Strats verses Teles?

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 29 Jun 2005 7:30 pm

I have a new Hwy 1 strat that plays like a dream. But to be honest, I like the tone of a Tele the best. I just like the chicken-pickin sound you get from a Tele. The main reason I got this Strat is that it was priced very low because of some minor paint chips in the satin finish. I got it for a great price. I can get a tone I like from my strat, but it's just not like a Tele.
Anybody that would be interested in trading a Hwy 1 Tele for a Hwy 1 Strat of equal value let me know.
Also, what about the MIM Teles. I know they're not of the quality of the American made guitars, but do they have good tone and do they play any where close to the American made Teles? I'm even thinkin about sellin my Hwy 1 strat and getin a MIM Tele, all depends on feedback from you guys. I'd love to be able to afford an american made Tele but that's out of the question.
Terry

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Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 29 Jun 2005 7:47 pm

Terry,I have played some really nice MIM Teles...go play a bunch of them...you'll find one you like...and remember,if the body and neck suit you,you can change anything else that you don't like!I've got a MIJ Tele that everything except the tuning keys has been changed(bridge,pickups,pots and switch)-it is one of the best Teles I've ever had!

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http://home.comcast.net/~stevehinson

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 29 Jun 2005 7:56 pm

I've played both and I can't tell the difference. Either one is good for chicken pickin'. Some guys say it's the Tele bridge that has something to do with the tone, while others say it's the pickups. But I'm willing to bet that if I put a Tele bridge and pickups on a Strat-shaped body the die-hard Tele lovers could still tell the difference. To me, it makes no difference. I get excellent 'twang' from my Strat and I have no desire to go and buy a Tele just so I can feel like all the legendary country sidemen who played them.

Terje Larson · Post by **Terje Larson** » 29 Jun 2005 8:28 pm

I can't play strats. The middle pick-up is located exactly where I like to rest my right hand fingers. That may be a very bad habit but I still think it's smart to get an instrument that fits your technique rather than the other way around.

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If you can't hear the others you're too loud, if you can't hear yourself you've gone deaf

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 29 Jun 2005 8:28 pm

Terry I've owned more than a dozen Fenders "American made", and played dozens more..Both Teles and Strats,from the 50's to date. 2 years ago I bought a MIM Strat for the purpose of modding it to my specs.Now for about $500 including tweed case I have an ax thats as good as any I've ever owened..
So bout 6 mos. ago I walked into the local GC and right in the entrance was the Tele I have been lookin for..Natural finish ASH body with maple finger board. On sale..I was blown away to learn it was MIM. 3 piece ASH,not 2 piece like American,but thats OK.All Ive done to it is replace the "American" 5 way with a 4 way and tone pot with a push pull pot and lowered the action a tad.It sounds great.If you can find an ASH body, buy it..no poplar..if it's painted, it's poplar..Fender does'nt even show this guitar in thier line-up..so you will probably have trouble finding one..
Want some one on one info,feel free to E-MAIL me..Glad to help..P.J.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 29 Jun 2005 9:40 pm

IMO, Strats are not Teles, there is a significant difference (and I like and use both). A Tele with a traditional bridge and lead pickup (with copper-plated bottom plate) sounds unique. I've put Tele bridges/pickups in Strats, and put middle pickups in Teles - this goes a long way to bridging the differences, but not completely, to my ears.

I'm with Steve, the Japanese Tele Reissues are excellent for the money, and have always been my preference for the imported ones. But I just picked up a MIM '69 Thinline Tele reissue, very nice, and I'm particular. In fact, I think this reissue plays better than the old 'real' Thinlines I've owned/played. I played a bunch of the MIM reissue-style Teles recently, they were all nice. I see them for around $400-450 used these days (just got mine the other day at a vintage guitar show).

If you do this, I suggest going somewhere you can try a bunch - a road trip to a larger city or guitar show. Mail order is easy, but you get whatever they feel like sending you. I suggest looking for a fairly light one with a neck that suits your hand. The traditional body woods are ash and alder. I prefer ash, but only the lighter 'swamp ash' type. Ash can be extremely heavy, and I don't think the real heavy ones 'pop' the way the lighter ones do. I've had light alder-body Teles that sound great.

Neck wood is another personal choice. I like both maple necks and rosewood fingerboards, they're a bit different. The maple neck is usually a bit harder-edged in sound, all other things being equal. But one needs to sit and play a bunch to sort this out.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Jun 2005 2:04 am

this is way to subjective.

First off..Tele's are not a guitar..they are a way of life...

Quite honestly a guitar player who plays often should have both...and does not compare them to each other..

I don't make any claims to be the PLAYER of the year, far from it..but when I play out on the Strat ,it's not quite the same as when I play out on the Tele..I hear different stuff..and I end up playing different stuff..

As far as which Tele is better..way to subjective..I currently have 3..

a side to side comparison of the different models will reveal what the assmebled differences are, not necessarily the sonic or dynamic differences.

Many of the MIM's have a more bleached look to the maple caps rather than a smooth natural finish..for me ,this does not cut it..

Are the MIM's nice players ? Yes they are. Do they sound the same as say a 52RI or an American Ash with Delta Tones ? No..not in my view..can you spend a few bucks and change the PUPS ? Yes of course...

Guitars are very personal and it really comes down to what pleases the player..not the players friends....

One thing is absolutely clear..Chicken Picken , the attack and the primary tonal stucture comes from the player..not the guitar...Tele's just happen to be the guitar of choice to get it done. And yes..you can Chicken Pick on a Strat...you just have to make some adjustments to your right hand technique...

Many love their MIM Tele's and such..I happen to love my 1989 52RI..hands down the finest Tele I have ever owned ..for me..7.5 radius, fat frets..but it may not work for someone else....

for my money the best 2 new Tele's if you can find them in the mid price range are the Highway 1 ( usa) and the 50's classics..(MIM )

my other 2 Tele's are a MIJ 1986 Squire and a 50's classic with Noiseless Pups and a B5...My daughter has taken the Squire off to school with her and the 50's classic is getting ready for another complete makeover with a 1 piece Ash body..but it will never play like the 52 RI..

Terry, go try out 12 or more Tele's under $500 , buy the one that talks to ya..

good luck

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 30 June 2005 at 03:11 AM.]

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 30 Jun 2005 4:15 am

Terry, the biggest difference to me is bending strings. You have to overbend on a Strat(or any guitar with a floating trem), to overcome the movement of the bridge. You can block the trem, then the bending is the same.
I currently have a MIM Nashville tele, alder(not poplar),3pups. Does it sound like a strat? Somewhat, but it doesn't have as good position 2(bridge-middle). I have played this guitar for 5 years, and have changed nothing on it since new(unusual for me).
One thing to be absolutely sure of is a 22 fret neck. 24 fret necks sound way different.
IMO,strats and teles do not play or sound the same, although you can get them pretty close.
An aside- i saw Loggins and Messina on TV last week, and was SHOCKED

to see them playing Strats on Your Momma Don't Dance! I always assumed Tele on the original. Anyone know for sure? JP

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 30 Jun 2005 4:24 am

Seymour Duncan makes strat replacement pick up called the Twang Banger . It`s made like a tele bridge pup with a brass base plate . Has anyone tried them ?

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Olli Haavisto,
Finland

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 30 Jun 2005 5:16 am

I sold my 69 reissue MIM Tele earlier this year and I'm sick. I don't know what I was thinking. It was a great guitar.

I can't imagine not having both a Strat and Tele though. They are are different as my Epi jazz box. Gotta have 'em all.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 30 Jun 2005 5:16 am

If you want the Tele sound and don't care about the name on the headstock, try an older Peavey Reactor. I had one a few years ago that sounded really good, and just bought another one a couple of weeks ago. These were made in the USA and the quality is great for the price. They usually sell for $75.00 to $125.00 depending on the condition.

Peavey also made a Reactor AX that was just a little nicer, I have two of these and they sound and play great also. They have dual blade pickups and the finish is a little shinier. All of the AX's I've seen have a Rosewood fingerboard, the standard Reactors have a Maple board. If any of you have the Players DVD, Brent Mason plays a Peavey Reactor AX on some of the songs, if its good enough for him, its good enough for me.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 30 Jun 2005 5:41 am

The MIM 50's Classic Teles are great, especially if you like the old-school features -- maple neck, small fingerboard radius, three-saddle bridge, etc. Common user modifications are different pickups --say, a SD Broadcaster in the bridge position -- and compensated bridge saddles -- brass, steel, or threaded -- to improve intonation while preserving the vintage look and tone. For the $$$, they compare very favorably with the US-made '52-RI models. Don't have much experience with other MIM Teles, but read & hear that MIM 60's Classic and Muddy Waters models -- with rosewood fingerboards -- are also highly regarded. From what I've seen, craftsmanship from Fender's Corona (Mexico) plant is as good as anything they make in the US. Main difference is that higher-end models are made in the US, more ordinary guitars made in Mexico.

Chris Spencer · Post by **Chris Spencer** » 30 Jun 2005 6:17 am

I have an 1982 MIJ 62RI that is a great guitar and 1968 strat also a great guitar. Do they sound the same? Not to my ear. I think the teles are brighter with the bridge pickup and rounder with the neck. I like both guitars. I've never played a MIM fender so I don't know about the quality but alot of guys on the fender forum play them and as stated here it depends on the specific guitar. There's also the G&L ASAT which a lot of people seem to like.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 30 Jun 2005 7:16 am

I put together this Tele recently, using Mighty Mite body and neck, Duncan pickups and Sperzel tuners. Great player, sounds beautiful and cost me approx $500, perhaps a little more...
I agree with those who's claimed that a Tele and a Strat are two different animals, and - "Tele's are not a guitar..they are a way of life..." - loved it!!

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 30 June 2005 at 08:18 AM.]

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 30 Jun 2005 9:36 am

The difference is psychological. The moment you see that body/pickguard/headstock/bridge shape, you automatically think 'country twang machine'. I used to think that too, that is until I saw country pickers playing Strats and hard rockers wailing away on Teles. Pickups, amps, and playing style make up the sound, not the shape of the guitar.

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 30 Jun 2005 11:45 am

Leslie, it's more than psychological. There is a difference in sound and timbre -- due to the hard-mounted plate Tele bridge versus the floating Strat tremelo bridge. To me it's a very discernable difference. YMMV.

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 30 Jun 2005 12:24 pm

Don't overlook G&Ls, more Fender than Fender (R).

I've yet to play the new, less expensive Heritage G&Ls, but most have said they're pretty good players. Same electronics as the top models, just somewhat lesser quality wood. "ASAT" (A Standard American Telecaster) is the G&L tele model. Also, for LOTS of opinions on telecasters, visit:
http://www.tdpri.com/[This message was edited by Ben Slaughter on 30 June 2005 at 01:25 PM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Jun 2005 1:49 pm

Sorry...t's not psychological..they are two totally different Guitars. The only thing similar is that they use single coil pickups, and not even the same ones..

A working guitar player should have both...

t

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 30 Jun 2005 2:14 pm

If I took all the parts off a Telecaster (except the body and pickguard) and bolted them onto a body that was Strat-shaped or any other shape, would you still be able to tell the difference if you played it? If you can, then it's purely psychological. Body shape has absolutely nothing to do with tone. Tone is in the pickups, the amp, and in your playing style.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Jun 2005 2:51 pm

Leslie, as long as the Strat body was solid and the bridge was bolted down without a floating tremelo. And as long as the bridge PUP assembly and bridge were a 3 saddle basically flat assembly.

then yes, the body would not make a difference..

but Strats and Tele's are not the same..and were not intended to be...and they don't sound the same..and they were not intended to...similar ? yes I suppose so..

The mid PUP switch position of the Tele gives a tone that is not even found on a Strat...

too many dfferences..both fine guitars..

t

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 30 Jun 2005 2:53 pm

Thanks for all the help guys. I'd really like to have both my Hw1 strat and a good Hw1 Tele, but I can't afford both guitars.I just play for a local Gospel Trio, I don't play music for a livin so I can get buy with one guitar.
I think I'll just keep my Hw1 Strat because It plays so good. maybe someday I'll be able to get me a Hw1 Tele. They are $629 in Musicians friend.
Terry

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Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 30 Jun 2005 3:25 pm

Stephen Gambrell, remember when you posted about some threads are like bloody car-wrecks that you don't want to look, but just have to...? Here's another one, right up there with the ET vs JI disasters. Like you, against my better judgement I looked anyway, *sigh*.

Same old BS all over again.

I wonder how many times this same thread will be repeated?

Same replies by the same people.

"Tele's are GOD, all others are tools of the devil!"

"Anything can sound like anything, it's all in the hands!"

"Tele's and Strat's are the same guitar except one has 3 pickups!"

Now here's a new one:

"Body shape has absolutely nothing to do with tone. Tone is in the pickups, the amp, and in your playing style."

My dad and I had a discussion about 30 years ago, and he used almost the exact same words to "explain" to me the difference between my Gibson Super 400 and my Les Paul was only for looks, cuz the sound is "all in the pickups and amp". My dad knows a lot about some things, but nothing about guitars. Like some others.

This is just about one of the dumbest arguments I know of. So why am I posting? Beats me.

Everyone's welcome to their opinion, but there are some things that are inarguable:

1. Some people like Tele's better than Strats.

2. Some people like Strats better than Tele's.

3. Some people like them both, for their DIFFERENT qualities of SOUND.

A poster has again started his broken record that there is no difference in sound and it's all in the mind.

For you, sir, I will tell you that I have positive proof that you are WRONG and after this I wash my hands of your tone-deaf ramblings.

My wife is the sweetest woman on Earth as far as I'm concerned, and loves music like crazy but "bless her heart" (tnx EJL for that) she can't carry a tune in a basket when I hear her singing along with a record. I'm telling you this for a reason.

Often she will come into my studio and do some of her work on my computer while I practice my guitar on the other side of the room. The computer of course is at a desk facing the wall. I sit on a stool several feet behind her, she has her back to me.

One of the things I like to do is practice a part on each of my guitars and listen for the one that has the best sound for the part.

I have oftentimes asked her to remain with her back towards me so she can't see which guitar I have and then I ask her which one she likes for whatever part I'm working on while switching between all my guitars. She has ALWAYS managed to spot the difference in guitars.

I recently tested her with my Strat and my Tele and she easily heard the difference between the two. She can't always say "That's the Strat" or "That's the Tele", but she ALWAYS knows they're two different guitars, and when I A/B them I try to make them sound as similar as possible, in other words I don't play one on the neck p.u. and the other on the bridge p.u. She can hear the difference between the two when I play the part on the neck or bridge p.u.'s of both guitars.

I would expect anyone to hear the difference between a Strat middle p.u. and a Tele with both p.u.'s on.... but wait, I guess some posters can't.

Now, come up with an explanation for how a non-musician who can't even carry a tune, can tell the difference between a Strat and a Tele, played by the same guy in the same amp, with her back turned, if there's no difference and it's all created in the mind by the difference in appearance????

And as for saying Strats and Teles sound the same, can anyone seriously say that there's any setting on a Tele (except on the 3 pickup "nashville"-types) that sounds the same as the middle pickup on a Strat?

Strats and Teles are the same?

Gimme a BREAK!!!

Delvin Morgan · Post by **Delvin Morgan** » 30 Jun 2005 3:38 pm

Terry, I play a Hwy1 Strat and love it, I even play it through my NV112 with a Boss AC-2 accoustic sim. I play 40's- 60"s country, sounds great.

just my $.02

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Emmons S-10,Nashville-112,Peavey Pro-Fex II

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Jun 2005 5:13 pm

jim..you ok ?

t

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 30 Jun 2005 7:17 pm

Delvin, I play my strat through my steel amp, a session 500rd. I love my Strat also.

somebody better give Jim a sedative!

Terry

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Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

[This message was edited by Terry Sneed on 30 June 2005 at 08:18 PM.]