[@rexjamerson9316]

I want to give you a big thank you for giving James Burton recognition he richly deserves. It took years for him to be recognized as the one who came up with the intro lick for Susie Q, not to mention is input in collaboration with Ernie Ball to help produce the first light gauge guitar strings, since he traded the bottom three strings for banjo strings on Ricky Nelson's early records. My older brother was a huge fan and chased him down to the Palomino Club in Los Angeles during the mid-to-late 60s I got to meet Rick and Ozzie and Harriet along with James Burton himself. A totally down to earth gentleman provided free tickets to my brother for both Elvis and John Denver concerts. An absolute total professional who worked on nearly 400 albums. My brother Don once asked him how many people he had played for and James said: " it would be easier for me to tell you who I have not played for"... Barbra Streisand. Enough said.

[@BigBobbyBoLo]

Great list! I would like to add Prince ( yes 1 know it wasnt a fender, but still a tele) and Session musician Tommy Tedesco. Tommy is the sound of so many hit songs and pretty much just played his tele on all of them, regardless of style of music. Prince, wellit's Prince. I own 5 Tele's and its because of his playing and that Madcat tele copy.. Making a list like this is super exhausting,thanks for putting it together. All great choices

[@thaddeusfields4360]

Prince wasn’t a guitar player really. Sort of sounded like most of the cats I hear at open jam nights.

[@michael.wiegand]

Weird take. Prince was a brilliant guitarist and songwriter.

[@onamemmet]

​@@michael.wiegand Thank you. Musicians definitely count Prince among the top guitarists.

[@jonstaley29]

So happy at the inclusion of Mike Campbell! What a player and what a range of Americana tones. Thanks for making this one Keith!

[@mattmoo1007]

Campbell is so underrated.

[@paslowcb]

Thanks for making this comment. I came to say the same thing. Very underrated player.

[@haytguugle8656]

Agreed. For sure.

[@georgejansen1772]

Joe Strummer HAD to be on here. I was waiting for it. I went to see him play live once and was lucky enough to meet him after the show. His guitar was so famous that the crowd were reaching out to touch the guitar itself. When the roadie bought it out to put on the stand. Before Joe himself had come on stage. By the way London Calling is definitely their third album. Not second. First album is self titled. The Clash. Tally ho!

[@scottyjordan0812]

Great list! A few more to add that should have been mentioned… Mike Bloomfield, Muddy Waters and one of the most famous guys to play a Tele especially in the 80’s… Prince!

[@scottyjordan0812]

You do an excellent job Keith @fivewattworld. I really enjoy all your videos!

[@michaeleaster1815]

Highly excited for this. I bought a Covid Tele and a Greg Koch course on TrueFire, and the combo changed my entire playing vibe and taste.

[@darrenedwards9562]

Disappointed that Wilko Johnson from Dr Feelgood isn't on the list. His influence on the early UK punk bands was immense, from Strummer and later Andy Gill from Gang of Four. Mick Green from the Pirates, an incredible Tele player, in turn influenced Johnson.

[@CCWeazle]

My exact thought- Wilko Johnson and Mick Green. Love them. I would have given them an honorable mention at the least.

[@GrumpyOldGit60]

@@CCWeazle They created a style, they didn't follow. And their playing was massively influential, too.

[@jukkakoskela5562]

Beat me to it.

[@jmc1186]

THANK YOU for including Keith Urban. I feel like his playing is extremely underrated and you really need to see him live to appreciate what a monster he can be. His original 40th Tele (named Clarence for you nerds out there) is why I got my beloved tele 20+ years ago and took music as seriously as I did.

[@3acharyy87]

The Golden Road album cover had pics of him holding relic Teles and ‘Clarence’. That’s what made me want one Lol

[@jmc1186]

@zacharykelley1150 I had that album! I was a kid back then and just remember Clarence though haha 😅

[@tomslick2058]

He's got nice tone.

[@Chris_the_Dingo]

Thanks for including Springsteen and Strummer. While neither would make a "greatest guitarist" list, they are both rock icons, using two of the most iconic Telecasters in history

[@scottfrederick6053]

Springsteen very under rated guitarist likely his song writing over shadows it. When Bruce was cutting his chops in bars in late 60s early 70s it was said and written by critics that Bruce was compared to Jimmy Page! Bruce didn’t want to be known as ANOTHER great guitarist and decided to change his music style and concentrate on song writing. Watch some you tube cause he doesn’t show his real chops in studio.

[@Dreyno]

@@scottfrederick6053I saw him live only once but his playing was surprisingly good. I hadn’t expected him to be playing solos and he took several and they were great.

[@6gunsand6strings]

Great list. Missing is the reason I picked up a tele, and I have stuck with them, well except for junior and specials, Luther Perkins. Oh and Don Rich, two very important Telecaster players for me.

[@svenkaahedgerg3425]

Great list 👍 I would have added Muddy Waters and Paul Burlison on the honourable mentions list.

[@NickRatnieks]

You don't need to apologise for making James Burton number one because he is just that when it comes to Telecaster guitars- he's being playing one since 1952 as mentioned and was one of the five guys who wrote the rules for rock and roll guitar playing. I would have liked to hear a mention of the King of Dieselbilly- Bill Kirchen who has played the Tele since about 1969. I saw Commander Cody three times- twice at Dingwalls in London- and on the last occasion there, it was 1982, James Honeyman-Scott joined them on stage- it was shortly before he very sadly, died. Bill did his best not to upstage him but Bill is a complete gentleman.

[@charlie-obrien]

Bill Kitchen definitely deserved a mention. He was known as the "Titan of the Telecaster" and for playing those rockabilly swells on his Tele. He even turned his control plate upside down to accommodate that style.

[@Poth1223]

I’m surprised Clarence White wasn’t on the list. Such a great guitarist and the main reason why I got a tele.

[@Tomekkplk]

Did this guy forget Jerry Reed and Waylon Jennings? 20 Tele players that "changed the world" definitely don't include anyone from Coldplay over those two.

[@user-ev9qw3om1g]

I totally agree but even though I'm not a fan but John 5 a popular tele player

[@diri.solidariti]

There’s going to be coldplay guitarist in this list?

[@diri.solidariti]

I’m really sure there won’t be, because have at least that much trust in 5WWorld. In which case saying what you said there really isn’t fair and misleading.

[@user-ev9qw3om1g]

@diri.solidariti I'm not into John 5 and I don't know anything about Coldplay.

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

COLDPLAY is what Ed Sheeran would be if he actually has a band.

[@willcraig6421]

I have to remind you that Jeff Beck played an Esquire throughout his Yardbirds days.He’s holding it on the cover of Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds,which you’ll admit is a very influential record. Jeff deserves far more than Honorable Mention.

[@tomslick2058]

I like em. They stay in tune. You can do alot worse.

[@ronaldburo7354]

Absolutely James is #1. I was lucky enough to get to know Danny Gatton. And we connected immediately by telling each other stories of how when we were about 15 we would tune in each week to Ozzie and Harriet just to watch him play. When I heard him play I knew that it was exactly what I wanted to learn to do. And I'm sure I'm just one of thousands of guys, from an always struggling picker like myself to the great Danny Gatton that James influenced and inspired.

[@Ineedanewbrainwashagent1.]

Very happy that he got Andy summers , one of the true guitar greats .

[@ricardohollisio]

Albert Collins was one of the few Tele players who played with the 'ashtray' cover on. I decided to give it a try after seeing him and I find it really comfortable. You can rest your picking hand flat on the cover and pick the strings nearer the neck which gives a slightly warmer tone. Of course you can't mute the strings but if you need to play a tune with muted strings you can just take the cover off for that tune as it is only clip on.

[@kevinwillmann9462]

Great list Keith with one notable omission. I would put Don Rich on any Tele list, especially before Springsteen

[@CCWeazle]

Don RICH! I forgot his last name while watching this video, didn't forget his playing, though.

[@thefirstdude]

Thanks for this one. I bought my first telecaster because of Bruce Springsteen, Andy Summers and many others on your list. I appreciate the work you put into your videos.

[@stevenrios339]

As a huge Chicago and The Police fan it’s really great to see both of my favorite guitar players on the list, I’m mainly a bass player but man Terry Kath makes you want to grab a guitar and try to play his licks, he had a nice voice, great rhythm playing and of course amazing leads, he had it all and it’s great to see that many guitar players remember him nowadays and he gets more recognition for his guitar work

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Kath is always overlooked by the socalled experts, schmucks, and I will NEVER understand that... And go see Summers play with his band. The guy is phenomenal...

[@bobsaturday4273]

Terry is one of the real all time greats

[@tenkarabadger5244]

Honorable mention: J Mascis. While known for playing Jazzmasters live, many of the iconic recordings were done with his purple sparkle Tele.

[@ae3898]

Supplemental postscript honorable mentions: two great country sidemen, Don Rich from the Buckaroos and Roy Nichols from Merle Haggard’s Strangers.

[@ae3898]

And I almost forgot Johnny Cash’s Luther Perkins!

[@stephanleo]

Mike Stern had a huge impact on Jazz guitar in the 80ies. But he played his most iconic solo (imho) on a Strat: His solo on the tune "Fat Time" (Miles Davis "Man With The Horn") is outstanding.

[@jasonzoellner7547]

❤ I respect the #1 so much!!!!! Probably one of the most modest on the list. But has the history to back it up!!!!

[@SemiCharmedLife3282]

I was waiting in great anticipation to make sure that our local DC hometown hero Danny Gatton was on the list. I was lucky enough to see him and photograph him many times. Another temporary resident was Bill Kirchen from Commander Cody.

[@pearsonm67]

The hammer of the honkytonk gods!

[@markmcdonald5711]

Coal Powered.@@pearsonm67

[@marcbolan1818]

Who didn’t rely on this versatile guitar? Hendrix’s solo on Purple Haze, Syd Barrett; Beck; Page; Clapton, Townshend; Buchanan; Brian Jones, not enough space to list the groundbreaking players who know the Tele is the workhorse

[@JMgiarritta]

Keith, watching this inspired me ,So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a JV 50's Tele

[@davidhumphreys7218]

When I hear the word Telecaster only 2 words jump to my brain ROY BUCHANAN. No frills, no gimmicks, no battery of pedals just insane talent impossible to replicate creating some of the most bizarre sounds ever.

[@chrisquinn9104]

Great list. Just a reminder about Jeff Beck and the Telecaster. While with the Yardbirds in the early to mid 60s, Jeff took guitar playing into space with his Esquire, much of this predated and laid the ground work for Hendrix I might add. It was also a period where he was playing for great vocal ”pop” songs in a way he mostly moved on from later I think it’s the most under appreciated part of his career, but understandable as he could be on any top ten list based on a single phase of his multi-phased career. He was the Jeff Beck of guitar (I was going to say Miles Davis)

[@derekclacton]

Great comments! 👍

[@briancoyne8815]

I think this is my favorite list of Top 20’s! Two things: Vince Gill was mentioned two or three times, but didn’t make the list? Roy Buchanan…in 1970’s Pittsburgh, two things were certain in January: Steelers in the playoffs, and Roy’s coming to town. “Live Stock” is my fave, featuring Billy Price on vocals (he’s still singing “Can I Change My Mind?” 50 years later).

[@tresjordan982]

John 5 has impressed me cause even tho he plays metal …it sounds like a Tele 90% of the time. His country licks are incredible…..thanks for including Danny! I’m from DC and saw him many notes…he was also a wiring genius…he totally retooled his Fender amp which exuded that twang reverb from the 50’s! RIP !

[@mariodriessen9740]

As a Tele lover I would like to add two more guys to this list. Even though the band was never big in the US, they were big in almost every other part of the world and they hold many records when it comes to sales and number of hits in many countries (top 3 in the UK alone). Both played modified Telecasters and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have been the Telecaster aficionado I came to be from a very early age onwards. And I know for a fact I’m not the only one. I’m talking about Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi of the English band ‘STATUS QUO’. 😊❤

[@norseman61]

These lists are impossible to compile without pissing people off. I for one appreciate your efforts, and you have given me WEEKS of Tele playing to look up and enjoy. There are a lot of great guitars in history, but the Tele shall forever be The King.

[@semajdis]

A couple of algorithm satisfying names to add are Charles Thompson (Black Francis/Frank Black - Pixies) and Wilko Johnson of Dr. Feelgood. Rhythm players to be sure but they influenced many a guitar player through the years I would wager.

[@ChroniclesOfASadPunk]

Bruce and Strummer are my one and two. In fact, my American Standard Tele is named Rosalita. Great list!

[@davidriley4895]

I appreciate learning some new names that I was not familiar with… But I’m surprised Prince didn’t make the cut at all?

[@thelandofsun]

I’m glad you had Joe Strummer - he wasn’t influential as a guitar player necessarily; but he is the reason why I wanted a Telecaster so much in my early teen years- it was part of his whole mystique and charisma as a front man. I later found my dream Tele hanging in the window of a local guitar shop - it turned out to be; when I went to check it out - a mid eighties Esquire reissue; made in Japan. Great guitar- it’s been my main guitar since 1991.

[@johnwalker1456]

Cornell Dupree is one of my favorite players and he was a telecast master.

[@user-oq7jh6mz9t]

I would add John 5 and Clarence White to this list. Glad to see Danny Gatton getting the credit that he deserves.

[@francoisfontaine2700]

Hi Keith, great great work! I just think you should have mention in any way John 5, Prince, Tom Morello and Buck Owens. Keep on going!!

[@DennisMorassut]

What an incredible video once again Keith... I always look forward to them! So to your very commendable list I personally would add: 1) Ed Bickert (Canadian Jazz guitarist), 2) John 5 (John William Lowery - Rock/Metal guitarist), 3) Tommy Tedesco (Session guitarist - The Wrecking Crew) and 4) a absolute favorite... Greg Koch (Blues-Rock guitarist extraordinaire). Even just these four guitarists show the incredible versatility of Leo Fender's masterwork! Cheers!

[@aschule5684]

Although it was heavely modded with a "Strat" neck I still think of Steve Morse as a tele player. He played his "Frankentele" for years and nothing else has ever sounded like it!

[@goodun2974]

I've seen Steve play many times, mostly with the Music Man he's been using for decades, but those Dregs shows with the Franken-Tele were out of this world. Except that it had 5 pickups on the Telecaster body instead of two, and a Strat neck, so perhaps it doesn't really count.....

[@aschule5684]

@@goodun2974 I agree and I knew it really wouldn't count. But I guess I just wanted to mention it for 💩's & giggles and see if there were any Steve Morse fans here familiar with that guitar, thanks for being that person. The "Music Man" in relation to the "Franken-Tele" carefully replicates the guitar having all the same functionality but to me there was just something about the sound of that guitar that was so distinct and def had a tone of its own he just doesn't have with the MM. Not that he sounds bad in anyway, but, there was something else happening back when. That Tele body, whatever for electronics with the strat neck "how cool is that" lol that guitar and those Ampegs but anyway wrong time n place I guess.☮️

[@randyroberts4239]

If Jim Root gets on the list with his mongrel guitar, Morse should for sure have made it. Stern as well. Dig the Maico sticker on Kath's guitar though!

[@ericheine2414]

Bill Kirchen- I met him in 1973. I met Roy Buchanan in 1974. I set mics for Bob Johnston and Roy Buchanan. I wasn't allowed to talk. Roy talked even less but he said thank you with his eyes. I learned a lot from Roy and Bob. I learned to listen.

[@oobooskeboo]

I've got one word for you: Clarence. Marty Stuart and Clarence (a 1954 Telecaster) have been making astounding music since 1980. Unfortunate omission in an otherwise fantastic episode. Rock on, Keith & Co.!!

[@TVAVStudios]

Minor correction, The Clash's debut was their self-titled, Give 'Em Enough Rope was just the first to be released in the US. Otherwise, great video, goes to show just how versatile the Tele is.

[@MarvinForte]

Their first US release was indeed Give 'Em Enough Rope.

[@hellodacky8715]

El Hefe from NOFX would be in my top 5 personally. He’s been playing the same ‘77 telecaster live since playing in the band and his jazz/blues style of lead playing fits very well into Skate Punk. A truly under appreciated guitar player outside of the punk rock world.

[@jdolson4092]

I love your comments about agreeing to disagree. Thank you, I could not agree more. My only disagreement would be based on my own personal biases regarding players I prefer, but certainly love your insight and the players you have chosen.

[@davidcolinburt]

Totally agree with the #1 spot. James Burton. Three Tele players who have had a major influence on Canadian players: Ed Bickert, Robbie Robertson, Domenic Troiano. Cheers! dcb

[@christopherhill7843]

El Hefe of NOFX plays a Tele in all the live performances. He’s a very talented musician. He’s been with the band for over 30 years. If you don’t know about these guys and his lead guitar skills, check him out.

[@hulldanfan]

We met Steve Cropper in a pub in Clitheroe UK a few years back when he was touring with the Animals. He told us that during the 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay recording', he woke in the night and had an idea of adding electric guitar to the track and went straight into the studio in the early hours to record it. Sadly, Otis died the that day and he never got to hear the version that got released that contained the new guitar parts.

[@c.e.anderson558]

I've heard that story.

[@richfiryn]

Roy Buchanon playing Sneaking Godzilla Thru The Alley is a pretty tasty trip too.

[@MorroccoM13]

Glad to see you mentioned Robben Ford as he uses that guitar a lot. Maybe a missed player is Mike Bloomfield?

[@guitrr]

Fantastic! Thanks for this one, Keith; a subject close to my heart. My top 20 would look a bit different from yours, but all your choices are solid. Glad to see Kath, Jimmy Bryant, and Mike Campbell on your list, players who don’t get the recognition they deserve. Your only omission I heartily disagree with is Clarence White. My Tele all star list includes a few lesser known players, at least outside of the Tele world: Duke Levine, Redd Volkaert, Bill Kirchen, Greg Koch, Jim Campilongo, Kenny Vaughan, and Don Rich come to mind. When the Danny Gatton instructional VHS was released I immediately bought it. There is a lifetime of study on that video. I regret never having seen him live. While home on leave from the Army in 1980, I got to see Albert Collins in a very small club in my hometown. The stage was only elevated less than a foot, and I was sitting from and center, with my feet actually resting on the stage in front of the wedge monitors. He played through a dimed Quad Reverb - my ears rang for two days! But he was vicious, just on fire, and the band was stellar, with Johnny B Gayden laying down funky and soulful bass grooves. The Iceman opened my eyes to what a Tele was capable of. I went out two days later and bought my first Telecaster, and haven’t been without one since.

[@MrPhilfridge]

Its crazy to omit Clarence, devalues the whole thing for me

[@goodun2974]

Arlen Roth is right up there with Duke Levine; and Danny Gatton is in a league of his own. I had tickets to see him play on the Cruisin' Deuces tour but he canceled the shows, and a few months later he was gone......

[@goodun2974]

I I also saw Albert Collins play not too long before he died. he looked terrible but played great.

[@xoxb2]

Great video. Here's one viewer in the UK who's very happy to see Bruce Springsteen on the list. That guitar on the cover, along with the leather jacket, was the main reason I spent some scarce pocket money on Born to Run while bunking off a games lesson 45 years ago. And what a great artist he turned out to be. Also great to see Chrissy Hynde and Joe Strummer there. It's striking how the Tele has been associated with so many radically different styles of popular music! (My bid for a missing name - Muddy Waters.)🎸

[@joerojas5448]

When I first started playing guitar, my dad wanted me to get a Telecaster. Being the the young teen that I was at the time, I wanted a Strat Style Guitar because it was "The Cool Guitar". In my 40's, I bought my first Tele, which was a Squier Affinity Model. For $200.00 and another $100.00 on vintage '52 pickups and pots, It became the best sounding guitar I ever had. That guitar replaced my Strat, Les Paul, and (Epiphone) Dot Studio and became my "Go To" guitar. Now, along with that Squier, I have a Harley Benton TE90 with Filter-Trons and The Fender Acoustasonic Players Telecaster, which is now my new "Go To". Great List!

[@craigburner1296]

57 tele, 62 start, 70 sg. That is all you ever need as a rock player. I had the joy of having those in an album recording as an engineer through a Vox AC 30 top boost with bulldogs. I put an RE20 on it and cranked it up, heaven!

[@andrewswift2727]

Keith Kudos for a very insightful and compelling list. I just wanted to share a story about Roy Buchanan. I had the chance to see him twice and the first time I saw him I was so close to him that I could seen how he got EVERY sound he produced only using the tone and volume knobs. What he did was both simple and IMPOSSIBLE to replicate. James Burton is the obvious choice, I don't think there's a more perfect solo than the one he played on Rick Nelson (who deserves a LOT more credit than he gets) on Hello Marylou. He said everything that could be said in one chorus. Thanks for the video.

[@TheLateBoyScout]

I think G.E. Smith deserves an honorable mention. He played his tele prominently in the SNL band every week for decades. I watched SNL every Saturday night when I was a teen, and became enamored with that yellow and black guitar that looked so plain, but sounded so cool!

[@edwardyazinski3858]

And he can rip! Very unheralded.

[@johnulrich5572]

So many great Tele players that you really need a top 100 or250 list of influencial players. Clarence White turned me on to the Tele while I was in college playing in a rock & roll cover band. Much later John Willian Lowery (John 5) showed me how versitile a Tele could be. Mike Bloomfield for blasting out Dylan tunes at the '65 Newport Folk Festival. Vince Gill for just being great on the Tele. Buck Owens and Don Rich . Marty Stuart and Kenny Vaughan. Tommy Tedesco who played a beat up Tele on thousands of records, jingles and TV themes. The list can go on and on.

[@edlib02169]

Mike Stern probably merits a honorable mention. Had his original Tele not been stolen all those years ago, he might still be playing it. Though he has played a T-type for his entire career.

[@jeffsaginaw1769]

Keith Williams, you have definitely EARNERED a place in the pantheon of guitar history for creating these videos that we all like so much. Thank you and all those who are part of 5 Watt World.

[@boogierandy7547]

"EARNERD"?

[@g.mantua1195]

What? Is there no mention of Don Rich? Do you have any idea of his influence on the Bakersfield sound in country music and how his influence he has been to the whole genre?

[@brandonwind5176]

Was happy to see Jonny Greenwood on this list! He's the reason I bought a tele back in 2001, same sunburst and all that jazz!

[@mattc5025]

Perfect. Again. Give Mike Campbell more love please Keith.

[@scottshort6204]

Glad to see the Pretenders getting some love! Love all the history lessons you have provided.

[@JeramyRichter]

I didn’t see Buck Owens, Don Rich?

[@justinmagana9355]

I agree. Burton being #1 is key, but the omission of Owen’s and Rich is a bummer

[@michaelgmyers]

Back in 2020 while at a Christmas light thingy in Natchitoches LA I spotted James Burton walking around. Normally I would never invade someone's privacy but I felt obligated to say thank you for inspiring me to become a better player. He's such a down to earth guy. We talked the guitar talk for a bit and as I was leaving he asked if I would like a picture. Of course I did but was embarrassed to ask. I spent the rest of the weekend mansplaining his contributions to music to my girl.

[@justinguitarcia]

Tele players for me: Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, Waylon Jennings, Ted Greene, Jim Campilongo, Julian Lage, Bill Frisell, Keith Richards, Ed Bickert, Josh Smith, Steve Cropper, GE Smith, Cornell Dupree, Curtis Mayfield, Brent Mason, Mike Campbell, Jonny Greenwood, Albert Collins, Mike Bloomfield, Andy Summers

[@petertiffany8096]

Great video and list! I would add Bill Frisell and Ed Bickert as honorable mentions.

[@1965zimmy]

They're more worthy of inclusion on the list than some of the others IMO...but it's not my list. Other than Lage, jazz players seem to have been given short shrift here. Also, in terms of impact, Ted Greene has had a pretty significant influence on musicians from many genres.

[@petertiffany8096]

You are so right about Ted Greene! A top 20 tele player list is very difficult and I applaud Keith's efforts.@@1965zimmy

[@mattrogers1946]

Absolutely

[@clivedaniels7929]

I agree with James at number 1, but I’d have put Steve Cropper as number 2. His playing (on record) has probably been heard by more people than Keith.

[@mattrogers1946]

💯

[@jackpine70]

Once again, great job Keith! Didn't see the Terry Kath shout out coming. Was well deserved.

[@johnpandolfino8663]

John Mayer and the Kardashian's.....what a concept.... great job as always Keith My second electric was a 1963 telecaster.... I worked all summer pumping gas to buy it ...$150.00....couldn't afford a case so I brought it home wrapped in a towel .... should have never sold it....have a few other's that I have played since.....a perfect design by Leo Fender that is still relevant and timeless today.....

[@zakadriance4534]

I would’ve added Jeff Buckley as a honorable mention. While only having a short career to a young passing, it’s the album Grace that allowed me as an offset guitar guy to finally appreciate the versatility and beauty of a tele

[@per-erikpihlstrom7281]

Great list Keith, and as always, your attention to detail is superb. My conversion to telecasters came when I heard Brad Paisley the first time, and I bought my butterscotch black guard Tele not long after. I was happy to find him on your list as well! :)

[@michaelclark4043]

One of the great things the telecaster has got going for it is its versatility. It's highly adaptable to a wide range of genres including country rock jazz and èven some forms of heavy metal. It does not discriminate. ❤

[@frantisca]

Great video :) Rory Gallagher was a monumental slide player on his Tele during the Taste years. Not to forget Francis Rossi and Rick Wright of Status Quo... Cheers !

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Rick Parfitt Rick Wright used to play keyboards in Pink Floyd.

[@zentrall-heiser1838]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 if course I meant Parfitt ! Cheers