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Post subject: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 10:39 pm
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I have a Les Paul I play heavier stuff on and wanted to change it up and get a guitar better for blues and classic rock, a Fender. I don't know what to get though, what are the main differences between a strat and tele? I'm leaning more towards the tele and i'm on a $500 budget.


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 12:36 am
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You are gonna start a flame war with questions like that! :D I would say go to your nearest guitar store and try a few of each and get the feel of them in your hand, see which is a good fit.
I love Teles but they ain't for everyone.


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 12:45 am
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If you want to use a vibrato, get a Strat, if not, get a Tele!

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Last edited by RCB-CA-USA on Mon Dec 24, 2012 6:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:28 pm
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I own both, a Strat and a Tele. In my opinion, it all depends on the sound you like. For blues and rock, my Strat sounds a lot better (I have a set of 3 single coil Texas Special pickups). Even for country, my Strat sound good but the Tele has a unique sound which is needed in most songs but not all of them.

I agree that going to a dealer and trying them all out is the best way.


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:04 pm
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I have 3 Strats and 5 Teles. I love them all but if I had to choose it would be the Tele hands down everytime! I like the simplicity of the Tele. The Strat is an amazing instrument but just too much stuff to work and less time to pay attention to what I am playing.
ABS :D


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:47 pm
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Tele! Tele! Tele! Check out Bangers 'n' Mash from the basement - radiohead on youtube you might see my point. :P


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:43 pm
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There is not now, nor will there ever be, a simple answer to this question. But as an owner of both, I think there are perspectives that might help. Here's my opinion - but it is only an opinion.

Main differences (the actual question asked):
On the "standard" models, the differences are:
The tremolo(vibrato) system on the Strat is not on the Tele.
The Tele has 3 settings for the two pickups.
The Strat has 5 settings for the three pickups.

Sound:
Both guitars are chock-full of brilliant, and classic tones (with a HUGE variety of nuances through pickup variations, mods and the like). Many of the tones you are looking for with blues and classic rock are attainable on either axe. But both guitars have their own distinctive tones as well. The "Tele-Twang" and the "Strat-Quack" may be emulated on different instruments if you are clever, but are effortlessly obtained by using the real deal.

Other considerations:
The tremolo, more pickups and settings(generally) give more options on the Strat. If you are using these options, great. If not, they can get in the way. The Strat is super-comfortable, but the Tele isn't uncomfortable, and feels friendly. Both play fantastically, you'll find it easy to cut loose on either guitar. Looks are a personal thing, but worth thinking about.

Me:
My preference is the Telecaster, but there are reasons for this, and I can't (well...won't) stop using both. The Tele is an Am Dlx, so it has S-1 switching and the belly cut. It also has my favourite neck shape, and I like the compound fretboard. As for looks, the Tele grew on me, and somehow continues to improve. The Strat is like Uluru (Ayer's Rock) - depending on the light and the time of day, it looks different, but is always impressive.

I tend to play the Telecaster to get a more simple, direct and honest style of music. It has a "bare-bones" sensibility, and yet it is one of the finest instruments ever made. The Stratocaster tends to offer more expression and emotion to me, but can sometimes overdo it, and become - umm, cheesy. Not much though, as it is also one of the finest instruments ever made.

Ideally, I want to play more honestly on the Strat, and more emotionally on the Tele.

Final Word:
You cannot actually go wrong with this choice. Whatever you pick, you get a fantastic instrument. It will do what you want, and more. You will not regret it!

@TheMark0fDeath - Go for what you like.
If you actually want advice, then: Within your budget, try for the highest level of quality instrument. Perhaps you can find a secondhand MIA or two that you can touch before actually buying. Take your time, and make sure you like whatever you get. The more you try, the more you will know what you really like. The more time and money invested in getting the "right" guitar, the more you will value it. Enjoy!


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:57 am
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Tele is more twangier than strat. Strat is perfect for clean tone. Tele is perfect blues, rock and also clean tone, because of the twang it delivers :D


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 7:07 am
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Tele? Think Keith Richards.

Strat? Think Eric Clapton.

Simplistic? Yes, but it might help at a high level.


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:42 pm
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Tele

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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 3:25 am
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OK... Being Jesus' birthday and all... I'm probably going to end up smoking Donkey Turds in H*ll someday for saying this but...

I was once told by a VERY famous British musician (who shall remain nameless), but who is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice for being in two famous British Bands:

"You F*CK with a Telecaster...

But, you Make Love with a Stratocaster... "


I own both... and I think he nailed it.. !!

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:06 am
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TheMark0fDeath wrote:
I have a Les Paul I play heavier stuff on and wanted to change it up and get a guitar better for blues and classic rock, a Fender. I don't know what to get though, what are the main differences between a strat and tele? I'm leaning more towards the tele and i'm on a $500 budget.


Like U I own a LP. I also own 3 Teles (64, MIJ Vegas Tele, MIM) which are equipped with different pups for different sounds covering everything from Blues to Jazz.

For $500, I would suggest a new MIM Standard. The ceramic pups work great for blues and rock. In some ways I like my MIM Tele better than my Les Paul for blues.

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Last edited by Leo1951 on Tue Dec 25, 2012 9:58 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:25 am
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Lightnin MN wrote:
OK... Being Jesus' birthday and all... I'm probably going to end up smoking Donkey Turds in H*ll someday for saying this but...

I was once told by a VERY famous British musician (who shall remain nameless), but who is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice for being in two famous British Bands:

"You F*CK with a Telecaster...

But, you Make Love with a Stratocaster... "


I own both... and I think he nailed it.. !!

cheers!

Image

I guess somebody's luvin' the f*ck out o' that one! :lol:

I'm hungering for either a tele with a vintage trem or a strat a with Floyd Rose.

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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 10:31 am
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I'm throwing my hat in the tele ring.

Love the tele.

John


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Post subject: Re: Strat or Tele?
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:24 am
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I'd go for the Strat, its much more versatile than a Tele, however the Tele has the typical twangy sound.

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