How The Telecaster Came To Nashville - Ask Zac 199
April 17, 2020
Nashville is a "Telecaster-Town," a common phrase bandied about, and many will stress the importance of Tele ownership if one wants to work as a pro guitarist in Music City. Surprisingly, the Tele did not immediately earn this status the day Leo Fender introduced the Broadcaster in 1950. In fact, it took more than a decade after its release before it became an essential for 615-area session men. The trailblazers of the Tele include, Jabo Arrington, Billy Sanford, and Fred Carter Jr, though lesser known names, they made both the sound and the playing techniques associated with it Nashville essentials.
A major sub-plot of this story takes place in Shreveport, LA, where Billy Sanford & Fred Carter Jr, along with James Burton, and Roy Buchanan were all performing and hanging out together in the late 1950s. Together, these players forged a style based around the use of the Telecaster, and utilizing a mix of Delta Blues, Rockabilly, Western Swing, and wild string bending allowed by their shared use of banjo strings.
Jabo Arrington article from VG mag
https://www.vintageguitar.com/40127/jabo-vince-and-broadcaster-0048/
Strings: D'Addario NYXL 95-44
https://amzn.to/41rnl0V2023
Headstrong Lil' King with 12" Eminence GA-SC64 speaker
https://headstrongamps.com/lil-king-amp
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