When you’re young and dreaming about hitting the road, touring sounds like the ultimate adventure, until you actually do it.

In this episode, I look back on my first tour experience with the long drives, bad gigs, and all the hard lessons that came with it. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me things I still carry with me every time I step onstage.

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From 1967 through 1981, Fender used the now-infamous F-stamped tuners on many Telecasters, Stratocasters, and the majority of their product line. For some players, they’re a charming piece of CBS-era design; for others, they’re a headache.

In this episode, I dig into the full story of why Fender switched from Kluson tuners in 1967, who actually made the F-tuners, how they changed through the 1970s, and what their strengths and weaknesses really are.

I also cover how the original version 1967-75, have no modern replacement, and the only option is to buy used originals. For the 1975-81 F-style tuners , I look at the modern replacements that fit the original footprint, and which offer better performance. We’ll also look at the modern reissue F-Tuners, which are based on the latter style made by Schaller, yet they were used on reissues that should have had the earlier style.

By the end, you’ll know how to identify each version, how to keep them working smoothly, and the best paths for replacement or restoration, whether you’re chasing originality or reliability.

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The Telecaster is known for its twang and simplicity—but add a Bigsby, and it becomes something completely different. In this video, I explore the history of Bigsby-equipped Telecasters, from Paul Bigsby’s development of the B-16 in 1953, to Fender’s first factory-installed B5 models in 1967, and how they’re still used in today’s guitars.

Along the way, I’ll share setup tips and tricks to keep your Bigsby Tele in tune, break down how a vibrato changes both tone and feel, and highlight some of the famous players who made the Bigsby Telecaster iconic.

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