The more I look around at new "acts" & "artists" in magazines and the web, the more Telecasters I see. It's certainly the "in vogue" Fender guitar of the day. The Stratocaster certainly owned the golden age of Rock, along with the Les Paul. But the Tele has slipped out of the "backwoods of the country" into the mainstream of whatever you call popular today.

Anyone agree, disagree.

OL

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I remember when we were free!

I think I've always seen teles as often as strats and LP's.

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"Music is what feelings sound like"

There are more than two guitar manufactures.

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Gary

jim root (slipknot/stonesour) plays a tele. very well i might add.

If I were to acquire GAS..I have to admit it would be a tele..I really like the tone on some of the black crowes stuff....Okay now Im going to go drink coffee and try to get the urge out of my head..

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Mona
"Music is What Feelings Sound like"

I've just never taken a shine to the "cowboy" guitar.

Strats for me. And nothing else.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I think I know what you mean. Guitarists in indie/alternative bands seem to tend towards Teles. I play a lot that kind of music and I like Teles, because I like hard tails and single coils and it just seems like the natural choice. I also really like Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead, which may have something to do with it.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

What'r you... like 12... ??

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

It's true. I think Indie bands tend to shy away from Strats (and Les Pauls, for that matter) in an effort to distance themselves from what is considered traditional or mainstream rock. That's why Teles, along with Jags, Mustangs and Jazzmasters may happen to appear more often these days in the hands of "alt-rock" or "indie rock" guitarists.

There are, of course, plenty of Strat players in the Indie rock/Alt-Rock world. Billy Corgan immedately comes to mind, as does Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the guys from Vampire Weekend and MGMT. There are lots more that I just can't think of at the moment.

I tend to prefer Teles myself, but that has everything to do with comfort and tone, and little to do with who happens to be playing them at a certain point in time. If you're considering buying one or the other, I'd base that decision upon what sounds and feels good to YOU, not on which guitar so-and-so is playing.

I've noticed an uptick in Tele sales at the shop recently. We're down to one American Standard Tele to about five American Strats (and they used to be an even split). I actually just recently bought a NOS Highway One Tele we had for sale for 50% off (with purchase of lessons, which I buy anyway). I've been playing it live almost as much as my Strat. The other guitar player in my band plays a Strat through a Fender tube amp and tubescreamer, so the Tele helps me cut through the mix since we both have very similar rigs and heavy Strat preferences.

I never thought I'd play anything but a Strat ever, so in that respect the Tele was a big surprise to me. I had no idea I'd end up liking them as much as I do. For once there's something in style that I'm actually on board with!

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It's fun being stylish, isn't it! The same thing happened to me. I've owned my Strat for about the last decade or so, but about three years ago tried a Tele on a whim. I was really impressed with how comfortable it felt to me. The knobs and pickups all felt like they were in the right places. I loved the simplicity and elegance of the instrument. I also loved the tone -- to make a long stor short I saved up for an American Tele standard and it's been my main electric ever since.

Telecasters, Esquires, Broadcasters, NoCasters, etc will always be used as will Strats, Gibbys, Guilds, etc.

Lately I've seen many Dusey's being used and most recently by Joe Walsh, Kenny Loggins, Joe Perry and others.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I know, right? It's like everybody's using them nowadays!

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Guitars For Vets

I like the Tele. It just has that certain tone that no other guitar can do. I am a longtime Strat player and have always appreciated the Tele. For over 60 years, it is still a legendary, popular, guitar.

Hard to put a Roland GK3 on a Tele...

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