Strats verses Teles?

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 30 Jun 2005 7:35 pm

Also Terry, I agree with Jim, bless his heart, and my personal favorite is the Tele.

Here's a thought.

When you "make the buy", get the best guitar player you can think of and haul him down to the store, and have him pick you out one.

I've worked with guys that were the best in the area, and they invariably preferred some mutt-priced Squire or Bullet. Burtons never seemed to catch on around here..

Probably like I'd point someone to a ProIII instead of a Mille... well you get the idea.

EJL

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 1 Jul 2005 8:57 am

After playing a Stratocaster exclusively for just about 20 years now, I just bought my first Telecaster.

They are not the same at ALL.

And I am quite surprised to hear myself say that the Stratocaster is just not as versatile as the Telecaster.....and I still can't believe I just wrote that! It just has that "twang" for chicken-pickin, and to my ears, a much better sound for rhythm guitar playing (it is fuller and....oh, I can't explain it....it's just better).

I honestly regret not trying out a Tele years ago.

And for what it's worth....I tried out about 3 MIA Teles....played each for about 10 minutes. I then tried out 3 MIM Teles...again, each for 10 minutes, give or take. The first two MIMs did not have the same "feel" as the MIAs, though their tone was quite close. The third MIA, however, was EXCELLENT....the neck was perfect, the frets felt finished and rolled just as the ones on the MIAs were.....WOW! It played just as well as the MIAs for less than half the price.

Of course, the Strat is a special instrument to me, and it certainly is not going to sit in the corner....but the Tele is now my axe of choice for my band's gigs.

Joe

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 1 Jul 2005 9:17 am

I can't say enough about G&L guitars boys. Pleae give them a chance. I've been playing them for some time and I'll probably never go back to Fender. They are just better quality guitars IMO. I am a strat guy, and yes there are big differences in the 2 guitars. I have nothing against teles, strats just feel better to me and are easier for me to play for some reason. A tele can't sound like that neck pickup on a strat.

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Zum U-12 w/True Tone pickup thru a Nashville 112

Strats thru a VHT Super 30

Band Pics
http://community.webshots.com/album/176544894AuXSmi

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 1 Jul 2005 11:56 am

I have, in my yard and my carport, a 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder(2WD). They are both excellent-driving, low-maintenance machines.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 1 Jul 2005 12:01 pm

yeh..but are they registered...

t

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 1 Jul 2005 6:13 pm

Delvin Morgan, How does the boss acoustic simulator do as far as soundin like an acoustic? Sounds like somethin I might be interested in if it sounds good.

Terry

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

Delvin Morgan · Post by **Delvin Morgan** » 2 Jul 2005 1:54 am

Terry,
No, it doesn't make it sound like an accoustic, but it adds a little fatness to the sound. Don't buy it if you want the accoustic sound, just another toy.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 2 Jul 2005 1:34 pm

Ok thanks Delvin. I also need a good acoustic, so I thought maybe I could kill two birds with one stone. LOL!
My Fender Montero acoustic/electric just don't have a good tone anymore, and it don't fret worth a flyflip.

Terry

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

erik · Post by **erik** » 3 Jul 2005 2:43 am

I've worked with guys that were the best in the area, and they invariably preferred some mutt-priced Squire or Bullet. Burtons never seemed to catch on around here..

I love my Rogue/Squier Strat. I bought 2 at the time and the other just didn't have it so I sold it on eBay. Nothing like finding THEE $80 guitar.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 3 Jul 2005 5:40 am

I like my sunburst tele. I started out on a tele, and got used to it, so I stay with it. I lucked into it in a Pawn shop. It's MIA about 1993, maple neck, does what I want. I had a strat, but everytime I took a lead ride, my little finger would turn off the volume, which is always a crowd pleaser, HA!

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 3 Jul 2005 8:25 am

One vord:
VARIAX

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 3 Jul 2005 9:01 pm

Jim said, "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 guys should definitely check out the Tremsetter from Hipshot Products. I put these in both of my Strats, and i can't tell you what a difference it makes. When you bend strings, it feels almost exactly like a Tele. Even better, the guitars now have more sustain and better tone. If you break a string, the others don't go out of tune very much like they would with a regular strat. The ONLY complaint i've heard is, some players don't like the feel of a detente position using the whammy bar. I don't mind this. You can get used to it pretty quick.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 3 Jul 2005 9:20 pm

Jim who? There are quite a few of us. I'm sure it wasn't me, I'd never say that and I'd rather people didn't think I did, as that would be just about the last thing on my list of differences between Teles and Strats.

Please be more specific when attributing a quote when there are more than one person with the same name in the thread.
[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 03 July 2005 at 10:32 PM.]

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 3 Jul 2005 9:23 pm

I have the Tremsetter on one of my Strats..Works great..(the other's a hard-tail)..Dan Kritzer put one on his Strat..P.J.

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 3 Jul 2005 10:52 pm

I like both strats and teles. A tele has more body mass than a strat, and you can't get the same kind of spank and snap from a strat that you can from a nice plank of swamp ash in a tele. I'm looking for something that will give me the best of both worlds, so I'm hoping to order a 3-pickup tele from John Suhr in a couple months. It will have strat-style neck and middle pickups, with a traditional tele bridge pup...maybe a broadcaster-type. I like those. Something along the same lines as the tele the Fritz Brothers made for Roy Buchanan. I think that guitar would be a lot of fun to play.

Someone asked about the Seymour Duncan Twangbanger. It's a great pup, one his best, IMHO. It will take your strat into the tele zone, and give you a useful bridge pup, which has always been a weak spot on strats.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 3 Jul 2005 10:58 pm

I've had a musicman Stingray 2 six string with active pickups, since the mid seventies that has pretty much spoiled me. the only down side is that it weighs a ton. it was made when Leo still owned the company, so as far as I'm concerned, it's a Fender. [This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 03 July 2005 at 11:59 PM.][This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 04 July 2005 at 12:00 AM.][This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 04 July 2005 at 12:01 AM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 4 Jul 2005 1:52 am

Joe Alterio raised a good point about the differences.We are all so stuck in the CHICKEN PICKIN mode we are forgetting that the Tele is a very versatile axe.

I too find that the Tele is MY choice of guitars for comping chords. ( thats playing rhythm for those in Rio Linda )

The mid and front PUP positions are very easy to get a nice mellow tone with the treble knob backed off ( yes that knob works too)

I have always found the Strats to be a tad bright when playing behind other players...

good point Joe..and by the way..it's about time ya got yourself a Tele..I mean they have only been available now for..uhh..50 years !

t

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 4 Jul 2005 4:16 am

You guys should definitely check out the Tremsetter from Hipshot Products.

Not to change the subject, but Dave Borissoff, the owner of the company, is a fine pedal steel guitarist. He also plays banjo and dobro.

Dave was the one who got me started. He loaned my his Maverick for 3 or 4 months till I got my MSA. [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 04 July 2005 at 05:27 AM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 4 Jul 2005 4:26 am

I've had a musicman Stingray 2 six string with active pickups, since the mid seventies that has pretty much spoiled me. the only down side is that it weighs a ton. it was made when Leo still owned the company, so as far as I'm concerned, it's a Fender.

GREAT guitar. I fail to understand why they are not being reissued. I have 2 Sabres, with the same electronics, one of which has been converted to a 12 string.

The guitar that as far as I know comes closest to sounding the the Leo Fender musicmans (musicmen?) is the new Ravenwest RG 660. It is a very different guitar in many ways, but it does sound a lot like the old Stingrays and sabres. Here is a link.

http://www.ravenwestguitar.com/rg660.html

I am very impressed with this company. I already have several of thier guitars, and will probably get one or two more.[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 04 July 2005 at 05:27 AM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 4 Jul 2005 4:33 am

We are all so stuck in the CHICKEN PICKIN mode we are forgetting that the Tele is a very versatile axe.

Indeed. I used a Tele with a humbucker in the neck position for this recording.
http://www.perlowinmusic.com/DebussyAfternoonofaFaun.mp3 [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 04 July 2005 at 05:36 AM.]

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 4 Jul 2005 5:28 am

A good player can play some very good Jazz on a Tele also. Earl Erb recorded a mostly Jazz CD a few years ago with a Tele that I still listen to often. I also have several CD's of Joyce Cooling playing Jazz on a Tele.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 4 Jul 2005 12:27 pm

I confess, it was me that made the bending comment, sorry you don't agree, Jim Phelps,your right and privlege. Yes you can do things to stop that "problem",such as tremsetters,blocking the trem or bottoming out the springs,no problem with any of those for me. For me, the bending phenomena is a major deal, especially when switching from one style guitar to the other, which I do often. JP

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 4 Jul 2005 12:45 pm

If you want to hear some very classy jazz on a Tele, look into some Ed Bikerd recordings. He has a fat warm sound. He also has incredible tasty musical sensibilities.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 4 Jul 2005 1:35 pm

Jim Peters - no insult or offense to you intended. I didn't want your quote associated with me because you said the bending issue was "the biggest difference". I agree it's a difference, but my own opinion has it quite a bit farther down the list of big differences. I'm sure you don't want to be held accountable for things I post, either, right?

I do agree with you that bending strings on a Strat is a nuisance when the strings pull up on the bridge. I do lots of bends where I let one string sustain while bending another, and I don't mean the typical guitar-players' attempt to copy the pedal steel A pedal lick, in fact I avoid that one like the plague.

But on a Strat with tremolo, when bending one string and the others go flat, it's a nuisance. I've been considering a Tremsetter as was suggested, and for now I've found the putting all 5 springs on the tremolo helps reduce the problem. Usually, if I'm going to be playing those kinds of licks, I'd just use my Tele anyway, problem solved.

In my previous posts, you may have noticed I focussed on the difference between Strats and Teles, but I didn't give you my own personal preference.

In fact I never was into Teles, until I heard Amos Garrett's solo in Midnight at the Oasis, so unlike most pickers, the Tele front pickup is what turned me on to the Tele, not the bridge pickup. Before that, I'd had several Strats, but never liked the bridge pickup (typical I guess). I always felt too that except for the one hardtail Strat I had, the ones with tremolos never had any tone or sustain unless I blocked the trem.

The very first Telecaster I bought, was an original 1954, which I bought in '82, mainly just because it was near-mint and I'd never had one. That did it, I've been a Tele person ever since, but still have a Strat for the stuff that it fits well. The Tele is a real spoiler though, in that with the string-through-body hardtail type bridge, they just have so much tone and resonance, that Strats with tremolos tend to feel lifeless to me now.

Regarding Chicken-pickin', I have gotten into the Tele bridge pickup styles such as those by Don Rich, Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton, Albert Lee, Brent Mason and other Nashville pickers.... but that's not my definition of chicken-pickin'. I'm not real into chicken-pickin' so it's safe to say I won't be one to blame for promulgating the stereotype of Tele's being a chicken-pickin' guitar. If you like chicken-pickin', fine with me, to each his own, but the Tele is really an amazingly versatile guitar. I'd like more people to know that.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 04 July 2005 at 03:36 PM.]

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 4 Jul 2005 2:36 pm

Doing a small group like a trio I use my active strat. That is: it has a 9 volt battery inside that activates the circuits, and when the battery is dead, so is the guitar. I've only replaced the battery once in 8 years so it's long lasting. The guitar has 3 push buttons and one slide lever as well as two tone pots, so there are lots of combinations. The main reason I use it for a small group and small room is the mellow tones that easily fill the room.

Now with a bigger band, it takes my tele to cut through the additional instruments, so that's what I use.

My psg chops are not for human consumption. (sigh) Maybe someday.