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Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:17 am
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I was perfectly happy with just a strat until I stumbled across a Custom Shop Heavy relic Tele and played it. It won me over immediately and sounded better than every other American Tele I tried. I always thought the "Relic" pre-worn look was nonsense, but now I love it because I know the sounds it makes are all that matters. It is an '07 "Vintage" Humbucker version, unique in appearance AND sound and I love it (I'll eventually get over the HIGH price, but that's why I charge for my gigs!). Of course, I love my strat too, so I agree you'll eventually NEED both, but each guitar's sound is unique and you need to get out there and actually play them, side by side, to decide.
To see stock photo of my Tele: http://proguitarshop.com/store/fender-c ... ter-p-1113
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'10 Fender American Select Mahogany HSS Strat
'07 Fender Custom Shop Vintage Heavy Relic HB Tele
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Schecter California Custom Hellcat
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Hohner ECA 612 12-String Acoustic


Last edited by jilaw50 on Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:39 am
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As I describe them, a Tele is a block of wood with a neck sticking out. You supply most of the tone and soul. True, they're associated with country and they naturally produce (many models anyway, not all) a classic country sound. But then, how many modern country artists play a vintage sound these days?

Even "back when" I grew up in a rural upstate NY area where country was THE music, the lead guitarist often played a Strat. They're somewhat more comfortable to play (by design!) and the three pups and 5-way switch put more tone options at your fingertips. So that meant that a lot of Fender favoring rockers (Hendrix for instance) played Strats back in my time.

But the truth is, most Strat players I've ever met tend to heavily favor a couple switch settings out of the five and they tend to dial in a tone and then just use the volume. If you think about it, that boils down to using about as many options as exist naturally on the Tele!

One morning a few years ago, I read some on line posting (different music forum) where a person went on about how a Tele would be worthless for quiet jazz. Hmmm, interesting considering I'd just used one of mine the night before sitting in with the most mellow group I'd ever heard. I guess he forgot to tell me or the Tele so we didn't know any better. :)

All meaning: it's your style, how they feel in your hands and how they work with your outlook. The amps you have might have a small influence on choice as might the type of music you play. Either will produce about any sound but possibly require more work. I had to put a little thought into both amp settings and my technique when playing with the mellow jazz cats ... acoustic piano and unmic'ed saxes. If I were doing that all the time, a Tele might not be my first choice.

But then, that's why many of us have at least one of each!


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Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:21 am
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Hi Philip,as you have found out,a Tele can be used for quiet jazz.Ed Rickert ,a Canadian jazz guitarist has used the same Tele exclusively for 40+ years and you can hear him on the recordings of many jazz artists on both sides of the border.He can coax the softest,smoothest tones from that old Tele,he's just amazing.

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Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:28 pm
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Dutchy wrote:
try both, and pick the one that feels and sounds best to you. :)


I second that. A lot has to do with personal preference. You need to try both for a while. Go to a music store and play around, and do not buy right away. Do it several times. Play any friend's guitars too. There are a lot of differences, even between Strats or Teles. Take your time and get the "feel" for while you like and the looks you dig....I find a Tele fun for some types of music and my Strats for other type......

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Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:16 pm
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It's funny when we talk about the differences in guitars...for me, I have gone through a lot of guitars...but when I finally found the one with the tone I had in my head, it was from an exepected source, but as much as my favorite strat is the opposite of things I thought I would want out of a guitar, I can't bring myself to change them.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you should try lots of new, and used instruments before settling into anything.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster vs stratocaster
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:27 pm
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I'm not sure I'd agree that the Strat is more comfortable to play when sitting. I think its more comfortable to play when standing. The contours of the body make it easier to hold over my beer belly, and easier to tilt up to see the fingerboard, and my right arm rests nicely on the contoured front.

The Tele is all flat, no nice cutaways to fit various body parts.


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Post subject: Re:
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:27 pm
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fhopkins wrote:
Snowy72 wrote:
Try both guitars, it's what feels right to you that's important. I own both a Strat and three Tele's, you can guess my own preference on this :lol:


That Black Strat? :wink: :lol:



That would be a big Yup Hop :lol: Can't believe I missed this reply :shock: :D


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster vs stratocaster
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:14 pm
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TobiH wrote:
can you get the early dire straits sound out of a tele or is that a strat specific sound ?


Yes you can with a Deluxe series tele.
cheers,
Alex

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster vs stratocaster
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:59 am
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Remember that Dire Strait's tone has to do with more than just the guitar. Everything from the amps and effects used to Mark Knopfler's amazing touch on the instrument.

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Post subject: Re: Telecaster vs stratocaster
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:27 am
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They look and feel different for sure, but they really have very different sounds. I had a gorgeous Strat years ago and I really wanted to love it, but every time I picked up a Tele, I just liked the way it sounded more. The Tele has a smooth, creamy rich sound coming out of the neck pickup and a bright shimmery sound coming out of the bridge pickup - together you get both - lots of rich lows and glistening highs - I love it. A Strat has an awesome sound, with more variations, but its more of a clear mid-range sound - less at both ends. I just like the Tele sound better. But, there's them that would disagree... :D


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster vs stratocaster
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:55 am
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i was torn between a strat an tele and i finally got a strat because i thought it had more tone option and also fender stopped making 62 surf greens :lol:

my outlook is you cant lose with either guitar so play as many as you want and can decide on one and in a little while buy the other thats my plan anyway


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Post subject: Re: Telecaster vs stratocaster
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:13 am
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When I was struggling with this issue one time I just settled for a customized DX Telecaster. These are Made in Japan. I gutted it and then added Chrome Dome Lace pickups, 5-way Switching like found on the James Burton Telecaster where the middle position is the neck + bridge and the guitar was wonderful. Strat and Tele tone. Tele feel. Strat belly cuts. Tele vintage bridge. Strat pickups in the neck and middle.

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