What is, and what isn't, a Telecaster Custom?

Chill, Dickie, it's the real deal ... up to a point. It's the modern version of the 72 instrument. The 'Custom' name came from Fender putting their own humbucker pick-up in the neck poisition because so many players were doing it anyway - different shaped pickguard and knobs instead of sliders to control sounds. The legendary Wilko Johnson of Dr Feelgood used one like this, but the living legend Steve Cropper used the more traditional American Standard, although he nowadays totes one made by Peavy. You'll also find there's a sectarian divide over the fingerboard - maple or rosewood. If yours is the latter (dark wood) never speak to me again. Welcome to the wonderful word of guitar bigotry and nerdism.

Open D is to die for ...tune bottom string down to D, five and four stay same (A and D) G does down semitone to Fsharp, B down to A and E down to D, matching bottom but octave higher. Strum or pick it open and its the greatest chord in this or any other universe (including the much vaunted Eminor in root position).Bar each fret right across and you get a chord. Open is D, fret 5 is G, fret 7 is A and there's the 12-bar progression - Quo do it all the time!