Choosing the Best Strings for Your Telecaster

The great grandaddy of 'em all, the Fender Telecaster is arguably the most iconic - and most important - electric guitars ever made. 

Introduced in 1951 as the Broadcaster (before a trademark dispute led to a name change), the Telecaster was the world's first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar. The first of Leo Fender's legendary designs to go mainstream, the Tele quickly became a favorite among musicians thanks to its no-fuss design, bright and cutting tone, and remarkable durability.

Nearly 75 years later, "T-Type" guitars are ubiquitous, but the signature Telecaster sound hearkens back to its original design - an ash or alder body, bolt-on maple neck, and two single-coil pickups. The bridge pickup is not unlike one you'd find on a pedal steel, sitting on a steel plate with its trademark slant and delivering the Tele's sharp, twangy attack. The neck pickup provides a warmer, smoother tone that balances out that brightness, making the Telecaster a genre-jumping stalwart for country, blues, rock, and even jazz players.

Birth of a Legend: Strings on Early Teles

When the Telecaster first hit the market in the early 1950s, Fender typically shipped it with what we'd consider pretty heavy-gauge strings nowadays. Vintage guitar enthusiasts and collectors suggest that original Telecasters came equipped with gauges around .012 to .052, often featuring a wound third (G) string, which was customary in the early days of the electric guitar. This setup was ideal for the chord-heavy and rhythm-driven playing styles of the time, though it wasn't necessarily ideal for bends, melodic runs, and other lead work.

As musical styles evolved and rock and roll took off, lighter gauge strings grew more popular, especially among players who wanted more flexibility for expressive bends and vibrato. Today, string choices for the Telecaster vary widely depending on the player's style, from super-light gauges for country shredders to heavier strings for blues and jazz guitarists seeking a thicker tone.

Choosing the Right Strings for Your Telecaster

The Telecaster will take whatever you throw at it with few complaints. However, depending on what you're seeking to achieve, selecting the best Telecaster strings can make life a whole lot easier. It's important to consider your playing style, tonal preferences, and even your specific Tele model. Let's check out some different approaches to the Tele in order to determine the strings that'll help you achieve the sound you're searching for.

1. Classic Country Twang

If you're looking to capture the unmistakable twang of a classic Telecaster, you'll want strings that emphasize brightness, clarity, and snappiness. Country legends like James Burton have often favored lighter gauge strings to facilitate fast picking, smooth bends, and pedal steel-like vibrato.

Stringjoy 9-42 Balanced Super Light Signatures  – This set offers ease of playability without skimping on crisp tone. Ideal for fast, intricate picking and full step bends.

Stringjoy 9-46 Husky Super Light Signatures - Pushes the tension on the low end for extra stability if you're switching between lead lines and rhythm.

Stringjoy Custom 6 String Signatures – The best kinda chicken pickin' is your kinda chicken pickin'. With Stringjoy custom sets, you can go the route of legends like the aforementioned Mr. Burton and choose the exact strings for your setup. A James Burton set might look like: .009 - .011 - .016 - .026 - .036 - .046

2. Blues and Rock and Everything in Between

Blues and rock players who wield Telecasters often seek a warmer, grittier tone that still retains the signature T-style bite. Light to Medium gauge strings provide a balanced blend of sustain and attack, making them a great choice for those looking to play both lead and rhythm parts with authority. Think Keef.

Stringjoy 10-48 Balanced Light Gauge Signatures – Stringjoy's most popular set of nickel-wound electric strings, you simply can't go wrong with Balanced Light. Insanely versatile with tons of presence, these strings will have your Tele singing whether its string-through or top-loader. 

Stringjoy 10-52 Heavy Bottom Pure Nickel Broadways – If you're playing a lot of rhythm, down-tuning, or simply like it when your strings push back a bit, these pure-nickel, vintage style strings will deliver round, rich, warm, full-bodied tone while retaining flexibility that'll allow tons of expression and amazing vibrato. Never strung up round-cores before? Start here!

Stringjoy 9.5 - 46 Balanced Super Light Orbiters  – Split the difference and enjoy slinkier trebles and beefier basses. Stringjoy Orbiters don't have the usual coated string flub. Enjoy slinkier trebles and beefier basses while retaining a shimmery high-end for maximum versatility.

3. Jazz and Warm Tones

We weren't kidding when we said the Tele can do it all. For smooth, mellow tones favored in jazz, heavier gauge strings with a wound third string enhance sustain and warmth. A Telecaster set up for jazz playing will emphasize full, rounded tones rather than bright, cutting attack. Think Ed Bickert and Julian Lage.

Stringjoy 10-48 Wound 3rd Light Signatures  – Our Balanced Light set with a Wound 3rd. If you've never tried a wound 3rd on your electric before, this is an excellent place to start.

Stringjoy 11-48 Classic Medium Pure Nickel Broadways  – Pure nickel, round core Broadways emphasize warmth, body, and harmonic complexity. While this set features a plain 3rd, it's robust enough to pull of dreamy jazz tones.

Stringjoy 12-52 Classic Heavy Pure Nickel Broadways  – Tailored for jazz players seeking a balanced, warm sound with articulate note definition, this heavy-duty set of Broadways will give your Telecaster all the punch of a dreadnought. We promise, it can take it.

Make it a Deluxe

In the 1970s, Fender introduced the Telecaster Custom and the Telecaster Deluxe, each of which featured humbuckers in place of one or both of the Traditional Tele single coils. This mod gave the Tele a thicker, warmer tone with more sustain, making it better suited for rock and heavier styles.

A precursor to the myriad "Partscaster" Teles that feature all sorts of diverse pickup combos, if you're playing a humbucker-equipped T-style guitar, you may prefer heavier gauge strings to complement the warmth and output of the pickups.

Stringjoy 11-50 Balanced Medium Signatures  – Feed your Telecaster's humbuckers heavier strings and they will reward you. A fantastic choice for players who focus on rhythm parts.

Stringjoy 10.5-50 Balanced Light Orbiters  – A notch heavier than our Balanced Light sets, these coated Orbiters will enhance your Tele's natural sustain and depth. Ideal for rock and heavy metal. Plus they last a stupid long time.

Stringjoy 9.5 - 48 Husky Super Light Plus Signatures – Light but substantial, this set will have your wide-range humbuckers sounding glorious.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the best Telecaster strings for your purposes will unlock the downright magical versatility of this classic model – and experimenting with different string gauges and materials can unlock new dimensions in your sound, whether you play a vintage model, a Deluxe iteration, or a T-style guitar from a maker other than Fender.

So think about the ways you might want to fine-tune your Tele, pick out some really good strings and listen to how your Telecaster responds. Because while its beauty is in its simplicity, the Telecaster has a ton of complex sounds to offer if you treat it right.

The Best Strings for Your Telecaster

Strings fit for a legend.

Stringjoy 9-42 Balanced Super Light Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9-46 Husky Super Light Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy Custom 6 String Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-48 Balanced Light Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-52 Heavy Bottom Light Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9.5-46 Balanced Super Light Plus Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10-48 Wound 3rd Light Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 11-48 Classic Medium Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 12-52 Classic Heavy Gauge Broadways - Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 11-50 Balanced Medium Gauge Signatures - Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 10.5-50 Balanced Light Plus Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings

Stringjoy 9-46 Husky Super Light Gauge Orbiters - Coated Nickel Electric Guitar Strings