first time I saw Jim was 2008, on a promo for Fender Princeton Reverb Amp..man..still the same beautiful sound..from his '59 Telecaster..thanks for uploading this video..
That was the same promo that introduced me to Jim! And still the clip I play for friends who don’t know him. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing on half a dozen Monday nights at Rockwood, now. What a special musical voice.
I'm playing a '94 mexican top load and it's a super guitar. This top vs back load nonsense is for those that would rather talk than actually play! As Frank Zappa said "Shut up and play yer guitar!"
Jim, Jeff & Jimmy sure can’t be all wrong about the top loader thing, you know? Slinkyer, for those behind the nut bends and slightly more resonant full chords. This is the holy grail Tele, if you ask me... ‘59? One hell of a year for guitars!!! I once recorded with a ‘59 Esquire of unspeakable provenance, and was initiated in to the top loading society! Hallelujah! 😏
I don't know if top loaders sound different as much as they feel different. I have teles that are both and if you string them differently you will notice right away.
Top & back loaded is probably different in term of strings tension? And maybe it's matter to the sound as well?? Just my guess, I really want to know the differences too!
I once changed the trapeze tailpiece on my '67 Gibson ES-340 to a stop tailpiece because some self-appointed expert (Larry Carlton) in a magazine article said it would make for better sustain. To my surprise it changed nothing in tone or sustain at all. Now I realize that it couldn't possibly. If you want to test this yourself, simply take your Tele (or whatever guitar) and push down hard on any string BEHIND the saddle with your right hand (if you're right-handed) in order to change the string angle and pluck the string with your left hand simultaneously. You'll find it only raises the pitch but does absolutely nothing to the tone or sustain. Trapeze, stop, wraparound, string through, top load, bottom load---it just doesn't matter, and if you think about it for two seconds you'll soon realize that it can't. Being famous and a great guitarist doesn't make you smart.
+Charles Seper Being smart doesn't make you famous and a great guitarist. While the VAST majority of people making beautiful music have some quirks and deeply held convictions about the minutia of their instruments, fountain pens, the lighting in the room, etc., you argue that they're "believing a lie". My $.02 says they don't don't care and will go on using top-loaders or non top-loaders because it feels right to them.
+Justin Shaffer ~ It's not a belief. It's a fact that anyone can check for themselves. But yes, people will always ignore common sense in favor of doing what they want to do. This generation suffers from that particular affliction.
I don't agree. Every change behind the bridge matters. Even if ever so slightly, but small things will add up…😊 On my guitars I hear almost every change
Hi I agree with most of the comments about top loader guitars but all the people that know about teles that I've talked to including myself says that an american tele that was made in the 50's thru the 60's did NOT make a top loader. I wish Norm and George would comment on this I consider both of them the best experts
+georyans @ Fender made nothing but top loaders from the end of 1957 to the beginning of 1960. And of course they made a ton of them, both American and Mexican, during the early 90s. Pick up any book on the history of Fender guitars and you'll see.
***** It can't possibly sound any different. People want a hole through tele for the same reason they want a skunk stripe on the neck--because they're used to it being that way, and being resistant to change is human nature.
***** No matter what string angle you approach the saddles with, it changes nothing about the string tension. You're either tuned to pitch or you're not. Therefore the string's vibration is unaffected. The load and tension are exactly the same either way. I've owned teles with bridge plates where you could load from either the top or bottom, and it sounded exactly the same either way. For that matter, going from a trapeze tailpiece to a stop tailpiece on my old Gibson ES 340 had no effect on tone, sustain, or anything.
+Charles Seper There is not only a clear and audible difference in sound, but also a meaningful difference in feel that effects playing technique of acutely aware players.
well i have done a little more research fender did make a top loader in 59 in very limited numbers most were made in 83. they made them probably because of a factory mistake and didn't want to through anything away
I had one of the 83 ones (bought in 83) and the tension felt different but really nice to play.. the big thing is, like he says in the video, it does mellow the spikes in the higher register out.. If you're into a mellower tele, top loading bridges do the trick..
can he play a guitar ? he does not play a note in the video clip. I don't know who he is unless he palled around with Don Rich or Roy Buchanan or Leslie West or somebody who plays well...
imho very underrated guitarist
Jim seems like a really cool and great person.
Like them or not-Telecasters are magical in their simplicity of design. Love my 66. Like a beautiful old tree.
I have a friend who owns a 66 it's a blond maple neck. I love the headstock logo on a 66! 😎
Samson Kirkpatrick my 66. All stock. All soul.
I probably do too.
Love Jim and his playing - a real inspiration to me
Big props to Seymour Duncan for his bang-up rewinds, those pickups sound so perfectly balanced.
first time I saw Jim was 2008, on a promo for Fender Princeton Reverb Amp..man..still the same beautiful sound..from his '59 Telecaster..thanks for uploading this video..
That was the same promo that introduced me to Jim! And still the clip I play for friends who don’t know him. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing on half a dozen Monday nights at Rockwood, now. What a special musical voice.
I'm playing a '94 mexican top load and it's a super guitar. This top vs back load nonsense is for those that would rather talk than actually play! As Frank Zappa said "Shut up and play yer guitar!"
KRAZEEIZATION I play a '94 MIM toploader too....fantastic guitar, like Jim I didn't even know the difference until years later.
Exactly.
I have a 92 MIM with the top-loader bridge, can't tell much difference in tone or playability, to be honest
never thought I'd see Harrison Ford shredding on a tele!
Would LOVE to see any of you haters and bedroom warriors compete with Jim Campilongo for real work. ;-)
I have one of the first squire telecasters which has a top load bridge.
Jim, Jeff & Jimmy sure can’t be all wrong about the top loader thing, you know? Slinkyer, for those behind the nut bends and slightly more resonant full chords. This is the holy grail Tele, if you ask me... ‘59? One hell of a year for guitars!!! I once recorded with a ‘59 Esquire of unspeakable provenance, and was initiated in to the top loading society! Hallelujah! 😏
Jeff Buckley played a top loader too. Less string tension apparently.
Mookie & I love Jim!
Woof!!
He's a great player. Kinda reminds me of Austin powers
My 66. All stock. All soul.
I don't know if top loaders sound different as much as they feel different. I have teles that are both and if you string them differently you will notice right away.
A friend has a Bullet that loads the strings the same way. The guitar is a gas to play, and it just stays in tune for days on end.
Damn that guitars been beat to shit. Awesome!!
He laughs just like Steve martin lol
Only difference in top loading vs string through is the feel shorter length and less broken strings. Which is a good thing :p
Telecasters are the best looking guiars. Fact!
HEY JIM ~ GREAT STUFF ~ PLAY THE DAMN THING ~ CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042 TELEVILLE USA
Top & back loaded is probably different in term of strings tension? And maybe it's matter to the sound as well??
Just my guess, I really want to know the differences too!
@The Vintagers, string tension is unchanged. Only the length between the saddles and nut dictates the tension required for a given pitch and gauge.
I once changed the trapeze tailpiece on my '67 Gibson ES-340 to a stop tailpiece because some self-appointed expert (Larry Carlton) in a magazine article said it would make for better sustain. To my surprise it changed nothing in tone or sustain at all. Now I realize that it couldn't possibly. If you want to test this yourself, simply take your Tele (or whatever guitar) and push down hard on any string BEHIND the saddle with your right hand (if you're right-handed) in order to change the string angle and pluck the string with your left hand simultaneously. You'll find it only raises the pitch but does absolutely nothing to the tone or sustain. Trapeze, stop, wraparound, string through, top load, bottom load---it just doesn't matter, and if you think about it for two seconds you'll soon realize that it can't. Being famous and a great guitarist doesn't make you smart.
+Charles Seper Being smart doesn't make you famous and a great guitarist. While the VAST majority of people making beautiful music have some quirks and deeply held convictions about the minutia of their instruments, fountain pens, the lighting in the room, etc., you argue that they're "believing a lie". My $.02 says they don't don't care and will go on using top-loaders or non top-loaders because it feels right to them.
+Justin Shaffer ~ It's not a belief. It's a fact that anyone can check for themselves. But yes, people will always ignore common sense in favor of doing what they want to do. This generation suffers from that particular affliction.
I don't agree. Every change behind the bridge matters. Even if ever so slightly, but small things will add up…😊
On my guitars I hear almost every change
What is this color?
Crazy big frets on that Tele....jumbo's. Those aren't stock.
Hi I agree with most of the comments about top loader guitars but all the people that know about teles that I've talked to including myself says that an american tele that was made in the 50's thru the 60's did NOT make a top loader. I wish Norm and George would comment on this I consider both of them the best experts
+georyans So you're saying toploaders in the 50s and 60s didn't exist?
+georyans @ Fender made nothing but top loaders from the end of 1957 to the beginning of 1960. And of course they made a ton of them, both American and Mexican, during the early 90s. Pick up any book on the history of Fender guitars and you'll see.
He called it a dog because he wanted it..
Top load, back load, they sound exactly the same.
***** It can't possibly sound any different. People want a hole through tele for the same reason they want a skunk stripe on the neck--because they're used to it being that way, and being resistant to change is human nature.
***** No matter what string angle you approach the saddles with, it changes nothing about the string tension. You're either tuned to pitch or you're not. Therefore the string's vibration is unaffected. The load and tension are exactly the same either way. I've owned teles with bridge plates where you could load from either the top or bottom, and it sounded exactly the same either way. For that matter, going from a trapeze tailpiece to a stop tailpiece on my old Gibson ES 340 had no effect on tone, sustain, or anything.
***** We'll just have to disagree on it Lefty. No biggie. I'd still have a beer with ya.
accordin to this video they all sound nothing ahahha
+Charles Seper There is not only a clear and audible difference in sound, but also a meaningful difference in feel that effects playing technique of acutely aware players.
well i have done a little more research fender did make a top loader in 59 in very limited numbers most were made in 83. they made them probably because of a factory mistake and didn't want to through anything away
I had one of the 83 ones (bought in 83) and the tension felt different but really nice to play.. the big thing is, like he says in the video, it does mellow the spikes in the higher register out.. If you're into a mellower tele, top loading bridges do the trick..
can he play a guitar ? he does not play a note in the video clip. I don't know who he is unless he palled around with Don Rich or Roy Buchanan or Leslie West or somebody who plays well...