Rediscovering the strat for P&W

Teles, Gretsch and Dusenberg are all the rage nowadays, but recently and especially for root-fifth rhythm chording (termed "2nd guitar" duties on our church team) my MJT hardtail Strat has performed admirably, and sits in the mix with definition and clarity at least as well as my tele, and better than my LP.

That middle pickup is almost perfect for open position chords with the amp pushed with a Tim for some hair.

Not to mention mines in sonic blue :cool:

Nothing wrong with Strats. They sound very well in the mix. I use a Les Paul in church, I've not seen too many telecasters but lots of Stratocasters.

It's funny how fashions change. I see lots of Gretsch (or Gretsch-style) guitars in P&W these days, with a fair few Teles and Les Pauls - less Strats. We're probably due a Strat revival!

for me it seems to be whatever Jesus Culture or the hillsongs band pulls out every worship player runs out and buys.


i use my tele. and my strat. but not at the same time.

I'm a strat guy primarily (just got my first tele last week.)
Been playing strats in Christian music for 22 years.
I guess the thing with me is that I've never based my guitar choice on what the "P&W genre" is doing - for that matter my playing style or effects choices either.
My musical influences are primarily secular (Eric Johnson, Rush, Pink Floyd, Mark Knopfler, Van Halen, etc.) and I approach the way I play and the tones I use based more on that blend of styles.
Of course, alot of those influences being big and atmosphereic blend well with the current P&W sound.
Bottom line - I play the guitars that are most comfortable to me and that I like the sound of, regardless of "trends..."

When I started playing again a few years ago (back in "08" just sounds wrong to someone that grew up with that meaning 1908...), the guitar I got was a MIM Strat. Worked great, and if I hadn't treated myself to a "bucket-list" LP (and stopped switching equipment/settings to simplify life for sound folks), I'd still be using it. Great guitars, though without a "whammy bar," you are missing a lot of the fun. (I keep staring at Bigsby tailpieces for the LP.)

I think the start has a lot to offer in the P&W setting. When I very occasionally play with keys leading, I love the neck-mid position and a pretty clean Vox. My strat will always take a backseat to my tele, though.

I actually recall Nigel playing a Strat for a few songs during the Hillsong Live concert I went to. I remember because I was looking at something else, then noticed how chimey the guitar parts sounded, and of course there he was playing a beat up sunburst Strat. Kinda odd considering everything else he played were nice polished up hollowbodies.

I actually recall Nigel playing a Strat for a few songs during the Hillsong Live concert I went to. I remember because I was looking at something else, then noticed how chimey the guitar parts sounded, and of course there he was playing a beat up sunburst Strat. Kinda odd considering everything else he played were nice polished up hollowbodies.

Oh no! The Droff plays a Strat too? There goes my cool to not be cool attempt :razz:

Actually for parallel pickup combinations I still much prefer my tele, less use for the in between sounds on a Strat, as far as running a pedalboard goes. I'll save that for the Robert Cray covers at the gig:-)

Thinking of reverting to a 3way switch. That plus it being a hardtail would make it 'more business than pleasure' :wink:

Oh, and I have a set of kinman mkIIIs that I've haven't gotten round to dropping in - might have to do that soon.

I just switched up to using a strat in P&W.
It fits MUCH better for gospel.

I always thought this could work in P&W

Well, this forum is open to all P&W denominations, so... :razz:

Well, this forum is open to all P&W denominations, so... :razz:

ROFL!!! :lol::lol:

I totally hear ya! That's the way I think a strat sounds best - set at the middle position. Having a hardtail is even better.

Lincoln Brewster plays a strat almost exclusively. DC Talks old guitarist used one to great affect. I play a strat.....

Well, this thread inspired me to go out to the local guitar shop at lunchtime to see how I get on with strats these days. It turns out my interest level, even after all these years, is still hovering around 'meh'. I tried an American Special tele and strat back to back and it's clear tham I'm a tele man. The only other guitar in the shop that made it onto my GAS list was a Gretsch. I know, I'm such a P&W cliche. :lol:

I guess they didn't have a Dusenberg on the wall then - or had they all been sold? :razz:

for me it seems to be whatever Jesus Culture or the hillsongs band pulls out every worship player runs out and buys.


i use my tele. and my strat. but not at the same time.

Same here. I used to only use my tele. I had a standard tele, and a blackout tele. I only used the standard. I traded my blackout for a strat, and now the tele gets a break every other sunday. I just love the 2 and 4 positions on a strat. They are so good for rythym. I've always been a huge clapton fan, so I just had to have strat.

I guess they didn't have a Dusenberg on the wall then - or had they all been sold? :razz:

You know, until you mentioned them at the start of the thread, I'd never heard of Duesenberg. I've never seen one in a UK shop. But I've found out how to spell it. :razz:

It's funny...I mentioned on another praise and worship forum something about gretsch's and Duessies being trendy in the P&W world and people jumped all over me about it. I know they have been played in other genres by other people, but they certainly seem to be thriving in the P&W world, atleast for now. I have always enjoyed the versatility of strats and tele's.

The solution is my G&L ASAT Classics with strat middle and neck pickups. Both the Tele bridge and the strat neck and middle combinations. Ideal.

Re the D guitars, we saw Paul Baloche and band last Friday and his guitarist Ben Cowell used a Telecaster during soundcheck but a D the rest of the night. The D's seem to inspire a similar but limited style; simple chords and double stop "solos". Overdriven amp tones and .8th delays. I keep hoping to hear something more interesting and creative at that level but after seeing Tomlin, Redman, Hillsongs, United and listening to J Culture over the last two years, I'm not optimistic.

To continue on the strat theme, I'd like to see some Richard Thompson or Mark Knopfler melodic playing in a worship band. LP's or D's just can't do that.

Some interesting statements about what certain guitars can and can't do. It's interesting that whatever electric guitar I pick up, it plays what I make it play...

Which is why the best guitar for P&W is the one you like the most.

My strat is a HSS (Highway One) I like the middle position for chime and the humbucker for grind. Nothing over the top however. I play a tweed Blues Junior and just bought a Fulltone Fulldrive II. I like my CH-1 for chimey stuff.

Strat are it for me. I've been making a move away from the Hillsong/U2 sound and just playing what I like. More of an Eric Johnson clean tone and a Lincoln Brewster crunch tone.
These days strats are working great....EJ Rosewood and AmDlx V-neck.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/jazzrat/EJ%20Rosewood/DSC00909.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/jazzrat/AmDlx%20Strat%20V-Neck%20%202%20color%20SB/DSC00801.jpg

Blue hardtail Strat knocked it outta the park again this morning, basically Durham Sex Drive ->Tim -> EP booster -> DD20. I really need to get them noiseless kinmans in there soon. Buzzzzzzz.

Our lead guitarist uses his strat more than his tele or Epiphone hollow.
I like how it sounds. We do a lot of R & B stuff and he comes through th mix very well.

Our WL leaves his MIM strat with a mini humbucker in the neck position on stage as his backup. I have never really played one much, but last Saturday service picked it up for ne reason except "just because", settled in the middle pickup position, and dang! That was fun. Told wifey I just might have to get one for myself.

Well, I'm prepared to give the strat another go, having just bought one off eBay. Based on my wife's policy of 'one guitar in, one guitar out', I'll either be keeping it and selling my tele (most likely for a profit) or keep the tele and sell the new strat (most likely for a profit!).

It's an Aria STV in black and tortoiseshell, HSS with coil-tap switch and what looks like an active mid-boost from the scant details I could Google and from the pciture of the battery cover on the back (I love it when people don't describe things well on eBay - more chance of a bargan!). Ideally it'll turn up before rehearsal next week so that I can compare it back-to-back with the tele. Let's see if this is the strat that can convince me...

I usually use my Squier Bullet hardtail Strat for everything, with a minimal pedal assortment (tuner, Route 66 and a Dano drive) into a Roland Cube 30. I've been moving a bit toward humbuckers lately, using an Epi LP with a Bigsby. It's a bit less touch-sensitive than the Strat with it's fully-altered electronics, so it's a little easier to keep my levels even. Who cares what anyone else uses or sounds like? I'm pretty sure nobody is copying ME!

See this thread (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocaster-discussion-forum/322474-aria-strat-identification.html)for pics.

I don't play P&W anymore (when I did, it was all acoustic), but I love my mid-80s MIJ strat and it probably remains my favorite guitar to this day, through many mods, and with all we've been through together - I've played her for more than twenty years, and she's been through it all, dropped, dragged, sanded down, re-finished, parts replaced, neck broken, neck fixed, etc.

Here's a pic of her a few months ago (I've since replaced the EMGs with Fralin Blues Specials): http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocaster-discussion-forum/295340-what-color-pups-cream-pearloid-guard.html#post3639215

Shouldn't this thread be here, though? http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocaster-discussion-forum/

I buy and sell guitars a lot. No, I mean a LOT. I try to play anything I pick up in church, if I can make it fit (along with my fx pedal). Let me try to remember what I've played in church in the last 3 years. Here we go.....

Ovation
Guild studio 302
Godin exit 22
Carvin CS3M
Music Man Axis
Music Man Axis Supersport w/MM90s
Music Man Albert Lee
Music Man Sub 1
Jackson Dinky (stone)
Line 6 Variax acoustic
Silvertone Fastback
Peavey Wolfgang
Dillion semi hollow
Tradition semi hollow
MIM strat HSS
2002 tele (red)
2002 tele (agave)
2006 tele (white)

I'm trying to fit my latest strat...a mim with EMGs into next Sunday, but I just am not happy with the sound. Probably going back to either the sub 1, Al or tele.

It's arrived! (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocaster-discussion-forum/323130-ngd-everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-aria-stg-004-deluxe.html)

It's official, the strat has usurped the tele. Farewell, faithful Squier - we had less than a year together but you showed me the way of the Fender-style guitar again.

strats are kind of not very popular right now in general with the younger generation, however I see a change coming. I like mine. Took a LONG time to find the right one.

strats are kind of not very popular right now in general with the younger generation, however I see a change coming. I like mine. Took a LONG time to find the right one.

I hear you. I've not been a fan of strats for quite a while in looks, feel and sound. They're such an inconic shape that they're a little dull in a way - I've always preferred the Jaguar/Jazzmaster shape as something a bit different. But I've finally come round to the looks of some models (I think the black/tort combination helps on mine). I think I've developed in my playing to where the once-uncomfotable Fender scale now feels comfortable, and I'm really enjoying the sound of this new guitar.

In my mind strats are still slightly uncool but I've grown okay with that - and even got positive comments from some of the youth on Sunday!

I must admit I have a hard time wrapping around the one-guitar-does-it all mentality. I'm not criticizing, just don't get it. Strats have a sound all their own, as does teles and pauls. They all sound and play differently. I use a lot of different guitars and they all work. I do find a little more flexibility with the differences on the worship team than I do with the band I'm with. But still, I tend to love each instrument and the unique sound each one has regardless of weather its a strat, a tele, or a paul. I don't think you neccesarily have to be in one camp or the other.

I must admit I have a hard time wrapping around the one-guitar-does-it all mentality. I'm not criticizing, just don't get it. Strats have a sound all their own, as does teles and pauls. They all sound and play differently. I use a lot of different guitars and they all work. I do find a little more flexibility with the differences on the worship team than I do with the band I'm with. But still, I tend to love each instrument and the unique sound each one has regardless of weather its a strat, a tele, or a paul. I don't think you neccesarily have to be in one camp or the other.

It's not a mentality - it's a practicality. When space is limited and the wife says three guitars is the maximum, and you also play acoustic and bass, the one-guitar-does-most-of-it becomes a necessity! Fortunately most guitars can do most of what's required of a guitar in P&W with the right effects, amp, EQ etc. I've managed perfectly good sounds out of the strat, tele and SG.

I agree that every guitar does have its own sound and character. In the world where I have unlimited funds and a dedicated music room, I'd have one of everything. Meanwhile, back in this world... :lol:

Thats not exactly what I was getting at. If I've understood the thread correctly, its about using just a strat. Maybe I misunderstood. Certainly you don't have to have a huge number of guitars. I totally agree with you that especially on a worship team, any instrument can be used, which was my main point. I think possibly I've just seen to many threads about one particular guitar over another and thats the mentality I don't understand. Weather you have one instrument or many, they all have a place rather than one being "better" than all the rest. And practicality is, or should be a major consideration with instruments weather its dollar value of an instrument or the number of guitars one owns.

I spent 2 days at a Worship Leader conference last month with Chris Tomlin and his band. The main guitarist was on a Tele the entire time. The other was 75% Tele and the rest on a Gretsch.

I uses a PRS Custom 24 and a Strat. We play Tomlin and Hillsong mostly.

The solution is my G&L ASAT Classics with strat middle and neck pickups. Both the Tele bridge and the strat neck and middle combinations. Ideal.
.......snip... I keep hoping to hear something more interesting and creative at that level but after seeing Tomlin, Redman, Hillsongs, United and listening to J Culture over the last two years, I'm not optimistic.

AMEN! Dude I am getting so sick of the same sound... I actually been hoping someone would come out with some ol' classical southern rock P&W sounding music, the blues, or something.

Been wanting a Strat, but my wife doesn't... :shock:

Well Fender and Squier mix and match so much anymore...So do I.
I have 5 Tele bodied Guitars, a 74 Deluxe, an Electra 2253w Custom, an Alvarez I put a Strat trem on and put a mini bucker in the neck, a Squier with a modded Warmoth 12 string neck (9 string now), and a GFS maple capped HSS I built with the Squier's leftover neck on it. It sounds more strat than tele... I also have a Squier lefty strat heavily modded and flipped, and an Aria Pro II Fullerton I just picked up and a Peavey T-15... So I'm in the strat camp too! Honestly, my pedalboard is more of my sound than the guitar I'm playing...

...Honestly, my pedalboard is more of my sound than the guitar I'm playing...

Yep, I'd agree with that. with my pedals and amp I get the majority of my sound. The guitar is the icing on the cake in terms of sound but the feel of the guitar is a big part in enabling me to do what I want to do.

^true too. I have quite a few I play though, most fun is the change up when I go from a tele or a strat on one song to an acoustic 12 string on the next... I can step on a couple pedals to change my board, but them necks ain't nothin' alike!

EJ Rosewood
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/jazzrat/EJ%20Rosewood/DSC00909.jpg




:shock: ohh my.......thats delicious!!!

The only electric I've got is a MIM strat. Works out great for me.

I told a guy I'm on the worship team with that I'm looking into getting a tele soon and I just got this weird look from him. Apparently a tele isn't that versatile.

I'm still getting one though.

Makki,

Versatility is in the eye of the beholder. I borrowed a friends strat while my guitar was in the shop. It's an american standard that just came together right (he swears there's no Mod work, but i don't believe him :) ) It's a great guitar but I just found it a one trick pony.

If you want versatility, you need a Tele, Strat or Paul. and if you really want versatility you get a Tele or Strat with a Humbucker or a Paul with single coil tap pots. But the truth is that unless you need something specific you'll get way more of your sound out of your Amp and pedals.

Makki,

Versatility is in the eye of the beholder. I borrowed a friends strat while my guitar was in the shop. It's an american standard that just came together right (he swears there's no Mod work, but i don't believe him :) ) It's a great guitar but I just found it a one trick pony.

If you want versatility, you need a Tele, Strat or Paul. and if you really want versatility you get a Tele or Strat with a Humbucker or a Paul with single coil tap pots. But the truth is that unless you need something specific you'll get way more of your sound out of your Amp and pedals.

Yup. I think my strat covers a lot of ground and is pretty versatile. One of the upgrades I've done is to put in a Seymour Duncan Custom 5 in the bridge position. 3 years later and I'm still not tired of the sound.

I have since got a tele since I posted last on this thread. Can't wait to try that out next time I play.

If you want versatility, you need a Tele, Strat or Paul.

shouldnt that be a Tele, Strat, AND Paul?? :P

You know, until you mentioned them at the start of the thread, I'd never heard of Duesenberg. I've never seen one in a UK shop. But I've found out how to spell it. :razz:

I've finally seen one! And guess what, it was being played in a P&W band! (Bethel, on tour in the UK.)

shouldnt that be a Tele, Strat, AND Paul?? :P

Sure, but im talking about having one guitar if you're on a budget or just starting out. Plus, I'd rather have one nicer guitar than a collection of squires and samicks

I have an American Standard Strat, Sienna burst/maple neck and just put in Lace Sensor Hot Golds. Running through a Hughes and Kettner 25th Annivesary. Sound I've been looking for. Goes from clean to dirt. Covers most sounds I need. When I need spank and twang, go to my tele.

I just recently traded my classic vibe tele for a classic vibe strat. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of tones I can get out of that thing