I wonder if Leo Fender had even the slightest idea how much of an effect his incredible invention would have on the many guitarists, and genres of music, for many decades, and with no end in sight ?
The Fender Telecaster, originally known as the Esquire and Broadcaster, came about in the autumn of 1949 in Fullerton, California. Commercial production and distribution began, or at least can be traced back as far as March of 1950. This incredible instrument has been produced continuously, in one carnation or the other, since then.
Being the first mass produced, widely-available, successful solid-body electric guitar, the Telecaster became very popular right out of the gate, and has never been anything other than a highly sought after guitar.
Some of the most accomplished guitarists of every generation, and virtually every genre of music, has developed a love for this American tradition that is the Fender Telecaster. Guitar gurus like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Danny Gatton, Steve Cropper, Albert Lee, Buck Owens, James Burton, G.E. Smith, and on and on, have made their mark on the music world, usually sporting a Fender Telecaster. To list even a good portion of some of the most famous, and accomplished musicians that favored the Fender Telecaster guitar, would take pages, and there would always be yet another player that should have been included.
The Fender Telecaster has always has a unique sound, one easily recognizable (if not fooled with too much electronic alterations) by the hardcore guitar player, and/or those that appreciate the Fender Telecaster especially. The Telecaster has a bright, almost piercing, or cutting tone. The bridge pickup on the Telecaster has more windings, resulting in a higher output, and therefore up to twice the inductance. This unique circuitry results in the more treble sounds “bleeding” through, while the bottom end, and mid-level frequencies are somewhat dampened.
The life of the Fender Telecaster has been varied, with some being produced in the United States, some overseas, and some just south of the border in Mexico. Over the long life of the Tele, there have been numerous models of this fine instrument, much too many to list and describe here. Just to name but a few models; there has been the American Standard, Telecaster Deluxe, Telecaster Jr., which was a Custom Shop creation and was limited to 150 units, the Telecaster Plus, and the Telecaster Thinline. We won’t even touch on the numerous signature model instruments.
This brief document cannot even begin to make the reader aware of the significance, and love that the impressive Fender Telecaster has developed over the many decades of it’s existence.
With the popularity for the Fender Telecaster as strong as it has ever been, and seemingly no end in sight as far as production, this incredible guitar will hopefully be around to go to the top of the heap with many more generations of top-rated guitarists. After all, the instrument that the guitar solo in “Stairway to Heaven” was played on deserves to be around forever!!
This writer has owned a Fender Telecaster, in one model or another, continuously since 1977. If I ever don’t own a Telecaster, it’s because I’m hungry, or taking the eternal dirt nap!!
Although the older, American made Telecasters are often priced in the stratosphere, there are many models of the incredible Fender Telecaster Guitar, both new and used, that are very affordable. I would never hesitate to purchase a used Telecaster that has been well cared for. One thing about these beautiful instruments is, somewhat like a collectible car or anything else that someone loves, they are usually cared for very well.
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1953 Fender Telecaster, Original body, neck, and bridge pickup $7,450.00 |
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1957 ORIG BRIDGE PICKUP FENDER VINTAGE STRATOCASTER $2,350.00 |
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1952 FENDER TELECASTER USA BRIDGE $2,290.00 |
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Fano artifact tc6 guitar with fender telecaster bridge $1,999.00 |
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1957 FENDER STRATOCASTER USA BRIDGE PICKUP / 5,54 K $1,999.00 |
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1956 ORIG FENDER STRAT VINTAGE BRIDGE 54 YEARS OLD 8-56 $1,850.00 |
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Fender Telecaster – MUST SEE – Kinman Pups, Callaham Bridge…& more! $1,600.00 |
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VINTAGE 1955 FENDER TELECASTER BRIDGE $1,599.00 |
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Vintage 1954 FENDER TELECASTER BRIDGE $1,599.00 |
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1962 FENDER STRATOCASTER USA BRIDGE PICKUP $1,499.00 |
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Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass Guitar Natural, Badass II Bridge Gig Bag Included $1,299.99 |
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FENDER MIJ DOUBLE HUMBUCKERS 500’s THREE WAY SWITCH FENDER SYS ONE BRIDGE! $1,200.00 |
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1963 FENDER STRATOCASTER STRAT TREMOLO BRIDGE ASSEMBLY $1,199.98 |
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1951 FENDER TELECASTER USA BRIDGE $1,199.00 |
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FENDER AMERICAN DELUXE STRATOCASTER W/LR BAGGS PIEZO BRIDGE DELUXE STRATOCASTER $899.99 |
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Fender Vintage Telecaster Bridge 1958 to early 60’s Ex. $899.00 |
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Fender Modif Strat+SRV Pickups+Custom+ProSetup+Warmoth Option+Wilkinson Bridge ! $859.00 |
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Fender Custom Shop Pro Stratocaster Strat body in Aged Cherry Sunburst w/ Bridge $850.00 |
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USA Fender Custom Shop NOS Thinline Tele BODY & BRIDGE $849.99 |
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Fender Modified Strat +Bridge Tele Pickup +Low Action+ Add Warmoth Neck Option ! $849.00 |
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Fender American Vintage 57 Reissue Stratocaster Strat Body pickups bridge $845.00 |
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Telecaster – (Pinecaster) w/Goldtop Gold Finish- Fender PUs-GE Smith Bridge $799.00 |
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Vintage 1966 Fender Telecaster Bridge Pickup “gray bottom” – Tele – 1964 1965 67 $795.00 |
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1958 FENDER TELECASTER USA BRIDGE $750.00 |
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1959 FENDER TELECASTER USA BRIDGE / DUAL LOAD $750.00 |
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FENDER ROAD WORN 60′S JAZZ BASS “MINTY” WITH “F” BRIDGE COVER ! $749.00 |
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3 Tone Burst RI Bass-Fender Re Issue Jazz Bass Control Plate, Pick Ups, Bridge $699.95 |
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1970 ORIG FENDER TELECASTER BRIDGE VINTAGE PICKUP 100% $699.00 |
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Two Tone Tele Fender Amer Dlx Bridge Grease Bucket Tone $695.00 |
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Original Vintage 1954 1955 Fender Blackgrd Telecaster Tele Guitar Bridge Saddles $695.00 |
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STARCASTER BY FENDER STARCASTER BY FENDER… |
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RB2984612W/06/1 Gaming Guitar $192.00 Mad Catz RB2984612W/06/1 Gaming Guitar RB2984612W/06/1 673… |
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Yamaha F-310 Steel String Acoustic Folk Guitar, Semi Jumbo $149.99 Folk Guitar… |
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Fender Super 55 Split Tele Bridge Pickup $69.23 Fender Super 55 Split Tele Bridge Pickup…. |
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The Guitar Player Repair Guide – 3rd $19.40 This expanded edition for beginners to experts is a step-by-step manual to maintaining and repairing electric and acoustic guitars and basses. Players learn how to set up a guitar and keep it in top form by mastering basic maintenance. Features an essential DVD that makes guitar maintenance easier than ever. New features include set-up specs of leading players; stronger coverage of guitar electron… |
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The Fourth Dimension, Vol. 1 $7.91 In The Fourth Dimension, Vol. 2, the sequel to the best-selling The Fourth Dimension, Vol. 1, Dr. David Yonggi Cho, pastor of the world’s largest church, reveals in greater depth the faith secrets… |
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The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat $15.49 There are six million out there–from Eric Claptons million-dollar “Blackie” to your treasured hand-me-down–and still the world cant get enough of the Fender Stratocaster, the legendary electric guitar-of-choice for players and dreamers from pioneers like Buddy Holly to todays garage-band heroes. This is the worlds first hands-on, how-to manual for the Strat, taking the mystery out of maintaining… |
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Wald #447 Fender Bracket Set $2.39 FENDER PART WALD #447… |
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Planet Bike Bridge Hardware kit for ATB Fenders $3.50 Planet Bike Fender Parts… |
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Wald #847 Fender Bridge Clip $0.99 FENDER BRKT WALD #847 BRIDGE CLIP… |