Tele - Ugly or Beautiful?

[just strum]

Wingsdad, a couple of you guys own some very nice Tele's and the G&L's can make converts out of the people that are not Tele fans (I for one have fallen victim). After playing a couple of Fender and admiring your latest G&L, I wouldn't be surprised if the day will come when I will purchase a higher end Tele.

The guitars I see posted here lead me to purchasing an inexpensive Tele. I like it and with a little more "tweaking" I think I will find myself playing it often.

[tjcurtin1]

Au contraire, Strum! The Tele was the guitar I always desired from the time I was a kid - when, many years later, I bought my first electric, it was a Squire Tele. However, as I mentioned somewhere else, I couldn't make it 'sing' (probably because it was my first electric!) and I no longer have it But I still love the looks!

[just strum]

Au contraire, Strum! The Tele was the guitar I always desired from the time I was a kid - when, many years later, I bought my first electric, it was a Squire Tele. However, as I mentioned somewhere else, I couldn't make it 'sing' (probably because it was my first electric!) and I no longer have it But I still love the looks!

Did you ever buy another one? I'm not saying no one buys a Tele as their first guitar, but I think they tend to be an acquired taste after some playing on other guitars. IMHO I think of them more as a specialty guitar that really isn't suited for all types of music. Again, just my opinion.

[t_ross33]

However, as I mentioned somewhere else, I couldn't make it 'sing' (probably because it was my first electric!) and I no longer have it But I still love the looks!

I think Tele's are very unforgiving and a bit tougher to wrangle out the tones you hear in your head, or from masters like Brent Mason or even Marty Stuart or Vince Gill. That distinct "Tele Twang", in my experience, is all in the hands. (I'm not implying that I am anywhere CLOSE to mastering this beautiful little slab of wood - far from it. But, like everything else, it's a work in progress )

It's tone can be biting to the point of "ice-pick" and doesn't immediately lend itself to smooth tones you get from an LP, or even a Strat.

Maybe that's why it's not a popular "first guitar" choice. That being said, I grew up on a steady diet of Buck and Don, Merle, Waylon etc. I think Tele's are beautiful to look at and beautiful to play or hear.

Here's mine:


KEEP ON TWANGIN AND BANGIN IN THE FREE WORLD :

Trev

[warren0728]

i love my tele...i think it's been said a tele is the hardest guitar to play....not physically but it so raw that it exposes your every mistake (and i make a lot of them!)

my tele gets equal playing time with my gibson lp special.

here's mine....a mim 2005 agave blue standard (click for larger pics)

ww

[Tone E]

My 2 cents...

Teles are beautiful guitars. Like others have said: simplicity is the source of this beauty.
I have to say though, I dont like variations on the original design. Different pickup configurations, different bridges and rosewood fretboards all take something away it IMO.

Also, like I have said in the other thread, ugly for me is those disgusting, big, angular things like B.C. Rich, Washburn Dimebags, Gibson Explorers and the like.

[just strum]

Also, like I have said in the other thread, ugly for me is those disgusting, big, angular things like B.C. Rich, Washburn Dimebags, Gibson Explorers and the like.

I agree with Tone E about the guitars I'd class as UGLY -

I have to agree with that. I know there a lot of people that like them, but I'm a more traditional style.

I guess the hammer theory would apply to those too.

[tjcurtin1]

I think Tele's are very unforgiving and a bit tougher to wrangle out the tones you hear in your head, or from masters like Brent Mason or even Marty Stuart or Vince Gill. That distinct "Tele Twang", in my experience, is all in the hands.
Trev

You're absolutely right - two experienced guitar playing friends played my tele and immediately made it sound ways I couldn't get it to... and I could tell it was 'in the hands' - very frustrating, but at least it proved it wasn't the guitar. One of those buddies ended up taking it off my hands... Maybe someday I'll try again.

As for ugly - that term doesn't fit the classic look of the telecaster. I agree with Tone E about the guitars I'd class as UGLY -