The other secret ingredient of your guitar is your superb finger work. Absolutely beautiful playing.

Absolutely killed it.

How I wish the good Mr Lerch would have told everyone it was a real 1952 tele, so all the members of the Church of all Things Vintage would have plastered comments a mile long how magical tone is only available from a 65 year old $25k instrument. Then he could have had a great laugh when he revealed it's a brand new guitar from Mexico! I've been shouted off of "vintage" forums claiming precisely what this amazing player just demonstrated as easily as falling off a log. Long live reasonably-priced guitars and talented players!

I can listen to your playing all day. Oh, and your tele sounds incredible.

I wish EVERYONE who posts on youtube would be as polite and informative as you are…thank you, sir!

Fantastic tone on the Tele! Thank you for the video!

The versatility of the Tele never ceases to amaze me... obviously Tim's skill and fingers are drawing the sound out, but it's in there! Great advice on how to modify a Tele for that wonderful sound, thanks man...

I love those jazz sounds. Very hypnotic.

You've got some very soft and lovely pure sounds there. Not even pinging, twangy or reedy like most "clean" electric guitar sounds. It sounds like an acoustic guitar with the softest of amplification. A true clean jazz sound.

I think i'll spend the next two years trascribing every single shape, arpeggio, run and whatever you wanna call this tasteful stuff. Big ups Mr Lerch ;-)

I should have mentioned in my earlier comment. I just changed the standard Polyester capacitor in the Tele harness and fitted an Aerovox NOS Paper in oil 'PIO' circa 1969 (I have been modelling bass and guitar electronics a long time in order to customise tones!). This cap, is a 0.047uf 300v and it have made Jazz so extraordinarily beautiful to play on my Tele. It's darker which means if I care to I can go lighter on strings, but its the suave tone. I use D'Addario 12-48 and Olympia 11-50's. I plan to try Elixer 10-46 to see how they play. I'm 73 and don't have the strength I used to have for bass after smashing my left elbow and hand. Plus Carpel tunnel. Matching your strings to your on board capacitor can help you build your own sound. Good Luck Tim.

Here is how to get a jazz sound from what is traditionally a twangy type of guitar like a tele: simply employ brilliant playing from an outstanding musician! Just get Tim's brain, lifelong experience, and his soulful, highly developed musical vocabulary, plug it into a tele thru a tube amp. Then, no problem! Wow! it is great to hear you Tim!!!

Tim is the best demo player and explainer of anyone I've ever heard. Most of the others just strum loudly and make a lot of noise. But this guy is great!

Great tone, with the right amount of Clarity. Good mix of warmth and High End.

I've waited 5 years to see this post. Excellent, Tim. All the best, bro. I just received my Squire Tele @ $199. delivered. I prefer the low output p/ups for the much lower distortion whether in Gibson or Fender designs. I see it all the time, bro: the greater the output the greater the sawtooth. I hate distortion.

I've always been a fan of the Tele and thought they frequently got shorted by the Strat. Thanks for showing some of the great versatility of this instrument.

The 25.5" fender scale length with bright single coils just lends itself natural to E-flat to my ears.. And Tim is totally right.. Strings like 9-42 makes a telecaster sound like a banjo when played clean..

Being just a basement player and more of a rock blues guy I am just amazed at jazz players tone touch and feel on the neck I wish I could play a quarter as well as this man a treat to listen to you play so effortlessly sir new subscriber here tonite thks. jeff

"Less like a banjo" You helped me make up my mind to upsize my Tele strings from .10's to .11's. That tone is really nice and mellow.

So much talent and genuine nice polite well spoken man great video content every time

I am not necessarily a big fan of jazz, but I love the the telecaster. there is something about how you speak and explain. really holds the attention of the viewer. good video

This helps tremendously! I just spent a week in NoLa, and I was surprised by how many of those guys play teles - but when I got home and tried to mimic their sound on mine, I just couldn't make it work. Thanks Tim, you earned a subscriber :)

Tim, I don’t remember which video it was, but I think it was yours that clued me to Lollar pickups, and I used a set to build a telecaster app with the help of a friend who is an actual builder. Raw ash, lollars, and Callaham parts, oh and a fender American standard neck. It’s just great, and I did it because you also clued me to it being so much more versatile than I thought before I started seeing your videos. So you are part of the reason I have this wonderful guitar. So, a random story, the point is your playing and using the telecaster inspired me. I am glad to see you are still doing it.

Hello Tim, I received your interview from youtube. Josh Smith. I was very impressed with the story of your youth and your development. We are pretty much the same age. I was similarly naive and I really had to smile because I felt I knew your story from myself in a way. Our paths were different. I was and am only a hobby guitarist, not really good. But good enough to at least intensify my love for music through playing and maybe I am an ok listener today. It's very impressive from my point of view and it's a pleasure to listen to your playing. Especially this video did it for me. I would like to say that my father brought home an LP in 1975. Pure Desmond, with Ed Bickert on guitar. I was fascinated by both his playing and his sound. It was only much later, 10 years ago, that I found on the internet that Ed always played a Telecaster. Your playing and your sound brought back that memory for me. Therefore, when a new generation watches your channel, they should also look for what Ed Bickert played on his Tele 50 years ago. Thank you very much again Tim. I have become a fan of yours. Heinz Rehbein, Cologne, Germany

I've only recently discovered Tim Lerch - wish I'd seen this stuff earlier. So refreshing to find someone who can play very well, and is also amazingly humble and helpful. This video is a great demonstration that a massive portion of the sound is in the skill of the player, rather than needing the most expensive guitar out there. Awesome stuff, thanks!

Great stuff. I've been weaning myself off the plectrum for the past year or so, and this video makes me realise that (1) I've got a long way to go and (2) it's worth it. Thanks.

That was buttery smooth. Beautiful.

I love it. I'm a hack who loves jazz standards/progressions and the tele is the only electric I like. This is very helpful.

What a pleasing video. Clear, to-the-point explanations and presented appropriately with no bullshit. Nice tones and lesson. Thank You, Mr. Lerch.

Tim, thanks for this extremely useful presentation. Exactly what I needed, as I'm trying to modify my American Standard Telecaster for that awesome jazzy tone you've produced. May i say sir, your playing and feel is inspiring. Rarely on KZfaq are videos of such quality posted: genuine, humble, generous, and with technical yet easy to follow information. Much appreciated. Best wishes. (Love your playing) xx

1000th comment on here and I just wanted to say that your tone is fantastic! 🙏

I loved listening to you explain and demonstrate the Tele. You sure know your guitar.

Ed Bickert used a Tele . At some point he changed the neck pickup out. He was a Canadian session player and worked with the likes of Moe Koffman, , Rob McConnel and Paul Desmond

Thank you Tim, I genuinely enjoyed the entire 12+ minutes of this video. Long time Subscriber of yours :-)

I have to agree with many of the other comments. Tim Lerch you come across as lovely and perceptive man , well worth listening to.

Very cool demo brother. I have been playing for 53 years now. I like your playing a lot. You obviously can back up your words with your playing. This is really cool to let players know your Tele approach. I had a Mexican one a while back and put Noiseless pickups in it. It sounded wonderful, but I couldn't get into the maple neck. (I am a rosewood/ebony guy.) I now regret that I sold it. It was just a great sounding Tele (on the cheap). Your demo here is perfect. Thanks for sharing. Always good to hear from other great players about this kind of question. You make me pine for another Telecaster! Cheers. And thanks for this. :)

Tim - your playing is mesmerizing. You truly have a gift and thank you for sharing so much with us. It's a wondrous thing to watch a master produce incredible music.

WOW! That just sounds amazing! I have a 2007 Tele but I think the factory forgot to put all those tones in it, I have not found them anyway, lol. Great playing!

Yup.. totally hit the nail on the head Tim. I got a candy apple red squire alder body, a one piece flat maple neck n fretboard with stainless jumbo frets, brass saddles and some Lollar 52 pickups with locking tuners. Best tone ever. All under a grand. Love your work brother.. great playing, tone and information.👍🎸

Was going to trade off my Tele today. Glad I found your channel. Saved me from a mistake

Very nice! I recently bought the Fender Special Edition Deluxe Ash Telecaster which a great quality Mexican made version. The neck and frets are very nice and easy to play. I bought used for $365. Only thing I did was changed the saddles to compensated. Later I switched out the warmer ceramic pickups with more traditional alnico single coils. So for about $450, I got an excellent Telecaster.

Thank you for sharing your "secrets" with us. You are a true artist! I have been a admirer of Ted Greene since 1978, but eventually was too busy making a living as a professional musician for the next decades. But now that I rediscovered TG's music as well as the CC book and the Solo Guitar album (lucky me…) I will spend more time and energy with his music. Your informations about how to get that tone as well as voicings, phrasings and articulations are invaluable and extremely useful. The (guitar) world needs more people like you Tim…

I've gotta say, your playing is beautiful. I have truly never seen anyone play as you do and it's very warming.

Thank You Tim. I have taken plenty of suggestions and discovered some rather good sounds. For example If you don’t have a Fender Amp but want a Fender Amp sound quality simply roll off the Middle control on your Amp and only use bass and treble for a Fender sound. Enjoy!🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

This video was like a conversation with a friendly neighbor 😊

Man, I could listen to you play all day!

Wow...good grief friend, where have you been all these years? Excellent info and musicianship! You are a gifted man indeed! Bravo!

Setup and equipment is a piece of the puzzle for sure, but the touch you exhibit with your right hand is just unreal to me. It’s like you aren’t even moving your fingers to pluck certain voicings 🤯 I grew up playing shows all on acoustic so I constantly fight a heavy right hand when playing my electric guitars. So nice to watch and hear a player with such dynamics and touch. THAT, is how 99% of the “tone we hear in our heads” is achieved. Nice playing as always Mr Lerch.

Ed Bickert is a must to check out as a Tele/jazz player.

Magical playing skill. Love the fret harmonics Tim does.

Country, Blues and Jazz player here ( with Telecasters..) The Telecaster IMO is "The Guitar" nice vid.. totally showcases some great chops (by Mr Lerch) and what a Telecaster can do in a Jazz format. Nicely done.

Just got first tele a few weeks back, and this has been a huge help. Many thanks!

Telecaster shipped my way, can't wait!

Nothing like playing jazz on a Tele. That's why my Telecaster will always be my no. 1 guitar. It's a great jazz tone like a giant old Gretch, and has the best clean tone and twang of any guitar around. Also, not only can you play country on it but rock and heavy rock as well.

Lots of good tips here! For years I've used a solid-state Henriksen JazzAmp which I really love with my archtop and my Gretsch, but consistent with your experience, my Fenders sound terrible through it. I love your effortlessly relaxed chord-melody playing; most of us sound like we're doing pushups when we try that.

great sound Tim,Tu puoi suonare qualsiasi strumento che nelle tue mani diveta uno strumento vintage.Sei un grande ormai,Ti ho sempre ammirato quando suoni.Good music

PS: the takeaway for was use the flesh of your finger tips for jazz style. I custom cut my right fingernails and lacquer them with clear nail varnish. Left hand fret fingertips I pare back. Till my ‘tenderhorn’ fret fingertips get used to the thin 1 2 & 3 strings so they don’t feel like cheese cutters, I apply Friars Balsam to them. It’s a bit sticky until it dries - and has a umm distinct ‘bouquet’. But if you ignore the FDA, and prefer the tough Marlboro ‘chic’, it’s worth it

Amazing sound. The Tele never disappoints.

Priceless info from years of experience - thank you for sharing!

Wonderful sound. Each note like a tasty drop of nectar.

I always thought Tele's made great Jazz guitars. Changing the tone cap out to one that doesn't kill too many highs can sound pretty close to a floating pickup. I think you're using the perfect amp. Fender amps are known for being bright, but people tend to forget they have tone controls.

I love your tone Tim! I think a big part of it is leaving the high end in too. I never liked that muffled sound of tone knob on zero.

Wow, you sir achieved the thickest, most lush tone ever from that spank plank of a Tele...that sounded absolutely beautiful!

I don´t know how many times I´ve watched this, both for the playing and the advice. Thanks for uploading this great video!

Dang! Really spectacular playing here, and nice tone. I've always thought the Tele as THE most versatile electric, and your jazz sounds are really nice.

Very insightful, Tim. Always entertaining and informative.

I like the way you do things. Thank you so much. Great job of walking us thru the jazz-tele. You make it look easy.

When I was young I hated Telecaster.. I Loved only stratocaster... Now I am 31 and I fell in love for this guitar... I need one even if I can't play so good... Congratulations your finger playing make everything perfect! I hope to improve and become a good guitarrist..

Try using very "round" and heavy picks to tame those attack transients when using a pick. My absolute favorites are the Dunlop Jazz III Ultex picks. Haven't tried bluechip picks yet. Many jazz players seem to love them but when you're on a budget get the Ultex you'll love them. Makes such a huge difference in tone.

A wealth of information in this video, thank you!

I have the exact same guitar and I also put compensated brass saddles on it. I have a dozen or so teles and this is one of my favs for blues and jazz.

Years ago my Uncle told me that originally the rollers were engineered around .011 sets. Personally, I go for the 12-54 nickel strings and. On a Humbuck set-neck "Gibsonia" type of tolerances wound G strings sound pretty good. Thanks for the video!

Thanks for such an in depth discussion. I love the amount of thought that goes into your playing. Simply Great

Outstanding tips

Excellent video. Love the point about not rolling off all of the treble. Great playing and explanations.

A wonderful and instructive lesson. I have much to absorb Mr Lerch, and will look forward to the journey.

Nice tone...magical!!!

This is such an informative video. Been watching a ton of guitar reviews as I'm searching for a guitar to buy, and you are the easiest to watch and most helpful by far. Thanks for the info and for being genuine!

Outstanding tone and feel. Superb!

So sweet and mellow sound.

Mesmerizing playing and tone. Thanks!

You play so beautifully and the Tele sounds so beautiful. It is a joy to hear an artist like you instead of so many of the three chord distortion mavens that are so prevalent these days. Thanks again for a great video and a chance to hear your artistry!

Poetry in motion! Cool version of Lover Man--very complete; inspiring.

Loved your transparant comments and beautiful playing. In the end it's just skill and a basic guitar which covers all styles .

Great playing & incredible tone, I thought you roll down the tone & play with flesh of fingers, absolutely beautifully done!!!!

Very informative, Tim!! New Celestion Ruby alnico speaker has nice warm and vintage tone. I put it in my Tone King Imperial tube amp and can get great jazz tone on my strat and LP. I think 90% of sound is actually in fingers/touch. Also thicker plectrums help get you warmer/fatter tone. Cheers!

Thanks Tim. Your advice will be used. Ive a set of flat wounds (my idea) in the same gage as you mentioned . Got those a year ago for this project and have just acquired an inexpensive squirer tele to experiment on. cheers

Excellent playing, excellent instruction and advice, a kind and generous man in general. My initial impression was that this was mostly just the tone rolled off and how you were playing. I would like to hear the same things played using the Tele tone commonly associated with Country and every other common Tele tone to emphasize that the most important element is how you play. It also would be interesting having the very rig of a distinct musician played by other musicians with distinct playing styles. (i.e Keith Richards using David Gilmour's rig to play Rolling Stones tunes or Eddie Van Halen using Pat Metheny's rig or Tony Iommi playing Black Sabbath tunes using Wes Montgomery's rig.). In these three examples Keith and Eddie would be identifiable but Iommi needs that lowered tuning. I don't know whether it has been done but I wonder whether there has ever been a Black Sabbath Unplugged show.

Tim, these videos are stellar. Been watching for years. Really love your playing. Thanks so much!

some beautiful playing in there man, you can definitely hear the Wes influence. Thanks for sharing the info, I recently got my first tele and am loving it.

Love your videos! Thanks for taking the time to teach & entertain the rest of us mere humans.God Bless!

Beautifully lush tones Tim, and your video absolutely changes my idea of what a "Jazz guitar" should be. And so much so, that I recently bought a Player Fender Tele HH.

Excellent demo man! Really well explained and most enjoyable to watch

Awesome sound. I want to learn that style of playing.

Nice, thanks for the lesson. David Hamburger plays killer jazz on a tele too.

Clear, calm and amazingly inspiring video! Thanks!

Great jazz tone sound on a telecaster

Most session guitarists on jazz dates brought Telecasters with them along with their archtops. Often the Telecasters recorded better.

I'm new to jazz guitar and a Tele owner. I greatly appreciate this video. Thanks!

Great playing on a great instrument. The blonde with the maple fingerboard is my all-time favorite telecaster look.