Telecasters are so limiting, though

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 28 Mar 2009 9:57 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDuee6bl ... re=related

What kills me is about 2:35 when he starts playing J.S. Bach's version of "Autumn Leaves". Look around my music room, at all this firewood....

Ellis Miller · Post by **Ellis Miller** » 28 Mar 2009 11:00 am

I am amazed from time to time when I hear or read about a certain guitar being the "only" guitar for a certain genre ie: the Tele for country etc etc.

It IS the player, isn't it?

Thank you for posting this. We all need these kind of reminders on occasion.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 28 Mar 2009 11:19 am

...we are talking about TED GREENE. One of the greatest pickers ever, and probably least recognized.

His #1 Tele is incredible, just to look at. The guy played every 1/4 inch of the fretboard for decades.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 28 Mar 2009 12:22 pm

Yup - you can see just how limited a Tele is.

Ed Bickert, Danny Gatton, Albert Collins, Scotty Anderson, and untold other Tele players play whatever they want. The guitar has nothing to do with it unless you want it that way.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 28 Mar 2009 10:33 pm

I've always thought of the Tele as the most versatile of all the different electric guitar models. You can get that country twang, that throaty Strat thing in the neck (also good for jazz), and an overall great rock sound by just nailing it. I think of a Les Paul as way more limiting than a Tele.

Dean Gray · Post by **Dean Gray** » 28 Mar 2009 11:54 pm

If you've never heard it, I HIGHLY recommend Teds instrumental guitar album, "Solo Guitar". I can't remember all the tracks on it, but they are beautiful, amazing, humbling and inspiring. It starts with "Watch what happens", and there is a great version of "Danny Boy". All recorded on his old blonde Tele, all single takes, no overdubs. The way he plays with harmony and creates variations seemingly effortlessly is nothing short of brilliance. Apparently when Fender wanted to start building the '52 Reissue Tele they contacted Ted and took lots of measurements from his main Tele.
He was a dedicated teacher, who wrote several guitar instructional books, including "Chord Chemistry" (or "chord catastrophy" as I have heard it referred to! It is a bit daunting in it's sheer scope and detail).

I never met him, but from what I have read about him he was a consummate musician, relentlessy striving to learn more about the instrument, and music, and passing that knowledge on to those who were priviliged to study with him, or have his books.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 29 Mar 2009 1:03 am

And no intonation problems with a 3 piece saddle.

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 29 Mar 2009 2:16 am

Danny Boy (Londonderry Air).mp3

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 29 Mar 2009 5:03 am

I guess he didn't realize that he was limited when he did this CD.

The Best Of Earl Erb on A TELECASTER

http://nashpropicker.com/earlerb/

1. All The Things You Are
2. Both Sides Now
3. Fire and Rain
4. Rainy Day - The Shadow of Your Smile
5. Going Home
6. Shenandoah
7. Steel Guitar Rag
8. Tell Me Now
9. Tenderly
10. The Way We Were
11. Touching Angels
12. Wayfaring Stranger
13. You Needed Me

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 29 Mar 2009 7:42 am

That version of Danny Boy was jaw-droppingly awesome!
Are his books still available?

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 29 Mar 2009 11:00 am

That was really nice.. I also enjoyed what he had to say to the audience after the song. I'll have to find some more from him.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 30 Mar 2009 6:08 am

Guy!!!! Many thanks for posting that link - I believe I now have a new 'favourite guitar-player'!

Yes, the books are available. 'Modern Chord Progressions' and 'Chord Chemistry' (Dale Zdenek Publications). I have them both, and have learned much from them, while barely scratching the surface of what they contain.

I'm feeling a bit ashamed that I picked this man's brain yet, until today, had never heard him actually play. He kind-of pushes everyone else one step down the ladder, doesn't he?

The Telecaster? While I started to learn to play in 1957, I didn't 'discover' the Telecaster until maybe ten years later. Once I had one, everything else I owned (including a gorgeous '58 Gibson Super 400 CES) was 'retired'. The Telecaster seems to point you in a certain direction, yet retains its 'neutrality', tonally speaking. The guitar is perfect, and provides a solid base on which we can express ourselves without interference.

Bear with me here....

The other day my wife returned home and overheard me practicing in my music room. Before coming in the room she said, 'Oh, lovely - you're playing the Gibson! I love that tone...' (She was referring to my ES-355). She was amazed to see that I was actually playing my new "'62" Thin Skin Fender Tele, switched to the neck pick-up....

Needless to say, this led to a good-natured argument about - 'Then WHY have you got all these different guitars???', but it was a huge affirmation of the Telecaster's tremendous versatility.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 30 Mar 2009 6:53 am

I've just ordered Ted's CD from 'Art of Life Records' - $13.49 including shipping within the US.

It's amazing that such great music is available to us for such a small outlay.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 30 Mar 2009 7:46 am

Please note: you use the Telecaster lead pickup to play yer Bach licks - too bad that Segovia sourpuss croaked before somebody had a chance to straighten him out.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 30 Mar 2009 12:04 pm

Fender's 52 Reissue Telecaster, of which I am a proud owner/player,was designed with Ted's help. He had quite a collection that Fender used as their reference.

Sadly, Mr. Greene passed away at the age of 58.

Peter Siegel · Post by **Peter Siegel** » 1 Apr 2009 3:55 pm

And Jimmy Page recorded the first Led Zeppelin album using only a Tele. Now that's a guitar fit only for country.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 3 Apr 2009 11:51 am

guitars needed in order of necessity:

1. tele
2. ?
3. ?
4. ?

Dean Parks · Post by **Dean Parks** » 5 Apr 2009 8:27 am

R.I.P. Ted... a great guitarist and a kind soul.

Here's more Tele jazz... Canadian guitarist Ted Bickert, who I first heard in a quartet with Paul Desmond.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxPBvDYVX2w

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 5 Apr 2009 8:37 am

Hey, what about Joe Pass? He played a Jaguar, Jazzmaster and maybe even a Strat on a bunch of the Pacific recordings in the 60s. And how about Jim Hall? Played a Les Paul for a while....and Roy Lanham on a Jazzmaster. The list could go on and on.

Ted Greene was one-of-kind. Make sure you visit the Ted Greene website--there are tons of lessons there for download.

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 5 Apr 2009 5:07 pm

Let me add one more to the mix, one of my all-time favorites Mike Stern.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Telecasters are so limiting, though

Telecasters are so limiting, though

But, of course...

Poor Earl Erb