Why Julian Lage Uses the "Wrong" Guitar for Jazz

Julian Lage breaks down his history with the Telecaster, and explains why he thinks it is the perfect jazz guitar.
📚The Beato Ultimate Bundle - $99 FOR ALL OF Rick's Courses. Get it here: ⇢ rickbeato.com
👂- The Beato Ear Training Program - $99.00 value
📘- The Beato Book Interactive - $99.00 value
🎸 - Beato Beginner Guitar - $159.00 value
🎸- The Quick Lessons Pro Guitar Course - $79.00 value
… all for just $99.00
Get it here: rickbeato.com
Upcoming Live Dates:
Atlanta - Sept 28 Variety Playhouse - bit.ly/3OUMJsI
NYC - Oct 17 - livemu.sc/3CdE3pD
Berlin, Germany - October 28 at Passionskirche.
www.ticketmaster.de/event/ric...
My Beato Club supporters:
Justin Scott
Terence Mark
Farren Mahjoor
Jason Murray
Lucienne Kilpatrick
Alexander Young
Jason Wagner
Todd Ladner
Rob Kline
Nicholas Long
Tim Benson
Leonardo Martins da Costa Rodrigues
Eddie Perez
David Solomon
MICHAEL JOYCE
Stephen Stubbs
colin stead
Jonathan Wentworth-Linton
Patrick Payne
MATTHEW KARIS
Matthew Barouch
Shaun Samuels
Danny Kurywchak
Gregory Reedy
Sean Coleman
Alexander Verbitskiy
CL Turner
Jason Pappafotis
John Fulford
Margaret Carno
Robert C
David M Combs
Eric Flatt
Reto Spoerli
Herr Moritz Adam
Monte St. Johns
Jon Beezley
Peter DeVault
Eric Nabstedt
Eric Beggs
Rich Germano
Brian Bloom
Peter Pillitteri

[@CalHarding01]

Julian’s gentle vocal delivery, extreme politeness, and deep wisdom come together in a way that reminds me very much of the skateboarder Rodney Mullen.

[@fives.]

This, especially when you consider how young both dudes were when they started to love it

[@headbangersbrain]

It reminds me very strongly of prince, if you go and watch any interview of his he has this same soft spoken-ness with very gentle mannerisms.

[@SeanDwyer-xv8yk]

Rodney is GOAT. I remember plopping in Plan Bs Virtual Reality(fresh VHS baby !)for the first time and being absolutely blown away by Rodney’s talent. Jeeze I’m old!

[@kaeo7095]

This is a great analogy

[@CalHarding01]

@@SeanDwyer-xv8yk I’m in the same boat. I remember first seeing Mullen skate when I unlocked his video by beating one of the Tony Hawk games. I immediately went out and tracked down a video of him in action - 25 years later, I have never seen anyone able to skate like him. Some guys come close, of course, but there can only ever be one Rodney. You should really check out some vids of him just talking, in case you haven’t. He was on a channel called “Physics Girl” where he explained how impossibles work, and he also did a great TED talk once, also on youtube. In both videos (and others) he comes across as soft-spoken, wise, and a highly accommodating conversationalist - just like Julian Lage does in this vid.

[@dananthony6258]

How can you not love him ? He definitely a guitarist guitarist guitarist. He’s so unique.

[@song4night]

Julian is the Abraham Lincoln of guitarists.

[@cyrnoz1803]

@brooklynbeaver9063 Grow up

[@LearningDrummerSam]

@brooklynbeaver9063 Desperate

[@RubbelisPro]

​@brooklynbeaver9063I don't think it's that serious Mr Beaver.

[@iaminsfiredbytrustfration8502]

@@song4nightfrfr

[@iainholmes2735]

What a beautiful, poetic way of talking about the guitar.

[@davidharding200]

As father it’s so beautiful to hear Julian talk about his father with such love and respect

[@simondanielssonmusic]

This guy should record his voice for audio books and such, I could listen to his voice for hours.

[@bertoray5497]

My goodness. What a thoughtful and articulate young man. And love the artist within.

[@mrjdaddy1]

Some years ago after a concert, I asked Julian how he managed to get such an amazing variety of sounds and tones without effect pedals. He said that the guitar is a delicate instrument, and how you touch it as you play can profoundly influence the sound that comes out. This was one of the best pieces of wisdom on guitar playing I ever received, and ever since I have tried to incorporate that into my playing.

[@mwhite6522]

True - ever hand your favorite guitar to a friend and notice they can't play a single note in tune? It's because you figured out your own way to handle the instrument and you know how it responds. It's motor skills on a micro level.

[@TheAnaglyph]

Rick, thank you for this video. I took my son to see Julian a few years back here in ATL and it was amazing. His gentle self confidence is something everyone should aspire to.

[@arlo12345678910]

9:00 Rick suprises Julian with his depth of knoweledge and his ability to (edited: read the music &) appreciate his artistery on a level that probably nobody has ever done before. Rick your're the man!

[@error9900]

Great moment

[@JMarcuslife]

Wow - what a presence, a musician, and a gentleman.

[@jonathanbush1936]

I just watched this wonderful interview and I swear my blood pressure dropped 30 points. Thanks Rick and Julian for your excellent, and beautifully stated, insights.

[@furtherdefinitions1]

The late great Ed Bickert always used a Telecaster and he made it sound like a traditional jazz box

[@jonholland6067]

My thoughts exactly, saw him live at Ontario Place back in the day. Wow

[@daveoneill2680]

George’s Spaghetti House, Montreal Bistro, Bourbon Street, Ed was so killer to listen to and watch. Sublime effortless mastery. Jim Hall knew it

[@svbarr]

To think a non playing blind in one eye tinkerer invented the Tele and it has remained almost unchanged. A true miracle.

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Were one to choose only one 'electric' it would HAVE TO BE a Telecaster. It can do everything well, even just sweet 'acoustic sounding' strumming. Maybe a Les Paul with P90s... And they are excellent Jazz instruments...

[@davidharding200]

The irony also that it’s regarded by many as the one guitar to have if you can only have one. Of course we need many…😂

[@KentBuchla]

Largely because guitarists are Luddites.

[@seanmckelvey6618]

@@KentBuchla You could say that, but why mess with something that doesn't need to be messed with? New technology and techniques doesn't necessarily make a better instrument. This is should be pretty obvious.

[@Bassman2353]

It's important to note that Leo rethought the Telecaster with the G&L ASAT. It is my go-to guitar. The P90s are fantastic and the bridge is a major improvement over the Fender original

[@etherboy3540]

I love these interviews. Rick is deeply knowledgeable about music and I enjoy watching him picking the brains of really good musicians. There are a lot of older guys out there that I hope he can interview before they pass. 100 years from now, 100 years from now, people are going to care about these interviews...

[@jomical]

Just got my first Tele last week for my bday. Love Julian’s music. Thanks for this video, Rick!

[@rustypugh123]

After 40 years of playing, I still say you can’t beat a telecaster. It is still the one I am always drawn to. If there was a lifetime, achievement award for guitars, telecaster would win

[@donsaxon1169]

Agree. I am such a Les Paul guy too. I own a 1968 standard and an early 1969 custom and they are sooo perfect, but I still come back to a telecaster.

[@rustypugh123]

@@donsaxon1169 I know what you mean. I’ve had so many strats that I lost count. I’ve had everything from a Travis Bean to an Ibanez, and lots that I’ve forgotten about. But I still love the Tele more than anything

[@isohumulone]

Wanted to mention that i saw him a double headline opening for Leo Kottke last month in Boulder 8/19/23. I'd seen them both before, but it was very cool to see Julian honor one of his elders with such modesty at that show. Both were awesome of course.

[@StringBender]

Interesting fact…it’s not a Fender, but a ‘52 blackguard Tele replica made by Nacho Guitars in Spain. Unbelievably great guitars!

[@jazzman1954]

In that case Fender will be sending them a letter very soon!

[@StringBender]

@@jazzman1954 He’s been making (just a few dozen per year) and selling them for almost a decade now.

[@jazzman1954]

@@StringBender If it comes to fender’s notice they will want that headstock changed. Depends on how well known the makers become I suppose

[@danielstoddart]

@@jazzman1954 IANAL but I don't think there will be a legal issue, because Fender licenses out their neck shapes to third-party manufacturers. You can buy aftermarket Fender Telecaster necks that are identical to Fender specs from AllParts, Musikraft, Mighty Mite, and others. I'm guessing Nacho gets his necks from one of these producers and "distresses" and relics the necks to make them look vintage.

[@reverb508]

⁠@@jazzman1954believe me… Fender knows about Nacho guitars.

[@apezer]

I have seen him in New Morning club jazz in Paris, he shared so much emotion, pleasure and melody with the public! One of the best jazz live I will see in my life for sure.

[@BNuts71]

Love how Rick analyzed how he got a certain sound that even Julian hadn't thought about how he got there and suddenly realized Rick was on to something.

[@BassByTheBay]

Yes, one of the many things that makes us treasure Rick.

[@ErnestoLopez78]

Excellent interview as always!

[@scottgregory6129]

I learned about Julian through 5 W world. I love listening to his perspective. Especially as a comparison to Scofield, my all time fave. And it has nothing to do with the fact that I started playing a tele 4 years ago when I first heard about him!

[@JosephCompton66]

That guy is my hero, thanks for interviewing him Rick!

[@jedtulman46]

The full video interview is amazing ...it helped me out w a friend's vocal affliction in that Julian had distonia and taught himself a cure. Truly mind boggling . Anyhow at the hour mark or so of the interview julian says there's vocal distonia as well as hand afflictions. A lightening bolt went off in my head I just knew my friend has vocal distonia .And I came up w a vocal excessive to help him...Thank u Julian.

[@GChizo]

Happy I found your new channel. Congrats!

[@riklefevere7361]

I love you both, guys! This is so recognizable for me. I own a Telecaster 52 reissue butterscotch blonde and I love it! I play it with a Belgian band called 'Bergen'. It is such a versatile instrument. It's my favorite go to guitar, though I have a Strat, a ES-355, a Les Paul at my disposal.

[@martinpaddle]

There is no wrong guitar in Jazz. You can get a good tone out of any good electric guitar, so it's really about how it feels to the player.

[@lkb3rd]

I even think nostalgia and other non musical factors play into it. Julian mentions that his pretend guitar as a kid was a Tele, and now he loves them. Same with me, I remember as a kid not even knowing what it was called, but I knew what a Tele looked like from seeing players I liked using one. Now I play a Tele as my favorite.

[@craigbrowning9448]

If you've seeb the Fender Telecaster t-shirt that shows the Pickup Selector Switch and the outside positions are labeled "Mellow" & "Yee-Haw!"

[@tomcoryell]

A jazz guitar is any guitar you play jazz on.

[@stavrosk.2868]

A real guitarist gets a good tone out of ANY guitar, electric or accoustic.

[@chrism4948]

What a wonderful interview. Thank you.

[@marc_leblanc]

I play a Tele also. The neck pickup with the tone knob rolled back some gives a nice mellow warm tone for Jazz.

[@sotiristsallis]

Now that's a great interview. Julian is a musician who inspires you to study, play, learn, compose..thats the thing for me...

[@AdamJohnSwenson]

Agreed. Bill frisell is also that way. I'm reading the book about him now- it's excellent. Very inspiring.

[@GiovaneFugazza10]

I went to see John zorn when he played in my city in Brazil. John Zorn is a genius, but what really amazed me was the guitar tone coming out of this guy's playing. It was mesmerizing to watch it live.

[@jackoo666]

I love how the wqy he talks is very similar to how he plays. the dynamics, with an emphasis on the quiet

[@mattclark1278]

I loved this part of your interview. - Tele Guy

[@tristenalexander814]

Dude is an acoustician. He loves his craft and it shows. Happy to have discovered Mr. Lage.

[@jano3289]

I love Julian on a tele, it is the perfect guitar for him imo. He can get a full clean jazz tone with lots of sustain and an almost rock kind of tone with the exact same amp setting only by the dynamics of the pickups and the volume control. I don't think that would be possible with a different guitar to that extent.

[@DustinDriver]

I am a terrible guitarist, but my stepfather is fantastic and I grew up reading guitar magazines and looking at all shapes and types of guitars. The Tele has such a simple and pleasing form. It really does capture the mid-century modern design aesthetic. They are just wonderful pieces of art. Also I love the neck shape!

[@ShanevsDCsniperr]

no offense but i bet you're pretty good

[@jamesnorton7601]

You ain't gotta be good at it to love it kid.

[@BeautifulxSins]

It makes me extremely joyful that you had this experience! I truly wish I had a father that was interested in me.

[@toddcowart]

Julian is amazing. One of kind and without a doubt the most musically sensitive players of all time. That f maj7 #11 #9 is a lot- not many players can make that chord sound beautiful. An alternative title to this vid could be “Julian plays the wrong chord on the wrong jazz guitar”. lol- obviously I say that with love. Julian has never played a wrong chord in his life 🤓

[@jeffdixon847]

I splurged on a pair of those Ellisonics for a Gretsch. What a pickup he designed with Ron Ellis. He’s not lying about the overtones.

[@Spir4Lz]

that's interesting! How do they sound?

[@slmjkdbtl]

first saw him with john zorn's masada quartet, one of the most dynamic, energetic yet cohesive group i've heard

[@freto_cognito9001]

Julian Lage is legitimately a guitar god... so much insight

[@rayviolot6414]

It's mainly the player, not the guitar. You hand Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery or Jeff Beck a Tele and each will produce his own unique stylistic sound.

[@Andrea_Manconi]

One of my favourite interviews!

[@michaelstevens8]

Ted Greene, Ed Bickert, Mike Stern and Bill Frisell all play/ played Telecasters. If you take a little time and Dial It In, you can get a Great Jazz Tone from a Solidbody Guitar. Especially with the right Pickups, and Thick Gauge Flatwound or Half Round Strings. Thanks.

[@SixStringSlinger]

Julian is like the Bob Ross for guitar

[@t.cole_2]

Abraham Lincoln

[@professorspacefingers122]

Bob Ross stole everything from Bill Alexander.

[@Kmh0277]

He doesn't play anything the whole time, but at least we get a beautiful chord at the end. You need to interview Andreas Oberg and discuss his move from gypsy jazz to producing K-pop. Probably my favorite jazz guitarist that's still alive.

[@demejiuk5660]

Beautiful interview.

[@jptheflipper3825]

now that is a man with a genuine deep respect for the Telecaster. him talking about the Tele and its versatility reminds me of a featurette GE Smith made years ago for his signature Telecaster and they both are so right in what a Telecaster can be used for. I think Julian would like the old Esquires and Broadcasters because both have a wring that dampens and darkens and makes the Tele so dark and so perfect for Jazz, even a bass level of low and dark.

[@kimstrickland65]

Of course, Ted Green mostly played a Tele, several examples on KZbin of him doing that. One of those videos explains how he set up a Tele for jazz.

[@mojooftheg5961]

Thank you for mentioning Ted Greene. I remember his book, "Chord Chemistry", back in the seventies.

[@kazkylheku1221]

Hey, that solo in in Lionel Ritchie's "Hello" was on a telecaster.

[@RichardCThurston]

Saw Lage at Big Ears March 24 and he played roughly half the set on an acoustic guitar. His band featuring Kris Davis on piano was amazing. What a player.

[@DrMattWalton]

I love the reactions these artists get when Rick surprises them about their music’s “inner soul” that only he could decipher. That happened in the Sting interview also. When Sting realized Rick was the real deal, he loosened up.

[@JosephX74]

I need the rest of this convo.

[@livingmodern]

That's great to hear, among my influences were STP, and I quickly played Jazz chords with my alt rock type songs...just recently got a Pro II blonde Tele, and the push-push humbucking with a mesa trans atlantic is perfect for jazz chords occasionally thrown in for me. I never cared for the trem, even though I loved the american Strat someone lent me several years ago so the Tele was the perfect fit. It truly is the most versatile guitar ever.

[@jouhannaudjeanfrancois891]

He summed up exactly what i feel about the Tele... It's cool

[@jeffsnyder3161]

Ed Bickert also used a Telecaster for Jazz. Great tones from both of these wonderful players.

[@stevenblakeakahashburns]

Such an eloquent way of putting the relationship between mind,fingers,guitar and amp in the perception of a child

[@EHCreative]

To sum it up… cuz it looks cool and sounds amazing. 😊

[@marksimpson2321]

People like Rick and Fil from Wings of Pegasus bring a wide range of artists to a wider audience that I'd probably never otherwise know about ❤🎉 ty Rick and Julian.

[@leom7]

i had never heard of him before but a Short came up on my feed and he just sounded like a cool guy 🤷🏻

[@thejamnasium6447]

I'm weird with tones I guess - I LOVE the sound of the neck pickup on the Tele

[@yargnad]

What's not to love?

[@andrewsblendorio]

YES. This opened up the next door. Play softer and find natural compression. THANK YOU

[@That52TeleGuy]

Flat rounds on a vintage style Tele tuned 1/2 step down to Eb is golden.

[@jrdhrpr]

I just love Julian. As a person, as a musician... what's not to love?

[@aidantalbot9495]

Looking forward to the full interview and hearing Julian play with Rick

[@Darm0k]

The full interview has been on Rick's channel for a couple months at least.

[@andrewsblendorio]

Thank you

[@cottoneyejoe1able]

Rick should produce for Julian ❤ would love to hear the result ❤🎉🎉🎉

[@danielmarble2944]

Love his playing

[@chanh4025]

Really love this

[@kazkylheku1221]

Lange is so eloquent; I'm dying to hear him opine about 4x12 cabinets, and high gain. How does the 12" aperture of the bottom speakers of the "B" cabinet project through the room if you play quietly, but through a cascade of five 12AX7 tubes. :)

[@lordemed1]

What do you think of G&L "teles" -ASAT's- made in Fullerton when Leo was still alive? Thx

[@mwhite6522]

For me, the difference in using a Telecaster or Jazzmaster to play jazz, compared to say an ES-175 or ES-335, is there's better separation of notes, whereas the Gibsons would naturally create a slur effect. With the Fenders, there's a slightly more pronounced attack and faster decay, which makes individual notes easier to distinguish.

[@krokovay.marcell]

Single coil…

[@yargnad]

Scale length.

[@musik102]

Interestingly, had Charlie Christian survived then I'm pretty sure the "sound" of jazz guitar would have developed very differently. For example, when Mary Osborne first heard Charlie ( pre-Benny Goodman) she described him sounding like a distorted sax. Also, I read somewhere that Charlie wanted an amplifier with distortion build into it, and finally, I'm sure the sound Charlie used on the "Minton Sessions" was the sound he really wanted rather than "the safe" sound on the Goodman studio recordings.

[@TonySchopp]

Could he be any more passionate and finer spoken? I think not. Great interview, Rick. We need more influence in our society from people who are as natural mentors as they are craftsman.

[@owenyonce5920]

Man this is great!

[@billday6744]

Good post I enjoyed watching Im a Chet Atkins try to be and Telecasters are all I play .

[@npc2071]

I will never reach the level of sophistication of this man

[@_caustics_]

His jazz tone sounds sooo good

[@lowwhistler_]

Such an eloquent speaker too...

[@danielmargolis3210]

Going to hear Julian tonight.

[@raygehring]

Love the video. In the year 2023 there is no longer an argument that the Tele is the wrong guitar for Jazz. It is by far the most used solid body for jazz. 1000's of players.

[@Smokeslikelightningband]

Thats what i use!

[@yargnad]

This is basically true for any genre. The Tele is the one ring to rule them all.

[@PhilTaylorGuitar]

I wonder where his Sig Collings sits with Julian now. No mention in the main Beato interview unless I'm mistaken.

[@timolonnberg3205]

My issue does not relate to Julian’s interiew yet Rhett made one too….but I really miss your videos when you did gear reviews or some tone experiments or just had discussions together with Rhett and Dave Onorato. 3amigos!! We want more!!!

[@paulreese3071]

When people refer to the versatility of the Tele my mind immediately jumps to Danny Gatton, that marriage was truly made in heaven. For that matter, the same could be said about Roy Buchanan

[@EdMaguire1]

I saw an opened up for Danny Gatton in DC in the 80s. He was incomparable

[@paulreese3071]

@@EdMaguire1 That is awesome!!! I grew up in Md. and was fortunate enough to see him often and actually had a couple of personal interactions with him. He surely seemed like really decent Man.

[@curtisprincemusic]

A true musical genius!

[@pablorages]

An LP and a tele is all I need !

[@shifu9276]

Have you ever watched his lessons? He knows so much more than you can imagine.,

[@garymcaleer6112]

Great story from the upbringing. Kids in my neighborhood played tennis rackets and sung into putter golf clubs! Pots and pans were too loud for drums! 😉

[@weneedcriticalthinking]

Interesting conversation i gotta check this fella out, thanks.. "Wrong" Guitar for Jazz" I remember Jazz guitar great Ted Green played Tele's and a custom guitar that was very unique. Scotty Anderson another incredible Jazz guitar player (among other genres) who guitars of choice are Telecasters.

[@svbarr]

In many ways the ESQUIRE is perfect. That bridge pickup sounds amazing with the highs rolled off.

[@slimlewis5549]

Exactly!

[@jameseager3245]

Can't get enough of Julian's playing...

[@robertgiles9124]

I like Bill Frissel's tone colors on a Telecaster.

[@vruz]

I use Tellys too, and it's interesting to learn about Julian's choices. Who am I to disagree 🙂

[@MookieMaroni]

​@@morbidmanmusicTeles

[@tesla-spectre]

Would have liked to hear him play a bit more...🎉

[@TheMuffinMan01]

Wow what an incredibly pleasant man!!

[@JT96708]

Where can we hear the rest of this interview?!!

[@michaelcreel106]

Tory Slusher plays a tele for jazz fusion. She would be a great person to interview,

[@BucoBucolini]

Not only is he just about the most eloquent guitar player musically, but he speaks that way too.

[@willdavidson8971]

He seems like just the nicest guy wow

[@THEKECHEXPERIENCE]

humble and elegant