When Leo Fender introduced the Telecaster to the guitar-playing world, it's safe to say it made an impression. Whether that impression was positive or negative depended wildly on his particular audience.
Those in his immediate sphere—namely, pickers playing loud country music in Southern California—thought it was incredible. To them, it was a guitar that could be amplified and heard above the honky tonk din, and, compared to the rare custom-built solidbody electrics available, it was very affordable.
On the other hand, those players and builders accustomed to Old World luthierie thought the Tele a shrill, vulgar plank of wood. Thankfully, the positive impressions won out. And, decades later, we have a wide variety of Telecasters available, whether made-in-California, made-in-Mexico, or plenty of other variations. Where does one begin to find the right Telecaster for you?
Well, here. In the video above, Joe Shadid plays eight varieties of modern Telecasters available for Reverb, along with one prime vintage specimen. While we dedicate the video above to the standard, two-single-coil configuration, you'll learn about many of the differences between Fender's numerous product lines.
For more details—and to see our suggestions for Teles across price points—head over to our brand-new Telecaster buying guide to find yours today.