Discussion
I was always a Strat fan, but over the last couple of years I have really fallen for Teles. A few months ago I bought a '52 AVRI and it's the best guitar I've ever played.
Reading the guitar forums, it seems as though there is somekind of Tele revival/fad/trend going on at the minute.
Reading the guitar forums, it seems as though there is somekind of Tele revival/fad/trend going on at the minute.
Got both, love both.
My Strat (a mid '80s Japanese "Fotoflame" with Bare Knuckles "Slow Hand" pickups) gets more use because it's more versatile and more forgiving (more on this in the next paragraph) but the Tele (a deperately unfashionable early '80s US Standard with six saddle "top loader" bridge) into my old Super Champ has what's quite simply the most heart-breakingly beautiful clean tone I've ever heard and Stones stuff in Keef-style 5-string "Open G" tuning sounds absolutely spot on!
The Tele's also my practice/learning guitar of choice because its clarity, sparkle, and attack make it ruthlessly unforgiving of poor technique[1] - the Strat (and even more so the PRS Mira which is my other main guitar these days) seem to let me get away with fluffed notes, messy picking, shaky timing, sloppy muting, and inaccurate bends[2] to a far greater extent so if I learn something on the Tele and then switch to one of the others once I've got my head/fingers round what I'm trying to do it makes me feel loads more confident when I'm happy to let someone else hear it. To a certain extent I think the fact that the Tele is a challenge to get the best out of is one of the things which endears it to me, and it gives me a certain extra respect for players who can really make them work.
[1] Of which I have plenty!
[2] All of which I'm guilty of far more often than I'd like!
My Strat (a mid '80s Japanese "Fotoflame" with Bare Knuckles "Slow Hand" pickups) gets more use because it's more versatile and more forgiving (more on this in the next paragraph) but the Tele (a deperately unfashionable early '80s US Standard with six saddle "top loader" bridge) into my old Super Champ has what's quite simply the most heart-breakingly beautiful clean tone I've ever heard and Stones stuff in Keef-style 5-string "Open G" tuning sounds absolutely spot on!
The Tele's also my practice/learning guitar of choice because its clarity, sparkle, and attack make it ruthlessly unforgiving of poor technique[1] - the Strat (and even more so the PRS Mira which is my other main guitar these days) seem to let me get away with fluffed notes, messy picking, shaky timing, sloppy muting, and inaccurate bends[2] to a far greater extent so if I learn something on the Tele and then switch to one of the others once I've got my head/fingers round what I'm trying to do it makes me feel loads more confident when I'm happy to let someone else hear it. To a certain extent I think the fact that the Tele is a challenge to get the best out of is one of the things which endears it to me, and it gives me a certain extra respect for players who can really make them work.
[1] Of which I have plenty!
[2] All of which I'm guilty of far more often than I'd like!
I have an american standard tele myself, and a good friend has an american strat, so we have the best of both worlds.
I prefer the tele myself, and my mate admits to preferring the tele too, it seems to fit my playing style and hands perfect.
I guess it always comes down to playing style and the person though.
Although a majority of good guitarists probably know when they're playing a good guitar
I prefer the tele myself, and my mate admits to preferring the tele too, it seems to fit my playing style and hands perfect.
I guess it always comes down to playing style and the person though.
Although a majority of good guitarists probably know when they're playing a good guitar
evil len said:
I've got a USA Strat and love it for it's versatility.
I want a Tele at some point ... question, is the USA Tele that much better than the Mex ?
Yes. Go and try a mexican at your local guitar shop and then ask to try an american standard. After that you'll never want to go back.I want a Tele at some point ... question, is the USA Tele that much better than the Mex ?
Neither, I went for a Jazzmaster 
Strats are good guitars but just such an unoriginal choice, I'm no Clapton so never really going appreciate the better-ness of a strat over anything else anyway.
Tele's are cool but I feel they should always look battered for some reason, a new shiny one just doesn't look right imo.
Strats are good guitars but just such an unoriginal choice, I'm no Clapton so never really going appreciate the better-ness of a strat over anything else anyway.
Tele's are cool but I feel they should always look battered for some reason, a new shiny one just doesn't look right imo.
Dracoro said:
Neither, I went for a Jazzmaster
Strats are good guitars but just such an unoriginal choice, I'm no Clapton so never really going appreciate the better-ness of a strat over anything else anyway.
Tele's are cool but I feel they should always look battered for some reason, a new shiny one just doesn't look right imo.
good choice-Strats are good guitars but just such an unoriginal choice, I'm no Clapton so never really going appreciate the better-ness of a strat over anything else anyway.
Tele's are cool but I feel they should always look battered for some reason, a new shiny one just doesn't look right imo.
which colour?
Thanks, I've always loved them.
Sunburst - I was toying between that and black but since the sunburst had plenty of black in it, it won the day Oh, added to the fact that my local friendly guitar place (I get free guitar servicing for 2 years too!) had one in stock, that also helped make my mind up!
Sunburst - I was toying between that and black but since the sunburst had plenty of black in it, it won the day
Oh, added to the fact that my local friendly guitar place (I get free guitar servicing for 2 years too!) had one in stock, that also helped make my mind up!Edited by Dracoro on Monday 22 June 09:13
The best colour - looks exactly like mine - the only guitar I know I'll never sell. I am going to re wire the rhythm circuit though as its too woody for me
My Fender Tele FWIW is a nice little guitar -- black body, maple neck, white scratchplate - it's a heavy chunk of wood and just sounds right for some music -- quite a limited range - but that's the appeal - makes you work harder! -- seems to sound better in open g tuning too......
My Fender Strat is a nice hunk of wood -- Lake Placid blue with a rosewood fingerboard -- great in neck or bridge position and very comfy to play - I do hate the inbetween pickup poistions though -
To my ears IMHO you can't go wrong with a Tele -- they are limited (bit like a Les Paul) but that doesn't matter -- they sound great.
the Strat can make any sound you want and is very receptive to how you use your fingers -
- you can sound like an 80's jangly tosser with a strat though or you can fall into that cheesy 80's overproduced blues....
My Fender Tele FWIW is a nice little guitar -- black body, maple neck, white scratchplate - it's a heavy chunk of wood and just sounds right for some music -- quite a limited range - but that's the appeal - makes you work harder! -- seems to sound better in open g tuning too......
My Fender Strat is a nice hunk of wood -- Lake Placid blue with a rosewood fingerboard -- great in neck or bridge position and very comfy to play - I do hate the inbetween pickup poistions though -
To my ears IMHO you can't go wrong with a Tele -- they are limited (bit like a Les Paul) but that doesn't matter -- they sound great.
the Strat can make any sound you want and is very receptive to how you use your fingers -
- you can sound like an 80's jangly tosser with a strat though or you can fall into that cheesy 80's overproduced blues....
LaurenceOnSynth said:
evil len said:
I've got a USA Strat and love it for it's versatility.
I want a Tele at some point ... question, is the USA Tele that much better than the Mex ?
Yes. Go and try a mexican at your local guitar shop and then ask to try an american standard. After that you'll never want to go back.I want a Tele at some point ... question, is the USA Tele that much better than the Mex ?
As practically no-one ever uses a clean guitar sound, and with all the amp-simulator gubbins that are so cheaply available to create any sound you want, why is the shape of your guitar's body of any importance other than visually?
Genuine question folks, from someone who has an acoustic guitar....
Genuine question folks, from someone who has an acoustic guitar....
Get Karter said:
As practically no-one ever uses a clean guitar sound, and with all the amp-simulator gubbins that are so cheaply available to create any sound you want, why is the shape of your guitar's body of any importance other than visually?
Genuine question folks, from someone who has an acoustic guitar....
Depends. A hollow body electric has a much richer, smoother tone than say a solid body like a strat. When played clean obviously. Genuine question folks, from someone who has an acoustic guitar....
Get Karter said:
As practically no-one ever uses a clean guitar sound, and with all the amp-simulator gubbins that are so cheaply available to create any sound you want, why is the shape of your guitar's body of any importance other than visually?
Genuine question folks, from someone who has an acoustic guitar....
The sound of the guitar will colour whatever sound you get regardless of what processing you do further down the line.Genuine question folks, from someone who has an acoustic guitar....
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff