“Let’s take everything we think we know about solid body electrifying guitars and throw it out the window. Let’s start over.”

– Leo Fender on the invention of the Telecaster.

Our world would have sounded different if it wasn’t for the Telecaster. Arguably less interesting.

Originally released in 1950 as the Broadcaster, Fender was forced to change the name to Nocaster in early 1951 after a copyright dispute from the Gretsch company who had the name “Broadkaster” registered for a line of drums. The Nocaster name only stuck for a couple of months and in the summer of ’51 the Telecaster name came to stay. It became the world’s first successful solid body electric guitar, and although it is not as widespread and popularly known as the Stratocaster, its legacy is not to be overlooked.

At its introduction the Telecaster was met with both awe and scepticism. Former Fender manager Don Randall recalls taking the Telecaster to a 1950 music trade show:

” … it was, ‘What’s that thing?’ We got all kinds of comments. ‘Do you paddle your canoe with that thing? Swat flies?’ They all laughed.”

Some people made jokes, but former Gibson president Ted McCarty recognized the Telecaster:

“We had to buck this competition from the west coast”, he said and started work on the Les Paul. Competition was in motion and the solid bodies were taking over.

The Telecaster is perhaps most known as a southern country twang and blues type guitar with a sound made famous by the likes of Albert Collins and Redd Volkaert.
But the legacy reaches far beyond that. In doubt? Just listen to Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin’s first album. Pete Townshend’s favorite guitar is a ’52 Telecaster and Keith Richards uses a variety of Telecasters (one of which he used to club a renegade fan on stage) but he prefers his ’53 Tele named Micawber. Jeff Buckley, interestingly, used an ’83 Telecaster. This post-CBS guitar is not really considered collectible or of the pre-CBS-era quality but Buckley made it his own.
Bob Dylan was also a Tele man.

The Telecaster is the father (or mother if you will) of rock n’ roll. It is still only around 63 years old, but its legacy and influence is profound and ubiquitous. Don’t underestimate the power…

As Jeff Beck puts it:

“It’s so honest and straight forward. It challenges you.”

See for yourself how beautiful it is:

If you are so lucky as to own a Telecaster, be sure to check out our guide to dating Fenders