My dad gifted me a Fender Telecaster back in the 80's God rest his soul. I have allot of guitars. But everytime I picked up that guitar I would call him and tell him how much I loved it. He has been gone a while now, but still when I pick it up and play it, I look up and say Thanks Dad. That guitar is a bona-fide Tone Monster.

@bold810

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, my dad shaped my playing too.

@muratkaraaslan7432

Жыл бұрын

May your dad rest in peace, the Tele is a very beautiful heirloom to pass on.

@jewelscoop3570

Жыл бұрын

His legend will live through that guitar and in your memories. Be sure to tell the children or whomever gets that guitar that it has a special power

@YoursUntruly

Жыл бұрын

My dad gave me my first guitar, I loved it. Then he started smoking crack and sold it while I was at school.

@YoursUntruly

Жыл бұрын

My main is a sea foam green epiphone now with f holes. Same one Dave Grohl plays.

Soooo… we just gonna ignore that you look fresher than the produce section at Whole Foods??

@iplaysdrums

Жыл бұрын

I know I am! 😆

@LongLiveTheBeat

Жыл бұрын

More like fresher than the Fresh Prince of Bel Air

@18JR78

Жыл бұрын

More like Rip Kevin Samuels 😅

@aarorissanen930

Жыл бұрын

Dripped out the wazoo

@mz-hv2vh

Жыл бұрын

For real!

Teles. As a player, I believe that once you understand just what the telecaster can do you’ll be forever hooked on playing one. I have two Les Pauls, an SG, a 335. And for nearly 25 years,my main guitar has been a hot - rodded American Stratocaster, until I got my telecaster.

@lastofthe4horsemen279

Жыл бұрын

Same !

@thejohngrey

Жыл бұрын

Dude, I hear this all the time nowadays. I have 2 LPs a Strat and a PRS... I have always said I'm not a tele player... but after 25 years I'm actually considering getting one now.

@thejohngrey

Жыл бұрын

@grantwesley my LP stays in tune pretty well. But I haven't played a show in almost two decades so this is all home stuff but I retune as I play and not even realize it. Currently looking at the performer or am pro 2.

@daveormand4977

Жыл бұрын

@@thejohngrey when you do, you’ll never regret it or look back! I have a LP, Am Pro II strat, and Am Pro II Tele…Tele is my favorite because it is master of tones!! It just feels right like no other guitar ! Good luck!

@thejohngrey

Жыл бұрын

@daveormand4977 dude I'm saving up for an American Pro 2 Tele in white! Just haven't told my wife yet. 😆

Hi Mike! I am a 74 year old guitar newbie (60 hours practice thus far) practicing 2-3 hours daily. I absolutely love your videos. Keep up the good work. Thank you.

@anthonyshillingford848

Жыл бұрын

Inspirational. I'm a 46yr newbie, wondering if I'll live long enough to get "good" - time for me to man up, and get it done.

@weggiemiller41

Жыл бұрын

Get it Mike!!!

@NorseLax07

Жыл бұрын

Hell yeah! Keep it up.

@timscarrow9151

Жыл бұрын

57 , playing for 47 years , a good tele strat or Les Paul is all you really need. I use all three. Playing well is finding YOUR voice make it talk, make it cry. LISTEN to yourself. pay attenion to pitch. when you sing that line to that song are you on pitch? getting your ear trained is very important.

@carlosjoaquinenriquez7192

Жыл бұрын

Keep it up!

That crossroads is my all time favorite. It’s glorious. Notice Keith doesn’t just play a Tele in that concert either. He starts on the 335 and also plays Strats. Doesn’t matter what guitar. He’s insane. I also loved the Duesenberg Mayer busts out at one point.

@jayrobb9

Жыл бұрын

Is that the one where Keith's strap comes off his guitar and instead of quitting (as I would) he just tucks the bout under his arm and keeps playing while someone comes and fixes it?

@seanzinger

Жыл бұрын

@@jayrobb9 No, that wasn’t the same night. They started playing together more because of the crossroads, and so that was sometime after. What a pro! Mayer comes over to help but Keith actually fixes it himself mid-solo!

I have a Strat and thought was a strat guy for almost 20 years. Then I got a Tele and that neck pickup sound was actually the one I'd been missing all my life. And it, like you said, unlocked a usable bridge pickup.

@maxpeck4154

Жыл бұрын

Amen! A Tele neck pickup does what a Strat neck pickup does not. It's got an airiness, a subtle compression. It's brilliant. My first good guitar was a Tele in 1993 and I've been kinda hooked ever since. You can play anything on a Telecaster. I may have other guitars but I'll always have a Tele nearby...

@rikkousa

Жыл бұрын

I strongly suggest that everyone that can afford it , to own one of each…doesn’t matter if it is a Squire, MIM, just do iot , you won’t regret it:)

The best description I've heard of a Tele is "it gives you nothing, but it's all there for the taking". If you know what you're doing, nothing is as versatile as a Tele. And if you don't, well, nothing is as painful or embarrassing as a Tele. I have been on both ends of that many a time. Glad you picked this guitar up and finally talked about it!

@scottheath9460

Жыл бұрын

You are absolutely correct, a tele is less forgiving than other guitars but once you get in the zone and understand it there is nothing like them. You can play any style music on one with some subtle adjustments. Truly an enrichening experience Mike, you're going to love it !!!

@matturner6890

Жыл бұрын

Maybe not hi-gain metal, the bridge pup is too thin for chugging.

@grantandrews4826

Жыл бұрын

That's a great quote.

@andycasile

Жыл бұрын

@@matturner6890 Check out Glenn Fricker's channel - he does a video on this and concludes that a Tele with a single coil bridge pickup can absolutely chug.

@matturner6890

Жыл бұрын

@@andycasile I've seen it and do not agree. It sounded much too ratty and thin on the palm mutes IMO. Legato or chord playing sounds pretty much the same, but the tone falls apart and gets skinny on the palm mutes for single coils. P90s aren't as bad, but that kind of playing is absolutely meant for humbuckers. I mean, if you soak it with enough gain it'll get so gushy that it may as well be a vacuum cleaner you're playing, and it'll "sound the same" at that gain level, but then you're just getting into entirely impractical levels of gain.

As a tele fanatic, you seriously lucked out with that one. Gorgeous sonically and visually.

@Mr.Steve-O

Жыл бұрын

def a keeper !!

Jimmy Page rocked a tele for Led Zeppelin I and some of II. The Stairway to Heaven solo was also recorded using a tele. A lot of old great players say the best Les Paul Bursts sound more like a telecaster on steroids than what you’d think a Les Paul should sound like.

@mr_ozzio5095

Жыл бұрын

With his own custom painted art job to boot🎸

@unclefungus7395

Жыл бұрын

mb a tele with a mid boost circuit is the magic formula

@user-tz2zz5ij1s

Жыл бұрын

@@unclefungus7395 the only magic formula is right place, right chop. No record ever recorded was even “good” based on any guitar tone measurement.

@quietinterlude770

11 ай бұрын

What do you think he played in on led Zeppelin II? I also think since I've been loving you is a tele, or at least a good portion of it. When I play it on mine it has that something that's missing from the les paul

When I was 18 we had a band that featured 3 guitar players. To differentiate myself from the other 2 guys, I started looking around at alternatives. At the time, I had a Gibson Custom Shop Explorer, a really good T-Style Peavy Generation with active pickups, a tremolo and humbucker at the bridge. Needing another guitar anyway, I was at a shop getting my amp head worked on when I just randomly picked a little crappy, inexpensive Mexican Tele off the wall to start noodling around with while I waited. IMMEDIATELY I was hooked! It felt perfect. It even changed the way I played, stylistically. I bought it & I've been a Tele player since I was 20 years old & I'll be 52 next month. Just wonderful guitars. The bridge pickup is my favorite pickup on any guitar. And it really sounds good distorted too. We played what we termed as "heavy blues". I bought MORE & they became the only guitar I played. Loved the video & your journey to getting a T-Style...sorry for the history of my experience 😄

My secret weapon guitar is a modified squire strat. Now the pickups I’ve put in it are nothing special or even the colours. It’s just such an easy to play guitar, the neck is so perfectly level and the action is low to a point where you hardly even need to put any pressure on the strings to get a clear note. It’s genuinely something special that I will always come back too

@theoverunderthinker

Жыл бұрын

setup makes a big difference!

@garyd3725

Жыл бұрын

Currently renting one for a month to give it a try before I buy. Sold my 40 y/o Lado condor on Kijiji for $1,000 just before the pandemic and sorry I did. Now it’s time to get a new electric but at my age I don’t want to spend a lot. So far the Squier Tele is a dream to play with the exception of mildly rough fret ends. But I love the feel and shape of the neck. It’s so natural. I have yet to play it loud since all I have to push it through is my 3w Roland micro cube.

@tommy31831

Жыл бұрын

Had a affinity telecaster with phenomenal low action and sold it. Now it forever haunts me 😢

@theoverunderthinker

Жыл бұрын

@@tommy31831 I feel you. if you don't mind the neck profile, they are great little (low cost) guitars. the pickups are pretty neutral so easy to make sound like you wish with effects and amp settings (or swap them out)

@musicismyreligion5213

Жыл бұрын

​@@tommy31831got my butterscotch Affinity for $60 at GC a decade ago. Perfect set up and was like new. Still have it and still love it.

Mike Cole.. I just discovered you.. this video is so compelling! I couldn’t look away.. almost hypnotic. I’m an acoustic guitar player, and never really got along with electric guitars (I’m a rhythm player).. but now, I’m gonna pay some attention to Telecasters like never before.. and maybe improve my whole guitar playing life! Honestly, thank you.. keep it up.. I’m parking myself on your channel for awhile.

I think that growing up in the 70's I didn't just place telecasters with country music. I watched the rolling stones on teles, little Steven and Bruce Springsteen, not to mention Saturday night live. Telecaster was everywhere, playing on everything for everybody. I saw Funk players, r&b players, rock, folk, country and blues. We didn't have music videos to influence by what we seen being played. But, glad to hear you got past it. Teles rock

@maxpeck4154

Жыл бұрын

Jazz players too. Ted Greene and Julian Lage come to mind.

@REX-ks1os

Жыл бұрын

yeh tons of people used teles both 70s and 80 and blues players like muddy waters, punkers like joe strummer, today you have people in metal like jim root (sorry if i misspelled that lol)

@lantose

Жыл бұрын

SNL tele guitarist was GE Smith! Bought his CD back in the 80’s and he’s very good!

@stephanoffermann1137

Жыл бұрын

Andy Summers. The Police. Best Tele player ever. Period.

@lantose

Жыл бұрын

@@stephanoffermann1137 sad thing is, you are missing about 50 others! There are so many talented tele guitarists it’s just unbelievable, and probably 20 of them live In Nashville!

You did good getting a 357! I’ve played many of Martins builds and they are just fantastic. Not only is he a great luthier, he’s also one of the nicest dudes you could ever meet :)

I love the Tele sound, and yours certainly has it, Mike. It looks great too! Thank you for sharing.

Awesome vid man. Beautiful guitar and looking pretty sharp, too! ❤️

Hey man, your playing is getting so much more slick! More fluid and more fluent… also, great suit jacket

Bro I have a Strat as my main for about 15 years now. Went for a 50's Tele late last year and since then, my Strat is placed on the wall as the prettiest art work ever made. I don't know if it's about how simple a Tele is but when you got it you got it, I never felt the same ease and joy to play in any other guitar

Really enjoyed your storytelling and editing style!

Love your honesty my friend, a guitarist myself I felt many of the same feelings.

The tele is a versatile beast. Cut that tone back control like 1/4 to a 1/3rd and you can get into near humbucker territory. Honestly a great tele is all you need. Every other guitar feels like settling to me now

I've been playing teles for 14 years now. All my childhood heroes played strats and les pauls but those were their guitars. After years of playing every kind of imaginable metal guitar (Warlocks, Vs, MLs, etc) I went to buy my strat I saw the tele on the wall and asked to try it. I never bought the strat. The tele is by far the best guitar I've ever played, it suits me perfectly and I never sound like anyone else but me on it. To this day I've owned every thing from Squier teles to MIM teles, Fender Japan and US built teles. In my line of work I get to play custom shop gear too. But my all time fave tele is now my UK built Atkin Sixty Eight. Enjoy your new tele. They rock!

rad. KZread stopped suggesting these videos a while ago. glad to see you're back in my feed

you earned my sub bro, great video and I'm gonna go looking into these 357 customs

I've always had a love/hate relationship with Teles pretty much along the same lines that you've expressed, Mike. I really wanted them to work for me but could never get there. I also originally thought they were strictly for country twang (which I enjoy listening to but have never been inspired to play...yet!) then I saw Prince rock some heavy solos and that set me straight in that regard.

I had the distinct pleasure to work with Keith's crew and band a few years ago at a festival. There wasn't a person on that tour who wasn't an absolute monster.

Had a very similar experience with a Chad Underwood t-style at Sam Ash. Been a Les Paul guy my whole life, saw this underwood t-style sitting up front with a K-Line and LSL...picked it up and the game had been changed. Left the store only to obsess over it for days, went back in and bought it. Ron Ellis pickups, nitro finish, perfect neck....cannot be beaten. Happy you found yours!

Wow- glad I found your channel. Really enjoyed this video.

John Mayer and Brad Paisley did a Crossroads episode. Pretty cool, too. I was never a Tele fan until I started recording at home. A Tele is essential. I don't know what kind of magic is at play, but you can mix a Tele into any sound and it cuts through and enhances everything around it. It's crazy.

@henrybelfiore8488

Жыл бұрын

Let me tell ya telly’s are special I felt goofy one day went to Guitar Center I bought $125 mint green tely squire. I did this to see if I could make it play like a $3000 fender . I bought high-end locking tuners, high-end hand wound pick ups, high end, pre-wired switch tone and volume knob. I then did a complete top to bottom set up and let me tell you I will stack that beast up against anything and I always grab it first because it’s just plain fun and sounds great. respect””””

@srogers500

Жыл бұрын

@@henrybelfiore8488 I use mine purely for overdubs. It is a literal magic wand. Blends in so well and adds depth and character to the overall sound. Anytime I'm not happy with a track, I double it with a Tele track and it's gold.

Seeing you all dressed up made me think this was a “Will It Funk” episode for a second there 😂

YES. Immediately knew what you were talking about when you described the JM and KU gig.

I used to love strats, but for some reason I tried a tele a few years ago, and it took some getting used to, but now I swear by my g&l tele. It can do everything. Very good cleans, amazing distortion sounds. I just need to modify mine so that each pickup has its own volume and I will have my dream guitar. So versatile.

Love your genuine attitude when it comes to gear, I feel like a lot of gear reviewers and stuff sort of lose that love or don't let it show. Teles are so comfortable, my first guitar and still my favorite kind!

@eduardogarciapujol9591

Жыл бұрын

I have a tele and I know it has a lot of virtues , but I would never say comfort is one of them , teles are heavy and don't have any contour

@deztruct0823

Жыл бұрын

@Eduardo García Pujol I've never held a Tele that felt heavy to me, the only guitars I've held that were uncomfortably heavy were Les Pauls, the lack of a belly carve hasn't really every bothered me that much but I started playing on a Tele so I'm sure I'm just used to it.

My two current guitars are definitely "something special" to me. One acoustic nylon string from Cordoba called a Mini in mahogany (which they did a Pixar collab on so it has Coco carvings on it), and one Fender Stratocaster made in Mexico. Played a LOT of strats, but this one's just my favorite, beating several made in USA ones. I do however REALLY miss the Jazzmaster I once had and this Italian ES-335 from 1964, which was soooo smooth!

@0000song0000

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, i played one of those Coco's cordobas, they ring a lot for such a small body, superb clarity ... I did not buy it just because i thought "Oh no, this is supposed to be a kid's guitar, i am going to look like a clown who likes Coco" 🤡... Then i noticed even Phineas uses one, and by the time i was ready they discontinued them 😳

Sounds amazing! I Havent heard of 357 guitars myself, but Im definitely going to look now! haha! Thanks for sharing! 👍🏻

That thing is sick, I can't believe you were hesitant. A Tele is for sure my next.

My own "secret weapon" is also a tele. My first *real* electric guitar is this beautiful Mexican Telecaster in a metallic surf green finish and maple fingerboard. I call it my "baby" because I know that no matter what guitars I buy or sell this one is never leaving me ever.

You are an amazing storyteller

Amazing story telling, playing and editing. Subscribed.

Really nice sound. I dig the threads too

Telecasters to me are the perfect guitar. Simple controls, unmatched dynamics and very stable! A tele bridge pickup is a massive part of my rhythm and lead sound. When I use humbuckers, p90s, strat single coils or any other type of pickup. I always switch back to my tele as they lack that signature growl! Also, teles seem to stay in tune more then any other guitar style. Something about the tele construction creates this tuning stability i’ve never seen before!

Honestly, if you're ever going to buy just one guitar, the Telecaster, or any Tele-clone is probably the way to go. Forget their associations, they are so versatile. Sure, you got your country dudes, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Dwight Yoakham, but you also have a lot of rock legends. George Harrison, Billy Squire, Keith Richards, Prince. There's a reason that the Tele has stuck around since 1952. It's just a great instrument.

@ss_whole

Жыл бұрын

Bruce Springsteen, Andy Summers, Chrissie Hynde

@TheGhostfaceKLR

10 ай бұрын

@@ss_whole Jonny Greenwood, Frank Black

Your storytelling is getting so good, Mike! I loved this one.

@arianamastersofficial

Жыл бұрын

Also LOVE the outfit!

I had a MJT tele built for me with porter pickups. It has a relic job done as well. It is my favorite neck. Baby blue over a sun burst. P90 in the neck single in the bridge. Love your stuff.

Tele + Vox is a great combination! Throw a RAT pedal in the chain, you’ll love it

@maxpeck4154

Жыл бұрын

Agreed 100%. There's something about a Tele through a Vox clean-ish/edge of breakup.

Nice piece. Your playng really makes it great. My go to is a 59 Esquire I wanted for years and finally found. I feel pretty close to the way you do,

I think that you made a great choice. Teles are, really, oft underrated and yours is gorgeous and sounds great!

Love you my dude ... keep this sweet content coming!

Hi Mike I really enjoyed the video of the 357 tstyle. You and I have a similar journey with a tele. Palir Guitars are another one to put on your radar. Casey James, Zack Loy both play them. The neck on his guitars are incredible. Congrats and keep up the great vids

Subscribed for the turtleneck! :) ...and because I keep running across your videos and I like them. :)

Really nice playing mate👍🏻

love your energy man

I get it. It’s a connection that one has with a certain instrument. I got a 1982 Gibson Explorer back in the early 90s. I still have it to this day. It looks worn out, but still satisfies. The feel of it it’s really comfortable so much back in 2017 I went out and got another. They both feel related. Grandpa and grandson are and have been in my family for good.They both ROCK! 🤘🤘

I just bought a PRS Custom 24, and I can't stop looking at it or playing it, it is soooo perfect! Build quality is insane and I don't think I will use my T style guitar very much at all any more. It's a copy of your guitar, and it does play very nicely, especially for chords, but the PRS can do everything way better. Great video my guy, keep it up😎

Really enjoyed this. Looks and sounds fantastic

I’m 42 and I’ve been a Gibson guy up until the past two years or so. I’ve finally come to appreciate Fenders Telecaster. Such a perfect style and feel.

I've got a 1962 telecaster pre-issue I just love it. Had it for years

A tele partscaster I assembled with solid ash body , 4 way selector, Kinman pickups and gold hardware. Flipped the switchplate around to do swells and wha tone bending.Heaven.

A USA made Guild S-100 Polara for me (the one with the extra out of fase min toggle switch). Although, I did just pick up my first ever tele today. It's in British Racing green with a white triple-ply scratchplate. This was what brought me to your video... I am now subscribed

teles are indeed an interesting guitar style. i mainly play my les paul and strat. but when i play the tele every now and again it feels like my favorite guitar. it’s my secret weapon too and i love it dearly.

I was a strat guy for the longest time. But 4 years ago, got a gibson les paul junior and that has been my go to guitar since. Always wanted one, actually for 15 years. Then when I got it, it blew me away!

Hey Mike! I jus twatched your Tele video. What a great sound. I'd never heard of a "357 Custom" but now I want a Tele. I read somewhere that B.B. King played a Tele in the early days. I'm sure happy Idiscovered your You Tube channel!

Wife bought me my first tele this past Christmas. Absolutely love the guitar.

Mike I so dig the pink tele video. Great story and energy.

I love your channel man! I am a huge Telecaster guy. My favorite position for 90% of Tele torture is middle.

Really enjoyed watching this video---I too was on the fence about teles for years,but then I went to the dark side (lol).I still play strats and Pauls,but a good tele is like a Swiss army knife--it does everything.Thanks for the great video!

Back when I played in bands and yes we played some country, I played bass with some guys that wouldn’t play anything but Fenders ie. Teleys and Strats. Both have their place on stage. I was also a bit surprised that both really knocked out some great runs in both genres. Could listen to them all day long.

Dude, that's some really nice playing. You two were clearly meant for each other!

Great story...love my CS 52 Tele, only just got my first strat, reverse of you...BTW looking sharp tonight man 😎

Mike! Great video! You’re such a great story teller too! Thank you for the great content. I love T-style guitars. I’d like to have one at some point. Not sure if it’s a secret weapon or anything but my go to guitar is a parts caster Strat with Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P-90’s in it. Love the sound! Very snarly (is that a word?)

Love your videos, God bless brother 🙏

Guitarists and telecasters are like grumpy dads and cats. They say they don't want them but then a week later they're best friends.

I've also always preferred Strats myself, but those high output tele pickups sound great. I might consider changing out the pickups to a higher output too since I've never gelled with the neck pickup on my tele. I saw Frusciante play with the Chili Peppers recently, and his tele sounded absolutely awesome in their intro jam.

I got a tele on a whim and it just fought me and fought me. Debated selling it 1000 times but 3 years later I’m so glad I kept it. You come to love it and it’s versatile tone. IMO no collection is complete without a true blue tele and learning to work with a tele is a great lesson in and of itself.✌️

Just found your channel. I agree with you about Tele style guitars. I started at 16 on a 1972 American blond with white guard and maple board then went to S style. Finally found my way back at 60. It took a while. Never said I was smart.

Excellent Vid. Loved it. 😎

man your tele sounds great🔥

This is the best I've ever heard your tone. Congratulations and welcome to the Tele world.

Man. I’ve had so many teles. Thinline Super Deluxe with dynasonics, MIJ Midnight Tele, FSR silverburst, the GC QMT Tele with ebony fretboard… and now I have an American Pro II with a P90 neck and Dynasonic bridge and I dig this one.

Mike- Thanks for making the video and for sharing it, really enjoyed it, dig your style too! Great guitar you’ve got there..myself, I’m an old Tele player having started back in 1965…when American Teles (were there any other kind back then !?!?) cost about $200. For the last number of decades I’ve been a Thinline Tele player. I love that they are lighter and seem to be my go to. For all of the telecaster players out there in cyber land, I recently had a Fender 4 position switch with an Orange Drop capacitor installed on the tone pot and all I can say is WOW!!!! What a useful improvement that was ! I recommend that procedure to EVERY Tele player out there, it makes a wonderful instrument even better !

Great video! I’m mostly a Tele guy though I have some Strats… lately I’m loving P-90s. I wonder how a Strat would be with one of those in the bridge?

I’d love to see a video from you on Nashville Telecasters. Like “a strat player’s perspective on a Nashville teles”. My main guitar is a Nashville and it’s been great to me.

Nice sounding Tele! So many genres have used Teles or Tele style guitars. From Steve Cropper, to Page in early Zeppelin, to Andy Summers, to Joe Strummer, to Prince, the list goes on & on.

Excellent film editing young man!

I enjoyed the story and the content great video man

Nicely done. Just recently found your channel--apparently the KZread algorithm decided I needed you to balance out Tom Bukovac, Tim Pierce, Rhett Shull, etc. Glad it did. As a result, I just saw your video on trying to play 13s on your strat. Thanks for sharing the pain. It occurred to me that you might want to explore the other, Billy Gibbons, extreme--try some 6s or 7s. I'm sure D'Addario would be happy to help. Keep your truss rod key handy if you do. Thanks again. Keep it up.

Subscribed 👍 great story. And your playing is amazing. I was asked to modify a Tele. Do you find the Tele comfortable in use standing? Thank you. Jamie

My first electric was a 70's Tele with a Rockinger neck my dad gave me as a birthday present and this will be my last guitar as well. I do have some others, but if you told me I had to choose only one of them to keep, it'll be that one. "You can do it all on a tele" is not just any phrase but one of the few sentences I think are as true as words can be.

I had a very similar journey! Did the PRS thing too, then ended up with a Tele and have been a Tele player ever since!

I had a similar experience when I saw a heard Prince perform on the Rock Hall of Fame show. I had never listened to any of his music other the Batman movie score. I was blown away buy his playing. Huge respect posthumously to Prince. I happened to see Kieth Urban live at a small venue in No Cal back before anybody had heard of him. I told my wife “this kid is going to be huge”…and you normally don’t say that based on guitar playing, but he was that good. I’m a fan of both T and S style Fenders.

My "Go-To" Guitar is a conglomeration of parts that I put together over time. The body is a '57 Fender Starcaster that I had forgotten they even made. I put the "David Gilmour" active electronics that came mounted in a white pearloid pickguard on it. I didn't care for the neck. I had a LINE 6 Variax guitar that had a neck I Loved, so I switched the necks. It plays and Sounds Wonderful.

Good video, well done, plus that is one nice guitar!!

I did something similar, I thought a tele would box me in sound wise. So i had a strat, but i sold it after playing an orange tele and seeing the light. My go to is a a custom tele i built for all purpose use. A humbucker neck with push pull coil split, 5 way switch and a push/pull reverse phase, engaged the bridge it gives albert collins. The neck gives peter green. Its like my swiss army knife, since i dont have much room for more than it and an acoustic. But i can dial up whatever tone i want blues, soul/r&b, jazz, country, and it get crazy with high gain heavy distortion if needed.

Mike, I just found your channel and I enjoyed the video on the Pink Tele. I too am mostly a Strat man and Mayer is the real deal. I bought a PRS Silver Sky last year in Roxy Pink and everyone loves the color. I have been playing the heck out of it. I still use my Tele for Country but Teles rock as hard as anything out there.

Hi Mike, awesome story man! My go to guitar is a strat I had built for me by this guy called Nick Oswald. He's a builder from the Netherlands and I would say it's one of the best playing and sounding guitars I've ever played! It's my go to for everything

I have a strat with two p90s and a TOM bridge/that I really love and it can sound and feel like a really snappy LP or a tele in general. It helps that it resonates like crazy, but it's also something a little different than the norm. I guess that would be my secret weapon guitar. Live that tele of yours!!

surprisingly, out of about a dozen or so guitars i've been obsessed with this cheap partscaster I traded for at my local shop. Made with a solid neck and cheap parts it somehow plays and sounds incredible.

That's the most Hendrix-y sound that has ever come out if a tele-style guitar. Great sound!

Teles are fun! Dean and Charvel make versions with humbuckers too if you’re interested! My secret weapon guitars are Hamer Sunbursts. They’re like Gibson Les Pauls but without the weaknesses associated with Les Paul’s. They have high fret access, lighter weight, and better headstocks. I also love using the Yamaha Pacifica in church since it’s got the playability of a strat without being a strat. Too many church guitarists use Strats nowadays. On another note, I find that 80’s style superstrats like Jackson’s and Kramers are also extremely fun! Especially with the Floyd Rose system! You should get one and try it out!

Great video. Two years ago I was in a similar spot looking for the perfect Tele (for me). So I hooked up with Evans Custom Guitars in FL and rolled the dice. Light relic-pink nitro, maple neck, RW board, 4 selector switch, Dawgtown custom pickups. It's made of old pine and has a smugglers hatch so the weight is just about 6 pounds, which was purposefully the target. I have many other american made guitars and this Tele is the one I'd save (because all the others are replaceable).