Tele is mostly for country/blues which I like.Strats are more for a rock & roll sound.That being said I like the tele sound it's more of a twang sound.Just my two cents worth

Then I guess Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Andy Summers, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Roy Buchannan, Jimi Hendrix, and many others are/were playing the wrong guitar for their musical genre, eh?

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Bill

I play my guitars for the sound they have. Each one unique.
I'm finding amps are the same. So now the desire for different amps.

Maybe you need a different amp?
Always enjoy spending other people's money...

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

The old saying is, "Can a man have too many guitars?" If a person loves Fenders and has a few Strats, a Tele is a great addition to the pack. They are not only nostalgic, but have a feel and tone of their own. While an Ultra Strat can mimic a Tele tone pretty well, it just ain't a Tele. My favorite two are a Blue JD Tele and a 67 Keith R reissue—both have been rewired with custom switching and pickups, so they are a little more than the "basic" Martian talked about. These two I will never sell (at least I don't think I will!)!!



The 67 reissue has in the neck a CHROME DIMARZIO “AIR NORTON” PAF HUMBUCKER and in the bridge a SEYMOUR DUNCAN 1/4 POUNDER which run’s at a hot 17.38k. Here is how the Fender Super Switching works: Position #1: is the Bridge PU alone, creating a traditional Tele sound with more power and a bit more midrange and bottom end. Position #2: is the Bridge PU and the Neck PU split into a single coil (tapped), creating a more tradition Tele neck/bridge sound. Position #3: is the Bridge PU together with the Neck PU operating as a full Humbucker. Position #4: is the Neck Humbucker split (tapped) to create more of a almost vintage Telecaster neck tone. Position #5: is the Neck Humbucker delivering a Les Paul sound. The tone control is a TBX tone system.

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

The question do you need a tele I would say no but it can't hurt.

If your a strat man at heart you should concentrate on them, but dont disregard the tele all together it can be hard instrument to tame but it is versatile as well. I have 3 strats and 16 teles i am firmly in the tele camp but enjoy my three strats, try a blacktop, classic baja or american special and see how you get on.

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ukraider
"money cant buy you love but it can buy guitars!!!!!!"

Along my road to becoming a guitar player, I took a path I never expected. I knew I loved rock and roll and blues, but never considered that I might end up playing mainly country. Once I was thankfully dragged down the country road, I had my heart set on getting a real country guitar, the Telecaster. I played several. I think they are extremely fascinating guitars. I love the sound that that can be extracted. I love the look. In fact there is nothing I cannot find to like about the Telecaster, except that every time I have had one in my hand I cannot help having the thought that it is not a Stratocaster. It did not "feel" right. So what to do....

I put CS69 pickups into my Standard Strat with a blend pot allowing me to use the bridge and neck together in any combination I want. More neck less bridge, equal bridge and neck, more bridge less neck etc. Sonic problem solved. I can play my Strat and achieve all the Tele sounds I want. An added bonus, I can blend in all three pickups if wanted....

I have a friend who went the opposite direction. His G&L Tele has three pickups in strat configuration and a 5 way pickup switch.

You have to marvel at the versatility of the Fender guitars.

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http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

The belly cut on some Tele models makes a huge difference in the feel. The guitar is angled on your body more like a Strat and consequently the corner is not as firm on your right forearm while not affecting Tele tone.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Update -- Based on all the comments you guys posted, I've decided to keep the Tele, at least for now, and sell the Am Deluxe Strat. I can then pay off the balance on the DRRI and I should still have some $$ left for ... suggestions welcomed!

Here's a family picture. The Am Deluxe Strat on the far right is the one that will be leaving.. Here's the lineup from left to right:

2006 Classic Player 50's Strat (actually, this one's my favorite)
2010 Std MIM Strat (FSR Sunfire Orange Flake finish, SD pups (SSL-2/SSL-6/SSL-3)
1985 MIJ Strat (stock except for tortoise shell pg, might soon get new pups)
2011 Am Std Tele, Ash Body
2005 Am Deluxe Strat, Montego Black..

And, there in the background, is my wine/wheat FSR DRRI...

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

A very nice family you have there oldguy!! Yes!!!, is my answer to "do I need a tele?" I think you have shorted yourself if you don't have a tele and a strat. JMHO!!

I must say that I really like that orange flake my friend!!

As a matter-a-fact, oldguy101, I feel you have the telecaster! Ash and rosewood on a tele - could there be anything sweeter sounding?

It appears we have similar taste:

+ about a million.....

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Thanks guys! That is my second favorite, next to the CP 50's. The Sunfire Orange Strat is a standard MIM (FSR done in that orange flake) that I modded with forum help and suggestions. Martian suggested the Seymour Duncan pickup combo and I can't say enough about how good that combo is... highly recommended.. I also added the aged white pearl pg, aged white knobs, an "F" logo neckplate, and locking tuners.

That Strat is my version of a surf-oriented Strat and I really like the way it turned out. Next week, I'm taking it with to a Dick Dale concert and I'm hoping to get him to autograph the back of the headstock.

Is now the time for a semi-acoustic ?

My .02 worth,
John.E