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In this Guitar Center conversation celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Fender Telecaster, Lage frames the instrument not as a fixed sound, but as a stable partner. Whether he is thinking about early Fender Esquire and Broadcaster players, the warmth of the Telecaster neck pickup or using a Tele to play jazz at the Hollywood Bowl, the throughline is the same: The Telecaster gives him something solid to build from.
Julian Lage on the Telecaster’s Fundamental Sound
For Lage, the Telecaster’s versatility comes from having a sound that stays recognizable, no matter what the player does.
“What that means to me is an instrument that, though universal, always has a very consistent core to the sound. You could add effects, you could not add effects. You could add treble, you could not add treble. You can play through any amp, and you'll always hear the fundamental tone. For that to be so secure in an instrument to me is a prerequisite for the adventures of guitar playing I love so much.”
The Neck Pickup as a Touchstone
Although the Telecaster is often associated with snap and treble, Lage’s center of gravity sits at the neck pickup. He hears a darker quality, but not one that sacrifices clarity. In his hands, the neck pickup becomes a home base—a place where warmth and definition can coexist.
“The beautiful thing about it is it doesn't mean you lack brightness when you're there. It just means you also include this other woody thing that's a little less metallic, a little less severe.”
The Hollywood Bowl Lesson
During a Hollywood Bowl performance with Joe Lovano’s band, Lage had brought a 1955 Gibson Les Paul with a P90 pickup but switched to the Telecaster at the last minute.
It was the venue that prompted the change of guitar. The low end felt woofy, but instead of fighting the environment with the Les Paul, the Telecaster gave Lage exactly what he needed — less low-end mass.
“I had this moment of like, ‘You know what? It's not about me having everything I want in the guitar sound. It's about having a partnership with sound.’ And in that moment, the partnership with sound was really balanced. I didn't bring a ton to the table as far as volume and low end. The venue did. The stage did.”