My Tele Has Better Tone Than My Strat

markw51 · April 24th, 2008, 04:42 PM

Been playing my Strat more recently.

Then I pick up my Tele and I'm kinda shocked by the difference in tone.

Is this a common experience?

ajgus · April 24th, 2008, 04:50 PM

Sure. My Tele has better tone than your Strat too

spicolli · April 24th, 2008, 04:53 PM

i think the majority of teles will have better tone than a strat. there will be the few exceptions out there i'm sure.

Wild Rice Chris · April 24th, 2008, 04:54 PM

Tele usually wins.

TG · April 24th, 2008, 07:00 PM

I generally find the same thing. Strats are fun but I always feel better picking up a tele afterwards.

A strat has some very 'pretty' tones, but for general all-round guitar duties I find they need to be either effected or overdriven. Kind of empty otherwise.
Except for the pretty 'quack' tones I think a tele does it all better....and I can get along happily with no effects or overdrive (although it does that well too).

johnnylaw · April 24th, 2008, 07:42 PM

Strats are cool. I should know. I had two good ones and sold them each. I'm stuck on the Telecaster. Never get tired of 'em...

Telarkaster · April 24th, 2008, 07:47 PM

I prefer to think that my Strat has a different tone than my Tele, and that depending on my mood and situation I'll use the appropriate one.

If I'm playing alone at home, I'll grab the Strat and appreciate the delicate variety of tones available to me with 3 pickups and a world of quack.

If I'm with a band and I want carve a place out amongst the drums and bass then the Tele is my preferred choice, but the Strat doesn't do too badly either.

Don't get me started about my Les Paul and Casino, I might get emotional..

Murphy Slaw · April 24th, 2008, 08:23 PM

You know, having played a Strat for a few years before owning a Tele, then owning a Tele and selling the Strat I think this.

While they do sound different, I feel I "dig in" to the Tele more. The Strat strings never really see any wood. The Tele strings park in the plank..... If you will.....

While at times I miss the whammy, it's also a thought process to use, so without that option your mind can move on to more notes. And if you break a string, your springs don't go limp! Ahem.....

Sometimes I miss my Strat, but haven't replaced it yet. I will say this.

It's my second favorite guitar.

Best of luck.

Murph.

Elliot Easton · April 24th, 2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markw51

Been playing my Strat more recently.

Then I pick up my Tele and I'm kinda shocked by the difference in tone.

Is this a common experience?

You're asking this question on the Telecaster Guitar Forum? How would you think people here would answer that? Try asking the exact same question on the Stratocaster Guitar Forum and see how they answer!

PJ · April 24th, 2008, 11:57 PM

I know tons of players like Strats. I even have a few. But, there's no comparison on tone - Tele is a tone monster compared to a Strat. Tele
tone is pure - strings are attached to the body throughthe wood. With the Strat, the strings are anchored into a steel block on springs. Strat tone
(as Tokai used to say on their pegheads "SpringySound") is more airy, less
concentrated, less compressed, thinner. I find myself adding more EQ with
my Strats - more FX, to color the inate tone of the guitar. A Tele requires less coloring and tone-shaping. Kind of like a pedal steel. Sounds best controlled with three knobs - volume, bass & treble, maybe a little reverb.

Elliot Easton · April 25th, 2008, 02:31 AM

I think you're right on the money.

Smirkster · April 25th, 2008, 02:45 AM

My tele seems to have a slightly more resonant tone than my CP50, but I love them both.

To my ears the strat can do a lot of what the tele does...close, but not quite completely there.

I'm keeping them both!

scooteraz · April 25th, 2008, 03:12 AM

I think of the tones as different, rather than "better". When the kid I play with at church and I both show up with Teles, I think our combined tone is a little to same. If he shows up with his SG, then I really like my Tele as a counterpoint. But...when he shows up with his Tele, I like my Strat to provide something different.

Sort of which do you prefer, blondes or brunettes? When I was single, I don't think I could have made a choice. Now...well my wife is brunette. But you don't marry a guitar!

voided3 · April 25th, 2008, 03:13 AM

I'd say the feel on a Tele trumps a Strat; you hit a chord on a Tele and it hits you back (might be the same on a hardtail strat though, idk)! The neck pickup sounds are similar (depending on the pickups), but the bridge pickups are quite different. I have grown to prefer the Tele bridge pickup because it can be super bright, just right, thick, and flubby all at the twist of a knob (all in a good way of course). Strat bridge pickups sound kind of "plastic" in comparison (maybe that's because that's what they're mounted in...). As for the quack sounds, they are cool but only handy for a few things so I can live without it (or get a nashville tele). Overall, a Tele is starting to feel like home for me.

beep.click · April 25th, 2008, 06:19 AM

I get along better with a Strat if I haven't played one in awhile. Same with a Rickenbacker. Play 'em all the time, and somehow they get a little annoying. Take a little break, and I appreciate what they have to offer.

91xlntS-3 · April 25th, 2008, 06:35 AM

I've had some very good Strats over the years, the one I wish I had back was an original "Blackie" E.C. Signature model with the 3 Gold lace sensors. That was my first experience with a "V" neck also, but it was my favorite, hands down. One of those that "shouldn't have gotten away"!

Love some of the tones you can get from a Strat, but a Tele does it all for me. My 2nd choice would be an LP, strange, I know.

stringeddemigod · April 25th, 2008, 08:30 AM

I have to disagree with most of you. I think it's kind silly to say one is better than the other. It's apples an oranges. The kind of stuff that most of you guys play (along with myself) is tele territory. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty tele obsessed, but there are some things that I play strats on and some things that I play teles on. And *gasp* there are even things that I use humbuckers for. Any serious session player knows that they are both important tools of the trade.

guitarzan13 · April 25th, 2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stringeddemigod

I have to disagree with most of you. I think it's kind silly to say one is better than the other. It's apples an oranges. The kind of stuff that most of you guys play (along with myself) is tele territory. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty tele obsessed, but there are some things that I play strats on and some things that I play teles on. And *gasp* there are even things that I use humbuckers for. Any serious session player knows that they are both important tools of the trade.

I agree to disagree.....except most of my stuff is in the Strat zone. Sorry.... Ain't No anti-Strat dude in this box.

Telemarkman · April 25th, 2008, 08:44 AM

Nothing new here - it's always been this way

...

mistermullens · April 25th, 2008, 08:50 AM

Sold my Strat 2 years ago so I could buy a Casino. Didn't miss the Strat. Shortly after getting the Casino, I put together a '52 Partscaster, and I really don't miss the Strat. After playing them for many years, I never quite found the sound I was looking for. Some people make them sound great, but I'll take a Tele over a Strat any day of the week.

PJ · April 25th, 2008, 10:45 AM

91xlnt.....Lace Sensors in a Strat really do a lot to kick-up the tone.
Nice choice. I liked Clapton's Strat tone when he had the Sensors.

Joe Chaney · April 25th, 2008, 11:21 AM

i am of the opinion that whatever you throw on the table, tele wins hands down

PJ · April 25th, 2008, 12:25 PM

I wouldn't say one is better than the other. The pickups are pretty similar - Strat to Tele. It's the guitar architecture that produces different tones (and the wiring, of course). I like them both and have a few of each that I like for different reasons. But, IMHO, from a pure tone POV, the Tele gives you more direct output to the player's input.
The addition of the tremolo bridge, by design, made the Strat and Tele pretty different instruments altogether.

alanfc · April 25th, 2008, 02:16 PM

My Tele too..
I was 25+ years with Strat or strat-types, and about a year ago decided to go with a Les Paul. Started that whole obsession. The tone was more solid that my Strat (in which I've always put humbuckers in the bridge). But still hadn't totally warmed up to the flat fretboard, low action and the big bulge under the picking hand!
Bought an old MIM Tele off ebay and now I'm really obsessed ! I've got the thick clear hardtail sound, high action and curvy radius, and the nice familiar flat plane under my picking hand. WIth the band my big problem lately was that none of the little things I do in our songs could be heard.. now with mr. Tele the fruits of my labors can be heard

April 24th, 2008, 04:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
markw51 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: rockville, md. Posts: 423	My Tele Has Better Tone Than My Strat Been playing my Strat more recently. Then I pick up my Tele and I'm kinda shocked by the difference in tone. Is this a common experience?

April 24th, 2008, 04:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 2,324	Sure. My Tele has better tone than your Strat too __________________ "If you don't have a toothbrush & you don't have a Telecaster...you're in trouble"- Jim Weider

April 24th, 2008, 04:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
spicolli Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 315 Age: 32 Posts: 420	i think the majority of teles will have better tone than a strat. there will be the few exceptions out there i'm sure. __________________ Rock and roll around my head Fifty watts happening

April 24th, 2008, 04:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 2,867 27 Photos	Tele usually wins. __________________ "The children need to learn how to build their own environment and make their own music that is inspired by their roots."--Eugene Hütz "All music turns out to be ethnic music."--Steve Reich Enjoy, and please visit my homepage.

April 24th, 2008, 07:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnnylaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New England Age: 51 Posts: 284	Strats are cool. I should know. I had two good ones and sold them each. I'm stuck on the Telecaster. Never get tired of 'em... __________________ Its not how long you make it, its how you make it long.

April 24th, 2008, 07:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
TG Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 47 Posts: 4,490 7 Photos	I generally find the same thing. Strats are fun but I always feel better picking up a tele afterwards. A strat has some very 'pretty' tones, but for general all-round guitar duties I find they need to be either effected or overdriven. Kind of empty otherwise. Except for the pretty 'quack' tones I think a tele does it all better....and I can get along happily with no effects or overdrive (although it does that well too).

April 24th, 2008, 07:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Telarkaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Posts: 1,795	I prefer to think that my Strat has a different tone than my Tele, and that depending on my mood and situation I'll use the appropriate one. If I'm playing alone at home, I'll grab the Strat and appreciate the delicate variety of tones available to me with 3 pickups and a world of quack. If I'm with a band and I want carve a place out amongst the drums and bass then the Tele is my preferred choice, but the Strat doesn't do too badly either. Don't get me started about my Les Paul and Casino, I might get emotional..

April 24th, 2008, 08:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Murphy Slaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Joppa, Il. Age: 50 Posts: 439	You know, having played a Strat for a few years before owning a Tele, then owning a Tele and selling the Strat I think this. While they do sound different, I feel I "dig in" to the Tele more. The Strat strings never really see any wood. The Tele strings park in the plank..... If you will..... While at times I miss the whammy, it's also a thought process to use, so without that option your mind can move on to more notes. And if you break a string, your springs don't go limp! Ahem..... Sometimes I miss my Strat, but haven't replaced it yet. I will say this. It's my second favorite guitar. Best of luck. Murph.

April 24th, 2008, 11:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,077 4 Photos	I know tons of players like Strats. I even have a few. But, there's no comparison on tone - Tele is a tone monster compared to a Strat. Tele tone is pure - strings are attached to the body throughthe wood. With the Strat, the strings are anchored into a steel block on springs. Strat tone (as Tokai used to say on their pegheads "SpringySound") is more airy, less concentrated, less compressed, thinner. I find myself adding more EQ with my Strats - more FX, to color the inate tone of the guitar. A Tele requires less coloring and tone-shaping. Kind of like a pedal steel. Sounds best controlled with three knobs - volume, bass & treble, maybe a little reverb. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 25th, 2008, 02:31 AM	#11 (permalink)
Elliot Easton Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 431	I think you're right on the money. __________________ *It's impossible to tell lies on a Telecaster!*

April 25th, 2008, 02:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
Smirkster TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Volente Posts: 77	My tele seems to have a slightly more resonant tone than my CP50, but I love them both. To my ears the strat can do a lot of what the tele does...close, but not quite completely there. I'm keeping them both!

April 25th, 2008, 03:12 AM	#13 (permalink)
scooteraz Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 778	I think of the tones as different, rather than "better". When the kid I play with at church and I both show up with Teles, I think our combined tone is a little to same. If he shows up with his SG, then I really like my Tele as a counterpoint. But...when he shows up with his Tele, I like my Strat to provide something different. Sort of which do you prefer, blondes or brunettes? When I was single, I don't think I could have made a choice. Now...well my wife is brunette. But you don't marry a guitar!

April 25th, 2008, 03:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 691	I'd say the feel on a Tele trumps a Strat; you hit a chord on a Tele and it hits you back (might be the same on a hardtail strat though, idk)! The neck pickup sounds are similar (depending on the pickups), but the bridge pickups are quite different. I have grown to prefer the Tele bridge pickup because it can be super bright, just right, thick, and flubby all at the twist of a knob (all in a good way of course). Strat bridge pickups sound kind of "plastic" in comparison (maybe that's because that's what they're mounted in...). As for the quack sounds, they are cool but only handy for a few things so I can live without it (or get a nashville tele). Overall, a Tele is starting to feel like home for me.

April 25th, 2008, 06:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
beep.click Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 1,966	I get along better with a Strat if I haven't played one in awhile. Same with a Rickenbacker. Play 'em all the time, and somehow they get a little annoying. Take a little break, and I appreciate what they have to offer. __________________ "It looked like a giant green gum drop to me."

April 25th, 2008, 06:35 AM	#16 (permalink)
91xlntS-3 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 729	I've had some very good Strats over the years, the one I wish I had back was an original "Blackie" E.C. Signature model with the 3 Gold lace sensors. That was my first experience with a "V" neck also, but it was my favorite, hands down. One of those that "shouldn't have gotten away"! Love some of the tones you can get from a Strat, but a Tele does it all for me. My 2nd choice would be an LP, strange, I know.

April 25th, 2008, 08:30 AM	#17 (permalink)
stringeddemigod TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hattiesburg, Ms Posts: 72	I have to disagree with most of you. I think it's kind silly to say one is better than the other. It's apples an oranges. The kind of stuff that most of you guys play (along with myself) is tele territory. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty tele obsessed, but there are some things that I play strats on and some things that I play teles on. And gasp there are even things that I use humbuckers for. Any serious session player knows that they are both important tools of the trade.

April 25th, 2008, 08:44 AM	#19 (permalink)
Telemarkman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 61 Posts: 4,719	Nothing new here - it's always been this way ...

April 25th, 2008, 08:50 AM	#20 (permalink)
mistermullens Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Age: 31 Posts: 2,383 51 Photos	Sold my Strat 2 years ago so I could buy a Casino. Didn't miss the Strat. Shortly after getting the Casino, I put together a '52 Partscaster, and I really don't miss the Strat. After playing them for many years, I never quite found the sound I was looking for. Some people make them sound great, but I'll take a Tele over a Strat any day of the week. __________________ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

April 25th, 2008, 10:45 AM	#21 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,077 4 Photos	91xlnt.....Lace Sensors in a Strat really do a lot to kick-up the tone. Nice choice. I liked Clapton's Strat tone when he had the Sensors. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 25th, 2008, 11:21 AM	#22 (permalink)
Joe Chaney Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: aude, France Age: 16 Posts: 455 2 Photos	i am of the opinion that whatever you throw on the table, tele wins hands down __________________ If you're not careful, It'll stick to your cheeks, and You'll smell like a native, For a couple of weeks In France

April 25th, 2008, 12:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,077 4 Photos	I wouldn't say one is better than the other. The pickups are pretty similar - Strat to Tele. It's the guitar architecture that produces different tones (and the wiring, of course). I like them both and have a few of each that I like for different reasons. But, IMHO, from a pure tone POV, the Tele gives you more direct output to the player's input. The addition of the tremolo bridge, by design, made the Strat and Tele pretty different instruments altogether. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 25th, 2008, 02:16 PM	#24 (permalink)
alanfc Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Paradise Posts: 346	My Tele too.. I was 25+ years with Strat or strat-types, and about a year ago decided to go with a Les Paul. Started that whole obsession. The tone was more solid that my Strat (in which I've always put humbuckers in the bridge). But still hadn't totally warmed up to the flat fretboard, low action and the big bulge under the picking hand! Bought an old MIM Tele off ebay and now I'm really obsessed ! I've got the thick clear hardtail sound, high action and curvy radius, and the nice familiar flat plane under my picking hand. WIth the band my big problem lately was that none of the little things I do in our songs could be heard.. now with mr. Tele the fruits of my labors can be heard __________________ Strats/Teles/LesPaul/Rivera/Engl Band: http://www.myspace.com/rocketchirac