….especially 335s, Epiphone Casinos, my beloved Gordon Smith semis….humbuckers & hollow bodies….but once in a while, you come across something that makes you question your allegiances, something that makes you think “Jeez, I need a Telecaster…..”
Chuck Prophet, ladies & gentlemen…..
Johnny Concheroo says
Another Telecaster fan here.
Some other-worldly Telecaster work here from the great Jerry Donahue. (It’s all good but Jerry comes in at around 7 mins)
fitterstoke says
Of course, Jerry’s the “go to” Telecaster man….his sound is just essence of Tele….
Colin H says
This is barely an anecdote but you’ll probably enjoy it, JC. The day after this show was broadcast I recall walking into the student union bar at Queen’s University Belfast mid afternoon (which was odd – I didn’t drink alcohol at the time, so no idea why I was there) and there was Jim Armstrong and his band setting up to play utterly unreconstructed 60s blues-rock [Ed: were you there…?!?]. As there doing so, Jim was delightedly repeating those Donahue three-string bends like a kid in a sweetshop who’s just been shown a particularly sugary confection he’d never noticed before. Not that he used it in any of his songs, mind. I think I left after the 15th minute of ‘Summertime’.
Of course, I’m relying on you, JC, to post an album cover from the 60s featuring Armstrong. I’m sure you have one of them.
Johnny Concheroo says
Will this do?
Great story btw Colin.
http://i.imgur.com/O18CX9z.jpg
Colin H says
You had me worried there, JC. I thought I’d mentioned a Brit blues name too obscure for you (be honest: did you have to Google?). Hope you enjoyed the clue in the last sentence!
Well into the 90s, maybe beyond, Belfast was awash with blues bands featuring people who’d been in versions of Them in the 60s. I recall one night at the Rotterdam Bar with the Jim Armstrong Band while, at another bar that literally backed on to it (I can’t bring its name to mind) Jackie MacAuley – from an earlier Them line-up – was booked. (Jackie was a non Belfast resident – living in London or the Republic of Ireland since the 60s – so his gigs in Belfast were rarer than all the rest.) I was with Trevor Hodgett that night, a blues and jazz reviewer who had interviewed most Them alumni for magazine features by that point, and he said (of Jackie and Jim): ‘They’ve probably never met’, which I thought odd – but then again (Them again?), there was a lot of people through that band back in the day.
Another fragment of an anecdote for you, JC: back in the 90s Jim A sold his vintage Les Paul (1959, I think – does that sound right?) to a guy in Pearl Jam for a colossal sum of money.
Colin H says
Speaking of whom, this seems appropriate:
Johnny Concheroo says
I knew Jim played with Van, but not knowing what he looked like, I had no idea which Them LP he played on. So I had to check that part.
On Wiki I found this bold (and quite strange) claim: “while living in America (Jim) met and played with Jim Morrison & The Doors, Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa. During this time he was voted 3rd best guitarist in the world (after Jimi Hendrix & Frank Zappa).”
The ’59 Les Paul part sounds right. Isn’t it ironic how all those 58-60 Les Pauls played by the British blues boomers are finding their way back to America for huge amounts of money?
Kirk Hammett out of Metallica recently bought Peter Green’s ’59 Les Paul (also owned by Gary Moore) for a reported $2 million dollars.
Colin H says
I think the Jim guitar price was £100,000 – but I may be wrong. The 3rd best guitarist thing was from a poll in a Los Angeles magazine, I believe. Them played there quite a lot – particularly in the post-Van phase, with Kenny McDowell as lead singer. This line up recorded two albums in late 60s USA. Kenny had a fabulous voice at the time. He became a bit of a blues shouter in later years, and can still be seen occasionally doing acoustic gigs around Belfast.
Here are Ken and Jim on the first of the two 1968 US LPs:
Colin H says
And even better, Ken and Jim formed a full-blown prog-rock band ‘Truth’ in America in 1969-70. Their complete works (unreleased at the time I believe) came out on a 1000-copies limited CD in the 90s:
Johnny Concheroo says
100 grand sounds about right for a 58-60 Les Paul without provenance, but with a famous former owner it’s often more.
I enjoyed Truth, especially after the guitar came in at around 4 mins. Dare I say it, he sounds a little like early Zappa.
Colin H says
The full album is on youtube, if you have an hour to spare!
nigelthebald says
Of course you need a Telecaster – it was born at the junction of form and function:
fitterstoke says
Do you play one yourself, Nigel?
nigelthebald says
I play several, Fitter 🙂
nigelthebald says
If I were at home, I’d post pictures. Watch this space @fitterstoke
fitterstoke says
Can’t wait, @nigelthebald ….
nigelthebald says
Here you go, @fitterstoke
From viewer’s left:
Hitomi – CIJ Fender ’62 Custom – modded with compensated brass saddles, four way selector, phase switch, Seymour Duncan Vintage Rhythm Stack and Pearly Gates. And Fender amp knobs; Becky – not a Fender at all despite the decal; Sparrow Twangmaster Custom with Kent Armstrong humbucker (stock) and Bareknuckle Piledriver, compensated steel saddles: Jody – Schechter (SWIDT?) PT Fastback
http://s963.photobucket.com/user/nigelthebald/media/SAM_5510_zps4tyhqhf5.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1
nigelthebald says
(Sorry, the direct embed copy doesn’t seem to be working 🙁 )
Want thinlines?
Revelation (with P90s) and Vintage:
http://s963.photobucket.com/user/nigelthebald/media/SAM_5514_zpsxfj2golj.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
fitterstoke says
Many thanks, Nigel: I really covet the modded CIJ……and the P90 Revelation….
nigelthebald says
The CIJ (2004/5 built), named after a gorgeous Japanese woman I knew in my first year at University, was a present from my Mum about ten years ago. (Well she paid for it!) The saddles and switching were upgraded soon after.
I changed the pickups when a friend offered me a great deal on his Pearly Gates SD Custom Shop pickup, and a bit of research found a neck pup to complement it. Having Becky, which does the classic Tele twang even better than the CIJ, prompted me to do the mod.
Revelations are incredible guitars for not much money. I also own these two, the RJT 60M:
http://www.ccmusicshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/revelation_rjt60_sfg.jpg
and the RJT 60B (six-string bass, which I’ve had converted to baritone):
http://www.folkiesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/revelation-RJT60B-e1430214895914.jpg
fitterstoke says
Now I even covet the STORY about the CIJ…
nigelthebald says
😀
@fitterstoke The human Hitomi* is now an academic – I last heard her speaking some years ago on Radio 4, talking about the popular Japanese attitude to blood groups. (A bit like tabloid sun sign horoscopes.)
She no longer says things like “Grasgow”, which is something of a shame…
*I assume that’s the coveted aspect, and not the present from my Mum bit 😉
fitterstoke says
I love the fact that Chuck has been using the same cheap Squier for years and getting such a “full on” Tele sound out of it….
Johnny Concheroo says
Some of those Squiers van be very good. Didn’t Francis Dunnery use a Squier Strat as his main guitar with It Bites?
For those who didn’t get the “Micawber” reference in the OP, it’s the nickname Keith Richards uses for one of his 50s Telecasters
Here’s my Tele, yesterday.
http://i.imgur.com/jRxj0Uw.jpg
Johnny Concheroo says
“can be very good” rather
robert says
Ditto Marillion’s Steve Rothery. He says: “I have no snobbery as far as guitars are concerned. I can’t see how a transfer on the head of the guitar can have any appreciable effect on how a guitar sounds or plays. My Japanese Squire is from the mid Eighties at a time when they were much more consistent in quality then most of the US Strats that were in circulation at that time (I have owned US Strats in the past). As I changed the tremolo unit to a Kahler and the pick ups to EMG SAs, it all comes down to whether it’s a good piece of wood or not.”
yorkio says
Those eighties Squiers were always taken seriously as guitars. I was somewhat peeved that they never came in left-handed variants though.
(I also recall King Sunny Ade playing a Squier Strat on the Synchro System album cover.)
Vince Black says
I’ve just inherited one as it happens. It belonged to my best mate who passed away in December. I think he had it for about 7 years, and rarely played it particularly as he lacked the strength to play in the last 2 years. I was given it a few weeks ago, took it to be serviced and was somewhat surprised to discover that it dates from 1993. It sounds nice and I’m very pleased to own it
Vince Black says
I should have clarified, it’s a Squier, make in Korea
Spotcheck Billy says
The Squiers of that vintage were certainly comparable to the real thing, while they were still made in Korea
JustB says
Mmm. They can be perfectly good, but tend to have plywood bodies and cheap electronics. It’s the Japanese Squiers which are the real belters
Although, snob back-in-the-day value aside, modern Chinese Squiers and Mexican Fenders are very often as good as anything ever made by the “real” factories.
Freddy Steady says
I’ve got a Korean Squier bass which I’ve had since 1988. Very nice it is too.
Carl says
For Chuck in his magisterial pomp (and I was designated official Chuck Prophet spokesperson when these things were being allocated on the old board so I feel qualified to make this assertion) I feel we need to examine his work on You Did.
Pay attention to this fine version:
fitterstoke says
See above?
Carl says
So you did.
Speedy scrolling misses the picture.
Carl says
Let us Shake Some Action instead.
Franco says
Damn! For a moment I thought the thread was about the late 70s French disco group The Gibson Brothers who’s hits included “Cuba”, “Que Sera Mi Vida” and “Ooh. What a Life”………but it’s not.
JustB says
I love Teles but tend to play quite aggressively and find the absence of a carve on the rear top bout is really sharp and uncomfortable on my forearm. Wish it weren’t so.
Archie Valparaiso says
I like to look at them and listen to them more than play them, because, like Bob, the lack of body contouring for the right arm he mentions can only be described as a design flaw. There are so many versions with scandalously un-Tele-like pickup combinations out there, you’d think they might have issued at least one that didn’t feel as though you’re playing a plank. But no.
(What do you mean you can tell I’m a Strat person?)
fitterstoke says
…and, talking about un-Tele-like pickup combos…..
muffler says
The 72 Deluxe has a more forgiving shape for the sensitive player. But also has humbuckers so less twang and more grunt.
muffler says
The 72 Deluxe has a more forgiving shape for the, er. sensitive player. But also has humbuckers so less twang and more grunt.
TrypF says
Thing about Teles is they’re built for customisation. I’ve owned a few cheap and not-so cheap ones over the years, and I’ve always done little things to them, from new knobs and nuts (grow up at the back) to compensated brass saddles, pickup upgrades – and I’m putting a bitsa together with nitro red paint and a Bigsby. I don’t mind the ‘slab’ feel, but what’s to stop you carving a rear bout out of a decent Squier? (my mate’s ‘Classic Vibe’ Squier is pretty much the equal of my identical Japanese one.)
Skirky says
I’ve got one of those switches that turns the two single coils into a humbucker. Simple pleasures.
Johnny Concheroo says
Bob, some modern Telecasters are available with a contour on the back, just like a Strat. Being a traditionalist I would have one myself, mind you.
http://i.imgur.com/BJCMo8c.jpg
JustB says
Yeah, I’m not bothered about the belly carve but the lack of arm carve is a thing.
I do quite fancy one, but would need to carve out the top to make it work for me, so I’d have to be certain it was a keeper before wrecking its resale value!
Colin H says
I love the sound of Gibsons too (SG, Les Paul, Personal – the LP big brother Jan Akkerman has favoured), but they feel alien to me to play for some reason. Ditto Stratocasters (though I don’t care for the sound or look of Stratocasters, so that’s no loss…).
Luckily I’ve owned a third-hand Fenix for many years (previously owned/played on stages by two great local songwriters/musicians, Susan Enan and Keith Law) and it’s exactly right for the infrequent uses to which I put it, invariably in recording studios. I understand it’s a Japanese Telecaster copy, but no boubt someone will have more to say on that.
Thing is, to my mind, it can combine the best of a Tele and an SG sound. I hope regulars will fogive me (re)posting this instrumental track in this context, to illustrate the point.
This is the Fenix straight into a recording desk with only a plug-in replicating some kind of early 70s amplifier (tube stack or somesuch), no other effects. I was hoping for a Townshend circa 1970 SG sound, and just said “early 70s sound…?” to my pal Cormac on the desk, and amazingly, one click later, there (to my ears anyway) it was.
But I think a good part of the sound is still in the instrument. Jolly versatile thing!
Skirky says
The Long Ryders’ recent gigs may as well have been advertised as “A Tele Masterclass with Steven McCarthy. Also features band”.
Skirky says
‘http://i.imgur.com/jU54OSa.jpg’ alt=” title=’Hosted by imgur.com’ />
Happy Days.
bigstevie says
Here are my Fenders. Tele is a Mexican.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/5n98jV0.jpg[/img]
bigstevie says
2nd try
fitterstoke says
A Nashville model? Is the in-between sound close enough to a Strat’s to avoid an extra purchase? @bigsteviecook
bigstevie says
Yes, it’s a Nashville model, deluxe series…..I knew someone here would eventually notice. I don’t really know how it sounds against a Strat as I’ve never owned a Strat, or any other electric guitar! ‘Twas a 50th birthday present from my wife (which I took forever to choose….so many models!). I have a Line 6 Spider to play it through but I rarely play it because I don’t really know how. I can play a guitar just fine but in a singer/songwriter capacity. Anytime I play in a band, its generally folk music and I’d probably get chucked out if I turned up with my Tele.
Skirky says
Weren’t most of the Led Zeppelin malarkey done on a Telecaster?
Johnny Concheroo says
The first LZ album was done almost exclusively on a Tele. It was the same guitar Page used with the Yardbirds. He didn’t get the Les Paul (from Joe Walsh) until the second album.
The solo on Stairway To Heaven was also done on a Tele given to Jimmy by Jeff Beck
Johnny Concheroo says
This is Jeff Beck’s 1954 Fender Esquire (which is a one pick-up Telecaster). Jeff bought it for £75 from John Maus of the Walker Bros while with the Yardbirds. Maus had added home-made contours to the front and back
The guitar is now owned by Seymour Duncan, the pick-up manufacturer.
http://i.imgur.com/FEveWs3.jpg
James Taylor says
Bought for £75 ! Worth north of £25000 I would imagine.
Love teles have 3 myself including 1 I built to my custom specs. They might be old but damn they are good.
Johnny Concheroo says
Typically, Beck moaned about paying the £75, claiming it was too close to the new price in the 60s (actually I think a new Esquire/Tele was around £150 in 1965)
Jackthebiscuit says
I’ve always liked Gibsons….
I haven’t. At a place where I worked many years ago, one of the supervisors was called Gibson.
Right horrible nasty cunt he was.
I fucking hated him.
All true.
Badlands says
I played a 1966 Telecaster for 20 years, until I discovered leo Fenders later version, the G&L ASAT. Mine was a Tribute Special (Made in Korea with U.S. Hardware at the time), so I sold the Tele (No it wasn’t pre-CBS, and it had been inexpertly stripped. Not even sure the neck and body belonged, but I got a decent price for it.)
Sold the ASAT to a friend, when I needed money for a good acoustic.
Recently very lucky to find a 1994 ASAT (Same as Special) for an unbelievably low price.
Badlands says
Badlands says
http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b636/Peter_Garelick/IMG_0978_zpsy4zmtudz.jpg
fitterstoke says
@Badlands – how does the bridge pickup compare with the Tele’s?
nigelthebald says
Hotter. Fatter. (If it’s anything like the one I owned until a month or so ago.)
Badlands says
it is a bit rounder, but still trebly. Not quite as ‘Ice Pick In The Ear’ as some Telecasters. This is also impacted by the bridge (Brass in USA Models), because you don’t get the ‘Clang’ that you get from the backplate in the Tele bridge.
The neck pickup is lovely, the tone pot works for rolling off treble. The middle position is great with overdrive (as opposed to distortion).
Build quality is better (IMHO).
I love it, but other Tele and tele-like guitars are available, as they say.
What made you sell yours, Nigel (if that isn’t too inquisitive?)
p.s. Some guitarists replace the Bridge Pickup with a Rio Grande replacement.
nigelthebald says
Sold mine (a Tribute model, along with a Tribute ASAT Classic) for the simple reason that a total of nine T-style guitars* (I haven’t yet posted the electric 12-string) suddenly seemed slightly excessive 😀
I wanted to recoup some cash, and these – which weren’t getting as much use as they might – seemed the most sellable, along with a Les Paul Studio which had been made redundant by the acquisition of a glorious Fibson.
*yes, I’m single…
attackdog says
Strat-man myself but I have two Tele’s which don’t get the play or exposure they deserve, so, in reparation to them, here they are. Two Levinson Blade T2’s.
Both of them are tuned John Martyn stylee, allowing me to play a fair selection of his stuff without having to de/retune, add extra pick-ups, gaffer tape, kitchen sink, etc.
They sound great with the added advantage of having very slim necks, as most traditionally designed Tele’s have fairly full ‘D’ profiles which I find uncomfortable.
The blue one on the right was the last guitar ever to leave Levinsons Japanese production facility before transferring to a Korean producer. I know these are not to everyones taste, but the attention to detail and playing comfort is astonishing.
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b534/attackdog2/DSC_3363_zps3otpsepy.jpg
For what it’s worth to those of you who really are into these instruments, the best and I mean best in comparison to any Tele produced by Fender or others, are the ’70’s/early ’80’s Teles produced by ESP of Japan.
Plug in, effects or bypass, and twang. Sheer heaven. Stupidly I sold mine. A mistake I will always regret.
Badlands says
Those are beautiful, I have the SH-4 (S Type with HSS pickup configuration plus graphic EQ for extra sounds). Fantastic instruments, although not cheap!