When Fender switched the Telecaster from one-piece maple necks to rosewood fingerboards in 1959, the guitar’s sound and feel changed forever. In this video, I take a close look at the history of rosewood-board Telecasters, why Fender made the switch, and what makes them unique.

I’ll also share my theory: it’s not just the rosewood itself, but the stiffness of the rosewood plus maple neck construction that really changes the tone compared to an all-maple neck. That extra rigidity shapes the attack, sustain, and overall resonance of the guitar in a way you can feel as much as hear. I also take a look at the 59-style Custom Esquire that I play throughout the video.

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Albert Lee is one of the most inventive B-bender players in history. Today we look at Albert’s gear, his trademark Telecaster tone, and the 4 basic shapes he uses to create many of those flowing, pedal steel–like lines. To bring it to life, I’ll play and break down examples from:

1. C’est La Vie – Emmylou Harris
2. Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown – Ricky Skaggs
3. Pancho & Lefty – Emmylou Harris

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1gIMx3pi0NDsRcpQyLHRVd?si=98903f5149c54997

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Three outdoor Georgia/Florida gigs with Brad Paisley in August , 90°+ heat, swampy humidity, and sweat everywhere. Normally, that’s when strings go dead and feel sluggish, but my D’Addario XS coated strings didn’t just survive, they crushed it.

After all three gigs, I used the same guitar and same set of strings for two recording sessions, and they still sounded and felt fresh.

In this video, I’ll share how the XS strings handled brutal touring conditions, why they feel great even when the air feels like soup, and the wild St. Augustine show where lightning struck nearby, Brad’s rig went down, and we had to keep the show rolling.

https://truetone.com/

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Ever picked up a guitar and thought, “This just doesn’t feel right?” It might be the nut width, the measurement that directly impacts string spacing and left-hand comfort. In this video, we break down the most common nut widths found in the wild, and look at how the various widths affects chord shapes, lead playing and string separation. We also take a hard look at the 1.625 nut width used on the vast majority of vintage Fender guitars, and why most boutique copies, and even reissues made by Fender now tend to have a wider1.650 nut width.

If you’ve ever wondered why some necks feel cramped and others feel perfect, this deep dive will help you understand what works best for your hands and playing style.

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In this video, I share how Eric Clapton’s Just One Night album completely shifted my musical direction, and how the real surprise was Albert Lee. Clapton’s fiery playing grabbed my attention, but it was Albert’s Telecaster tone, precision, and country-infused style that opened the door to a whole new world of music for me. In the episode, I forget the names of 1985 tour members Shawn Murphy and Tim Renwick. 

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Alnico 2 and Alnico 5 are the two most common magnet types used in Telecaster pickups, but how much do they really change the tone?
In this video, I compare them in the exact same Telecaster, using pickups with identical windings, wire, and build—only the magnet type is different. We’ll listen to tapped and full output, and both clean and dirty tones, of these Seymour Duncan 53 Tapped Custom Shop Pickups. The clips were recorded in a professional recording studio using a Bruno version of a Deluxe Reverb with an EVM 12L, for maximum transparency.

https://truetone.com/

Thanks to MJ at Seymour Duncan, for winding these pickups for me.

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Ricky Skaggs is mostly known for his mandolin and bluegrass chops, but on “I’m Tired,” he rips a Telecaster solo that deserves a spot in the Tele Hall of Fame.
In this video, we break down the legendary Tele/B-Bender solo from his 1987 tune “I’m Tired,” a Ray Price/Mell Tillis shuffle, that blends Bluegrass, Honky Tonk, and hardcore twang.
I breakdown the solo, and show you why it works so well, the phrasing, the pedal steel illusions, and how Skaggs used the B-bender as an essential part of his electric guitar style.

Ricky playing the tune on the Opry in 1987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGUg2AqpkAw

Full ACL performance from 1987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJho_B-r1aw&t=1595s

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Reggie Young may be one of the most recorded guitarists in history—but did you know he played a 1957 Stratocaster on Merle Haggard’s Back to the Barrooms album? In this video, we dig into Reggie's tasteful, understated Strat work that helped shape the tone and feel of one of Haggard’s most emotional and booze-soaked records.

We'll talk about:
The tone Reggie got from his Strat
How his playing elevated tracks like “Makeup & Faded Blue Jeans”  “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink,” and “Leonard.”

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I didn’t think I’d be adding a chorus pedal back to my board… until a recent session totally changed my mind.

In this video, I talk about the TC Electronic Stereo Chorus Flanger — a pedal that quietly shaped the Nashville sound in the '80s and '90s. It was originally built in Denmark back in 1976 as a studio-friendly chorus with super low noise and a clean, transparent sound. Turns out, that clarity is exactly what made it a favorite for tons of session players — and even guys like Eric Johnson for his legendary clean tone.

After dusting one off in the studio recently, I remembered why this thing was so loved — and now it’s officially earned its spot back on my board.

If you’re into that classic shimmer or just curious why chorus is cool again, stick around.

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The #1 Question I Get: “What Pickups Should I Put in My Telecaster?”
In this video, I break down the key questions you should ask yourself before buying pickups — whether you're upgrading or starting from scratch. This guide will help you make smarter choices and communicate more effectively with pickup winders.

I also cover:
The differences between flat pole ’50s-style and staggered pole ’60s-style pickups
Recommendations at various price points
How much saddles and the tone control really matter to your final sound

Whether you're chasing vintage twang or modern bite, this will help you get closer to your Tele tone.

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