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Julian Lage thought he knew exactly what his next Telecaster would be. Instead, one unexpected phone call changed everything.
Lage has owned and played more than his share of Telecasters—from vintage to modern models and custom builds. Each offered its own personality and helped shape Lage’s unmistakable voice. So, when he asked his friend Alex Whitman of New York’s TR Crandall Guitars to build him a custom Telecaster that hit all of this specific tone, hardware and playability desires, Lage believed he would get exactly what he wanted.
Then, Whitman called.
A 1966 Fender Telecaster had just arrived at the shop with an intriguing history. Based on its construction and several distinctive details, Whitman believed the vintage Tele had been assembled decades earlier by legendary Telecaster virtuoso Danny Gatton and his brother.
Lage stopped thinking about the custom build, acquired the ’66 Tele and brought it on the road almost immediately.
“I felt like it was the perfect Telecaster for jazz,” he says. “It was just really charming. Every note was gorgeous.”
The Sound That Won Him Over
The 1966 Telecaster included a unique pickup believed to have been assembled by Gatton’s brother using the shell of a Charlie Christian-style pickup and a custom ceramic magnet. Combined with the lightweight body and maple-cap neck, the instrument possessed an extremely unique voice.
“It wasn’t overly muscular,” says Lage. “But it had a brilliance to it. And all of these properties were very clear at a low volume, because I don’t play terribly loud.”
A Modification Saves the Day
Playing venues such as New York City’s Village Vanguard exposed the limitations of the Gattons’ pickup build. It was noisy when faced with electrical interference.
Rather than limit the guitar’s use to optimum environments—which, quite frankly, don’t always exist in clubs, bars and other such venues—Lage decided to make a modification.
Working with longtime friend Robbie Lee, he replaced the Christian-style pickup with an early Epiphone mini humbucker. (Although he carefully preserved the Gattons’ custom-built pickup.) The result retained much of the vintage Tele’s warmth and character while dramatically reducing unwanted hum.
“Half the battle is you want a guitar you’re inspired by,” says Lage. “But you also want to not think about anything but the music when you’re out playing live.”
Lage on Gatton
“In many respects, Gatton is synonymous with the Telecaster in terms of being a bolt of lightning,” says Lage. “There's a ferociousness—as well as a speed thing and a velocity that's just astonishing. Although we don't play anything alike, I derive great inspiration from him, because I want that bolt of electricity he had. I just have to find it in my own way.”
But Lage doesn’t feel Gatton’s genius was based solely on his staggering technique. It was also his ability to channel American musical traditions ranging from country and jazz to banjo, blues and acoustic folk into a singular Telecaster voice.
“When you hear Gatton play, you hear the whole history of the guitar coming through,” says Lage.
The Gatton Build May Evolve Further …
Even given its stellar provenance, Lage doesn’t feel the vintage Telecaster should be frozen in time. After all, it has already passed through Danny Gatton’s hands, changed owners, received thoughtful modifications and continues evolving as a working instrument rather than a museum piece.
“I’m not afraid to do anything to this guitar,” he says. “It’s just about getting the job done.”
Dig Deeper into the Telecaster
If Julian Lage's story has inspired you to explore the Telecaster further, Guitar Center has plenty of resources to continue the journey.
You can start with our comprehensive article, “The History of the Fender Telecaster.” Then, have some fun watching a “Fender 75th Anniversary Telecaster Jam” with the Molly Miller Trio and Angela Petrilli.
And, if you’re interested in acquiring a Tele from the ’50s, ’60s and CBS era, we offer some essential buyer’s tips in “How to Buy a Vintage Fender Telecaster.”
For more personal advice on buying a new, used or vintage Telecaster, don’t forget that our knowledgeable Gear Advisers can offer all the counsel you need. Of course, you can get much the same one-on-one care from an associate at your local Guitar Center. We’ve also got you covered with our Rig Advisor app, which can answer your questions on Telecasters, Tele-approved rigs and more, as well as suggest guitars, amps and pedals tailored to your inquiries. Finally, you can peruse the Fender Telecaster collection on our website.