List of Telecaster players

Fender Telecaster 50th Anniversary Edition

Fender is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers which was founded by Leo Fender. Among the best-known products made by Fender were the Telecaster, the Broadcaster and the Esquire. Because of the great popularity of these models, musicians are listed here only if their use of this instrument was especially significant—that is, they are players with long careers who have a history of faithful Telecaster use, or the particular guitar they used was unique or of historical importance, or their use of the Telecaster contributed significantly to the popularization of the instrument.

Esquire players are here listed alongside players of the more famous Telecaster, since Fender regards it as part of the "family of Telecaster guitars".^[1] While the one-pickup Esquire has been marketed as a separate model from the two-pickup Telecaster (which was originally named the Broadcaster) since its reintroduction in 1951, the Esquire and Telecaster are so intimately linked in their development and history, and so similar in design and tonal characteristics, that they are considered variations of the same model.

A-E

• Syd Barrett (1946–2006), guitarist/singer/songwriter of the band Pink Floyd; used a unique mirror-disk covered Esquire^[2] and a 1960s-era Tele Custom.
• Phil Baugh (1936–1990), a hot country guitarist whose song "Country Guitar" with Verne Stovall, recorded on his Telecaster, was a hit in 1964 and earned him numerous awards. He worked as a popular session guitarist in Nashville from 1975 until his death in 1990.^[3][4]
• Jeff Beck (born 1944) Emerging in the mid 1960s with The Yardbirds, Beck proved that a ragged Fender Esquire could moan like a fuzzed-out violin. His lines in “Heart Full of Soul” and “Evil Hearted You” defined psychedelic guitar.^[5]
• Ed Bickert (born 1932) is a premier jazz player who started playing a Telecaster when his regular guitar was in the shop, and he has used it for the rest of his career.^[6]
• Frank Black (born 1965) of the Pixies is a long-time Telecaster player.^[7]

• Jimmy Bryant (1925–1980), a prolific session musician, was given one of the first Broadcasters by Fender engineer George Fullerton. Fullerton compared this gift to "starting a prairie fire," and said that " pretty soon we couldn't make enough of those guitars."^[8]
• Roy Buchanan (1939–1988), a blues/rock musician whose playing inspired the likes of Jeff Beck, earning him the title "The Guitarist's Guitarist's Guitarist," was a faithful Tele man during his solo career.^[9]
• Jeff Buckley (1966–1997), an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, used a borrowed '83 toploader Telecaster that became a staple of his performances and recordings.^[10]
• James Burton (born 1939) has played a Telecaster since he was 13, and he has influenced many other guitarists. He was the most visible player of the Tele in the late '50s, appearing on television with Ricky Nelson almost every week on the Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet.^[11] His most famous guitar is the Paisley Red Tele, which he first used while performing with Elvis Presley.^[12] He has also played with Gram Parsons and Merle Haggard. As a long-time Tele player, he wrote a foreword to A. R. Duchossoir's book detailing the history of the guitar.^[13]
• Mike Campbell (born 1950), best known for his work with Tom Petty, has stated that his 1950 Broadcaster has been one of his live mainstay guitars since the beginning of the Heartbreakers. On their first and second albums, he recorded most of his solos & rhythm parts on songs such as "American Girl", "Breakdown", and "I Need to Know" using his Broadcaster exclusively. Mike also played an early-'70s Telecaster with two humbuckers and Bigsby vibrato tailpiece nicknamed "Big Red".^[14]
• Martin Carthy MBE (born 21 May 1941) is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music. He played a blue Telecaster, with a white pickguard and two single-coil pickups, while a member of the renown British folk-rock band, Steeleye Span, from 1970-1972, 1977-1978 and 1999.^{[15][16][17][18][19]}
• Albert Collins (1932–1993) ("The Master of the Telecaster") created his original blues sound using minor open tunings and a capo placed high up on the neck.^[20] Fender offers an Albert Collins Signature Telecaster based on his '66 model, which features a humbucker in the neck position.
• Graham Coxon (born 1969), guitarist of Blur, has relied on the Telecaster for the majority of his career, achieving a distinctive sound underlined by an inventive use of effects that played an integral part in Blur's success during the 1990s. He uses a blonde 1968 Telecaster with a Gibson PAF Pickup, a 1960 Lake Placid blue Telecaster Relic, and a 1972 Telecaster Deluxe, while his time with Blur saw him use a reissue 1952 blonde Telecaster.^[21]
• Steve Cropper (born 1941) creates rhythm work known to be spare and crisp using the bridge pickup of the Telecaster, playing with Stax session band Booker T. & the MGs, who backed such stars as Otis Redding and Sam & Dave.^[22]
• Denny Dias of Steely Dan presaged the 1970s trend for dual-humbucker Teles by replacing both of the single coils in his guitar with humbuckers and installing a Stratocaster-style bridge.^[23]
• Jerry Donahue (born 1946) of Fairport Convention released a solo album in 1986 called Telecasting and was a member of the Telecaster trio called the Hellecasters.^[24]
• Bob Dylan (born 1941) owned a black-and-white 1958 Telecaster which became one of his first electric guitars, shaping his controversial electric sound. He used this guitar on his epic 1966 tour of Australia and Europe.^[25]

F-J

• Bill Frisell (born 1951) jazz guitarist noted for his atmospheric legato sounds, has, for the last several years, used the Telecaster as his primary guitar.^[26]
  

  Bill Frisell
• Danny Gatton (1945–1994) played a customized '53 Tele whose specifications were replicated by Fender for his Signature model, including unique angled bridge saddles for improved intonation of the classic 3-saddle bridge, and use of Joe Barden pickups.^[27]
• Vince Gill (born 1957), who replaced fellow Tele-player Albert Lee in Rodney Crowell's backing band, uses a '53 Telecaster as his primary stage guitar.^[28]
• David Gilmour (born 1946) has used a Telecaster and Esquire from Fender in addition to his regularly used Fender Stratocaster. His beat-up looking Esquire was used on his 1978 self-titled solo album on backing tracks,^[29] the studio version of "Run Like Hell" from The Wall,^[30] and recently on Paul McCartney's Run Devil Run album. It was also pictured on the back of his 1984 solo album About Face.^[29] He used a Telecaster for some early recordings, and used a sunburst Telecaster for all of the guitar solos (both live and in studio) on the track "Dogs" from Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals.^[31] He used a 1952 reissue yellow Telecaster on live performances of "Run Like Hell" on the live albums and home videos Delicate Sound of Thunder and Pulse,^[32][33] as well as on performances of "Astronomy Domine" (as originally written and performed by Esquire player Syd Barrett—see above) on the European leg of the tour in support of The Division Bell.^[33] A recording of the song was included on Pulse.
• Ted Greene (1946–2005), a Southern California guitarist, helped Fender design an accurate '52 Telecaster vintage reissue (their first such reissue) by referencing his extensive collection of old Telecasters, Broadcasters and Nocasters. Ted was most famous as being one of the top jazz guitar instructors on the west coast. He was also the author of several instructional books "Chord Chemistry," "Modern Chord Progressions," and Single Note Soloing Volumes 1 and 2."^[34]
• Jonny Greenwood (born 1971) of Radiohead has made extensive use of the Telecaster since the late 80's. He notably uses a Telecaster Plus model with an added cutoff switch.^[35]
• Merle Haggard (1937-2016) - revolutionized country music with his twangy Telecaster sound, along with Buck Owens and Roy Nichols.^[36]
• George Harrison (1943–2001) of The Beatles received a prototype Rosewood Telecaster as a planned gift from Fender in 1968, which is now the basis for a Fender George Harrison Signature Telecaster. Fender selected the better of two prototypes built, flew it to England in its own personal seat along with a courier, and hand-delivered the guitar to Apple offices in December 1968. Harrison used this guitar during The Beatles famous 'Get Back Sessions' as well as on the Beatles' 1970 album Let It Be and 1969's Abbey Road. Of equal notability, Harrison used the rosewood Tele for the Beatles' last public performance in 1969, famously referred to as 'the Rooftop concert'. Harrison subsequently gave this instrument to Delaney Bramlett.^[27]
• PJ Harvey (born 1969) used to play a borrowed 1967 Telecaster (from friend John Parish) during her early career. In a 1995 interview to Guitar Player, she declared: "John's Telecaster is closer to my heart. It's on all my records — I used to nick it all the time."^[37] Later, in 2000, when she received the Mercury Music Prize, she bought her own 60s Telecaster.
• Robyn Hitchcock (born 1953) has used a Telecaster since 1979 for his distinctive English electric psychedelic sound, and said that it "... chose itself for me as my favourite electric guitar, because so many of my favourite guitar riffs were played on it."^[38]
• Steve Howe (born 1947) has used a 1955 Telecaster, customized with a different toggle switch and a humbucker in the neck position for the first time in the entire 1974 YES album "Relayer", and after that frequently uses his Telecaster in various live performances and in several studio recordings.^[39]
• Chrissie Hynde (born 1951) has often used her blue Telecaster with The Pretenders, and it was pictured on the jacket of their album Get Close.^[40]
• Waylon Jennings (1937–2002), a country legend, played many 1953 Telecasters which were covered with white-and-black leather carved in an oak leaf and floral motif. He also had some other Teles, but he mostly played two of his '53s. He has been honored by Fender with a Waylon Jennings Tribute Telecaster.^[41]
• Wilko Johnson (born John Wilkinson, 12 July 1947, Canvey Island, Essex), a British R&B and Pub Rock legend, exponent of 'machine gun' rhythm/lead style that has inspired punk and speed metal players alike. He has played the same black tele with red pickguard for years as founder member of Dr Feelgood and subsequently with Ian Dury's Blockheads as well as his own bands. "The punk guitarist's punk guitarist was Wilko Johnson of Dr Feelgood"^[42]
• John 5 (born 1971) is a heavy metal/country guitarist who has played with Marilyn Manson and who is known for his proficiency at shredding. Fender now produces a J5 Signature Telecaster which John 5 co-designed.^[43]

K-P

• Bill Kirchen (born 1947), longtime Telecaster devotee who played in Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen during the 1970s and continues to drive his well-abused Tele to the limits of the rockabilly sound.^[44] Known for his barnstorming live licks and stylisitic diversity, Kirchen's first Telecaster came to him in a 1967 even trade with a stranger he met on bus, Kirchen exchanging his own Gibson SG in the deal^[45]
• Albert Lee (born 1943), whose instrumental work has influenced many other guitarists, has played a Telecaster since 1963.^[24] As a long-time Tele player, he wrote a foreword to A. R. Duchossoir's book detailing the history of the guitar.^[46]
• Alex Lifeson (born 1953), the guitarist of Rush, frequently uses the Telecaster in live performances and in studio recordings.^[47]
• Brent Mason (born 1959), a prolific Nashville session musician.^[48] Gibson produces a Brent Mason Signature guitar, which is modeled after Mason's heavily customized 1968 Telecaster. It features 2 "stacked" pick-ups (bridge and middle) and one mini humbucker (neck position), and an additional volume control to "bleed in" the middle pick-up.
• Johnny Marr (born 1963), famously used a Telecaster on The Smith's hit "This Charming Man."^[49]
• Muddy Waters (1913–1983) helped build a bridge between the blues and rock with his "walls of electrified sound," played on his red '57 Telecaster.^[50] Until 2010, Fender sold a Muddy Waters Telecaster, one of the guitars in its Signature series.
• Roy Nichols (1932–2001) was a guitarist in Merle Haggard's group The Strangers, and famously used the "chicken pickin'" technique for which the Telecaster is so well suited. Fittingly, an image of a Telecaster is engraved on his tombstone.^[51]
• Mike Oldfield (born 1953), aged 16, got a 66 blonde Telecaster which used to belong to Marc Bolan.^[52] He performed all the guitar parts of his breakthrough album Tubular Bells with this guitar, and most parts of his next albums.
• Buck Owens (1929–2006), along with Don Rich and their custom sparkle-finish Telecasters, helped create the distinctive Bakersfield sound of country music in the early 1960s.^[53] Owens' personal Telecaster was gold with a red, white, and blue pickguard, reminiscent of his famous American Flag style Acoustic guitar.
• Jimmy Page (born 1944), though more known for his use of the Gibson Les Paul, used a Telecaster in his earlier work with The Yardbirds and on Led Zeppelin's first album, as well as on Stairway to Heaven, one of Led Zeppelin's most famous tracks.^[54] Page later used the Telecaster in recording and touring for his solo album Outrider.^[55]
• Rick Parfitt (born 1948) of Status Quo, "one of Britain's longest-lived bands," is a faithful Tele player.^[56]
• Brad Paisley (born 1972) plays guitars from an extensive collection of Telecasters and Tele-inspired models, including his "warhorse," a '68 Red Paisley model (the same model that James Burton made famous) named "Old Pink." One notable feature on some of his guitars is a G-bender device. Paisley has custom Tele-inspired models made by Crook Custom Guitars.^[57]
• Luther Perkins (1928–1968), a member of Johnny Cash's backing band The Tennessee Two/Three used his Esquire to create the "boom-chicka" rhythms that came to characterize much of Cash's music.^[50]

Q-Z

Keith Richards

• Will Ray (born 1950) has been part of the Telecaster trio the Hellecasters from 1993-on. He is known for extensive use of the B-Bender and finger-mount slide on his Telecaster. In recognition of the Hellecasters' contributions to the Telecaster, Fender has produced more signature models for the group than for any other group, including two Will Ray signature models: the Jazz-a-Caster and the Mojo-Tele.^[58]
• Don Rich (1942–1974) made the bassy rhythms and "chicken pickin'" of his custom sparkle-finish Telecaster an indispensable part of the Bakersfield sound while playing with Buck Owens & The Buckaroos.^[53]
• Keith Richards (born 1943) has composed many classic riffs with The Rolling Stones using a variety of Telecasters.^[59] His main axe is a '53 Tele named Micawber, which features a 5-string open G tuning and a humbucker in the neck position.^[60]
• Robbie Robertson (born 1943) of The Band, used a Telecaster from 1958 to 1974. His trusty Telecaster can be heard on many of the Band's recordings.^[61]
• Jim Root (born 1971) of Slipknot, Stone Sour, now plays Fender Telecasters, Stratocasters and Jazzmasters, after trying other brands like Charvel ^[62][63]
• Francis Rossi (born 1949) of Status Quo, "one of Britain's longest-lived bands," is a faithful Tele player.^[64]
• Arlen Roth (born 1953) has been a respected artist ever since his first solo album won the Montreaux Critics’ Award for Best Instrumental Album of the Year in 1978. He was Guitar Player Magazine's top columnist from 1982 to 1992. He has performed with such diverse artists as John Prine, Rick Wakeman, and Paul Simon.^[65] He is a Telecaster enthusiast, and has written the book Masters of the Telecaster, which details the licks of many famous Tele players.^[66][67]
• G.E. Smith (born 1952) plays his signature Telecasters at present. Worked with Hall & Oates, David Bowie, among others.
• Bruce Springsteen (born 1949) has long played a 1952 Esquire upgraded with a Telecaster neck pickup. The guitar appears on the cover of his 1975 album Born to Run.^[68]
• Mike Stern (born 1953) is one of the few Tele-playing jazz musicians, played guitar with Miles Davis in the early 1980s before going solo.^[69] Stern's first Telecaster, which he purchased from Danny Gatton in 1975, had originally belonged to Roy Buchanan. This guitar was stolen, and was replaced by a custom-built Telecaster-style instrument by Michael Aronson. Yamaha subsequently introduced the Pacifica 1511 Mike Stern signature model in 1996, a Telecaster-style instrument based on the Aronson guitar.^[70]
• Joe Strummer (1952–2002) of The Clash was "the most visible Tele player" in late 1970s punk, using his famous stickered instrument throughout his career, up until his death. His black Tele was a 1964 Sunburst that he painted when he started to play with The Clash, he also used a White Telecaster in the late 70's^[71]
• Marty Stuart (born 1958) has been a career-long devotee of the guitar. The Fender Custom Shop makes a Limited Edition Marty Stuart Tribute Telecaster which blends features from his favorite historical guitars, as played by Buck Owens, Don Rich, Mick Ronson and Clarence White.^[72] Stuart is also the owner of the original Parsons/White prototype B-bender Telecaster originally owned by Clarence White and given to Stuart by the White family. Stuart also owns Don Rich's silver metal-flake Telecaster that was given to him by Buck Owens.^[73]
• Andy Summers (born 1942) of The Police almost always used his '61/'63 Telecaster Custom, which was customized with a Gibson neck humbucker, a preamp and a phase switch.^[74] Fender now make the Andy Summers Tribute Telecaster.
• Tommy Tedesco (1930–1997), veteran L.A. session guitarist, used a white Telecaster as his workhorse electric guitar for most of his career.^[75]
• Pete Townshend (born 1945), though famous for his Tele smashing in the 1960s with The Who,^[76] spared his favorite guitar, a 1952 vintage Telecaster.^[77]
• Keith Urban (born 1967) regularly plays Telecasters,^[78] one of which features decorative binding and three pickups.^[79]
• Redd Volkaert (born 1958) was a successor to Roy Nichols in Merle Haggard's backing band, and is "among the country’s top Telecaster guitar slingers."^[80]
• Clarence White (1944–1973) of The Byrds, along with drummer Gene Parsons, invented the B-Bender device for the Tele for emulating pedal steel guitar effects.^[81]

Citations

Robbie King born 1954 Wichita Falls, TX. Robbie King and The Blues Counts, Bill Hallock, Marty Mitchell, The 7th Son's

References

• Bacon, Tony (2005), Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The story of the world's first solidbody electric guitar, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-856-7 .
• Bacon, Tony; Day, Paul (1998), The Fender Book: A complete history of Fender electric guitars (2nd ed.), Balafon Books, ISBN 0-87930-554-1 .
• Burrows, Terry (1998), The Complete Encyclopedia of the Guitar: The definitive guide to the world's most popular instrument, Schirmer Books, ISBN 0-02-865027-1 .
• Charupakorn, Joe; Stern, Mike (2010), Mike Stern: A Step-By-Step Breakdown of the Guitar Styles & Techniques of a Jazz-Fusion Pioneer (Guitar Signature Licks), Hal Leonard Publishing Co, ISBN 0-6340-6801-6 .
• Duchossoir, A.R. (1991), The Fender Telecaster: The Detailed Story of America's Senior Solid Body Electric Guitar, Hal Leonard Publishing Co., ISBN 0-7935-0860-6 .