Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

[Rschan.Ziar]

Hey,

I've been listening to Dire Straits a lot more the last few weeks, and I was thinking: Why is David Knopfler using a Tele as an rhythm guitar while Mark is using Strat?
Dont bands usually use the brighter guitar as lead guitar and the more bassy and darker guitar as rhythm?

Would like to see what you guys think about this!

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

Why? Because they didn't want to sound like every other band out there, perhaps?

 

[Rschan.Ziar]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

Well that's also an option. Didn't think of that one..:smack:

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

Why not? It sounded good.

 

[Rschan.Ziar]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

It definitely did! But it was just different from.. like every other band

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

Teles make great rhythm guitars and Strats make great leads, and vice-versa.

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

A tele is a great all around guitar for lead or rhythm. It offsets and balances well in a mix with other guitars like w/a Les Paul guitar f.e. In many ways my tastes have become more favorable towards the Tele sound rather than with the strat, and I have several of both. Numerous american and english guitarists have started their careers with teles, even though now they may use other guitars. Depending upon the tele guitar, h/w, and pups, a tele can be beefy sounding like a humbucker equipped guitar, and cut better than a humbucker equipped guitar. Maybe this is why it has been used at some point by many guitarists in their careers .

 

[leevc5]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

Leo Fender designed the Telecaster to be a full service guitar. He did a stellar job as history has proven it to be just that, a guitar that can do it all and most importantly do it all at a best in class level.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

My Tele is fairly fat sounding, and it isn't as bright as my Les Paul.

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

I mostly play Strats and I had a rhythm guitarist once thatvplayed a Tele. Sounded great

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

My Tele is fairly fat sounding, and it isn't as bright as my Les Paul.

That could either be the wind or the wood or a combination of both. How is your tele constructed?

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

I mostly play Strats and I had a rhythm guitarist once thatvplayed a Tele. Sounded great

I've always wanted to build a tele with (2) tele neck sc's and (1) tele bridge sc. I see a lot of guys doing the (2) strat sc's but not the other way around. If one got (2) tele neck sc's where the middle position tele pup was calibrated against the bridge and neck for more quack it would be an interesting experiment indeed.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

That could either be the wind or the wood or a combination of both. How is your tele constructed?

50's blackguard style, nitro finish. Bridge measures 7.85.

It's also the Les Paul... it has a wicked twang on the unwound strings.

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

I've always wanted to build a tele with (2) tele neck sc's and (1) tele bridge sc. I see a lot of guys doing the (2) strat sc's but not the other way around. If one got (2) tele neck sc's where the middle position tele pup was calibrated against the bridge and neck for more quack it would be an interesting experiment indeed.

That would be interesting. I've always loved the Tele for it's raw tone. Joe Strummer comes to mind not-so-oddly enough.

 

[The Convert]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

Keith Richards is probably the most famous rhythm rock guitar player in history and he plays mostly Teles.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

saw the band Sponge in Vegas on Saturday, their rhythm guy was on a Tele strumming on the neck fretboard. The other guy was on a Lew Paul

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

Why use a telecaster as a rhythm guitar? If you have to ask...

 

[AlexR]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

When will people learn that there is no formula for music.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

One could argue that the brighter rhythm stuff stands better in the mix. Plus by using a different guitar, he could be easily distinguished from Mark in the parts where they play the same thing (I don't know much about Dire Straits. Just thought this was an interesting question.)

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Why use a Telecaster as rhythm guitar?

IME Strats (specifically bridge pickups) are BRIGHTER than Teles, but Tele's are louder/hotter coupled with a more metallic texture thanks to the bridge plate, which can sometimes lead to percieved brightness. Hear them A/B each other, you'll get what I'm saying. This is pretty consistent among every strat and tele I've tried, assuming they have their traditional pickups and formats.

*Edit* found a better video to demonstrate.