Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster. The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar

Customer Reviews

Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster

2008-09-20
I can really recommend this book . You'll learn a lot about this famous Fender guitar . Also very valuable if You , like me are planning to build Your own tele from parts and want to end up with a special model.

Great Reference

2008-01-29
This is a great starter at a reasonable price for someone wanting to know more about the world's first mass produced solid body guitar. The Telecaster sparked a revolution and is just as popular today as it was 57 years ago. Not too shabby

Fun book With Lotsa Pictures

2007-10-23
First the disclaimer: I do not own a Telecaster nor do I even play guitar. I happen to think that a Telecaster is one of the most beautiful man made objects there is, so I got this book. I enjoyed reading the story of how the guitar was developed and how it evolved. Not being an expert on these matters, I an not comment on any of the technical aspects of Mr. Bacon's work. If you have any fondness for Fender Telecasters or want to learn about a part of rock, pop, and country history, you need this book.

SIx Decades of Fender Telecaster

2007-08-12
Fantastic book for Fender Telecaster users. This book takes you from the beginning to the present History of Leo Fender and his line of Guitars.
Highly recommended.

Better Fender References are Available

2007-07-11
I bought this book first, before coming across Richard Smith's more definitive history of the Fender Story in "Fender The Sound Heard Round the World".

This Six Decades of Telecaster is mostly a picture book and light on the Tele story. It does contain a decent Reference Section, which gives a year by year breakdown of the unique features of the Telecaster.

If you want the Fender Story, get the Richard Smith book. Additionally, I purchased the Fender: The Inside Story book, but it is not an "impartial" telling of the story.

very helpful with great photos

2007-01-12
Launched by the fledgling Fender company in 1950, the Telecaster has become the longest-lived solidbody electric guitar, played by everyone from Muddy Waters to Chrissie Hynde. All who play know that the key to the Telecaster's importance and versatility is its sheer simplicity. Packed with high-quality photographs of the great Telecasters, collectable catalogs, period press ads, and memorabilia, this tribute tells the story of the Telecaster and the Fender Company through exclusive interviews with Fender figures who were there when this musical star was born.

Excellent history of the Tele

2007-01-09
I can't say enough about this book. I am a musician and collector. This is a difinitive work on the history of Fender and the Tele.

Best book for detailed info on the Fender Telecaster

2006-10-16
I read this book with great enthusiasm! It covers The Tele from the very begining up to 2005. With way more information/detail, celebrity players, vintage advertisement (as well as newer instruments) and beautiful photos than any other books printed almost two decades ago!
This is a modern and thorough update to all Tele information. From the Telecaster's inception to the players that made it sing, it's all here in a very high quality format.
If you love the Fender Telecaster and want the details covering six decades of droolworthy photos, specs and interveiws you will love this book!

Profiles the guitar, its changes, its makers, and its players

2006-06-23
New interviews with Jeff Beck, Bill Kitchen and other acknowledged masters of the guitar spice a history of the Fender Telecaster which tells of the guitar's long-running popularity and involvement in the music scene. Leo Fender's company and product changed the nature and course of the music world when it introduced the electric Fender Telecaster guitar. SIX DECADES profiles the guitar, its changes, its makers, and its players, packing in ads, photos, and illustrations in full color on nearly every page.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

New information

2006-04-06
As a representative of the publishers of Tony Bacon's Telecaster book, I felt compelled to respond to EARLES L. MCCAUL's misleading review. It is true that Tony Bacon has written two other Fender books, but 'Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster' is his first to cover a single Fender model. And yes, some information in 'Six Decades' matches some information in one or both of the other two books. But that is because facts are facts, and assuming they were reported correctly in the first place - which they were - there is bound to be some overlap. How many ways can you say that a particular model was launched at such-and-such a time? However, I would point out that there is a great deal of new information in the Telecaster book: in the general story pages, in the photo sections, and in the separate model history. Finally, what Mr McCaul fails to mention is the inclusion in this book of new interview material with such luminaries as Jeff Beck and James Burton.