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Memorable "Tele" player (Page 1)
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Memorable "Tele" player (Page 1)
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| This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: Memorable "Tele" player |
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B Bailey Brown Member Posts: 606 |
posted 12 March 2000 01:37 PM
I see posts here from time to time about “Tele” players, and I was listening to some old tunes this afternoon, which brought a question to my mind. Do any of you remember the really first GREAT “Tele” player? (Actually, I can think of 2 of them…) I’m not talking about “country” music, because the first guy I ever saw playing a Telecaster in a country band was Buck Owens…and he could (probably still can), play the fire out of it when he wants to. This is just one of those lazy Sunday afternoon questions. Does it have to do with a Steel guitar? Sorta, because the guy played on some classic “Steel” hits, and his feel was always very basic and country. B. Bailey Brown |
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Adam Member Posts: 311 |
posted 12 March 2000 04:50 PM
Lessee if I can answer this and save it from being"off-topic"I could be wrong,but I believe the first superstar of the Tele was Jimmy Bryant who is probably best known for his work with steel giant Speedy West.Jimmy was apparently involved somewhat with the Fender company as a product tester and endorser.One reason why Bryant is not that widely known outside of musicians circles is that apparently he could be hard to work with.One day he pulled up to Fender factory and parked his car in a loading zone.When someone pointed out that he was illeagally parked,he snarled"I'm Jimmy Bryant and I don't have to play your damn Fender guitars if you **** me off"and left his car right where it was parked. |
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Tommy Mark Member Posts: 139 |
posted 12 March 2000 05:23 PM
Don Rich comes to mind , and so does the great Roy Nichols.Up here in Canada there are two guys I can think of Joe Howe and Steve Pitico. Telecasters are the country guitars of the past and future .Pure Twang. Thanks Tommy |
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chris ivey Member Posts: 1105 |
posted 12 March 2000 06:44 PM
james burton |
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Bo Borland Member Posts: 675 |
posted 12 March 2000 07:17 PM
Roy Buchanan, a master of the telecaster, although not strictly a "country"picker. James Burton also a trend setter. |
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Tim Rowley Member Posts: 957 |
posted 12 March 2000 07:17 PM
A lot of famous pickers played Telecasters back in the 1950's, but not all of them used the classic "Tele" tone. Of the earliest pickers I remember whose Tele's sounded like Tele's, there is Jimmy Bryant, Paul Burlison, James Burton, and Roy Nichols, although lots of other cats played them. Jimmy Wyble had one of the very first Esquires, Muddy Waters of course used a Tele, and Alvino Rey even played one for awhile. Not to stray too far off topic but when it comes to 6-string electrics I have used Telecasters exclusively since 1975. I have 3 of them and I'm here to tell you there is just no other guitar that has as much soul as a Tele. They can twang, pop, ping, chatter, squawk, moan, groan, play extremely clean or dirty, sharp, muddy, or anything in between. Their sounds can cheer you up or give you the low-down blues. My first few years playing music I used a Guild and later a Gibson. Then I heeded some very good advice from a pro and got myself a real guitar, an old Tele which I still have. It has Paul Burlison's and James Burton's 1950's tone. Tim R. |
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MALCOLM KIRBY Member Posts: 220 |
posted 12 March 2000 07:21 PM
Another Tele-man: Roy Buchanan |
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Joe E Member Posts: 620 |
posted 12 March 2000 07:41 PM
As a kid my dad had taken me to see a jazz player that was using a tele. I think it was either joe pass, barney kessel, or kenny burrell. These were they cats I was into back then. I know that these guys all were know for the arch tops so it blew me away to see him live using a tele. Actually it was a broadcaster. Maybe a 50 or 51. [This message was edited by Joe E on 12 March 2000 at 07:43 PM.] |
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Tele Member Posts: 965 |
posted 12 March 2000 08:14 PM
I know he's not one of the earliest Tele players but maybe the greatest of them all: Danny Gatton |
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Michael Johnstone Member Posts: 2535 |
posted 12 March 2000 09:29 PM
2 of the best tele players I've picked with are Paul Chapman and Redd Volkheart - both out of Canada. -MJ- |
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Jerry Hayes Member Posts: 3306 |
posted 13 March 2000 09:41 AM
Someone mentioned the classic tele tone and included Jimmy Bryant on the list. I don't think Jimmy fits in this category. He probably never had his toggle switch anywhere except on the neck pickup. He was a master of the telecaster though and proved it could be used for a jazzy sound. Another Jazz man of the modern era who likes tele's is Mike Stern a really wonderful player. He's on some stuff with Miles Davis and really cooks. In the blues field there was the "Ice Man" Albert Collins who had a piercing tone that stung you right in your heart! And then for the modern session people nobody beats Brent Mason who by the way plays with a thumbpick like you're supposed to!!!!!! ------------------ |
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Andy Greatrix Member Posts: 1173 |
posted 13 March 2000 11:07 AM
Also, there's a world class jazz player on Tele from Toronto by the name of Ed Bikhard(sp?).He favours a bassy tone and swings with a lot of soul.For country pickin', there's that sneaky old veteran, Micky McGivern. All the best,-Andy |
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Tim Rowley Member Posts: 957 |
posted 13 March 2000 06:23 PM
You guys who play or have played the really old Broadcasters, "No-casters", or Telecasters (serial #'s below approximately 3000 or so) know that you can only get 2 basic tones out of the neck pickup unless the guitar has been rewired: a bassy or muddy tone and a kinda plain tone. I never saw Jimmy Bryant play live but on the Speedy and Jimmy stuff I have he must be using either the center or rear switch position, he's in there like gangbusters and his tone is great. Tube amp of course. Speaking of Albert "Iceman" Collins, whose recordings are played frequently on the public radio blues program in our area, the host of the program says he used his own Dm6th tuning and left the snap-on cover in place while playing, maybe that accounts for his stinging tone to some extent. I enjoy older blues music but will confess to not being much of an Albert Collins fan. By the way, a good Tele player who has been around for awhile and still turning out some great-sounding material is Bill Kirchen who used to play for Cody. |
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B Bailey Brown Member Posts: 606 |
posted 13 March 2000 06:58 PM
Yea, the one I was really thinking of was James Burton. I was familiar with him from the old Ozzie & Harriett TV show when Ricky had his little 2-minute thing at the end. Sheesh…shows you how OLD I am!  The other was Jimmy Bryant who came to my attention when I got into radio in the early 60’s and ran across the album with Speedy West. Some of the others like Roy Nichols, I never actually saw play. I always marveled at his playing, just never knew he was playing a Tele.B. Bailey Brown |
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Adam Member Posts: 311 |
posted 13 March 2000 08:07 PM
Jimmy Bryant used his bridge pickup all the time.In fact,I thought he used a single bridge pickup Broadcaster for a while.The Canadian fellows name is Ed Bickert.Bryant's use of the Telecaster on charting major label records predates all of the aforementioned players by at least a few years.Paul Burlison actually played an Esquire on the early recordings.I played steel in Paul's band recently,and there's a photo of us deuling with Telecaster and Dual Professional on my website. [This message was edited by Adam on 16 March 2000 at 03:53 PM.] |
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John McConnell Member Posts: 87 |
posted 13 March 2000 09:41 PM
Back in the mid 70's I had the pleasure of playing with Artie Sparer in San Francisco. One of the best Tele and B-Bender players I,ve ever heard. He passed away a few years ago. I believe in Nashville. Only 40 years old. Taken by the big C. Still have many great memories of his playing. John McConnell |
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Dan Tyack Member Posts: 3552 |
posted 14 March 2000 12:49 AM
The first tele player that totally knocked me out was Roy Buchanan. 'Sweet Dreams', what a tone. On the next album he played an old blues standard ('after hours') which is an encyclopedia of all the tones that are available on a tele. Of course I love many of the other players that people have mentioned (James Burton, Albert Collins, Roy Nichols, etc.), but Roy Buchanan still knocks me out more than anybody. When I am going for a killer blues sound, it's Buchanan that I use as a benchmark. ------------------ |
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RickRichtmyer Member Posts: 2522 |
posted 14 March 2000 03:51 AM
Although James Burton may have switched to a Telecaster at some later date, back in his Ricky Nelson days, he played a Rickenbacker. I have a funny story about Roy Buchanan: Many, many years ago, I used to teach guitar lessons in a little shop in Takoma Park, MD. One day when I arrived for work, I saw that I had a new student on the schedule. Only the last name, "Buchanan" was listed. When the "student" showed up, he was a bearded guy (before beards were popular) carrying an old Fender Esquire (like a Tele but only the bridge pickup) with no case. I had never seen Roy before, but this guy sounded like he met the descriptions I'd heard. I introduced myself and asked him his first name. He said "Roy." I still didn't ask him if he was "the" Roy Buchanan, but we went back into my little studio and I asked him to play a little bit so I could assess his skill level. As soon as he started playing, I knew that it was the Roy Buchanan. I told him that there was absolutely nothing I could show him about playing the guitar. He explained that he just wanted to learn how to read music. I told him that I could teach him that. Actually I couldn't. It became pretty apparent that learning to read was too tedious a task for him. I learned a whole heckuva lot in the half a dozen lessons that he took from me. A follow up on that. I later toured with a couple of guys named the Kalin Twins. They had had a big hit in the 50's but they were "one hit wonders" and were playing the club circuit. After about a year with them, I quit the road to go to college. The guy that they got to replace me was Roy Buchanan. I've always thought it was pretty bizarre that Roy replaced me. Roy was a really great and humble guy. I consider myself most fortunate to have briefly made his acquaintance. ------------------ |
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Jerry Hayes Member Posts: 3306 |
posted 14 March 2000 04:21 AM
Hey Rick, I read an article about James Burton in the Fender magazine where he says in the Ricky Nelson days he ALWAYS played a Telecaster. Sometimes on the TV show he'd be holding a Rickenbacker or Gretch but it was pre-recorded and it was always the tele you heard. I thought by now surely someone would have mentioned the late, great Clarence White. What a touch this guy had! Just listen to the Nashville West CD to see where a lot of today's licks came from. Just Clarence, his amp, and a guitar cord. No effects for this guy. A couple of other great west coast players of note would be Bob Warford who played the hell out of a Tele with a B-bender. Another great west coast player would be Jerry McGee who did one album with the Ventures called Swamp Rock. And last but not least by no means our own Forumite Boomer Castleman who has six (6) palm pedals on his Tele. ------------------ |
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Boomer Member Posts: 400 |
posted 14 March 2000 05:16 AM
Jerry - Thanks for the gracious plug. That's worth a breakfast in Knoxville any day Best, Boomer |
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John Lacey Member Posts: 1843 |
posted 14 March 2000 05:25 AM
Another kinda unknown guy (at least in the states) is our own forumite Steve Piticco, who is off to Holland. He played a 10 minute solo in "One Way Rider" that kept me totally captivated. |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 14 March 2000 06:28 AM
Ahhhhh I love this talk, now Jerry I'm with you on the whole Clarence White trip, and Bob Warford is another great player. Although pretty much retired now as I hear it. I really dig Don Rich, Buck Owens, Roy Nichols, James Burton {try Rick Nelson's 1966 country alb with James on lead, Clarence White on rhythm and Bobby Warford on b@njo!}, Roy Buchanan...I prefer the 1960's and late 1950's rockabilly sides, where he was a blistering sideman, but always remained a great player.
Does anyone know what Ry Cooder was playing when he played on Captain Beefheart's 1966 debut album 'Safe As Milk'? ------------------ |
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G Strout Member Posts: 72 |
posted 14 March 2000 09:04 AM
I have always enjoyed Amos Garrett. He has a very unique style. I got a chance many years ago to see and meet with him in Montreal....very impressive cat! |
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Jerry Hayes Member Posts: 3306 |
posted 14 March 2000 10:04 AM
I'd have to second the motion on Amos Garrett! His solo on Maria Muldair's "Midnight at the Oasis" was awsome. At times he sounded like he was playing slide but he was a master of double and triple bends. I don't think anyone's mentioned the "Hellecasters" namely John Jorgensen, Will Ray, and Jerry Donahue. Donahue is master of bending the strings behind the nut for some great effects and ol' Will with his HipShot and ring slides and then John! We all remember him from the Desert Rose Band. But let's not forget Luther Perkins from the Tennessee Two. His playing was so simple we could all duplicate it pretty easily, but would you think of something to play that was so easy yet so effective. He created a lot of hooks for Johnny Cash's early songs! Going back to Boomer, thanks man for inventing the Bigsby Palm Pedal, with it and the licks I stole from Al Bruno I was able to put my kids through school! ------------------ |
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Michael Johnstone Member Posts: 2535 |
posted 14 March 2000 10:10 AM
Rick- I too,have a Roy Buchannon story.I was playing guitar in a pretty good top forty band in 1970-71 in the D.C.area.We played all the joints up and down 14th St.as well as all the hip joints in Georgetown(Silver Dollar,Mac's,The Keg,etc.)I had heard great things about Roy but had never seen him play because I was playing so much-sometimes 7 nights a week.Our band's ex-drummer Mike "Pokey" Walls was playing with Roy and invited me out to see them play on my next night off.I drove out to "The Crossroads" - a crab house out in Bladensburg,Md.where Roy was picking at the time.The band was onstage playing but...no Roy.Soon the band took a break and Pokey asked me if I had my guitar with me 'cause Roy didn't show up that night and they needed a guitar player.I didn't know any of the guys in the band except Pokey,so he briefly introduced them to me.I whupped out my Gibson SG and found myself subbing for Roy and I STILL hadn't met him OR seen him pick.I figured I was holding my own 'cause they were just doing pretty much top forty rock and a few Merle Haggard songs etc.Right before the last set,Pokey asked me if I wanted to play bass on a couple of tunes so Danny,the bass player could play my guitar-"Danny's REAL good" he said.Well,"Danny" turned out to be Danny Gatton and once I heard HIM pick,I figured there's no point in going back to guitar,so I let him play the whole last set.I went back and saw the band play a few more times and hung out with Danny and Roy at length.On one occasion,a very drunk Roy told me he sold his soul to the devil.On another night,Danny seemed hopped up on something and during breaktime he went to the dressing room and picked absolutely brilliant 5 string Scruggs style Banjo for the whole break-every break.When I complimented him,he said: "I'm drunk-you'll never hear me play no worse than this." There was also a brilliant keyboard player in the band named Dick Heintze-now ALSO deceased.Seeing up-close what those two characters could get out of a guitar contributed greatly to me getting discouraged with guitar and picking up steel at about that same time frame. True story -MJ- |
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Adam Member Posts: 311 |
posted 14 March 2000 10:42 AM
Here's the address for my page with a picture of me playing with Paul Burlison. http://angelfire.com/wa/DiscoDiva/Adam.html |
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Donny Hinson Member Posts: 9192 |
posted 14 March 2000 01:54 PM
No doubt about it...Jimmy Bryant was in a class by himself. Nobody (in his time) even came close! He was like Danny Gatton, way ahead of his time, and too good to be appreciated by the general public. (Of course, I'll probably be crucified for saying so! ) |
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winston Member Posts: 499 |
posted 14 March 2000 06:53 PM
My addition is Odell Martin. I am sure most people that knew him will agree he was the best. RIP Odell. |
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Brian Herder Member Posts: 194 |
posted 14 March 2000 09:19 PM
Odell Martin! He WAS great.I met him a few times back in the late 70's- he taught me to play a version of Rock Top with some cool bends...he also thought it was funny that I had a Palm Pedal on my tele-he sure didn't need one. Did he ever do anything on record that highlghted his playing? I have a couple Hank Thompson lps with Odell, but they don't really showcase his talent. Very humble, nice guy. My vote for the #1 Tele guy has to be James Burton. He really brought an awareness to the whole twangy Tele thing (if not creating it all together)influencing Albert Lee, Jim Messina etc. to get one. As for the most hit records for a Telecaster player,that could very well be one of the LA studio/jazz greats-Bob Bain, Barney Kessell, Howard Roberts, Tommy Tedesco........ |
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Dan Tyack Member Posts: 3552 |
posted 15 March 2000 06:08 AM
According to a guy I know who was at the session, Midnight at the Oasis was played on a 335, not a tele. ------------------ |
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Brian Herder Member Posts: 194 |
posted 15 March 2000 09:00 AM
"Midnigh on the Oasis" was definately a Gibson type ...though the picture in the old Pros'Reply Q+A in Guitar Player showed him with an old Epi Sheriton- i do have his lp "Go Cat Go" which was all Tele, I believe. While we're at it-Arlen Roth and Steve Cropper. |
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MALCOLM KIRBY Member Posts: 220 |
posted 15 March 2000 02:09 PM
Odell Martin CD's are available from Discount String Warehouse. email strings@apex.net |
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erik Member Posts: 1793 |
posted 15 March 2000 08:18 PM
Steve Cropper, player and writer of many 60s R&B classics. Not country, but this topic has seemed to sway a bit off course. I forgot, i'm new to posting but have been reading this forum since December. So, hello! |
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Earl Erb Member Posts: 886 |
posted 15 March 2000 08:23 PM
Hello erik,welcome to the forum.You will have a blast.Be sure to put your flack jacket on when you venture into Off Topic.Ouch! [This message was edited by Earl Erb on 15 March 2000 at 08:24 PM.] |
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Hook Moore Member Posts: 1605 |
posted 16 March 2000 05:20 AM
Two others not mentioned are the mind numbing Scotty Anderson and awesome Robert Shafer. Robert is an equally good champion flatpicker....http://home.att.net/~flatpicker.Check his website.. [This message was edited by Hook Moore on 16 March 2000 at 05:22 AM.] |
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Jerry Hayes Member Posts: 3306 |
posted 16 March 2000 05:25 AM
Hey someone, what happened to Odell Martin? When did he pass away and from what? I remember when he was on some of those old Kitty Wells/Johnny Wright TV shows. ------------------ |
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MALCOLM KIRBY Member Posts: 220 |
posted 16 March 2000 05:42 AM
Odell Martin was killed in a car wreck in Kentucky. Don't remember the year. I miss his excellent guitar playing and his keen sense of humor. |
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Fred Martin Member Posts: 299 |
posted 16 March 2000 05:49 AM
Don Rich was my favorite for cutting to the quick with the least notes. Just made you think you could do it but I still can't. Of course he was plugged into a great smile too! |
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Terry Williams Member Posts: 117 |
posted 16 March 2000 10:06 PM
odell martin was a great picker, i saw him once in Kinston, n.c. and he played some Atkins stuff.i can't believe nobody has mentioned jerry reed who did a lot of tele stuff.ricky skaggs,ray flacke,jerry donohue,albert lee,brent mason,jimmy bryant,and a great picker from Ohio named scotty anderson,jimmy olander,vince gill,roy nichols,james burton who played on a lot of haggards stuff, also emmylou harris,not to mention elvis, or ricky nelson.i could go on forever but this will do for now. |
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Steve Leal Member Posts: 89 |
posted 16 March 2000 11:43 PM
Lets not forget to mention the great Reggie Young and Albert Lee. |
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