DISCOVER the Standard Features of Fender Telecaster: Bridge, Woods, Pickups, Fingerboard Radius, and Using the Pickup Selector.
In 1951 Fender renamed its Broadcaster model to Telecaster, to avoid coinciding with the Broadcaster drum kits marketed by the Gretsch brand.
Fender Telecaster Woods and Neck
The classic woods used in made of Fender Telecaster models are maple for the neck and maple or rosewood for the fingerboard. This would be the most traditional woods, but due to the current scarcity of rosewood, it is replaced by Laurel Indio in the Fender Standard series.
As for the woods used in the bodies of these models, the most commonly used currently is alder. A very traditional wood, although other woods can be found for body construction such as swamp ash. However, due to the scarcity of this wood, it is only used in the most select Fender ranges.
The Telecaster features a long 25.5-inch scale, characteristic of Fender’s most popular models, and the neck-to-body joint is bolt-on. One of the advantages of a bolt-on joint is that if we have problems with the neck, or for example we want to change the neck for one with different woods, or a fingerboard with a different radius, its replacement would be very easy.
Originally, both Fender models could be found with a very curved fingerboard radius of 7.25 inches. However, today the standard fingerboard radius is 9.5 inches, with a consequently softer curve.
The Telecaser’s sound is clear, defined and full-bodied. The distinctive Twang sound appreciated by rhythm and soloists guitarists.
Fender Telecaster Pickups and Pickup Selector Switch
The typical pickups for this guitar would be mounted with alnico magnets, with the characteristic of integrating the bridge pickup, a base or plate of zinc or copper plated steel on the bottom, generally called Base Plate. Something that defines the characteristic sound of the Fender Telecaster.
The classic Pickup Selector is three positions:
With the switch forward, the neck pickup or bass pickup is activated, with a warm sound.
With the selector back, the bridge pickup or treble pickup is activated, with a penetrating sound.
And in the center the two pickups are activated in parallel, producing a balanced sound, with the characteristic “Quack” tone.
Although we can find some modern Telecaster models with a four-position pickup selector switch to connect its two pickups in series, which would double the output as would happen with a double-coil or humbucker pickup. As a result, definition would be lost, but we would obtain a fuller sound, and the signal-noise ratio would be improved.
As for its potentiometers, it has a master volume and tone control.
Vintage and Modern Telecaster Bridge
The vintage-style bridge on Telecasters is a fixed bridge that adjusts in pairs of strings, both in height and intonation. But we would have to slightly unbalance the saddles on the sides, so that the strings adjust to the curvature of neck.
On Telecasters with updated bridges, more precise intonation can be achieved by individually adjusting each string at each saddle.
The classic bridge can be found on very expensive guitars, due to the fact that they are vintage. On the other hand, the modern bridge can be found on much more affordable guitars.
Normally, in Telecaster models, the strings are inserted from behind the guitar (string through), but we can find models that do so from the back of bridge (top loader).
The classic Fender Telecaster can be a bit uncomfortable, as it doesn’t have any kind of recess in the wood to facilitate ergonomics between the guitar and the guitarist. Many modern models do have recesses to increase their comfort when playing, something to keep in mind.
We can find custom Telecaster models that only resemble a classic Telecaster in the bolt-on joint and in the shape.
For example, Fender Jim Root Telecaster features active pickups, a mahogany body and an ebony fingerboard. It would be easy to get Les Paul-style sounds out of this guitar, but it would be impossible to get a sound even close to that of a classic Telecaster.