The Tele is to guitar what the P bass is to bass. It’s not flashy, it’s not fancy but it works, it’s durable as heck and every sound engineer knows how to mix it.
Sorry but the tele is not nearly as versatile as a P-bass. There are few things that a tele is the best at. But the P-bass generally the best at Rock, Punk, Pop, Hip-hop, Funk, ect. And it up there for many other genres. Id say the most versatile guitar is either a Jazzmaster or a Superstrat.
Yep, but it’s a jack of all trades, master of none. Every sound you are going for can be done on a Tele but each of those sounds can be done better on a more specialist instrument.
I don't think so, while the tele can be soft with the neck and direct with the bridge, the strat lacks ok punch no matter its very versatile 5-way pickup selection.
@@calliopeshif7581fakenews, my Yamaha Pacifica always stays in tune even when im using the tremolo. Good tuners and high quality strings are key too stay in tune.
I bought my tele this past summer. I've had multiple surgeries on my fretting side plus a tumor in my lung on that side. I just found the tele was also the perfect weight for me because of the pain I have. I love the guitar. I may not be that great at it but it's mine and keeps my mind off so much since I found out I have cancer and can't work anymore. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Best comment in this section… every guitar will sound the same doesn’t matter if its a lespaul, tele or strat unless you connect a lot of expensive accessories like the pedal, processor, amp etc etc…
I know it's entirely superficial of me, but the aesthetic of the tele (and most Fender guitars, actually) puts me off from wanting to buy one :/ I'm just not quite sure that I've ever seen a Tele or Strat that was visually appealing to me, but oh well
@@random_an0n Les Paul’s are great guitars, but they have a very distinctive sound. If we’re talking a classic rock setup with humbuckers, it’s not going to get the fender twang & spank of a tele, but a tele can get really close to a les Paul thru the right amp and a little eq. Even with P90’s, it’s still going to have a distinct sound, and I love a vintage style les Paul with P90’s, but neither that or one with humbuckers is considered “versatile” in the way that a tele or strat is. While both Tele’s and Strats have a distinct sound if you want it, they can also easily emulate a pretty wide range of styles. And for reference, I have used Les Pauls, Teles, Strats, SG’s, and a just about any other style of guitar out there. It’s best not to have just one, because they all have their unique strengths, but the Tele is used just about everywhere.
@@random_an0n oh, and most Tele’s have 22 frets, exactly the same as a les Paul except Teles have a longer scale length at 25.5” instead of the Les Pauls 24.75” scale length. So you are wrong on all accounts. Lpl
I have a Nashville tele and it’s the most versatile guitar. The neck and bridge of a tele, with a strat 2 and 4 position! Perfection! Looks beautiful too!
I started playing at 50. I am a professional artist for the last three decades, but nothing is as euphoric as playing an instrument. The instant gratification of strumming chords is unmatched with any other art form which takes so long to see the results of.
In the ‘90s when I was growing up in London, a Telecaster was a Grandpa’s guitar or a hillbilly guitar and so I never considered it. How times have changed!
I grew up in London in the 1970s. At 15, I bought a Telecaster...because I couldn't afford a Gibson Les Paul. God! I wish I still had that Telecaster! 😢
I've been poor... and I've been comfortable. Nice to see Rhett understand that people who can't afford a $1k (heck... even a $700) guitar, are still able to make great music.
My standard squier fitted with fender Tex mex pickups (very affordable at like 50 bucks for the set) is an absolute beast. Between the guitar and the pickups, I’m in less than $400 and once I did a setup and intonation, it’s replaced all my other guitars as a go-to for unique tone and amazing playability.
Yeah...my 'penultimate fender" would be a telemaster...with a Jag neck pickup. It's the same principle as your t bridge strat : tele bridge...strat style single coil in the neck...on a curved, ergonomic Fender body. I have seen versions of yours and mine - though both are very rare. We might have to build them from Warmouth...
But the Strat doesn't get the neck tone, which in proper Tele trim (body mounted, pickguard mounted doesn't seem to cut it!) is very different to a Strat and very underated while everyone focuses on the bridge. Also the pickup itself is not the whole part of Tele's bridge tone, the bridge design is also part of it. Also in stock switching youre not getting that neck and bridge at the same time position. Middle pickups never done it for me, i have one HSS guitar and i dont use the middle at all really, had Strats as well and rarely used the middle,guitars dont need 3 pick-ups. There are other types of guitars with Tele pickups in them and they don't sound like Tele's 100%, just like if you put Strat pickups into a Tele it doesn't magically turn into a Strat.
We Guitar players are a bunch of world class cork-sniffers. Clapton amd JJ Cale both have said the strat is the ultimate guitar. It's all in the ears of the beholder really.
For all kinds of music that can't be covered by a Floyd Rose type of tremolo guitar, I agree that the Tele is super versatile. It's somehow organic and... like in that John Lennon song, a working class hero is something to be. I've always been poor financially, and it seems it ain't gonna change in this life (I'm 53 now and physically unable to work), so I can understand the concept. Thank you, Leo Fender and co.
I purchased two guitars in 1964, a 1960 Telecaster, and a 1960 Jazzmaster! I gave the Telecaster to my best friend, my playing friend aiso! We both still have these guitars, and they are in excellent shape, and great players. These were American made when Fender really cared about quality!
In the early 90's I attended a Tommy Emmanuel masterclass at a music store in Perth, WA. Tommy didn't bring a guitar, and just grabbed the nearest Tele off the wall. Somebody asked why he chose that instead of the many other flash options on display. His answer was simply that on a Tele you can do anything, be anybody. For a couple of minutes he imitated the sounds of a dozen famous guitarists, just by twiddling the dials on the amp.
Couldn't agree more with this. I just bought a Squier Affinity Telecaster and can't take it outta my hand ever since. Can't even imagine what an American Fender would make me feel.
They're "nicer" and more well finished I suppose, but you're not talking apples and oranges. A well setup squier will serve you well. Don't get wrapped up in comparison - just play 🤘
If you are happy with your guitar, then there's reason to look elsewhere. There are great guitars and dogs in every make and model, I've owned both. Stick with it and if you feel that you are being held back then look around, but until then you're golden.
On the flip side I sold my player telecaster. Couldn’t intonate properly. Didn’t wanna do fret work. Bought a Gibson Les Paul Tribute. Best neck I’ve ever played. Weighs the same as my Strat. Rarely out of tune. It’s plekd like all models from that year and I use lube and locking tuners as I do on every guitar. The neck is incomparable. I’ve had a few teles. I like the workman like aspect of them and I usually put a humbucker in the bridge but they aren’t as incredible as many fans claim.
Also an excellent choice! Best of all, you can get that 'bucker sound without totally changing everything else, too. Move a switch, and continue playing that same guitar.
@@pyroman6000 that’s what I do why my band. We throw in a little metal at times and I just play it on my hss strats. They should’ve haven’t a bad name from playing metal because they are great for it.
To truly do “everything” I’m choosing my Legetor 8 string. I know it’s an odd choice but for a shred guitar is has one of the best clean tones I’ve ever heard and can play in so many different styles.
@@hathatsfunny1911a guitar with the bare minimum frets, pick up configuration, features and range isn’t versatile. Improved weight distribution and a more ergonomic body shape can allow a range of more comfortable playing positions giving you more versatility when switching and choosing playing positions. 2 in 1 bridge systems allow you to configure your bridge to your needs and a 6 way adjustable saddle allow more controlled adjustments depending how you need the guitar adjusted for whatever different genres of styles you may be required to play. Potentiometers to reverse the coil direction, split coils and parallel switching allowing for Strat quacks as well as handling high gain without sounding like a telecaster ultimately allowing for more variety in pickup voicing facilitating a range of differing and distinct styles. The guitar he showed also lacks various guitar features often found in modern guitars and boutique guitars but aren’t essential for versatility however it’s always nice to have a better functioning guitar if your goal is versatility. (balanced tension, accurate/perfect intonation, improved fiction and playability)
HSS Strat is the ultimate versatile guitar. I think the bulk of the guitar community agree with me on this. Teles are good for versatility too...but not as much as the strat.
all three tele positions get used constantly in a lot of different music. strat people usually use the bridge, neck, or between neck and middle. no one really uses the middle pup or between middle and bridge very much. it doesnt have that much more versatility than a tele, especially without a humbucker in the bridge. a tremelo doesn't add much for most players in most genres, so with that maybe its like 5% more versatile, but idk. tele is simpler and every feature on it is used constantly.
I have a HSS strat but one thing for me that makes me want to get tele, because one time i tried my friend tele and it was so easy to cut through the mix, with other guitars, i need to mix the eq so it will cut, but tele don't need that, it cuts and don't make other instruments fade
My biggest gripe with Strats is that they are kind of awkward to play if you aren’t a Strat guy. I always found myself picking in a odd position and somehow managing to hit the middle position pickup when I’d move forward to pick closer to the neck to get that softer more rounded tone. I’ve also never really liked any of the HSS model Strats. I just feel like fender does single coil strat pickups a million times, and loosing the bridge single coil is quite a lot when so many players use that single coil Strat bridge pickup for 90% of their sound. Some of the 70’s model guitars had some nice humbuckers with the deluxe Tele and the Starcaster, but the HSS Strat just seems like you’re getting rid of the thing they most people like about the Strat.
Got my first good electric guitar back in 1980. It was a blonde necked Tele. I've owned several other guitars since then (Gibson, Epiphone, Fender Strat. But I always tell everybody that my Tele is my go-to instrument. You can pound nails with a Tele and the damn thing will not go out of tune! I ❤ my Tele!
I played in a band in the 90's and the Bass player had this old mid sixties swamp ash Tele...the first time I picked it up i was blown away...by far the best sounding best feeling guitar I had ever played ( and I have played wayy too many to mention) I begged him to sell it to me...but nope...smart man kept it...but I played it every chance I got....still think about that one.
I’ve played Ibanez for many years. I bought a squier strat in 2017 and fell in love. The tele is a fantastic guitar design. The strat was supposed to make the tele obsolete. I’m grateful that plan failed
This is so true I got a base level entry squire tele modded the scratch plate adjusted pickups put some nice strings on it now it’s sounds as good as a real fender !!!
Im a metalhead, so I have a HSH Floyd Rose guitar, extremely versatile, you have a single coil for your nice clean tones, you have humbuckers for a rich metal sound, the Floyd rose is great because I love shredding on the damn thing, extremely versatile, just a little more expensive. It is worth it though.
I absolutely agree with this, but oddly the tele has never been my #1. The tele I have is a frankentele, surf green body from Squier Bullet, neck from Squier 51, electronic/controls from Acme, and some Brad Paisley LaBrea pick-ups. Love that thing!
Truth! I was a Strat guy from 2019-22 when I realized I absolutely hate the bridge and tremolo setup on them. I eventually landed on a ‘94 Mexican Tele and a ‘99 American Tele and they cover all my bases. The Mexican is fun to drag around down and beat on, but my American stays in its case unless I’m playing it at home, recording or playing at church. Both sunburst, both maple necks, both serve my needs well.
Any guitar with a 5 way toggle switch HHS pickup floyd rose a locking tuber peg split coil and A strat body is my go to guitar that i can live with forever
Gojira, baroness, john 5, Jim Root, i have a dual single coil tele, the trick to doing metal is using a 4 way switch and the extra middle position is series instead of paralell. It turns the two singles into a wide humbucker. Doubles their output while cancelling noise. Its like a turbo button and requires hardly any time to mod. I could do metal on a tele but a strat? Not so much. I also use a tight gate with single coils. There will still be some 60cycle hum while playing it won’t be so annoying during the chuggy stops. Hope this helps. Another tip is to layer the tele over the traditional humbucker tones. Gives you some variety of flavor for some parts. That metal bridge that wraps around the pickup does something to the tone you can’t get on other bridges
@@Ottophil not sure about baroness but Duplantier, John 5 and Jim Root all use a telecaster with humbuckers, which really isn’t a telecaster at all, except in terms of looks. I don’t know anyone who plays metal that uses a single coil (or a dual-single-coil like you described), at least not as their main sound
Everyone in the eighties with a Strat. But maybe you’re talking modern metal. In which case I’d take an Orange amp and a standard tele and am confident it would chug.
Plus it’s a giant slab of wood so it resonates like no other. Mine sounds amazing unplugged. You can just feel the wood vibrating with every note. Then, plug it in and all that resonance comes to life!
I think it has to be a guitar with coil splits regardless, while my LP with cool splits doesn’t exactly match my Strats twang, it does a pretty damn good job if you need it, does it’s best work in the Punk to Metal bracket, and does pretty well in a funk-pop-r&b context too (plus, at least to me they look so fucking cool lol)
A friend told me the Telecaster was useless for metal. I took him to a Winery Dogs concert. I know they're not specifically "metal", but Richie Kotzen definitely goes "metal" on his Telecaster in some of his songs - especially live. Yeah, I get it. Kotzen's Tele has hotter single-coil pickups. So what? It's still a Tele, and it's definitely capable of getting hardcore. It also proves you don't need humbuckers for metal.
@@yoelsamosir3659 Not exactly. It's a twin rail setup, which is not quite as powerful as a humbucker. The dual resonance coils and the twin blade poles do keep it from being an actual single-coil pickup, but they also keep it from being a humbucker. It's not even really a hybrid between the two. I love the Chopper T and its brother, the Fast Track T. They feel like P90s to me, but without the noise.
I went out shopping for a do-everything guitar, expecting to get a Tele. Played a load, decided on an HS Tele...then tried a Les Paul and bought that. It just felt right in my hands. The Tele was good, sure, and on paper was the right choice. But the LP felt like it had been made for me to play. And that's a massively important part of it for me. I'd rather have to put in the work to dial in the tones with the right combination of EQ and effects, and have it feel perfect under my fingers, than find it easier to get the tones but never feel quite as good. LP as a do-it-all guitar may sound silly to a lot of people, but it IS very versatile because I want to play everything on it...and so I will.
I used to hate the tele (I was very young and the "I need a shred guitar with humbuckers for metal" guy), but when I started to play more genres, with the volume knob, dynamics, etc. I really liked the tele, now is my main guitar for everything, I own a squier but I will have an American fender telecaster someday
As a long time Strat player I was blown away how how versatile a tele was when I finally played one after 25yrs of being told it was only for country… it’s my favorite guitar now
This guitar does it all and the fact that the design has not been altered since it was first built is a testament to its versatility. It has come with all pickup combinations imaginable and has stood the test of time.
After playing rock for decades and having owned an played endless makes and models. ( nothing more expensive than my one les Paul standard ) I primarily use a standard tele and a les Paul jr with dog ear p 90. The combination will check all the boxes
For older country picking, it is the standard for other guitars to mimic. There have been a few newer guitarists like Brad Paisley and Laur Joamets that I could listen to all day. Great video!
I have two. One is a straight up, factory tele, the other has a very innovative trem system that I love. and my next favorite guitar in a lineup of 11, consisting if Gibsons, Ibanez and jacksons, and a Grote, .. is a 1990s era First Act strat copy. True story 😉
Bought a Squier Telecaster last year, after having a Squier Star. Absolutely love it. The warm tone it has and the sheer versatility and build of the thing is really fantastic.
As a former telecaster player, this is true but from personal experience, you will need a noise gate for anything harder than soft rock. I used to gig with one all the time but switched to a HH pickup telecaster custom so I could get more headroom for the gain.
The telecaster and the Les Paul are the two most beautiful guitars ever made. The telecaster exudes diversity in simplicity, while the Les Paul exudes diversity in artistry. Single cuts are my jam, and for good reason, but if I had to choose one of the two, my lineup speaks for itself. I have a beautiful MIJ traditional 60’s midnight tele in black and gold, with this gorgeous vintage tinted neck, and it’s the first guitar I’ve ever owned that I KNEW: “this will be with me for life”
I'm loving my tele more and more every day. The only problem for me is the 3-saddle ashtray bridge. It's akward for muting, and the intonation becomes terrible as soon as you start playing chords higher on the neck. A 6-saddle modern bridge will definitely fix everything ✨
Hello from North Carolina. I've been playing mostly Stratocasters for 56 years now and if the tremelo is set up right it will stay in tune even after several dive bombs on it. The thing I've changed on some of my newer Strats is to reverse the slant of the bridge pickup and it sounds so much better like that to my ears.
Eversince I bought my Fender Baja Tele I've used it for everything from blues to grunge to noisy punk to CCM to even experimenting with some downtuned hi-gain extreme core stuff. It has always delivered and brought it's own character. Sometimes I can put it into the case to travel, pick it up at the venue and it stays in tune like nothing happened. My very first high level guitar and it absolutely is a guitar for a lifetime.
This is why I built my Strat. Ibanez SA260FM neck pick up. Seymour Duncan Custom Staggered Strat mid pick up. Seymour Duncan Antiquity P90 Bridge. Also I have over 60 sound possibilities with the help of a Freeway 10 way switch and a Kingtone switch. That's 60 combinations alone if we disregard the neck tone pot and volume pot
Telecasters are awesome; simple, versatile and robust. A Tele will stubbornly hold tune but if you want to quickly change to an alternate tuning... it don't care, if you break a string... it don't care. Faithful as an old dog.
Totally agree, they're the Swiss army knife of guitars, will cover your ass everytime and do a damn good job, guitarists best friend, even the ones that don't know it.....yet
"If it ain't broke don't fix it." The day you understand and accept this as a man is a BIG day...the heavens and earth rejoice as one when it happens. 😅😅
My first guitar was a telecaster, it was a starter kit guitar, so it came with a fender 15G. I got it for $300 cad in April 2013 for both the amp and guitar. The tele didn’t play as well at the start, but the more you play it and tweak it, the better it becomes. The same starter kits tele 10 years later plays amazingly!
I could not agree with your statements more.. I have a myriad of guitars and basses... My favorite guitar hands down is a simple telecaster with a coil tap hot rail in the bridge.. My favorite bass is the tried and true p bass.. both are the perfect blend of simplicity and versatility
I have a Guild Burnside Tele-Style with an all blonde neck that I have had since the early to mid 1980s that I used in a Hard Rock/Hair Metal cover band. It was run through a Peavy Bass Half stack with Boss Distortion, Flanger, Delay, and Reverb pedals and it would have you scratching your head tonally. People could not believe that I was getting that heavy and deep of a tone out of single coils. It is a workhorse and is the one guitar that I have owned that I refuse to participate with. And I have been offered obscene amounts of money for it and turned it down.
This maybe just my view and people are free to disagree with it but in my opinion any guitar can be used for any genre of music depending upon how versatile the player is. Yes the tone might vary due to the set up of both the guitar and the amp but the point still stands.
One name synonymous with a Telecaster, Roy Buchanan, 🙏 RIP! What he did with a '53 stock Tele, a cord, and a Fender Vibroverb was incredible. No pedals, hell Roy didn't even have a case for "Nancy"!😅
I still remember the first time I've tried my first tele, it was at my friend's house, they had a bunch of guitars lying on the couch and there was a cheap tele lying there, I picked up and I immediatly fell in love with it, the simplicity of the guitar, the twang, how comfortable it was to hold it, it felt it was just made to be played easily
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The Tele is to guitar what the P bass is to bass. It’s not flashy, it’s not fancy but it works, it’s durable as heck and every sound engineer knows how to mix it.
Best explanation!
Spot on, both are as bog standard as you can get. That's the beauty of the m😊
Well stated 👏
Sorry but the tele is not nearly as versatile as a P-bass.
There are few things that a tele is the best at. But the P-bass generally the best at Rock, Punk, Pop, Hip-hop, Funk, ect. And it up there for many other genres.
Id say the most versatile guitar is either a Jazzmaster or a Superstrat.
Yep, but it’s a jack of all trades, master of none. Every sound you are going for can be done on a Tele but each of those sounds can be done better on a more specialist instrument.
The tele, HSS strat, and 355 are the 3 guitars that can do pretty much anything.
Why a HSS Strat
@@marcusbarrett9024because the Humbucker in the bridge adds a layer of versatility that the regular Strat lead pickup just cannot achieve
The humbucker makes the strat suitable for metal
For me it’s totally a HSS strat. From Stevie’s blues to funk, to pop music and even to hard rock. Maybe it will not metal, but i can live without it.
They can metal....Dave Murray....Jim Root...
This is the correct answer
Same
you don’t think a humbucker will metal?
I don't think so, while the tele can be soft with the neck and direct with the bridge, the strat lacks ok punch no matter its very versatile 5-way pickup selection.
Not even a strat guy but a HSS Strat is 100% the do it all guitar. Even has a Trem so that's another factor in its favour.
Trem is nice if you want it, but if you don't want it, it means less stable tuning.
@@calliopeshif7581 if it's set to be flush, it's a non issue. You can act like it's not even there.
@@calliopeshif7581fakenews, my Yamaha Pacifica always stays in tune even when im using the tremolo. Good tuners and high quality strings are key too stay in tune.
@@DrReinardReihnartAlong with a good setup and a well finished nut. 100% agree that tremolo does not induce tuning stability issues on its own.
@@calliopeshif7581No, trem doesn’t change according to your preferences.
I bought my tele this past summer. I've had multiple surgeries on my fretting side plus a tumor in my lung on that side. I just found the tele was also the perfect weight for me because of the pain I have. I love the guitar. I may not be that great at it but it's mine and keeps my mind off so much since I found out I have cancer and can't work anymore. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Peace 😢
Keep the music going!
I bought a tele last month and also love it, my best wishes to you, long May you enjoy it ❤
God bless you my friend
Rock on Bud!!🤘🏼Sending you love and prayers ❤️🙏🏼
Everyone runs so many pedals and effects it doesn’t matter what guitar you have you can make anything sound good or versatile
And yet a “Nashville Tele” has a middle Strat pickup to get those notch sounds…
Absolutely right except go hear Albert Lee live. Most nights he uses Delay Maybe for One song!!! His picking will fool your ears. Thanks Albert
To an extent yes, but if you primarily play with a clean tone then the sound differences become really apparent.
Best comment in this section… every guitar will sound the same doesn’t matter if its a lespaul, tele or strat unless you connect a lot of expensive accessories like the pedal, processor, amp etc etc…
Yeah it's nice to have different pickups for clean tones though. A Jazzmaster will sound different than a Les Paul in that case.
For me its the SG from Heavy Metal to Jazz, Blues to Pop, it can fit in to any genre sound wise & look wise.
I'm late to this but I bought the epiphone Tony Iommi signature
Epiphone SG’s are great
I love my Tele. I got a butterscotch one for my 40th Birthday. Been playing it for two years bow, absolutely love it.
I know it's entirely superficial of me, but the aesthetic of the tele (and most Fender guitars, actually) puts me off from wanting to buy one :/
I'm just not quite sure that I've ever seen a Tele or Strat that was visually appealing to me, but oh well
Tele guys be like: its the god of guitars man
its really not,19 frets,2 pick ups and not many options,even a les paul is more versitile
sorry, les paul is
well yeah that’s cause it is
@@random_an0n Les Paul’s are great guitars, but they have a very distinctive sound. If we’re talking a classic rock setup with humbuckers, it’s not going to get the fender twang & spank of a tele, but a tele can get really close to a les Paul thru the right amp and a little eq. Even with P90’s, it’s still going to have a distinct sound, and I love a vintage style les Paul with P90’s, but neither that or one with humbuckers is considered “versatile” in the way that a tele or strat is. While both Tele’s and Strats have a distinct sound if you want it, they can also easily emulate a pretty wide range of styles.
And for reference, I have used Les Pauls, Teles, Strats, SG’s, and a just about any other style of guitar out there. It’s best not to have just one, because they all have their unique strengths, but the Tele is used just about everywhere.
@@random_an0n oh, and most Tele’s have 22 frets, exactly the same as a les Paul except Teles have a longer scale length at 25.5” instead of the Les Pauls 24.75” scale length. So you are wrong on all accounts. Lpl
Now imagine the possibilities on a Nashville Tele. Forever the most versatile guitar in my opinion
As an owner of one I Can confirm 👍
I have a Nashville tele and it’s the most versatile guitar. The neck and bridge of a tele, with a strat 2 and 4 position! Perfection! Looks beautiful too!
@@lukewragg8061 not to mention the Fishman bridge for acoustic sounds!
Nashville Tele with superstrat switching is in my future.
Even better is the HSS Tele, with a coil-split switch for the humbucker. (I think it's called the Modern Player Telecaster Plus)
Just went down to the pawnshop today with my grandpa who is 66 and has never picked up a guitar, and helped him pick out a Squier telecaster.
I started playing at 50. I am a professional artist for the last three decades, but nothing is as euphoric as playing an instrument. The instant gratification of strumming chords is unmatched with any other art form which takes so long to see the results of.
In the ‘90s when I was growing up in London, a Telecaster was a Grandpa’s guitar or a hillbilly guitar and so I never considered it. How times have changed!
Because the Grandpa's and hillbillies were hep to how good and tone wise the tele was.
I grew up in London in the 1970s.
At 15, I bought a Telecaster...because I couldn't afford a Gibson Les Paul.
God! I wish I still had that Telecaster! 😢
Bummer that you pigeonholed the tele .guess you didnt know it's the UKS biggest band evers guitarist KEITH RICHARDS... 1st guitar choice...
Joe Strummer played the same tele for nearly 20 years. It looked like he found it in a back alley - but its sound was immediately recognisable.
So so true!
To me a 335 or a strat is the ultimate machine but a tele is right up there with ‘em
Whoo-Hoo 335!!!! YEAH!!!! I AM DEFINITELY A FAN!!!!🙂😘👑
I've been poor... and I've been comfortable. Nice to see Rhett understand that people who can't afford a $1k (heck... even a $700) guitar, are still able to make great music.
My standard squier fitted with fender Tex mex pickups (very affordable at like 50 bucks for the set) is an absolute beast. Between the guitar and the pickups, I’m in less than $400 and once I did a setup and intonation, it’s replaced all my other guitars as a go-to for unique tone and amazing playability.
@@jacobvisor3034 Awesome! This is what keeps music beautiful!
the new yamaha revstar standard with p90s has got to be worth a mention in any conversation about a guitar that covers all bases.🤟😎🎸
That's true
A strat with a tele bridge pickup would be my ultimate guitar.
I love the shape of the tele. But I prefer the versatility of an HSS
Yeah...my 'penultimate fender" would be a telemaster...with a Jag neck pickup.
It's the same principle as your t bridge strat : tele bridge...strat style single coil in the neck...on a curved, ergonomic Fender body.
I have seen versions of yours and mine - though both are very rare.
We might have to build them from Warmouth...
But the Strat doesn't get the neck tone, which in proper Tele trim (body mounted, pickguard mounted doesn't seem to cut it!) is very different to a Strat and very underated while everyone focuses on the bridge. Also the pickup itself is not the whole part of Tele's bridge tone, the bridge design is also part of it. Also in stock switching youre not getting that neck and bridge at the same time position. Middle pickups never done it for me, i have one HSS guitar and i dont use the middle at all really, had Strats as well and rarely used the middle,guitars dont need 3 pick-ups. There are other types of guitars with Tele pickups in them and they don't sound like Tele's 100%, just like if you put Strat pickups into a Tele it doesn't magically turn into a Strat.
We Guitar players are a bunch of world class cork-sniffers. Clapton amd JJ Cale both have said the strat is the ultimate guitar. It's all in the ears of the beholder really.
So like a mustang?
For all kinds of music that can't be covered by a Floyd Rose type of tremolo guitar, I agree that the Tele is super versatile. It's somehow organic and... like in that John Lennon song, a working class hero is something to be. I've always been poor financially, and it seems it ain't gonna change in this life (I'm 53 now and physically unable to work), so I can understand the concept. Thank you, Leo Fender and co.
I purchased two guitars in 1964, a 1960 Telecaster, and a 1960 Jazzmaster! I gave the Telecaster to my best friend, my playing friend aiso! We both still have these guitars, and they are in excellent shape, and great players. These were American made when Fender really cared about quality!
Can you do bluesy type leads on the jazzmaster?
I’ve wanted one for a while but never thought of them much when it comes to lead playing and bends.
In the early 90's I attended a Tommy Emmanuel masterclass at a music store in Perth, WA. Tommy didn't bring a guitar, and just grabbed the nearest Tele off the wall. Somebody asked why he chose that instead of the many other flash options on display. His answer was simply that on a Tele you can do anything, be anybody. For a couple of minutes he imitated the sounds of a dozen famous guitarists, just by twiddling the dials on the amp.
Did he play Hendrix’s national anthem?
Actually knowing that guy he probably did using the low e tuner.
Couldn't agree more with this. I just bought a Squier Affinity Telecaster and can't take it outta my hand ever since. Can't even imagine what an American Fender would make me feel.
They're "nicer" and more well finished I suppose, but you're not talking apples and oranges. A well setup squier will serve you well. Don't get wrapped up in comparison - just play 🤘
If you are happy with your guitar, then there's reason to look elsewhere. There are great guitars and dogs in every make and model, I've owned both. Stick with it and if you feel that you are being held back then look around, but until then you're golden.
It might make you feel like your guitar was better. Slash recorded Appetite with a Les Paul copy. Not saying that’s the norm but it happens.
On the flip side I sold my player telecaster. Couldn’t intonate properly. Didn’t wanna do fret work. Bought a Gibson Les Paul Tribute. Best neck I’ve ever played. Weighs the same as my Strat. Rarely out of tune. It’s plekd like all models from that year and I use lube and locking tuners as I do on every guitar. The neck is incomparable. I’ve had a few teles. I like the workman like aspect of them and I usually put a humbucker in the bridge but they aren’t as incredible as many fans claim.
I agree. Tele is the Swiss Army knife. I love the CCM reference. So right. The whole genre is based on teles and ambient reverb.
I was blessed to receive a G&L Tele as a benchmark for my builds ..
Thanks for your video 🎻🎸
Prs hands down makes some of the most versatile guitars.
I like it because its classy and simple
A Fender Strat with a humbucker is what I’d choose as a guitar that can play anything
Also an excellent choice! Best of all, you can get that 'bucker sound without totally changing everything else, too. Move a switch, and continue playing that same guitar.
@@pyroman6000 that’s what I do why my band. We throw in a little metal at times and I just play it on my hss strats. They should’ve haven’t a bad name from playing metal because they are great for it.
HSS! All the way 😊
It's a great design, that's for sure.
With a split humbucker fitted, all the sounds are there...
To truly do “everything” I’m choosing my Legetor 8 string. I know it’s an odd choice but for a shred guitar is has one of the best clean tones I’ve ever heard and can play in so many different styles.
My Gibson 335 with split coils can do it all. Any gig and any genre... It never disappoints
Yeah but it’s really big, so if you’re a small guy it looks kinda funny
@@juliusmillermusic haha hard to argue with that
G string never stays in tune on any of my 3x3 headstocks.
@@madmod have you tried a woung g string?
@@pahwraith I will have to try that
Id say the strat is the most versatile guitar
It isn’t as versatile as other guitars you don’t even get the bare minimum like 24 frets.
@@avakinlifeuser6888 literally the 21 frets is the bare minimum tf are you on bruh
@@hathatsfunny1911a guitar with the bare minimum frets, pick up configuration, features and range isn’t versatile.
Improved weight distribution and a more ergonomic body shape can allow a range of more comfortable playing positions giving you more versatility when switching and choosing playing positions.
2 in 1 bridge systems allow you to configure your bridge to your needs and a 6 way adjustable saddle allow more controlled adjustments depending how you need the guitar adjusted for whatever different genres of styles you may be required to play.
Potentiometers to reverse the coil direction, split coils and parallel switching allowing for Strat quacks as well as handling high gain without sounding like a telecaster ultimately allowing for more variety in pickup voicing facilitating a range of differing and distinct styles.
The guitar he showed also lacks various guitar features often found in modern guitars and boutique guitars but aren’t essential for versatility however it’s always nice to have a better functioning guitar if your goal is versatility. (balanced tension, accurate/perfect intonation, improved fiction and playability)
friction*
A nice step for Stratocaster's development (a TRULY versatile guitar).
My favourite electric guitar,pure and simple.
HSS Strat is the ultimate versatile guitar. I think the bulk of the guitar community agree with me on this.
Teles are good for versatility too...but not as much as the strat.
Yes! I totally agree. I would get an HSS Strat over a Tele any day. 🎸
@@vaportrails458 "would do" and have done!
all three tele positions get used constantly in a lot of different music. strat people usually use the bridge, neck, or between neck and middle. no one really uses the middle pup or between middle and bridge very much. it doesnt have that much more versatility than a tele, especially without a humbucker in the bridge. a tremelo doesn't add much for most players in most genres, so with that maybe its like 5% more versatile, but idk. tele is simpler and every feature on it is used constantly.
I have a HSS strat but one thing for me that makes me want to get tele, because one time i tried my friend tele and it was so easy to cut through the mix, with other guitars, i need to mix the eq so it will cut, but tele don't need that, it cuts and don't make other instruments fade
My biggest gripe with Strats is that they are kind of awkward to play if you aren’t a Strat guy. I always found myself picking in a odd position and somehow managing to hit the middle position pickup when I’d move forward to pick closer to the neck to get that softer more rounded tone.
I’ve also never really liked any of the HSS model Strats. I just feel like fender does single coil strat pickups a million times, and loosing the bridge single coil is quite a lot when so many players use that single coil Strat bridge pickup for 90% of their sound. Some of the 70’s model guitars had some nice humbuckers with the deluxe Tele and the Starcaster, but the HSS Strat just seems like you’re getting rid of the thing they most people like about the Strat.
Got my first good electric guitar back in 1980. It was a blonde necked Tele. I've owned several other guitars since then (Gibson, Epiphone, Fender Strat. But I always tell everybody that my Tele is my go-to instrument.
You can pound nails with a Tele and the damn thing will not go out of tune!
I ❤ my Tele!
I really can't choose between this and an HSS Strat. Both are versatile, have beautiful tones and very nice to play.
If only money grows on trees...
I played in a band in the 90's and the Bass player had this old mid sixties swamp ash Tele...the first time I picked it up i was blown away...by far the best sounding best feeling guitar I had ever played ( and I have played wayy too many to mention) I begged him to sell it to me...but nope...smart man kept it...but I played it every chance I got....still think about that one.
Last time I was this early to one of your videos TSA hadn’t torn apart your pedalboard!
Gotta follow Jim Root's lead and put EMGs in your tele or jazzmaster
I’ve played Ibanez for many years. I bought a squier strat in 2017 and fell in love. The tele is a fantastic guitar design. The strat was supposed to make the tele obsolete. I’m grateful that plan failed
This is so true
I got a base level entry squire tele modded the scratch plate adjusted pickups put some nice strings on it now it’s sounds as good as a real fender !!!
I had to look up CCM LOL now I feel some type of way...
What is CCM?
@@jimthethirdprobablyContemporary Christian Music, lot of Tele’s washed in some big sky reverb
@@lukebrandal2118 or Gretch guitars
HSH Strat, spilt coils and Floyd Rose. Or put all that into tele body. Gets it all done.
Floyd Rose!!! That's devils talk 🤮
Im a metalhead, so I have a HSH Floyd Rose guitar, extremely versatile, you have a single coil for your nice clean tones, you have humbuckers for a rich metal sound, the Floyd rose is great because I love shredding on the damn thing, extremely versatile, just a little more expensive. It is worth it though.
Nah Strat gets it done with a bit more going. Need the tremolo. NEED IT
I absolutely agree with this, but oddly the tele has never been my #1. The tele I have is a frankentele, surf green body from Squier Bullet, neck from Squier 51, electronic/controls from Acme, and some Brad Paisley LaBrea pick-ups. Love that thing!
Truth! I was a Strat guy from 2019-22 when I realized I absolutely hate the bridge and tremolo setup on them. I eventually landed on a ‘94 Mexican Tele and a ‘99 American Tele and they cover all my bases. The Mexican is fun to drag around down and beat on, but my American stays in its case unless I’m playing it at home, recording or playing at church. Both sunburst, both maple necks, both serve my needs well.
Any guitar with a 5 way toggle switch HHS pickup floyd rose a locking tuber peg split coil and A strat body is my go to guitar that i can live with forever
Well... Let's hear some metal on that bad boy?
Gojira, baroness, john 5, Jim Root, i have a dual single coil tele, the trick to doing metal is using a 4 way switch and the extra middle position is series instead of paralell. It turns the two singles into a wide humbucker. Doubles their output while cancelling noise. Its like a turbo button and requires hardly any time to mod. I could do metal on a tele but a strat? Not so much. I also use a tight gate with single coils. There will still be some 60cycle hum while playing it won’t be so annoying during the chuggy stops. Hope this helps. Another tip is to layer the tele over the traditional humbucker tones. Gives you some variety of flavor for some parts. That metal bridge that wraps around the pickup does something to the tone you can’t get on other bridges
@@Ottophil not sure about baroness but Duplantier, John 5 and Jim Root all use a telecaster with humbuckers, which really isn’t a telecaster at all, except in terms of looks. I don’t know anyone who plays metal that uses a single coil (or a dual-single-coil like you described), at least not as their main sound
Ritchie Blackmore
Everyone in the eighties with a Strat. But maybe you’re talking modern metal. In which case I’d take an Orange amp and a standard tele and am confident it would chug.
Without the whammy bar there is a whole lot of stuff you cant do, a strat has so much more optins bruh
Truth, used a Yamaha Pacifica Tele copy modded with Duncan's and it served me for years in cover bands !! 🏆💯🤟
Plus it’s a giant slab of wood so it resonates like no other. Mine sounds amazing unplugged. You can just feel the wood vibrating with every note. Then, plug it in and all that resonance comes to life!
I think it has to be a guitar with coil splits regardless, while my LP with cool splits doesn’t exactly match my Strats twang, it does a pretty damn good job if you need it, does it’s best work in the Punk to Metal bracket, and does pretty well in a funk-pop-r&b context too (plus, at least to me they look so fucking cool lol)
Didn’t you listen? Wrong
A friend told me the Telecaster was useless for metal. I took him to a Winery Dogs concert. I know they're not specifically "metal", but Richie Kotzen definitely goes "metal" on his Telecaster in some of his songs - especially live.
Yeah, I get it. Kotzen's Tele has hotter single-coil pickups. So what? It's still a Tele, and it's definitely capable of getting hardcore. It also proves you don't need humbuckers for metal.
But, actually Richie's bridge pickup is basically humbucker in single coil form factor
@@yoelsamosir3659 Not exactly. It's a twin rail setup, which is not quite as powerful as a humbucker. The dual resonance coils and the twin blade poles do keep it from being an actual single-coil pickup, but they also keep it from being a humbucker. It's not even really a hybrid between the two.
I love the Chopper T and its brother, the Fast Track T. They feel like P90s to me, but without the noise.
Yeah John 5 does alright. With standard pickups through a few pedals I think he’d still manage.
Yep. Got a mexican tele that kicks butt. Doesn!t go out of tune. It fell on a cement floor full on. Picked it up and it was still in tune.
I went out shopping for a do-everything guitar, expecting to get a Tele. Played a load, decided on an HS Tele...then tried a Les Paul and bought that. It just felt right in my hands.
The Tele was good, sure, and on paper was the right choice. But the LP felt like it had been made for me to play. And that's a massively important part of it for me. I'd rather have to put in the work to dial in the tones with the right combination of EQ and effects, and have it feel perfect under my fingers, than find it easier to get the tones but never feel quite as good.
LP as a do-it-all guitar may sound silly to a lot of people, but it IS very versatile because I want to play everything on it...and so I will.
I would personally try to add 24 frets for the metal part
Just add a humbucker in the bridge position so i can play some metalcore and you sold me! Btw, i have a purple mex tele from 2001 or so😉
Could re-watch a video about Telecaster for ever ❤
I Agree Man Teles are outstanding i highly recommend one i really do them things rip. And have "The Sound." We all crave
I used to hate the tele (I was very young and the "I need a shred guitar with humbuckers for metal" guy), but when I started to play more genres, with the volume knob, dynamics, etc. I really liked the tele, now is my main guitar for everything, I own a squier but I will have an American fender telecaster someday
As a long time Strat player I was blown away how how versatile a tele was when I finally played one after 25yrs of being told it was only for country… it’s my favorite guitar now
I would agree 80% of that. There is an argument to be made that PRS is also instantly versatile guitar as well.
True. But they don’t sound like a Fender or a Gibson. Close. But only close. Not exactly cheap either.
I got my first Telecaster 3 weeks ago,and it’s really a game changer. I love it.
i want to buy a tele...but it seems to have SS pickup config....
This guitar does it all and the fact that the design has not been altered since it was first built is a testament to its versatility. It has come with all pickup combinations imaginable and has stood the test of time.
HSS strat for me. Coil split for the humbucker if you want a little more mileage and you want to cover indie/new wave/60’s
After playing rock for decades and having owned an played endless makes and models. ( nothing more expensive than my one les Paul standard ) I primarily use a standard tele and a les Paul jr with dog ear p 90. The combination will check all the boxes
absolutely agree..
For older country picking, it is the standard for other guitars to mimic. There have been a few newer guitarists like Brad Paisley and Laur Joamets that I could listen to all day. Great video!
I have two.
One is a straight up, factory tele,
the other has a very innovative trem system that I love.
and my next favorite guitar in a lineup of 11, consisting if Gibsons, Ibanez and jacksons, and a Grote,
.. is a 1990s era First Act strat copy.
True story 😉
Love the way they sound. Hate the way they feel
For me its the Ibanez AZ, dont know why, but for me that guitar has everything, Ive played them before and currently saving up to get one
Bought a Squier Telecaster last year, after having a Squier Star. Absolutely love it. The warm tone it has and the sheer versatility and build of the thing is really fantastic.
Tele the one and only guitar your really need.
As a former telecaster player, this is true but from personal experience, you will need a noise gate for anything harder than soft rock.
I used to gig with one all the time but switched to a HH pickup telecaster custom so I could get more headroom for the gain.
I recently picked up my MIM Player Tele again. I fell back in live with it.
The telecaster and the Les Paul are the two most beautiful guitars ever made. The telecaster exudes diversity in simplicity, while the Les Paul exudes diversity in artistry. Single cuts are my jam, and for good reason, but if I had to choose one of the two, my lineup speaks for itself.
I have a beautiful MIJ traditional 60’s midnight tele in black and gold, with this gorgeous vintage tinted neck, and it’s the first guitar I’ve ever owned that I KNEW: “this will be with me for life”
I used to think it was a Strat until I bought a Tele. My Tele can play anything, including metal. Gets a nice crunch.
By far my favorite guitar I've ever owned! It does in fact sound great in every genre!
I'm loving my tele more and more every day. The only problem for me is the 3-saddle ashtray bridge. It's akward for muting, and the intonation becomes terrible as soon as you start playing chords higher on the neck. A 6-saddle modern bridge will definitely fix everything ✨
I'm lucky to have both a Baja and a Nashville Deluxe. Talk about covering all the bases.
Hello from North Carolina. I've been playing mostly Stratocasters for 56 years now and if the tremelo is set up right it will stay in tune even after several dive bombs on it. The thing I've changed on some of my newer Strats is to reverse the slant of the bridge pickup and it sounds so much better like that to my ears.
With a telecaster you can do Stoner Rock and country. The bridge pickup and the neck pickup are very important
Eversince I bought my Fender Baja Tele I've used it for everything from blues to grunge to noisy punk to CCM to even experimenting with some downtuned hi-gain extreme core stuff. It has always delivered and brought it's own character. Sometimes I can put it into the case to travel, pick it up at the venue and it stays in tune like nothing happened. My very first high level guitar and it absolutely is a guitar for a lifetime.
This is why I built my Strat.
Ibanez SA260FM neck pick up.
Seymour Duncan Custom Staggered Strat mid pick up.
Seymour Duncan Antiquity P90 Bridge.
Also I have over 60 sound possibilities with the help of a Freeway 10 way switch and a Kingtone switch.
That's 60 combinations alone if we disregard the neck tone pot and volume pot
Telecasters are awesome; simple, versatile and robust. A Tele will stubbornly hold tune but if you want to quickly change to an alternate tuning... it don't care, if you break a string... it don't care. Faithful as an old dog.
I just bought a Brent Mason style modded Tele recently. It’s my first Tele after years of playing only Strats. Can’t wait to pick it up tomorrow!
Totally agree, they're the Swiss army knife of guitars, will cover your ass everytime and do a damn good job, guitarists best friend, even the ones that don't know it.....yet
Plus they’re beautiful to look at
With a 4 way switch for series pickups, tele can do anything
"If it ain't broke don't fix it."
The day you understand and accept this as a man is a BIG day...the heavens and earth rejoice as one when it happens. 😅😅
I own an Esquire and I think it’s the most versatile guitar I’ve ever owned.
I was always turned off by the headstock but then one day I played a thin line semi hollow body and man I’ve been obsessed ever since
Fender got it right in 53 only conceiving it in 51 when it took multiple years for some to come to their iconic designs
My first guitar was a telecaster, it was a starter kit guitar, so it came with a fender 15G. I got it for $300 cad in April 2013 for both the amp and guitar. The tele didn’t play as well at the start, but the more you play it and tweak it, the better it becomes. The same starter kits tele 10 years later plays amazingly!
SIMPLE PERFECTION 🙏🕶️🐾🐾
I could not agree with your statements more.. I have a myriad of guitars and basses... My favorite guitar hands down is a simple telecaster with a coil tap hot rail in the bridge.. My favorite bass is the tried and true p bass.. both are the perfect blend of simplicity and versatility
I have a Guild Burnside Tele-Style with an all blonde neck that I have had since the early to mid 1980s that I used in a Hard Rock/Hair Metal cover band. It was run through a Peavy Bass Half stack with Boss Distortion, Flanger, Delay, and Reverb pedals and it would have you scratching your head tonally. People could not believe that I was getting that heavy and deep of a tone out of single coils. It is a workhorse and is the one guitar that I have owned that I refuse to participate with. And I have been offered obscene amounts of money for it and turned it down.
This maybe just my view and people are free to disagree with it but in my opinion any guitar can be used for any genre of music depending upon how versatile the player is. Yes the tone might vary due to the set up of both the guitar and the amp but the point still stands.
One name synonymous with a Telecaster, Roy Buchanan, 🙏 RIP! What he did with a '53 stock Tele, a cord, and a Fender Vibroverb was incredible. No pedals, hell Roy didn't even have a case for "Nancy"!😅
I still remember the first time I've tried my first tele, it was at my friend's house, they had a bunch of guitars lying on the couch and there was a cheap tele lying there, I picked up and I immediatly fell in love with it, the simplicity of the guitar, the twang, how comfortable it was to hold it, it felt it was just made to be played easily
A tele with a humbucker in the neck and single in the bridge os a true multitool