• Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 176

Topic: T Style VS S Style...

Hi!
Alright. I already have a Gibson Les Paul Standard from 1991. It's great all the way. But now I want a second guitar and I'm really poised between choosing a Strat style and a Tele style. I want single coils. It'll be used for my Hendrix/SRV/KWS/Lang/Buchanan/A.Collins type of sound.
Of course a strat is a great guitar, and will most probably fit the bill with the type of sounds I just mentioned. But hell strats are everywhere. I once played through one for 2 songs on stage and a guy came to see me at the end of the gig and asked me "You like SRV huh?". Damn, I played my Les Paul for most of the gig... neutral
Then a Tele can be a little cheaper and I know it sounds great. Have you guys ever heard Gary Moore coax sounds out of his 60's Tele? It almost sounds as fat as his Les Paul (and that says a lot!). Not to menion Joe here with his Gigliotti T Style... It's probably not as hype as a Strat and I'm a little concerned about the Hendrixy type of stuff but maybe it could fit the bill on that as well with the neck pickup?

In fact this topic should have been a poll: for a second guitar (imagine you're not allowed a third huh...) would you pick a Strat or a Tele?

Of course I won't go into details as to brand, reliced or not, pickups and so on...
Thanks a lot to everyone!  big_smile

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: T Style VS S Style...

Strats are more comfy... unless you can find a Tele with a tummy rout and a forearm rout. Although if you like binding you can find some really cool Tele's that have binding on front and back...

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: T Style VS S Style...

I voted the Telecaster and this is why.  Everyone you talked about was pretty much a Strat player, but my experience says you listen to what the person is talking about.  You said everyone is playing Strats which is TRUE.  Even in Country music 90' to now Strats have taken over as the main guitar between those 2 blues too.  Now the Les Paul is popular again for Blues and you see more and more gibsons in country music every day.  I think Telecasters are more versital then any of them and if your used to playing a les paul they are almost shaped like one.  I wore mine same hight as a Les Paul.  There is also a lot to be said about simplisity and the a 3 way switch 2 pickups 1 volume and 1 tone is as simple as it gets!

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: T Style VS S Style...

The strats have a different sound than a tele... especially in the 2 and 4 position. Some guys really don't like it. My brother is 100% LesPaul kinda guy and he got rid of his Eric Johnson Strat in favor of his vintage vibe tele. Never played the strat, so why keep it?

Word is (I can't prove it) Purple Haze was recorded with a tele because Hendrix had a habit of hocking and losing his guitar. AND I've heard that the early LedZeppelin sessions were recorded on a tele... much to where people think that's his distinct Les Paul sound.

Both sides have winners. I don't own a tele, so I voted strat. I just wanted to add my own devil's advocate .02!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2010-11-17
  • Posts: 18

Re: T Style VS S Style...

I say strat just for the sake of being extremely versatile and could cover the majority of tones you listed, and also I agree with NPB they are more comfortable  cool but on a side note there are alot of great teles out there that are just as versatile as the strat so I say get both if you can  lol but in any case good luck hunting  smile

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: T Style VS S Style...

All of Zeppelin 1 was a Telecaster for Electric guitar parts.  The Same guitar can be heard on Stairway to Heaven during the solo.  As far as Jimi doing a Telecaster, I wouldn't hold it past him but I still think its a strat.  I am a Strat guy 100% I have owned 8 at some time or another.  If your going to mod a guitar and Strat is the easiest to do.  I also love the 2 and 4 opsition and if you wanted that with a Tele get a tele with a 4 way switch 4 could be in phase, and 2 could be out of phase should give you both the standard Tele sounds and a Strat sound, better yet get a Nashville Tele!

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

The strats have a different sound than a tele... especially in the 2 and 4 position. Some guys really don't like it. My brother is 100% LesPaul kinda guy and he got rid of his Eric Johnson Strat in favor of his vintage vibe tele. Never played the strat, so why keep it?

Word is (I can't prove it) Purple Haze was recorded with a tele because Hendrix had a habit of hocking and losing his guitar. AND I've heard that the early LedZeppelin sessions were recorded on a tele... much to where people think that's his distinct Les Paul sound.

Both sides have winners. I don't own a tele, so I voted strat. I just wanted to add my own devil's advocate .02!

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2010-02-11
  • Posts: 14

Re: T Style VS S Style...

Go to a store and play both... What do you like best? Both the Tele and the Strat have their sounds, so in my ears they are completely different. It might also be the the Tele-shape is in more agreement with you. Check 'em both out and then get to work on which specific one to get.

Personally I am a Strat man (have three of them), but I also have a Tele for single coil slide guitar.

  • ken
  • ken
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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2007-05-28
  • Posts: 949

Re: T Style VS S Style...

I voted strat (like most have)... more comfortable, more pickup options, lots of tele's have feedback problems at higher gain if they have a steel bridge. The strat is the perfect guitar for any style. That said, I have 2 LPs, 1 strat, and 2 thinline teles.

Get the tele for a third guitar... cool

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: T Style VS S Style...

I was serious Get you a nashville Telecaster.  2 Telecaster pickups and a Strat Middle pickup.  Get the Nashville Power Telecaster and you can have a Fishman acoustic Bridge as well.  I had one for a while and they sound great.  I'd swap the Tex Mex pickups though.

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  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: T Style VS S Style...

Get both! Variety is the spice of life. Of course, budget might be an issue.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: T Style VS S Style...

Everybody needs a Strat, a Tele and a Les Paul. wink



or, several of each! tongue

  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: T Style VS S Style...

I was also going to suggest the nashville tele. you could always put strat pickups in the middle and neck.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: T Style VS S Style...

ken wrote:

I voted strat (like most have)... more comfortable, more pickup options, lots of tele's have feedback problems at higher gain if they have a steel bridge. The strat is the perfect guitar for any style. That said, I have 2 LPs, 1 strat, and 2 thinline teles.

Get the tele for a third guitar... cool

BTW love that Tele you brought over Ken.  That thing plays itself!  I don't have Tele GAS....I don't have Tele GAS....I don't have Tele GAS....  tongue

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14 Reply by ken

  • ken
  • ken
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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2007-05-28
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Re: T Style VS S Style...

stratpaulguy86 wrote:
ken wrote:

I voted strat (like most have)... more comfortable, more pickup options, lots of tele's have feedback problems at higher gain if they have a steel bridge. The strat is the perfect guitar for any style. That said, I have 2 LPs, 1 strat, and 2 thinline teles.

Get the tele for a third guitar... cool

BTW love that Tele you brought over Ken.  That thing plays itself!  I don't have Tele GAS....I don't have Tele GAS....I don't have Tele GAS....  tongue

Here's a nice one...Gotta have at least one tele...  cool 

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth … light=tele

15 Reply by twistingcrow (edited by twistingcrow 2010-12-04 07:29:45)

  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 176

Re: T Style VS S Style...

Thanks a lot guys! I eventually went for a S-Style. I got lucky enough to be able to grab a Bravewood '63 strat replica big_smile . John Elliott who builds these guitars is a pleasure to deal with and his instruments are just incredible looking and sounding. Probably the best Fender replicas ever made, on par with GVCG and better than most Custom Shop Masterbuilt guitars. Yes they are THAT good!
Check his website, he has incredible pictures of his work:
http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/index.html

Thanks guys!