I was going to leave the same comment, ha ha! There's a definite "sameness" to their respective tones. The Tele has a quality that's just what you'd expect and the Strat is making sounds that we've heard Strats making all along. The core tone of each guitar is very much like a family resemblance sort of thing though. Interesting comparison!
I started with a Strat HSS knockoff. Then I had a couple of Teles, and my last big acquisition has been a Les Paul Classic. Now I'm keeping that Classic and I put a mini humbucker in the neck on the Tele and these two are my main guitars. Maybe these Christmas Santa will bring a Strat since I'm being a good boy hahah... Anyway, I love Teles just like you. Cheers!!
I’m personally a les Paul guy but I bought my American original butterscotch tele a few months ago.....I haven’t put it down.... strats are fine too they’re a little too slim on the neck and body for my taste but this guy and Dave Simpson make strats sound amazing!!!
This was literally best tele-strat comparison. Everything you need to see, side by side without confusion. It's a shame this video wasn't there for all these years. Thanks for the great video Shane!
@@DSR87 or roll the tone off for a warmer sound. Wiring the bridge tone pot is an essential mod. Also it has positions 2 and 4. Also it has a flipping wobble bar.
Both guitars are awesome but for me, the Tele is the clear winner. However, to be honest, I am totally biased. I love Teles, especially the Original 50s.
I've always had a Les Paul, later I bought a Strat, which I liked much more than the Les Paul (but for the distortion sounds), but my wife gave me a Telecaster a year ago, and what else can I say, at my 46 years, I've discovered true love. Great videos by the way! Thank Shane.
@@eddiejr540 You are. I was a hardcore Les Paul player for years, until a friend forced a Telecaster into my hands. I hardly ever touch my Les Paul anymore.
Tele is definitely way more balanced and rounder overall, probably can get more consistent tones from it and the bridge is just THAT hot. That being said, I think thats why the extra quackiness of the Strat makes it so recognisable and iconic and makes for more unique tones.
I always thought my strat sucked until I bought a Princeton. Now I get it. No pedals, natural compression and a sweet tremolo. The musicality of that setup beats anything I’ve previously owned. Also, you can’t hide behind anything so your playing sharpens right up.
I’ve been looking at those hand wired princtons. I love me a small combo amp. They’re great. Princetons are just the right wattage for my city row home as wel.
My thoughts exactly, and in oppositition to most Strat guys, the Tele is a much better lead.guitar If one just can't live w/o a whammy, there's always the Strat, or you can put a Bigbsby.on it.
My father was a rockabilly player back in the 60s. He absolutely adored the Tele. The Tele was the only guitar i ever saw around the house when I was young, and during his life he probably owned, sold, traded, and even built about 50 Teles. Curiously enough, he bought me a Squier Strat when I was 16. Always wondered why. It's about time I bought my own Tele.
Maybe he thought it would be good if you had the versatility of the tremolo arm and middle pickup starting out (you were learning, I assume). Maybe he thought you'd want something different than "dad's guitar", or maybe he just got a good deal on it, who knows?
Why he bought a squier when he had the money for so many other guitars. And why did you start guitar only when you were 16 when your father was such a player? Just wondering, i play since im 6 and hated thaty parents gave me only really cheap guitars
As a drummer who watches guitar videos to procrastinate working (partly because there are just more and better than drum content, partly because I'm working on my guitar playing because it makes it easier to have writing/arranging input in the band), I just wanted to say I think your touch on the drums is lovely! Playing with such a soft touch allows what might otherwise be very harsh sounding entry level cymbals to sound really great!
intheblues I want the same one you have. My days of buying a cheap guitar, and hoping for the best, are long over. Still wanna try a 50’s Vintera Modified too. The custom shop neck pickup has me intrigued.
Also check out the Fender Player Baja Tele, my personal favorite! Same features as Vintera Mod, custom shop pickups, soft V neck, ash body, 4 way switching! Buy it used save the coin! I have a bunch of Strats and Teles could never decide which I liked most. Different tools for different jobs!
deeberdave That Surf Green, with the black pick guard though😍. I’ve had bad luck with used instruments, even ones from dealers. I’m 45, and deserve ALL the awesome new guitars I please. That’s what I tell my wife, at least. I do love the Baja though. Like you said, pretty much the same instrument. I’ll probably just save a bit, and get the Original 50’s though. Why the hell not, right?
Mark Kozielec I bought the vintera 50s modified a few weeks ago and have barely been able to put it down. Has a really nice neck, the pickups sound amazing and with the extra switching has a lot more options tone wise
All of my Teles have 3 pickups and the middle position of the 5 way switch gives them the bridge and neck position. Some simply have a mini switch to add the neck pickup to any configuration. Sometimes more is more.
Now I know why Fender developed the Strat. To me the Strat sounds richer overall and it's the one I would buy. The brightness of the Tele is wonderful and I understand why folks like it. If I had to choose just one. It would be the American Strat. Thanks for this great video.........Sal : )
For me it's funny how the guitar colours match their sounds in this particular test, Strat is white and that's how it sounds for me - white, bright, clear, glassy and Tele's butterscotch matches its warmer, fuller, "earthy" tone, it's kind of a synesthesia thing, can't explain it better, maybe thats because I prefer pale, cold tone coloured Strats, warm, brownish-coloured Teles and darker LPs. In terms of sound preferences, Tele bridge pickup sound is my way to go
I've never thought "which is better". It's about voicing for the arraingment. Both teles and strats are my first choice depending on the genre the band is asked to play and indeed the selected song. If I'm on Mars forever, I'll take a strat for it's versatility.... and cry that my tele is back on earth. Quarter orchestra, early pop/big band, R&R, Blues, Jazz at each generational stage of these require different voicings. It's really not 'which guitar sounds better' but 'which guitar sound works for this....' Thanks Shane!
@@pidahman Same. Fuller bridge pickup that is good for thicker rock tones on top of the thinner country ones, and a middle position that is useful to me instead of the "1980s pop ballad" in-between tones of the Strat. I do love a Strat neck pickup, but you can put one of those in a Tele and get 95% of the way there.
@@marktraum9139 i thought that the chord making one is the more important one, no? How come? Without that and a good finger coordination and placement you cannot play whereas the strumming you can do even with a pick.
I preferred the Strat in most positions - it just sounded a bit more balanced/cohesive to my ear. The tele did sound great with overdriven open chords near the end though.
Tele vs Strats? Which do you prefer and why? I always get asked to play clean more, so here you go! 😀 This video took ages so thanks for watching and for the support 👍🏻 Timestamps: 0:00 - The Guitars 1:50 - About this Comparison 3:25 - Stratocaster Jam Track 5:25 - Telecaster Jam Track 7:43 - Neck & Bridge Clean 10:49 - Unique Combinations Clean 13:53 - Dirty Tones Comparison 16:22 - Strat vs Tele Results Check these guitars out online: ►Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/FenderAmerican50s ►Thomann - bit.ly/3gg1CAJ (Links to Sweetwater & Thomann are affiliate links)
I'm not getting drawn into this debate. Buy lots of Strats, lots of Teles and lots of other guitars. Play all the songs with different guitars and pickup combinations than the last time you played that song. Be free, live in the moment, and enjoy the music. Both the guitars in this video sound great in all the positions. You'll have lots of fun with all these sounds. ✌
Absolutely. Quest in real life to obtain a good example of both, the recognize there is a use for both. I have two of each, because they both do great for many types of music.
Dear friend, I took your advice, and although I now have tons of sweet guitars, I only have a few minutes to enjoy them since I sold all of my vital organs to pay for them. Living! 🤘
Great comparison! I've gotta say I wasn't surprised one bit. This video just cemented my preconceptions. I've always been a tele guy myself but recently I just found myself in need of the glassy chimey brightness of the strat. Just proves to show that you can't get away with one. A strat and a tele are definitely two must haves for every guitarist out there.
As a young’n, I would have chosen the Tele hands down, wasn’t much of a fan of Strats. But I’ve since learned how to properly set up, and use the whammy, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE ❤️ the Strat now. My MIM Strat is my main goto guitar, but my AMPRO Tele is really “neck and neck” with it - it all depends on whether or not I want to use the whammy bar. 😉 I could do fine with one or the other, but I’m glad I have both.
My MIM Sunburst Strat is my go-to as well. I tore her apart (Alma assembled her per the name on the neck boot) and totally cleaned her up. I put in a new Fender American Standard big block bridge. Put in Fender Pure Vintage '59 PUs, a new white pickguard and screws then finished her off with all new CTS electronics. Soldered in a treble bleed circuit and gave her 7-way PU selection. Turned out beautifully. My fiance recently bought me a MIM 75 Anniversary Tele which sounds great but still needs setting up. Should be fantastic once I do that.
I was into all of the heavy metal super hot pickup guitars til I discovered that singles just have soooo much more character to them. Unless humbuckers go through distortion they just sound so dull to me. Great video!
Me too. Chimey single coils rekindled my love for electric guitar after a ten year hiatus. There are good humbuckers out there, but to me single coils just seem so much more dynamic and satisfying to play. They can go from bassy ka-chunk to creamy melodies to sparking arpeggios all in the same guitar.
Same here. I hated strats when I started playing guitar. All my guitars are HH super hot pickups. Go metal or go home, but as I get older I am really loving strats and their sound. So much that I bought an olimpic white strat and bought a loaded guard with texas specials. Can't wait to install them and start playing some nice clean And bluesy riffs.
My Strat has a setting to activate the two outside pickups, or all three at once. All three at once sounds awesome! My Tele is a Nashville Deluxe with three pickups, but it does not have a setting to activate all three at once. But I still love it. However, I find myself playing the Strat far more often. It’s so much lighter and more comfortable to play with the belly and forearm cutouts.
Which Strat do you have? I have a Nashville and could see huge potential in wiring options. It’s very Strat sounding, tho, I’d love to roll in that neck pickup in bridge position to tame it just a bit.
For me, absolutely the strat, crystal clear, just love it. I think the biggest difference in tone is because of the open tremolo , the tone going through the spiral coils instead of only wood as in the tele. This might also be the reason for the tele having a more jazzy tone on the neck PU. this video was really entertaining (was hesitating because of the 20min) and I really enjoyed your playing, thank you =) btw: I'm using the neck/middle combi on the strat quite often (funky rhythm guitar without keybords)
12:00 there's a really simple mod you can do to a strat that adds an on/off for the neck pickup allowing it to be used with the bridge pickup...or all three pickups together. Look up "gilmour mod". Some strats came stock with this feature, the s1 switch.
For the layman... ...did you know there are a multitude of pickups available from large companies and private winders on either of these guitars that totally change the tone? The neck pick up on my Tele is designed to emulate a Strat neck pickup from the early seventies. It has longer magnets and different windings than the standard Tele neck. It has that nice glassy tone a Strat has.The Bridge has larger diameter A5 magnets and is overwound for a fatter/ louder tone. The pickups and electronics are what make the biggest difference in tone.
I always loved my strats. Bought one in 57 that I still have but added a few more since I don't take my original out any more. A couple years ago I tried my first Tele and fell totally in love with it since then bought a few more now it's torture deciding which time play lol
I was a long time acoustic guitar player and own a Martin and Breedlove guitars and always thought that the Strat and Tele were ugly mechanical devices. I've been at this guitar thing for 50+ years. I finally own a Fender Tele and Strat. Yeah, I was wrong these are fine guitars well made comfortable and sound great. I don't like being dumb but these are great guitars - love mine.
They both sound amazing. I've always said a strat, a tele, and a Les Paul are the only 3 electric guitars you really "need" been playing for 2 years and I'm up to 6 guitars so who knows?
Being a lefty, I fell in love with both. It’s extremely hard to find lefties in music stores, and I hate to buy any instrument without trying them out first. Nice video. They both sound great. The strat is brighter, But the tele is juicier.
@Judy McAllister Lefty here also, I was spoiled a few year ago, and walked into the guitarshop the morning they put the stock out. I got to play 5-6 Strats and 3 Tele's, I ended up choosing a White/Rosewood USA Standard Strat SSS. Absolutely the best guitar i've ever held, never even thought about buying anything since.
Great to see this comparison! I have a couple of Strats, both lefties. One is an early one for me, Sunburst, built in 1962, bought it in '68. The other one is much newer, a blackie I bought a couple of years ago. I have 14 guitars now, all lefties -- just bought an Epiphone Les Paul -- "Cherry Burst", very nice indeed. After your video I'm leaning even more dangerously close to buying no. 15, a Telecaster. I saw one in Toronto recently for just shy of $2000 CDN. Now I just need to get rid of a few of the less-than-good ones to make room.
Good video. All should be aware that with a lefty playing, all of the tone waves are reversed. If you want the same sound and you are a righty you have to play into a mirror. Most experienced guitarist know this but wanted to pass along for any newbies out there.
I have a Strat and a Nashville Tele. I can’t remember why I chose that particular variation but glad I did - it has the two classic Tele tones plus the Straty ones with the natural grit that I think the Tele has. One of these days I’ll have a pot changed to a push pull so it can do the bridge/neck combo. A jam buddy of mine recently bought a Strat Ultra. That is a really nice guitar. Great vid, thanks.
Great video. I actually love position 2 on strats. It's got a bit of the chonk but still a mellow sound -- though maybe amp/pedals might be a factor on how usable it is. What I'm gunning for in the next year is a strat that is as-built with a hardtail. There's a subtle depth to the sound that even decked/blocked trems don't seem to hit. My decision is whether to go with the mod shop version at $1700 or the Robert Cray MIM strat at $950. Both price points have their merits. There are also a lot of good quality older hardtails from the 70's thru 2000s that sound great for around $1500.
I feel like the sounds are crazy similar but I prefer the Tele sound. Also the feel of playing a Tele, especially while sitting, just feels nicer than a strat
The tone of the very first solo on the strat was incredibly moving, as was Sean's playing there (and everywhere else on this video, for that matter, on both of theses FANTASTIC guitars). I probably liked the tele better for the heavier gain stuff. The sounds of the pickups on both guitars is exquisite. I may have to throw a set of the 59's into my Mexican Strat, for $149 for a set of 3 I don't think I could possibly go wrong.
Still, one of my favorite direct comparison videos between the Strat & Tele. They both sound awesome. (Of course that means that Shane’s playing is amazing.) 🎸
I've been wanting to learn to play for a while now and finally narrowed down my choices to the Affinity series. (remember, I'm a beginner). Now after watching this comparison, I have a lot more respect for the Telecaster than I originally had. I guess I've been brainwashed that it couldn't hold up to the Strat. Now I'll take a harder look at them. BTW, I'm a lefty also.
Rick Castaneda: nothing wrong with the Affinity series, there alot better than they used to be. 5 to 10 years ago if you ask anyone about Squier, they'll tell you to look at the Squier Standard and Squier Deluxe series. Affinity was the cheap version until they added the bullet series in 2016, then in 2017 they improved the Affinity series by adding slightly better pickups. 2019 the Classic Vibe series took off from there, and the Affinity got more improvements and now the Affinity is the replacement for the old Standard line. you can't go wrong with one, it's just a matter of personal taste. a Strat sound wise to me has a blues kinda tone, which makes it unique. a Telecaster has more of a country tone, which some people refer to as twang, either way that's what they sound like. once you throw a little bit of gain on it, that's when you start noticing different things about both.
Growing up I was a strat player, but the first time I picked up a tele, I fell in love. As an adult, I got a G&L Legacy, and the two band eq was so versatile, it had me bump strat syle guitars back up in the rankings. Both are great options to have in the arsenal.
Wonderful comparison. I have grown fond of your videos. I am glad I stumbled on your channel. I have been watching you for several months now. I love your content. Keep up the great work. Greetings from Texas. 🤠🎸🤘
More similarities than I’d thought to be fair, both beautiful and I defo want a strat too. That tele bridge bite is just so on the money. And the strat neck, fantastic sound. Recently bought Classic Vibe 60s Jazzmaster by Squier - I found this an awesome sideways beat of both... the treble on the neck is amazing for attack and atmospherics, the neck is beautiful and smooth and the middle both pickups has a very vintage strat-esque feel (can’t help but play a little Slow Dancing In A Burning Room on it.
I have/had all three and I have to say the Jazzmaster is my favorite by far. Still, love the Tele and Strat, for their own unique sounds that work for different types of music.
It's my experience and advise, DO NOT leave your guitar strap laying on top of your guitar in the case ! Eventually, there's a possibility it will leave a (stain) discoloration across your guitar, if left too long... Just a precaution, put the strap in the pick, & strap compartment in most guitar cases. Cheers !
This was one of the best Tele-Strat comps I have ever seen. Superb job. If the average user can't tell the difference in tone and playability immediately without micro-level comparison, then it's just a question of "which one do you want". If you factor in amplifier and effects, then it comes down to neck feel, aesthetics and how you sit with the body contouring. Both are amazing guitars. I have a Strat, Les Paul, SG, etc, but I do hear that there is more "attack" from the Tele than from the Strat. If you do find a Tele that gives a meaningful tone difference - go for it. I love these guitars.
Well, because they ARE so different, most people would probably appreciate having one of each. I prefer Teles, LPs, and Super S styles but do have a strat for when the mood calls for it :)
I'm curious as to where the tone control on the guitars were set at. So many people leave it wide open at 10, but there's a lot of potential in tone shaping with your knobs.
Agree with you and agreeing what I see in the comments. Only thing I did not agree with, is that, it ended so soon. Man those bluesy stuff with the neck and licks with the bridge. Thanks for the comparo
No matter how many different guitars I have bought I keep going back to the Strat. It's such a diverse sounding guitar. I can get close to other types by using a multi-effects pedal. So why lug all those guitars around? Also, there's nothing like a Fender on a Fender amp.
Too many comments to check, but… The 80’s E type MIJ Strats had toggles which allowed for neck and bridge pickups to drop the mid pickup. Might be a fun video if you can get one. But you can’t have mine. Great comparison.
As a pre-teen my first rental guitar was a Tele. I started as a metal head and I hated the twangy Tele. Today in my 50's I see the value of a Tele and think of it as great in a studio setting. I'll always be a Les Paul girl, I also play SG and Strats. Just depends on the music you play and the sound you want. Great comparison video!
Love the tones on both. To me, the Tele sounds a little more round and fuller, whereas the strat has a more classic vintage tone for that era. The 50s vintage pickups on that strat are the real winner.
As I understand it, the one big reason they sound different is because of how the Tele bridge pickup is mounted to the bridge plate, affecting its tone. It's why you can't just install that pickup in the Strat and get the same sound.
Do they sound different? Yes, of course they do. The differences are subtle though, depending on the pickups installed. Perhaps I'm being too geeky, but I'd like to suggest that if you do a similar comparison that you measure and inform us of the pickups output/resistance, as I think this is an important bit of information that affects the tone a lot. I agree that the middle pickup on a strat is generally underused or forgotten by most players. I use it quite a lot, especially on my "fishocaster", which has a really nice lipstick pick up in the middle position.
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In conclusion, the Strat sounds a bit more Stratty, the Tele sounds a bit more Tele-ish.
I was going to leave the same comment, ha ha! There's a definite "sameness" to their respective tones. The Tele has a quality that's just what you'd expect and the Strat is making sounds that we've heard Strats making all along. The core tone of each guitar is very much like a family resemblance sort of thing though. Interesting comparison!
Thought it was the other way around 🤔
@@polinamazur5 hahaha epic comment! Cheers from Greece!
This is a comment.
And both sound like Fender!
I was a strat guy. Then onto the Les Paul for years. Then I tried a Tele. And fell in love. It lives right between the two.
Wow man, you're very unique!
I started with a Strat HSS knockoff. Then I had a couple of Teles, and my last big acquisition has been a Les Paul Classic. Now I'm keeping that Classic and I put a mini humbucker in the neck on the Tele and these two are my main guitars. Maybe these Christmas Santa will bring a Strat since I'm being a good boy hahah... Anyway, I love Teles just like you. Cheers!!
I have a Strat and a PRS. I love PRS aswell. The best from a Strat and a Les Paul in one nice package!
I’m personally a les Paul guy but I bought my American original butterscotch tele a few months ago.....I haven’t put it down.... strats are fine too they’re a little too slim on the neck and body for my taste but this guy and Dave Simpson make strats sound amazing!!!
Yup. Ditto.
This was literally best tele-strat comparison. Everything you need to see, side by side without confusion. It's a shame this video wasn't there for all these years. Thanks for the great video Shane!
Ene öz yeah it really is a Shane ;-)
My conclusion is that we need both!
Tele neck clean - 8:37
Strat neck clean - 9:04
Strat bridge clean - 9:59
Tele Bridge clean - 10:13
Tele both clean - 11:19
Strat middle clean - 11:23
Strat bridge and middle clean - 12:38
Strat middle and neck clean - 13:17
Tele both clean - 13:37
Tele bridge dirty chords - 14:10
Strat bridge dirty chords - 14:29
Strat bridge riffing - 14:45
Tele bridge riffing - 14:53
Tele drive maxed - 15:27
Strat drive maxed - 15:58
Hearing everything back to back I like the Tele better. It sounds darker and thicker. The Strat sounds like someone turned the presence all the way up and it sounds thinner and squeaky.
Not pinning this comment is a crime!
thanks for including all the comparisons it helped alot and made it easier to try and differentiate the two without having to go back and forth
Getting a strat to sound like a tele is a lot easier than the other way around. You can just switch to the bridge position on most strats.
@@DSR87 or roll the tone off for a warmer sound. Wiring the bridge tone pot is an essential mod. Also it has positions 2 and 4. Also it has a flipping wobble bar.
I would say the Strat’s bridge/middle position full on sucks. Not even usable. I do however like the neck position and the neck/middle position.
Both guitars are awesome but for me, the Tele is the clear winner. However, to be honest, I am totally biased. I love Teles, especially the Original 50s.
I've always had a Les Paul, later I bought a Strat, which I liked much more than the Les Paul (but for the distortion sounds), but my wife gave me a Telecaster a year ago, and what else can I say, at my 46 years, I've discovered true love. Great videos by the way! Thank Shane.
I’ve never really given the tele a try...you’re making me feel like I’m missing something!!!!
@@eddiejr540 You are. I was a hardcore Les Paul player for years, until a friend forced a Telecaster into my hands. I hardly ever touch my Les Paul anymore.
🤣😂
@@eddiejr540 I was a tele player, switched to a les paul and never looked back. I really dont miss my telecaster at all.
A wife that supports your G.A.S. You sir have a winner.
Strat Neck always wins for me. It's just THE SOUND!
Thanks mate!
Iconic
Epiphone Casino.
It's the best clean tone imo and only a Strat can get it.
Any thoughts on the new tele ultra? Texas tea has my eye
Tele is definitely way more balanced and rounder overall, probably can get more consistent tones from it and the bridge is just THAT hot. That being said, I think thats why the extra quackiness of the Strat makes it so recognisable and iconic and makes for more unique tones.
I always thought my strat sucked until I bought a Princeton. Now I get it. No pedals, natural compression and a sweet tremolo. The musicality of that setup beats anything I’ve previously owned. Also, you can’t hide behind anything so your playing sharpens right up.
I’ve been looking at those hand wired princtons. I love me a small combo amp. They’re great. Princetons are just the right wattage for my city row home as wel.
I have a jaguar with vintage style pickups, I switched from a mesa boogie to a Princeton and had the same experience. such a musical amp
Yet another demonstration of why you need both. Can’t go wrong.
My thoughts exactly, and in oppositition to most Strat guys, the Tele is a much better lead.guitar If one just can't live w/o a whammy, there's always the Strat, or you can put a Bigbsby.on it.
@@kenrussell1093 Every guitarist should own a Tele a Strat a Les Paul and a Hollow Body of some sort.
Just the comment I didn't need to read. take my wallet, fender.
If I can only have two, then the choice would be a strat and an LP instead of tele
I can’t.
Be another douche walk’in round w/a strat?
I’ll pass.
My father was a rockabilly player back in the 60s. He absolutely adored the Tele. The Tele was the only guitar i ever saw around the house when I was young, and during his life he probably owned, sold, traded, and even built about 50 Teles. Curiously enough, he bought me a Squier Strat when I was 16. Always wondered why. It's about time I bought my own Tele.
Maybe he thought it would be good if you had the versatility of the tremolo arm and middle pickup starting out (you were learning, I assume). Maybe he thought you'd want something different than "dad's guitar", or maybe he just got a good deal on it, who knows?
Maybe he went for a cheap guitar in case you don't like to play so he wouldn't have spent a lot in an American Tele. Who knows.
I think the subliminal message was: you were adopted. 😂 Sorry, I just couldn't resist 😄
Why he bought a squier when he had the money for so many other guitars. And why did you start guitar only when you were 16 when your father was such a player? Just wondering, i play since im 6 and hated thaty parents gave me only really cheap guitars
You weren’t ready for a tele 😜
As a drummer who watches guitar videos to procrastinate working (partly because there are just more and better than drum content, partly because I'm working on my guitar playing because it makes it easier to have writing/arranging input in the band), I just wanted to say I think your touch on the drums is lovely! Playing with such a soft touch allows what might otherwise be very harsh sounding entry level cymbals to sound really great!
This video has shown me the light! I need a Telecaster....................yesterday!
Do it mate! Just make sure you find one with a good neck pickup as well. Some of them are far more rolled out in the high end than mine is. :)
intheblues I want the same one you have. My days of buying a cheap guitar, and hoping for the best, are long over. Still wanna try a 50’s Vintera Modified too. The custom shop neck pickup has me intrigued.
Also check out the Fender Player Baja Tele, my personal favorite! Same features as Vintera Mod, custom shop pickups, soft V neck, ash body, 4 way switching! Buy it used save the coin!
I have a bunch of Strats and Teles could never decide which I liked most. Different tools for different jobs!
deeberdave That Surf Green, with the black pick guard though😍. I’ve had bad luck with used instruments, even ones from dealers. I’m 45, and deserve ALL the awesome new guitars I please. That’s what I tell my wife, at least. I do love the Baja though. Like you said, pretty much the same instrument. I’ll probably just save a bit, and get the Original 50’s though. Why the hell not, right?
Mark Kozielec I bought the vintera 50s modified a few weeks ago and have barely been able to put it down. Has a really nice neck, the pickups sound amazing and with the extra switching has a lot more options tone wise
All of my Teles have 3 pickups and the middle position of the 5 way switch gives them the bridge and neck position. Some simply have a mini switch to add the neck pickup to any configuration. Sometimes more is more.
I’ve enjoyed many of your videos over the years mate. Thanks for the comments :)
Many thanks my friend!!!
I used to have one wired with the forward position all three in series that gives it a bright tone
Most of the triple pickup teles are Mexican made so although they have some Strat features, they sacrifice the tone quality.
Now I know why Fender developed the Strat. To me the Strat sounds richer overall and it's the one I would buy. The brightness of the Tele is wonderful and I understand why folks like it. If I had to choose just one. It would be the American Strat. Thanks for this great video.........Sal : )
hm, strat is much brighter than the tele!
Both sound bright, but the Tele has more mids and lows in the mix.
In this particular shootout, I think Leo wins.
Yeah, he got it right the first time
I'm into post-Fender Leo's.
That Tele is a keeper. Your Strat is nice but that Tele....wow
For me it's funny how the guitar colours match their sounds in this particular test, Strat is white and that's how it sounds for me - white, bright, clear, glassy and Tele's butterscotch matches its warmer, fuller, "earthy" tone, it's kind of a synesthesia thing, can't explain it better, maybe thats because I prefer pale, cold tone coloured Strats, warm, brownish-coloured Teles and darker LPs. In terms of sound preferences, Tele bridge pickup sound is my way to go
I've never thought "which is better". It's about voicing for the arraingment. Both teles and strats are my first choice depending on the genre the band is asked to play and indeed the selected song. If I'm on Mars forever, I'll take a strat for it's versatility.... and cry that my tele is back on earth. Quarter orchestra, early pop/big band, R&R, Blues, Jazz at each generational stage of these require different voicings. It's really not 'which guitar sounds better' but 'which guitar sound works for this....' Thanks Shane!
I fint the tele more versatile than the strat😳
@@pidahman Same. Fuller bridge pickup that is good for thicker rock tones on top of the thinner country ones, and a middle position that is useful to me instead of the "1980s pop ballad" in-between tones of the Strat. I do love a Strat neck pickup, but you can put one of those in a Tele and get 95% of the way there.
The real question is, do left handed guitars sound different from the right handed models
in my hands yes
@@jackeerdmans9839 you got me. I can't golf left handed either.
@@marktraum9139 which hand is the dominant one? The one that makes the chords or the one that strums the guitar? How to understand this?
@@dreamthedream8929 I don't know about dominant but the picking hand is the one that is more important.
@@marktraum9139 i thought that the chord making one is the more important one, no? How come? Without that and a good finger coordination and placement you cannot play whereas the strumming you can do even with a pick.
I preferred the Strat in most positions - it just sounded a bit more balanced/cohesive to my ear. The tele did sound great with overdriven open chords near the end though.
Tele vs Strats? Which do you prefer and why? I always get asked to play clean more, so here you go! 😀 This video took ages so thanks for watching and for the support 👍🏻 Timestamps:
0:00 - The Guitars
1:50 - About this Comparison
3:25 - Stratocaster Jam Track
5:25 - Telecaster Jam Track
7:43 - Neck & Bridge Clean
10:49 - Unique Combinations Clean
13:53 - Dirty Tones Comparison
16:22 - Strat vs Tele Results
Check these guitars out online:
►Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/FenderAmerican50s
►Thomann - bit.ly/3gg1CAJ
(Links to Sweetwater & Thomann are affiliate links)
Awesome comparison and great music Shane! Did you mix up the order of the Jam tracks?
I think the newer Tele and Strat necks are way over glossed. If your hands sweat like mine the heavy gloss gets so sticky.
@@craiger2399 Just the timestamps - fixed :)
I liked both for their differences.
I guess Strat. Strat sounds amazing. I have T-style guitar and one thing irritates me is 5,6 strings sound and feel like rubber bands.
I'm not getting drawn into this debate. Buy lots of Strats, lots of Teles and lots of other guitars. Play all the songs with different guitars and pickup combinations than the last time you played that song. Be free, live in the moment, and enjoy the music. Both the guitars in this video sound great in all the positions. You'll have lots of fun with all these sounds. ✌
Well said my friend
Absolutely. Quest in real life to obtain a good example of both, the recognize there is a use for both. I have two of each, because they both do great for many types of music.
Dear friend, I took your advice, and although I now have tons of sweet guitars, I only have a few minutes to enjoy them since I sold all of my vital organs to pay for them. Living! 🤘
Some of us only have money/space for one guitar.
We have to choose wisely.
tell the bitchy wives that!
Great comparison! I've gotta say I wasn't surprised one bit. This video just cemented my preconceptions.
I've always been a tele guy myself but recently I just found myself in need of the glassy chimey brightness of the strat. Just proves to show that you can't get away with one. A strat and a tele are definitely two must haves for every guitarist out there.
As a young’n, I would have chosen the Tele hands down, wasn’t much of a fan of Strats. But I’ve since learned how to properly set up, and use the whammy, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE ❤️ the Strat now.
My MIM Strat is my main goto guitar, but my AMPRO Tele is really “neck and neck” with it - it all depends on whether or not I want to use the whammy bar. 😉 I could do fine with one or the other, but I’m glad I have both.
My MIM Sunburst Strat is my go-to as well. I tore her apart (Alma assembled her per the name on the neck boot) and totally cleaned her up. I put in a new Fender American Standard big block bridge. Put in Fender Pure Vintage '59 PUs, a new white pickguard and screws then finished her off with all new CTS electronics. Soldered in a treble bleed circuit and gave her 7-way PU selection. Turned out beautifully.
My fiance recently bought me a MIM 75 Anniversary Tele which sounds great but still needs setting up. Should be fantastic once I do that.
Thanks for the awesome breakdown, finally came clear about how the different pickups work and sound to clarify my doubts and choices!
I was into all of the heavy metal super hot pickup guitars til I discovered that singles just have soooo much more character to them. Unless humbuckers go through distortion they just sound so dull to me. Great video!
Me too. Chimey single coils rekindled my love for electric guitar after a ten year hiatus. There are good humbuckers out there, but to me single coils just seem so much more dynamic and satisfying to play. They can go from bassy ka-chunk to creamy melodies to sparking arpeggios all in the same guitar.
Tone my friend. 😉
Same here. I hated strats when I started playing guitar. All my guitars are HH super hot pickups. Go metal or go home, but as I get older I am really loving strats and their sound. So much that I bought an olimpic white strat and bought a loaded guard with texas specials. Can't wait to install them and start playing some nice clean And bluesy riffs.
My Strat has a setting to activate the two outside pickups, or all three at once. All three at once sounds awesome!
My Tele is a Nashville Deluxe with three pickups, but it does not have a setting to activate all three at once. But I still love it.
However, I find myself playing the Strat far more often. It’s so much lighter and more comfortable to play with the belly and forearm cutouts.
Which Strat do you have? I have a Nashville and could see huge potential in wiring options. It’s very Strat sounding, tho, I’d love to roll in that neck pickup in bridge position to tame it just a bit.
For me, absolutely the strat, crystal clear, just love it. I think the biggest difference in tone is because of the open tremolo , the tone going through the spiral coils instead of only wood as in the tele. This might also be the reason for the tele having a more jazzy tone on the neck PU.
this video was really entertaining (was hesitating because of the 20min) and I really enjoyed your playing, thank you =)
btw: I'm using the neck/middle combi on the strat quite often (funky rhythm guitar without keybords)
12:00 there's a really simple mod you can do to a strat that adds an on/off for the neck pickup allowing it to be used with the bridge pickup...or all three pickups together. Look up "gilmour mod". Some strats came stock with this feature, the s1 switch.
For the layman...
...did you know there are a multitude of pickups available from large companies and private winders on either of these guitars that totally change the tone?
The neck pick up on my Tele is designed to emulate a Strat neck pickup from the early seventies. It has longer magnets and different windings than the standard Tele neck. It has that nice glassy tone a Strat has.The Bridge has larger diameter A5 magnets and is overwound for a fatter/ louder tone.
The pickups and electronics are what make the biggest difference in tone.
I think the Tele sounds better, but the Strat is more comfortable to me.
Get an offset Tele.
@@kalviskalnins830
Thats the anwser. Best of both worlds
Wes Jeanblanc or a tele-strat hybrid
Maybe stop being such a whinging prat and grow a few.
@@jasonwilson2763 calm down Jason
Really appreciated the "apples to apples" comparisons, thank you!
I always loved my strats. Bought one in 57 that I still have but added a few more since I don't take my original out any more. A couple years ago I tried my first Tele and fell totally in love with it since then bought a few more now it's torture deciding which time play lol
The teenager in me screams stratocaster. The musician in me insists on the telecaster.
¿Why?
That was great! My brain is hardwired to like Telecasters, so that was my preference again. I love the look of the Strat. That white finish is great
Thanks man!
I started off with strats, still like strats though, but as soon as I played a Tele, that was it for me lol
The neck sound from a strat and the bridge sound from a tele combined would be the dream guitar lol Thanx for the demo :)
I was a long time acoustic guitar player and own a Martin and Breedlove guitars and always thought that the Strat and Tele were ugly mechanical devices. I've been at this guitar thing for 50+ years. I finally own a Fender Tele and Strat. Yeah, I was wrong these are fine guitars well made comfortable and sound great. I don't like being dumb but these are great guitars - love mine.
Do you like the Tele more or the Strat?
That was a superb comparison, thanks for making this!
Fine you convinced me, I'll get both
I love that u are doing your own backing tracks. Beautiful 🤩
They both sound amazing. I've always said a strat, a tele, and a Les Paul are the only 3 electric guitars you really "need" been playing for 2 years and I'm up to 6 guitars so who knows?
Shane I can never get used to you playing your lefties but can’t stop watching your Videos
Being a lefty, I fell in love with both. It’s extremely hard to find lefties in music stores, and I hate to buy any instrument without trying them out first. Nice video. They both sound great. The strat is brighter, But the tele is juicier.
I’m a lefty too it’s tuff, and perfect description
@Judy McAllister Lefty here also, I was spoiled a few year ago, and walked into the guitarshop the morning they put the stock out. I got to play 5-6 Strats and 3 Tele's, I ended up choosing a White/Rosewood USA Standard Strat SSS. Absolutely the best guitar i've ever held, never even thought about buying anything since.
Great to see this comparison! I have a couple of Strats, both lefties. One is an early one for me, Sunburst, built in 1962, bought it in '68. The other one is much newer, a blackie I bought a couple of years ago. I have 14 guitars now, all lefties -- just bought an Epiphone Les Paul -- "Cherry Burst", very nice indeed. After your video I'm leaning even more dangerously close to buying no. 15, a Telecaster. I saw one in Toronto recently for just shy of $2000 CDN. Now I just need to get rid of a few of the less-than-good ones to make room.
Great tones! Love your positive vibe, very useful video for comparing the two models!
Thanks! :)
Thanks that was really cool. I grew up loving Chicago and loved Terry Kath. I loved hearing him jam on his telecaster. Since then I’ve been a fan.
I'm a Tele guy. I play almost exclusively on the bridge pickup.
I wish I could but always sounds thin... ant tricks you’d like to share? 😬
@@44scoots Quite simple, role the tone off makes it sound thick.
@@44scoots eq to taste. I prefer parametric, but even a boss ge7 is pretty good
@@jed1mindtricks857 doesn't work for me.
@@44scoots then you have a bad tele
Good video. All should be aware that with a lefty playing, all of the tone waves are reversed. If you want the same sound and you are a righty you have to play into a mirror. Most experienced guitarist know this but wanted to pass along for any newbies out there.
And upside down. It's how we get our unique tones. You also have to play off your left hip. I don't know why, but almost all of us do that.
😂😂😂🤣🤣
just invert the phase.
I am in love with position 4 on strat. Unique sound and great for fast, shredy playing.
I have a Strat and a Nashville Tele. I can’t remember why I chose that particular variation but glad I did - it has the two classic Tele tones plus the Straty ones with the natural grit that I think the Tele has. One of these days I’ll have a pot changed to a push pull so it can do the bridge/neck combo. A jam buddy of mine recently bought a Strat Ultra. That is a really nice guitar. Great vid, thanks.
Great video. I actually love position 2 on strats. It's got a bit of the chonk but still a mellow sound -- though maybe amp/pedals might be a factor on how usable it is.
What I'm gunning for in the next year is a strat that is as-built with a hardtail. There's a subtle depth to the sound that even decked/blocked trems don't seem to hit. My decision is whether to go with the mod shop version at $1700 or the Robert Cray MIM strat at $950. Both price points have their merits. There are also a lot of good quality older hardtails from the 70's thru 2000s that sound great for around $1500.
Strat’s got the shimmering, glassy thing, Tele’s got the twang and the growl. Both sound amazing, both have their own personality.
You can't ignore the ergonomics and you actually play a little more fluidly or effortlessly on the Strat,
Can appreciate a good Tele, and have a great one, but also have 3 really great STrats I prefer. Strat is the best all around electric ever built .
Both sound different. I love them both, so that's why I own a Squier Stratocaster VM 70s and a Telecaster CV Custom.
I feel like the sounds are crazy similar but I prefer the Tele sound. Also the feel of playing a Tele, especially while sitting, just feels nicer than a strat
The Tele wins for me, I have always liked them over Strats.. But I have to admit, this particular Strat is a really nice one. I would buy it for sure.
The tone of the very first solo on the strat was incredibly moving, as was Sean's playing there (and everywhere else on this video, for that matter, on both of theses FANTASTIC guitars). I probably liked the tele better for the heavier gain stuff. The sounds of the pickups on both guitars is exquisite. I may have to throw a set of the 59's into my Mexican Strat, for $149 for a set of 3 I don't think I could possibly go wrong.
Still, one of my favorite direct comparison videos between the Strat & Tele. They both sound awesome. (Of course that means that Shane’s playing is amazing.) 🎸
I've been wanting to learn to play for a while now and finally narrowed down my choices to the Affinity series. (remember, I'm a beginner). Now after watching this comparison, I have a lot more respect for the Telecaster than I originally had. I guess I've been brainwashed that it couldn't hold up to the Strat. Now I'll take a harder look at them. BTW, I'm a lefty also.
Rick Castaneda: nothing wrong with the Affinity series, there alot better than they used to be. 5 to 10 years ago if you ask anyone about Squier, they'll tell you to look at the Squier Standard and Squier Deluxe series.
Affinity was the cheap version until they added the bullet series in 2016, then in 2017 they improved the Affinity series by adding slightly better pickups. 2019 the Classic Vibe series took off from there, and the Affinity got more improvements and now the Affinity is the replacement for the old Standard line.
you can't go wrong with one, it's just a matter of personal taste. a Strat sound wise to me has a blues kinda tone, which makes it unique. a Telecaster has more of a country tone, which some people refer to as twang, either way that's what they sound like. once you throw a little bit of gain on it, that's when you start noticing different things about both.
Growing up I was a strat player, but the first time I picked up a tele, I fell in love. As an adult, I got a G&L Legacy, and the two band eq was so versatile, it had me bump strat syle guitars back up in the rankings. Both are great options to have in the arsenal.
I had to watched this upside down
It's refreshing to see a left handed brother making good content, great video \m/
"I've done nothing to it other than ding it" ..lol..
😆 it’s true
@@intheblues Yes I know! It it still made me laugh out loud though ..lol..
tone dings
intheblues Well, you DID say it’s Cu$tom $hop quality.... They would have charged you much more to do that.😉
@@bobs_ya_runkle Watch the video where he's talking about dinging it. Rather heartbreaking. It was one of those "I feel your pain" moments.
Loved your playing on this video!
The Strat sound has something else to it - it is just unique! I always suspected the springs of the vibrato system have this additional effect.
Seems like the tremolo springs add a little bit of a bounce to the glassy jangle in the Strat. The Tele is a little more hard nosed and warm.
Agreed. The tele sounds a little harsher and stiffer.
Wonderful comparison. I have grown fond of your videos. I am glad I stumbled on your channel. I have been watching you for several months now. I love your content. Keep up the great work. Greetings from Texas. 🤠🎸🤘
More similarities than I’d thought to be fair, both beautiful and I defo want a strat too. That tele bridge bite is just so on the money. And the strat neck, fantastic sound. Recently bought Classic Vibe 60s Jazzmaster by Squier - I found this an awesome sideways beat of both... the treble on the neck is amazing for attack and atmospherics, the neck is beautiful and smooth and the middle both pickups has a very vintage strat-esque feel (can’t help but play a little Slow Dancing In A Burning Room on it.
I have/had all three and I have to say the Jazzmaster is my favorite by far. Still, love the Tele and Strat, for their own unique sounds that work for different types of music.
This type of comparison is helpful. Glad you made this video. Thumbs up 👍
Man this is difficult to choose, but I think the winner is the Tele bridge pickup.
Great comparison, Shane. Thanks for doing this one.
Tele has less cliche sound. Love it!
Was that a real song you were playing or was it just you jamming? That sounds incredible!! Where can I listen to more of this?
It's my experience and advise, DO NOT leave your guitar strap laying on top of your guitar in the case ! Eventually, there's a possibility it will leave a (stain) discoloration across your guitar, if left too long... Just a precaution, put the strap in the pick, & strap compartment in most guitar cases. Cheers !
You just gotta play more, Don't leave it that long 😂
I just saw a nice tele at cashies and was wondering whether or not I should invest, thanks for the vid!
The Tele's have the attitude on that bridge pickup man, if you're coming from a Strat, it's a lot of fun :)
Thank you that was a great video. I prefer the Tele, it sounds just perfect. Your video editing is very beautiful.
Sounding great,, Shane. Loving the new drummer you as well.
I hate to admit it; but I think the Tele wins in most respects. And I'm a die-hard Strat guy!!
My conclusion is we need to work hard to convinve our wives that we need both guitars. Cheers from Indonesia.
the tele is the best guitar for rock
the strat has a funky sound
Telecaster.
Man, that was the jam. Really enjoyed listening to your composition.
This was one of the best Tele-Strat comps I have ever seen. Superb job. If the average user can't tell the difference in tone and playability immediately without micro-level comparison, then it's just a question of "which one do you want". If you factor in amplifier and effects, then it comes down to neck feel, aesthetics and how you sit with the body contouring. Both are amazing guitars. I have a Strat, Les Paul, SG, etc, but I do hear that there is more "attack" from the Tele than from the Strat. If you do find a Tele that gives a meaningful tone difference - go for it. I love these guitars.
Well, because they ARE so different, most people would probably appreciate having one of each. I prefer Teles, LPs, and Super S styles but do have a strat for when the mood calls for it :)
I'm curious as to where the tone control on the guitars were set at. So many people leave it wide open at 10, but there's a lot of potential in tone shaping with your knobs.
Agree with you and agreeing what I see in the comments. Only thing I did not agree with, is that, it ended so soon. Man those bluesy stuff with the neck and licks with the bridge. Thanks for the comparo
For a truly fair comparison, I'll need to hear the Strat with a ding near its base.
That's so cool, you found 2 left handed guitars almost identical, you must be a guitar shopping guru.
(and you play really good too)
No matter how many different guitars I have bought I keep going back to the Strat. It's such a diverse sounding guitar. I can get close to other types by using a multi-effects pedal. So why lug all those guitars around? Also, there's nothing like a Fender on a Fender amp.
25th Aniversary Ernie Ball Music Man is the most versitile guitar sounds I've ever come across.
I hate that I needed the money and sold it.
Too many comments to check, but… The 80’s E type MIJ Strats had toggles which allowed for neck and bridge pickups to drop the mid pickup. Might be a fun video if you can get one. But you can’t have mine. Great comparison.
I'm a big fan of the neck pick up on my Tele. I've got a few Strat type guitars also, I like a SSH setup on my Strats 🎸🤗
As a pre-teen my first rental guitar was a Tele. I started as a metal head and I hated the twangy Tele. Today in my 50's I see the value of a Tele and think of it as great in a studio setting. I'll always be a Les Paul girl, I also play SG and Strats. Just depends on the music you play and the sound you want. Great comparison video!
Love the tones on both. To me, the Tele sounds a little more round and fuller, whereas the strat has a more classic vintage tone for that era. The 50s vintage pickups on that strat are the real winner.
Interesting and Informative Comparison. Nice Work. Thankyou
I felt that the tele had way more sustain to it. It did sound fuller to me. Liked it
i really like what you did here. this is the first video i watched that plays the same riffs on same guitars.
As I understand it, the one big reason they sound different is because of how the Tele bridge pickup is mounted to the bridge plate, affecting its tone. It's why you can't just install that pickup in the Strat and get the same sound.
Thanks, this was such a great, honest comparison!
Do they sound different? Yes, of course they do. The differences are subtle though, depending on the pickups installed. Perhaps I'm being too geeky, but I'd like to suggest that if you do a similar comparison that you measure and inform us of the pickups output/resistance, as I think this is an important bit of information that affects the tone a lot.
I agree that the middle pickup on a strat is generally underused or forgotten by most players. I use it quite a lot, especially on my "fishocaster", which has a really nice lipstick pick up in the middle position.
Love your channel Shane. So glad to see a real player playing instruments he owns. thanks mate!
When smashing cords the tele feels good. Strat good for individual notes.
Great playing! I was digging the tele the whole time. What a balanced tone.