Telecaster jazz players

**aleksandar** · 10-25-2018, 04:39 PM

Ed Bickert, Mike Stern, Julian Lage....please continue!

**grahambop** · 10-25-2018, 04:46 PM

Bill Frisell and John Scofield have played them. Jim Mullen used to, not so much now. Ted Greene of course.

Tim Lerch plays one and often posts here.

**neatomic** · 10-25-2018, 04:51 PM

the great ted greene!!

and original 50's lp too!!! haha

cheers

**ESCC** · 10-25-2018, 05:02 PM

Danny Gatton - when he wasn't playing rock-a-billy, swing, rock or country.
Telecaster jazz players-dg-jpeg

**neatomic** · 10-25-2018, 05:16 PM

jimmy bryant..when leo was workin on the various original nocaster/teles... he was sure to get one into the hands of the great jimmy bryant..

leo and freddie tavares brought the early tele to the club jimmy was at...and jimmy went right up on stage with it..and played it all night..a legendary guitar was born

cheers

**neatomic** · 10-25-2018, 05:32 PM

teles were also used by many jazz players who turned to the sessions scene to survive $$$...tommy tedesco, barney kessell, bob bain, etc..

there's even pics of joe pass with a tele

even ole les had one..and recently was sold and worth more than any other guitar he had!!!

cheers

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-25-2018, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by neatomic

teles were also used by many jazz players who turned to the sessions scene to survive $$$...tommy tedesco, barney kessell, bob bain, etc..there's even pics of joe pass with a tele

This one?

I've heard he was handed the guitar for the photo then he handed it back! He did play a Jaguar in drug rehab.

**Alder Statesman** · 10-25-2018, 06:17 PM

One of my favorites;

Telecaster jazz players-dfc60b91-587d-491b-bffa-bde4dad80f42-jpeg

The late great Terry Kath

That neck pup came out of his smashed SG.

**cosmic gumbo** · 10-26-2018, 04:43 AM

Herb Ellis

Howard Roberts

Adam Rogers

Jim Campilongo

**gitman** · 10-26-2018, 10:48 AM

Hey guys, for a couple of years now it's just hip to be seen with a Tele AND the word has finally spread that these "simple" guitars can produce the widest variety of tones in the hands of a seasoned player, no matter what style....
In my case it was Ted Greene, Ed Bickert and Danny Gatton that led me towards my first Parts-O-Caster Tele 25 years ago !

To add to the list : Anthony Wilson

**unknownguitarplayer** · 10-26-2018, 11:02 AM

Joe Messina

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-26-2018, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by unknownguitarplayer

Joe Messina

The Funk Brothers! Note Jazzmaster neck.

**Greentone** · 10-26-2018, 11:33 AM

Messina was a jazz guy who got hired full-time to play for years in the Motown pit. He could whip out "All the Things You Are," at any point--if called for.

**Tal_175** · 10-26-2018, 11:51 AM

A very lovable quality of Tele's is that they have this unique ability to fill their owners with a sense of pride that they are above everybody else. Like they know something all these flashy Strat and Les Paul players don't. They are just Coca-Cola kids.
The preference for this deceptively crude and simple instrument is a clear indication that the owner of Tele has reached the purest level of maturity in musical appreciation.
As a Strat and hollowbody player, I've been fortunate enough to be in the presence of Tele players in many occasions. Some of them with an unmatched display of humility even tolerated me playing with them.

**mr. beaumont** · 10-26-2018, 12:36 PM

Plus, we get to say cool stuff like "Leo got it right the first time!"

**Skip Ellis** · 10-26-2018, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Plus, we get to say cool stuff like "Leo got it right the firest time!"

Yes, yes he did.

**Greentone** · 10-26-2018, 02:08 PM

G.E. Smith said it very well, once. He claimed that the Telecaster is the Harley-Davidson of guitars. Other guitars may have more flash--i.e., they are the BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Duccati, etc., of the guitar world. Harley/Tele is a very straightforward, simple tool. It does a simple array of things very ably and with no BS.

Oh, yeah...don't screw with a Harley/Tele man.

**Ken Olmstead** · 10-26-2018, 02:20 PM

Tele is all the electric guitar a player needs. (others are fun though!) Anything else is just gilding the lily! Doe anybody "gild lilies" anymore?

**Greentone** · 10-26-2018, 03:44 PM

Ken,

I don't know about gilding lilies, but I _can_ sell an audience a Wes Montgomery arrangement on a Telecaster, no problem. However, when I play the same piece on a 17" or 18" carved-body archtop with fat flatwound strings, I can really sell myself on the same arrangement...and I am my toughest critic.

How about you?

**Tal_175** · 10-26-2018, 03:54 PM

If anybody proves to me they can nail this tone with a Tele, I'm selling all my guitars and buying a Tele tomorrow

**Greentone** · 10-26-2018, 04:15 PM

...and that's why I play archtops.

BUT...Telecasters sound damned good and can sound VERY jazzy.

**TLerch** · 10-26-2018, 04:23 PM

this gets close but Kenny was sounding great in that clip.

all the best
Tim

**Tal_175** · 10-26-2018, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by TLerch

this gets close but Kenny was sounding great in that clip.

all the best
Tim

This is great! I think you totally nailed the Ted Greene solo guitar playing. One of my all time favorite albums. That's where Tele shines. All these dreamy sustaining overtones and defined chord tones. But it doesn't sound like hollowbody to me.
My favorite modern player sort of comes close (at times). But I like the Tele'ness in his playing as well:

**Ken Olmstead** · 10-26-2018, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Greentone

Ken,

I don't know about gilding lilies, but I _can_ sell an audience a Wes Montgomery arrangement on a Telecaster, no problem. However, when I play the same piece on a 17" or 18" carved-body archtop with fat flatwound strings, I can really sell myself on the same arrangement...and I am my toughest critic.

How about you?

I am not exactly sure what you are asking me, but I do adore the sound of archtops with flats also. This is a tele fan thread so I am joining the dog pile is all!