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

[@comandinn505]

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

[@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

[@Bmille1965]

ive got a new Tele with a mini ashtray that just covers the saddles. neat to see it back even in that cut down capacity

[@TheCream14]

Very nice presentation. Thanks!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@flatroc1]

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

[@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.

[@richardbspeck147]

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

[@realitynuggets6204]

WOW. 13:57: The is the first time I've seen Zac demo the tastiest sublime licks that made me lust after Fenders in the first place. Bryant-esque, Lanham-ish, but all Zac. NICE!

[@AskZac]

Thank you so much!

[@PhilGa]

​@@AskZacis that an original of yours?

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@imannonymous7707]

I could listen to Zac talk telecaster all day

[@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!

[@RyshusMojo1]

@ 2:40 , $3.40 then = $42 now, proving the point that despite the price going up, value pretty much remains the same.

[@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.

[@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!

[@TweedToneKing]

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

[@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!!!

[@BeefNEggs057]

Guthrie Trapp makes the neck sound better than anything. Only switches to the bridge to take it up a notch. How it should be done.

[@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!

[@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. :)

[@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) 😂

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@marksieber8140]

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

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!

[@bennyblanko3]

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

[@AskZac]

Thanks a lot!

[@philipcarson6768]

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

[@AskZac]

Wow, thanks!

[@bugzyhawk5941]

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

[@ckelly5141]

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

[@AskZac]

It is!

[@crilf5830]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@henryb160]

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

[@AskZac]

Wow, thanks!

[@bigbasil1908]

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

[@motorosso3349]

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

[@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

[@davewestner]

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

[@AskZac]

Any time!

[@justinprizant1980]

Zac can PLAY!

[@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!

[@waynetoneseekerandersen2213]

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

[@hardyshmardy]

My first electric guitar was a Framus I bought in 1969. It had a lot in common with Fender guitars: bolt-on neck (actually compatible to Teles) with a soft V profile, and a very narrow nut - just like Fender. It also had a bridge cover, but not big enough to cover the brodge pickup. I stl. have the guitar, but the bridge cover was, unfortunately, lost when I lent the guitar out once. Still irks me to this day.

[@Krullmatic]

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

[@XRPman2025]

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

[@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 😉

[@telecasterbear]

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

[@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.

[@Steven_ologist]

Love the playing at the end Zac!

[@HumblyServingGod]

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.

[@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.

[@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.😊

[@vayabroder729]

I guess that also applies to the bridge cover in Strats. Hardly see them as well. I have three Telecasters; on one I have the ashtray cover installed and I play differently with it. Some people say they sound differently with it on; something having to do with shielding and changes in the magnetic field due to it. Not sure I can hear the difference.

[@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.

[@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

[@curtevans838]

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

[@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.

[@louisdombrowski4198]

Great playing right at the end👍

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@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!

[@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.

[@nazmoking3171]

It’s funny but in 1973 I bought an Ibanez telecaster Thinline copy at the time made in Japan and it had one of the ash tray covers and of course I always kept it on when I played the guitar including when I was gigging at that time!

[@caseysmith544]

In the 2000's there was a time that a specific model from Fender and Squires next up line made a line of the instruments with the cover parts to the guitar but were more fixed not in such a way you could not work on the instrument, but they had a swinging cover with a rivet like hinge on them. They were not popular, well most except the J Bass where that was higher up screwed in and more of a hand guard/rest used to play specific guitar styles for Country. At about the same time in early to mid 2000's they made both versions of the single pickup Esquire Telecaster as people were wanting the two styles, the lower bridge pickup as people and one with the upper were removing the upper getting a new aftermarket pickguard that was missing the top hole and bottom for bottom making a thing that looked like a pickup with small tin roofing nails and clear coat over for protection. Then for both types of Esquire Telecaster fixing the selector in place so it never moved with a piece of chrome, nickel, or using pickguard color of the guard they had on the instrument screwed down with similar matching screws to either chrome screws or pickguard ones. This was mainly with the Squier Guitars that were above the Bullet and low end affinity series that players did this with or the lowest priced Chinese or Indonisan Fenders that were $475 to $600 at the time.

[@donhall2759]

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

[@michaelmaas6460]

My Eric Johnson Thinline STRAT has one of those, shaped to allow the trem to still work!

[@shaunw9270]

I know what you mean about the look of a blackguard that's had the ashtray on for a maybe a few years. I wish I kept the ashtray on my 2011 '52 reissue for longer now , just for that look.

[@KramerPacer2]

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

[@bobmckenna5511]

That outro was fantastic

[@thesongwritersjourney]

Interesting observations on the tone change with the cover on. I have a '69 (reissue) Thinline Telecaster and I got it with the cover. Best way I could describe it is if you put your hands around a microphone - similar, but not exactly, way of affecting the sound - giving it more of a "nose" seems like the right description. Felt like it also wanted to feedback more, but that may be the thinline semi-hollow thing coming more into play with the cover.

[@imannonymous7707]

Interesting and useful perspective you have but honestly the hollowbody feedback thing? the thinline isn't actually hollow , it's chambered in one bout. I can't see that playing a part. But then again, I don't own one so what do I know, lol . I've wanted one tho

[@thesongwritersjourney]

@@imannonymous7707 a thinline definitely sounds different than the regular tele on a normal day and I did say "semi-hollow" not "hollow." I think whatever sonic soup the thinlines construction brings out, there is a "subtle" change to the effect Zac described from a solid tele...subtle.

[@DrDooDah]

Great playing at the end, dude!

[@Wrguitar941]

Excellent playing Zac

[@cageliner]

I've had lots of Gibsons and other brands including Fender but I bought my first Tele in 2016, and then a second one in 2020. Neither came with the bridge cover, but for about $25 CAD each, they both have one. I wanted my Teles to be as '50s as possible (the Vintera '50s is closest.) I bought the covers purely for aesthetics although I knew about the subtle difference they made in sound.

[@GreenpointRemembers]

That is wild, I wanna buy a new one to put on my Tele Nocaster

[@NLBassist]

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

[@NLBassist]

And I love your collection of books!

[@marshallsmountain]

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

[@bodichair]

Just ran across you're vid, If your a Tele player it brings logic to ash tray. I have a thin line , Id seen many of the older telecasters with the Shield. I thought I buy an after market from Fender and it fit perfect and gave it that finished look. I personally thought it was all about aesthetics. I agree The down side is not being able to mute the strings therefore canceling out a variety of sounds. Know if your looking for that clean sound and the finished look this works perfect. Another advantage to having the tray is the ability to thump it with your thumb to get the funky drum beat. I agree with the comments the Leo had the foresight to make the cover detachable with a smooth click on click off. Thanks for shinning light on this mystery ! And to hear Zac play thet little Jazz deity with the cover on sounds as smooth as it can get.

[@StevenRosenberg]

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

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@jonnybeck6723]

I stopped smokin' but it's still good for loose change... Right now one of mine is full of multi-color golf tees

[@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!

[@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!)

[@stephenmeredith7325]

What was the name of the instrumental you played ,on the show intro. Enjoyed

[@AskZac]

Red Wing

[@Docsjeff]

I’ll tell ya what’s plum spooky. I bought my 83 yr old dad his first Tele y-day. He texted me today and asked me if they still came with the ashtrays and this Vid pops up. He hasn’t owned a Fender guitar since he bought a new Duo-Sonic in 1964 when I was 3 and he was playing out. I got a hold of a pencil one day and proceeded to drill 3 holes into the body right above the pickguard. Luckily they were perfectly in a row and a guy at his work made 3-1/2” squares out of SS with his initials and it actually looked like it was supposed like it from the factory

[@tangyorange6509]

Loveeee the look of ashtrays

[@mjvicc1952]

Beautiful playing Zac!😊

[@jeffdixon847]

Fun video. The playing at the end was divine.

[@goiastr7760]

They look great

[@austinskinner]

I love the look of it on!

[@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!

[@Ben_Mdws]

Very interesting! Thank you Zac

[@AskZac]

Glad it was helpful!

[@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.

[@gregmize01]

Always informative Zac!🎸👍🎸👍

[@AskZac]

Thanks again!

[@rylandervanwyk4940]

Great video, very informative

[@blueshorecreative3146]

Thanks man. I've been playing my Tele a lot and felt I needed a hand rest. I wonder if anyone makes a shorter one, so you can muff the strings. If they are that easy to put on and off, I think I'll get one.

[@jamiebritton6781]

Love the telecaster content. Nice playing as always!

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!