My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

[Mr Wolf]

Has anyone else had this? I have half an eye out for a new guitar and I am pretty sure it will be a Fender-type guitar. My guitars are generally derived from the Gibson way of doing things and after playing my uncle's US Strat a while ago I have caught the bug. Plus I play in a 1950's rock and roll band so fender sounds are most welcome.

First of all, I have played Strats and Teles that I have liked in their own ways. I like the simplicity of teles, I think they are straight up cool guitars and plus I have been listening to a lot of Rolling Stones so that sort of sways me at the moment!

I do like the refinements of strats too though. They also have the extra pickup in the middle as well which does add an extra dimension that I like, and none of my current guitars have a tremolo.

Has anyone else had this? Ultimately I think I will go with what ever I come across as the guitar that speaks to me, be it a tele or Strat.

 

[uOpt]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Most likely you will have to effect up the bridge pickup of the Strat for your band, whereas the bridge pickup sound from the Tele is likely to be usable as-is.

 

[DreX]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

The best solution to this problem is to get both, but if that's not an option, maybe get one of those three pickup Teles. Some two pickups Teles are routed for a third pickups under the pick guard, unfortunately I don't know how you would figure out if that was the case without taking a screw driver to it. They don't sound identical to Strats, there's not as much quack and it's not as deep of a sound, but you get those extra voicings, anyway.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

The strat bridge will do you fine, they wind them hotter now to balance with the others and not sound as thin. Plus in the 50s, that strat bridge tone was all the rage. If you don't have a whammy bridge yet then that in my opinion tips the scale towards the strat. Worst case scenario if you're missing the tele twang you can always get a twang banger in the bridge and cop a close sound. There ARE teles with 3 pickups you can look at too if you're concerned. If you're focusing more on the aesthetic or the simplicity of the tele and nothing else will fill that hole then by all means also go for it. I see your dilemma. The strat would probably serve you better but the tele will scratch that itch the strat won't and both will get the job you want done.

 

[DreX]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Also, moving the Strat's middle tone knob to the bridge lets you tame the high end if it's a problem, although it's not quite as full as the Tele bridge if you do that (and still use the stock cap value). I'd really only get a Strat if you love the ergonomics over the Tele and like the in betwee "quack" tones, because people don't seem to use the middle pickup alone that much, although I've come to love it, it's very Lindsey Buckingham.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Tele body with strat contours, tele bridge, tele bridge pickup, tele control plate, strat middle single and neck single. Problem solved.

 

[Securb]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

As someone with 2 Strats and 2 Teles I must say I would go Strat for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you don't have a trem equipped guitar in your arsenal. Whammys are fun! Secondly, I think there is more tonal range in the Stratocaster, more guitar for your buck. I love my Teles but I had to mod them heavily to be able to squeeze a larger palette of tones out of them.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Play em both... the only way to know which one will move you. Funny story: (least to me it is) Ive personally always hated Teles. thought they looked like geezer guitars and were country twangers. But, over the years, (and being in a band where the lead player smoked on a tele or whatever he used), ive noticed how usable a tele is. so, I decided I need to add one to the stable. I didnt want to spend much, so, I shopped alot to find the right one for my budget and needs. The one I found that was most versitile and cost effective, was the Squier vintage modified tele. A great player, a great price and very versatile. has a mini hum in the neck, single in the middle and tele pu. plus the stock pups were duncan designed, which were better than some. I was comparing and was down tween the Vintage Modified Squier and the Fender Baja tele. I actually liked the Squier better and plus it was hundreds less. I got the squier, changed the bridge pup for a Duncan Tele pup and a GFS firebird pup in then neck (stock DD still in middle as it works fine.) Guitar plays great, covers ALOT of ground..

 

[blueman335]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Mr Wolf, don't listen to those voices in your head...get an LP!

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Thank you all for the opinions, please keep them coming! I fully see the reasoning in going for a Strat over a Tele, I have already acknowledged it myself on the basis that the Strat simply has more. The tele does definitely have its own special thing going on though which I do like. It is apples and oranges to a large degree. In some ways I think I may as well give up on trying to decide this rationally as they are different beasts, instead I think I shall just wait until I come across an excellent example of one that I have to get, then take it from there.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Mr Wolf, don't listen to those voices in your head...get an LP!

Hehe don't need an LP as I have one of these

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Has anyone else had this? Ultimately I think I will go with what ever I come across as the guitar that speaks to me, be it a tele or Strat.

When feeling predisposed to focus on one guitar, even before hitting the stores, but my gut makes me feel there's something else the might be better - or more 'right' for my situation, I tend to remain open to the idea that what is ultimately 'right' could actually be neither of the instruments I had focused on. Go by the sound, not the model.

 

[Oinkus]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Thinking first off to buy a Nashville Tele or whatever you like with 3 pups and install a tremolo yourself. Just spotted this one and it is pretty neat http://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-Fender...r-/201126017212?pt=Guitar&hash=item2ed40b78bc good years for guitars from Japan. I have a custom Strat neck on my Tele with stainless steel frets BTW.

 

[blueman335]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Hehe don't need an LP as I have one of these

Only one?

If I had to get a Fender guitar (God forbid!) I think I'd go the Tele route. Everyone has Strats, way overdone, like sheep following the herd. Not unlike the obligatory boots and hat for country players (or black T shirts for everyone in the audience of 'That Metal Show).

 

[Mad-Max]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

You know, the only way to cure any type of discord is to purchase both. I've been really GASing for just a standard American Strat, but then the other day I played a Tele and was like, "Damn, I enjoy this too, Fuuuuuuuu...." and you get the rest. Fender guitars are just absolute tone machines, and it's best just to get both and call it a day.

 

[Securb]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Hit your favorite music store and play all the Strats and Teles you can. Spend the day there. At the end of the day walk out with the guitar you like best.

 

[dominus]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Figure out which one is more comfortable to play. You can make one sound like the other.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Everyone has Strats, way overdone, like sheep following the herd.

How is everyone using a strat "way overdone?" haha. It's a good design, they play well and sound good. That's why they are used so much. And if we are going to start saying that people who play popular styles of guitars are following the herd, we can pretty much throw in the 3 major Gibson designs too... so between Fender and Gibson, 75% of guitarists just follow the herd. That was a great statement. Quite open minded Rick.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

Figure out which one is more comfortable to play. You can make one sound like the other.

This.

Twangbanger in a strat or strat singles in a tele.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: My mind says "Strat", my heart says "Tele"

I'm an avid, die hard tele fan. That being said, if you don't have a SSS equipped strat with a whammy in your arsenal yet, this is a great time to go for one. Theres a whole bunch of sounds that you can only get on strats, whereas the number of unique tones on a tele is much smaller. It might be the whole Jimmy Page thing, secretly using a tele on the first two albums, but a tele is more or less just a Les Paul with a bit less girth and more twang. You already have a guitar that does 90% of the tele thing. A strat is more useful as a straight up tonal tool.