Am I a wuss for wanting forearm contour?

[krueger]

Got my first tele-style guitar a few weeks ago. I really love it and have been playing it for many hours. Problem is I find the lack of contour for the forearm quite tiring.

Any suggestions from veterans here? (Anything except playing less appreciated)

 

[sonny wolf]

Being a Strat player who also plays Teles I like to change from each one because I enjoy the differences each one has.Tonally each one will excel at certain things,songs and styles and I also like the way they feel different.So I don't miss the forearm contour when playing a Tele because I enjoy what a classic,vintage style Tele is all about.I adapt to a Tele and won't play it the same way I do a Strat and vice versa.

 

[doruondun]

Don't be a wuss, you will get used to it

 

[CyanideJunkie]

It's called a slab guitar for a reason mate.

 

[BoogerRooger]

Never heard anyone call Mr Beck a 'wuss'!

 

[krueger]

Never heard anyone call Mr Beck a 'wuss'!

I wouldn't either.

 

[brookdalebill]

If its your only guitar, you like it, and its not valuable, modify away.
Your instrument is your voice (if you don't sing).
Bend it to your will!

 

[Scotty 2]

Nobody's a wuss for having things "their way".
Never put yourself in someone elses character,,,,,,,
That shows your own character weakness.
This is not my opinion.It's in the Drs. Medical Journal..
Check it out,,, and get your guitar contoured if you choose.

 

[bluemud928]

i wouldn't mind a forearm contour myself, but i hate belly cuts.

 

[dog fart]

Time to break out the belt sander

 

[frankthomson]

it aint a tele unless i bruise my forearm

 

[TaylorPlayer]

My Warmoth Tele has both the forearm cut and body contour. It also has a contour at the cut away area. Personally, I love it! It's what made me bond with it so quickly. I loved Strats but wanted a Tele sound. Now my Tele gets all the love. It sounds like a Tele but feels like a Strat! That is heaven in my opinion.

 

[fatcat]

not a wuss, maybe just a little OCD...

If it bothers you enough to distract you from enjoying the tone; break out the sander like mr. fart stated, otherwise use it as an excuse to get another new guitar. But, keep the Tele...

 

[Telemarkman]

Never heard anyone call Mr Beck a 'wuss'!

View attachment 96895

Except that Mr. Beck didn't do that to the guitar - John Maus (of Walker Brothers fame) did - and I doubt that Mr. Beck bought it because of the contour ... Probably in spite of it.

It's called a slab guitar for a reason mate.

Exactly! Contours on a Tele is just WRONG!

 

[garrett]

I actually had trouble with the lack of belly cut at first. I used to get a bruise on my ribs, but it went away after a month or two. For the forearm, I adjusted my playing position without any trouble.

That said, contours are a beautiful thing!

 

[Ronkirn]

Not a wuss at all.... a big part of having a guitar is having it the way you want it... If t=you let outside influences press you to accept features you don't really want, it's gonna nag at ya in back of your head forever...

Go for it.....

Ron Kirn

 

[Telemarkman]

I realize that you're right, Ron - but in an ideal world a Tele should have no contours!

 

[tap4154]

Hey! That might be a good way to weight-relieve/mod a vintage blonde CV50

I've already "defiled" mine by putting a chunky Indo Squier '51 neck on it, and am handy with a belt sander... maybe I'll make it into an Indo-Chinese Beck replica?

(seriously thinking about it)

 

[RockerDuck]

I read about Eric Johnson saying he had a 54 stratocaster that played good but he didn't like the pickup or the setup. He kept it original. Then one day he decided that he really wanted to play the guitar and modified it. Qualifying it by why just look at it, play it and modify it the way you like.

 

[geetarfreek82]

I currently have 5 Teles and a Strat, and I find that playing the Strat actually fatigues my right arm more quickly... It's all about the picking angle. For me I like having my arm out over the slab body, where my arm and hand are parallel to the body. On the Strat I don't have that anchor to rest my arm on that I have with a Tele, and my wrist is bent at more of an angle. I don't know, I actually have thought about ordering a Strat body from Warmoth without the contours! I also don't like the back "gut cut" but that may just be me lol