John Osborne loves Telecasters. On condition that he’s a firebrand guitar participant in a significant nation act, that’s hardly stunning – Osborne’s melodic, expressive lead taking part in is a big a part of the sound of Brothers Osborne, and it’s lent an additional edge by the Telecaster twang. It’s no shock, then, that he’s the newest artist to be tapped by Fender for a brand new signature mannequin – one which recreates his very personal well-used and well-traveled Telecaster.

Partscaster’d collectively

The story of the brand new John Osborne Telecaster begins with John’s first essential guitar that he used on stage and within the studio. A classic 1968 instance, John obtained it from an area Nashville music store when he was in his early 20s – with the assistance of some trade-ins of the remainder of his gear, and $700 borrowed from his mum. “I didn’t have guitars,” John explains. “I simply had this one 1968 Telecaster. So I performed it on every little thing – each gig and each session.”

Half two of the story would include John’s first introduction to b-benders. “When my brother and I went to file our second file, referred to as Port Saint Joe, a buddy of mine who has since handed, Keith Gattis, a complete b-bender grasp, lent me one among his guitars to play on that file. And I fell in love with the b-bender. I had performed b-benders a number of occasions, simply right here and there, however by no means dwell or on a file. And I couldn’t put it down. I used to be obsessed!”

From there, John knew what wanted to occur to his essential guitar. “I went searching for perhaps an inexpensive b-bender Telecaster I may put collectively myself – and I discovered a physique preloaded with a b-bender, and that was it. No pickups or something. So what I did was take the neck of my ‘68 and put it on that physique – thus proving that 80-90% of a guitar is basically in that neck, the way it feels, the way it performs – as a result of it was actually not too dissimilar to the way it felt earlier than. I discovered some pickups and so forth, assembled all of it myself – that was the actual genesis of that guitar!”

For some, the thought of fixing simply one of many bridge saddles on a 1968 Telecaster can be near sacreligious – not to mention changing the whole physique. However for John, it’s simply abiding by Leo Fender’s authentic ethos. “He was a really utilitarian, pragmatic particular person – this was earlier than individuals discovered methods to take frets out of necks simply. He had the concept that as soon as the frets put on out on the guitar, you simply take the neck off and you place a brand new neck on it – like altering a set of tires. And due to that, due to the simplistic design, it’s allowed individuals to change these guitars themselves into their very own private canvas to create on.”

And for many who are frightened that the unique ‘68 physique is hiding behind a wardrobe someplace, it’s fortunately nonetheless fulfilling its goal underneath a special guise. “I nonetheless have that authentic ‘68 physique, and I truly transformed it right into a baritone guitar with an extended conversion neck!” John says.

The spirit of a Tele

The spec-sheet of John’s new guitar stays primarily as shut as potential to his self-assembled guitar, itself aiming to maintain the voice of a conventional Tele, not change it. “On the finish of the day, I nonetheless wished it to be a Telecaster, not one other guitar formed like a Telecaster,” John says. “I wished the three brass-barrel saddles, compensated, clearly however even that’s not excellent – and that’s okay. These imperfections are what make music particular. I’ve had six-saddle Teles through the years, however I begin to miss that honk and spank that comes from having these brass barrels – even with six brass saddles, you lose a few of that character.”

This method carried over to the electronics, too. “I nonetheless wished a Telecaster bridge pickup, as a result of that’s the sound. And I did need to preserve the neck pickup, however make it a little bit punchier. I didn’t simply need to put a Strat pickup in there! However I wished one thing to compete with a louder bridge pickup, so there wasn’t a drop once I switched place. You already know, everybody’s favorite pickup on a Strat is the neck – all of us need to faux we’re Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan, even after we’re taking part in a Telecaster. So I actually wished one thing that would converse in that manner, however nonetheless retain a number of the custom of the Tele.”

A brand new toy

There’s, after all, one massive concession to bucking custom – that b-bender. In the event you’re unfamiliar, it gives a hands-free technique to bend simply the b-string, as a lever interprets a downwards pull on the strap to a tightening of the b-string behind the saddle. This allows you to simply bend the b-string inside chords in an effort to mimic the sound of a pedal-steel guitar – and it may be completely transformational to all elements of your taking part in, lead and rhythm alike.

Regardless, anybody who will get their arms on a John Osborne Telecaster will doubtless spend a great whereas doing completely nothing however chewy pedal metal chord-bends on it – and, if John’s expertise is something to go by, have a tough time not utilizing it on every little thing. “Once I first received the b-bender, I wished to placed on each track. I used to be having a lot enjoyable – it was like studying a brand new instrument once more,” he says. “When anybody will get a brand new toy, they only need to use it the entire time. I’ve received three-year-old twins in the home, and so they’re no completely different!”

“When guitar gamers get that new pedal, it’s like, ‘this is occurring each track!’ – till ultimately you study the place it wants to go. However that’s all a part of the enjoyable – discovering, experimenting after which discovering out methods to incorporate that sound into the bigger palette of colors that you’ve,” he explains. “Now, I don’t even actually give it some thought anymore. It’s simply a part of my voice as a musician.”

For John one of many coolest issues about his signature is taking all the quirks of his guitar – b-bender and all – and placing them on the market into the arms of a a lot wider vary of gamers. “I’m actually trying ahead to seeing how different individuals use it, all of the issues that they’ll try this I couldn’t even consider,” he says, and notes that just like the Telecaster itself, the b-bender is unquestionably not simply chained to nation. “The pedal metal – which is what we’re all making an attempt to emulate with it, actually – has been used on loads of rock and pop data now, so the sound is just not tied to this one style of nation. You’re capable of cross over with this stuff. I imply, hell, Jimmy Web page had some nice b-bender stuff again within the day! It’s simply one other software within the toolbox to create the music that you simply need to create.”

A well-worn look

And like all good software, John’s personal guitar has seen its fair proportion of wear-and-tear. “I grew up plumbing with my dad,” he notes, “and the instruments in that toolbox are simply beat to hell, as a result of they’ve been used. Guitars are the identical – you realize it’s a great guitar if it’s been used!”

The signature guitar wears a road-worn end – whereas it’s not a complete one-to-one recreation, the spirit of the unique is carried over, significantly provided that the second-hand b-bender physique he discovered had truly already been relic’d when he put the ‘68 neck on it. “However as time went on, with the hundreds of hours I performed that guitar, it created loads of completely different put on, particularly within the forearm – I actually wished to make it possible for was there,” John provides.

It’s additionally clear that John’s only a fan of a rough-and-ready look typically. “I’ve by no means actually been a fan of shiny guitars – I’m not a shiny human, and I don’t really need my guitars to look shiny as a result of it makes me look even much less shiny!” he jokes. “The instrument must be a little bit of an extension of who you might be, and it simply made extra sense from that perspective. Additionally subconsciously – it shouldn’t be about the way it seems, however on the finish of the day, it type of is, as a result of while you have a look at an instrument, it does put you in a mindset, and the way you play is a mirrored image of that mindset.”

And in some methods a highway worn end is especially relevant to any given Telecaster. “I’ve actually thrown that guitar throughout the stage, and my tech picks it up, and it’s nonetheless in tune,” John provides. “That’s the factor about these Teles specifically – they’re made to be beat up.”

Discover out extra concerning the Fender John Osborne Telecaster at fender.com