Jazz tone on a Fender Telecaster?

**Herbellismyhero** · 02-23-2014, 10:01 AM

I'm beginning jazz guitar lessons and I want to find a guitar with great tone but something that isn't too pricy... I've been looking at the heritage h535 but it's a little out of my price range. I've heard of people getting a good jazz tone out of a telecaster and I was wondering whether or not that was a good way to go for me. Any input helps

**mr. beaumont** · 02-23-2014, 10:06 AM

It's a great way to go. Neck pickup, roll back tone a little bit, boost the midst on the amp a bit...Can't go wrong.

**Rhoderick** · 02-23-2014, 10:30 AM

Hello.
I have used my Telecaster since the 1960s and had no problem with the sound.
I am in full agreement with Mr Beaumont. You cannot go wrong.

Music is the key that can open strange rooms in the house of memory.

Llewelyn Wyn Griffith

**oldane** · 02-23-2014, 10:47 AM

I second what others have said + try medium flatwound strings (D'Addario Chromes or Thomastik Swing are obvious choices because they are of good quality and are easy to get hold of).

**marcwhy** · 02-23-2014, 12:26 PM

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

If you look around, you'll find several posts on "playing jazz on any guitar," so sure, grab a tele ... or a strat, or an LP, or a 335, or whatever. I'd also be interested in what you're playing now, what doesn't "work" on that guitar, what amp are you using, and -- if you need a new guitar -- what your budget is (just to name a few things)?

**jazzbow** · 02-23-2014, 12:39 PM

Hi there.

Yup, jazz tones from a Tele, no problemo.

Watch out for the Thomastic Infeld flatwounds though, they are a low tension soft nickel string and tend to flap around on my Tele. Another thing, I recently put on some 11's and the G string flatwound wrap wore out at the saddle leaving the wrap loose on the core. I've had to put on a heavier replacement.

D'Addario flatwounds work really well on the Tele, they are harder wearing stainless steel.

If you have a string through body set up then the D'Addarios work well.

However-

If you have a top loader bridge then the TI Flats would last longer

All IMHO...

**Broyale** · 02-23-2014, 12:53 PM

Yes, you can. My teacher plays a Tele and gets an excellent tone from his, though I would account most of it to his actual playing skill. Last lesson had me considering buying a Tele.

**Herbellismyhero** · 02-23-2014, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

If you look around, you'll find several posts on "playing jazz on any guitar," so sure, grab a tele ... or a strat, or an LP, or a 335, or whatever. I'd also be interested in what you're playing now, what doesn't "work" on that guitar, what amp are you using, and -- if you need a new guitar -- what your budget is (just to name a few things)?

I am actually playing on a fender custom shop tele with a b bender installed. It has been rewired so it has a humbucker setting available. I play it through a peavey bass amp with a pod xt effects box (I am currently looking for a new amp, maybe a blues jr). If I did need a new guitar I would be somewhere around 700-1000

**Soco** · 02-23-2014, 01:35 PM

I just uploaded this clip of my custom shop classic tele.
I really like this guitar.
I am in the middle position with a little bit of overdrive, but it sounds great clean with the neck pickup too.

**kris** · 02-23-2014, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Soco

I just uploaded this clip of my custom shop classic tele.
I really like this guitar.
I am in the middle position with a little bit of overdrive, but it sounds great clean with the neck pickup too.

Great sound and playing!
Thanks

**coolvinny** · 02-23-2014, 02:37 PM

I love the playing in Soco's tele clip, but I wouldn't call it a great jazz sound. It sounds like a solid body guitar playing jazz, which is cool but not what I think of as a great, straight-ahead jazz sound. I have a tele-style guitar too (with humbucker) and I find it's the B and E strings which are the "problem strings" in that it's harder to make them sound jazz...they lack that little bit of acoustic air that I get with my archtop. I can make the other strings sound pretty close though. I also close the gap by using very heavy B and E strings (18 and 15) but the difference is still noticeable.

It seems playing a tele through a larger speaker helps a lot. I've heard some local guys playing what I swore were archtops but they were on teles using either a 15" cab or 2 x 10".

**kris** · 02-23-2014, 03:23 PM

Tele will never sound like real hollow-body jazz guitar...

**mr. beaumont** · 02-23-2014, 03:28 PM

Some would argue those using tele's for jazz couldn't care less that they don't sound like an archtop.

**Max405** · 02-23-2014, 03:39 PM

Hi,
I am new here and I'd like to chime in. I dont have a Telecaster but sometimes I take my Stratocaster off the wall and after an hour of just sitting in back of my guitar and watching it play itself I ask myself, "why do I have all these other guitars"?? I did a coffee shop job a couple of months ago and I got tired of fighting the feedback I was getting from my ES175 so I put it on the stand and finished the job with my LesPaul! I personally put way too muck stock in having a Jazz Guitar sitting on my lap when I play Jazz. I know this has been said before but only a portion of the tone comes from guitar itself.

Joe D

**kris** · 02-23-2014, 04:30 PM

feedback from es-175....I think you play very loud.

**Sean65** · 02-23-2014, 04:38 PM

Tele's are great. Keep in mind that you can get tele's with either single coil or humbuckers in the neck position.

Try a few. I've been looking to try out the new Hot Rod 50s but can't seem to find one in stock anywhere yet.

**Soco** · 02-23-2014, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by kris

Great sound and playing!
Thanks

Thanks Kris!

**Soco** · 02-23-2014, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by coolvinny

I love the playing in Soco's tele clip, but I wouldn't call it a great jazz sound. It sounds like a solid body guitar playing jazz, which is cool but not what I think of as a great, straight-ahead jazz sound. I have a tele-style guitar too (with humbucker) and I find it's the B and E strings which are the "problem strings" in that it's harder to make them sound jazz...they lack that little bit of acoustic air that I get with my archtop. I can make the other strings sound pretty close though. I also close the gap by using very heavy B and E strings (18 and 15) but the difference is still noticeable.

It seems playing a tele through a larger speaker helps a lot. I've heard some local guys playing what I swore were archtops but they were on teles using either a 15" cab or 2 x 10".

Hi, thanks. Wasn't going for a traditional jazz sound on this clip, but I can get a really good jazz sound with this guitar without much problem. Still it will sound like a tele, that's the beauty of it. Ed Bickert's tone is amazing, but it sounds like a solidbody. If I want an archtop sound, I just grab my Collings Eastside, problem solved.

**Max405** · 02-23-2014, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by kris

feedback from es-175....I think you play very loud.

I wasnt playing very loud. My point was, Hollowbodies tend to feedback. Solidbodies dont.

**Max405** · 02-23-2014, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Soco

If I want an archtop sound, I just grab my Collings Eastside, problem solved.

I played one of these about 6 months ago and was absolutely blown away. The attention to detail in these hand made instruments are really 1st rate.

I couldnt help myself but I stopped at Guitar Center today and pulled a blond semi-hollow tele off the wall. I figured I "try it out" for ya...

The headstock was stamped, made in China. I plugged it into a Fender Bassman and it had a very unique sound. I cant describe it, it had almost a natural "delay" to it. The playability was extrordinary. It was only $499! I loved it. I even thought about buying it, but I think if I did, my wife would have me committed.

Joe D

**Soco** · 02-23-2014, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

I played one of these about 6 months ago and was absolutely blown away. The attention to detail in these hand made instruments are really 1st rate.

I couldnt help myself but I stopped at Guitar Center today and pulled a blond semi-hollow tele off the wall. I figured I "try it out" for ya...

The headstock was stamped, made in China. I plugged it into a Fender Bassman and it had a very unique sound. I cant describe it, it had almost a natural "delay" to it. The playability was extrordinary. It was only $499! I loved it. I even thought about buying it, but I think if I did, my wife would have me committed.

Joe D

Sweet guitars indeed! The Collings eastsides doesn't feedback much either.

**mr. beaumont** · 02-23-2014, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

I wasnt playing very loud. My point was, Hollowbodies tend to feedback. Solidbodies dont.

Feedback isn't just about volume...

lame, unrehearsed performance...but I'm playing my 575 thru a Princeton DIMED....no feedback at all

**Max405** · 02-23-2014, 09:19 PM

I totally that feedback is not just about volume. Some rooms dont allow you to find the sweet spot.
I dont agree about the "lame Unrehearsed Performance".. That was very cool and I enjoyed it. Guys who can play various different styles are gifted musicians. I have a difficult time changing styles and I am jealous of people who can. Nice going.
JD

**mr. beaumont** · 02-23-2014, 09:26 PM

Well thanks!

**Keira Witherkay** · 02-24-2014, 12:31 AM

yep i have tele's/ thinlines/full archtops and can take any one of em to a pro jazz gig and get a usable/acceptable jazz tone.....

so yes don't stress about what guitar you play ...stress more about how you play

but that said yes my 50's archtop has more mojo than my tele ... but thats all in my head

but yes tele's are so easy to mod ... and the Fender USA standards are even pre routed for humbuckers in neck position .... so just a new scratchplate or cut the original and there you go ....and with a humbucker in the neck a tele is a totally different sounding guitar ........ i have a fat single coil in the neck of mine ... huge fat tone and in fact gigged the tele yesterday at a jazz gig