Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
- Thread starter axeripper
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danglybanger
ReelItInologist
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
Telecasters are made exclusively from scrap wood from a doghouse factory, twine, and were designed to be used to flip Paul Bunyan's pancakes
But for some reason... yes, they do sound good.
They're solid. They aren't hollow.
They have two things that the strat does not (so much): percussiveness and twang... Probably because of the bridge and pickup.
That sounds better clean (to me) and makes for a more defined sound distorted.
Telecasters are made exclusively from scrap wood from a doghouse factory, twine, and were designed to be used to flip Paul Bunyan's pancakes
But for some reason... yes, they do sound good.
They're solid. They aren't hollow.
They have two things that the strat does not (so much): percussiveness and twang... Probably because of the bridge and pickup.
That sounds better clean (to me) and makes for a more defined sound distorted.
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
i love teles.... i need more teles.... the string thru hardtail bridge, the tele bridge pickup, make one meaty tone... when i bought my cheap MIM tele i was expecting a thin treable tone only good for cleanish rock and country... i didn't expect it to blow my strats away with a nice rounder fuller tone....
i love teles.... i need more teles.... the string thru hardtail bridge, the tele bridge pickup, make one meaty tone... when i bought my cheap MIM tele i was expecting a thin treable tone only good for cleanish rock and country... i didn't expect it to blow my strats away with a nice rounder fuller tone....
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
Tele's have that bright snap and bite, especially with the old style three saddle brass bridge. I have a 52 reissue Fender tele and it's cool. A classic sound that can do rock in the bridge, twang in the middle, and blues in the neck...not selling mine anytime soon...
Tele's have that bright snap and bite, especially with the old style three saddle brass bridge. I have a 52 reissue Fender tele and it's cool. A classic sound that can do rock in the bridge, twang in the middle, and blues in the neck...not selling mine anytime soon...
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
The secret of the Tele bridge tone is really not much of a secret anymore. It's three things, in no particular order of importance:
1) Wider bobbin -- allows for more wire so you can easily get 7.6k (and often much more) #42 wire on it for beefier tone.
2) Steel baseplate -- both widens magnetic field and concentrates it more toward the strings (away from the cavity).
3) Pickup is surrounded by steel bridge which further extends the magnetic field.
The secret of the Tele bridge tone is really not much of a secret anymore. It's three things, in no particular order of importance:
1) Wider bobbin -- allows for more wire so you can easily get 7.6k (and often much more) #42 wire on it for beefier tone.
2) Steel baseplate -- both widens magnetic field and concentrates it more toward the strings (away from the cavity).
3) Pickup is surrounded by steel bridge which further extends the magnetic field.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
I love Teles and miss the one I had terribly sometimes. The sound and response is just great. The bridge and pickup design of them plays a large role in their sound. Try as you may, you will not get a Strat to sound like a Tele.
My next venture with one will be a parts-o-Tele, or Esquire. I really like one pickup and when I had my Tele, I rarely used the neck pickup. So, I'm thinking rear-routed, no pickguard, single Tele bridge pickup, volume control, maybe a tone control.
I love Teles and miss the one I had terribly sometimes. The sound and response is just great. The bridge and pickup design of them plays a large role in their sound. Try as you may, you will not get a Strat to sound like a Tele.
My next venture with one will be a parts-o-Tele, or Esquire. I really like one pickup and when I had my Tele, I rarely used the neck pickup. So, I'm thinking rear-routed, no pickguard, single Tele bridge pickup, volume control, maybe a tone control.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
Have that pu tapped, maybe even twice, for high versatility!
Have that pu tapped, maybe even twice, for high versatility!
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
I thought about that too. Maybe a little over 9k total wind, then tap at around 7.5k or so. Even thought about a 3-way with a couple tone caps like the real Esquires but I rarely use the tone control on my guitars that have one anyway so just a simple tone control with a .022uf cap will work for me.
This whole thing is at least another year down the road. We need a bigger house first.
I thought about that too. Maybe a little over 9k total wind, then tap at around 7.5k or so. Even thought about a 3-way with a couple tone caps like the real Esquires but I rarely use the tone control on my guitars that have one anyway so just a simple tone control with a .022uf cap will work for me.
This whole thing is at least another year down the road. We need a bigger house first.
JohnnyGuitar
New member
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
They sound great because they are so simple and basic... when you use them for rock that's usualy the style you go for...
Strings through body, two single coils (although I love bucker in the neck), a simple body shape... it's a pure design...
They sound great because they are so simple and basic... when you use them for rock that's usualy the style you go for...
Strings through body, two single coils (although I love bucker in the neck), a simple body shape... it's a pure design...
CapoFirstFret
New member
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
The more and more I play my tele...the more and more unsatisfied with my strats I become. That's why I just snagged another tele
The more and more I play my tele...the more and more unsatisfied with my strats I become. That's why I just snagged another tele
Robbiedbee
New member
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
Uncool man. Way uncool. Tele's are good, but not that good.
You know when you were kids, and you'd be trying to do something difficult, and an adult would just come along, snatch it from you and say 'Give it here, I'll do it'. That's what a Tele is to me. A no-nonsense guitar, that can do anything well.
It's not hard to pull a good sound from a Tele, no fiddling with knobs or switches. The neck feels so solid in your hands, not like playing with a little toy or anything.
If a Tele is a really nice chocolate cake, a Strat is a really nice chocolate cake, with chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate sauce and a nice chocolate milkshake on the side. Both are awesome, most of the time you'll want the cake with all the bells and whistles, but sometimes, just a normal cake with no gubbins is what you want.
Me and my metaphors. Sorry guys!
The more and more I play my tele...the more and more unsatisfied with my strats I become. That's why I just snagged another tele
Uncool man. Way uncool. Tele's are good, but not that good.
You know when you were kids, and you'd be trying to do something difficult, and an adult would just come along, snatch it from you and say 'Give it here, I'll do it'. That's what a Tele is to me. A no-nonsense guitar, that can do anything well.
It's not hard to pull a good sound from a Tele, no fiddling with knobs or switches. The neck feels so solid in your hands, not like playing with a little toy or anything.
If a Tele is a really nice chocolate cake, a Strat is a really nice chocolate cake, with chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate sauce and a nice chocolate milkshake on the side. Both are awesome, most of the time you'll want the cake with all the bells and whistles, but sometimes, just a normal cake with no gubbins is what you want.
Me and my metaphors. Sorry guys!
J Moose
New member
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
Tele's rock man.
They're harder to play then a Strat and I find that having to dig deeper leads to a more rewarding playing experience. When I pick up a Strat all the Jimi & Stevie licks just pour out, it's like flipping a switch!
The bridge pickup in paticular (for me) is WAY more usable then a Strat's bridge pickup which gets thin, harsh & steely. A good Tele will retain that edge & clarity but have more girth. Plugging a Tele through a wound-up Marshall or Orange is a really tough tone...
I've owned a few different Tele's over the years...all of 'em have been hot-rodded in some fashion but all of 'em have had a 3-saddle bridge. Change that, and you change the tone. Right now I have one Tele, a '99 Am. Dlx. special edition with a Bigsby that rocks REALLY hard but I still need another Tele in the arsenal. When the time comes it might be a Thinline or a parts-o-Tele.
Tele's rock man.
They're harder to play then a Strat and I find that having to dig deeper leads to a more rewarding playing experience. When I pick up a Strat all the Jimi & Stevie licks just pour out, it's like flipping a switch!
The bridge pickup in paticular (for me) is WAY more usable then a Strat's bridge pickup which gets thin, harsh & steely. A good Tele will retain that edge & clarity but have more girth. Plugging a Tele through a wound-up Marshall or Orange is a really tough tone...
I've owned a few different Tele's over the years...all of 'em have been hot-rodded in some fashion but all of 'em have had a 3-saddle bridge. Change that, and you change the tone. Right now I have one Tele, a '99 Am. Dlx. special edition with a Bigsby that rocks REALLY hard but I still need another Tele in the arsenal. When the time comes it might be a Thinline or a parts-o-Tele.
Lu_B
New member
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
I've been playing my tele alot lately and I'm getting to like it more, I moded it with the a QP, Hot for Tele Tapped and a 5 way switch on Lews recommendation and its just so versitile.
Also been bashing it through my newish DM4 and it really growls.
I've been playing my tele alot lately and I'm getting to like it more, I moded it with the a QP, Hot for Tele Tapped and a 5 way switch on Lews recommendation and its just so versitile.
Also been bashing it through my newish DM4 and it really growls.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
Teles have string through bodies so they sustain better and sound deeper than Strats. And they lack a middle pickup so you don't the string pull and Strat-i-tis effect that makes a Strat play out of tune on the wound strings the higher up the neck you go.
Only thing a Tele won't do that a Strat can is get those #2 and #4 settings on a 5 way switch. And you can't dive bomb if you haven't got a vibrato.
A Strat usually has a better neck pickup...a Tele usually has a better bridge pickup.
Lew
Teles have string through bodies so they sustain better and sound deeper than Strats. And they lack a middle pickup so you don't the string pull and Strat-i-tis effect that makes a Strat play out of tune on the wound strings the higher up the neck you go.
Only thing a Tele won't do that a Strat can is get those #2 and #4 settings on a 5 way switch. And you can't dive bomb if you haven't got a vibrato.
A Strat usually has a better neck pickup...a Tele usually has a better bridge pickup.
Lew
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
The Tele neck pu is a good deal smaller than a Strat pu. Small enough that they use only #43 wire. Hence it's not nearly as beefy.
The Tele neck pu is a good deal smaller than a Strat pu. Small enough that they use only #43 wire. Hence it's not nearly as beefy.
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ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
I played a few MIA Telecasters at the store last friday...They all sounded really thin and icepicky where the MIM Strats we were looking at sounded bigger :dunno:
I played a few MIA Telecasters at the store last friday...They all sounded really thin and icepicky where the MIM Strats we were looking at sounded bigger :dunno:
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Why do Telecasters Sound So Cool
That's cuz, more so than just about any other guitar, what you play into a Tele is what'cha hear back... ...Teles will not do any of the work for you...they will not give you a full, fat, rich tone if you don't play that into it.
That's cuz, more so than just about any other guitar, what you play into a Tele is what'cha hear back...
...Teles will not do any of the work for you...they will not give you a full, fat, rich tone if you don't play that into it.
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