The Age-Old Question: Strats vs Teles

[ignatz]

I played strats for years, but these days I like the tones and ergonomics of the tele much better. Either one is likely to suit you; it really comes down to just spending some time with each and seeing which one rings your bells.

Re the lack of body contours on the tele, if you're comfortable playing an acoustic, a Les Paul, or any other guitar that isn't a strat, chances are you won't find a tele all that uncomfortable.

[Mister Zero]

I've owned a couple Teles through the years. I end up selling them after a few months. Love the tone, but I can't get on with the slab body and lack of a talent bar.

I've owned upwards of 2 dozen Strats or Strat-Like Objects. I can do a lot more w/ a Strat than any other guitar.

[rokn4jc]

I've never really been a tele guy, always played strat's, LP's or 335 style. I guess I always associated them w/ country music (not that there is anything wrong with that)
Anyhow, recently I've been playing a loaner Custom shop tele. The body has contours much like a strat, and the neck is just so comfy. I can see why people dig them as they are very versatile. IMO, a must is a 4-way switch that gives neck and bridge in series. This will fatten up the sound and give very HB like tone. Anyhow, try one out, and you may find it growing on you, I sure have !

[Edward]

I like both. I have both because I can. The'yre different, though if I could only have one or the other, I doubt I'd miss the other ... whichever I did without.

The Tele appeals to me at the minute because it has a more utilitarian vibe, and yet for me, I've always found it somewhat more versatile. I distinctly feel I gert more out of playing with simple dynmacis, and the tone and volume pots on a Tele, whereas on a Strat I tend to leave the pots where they are for the most part. Purely as a playing thing, no comment on the visuals (I like both), a Tele feels markedly more comfortable to me.

In terms of sound / tone, I've always found Teles to offer a much ballsier sound that a Strat. Definitely the differnece in bridge. If ever I were to have an all-out, custom Strat type guitar built, I'd have it fitted with a Tele bridge. When I lift my Tele, I don't miss the trem.... I'll use a vibrato arm if it's there, but it's not something of which I feel any need; actually, finger vibrato seems to be more my thing. The arm is more a 'wobble at the end of the number' thing for me...

I've always considered the tele to just be a flat, ugly Les Paul with no balls.

...and I always considered the Les Paul to be what Liberace did to a defenceless Telecaster....