Strat or Tele

goreill2 · 25-07-2006 4:51pm #1

I'm going to upgrade my squier strat very soon and was thinking of getting either a fender telecaster or a stratocast so i'm looking for as much input as possible. I've played both and I enjoyed the strat more but that may be just because I was reared on a strat. So I was wondering what your thoughts are. Obviously neither is 'better' than the other but I'd like to know the pros and cons of both.

Cheers

Long story short:

What are the differences between the Stratocaster and Telecaster?

Doctor J · 25-07-2006 5:14pm

Pros
Strat - comfy body, three pickups, looks faster.

Tele - Twang.

Cons
Strat - Trem can be a pain in the arse to restring

Tele - Needs contours

In all seriousness though, the answer to your question is to go into a guitar shop and play them side by side and see which one you prefer, whichever one feels and sounds right to your hands and ears. Get that one.

John · 25-07-2006 5:27pm

Before Ancient1 arrives and tells you to get a strat, I'd go with a Tele personally. Something about the way a strat sounds and plays that always feels dead for me. Of course if you like the Squier strat you've got and want a decent version of it then go ahead, nowt wrong with that. Although as the Doc says, head into town and give both a spin.

It wasn't me! · 25-07-2006 5:47pm

Strat? Dead?! My dear boy, let me introduce you to Jimi Hendrix, and his mate Rory Gallagher.

They're very different guitars, depends what you want to play, and how you want the guitar to feel. Strats. in my experience, are lovely and soft to play, and certainly more comfortable due to the contours. Teles have that oh-so-distinctive cutting twang, the sound nothing else can ever emulate, but it's a very defined sound that suits everyone.

lee_baby_simms · 25-07-2006 6:46pm

I got an american deluxe tele last month and its got the contours that Doctor J is talking about.

John · 25-07-2006 6:56pm

It wasn't me! wrote:

Strat? Dead?! My dear boy, let me introduce you to Jimi Hendrix, and his mate Rory Gallagher.

Dead for me I said, I just don't feel right wandering through stratland. And I don't really like Hendrix. Gallagher I can dig but Hendrix? Nah!

Ravelleman · 25-07-2006 7:34pm

As much as I like the sound of a good Tele, I just find them uncomfortable to play. I find the control layout really inconvenient. The lack of contours doesn't really bother me though. You have to deal with that problem on most non-Strat guitars so I wouldn't really be swayed by it. Play as many of bot hash you can and go with your heart.

mike65 · 25-07-2006 7:37pm

One will get you laid (its not the tele!)

Mike.

fish-head · 25-07-2006 8:01pm

It's worth noting that Gallagher was also a huge Tele fan.
I'd go with a Tele myself, I prefer the sound of them. Plus I like the boxy look of them, they're wonderfully brutish. Their simplicity is endearing. The only thing I like about Strats is fookin' about with the trem and making it cry with the tone controls.

punchdrunk · 26-07-2006 12:09am

i love them both,i definitely play looser/funkier on the strat,it just brings that out it my playing,i tend to really play the **** out of the tele though cause it seems to work better when you dig in but still it does the arpeggio thing better than any strat/gibson i've played so i guess i need both...and an SG!

Ancient1 · 26-07-2006 11:55am

The Strat is a timeless institution.

It's the mama of all guitars and that's that, end of story, no more discussion, thread locked.

Post pics as soon as you get one.

jcoote · 26-07-2006 11:59am

u have a way wit words ancient1 (carzy bastard)

i do agree tho the strat can just make so many sounds between the 5 pickup switch positions. they can rock or jazz really easily..

tele's are a bit more restricted on the hard edge of things but still sound great.

either way u'd buy a good guitar but the strat does it for me

Savman · 26-07-2006 12:23pm

Ancient1 wrote:

The Strat is a timeless institution.

It's the mama of all guitars and that's that, end of story, no more discussion, thread locked.

Post pics as soon as you get one.

That's it in a nutshell really.

Savman · 26-07-2006 12:27pm

John2 wrote:

Something about the way a strat sounds and plays that always feels dead for me.

:eek::eek::eek:

John2 wrote:

Hendrix? Nah!

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

gaffmaster · 26-07-2006 2:03pm

There's been a huge resurgance of tele's lately judging by the music that's flooding the indie charts at the moment.

I'm more of a strat man myself. I have lots of guitars, but my highway1 gets played the most. It's so so comfortable to play.

I might get a tele and see what it can do.

Pick whichever you prefer yourself.

Mr. Presentable · 26-07-2006 2:09pm

Savman wrote:

That's it in a nutshell really.

But it's not!

The Tele is the Daddy of electric guitars. The Strat is a Tele brought to finishing school and refined. IOW, a Tele one Gen later.

Having said that, it's down to ear and groin. Yours and hers

John · 26-07-2006 2:33pm

nipplenuts wrote:

Having said that, it's down to ear and groin. Yours and hers

Rofflecopter

Quattroste · 26-07-2006 2:59pm

Pfh! Why bother with either of those toys! Get a real guitar. Get an LP!

*slams door and runs while giving the finger!*

anywho, take the "go to a shop and park yourself down for a few hours" advice trying Strats, Teles and the odd LP

(just for measure like!!) I have both but would choose the LP over the Strat(sorry Ancient1 old boy!)

ball ox · 26-07-2006 3:04pm

OP what kind of stuff do you play? Are you in a band? I find that a tele can suit certain lineup on stage depending on the other instruments being played and similarly a strat can do the same. Pick whatever suits your style best. Obviously comfort does come into it but personally I'd be more concerned about the sound it makes.

Savman · 26-07-2006 4:16pm

I reckon only way to know for sure is if we arrange a Fight Club between LP and Strat players

:D

John · 26-07-2006 4:52pm

Strat players are a bunch of girls. Real men have LPs.

Karl Hungus · 26-07-2006 4:54pm

John2 wrote:

Strat players are a bunch of girls. Real men have LPs.

RG > LP

Owen · 26-07-2006 4:55pm

John2 wrote:

Strat players are a bunch of girls. Real men have LPs.

Sorry, real men play Ibanez

It wasn't me! · 26-07-2006 4:59pm

Takes a real man to play a Les Paul for a two-hour gig, and few will refute that.

Karl Hungus · 26-07-2006 4:59pm

ned78 wrote:

Sorry, real men play Ibanez

Hehe, snap.

I'd tend to agree though, nothing comes close to a nice Ibanez RG.

Ancient1 · 26-07-2006 5:03pm

If that's how y'all are going to play, I'm confiscating everyone's Strat.

And you're all banned.

John · 26-07-2006 5:10pm

Pfft, Ibanez are for men with small penises

Savman · 26-07-2006 5:13pm

LP = l'il pecker

as I said to someone recently, you can have my strat...once you pry it from my cold dead fingers...

Karl Hungus · 26-07-2006 5:16pm

John2 wrote:

Pfft, Ibanez are for men with small penises

Them's fightin' words!

John · 26-07-2006 5:17pm

Karl Hungus wrote:

Them's fightin' words!

And being an LP player I'll have you!

Karl Hungus · 26-07-2006 5:21pm

John2 wrote:

And being an LP player I'll have you!

Ah but you forget yourself John, my Stealth is a lethal weapon, elegant and very sharp.

jcoote · 26-07-2006 5:22pm

i think strats and lp's should stop bein compared they are different guitars hot damn it.

seriously tho i'd rather play a strat for 2 hours than an lp...they are too ****in heavy

what about a lespaulacastor thats the solutions i tells yis

John · 26-07-2006 5:23pm

That's true, it's a pointy bugger!

jcoote · 26-07-2006 5:29pm

its not that bad

Karl Hungus · 26-07-2006 5:50pm

Yeah, the solution: Buy all guitars. Start with Ibanez, Fender, Gibson, and then work from there.

Ancient1 · 26-07-2006 9:44pm

goreill2 wrote:

I'm going to upgrade my squier strat very soon and was thinking of getting either a fender telecaster or a stratocast so i'm looking for as much input as possible. I've played both and I enjoyed the strat more but that may be just because I was reared on a strat. So I was wondering what your thoughts are. Obviously neither is 'better' than the other but I'd like to know the pros and cons of both.

Cheers

Long story short:

What are the differences between the Stratocaster and Telecaster?

So, goreill2. In conclusion: have you given up yet? Do you see what you're getting yourself into?

Just flee while you can, before you become like one of us!

Strat or Tele

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