Tele most versatile? Strummer?

erikro · February 29th, 2008, 08:15 PM

When I bought my Tele I was looking for a do it all, my one and only guitar. That being said I usually play rhythm guitar, strumming away at chords. Is this the best electric for this purpose? Is the strat more suited for that? I normally play acoustic and I am new to the electric world. Thanks for any help.

Erik

dougc · February 29th, 2008, 10:20 PM

Hmmm...Joe STRUMMER (from the Clash for the young folk) played a 1966 Telecaster for rhythm guitar. I would say the Telecaster, as a working man's guitar will do well in the lead or rhythm role. Is it the best? No idea; but, I like well enough.

boris bubbanov · February 29th, 2008, 11:40 PM

Buy the guitar Joe would have bought. A used MIM Standard Tele.

I can't in good conscience steer you towards the thing FMIC calls a strummer. So many folks find that guitar distasteful, you've lost 'em before you play the first song. Check some of the many threads here, see what I mean.

dougc · February 29th, 2008, 11:52 PM

Easy--I'm pretty sure he was asking if you can play rhythm guitar on a telecaster. Not "is the joe strummer tribute a good guitar?" Hence the answer; the telecaster (no specific model) is good at rhythm and lead. Joe Strummer just happened to be a great rhythm guitarist. For the record--I have a highway one, not a joe strummer tribute.

Nick JD · February 29th, 2008, 11:57 PM

You can strum an Ibanez Jem if you want!

Get one in lime green and surprise everyone by not doing a single lead break.

GoldieLocks · March 1st, 2008, 12:58 AM

I have 3 electric guitars. Only my Telecaster is strummable...It depends on the pickups (how hot they are). My middle toggle selection on the Tele really mellows out the tone enough that its great to strum on with minimal breakup. My Gibson SG is NOT strummable...too woofy.

garytelecastor · March 1st, 2008, 01:04 AM

Okay, I realize this will be sacrilege, but I think that if you could find a Rickenbacker 6 or maybe even a 12 you might have a nice tone as well, but the tele will work.

Nick JD · March 1st, 2008, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

My Gibson SG is NOT strummable...too woofy.

Woof Woof!

neocaster · March 1st, 2008, 01:39 AM

It's very strummable. If you mean you want more accoustic sounding strums (on a Tele) check out the Deluxe Series Nashville Power Telecaster. The Fishman bridge gives a very different set of options. Most of what I've heard "Strat players" do, I've heard them do just as well on a Tele. When you hear David Gilmour on a Tele, you'll know it's Gilmour long before you notice what guitar he's playing.

Ethical · March 1st, 2008, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick JD

Woof Woof!

Ripper!

Back to the original question. A guitar's just a guitar, you can play what you like on most of them. The limiting factor is the player

Your Tele will be fine (whatever you play). If you fancy (or your set requires something with a whammy bar) then's the time to start looking at Strats. Just play your Tele and enjoy it for what it is!

Ted

voided3 · March 1st, 2008, 04:17 AM

I think any guitar has the potential to be a good rhythm guitar, but there are some inherent qualities of some guitars that can make them better or worse for the job. I feel that guitars with floating vibratos aren't all that good for rhythm because they can be touchy with tuning, especially if you're palm muting (but Bigsbys can be nice to add some shimmer). Otherwise, the genre and situation can vary greatly so there isn't one quintessential rhythm guitar. Sometimes a big 'ol hollowbody with flatwounds is appropriate like in jazz, sometimes an acoustic guitar tone can be called for like on ballads (or if you're Pete Townshend, everything!), sometimes a bright sound can be what the doctor ordered like when the Black Crowes were on the Connan O'Brien show and an Esquire was the whole rhythm section!

To go back your initial question of whether a Tele is going to be your do it all guitar, chances are pretty good that it can be. They can do shades of bright to dark and are very solidly constructed so they can handle aggressive playing (unlike on an archtop where a floating bridge can shift if you're right hand gets carried away!).

About Gibsons being "woofy," I can see where you are coming from on that. You really have to have your amp tailored to them so they aren't overly bassy and keep some bite. I used to keep one of the other channels on my '68 Kustom K200 head EQed for humbuckers to avoid what you're describing so when I'd switch guitars I'd switch channels too.

jhundt · March 1st, 2008, 12:11 PM

The Telecaster is the best guitar there is... period!

The Tele will absolutely work great for strummers and rhythm players, just don't put them little skinny strings on there. And lots of other guys do great lead work with Telecasters, too.

igorBG · March 1st, 2008, 03:11 PM

You must be aware that Tele has bright and clear tone which always comes up in the front in the mix. No matter how low you keep your amp volume, you will always hear your guitar, even all notes from chord. This is why I like Tele, but I don't know what will your lead guitar player say (if you have one in your band)

AngelStrummer · March 1st, 2008, 07:55 PM

For big chimey chords go Tele, it's a great guitar to play any rhythm on actually. Strats can be cool for funky rhythms though.

February 29th, 2008, 08:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
erikro TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maryland Age: 36 Posts: 29	Tele most versatile? Strummer? When I bought my Tele I was looking for a do it all, my one and only guitar. That being said I usually play rhythm guitar, strumming away at chords. Is this the best electric for this purpose? Is the strat more suited for that? I normally play acoustic and I am new to the electric world. Thanks for any help. Erik

February 29th, 2008, 11:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 8,574	Buy the guitar Joe would have bought. A used MIM Standard Tele. I can't in good conscience steer you towards the thing FMIC calls a strummer. So many folks find that guitar distasteful, you've lost 'em before you play the first song. Check some of the many threads here, see what I mean. __________________ Bubban0v

February 29th, 2008, 11:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nick JD Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2007 Location: North NSW, Australia Age: 36 Posts: 2,597	You can strum an Ibanez Jem if you want! Get one in lime green and surprise everyone by not doing a single lead break. __________________

March 1st, 2008, 12:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
GoldieLocks Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abbotsford B.C. Posts: 833	strumming? I have 3 electric guitars. Only my Telecaster is strummable...It depends on the pickups (how hot they are). My middle toggle selection on the Tele really mellows out the tone enough that its great to strum on with minimal breakup. My Gibson SG is NOT strummable...too woofy. __________________ "How little I know inspires me tremendously! I'm a huge fan of other people's playing." Bonnie Raitt

March 1st, 2008, 01:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,642 18 Photos	Okay, I realize this will be sacrilege, but I think that if you could find a Rickenbacker 6 or maybe even a 12 you might have a nice tone as well, but the tele will work. __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Would you mind holding this bag while we go through the custom shop????? Redd Volkaert is a Jedi Knight at one with the Force!!!

February 29th, 2008, 10:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
dougc TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 86	Hmmm...Joe STRUMMER (from the Clash for the young folk) played a 1966 Telecaster for rhythm guitar. I would say the Telecaster, as a working man's guitar will do well in the lead or rhythm role. Is it the best? No idea; but, I like well enough.

February 29th, 2008, 11:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
dougc TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 86	Easy--I'm pretty sure he was asking if you can play rhythm guitar on a telecaster. Not "is the joe strummer tribute a good guitar?" Hence the answer; the telecaster (no specific model) is good at rhythm and lead. Joe Strummer just happened to be a great rhythm guitarist. For the record--I have a highway one, not a joe strummer tribute.

March 1st, 2008, 01:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
neocaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester County, PA Age: 35 Posts: 3,530 11 Photos	It's very strummable. If you mean you want more accoustic sounding strums (on a Tele) check out the Deluxe Series Nashville Power Telecaster. The Fishman bridge gives a very different set of options. Most of what I've heard "Strat players" do, I've heard them do just as well on a Tele. When you hear David Gilmour on a Tele, you'll know it's Gilmour long before you notice what guitar he's playing. __________________ "...You don't need faith if you know it's gonna work!" "The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."

March 1st, 2008, 04:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 693	I think any guitar has the potential to be a good rhythm guitar, but there are some inherent qualities of some guitars that can make them better or worse for the job. I feel that guitars with floating vibratos aren't all that good for rhythm because they can be touchy with tuning, especially if you're palm muting (but Bigsbys can be nice to add some shimmer). Otherwise, the genre and situation can vary greatly so there isn't one quintessential rhythm guitar. Sometimes a big 'ol hollowbody with flatwounds is appropriate like in jazz, sometimes an acoustic guitar tone can be called for like on ballads (or if you're Pete Townshend, everything!), sometimes a bright sound can be what the doctor ordered like when the Black Crowes were on the Connan O'Brien show and an Esquire was the whole rhythm section! To go back your initial question of whether a Tele is going to be your do it all guitar, chances are pretty good that it can be. They can do shades of bright to dark and are very solidly constructed so they can handle aggressive playing (unlike on an archtop where a floating bridge can shift if you're right hand gets carried away!). About Gibsons being "woofy," I can see where you are coming from on that. You really have to have your amp tailored to them so they aren't overly bassy and keep some bite. I used to keep one of the other channels on my '68 Kustom K200 head EQed for humbuckers to avoid what you're describing so when I'd switch guitars I'd switch channels too.

March 1st, 2008, 12:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 54 Posts: 3,011 9 Photos	The Telecaster is the best guitar there is... period! The Tele will absolutely work great for strummers and rhythm players, just don't put them little skinny strings on there. And lots of other guys do great lead work with Telecasters, too.

March 1st, 2008, 03:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
igorBG Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Age: 31 Posts: 478 9 Photos	You must be aware that Tele has bright and clear tone which always comes up in the front in the mix. No matter how low you keep your amp volume, you will always hear your guitar, even all notes from chord. This is why I like Tele, but I don't know what will your lead guitar player say (if you have one in your band)

March 1st, 2008, 07:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
AngelStrummer Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London/Amsterdam Age: 41 Posts: 612	For big chimey chords go Tele, it's a great guitar to play any rhythm on actually. Strats can be cool for funky rhythms though. __________________ "Goodnight, enjoy the life you've chosen" - Bill Hicks