Been a Tele player since 87'. My first Tele (a MIJ Blk/white guard/Maple) Squire,although retired, is still sitting downstairs in the rack, tuned and ready to go.
At the time, everyone around me had either BC Rich's or Strats, I wanted someting different. I saw the "People Get Ready" video with Jeff Beck playing an old 50's Tele and said "That's the one for me!!!" It served me well for 10 yrs on the road and was only put to second string when I got my 97' Blueburst Tele Plus with the Middle Strat pup I needed for Brent Mason sounding stuff.
A Tele has the greatest wiry snarl, an sound that the Strat is just a little too polite for, in the bridge position anyway. The Tele is basic, just two pups , a Three way switch , and two pots. The sounds's gotta come from your hands. You really gotta play a Tele to make it sound good. By the same token, the bare bones sound almost MAKES you play it. There's no cushy midrange to fall back on like on a Les Paul. This is probably why Tele players tend to lean towards "Hot Rod" styles; Gatton, Mason, Volkelart,Bryant, Beck,Skaggs,Lee,Hiland,Anderson,ect...
A Tele is tough too. It's solid, and with a few basic parts you're ready to go. It ain't fragile niether!!!
Ian Rossiter