How Leo Fender's Telecaster Bridge Cover Became An Ashtray - Ask Zac 136

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Leo Fender spent a great amount of time and money to create a cover for the bridge and pickup assembly on his Esquire & Broadcaster guitars in 1950. It protected the bridge & pickup assembly from corrosion, it shielded it to help with noise, and it was an ornamental hand rest that made his guitar look more professional. Early players kept them on, but by even the mid-50s, players were taking them off to palm mute for chugga-chugga rhythms or swampy low-string licks. It soon became known as the ashtray, and Leo's functional and decorative cover was used by smokers who set them on their amps and knocked out the contents at the end of the night. Soon, most players retired them permanently to their case or lost them altogether. The lone exception to this was Iceman, Albert Collins, who not only kept his cover in place but decorated it with eye-catching reflective tape. Today we dive deep, into the story of Leo Fender's Telecaster bridge cover.
Gear Used:
1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and original bridge pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis.
Strings:
StringJoy Pure Nickel Round Core 10-44 (10,12,16,24,34,44)
Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy
Amp:
1965 Deluxe Reverb with a 60s JBL D120F gray frame speaker with its original cone. Used with AmpRX Brown Box set to 113v
Effects used:
Amp reverb, MXR Clone Looper
#askzac #stringjoy #zacchilds

[@Corporations8MyBaby]

The shielding aspect, I would say, was by far the main reason Leo spent eight grand on the press to make the covers and why the neck pickups were covered in heavy brass with chrome plating. He had already been through the noise nightmare with his steel guitars and had already covered that pickup with chromed brass. I don't know if you remember, Zac or if you had grandparents that never changed their outlets, but all the outlets everywhere were two prong and unpredictable when it came to polarity. Crazy to think about now. Not only could you get a nasty shock by even touching the metal beneath the bulb on your favorite table lamp, but anything with an amplifier like a radio even could start crackling if you were too near an old school (fluorescent or neon) light. It wasn't the 60 cycle hum ... it was super bright crackling like frying chicken sometimes. If you were at a cheaper studio... like a dual purpose radio station with a sign on in front... or a bar with a neon beer sign.. .that amp plugged into an ungrounded outlet was going to be a noisy situation. The cover ABSOLUTELY cut down on the bright crackles. I just tested it recently at a noisy shop my friend has with other shops nearby making the power dirty. The cover doesn't do much for hum... but that other noise really gets cut down as soon as the ashtray is placed on top. Try it somewhere with a neon sign. You'll start laughing. This could make or break your steel guitar gig after the war.

[@ZacCostilla]

Almost like a pseudo-faraday cage

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Great experience related in this comment thanks Corp! My mom was so impressed when I knew to flip her washing machine plug over 180 degrees to stop her getting shocks. Made a mark on it to indicate the best position. She asked seemed to be a hundred times how I knew from playing guitar that it mattered. A long time ago!

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Sometimes when playing plugged in I put my cell phone on the bridge and listen to it amplify music it baffles some people when you show them!

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

@@giulioluzzardi7632 how do you do that& does it sound good or mostly crackle

[@Vigilante311]

@@Man_fay_the_Bru just plug your electric guitar in, play a song on your phone and hold the speaker part of the phone up to the pickup on your guitar, sound quality isnt great but its still cool

[@donaldnelson8764]

Leo did love the covers, he put them on the Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Precision etc.

[@nasticanasta]

Gee RIckenbacker has them...and many others

[@jogmas12]

They are like dressing up plain old fashion steel wheels on a car by putting on hubcaps.

[@jimcox3380]

I keep mine on my vintage P bass. Love the way they look and since I'm not palm muting a bass there you go.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Albert Collins made his Telecaster sound huge and he played with his ashtray on the instrument too. This is the stuff that musicians need to know about because it's all a giant puzzle that keeps us playing music and that has to be a good thing.

[@kevindean1327]

Love the Iceman. I've met some famous people but meeting Collins will always be at the very top!!! He just exuded such a great vibe!!!

[@morrisgentry8624]

@@kevindean1327 He was great! Unique style and pure entertainment. Love the Master of the Telecaster!

[@comandinn505]

200 years from now this will still be being watched by Tele nerds. Thanks Zac!

[@angryshoebox]

In retrospect it's a good thing that Leo chose to have the cover press-fit onto the bridge, as opposed to having it screwed on, or attached permanently in some way.

[@generaljj577]

You can imagine what people would have done to the guitar trying to take it off as 1 example.

[@rex8958]

Not for us bass players

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

He knew players would have a hard time changing strings and adjusting the bridge if the cover was "Fixed" , good thing he surrounded himself with musicians who's ideas he valued. He really was an Inventor!

[@curtevans838]

Great episode! I love all the vintage nuances of the guitars we love.

[@zmix]

7:25 I am glad that you brought this up, a very important aspect of the cover is that it changes the magnetic field and affects the resonance of the coil (it has *nothing* to do with the mass of the bridge, however), Leo Fender knew this and incorporated covers on the Precision Bass and Jazz bass, and experimented with a "bottom cover" for the pickups on the Jaguar. As you noted the tone is more powerful and "focused" with the cover on and thinner and more splattery with it removed. I use the cover on mine and have discovered ways to do "left hand" muting, etc.

[@TheCream14]

Very nice presentation. Thanks!

[@bugzyhawk5941]

It's nice to hear ya play a lively tune. Thanks for sharing

[@CC-te5zf]

An often overlooked component that took allot of thought to develop and produce. This was a great in-depth look at the ashtray-best info I’ve found on the subject! Thanks Zac!

[@aluminati9918]

Fantastic vid again, Zac! As an old Tele- dude this was very interesting. My 73’ Tele never came with one, but I wouldn’t have missed it. Palm muting is such an integral part of Tele playing, so can’t imagine having it on for long.

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jfinester]

Interesting! I bought a new Tele in ‘73, first Tele I ever had, and it came with the bridge cover-which I never used.

[@crilf5830]

Thanks Zac! Especially for the tune at the end! Sweet!

[@KramerPacer2]

thanks for the information and really nice tune in the end!

[@Steven_ologist]

Love the playing at the end Zac!

[@Shaun.Stephens]

Thanks for this Zac. I've heard people talk about the pros and cons of the bridge cover before but never so completely and without filler. Keep up the good work!

[@imannonymous7707]

I could listen to Zac talk telecaster all day

[@TweedToneKing]

The guitar piece you play at the end of this episode is absolutely wonderful ! Cheers from Toronto, Canada.

[@MrMont-ue8kh]

Thanks, Zac. I had never thought about it in these terms before. Engineers solve problems and, as usual, Leo was the consummate engineer.

[@marksieber8140]

Thanks for the good information, Zac. I really enjoyed your playing at the end--and it demonstrated the hand rest.

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@ckelly5141]

Man this Esquire sounds amazing!🎸 Must be such a joy to play.

[@AskZac]

It is!

[@donnywagers8736]

Thanks for sharing Zack I appreciate it I always keep a cover on mine when I'm not playing it it keeps it clean like you said and protect it from you never know what

[@AskZac]

You bet

[@FabianSalomonsson]

You're great Zac, I enjoy and learn so much from every episode. As a 23-year-old swede I really appreciate all the knowledge you share because I have no one around that can teach me about this stuff.

[@Glicksman1]

When I purchased an original 1952 Telecaster in 1997, it came with the "ashtray" with the solder drop. While I never used it as such, I don't smoke (cigarettes), I put it in my parts bin where it sits today. If I ever sell the Tele (sob, sniff!), I'll include it and maybe get a few more bucks for it. I never tried playing with it on for all the reasons you said. Maybe I'll try it and see if it's do-able. BTW, I have a Fender guitar part that most don't even know exits, a Stratocaster bridge cover. Yes, that's right, Fender made them, and I understand that they came with 50's and early '60s Strats. They're smaller than the Tele ones and virtually all of the original ones have been lost. It came with the '62 Strat bought at guitar show in the 90's.

[@flatroc1]

I bought a new G&L Asat Classic BluesBoy and got a Fender ash tray to complete the look. I love em.

[@mjvicc1952]

Beautiful playing Zac!😊

[@Wrguitar941]

Excellent playing Zac

[@motorosso3349]

The history was interesting and thanks for the extra treat at the end.

[@MRREE-zw6xc]

I remember one day plugged in to my amp. Cranked it up and my set up was picking up some random Spanish music!! My friends and I alll had a suprised chuckle at that. Never happend again after that. And that was like 20 years plus ago!

[@justinprizant1980]

Zac can PLAY!

[@DrDooDah]

Great playing at the end, dude!

[@musiqueurbaine]

As much as I love everything about Telecaster’s. I have to tell you that your picking + tone was just as great to me. On top of that you have aced it! Thank you 😉

[@StevenRosenberg]

Interesting video. Great playing at the end -- your sound is so good!

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@thornil2231]

I have a 67 that I got in the 70's and I have never had the ashtray on. Fortunately I saved it and as I was watching your video I put it on and... I love the soft feel on my hand. I may keep it on actually. I does sound different, but I always have a problem figuring out of if is is. eal or in my head because I watched the video.

[@frankgalligan9111]

I bought a ‘79 strat new .it came with an ashtray cover surprisingly.I never saw a strat played with that on ,so I didn’t use it.I couldn’t even figure out how to keep it on really.still have it in plastic bag that it came in.Nice show,thanks

[@jfinester]

Great episode! I’ve always wondered why the cover was designed to preclude palm muting, which I’ve done since the beginning, probably the first muting technique I ever learned to do. I remember looking at Fender catalogs in the early ‘60s, with photos of Teles and Esquires with the covers on, and a line drawing of the bridge and pickup without the cover. I decided I’d never be able to play ine with the cover on. In 1971 I got a ‘62 Strat with the bridge cover, and actually used it-I found it more comfortable with it on. I’d played a Gibson SG for a few years before I got the Strat, and I could pick at pretty much the same wrist position and angle with the cover on the Strat as I did with the Tune-O-Matic on the SG. Once I got used to the Strat, I discovered that I didn’t need the cover, and that it did get in the way. Proof that Leo Fender, as brilliant an engineer as he was, didn’t play guitar. Teles-I’ve had quite a few of them, and I’ve never used a bridge cover on one. BTW, that’s a killer version of Red Wing closing out the video!

[@cowtowncustoms2110]

Zac, you are right about the tonal difference! I just like the way it looks on my Tele Dlx and I even put the Strat cover on my 59/60 partscaster Strat. Love the show!

[@AskZac]

Very cool!

[@jeffdixon847]

Fun video. The playing at the end was divine.

[@rylandervanwyk4940]

Great video, very informative

[@NLBassist]

Great vid again, and I love the graphics on your pickguard.

[@NLBassist]

And I love your collection of books!

[@louisdombrowski4198]

Great playing right at the end👍

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@richardbspeck147]

Thanx I've just built a period correct 1951 Fender Telecaster (left-handed) never thought about the bridge cover.?

[@Krullmatic]

Beautiful sounding Tele, my friend! Like your playing as well.

[@austinskinner]

I love the look of it on!

[@ryanfulldark2775]

Of all the guitar channels out there, nobody has ever devoted an episode to this topic! That’s why I love hangin out here! My 1970 still has its cover (side note) 😂

[@jamiebritton6781]

Love the telecaster content. Nice playing as always!

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!

[@waynetoneseekerandersen2213]

Sounds to me like you are finally bonding with that guitar, what a nice instrumental to finish

[@NickRatnieks]

"Red Wing one time!" That's great and an interesting discourse on something I have never touched or owned in 44 years of Tele playing!

[@waynewagner395]

Your playout ditty on the neck pickup was very cool. Everyone seems to focus on the bridge pickup on Teles but I think the neck pickup is the star of the show. Thanks for the interesting video.

[@AskZac]

Cool, thanks!

[@eddieblaze]

Zac can you share the title of that song you played at the end? My brother used to sing a song about “Little Rocking Red Wing, Little Indian Maiden, like to rock n’ roll.” and that is the same melody. Good work, Zac. All the best to you.

[@kevindean1327]

I hear some people (clowns essentially) put down the neck pickup on the Tele, sheer horse hockey!!!

[@henryb160]

Just loved that outro, Zac! Could listen to that stuff all day long.

[@AskZac]

Wow, thanks!

[@DennisAlvarezMusic]

As usual, very fun and informative content. BTW I loved that little ditty at the end.

[@AskZac]

Thank you very much!

[@leedavidvilensky]

I’ve also heard that the cover kept the cuff from a player’s sport coat from catching on the edge of the pickup plate.

[@andrewpearson1903]

After playing a “50’s Original”-model Tele while wearing a fuzzy sweater, I can confirm this

[@ronaldlemons2836]

Zac, i really enjoy your pickin session after the story about the ash try, that tome on the neck pickup was just georgous.I had a 1978 tele with a ashtray on it.

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

Nice! I notice the curves of the bridge cover also mirror those of the actual body. Oddly I have a Tokai Strat from 1987 and it came with a chrome bridge cover!

[@henryb160]

You can still get them for Strats as well as Teles.

[@Ben_Mdws]

Very interesting! Thank you Zac

[@AskZac]

Glad it was helpful!

[@crazycarpes]

Man i did the same mod you did on tone pot link it directly to the brigde pickup and the sound improves a lot! Thank you man! The sound of the tone even at zero is not so dark... it gives a kind of blend in middle position...

[@crazycarpes]

My tele has a selector switch to change between in phase and out of phase... i have notice that when i put on the brige pickup alone and roll the tone at zero and put the selector to out of phase it affects the brigde pickup turn it a litle nasal... so i take a piece of iron knock on the neck pick when the tone knob is at zero and even on the brige position i notice that the neck picku is blended togheter with the bridge... it only ocurs when tone is at zero... very cool

[@tangyorange6509]

Loveeee the look of ashtrays

[@telecasterbear]

I just received my Fender telecaster bridge cover. Looks great on my blonde project tele.

[@philipcarson6768]

You've turned me into a tele addict!!!!! Love the intelligent and enjoyable content. -- keep it going!!

[@AskZac]

Wow, thanks!

[@dawgersnee7181]

Hey man! I think that something not a lot of people tend to mention about these is that you need a vintage style bridge to be able to use one of these. Recently I purchased one, then realized my bridge was a modern type of bridge and was unable to use it. Going to get it changed out though, love the look and use of the ash tray!

[@larryhaddad3679]

Leo Fender must have known that not everyone would prefer the sound with the cover on. So he made it removable which in turn made the guitar more versatile. Simple.

[@chrisva4268]

Great overview, I just picked up The Pinecaster set, what an incredible tome. I can't wait to get to the Nitty Gritty section, that's the level of geekery I love.

[@scottmeli]

Zac, great video! Like many Tele players, I’ve got a love/hate relationship with the ashtray cover. It does give the guitar a classy-vintage look. Currently, my cover is on and I’m enjoying the enhanced tone it provides. Your info on Teles is priceless, thanks.😊

[@bobmckenna5511]

That outro was fantastic

[@ASTActionCam]

What a great video, and gorgeous playing. You just popped up on my homepage, and I've sub'd. Really aweseome stuff.

[@AskZac]

Thank you so much

[@shaneball238]

A really informative video, thank you so much! Oh, and absolutely wonderful playing, you really make your Tele sing like it was meant to 🙂

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@johnnieguitar5724]

Thanks for this info Zac. You dug up alot of info I'd never heard before. I like the way Leo sculpted the cover's shape to mimic the body shape. And, I agree that the chrome cover and the neck pickup cover were chosen to reflect the increasing popularity of chrome on the cars of the 50s. I really like the way you played yours at the end, and hope you do that on every post. :)

[@Ottophil]

Leo had no idea palm muting would ever exist

[@jackiewilburn3063]

He should have honestly. Merle Travis was a big buddy of his

[@claudecat]

Wasn't it Leo who later put the little mute pad things on Jaguars though? He came around I guess. Too far around some might say.

[@jackiewilburn3063]

@@claudecat I wish he hadve fixed up a tele mute. I'd love to have a mute system for mine

[@vayabroder729]

I believe Les Paul was using palm muting since the early days too?

[@jogmas12]

He was not a guitar player so that one mark really shows

[@skeeterbuck1355]

Another great one Zac! You should do a video on teaching some of your licks/songs like the one at the end of this video.

[@AskZac]

Good idea!

[@richsackett3423]

Hey! I'm glad I had my guitar on. That was a fun surprise at the end. I did real well.

[@AskZac]

Rock on!

[@robamaral9089]

Nice playin at the end there

[@bennyblanko3]

Redwing was so nice ... I had to watch it twice ... great playing!

[@AskZac]

Thanks a lot!

[@shawnhelsel923]

Nice picking on the end of this video Zach! Fun and historical subject here, really enjoyed, great stuff. Cutting my teeth playing in bars growing up, I thought players with Tele-bridge ashtrays full of cigs laying on their amps were just the coolest thing. Say what you will about cigarette smoking, but there was a cool vibe in smoky honky-tonks with live music that is lost on society today. Many will say good riddance, but I miss it. Perhaps it was just the time, too bad it’s gone. Anyway, we must mention and not forget the great Albert Collins, who not only played his Tele with the ashtray on all the time, but he even decorated it.

[@goiastr7760]

They look great

[@nicko6710]

Leo loved covers over the Bridge and Pickups. James Jamerson and his Technique with the P bass. Even Strats. Rickenbacker have a cover over the Bridge pieces too.

[@gregmize01]

Always informative Zac!🎸👍🎸👍

[@AskZac]

Thanks again!

[@almannino3153]

Thank you Zac! I loved it🤩

[@AskZac]

So glad!

[@boppin_bennie]

Another part that often became an ashtray was the air cleaner cover on 1948 - 1965 Harley Davidson Panhead engines, especially in the late 60s & 70s when many Harley's were chopped ...

[@stevepercival4774]

Yes the old ham can filters

[@davidwatson9495]

Nachocasters are the best! Nacho for the win!

[@petertiffany8096]

Same thing pretty much happened with the covers on the P bass and original tele P bass. Some players keep them on, but not many.

[@Gmajeur7]

Hi Zac, love your channel! I think the cover might also have its origins in lapsteel design, so deliberately meant as a palmrest but still let strings vibrate freely and not mute them. (kinda/sorta like on the Coodercaster, that has an 'actual' lapsteel PU)

[@AskZac]

Good call!

[@thornil2231]

wooa great idea.

[@dunxy]

That's such a lovely axe. I could listen to you talk about Telecasters(and variant's) all day. My first Tele never came with one, i do have one with my AO 50's and its in the case, i don't think i could use it, i use that area so much. I do LOVE the look and i found noticeable tone change even with the YT comp, little darker, maybe even added a bit of reverb, i guess waves bouncing around in there? Nothing i couldn't dial in with other means but still cool. Maybe it would make the supplied bridge pickup (that was almost unplayable it was microphonic) usable but i upgraded it with a nice boutique but hotter one i managed to find used. Shout out to Mick Brierly, probably Australia's best pick-up builder. Had his pickups in all my regular players for well over a decade.

[@bigbasil1908]

Having the plate in makes the sound more round and less sharp. I notice it and appreciate it

[@sadie376]

I really like the way those covers look. If my (modern, Squier) Tele had a bridge with sides, I'd probably buy a repro one, but I don't think it's worth changing out the bridge on that particular guitar for something that will make it harder to play... If I ever upgrade to a better Tele, I'll look for one with the right bridge to give me the option.

[@gwcjr2102]

Another great video!

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davewestner]

Answering the question I didn’t know I wanted to ask. Nice

[@AskZac]

Any time!

[@iannicholls7476]

Thanks Zac.

[@AskZac]

Any time!

[@marshallsmountain]

This was a good one! Sound trumps just about everything. Utility, symmetry, pretty, and designer genes (pun).

[@bobbaumeister5243]

Thanks Zac! Great Episode! I love the ashtray of my Fender. It looks and sounds cool for rythm guitar like Keef.

[@AskZac]

Glad you like it!

[@donhall2759]

Kind of like pickguards and pickup covers on Les Pauls, but more so. Nice work on the last tune!

[@larryyork1146]

i love how it looks on my 73 in the OHSC and fender hang tag. But i love to play with it in the case. Anyway Leo was the Man ! no doubt about that.

[@copperaudio9664]

Nice pickin' Zac. 😎 Great history too.

[@JammerhakenTV]

The frustration point got me laughing 🤣 it's just because you are soooo obsessed with your teles ❤️

[@ericwilliamson9869]

God, I love these videos. Thanks for being awesome!

[@AskZac]

Glad you like them!

[@timedwards5600]

Thnx Zac for info.

[@AskZac]

Any time!

[@roberthdahlquist]

I got an ashtray to have as a cool (and historical) artifact - and of course to take the obligatory pictures of my Tele. (Cool outro Zac!)

[@ajsrhodes]

Great video

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@ceickhoff]

Great video Zac! I loved your playing at the end. Very tasty!

[@tylerflint5447]

Someone probably brought that up, but I think the idea behind the cover was about lap steel players and an ease of switching from lap steel guitar to solid body electric, because if you flip your tele and put on an ashtray it would mimic the feel of that.

[@ipuya]

I hang my baja on the wall and when i finish playing i put the cover back on before i hang it again. Looks amazing with it on

[@sholland42]

Playing with it on sounds like surf guitar, very reverby (not yet a word). Taking it off immediately changed the sound. Thanks, I wish I’d have tried leaving it on, my saddles, screws and pole pieces would be in much better shape right now.