Fender Telecaster &
Fender Bassman
Born out of refinements of Fender’s single-
pickup Esquire model, the Telecaster burst
onto the scene in 1950 and quickly became
one of the company’s flagship models.
While the Esquire was already known for
its bright cutting tone, the addition of a
smooth neck pickup allowed for warmer
sounds, making the Telecaster popular
amongst both rock and country players.
Even something as simple as making it
a solid body (hollow-bodies were more
common on the market at the time) made
a huge difference since it cut down on
feedback, and the smooth neck allowed
musicians to play slide easier.
swears by the Telecaster
and Bassman combo, and
if it has the approval of
the Boss, who are we to
argue?
The Bassman amp would be introduced
two years later, and while the head
version into a 2x15 cabinet
is iconic, it’s the 4x10 combo
version that makes the most
distinctive pairing. Running at
50 watts with two 6L6 tubes,
the Bassman combo
is known for its
woody resonance
and ability to break
up on higher volumes
while maintaining the
bright, sharp tone.
Like the Tele, country
and blues artists
loved it, but the
sound would become
popular with rock acts
as well. To this day,
Bruce Springsteen
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