Tag Archives: Leo Fender

A short history of the Fender Telecaster

August 6, 2013

| Author: Vintage & Rare

“Let’s take everything we think we know about solid body electrifying guitars and throw it out the window. Let’s start over.”
– Leo Fender on the invention of the Telecaster.
Our world would have sounded different if it wasn’t for the Telecaster. Arguably less interesting.

Originally released in 1950 as the Broadcaster, Fender was forced to change the name to Nocaster in early 1951 after a copyright dispute from the Gretsch company who had the name “Broadkaster” registered for a line of drums. The Nocaster name only stuck for a couple of months and in the summer of ’51 the Telecaster name came to stay. It became the world’s first successful solid body electric guitar, and although it is not as widespread and popularly known as the Stratocaster, its legacy is not to be overlooked.

At its introduction the Telecaster was met with both awe and scepticism. Former Fender manager Don Randall recalls taking the Telecaster to a 1950 music trade show:

” … it was, ‘What’s that thing?’ We got all kinds of comments. ‘Do you paddle your canoe with that thing? Swat flies?’ They all laughed.”

Some people made jokes, but former Gibson president Ted McCarty recognized the Telecaster:

“We had to buck this competition from the west coast”, he said and started work on the Les Paul. Competition was in motion and the solid bodies were taking over.

The Telecaster is perhaps most known as a southern country twang and blues type guitar with a sound made famous by the likes of Albert Collins and Redd Volkaert.
But the legacy reaches far beyond that. In doubt? Just listen to Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin’s first album. Pete Townshend’s favorite guitar is a ’52 Telecaster and Keith Richards uses a variety of Telecasters (one of which he used to club a renegade fan on stage) but he prefers his ’53 Tele named Micawber. Jeff Buckley, interestingly, used an ’83 Telecaster. This post-CBS guitar is not really considered collectible or of the pre-CBS-era quality but Buckley made it his own.
Bob Dylan was also a Tele man.

The Telecaster is the father (or mother if you will) of rock n’ roll. It is still only around 63 years old, but its legacy and influence is profound and ubiquitous. Don’t underestimate the power…

As Jeff Beck puts it:

“It’s so honest and straight forward. It challenges you.”

See for yourself how beautiful it is:

If you are so lucky as to own a Telecaster, be sure to check out our guide to dating Fenders

1969 Fender Telecaster w. Bigsby - vintage guitar

1969 Fender Telecaster w. Bigsby – vintage guitar

1969 Fender Telecaster vintage guitar

Video blog: 1961 Fender Stratocaster

April 30, 2012

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Here we have Doc Pittillo from The Guitar Doctor. He told us a very cool story regarding his 1961 Fender Stratocaster.

Doc got this guitar when he was very young, when he just started being interested in music and guitars. The story behind it is very interesting. While he was working on one boat he met a man who was its owner. In their conversation Doc told him that he started playing guitars and that he likes it a lot. The man said that he has a guitar factory. That man was Leo Fender.

This 1961 Fender Stratocaster was one of the first guitars that Leo gave him. The guitar was unfinished, but Doc fixed everything. He said to Vintage & rare that this is one of the best sounding Strats he has ever played.

Doc played this guitar just for Vintage & rare… Watch the video below and hear that special sound. Enjoy!

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Video blog: Fender 1949/1951 Telecaster Broadcaster Nocaster Prototype Vintage Guitar

April 25, 2012

| Author: Vintage & Rare

Here we have Dan from Chelsea Guitars in his shop in New York. He is talking about a Fender 1949/1951 Telecaster Broadcaster Nocaster Vintage Guitar.

Sam Hutton was the guy who worked for Fender building amplifiers for 35 years. He had a guitar that he would test the amps out with. George Fullerton one day came and said to Sam that the guitar was really valuable and he shouldn’t leave it hanging on a nail with a string; he should put it in the will for his son. So time goes by, Sam passes away and his son has this guitar. This was in 1998.

It is hard to believe now that very few people knew about really early Esquires or Fenders. The first ones where made of pine. Also they don’t have a trussrod so they are really interesting. Dan thinks that there where maybe five guys in the USA that knew something about these guitars. This guitar is really unusual 0009, it is probably the six one made. This one is really unique, it doesn’t look like much. When Dan got it he was thinking about repainting it. The color is 1950’s Studabaker Red.

They figured out that Leo Fender used this one as a test-ban. First five guitars basically are Esquires, either red or black, pine body, no trussrod. Gibson was coming out with the gold top with two pickups. So Leo decided to do something. That is why Leo made this pickup which is very handmade looking. This is one of the first guitars that has two pickups.

For the rest of the story, watch the video below. Enjoy!

Chelsea Guitars, USA

If you love old, classic guitars you owe it to yourself to check this place out. The place is tiny; basically what you see in the display window is most of what they got. Go inside and it’s like dropping in to a friend’s apartment, albeit a tiny apt. But it’s cool; Dan and whoever else is there are just hanging out. If you need help, they’re glad to do it but if you just want to hang, they’ll give you space.

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