JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Guitars and Guitarist Forum What is the difference between a Standard Strat and a Standard Telecaster?

I have no idea what all the parts of the electric guitars are about. (I understand acoustic and classical parts.)

What is the difference between a Standard Strat and Telecaster? Is it just shape? Does one sound better than the other and why.

By the way , words like humbuck and coils and stuff like that go whoosh right over my head. I have a little bit of an idea about pick ups but very rudimentary understanding.

Thanks, all.

JeanB

Hiya Jean!
How ya doin' my friend?

A Strat and a Tele are two very different sounding guitars,....

Here is a link to better explain the difference...good site for Antique guitars as well...

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender2.html#sch

C-ya
Joe

Hi Jean,

Books could be written on this subject, in fact they have!

Here's a few things to note;

Strat

1) 3 single coil pickups
2) tremolo bar (whammy bar (on most))
3) 5-way pickup switch.

Tele

1) 2 single coil pickups
2) Fixed bridge.
3) 3-way pickup switch

Strat;

The 3 pickups are chosen with the 5-way pickup switch.

Position 1, from front to back, accesses the "neck" position pickup, the one closest to the neck.

Position 2 accesses the "neck" and "middle" position pickup, this is wired such that the pickups are "out of phase", a famous Fender sound.

Position 3 is the "middle" pickup

Position 4 is the "middle" and "bridge" pickup. This is the other "out of phase" position. Both these positions have a sweet, slightly chorused sound.

Position 5 is the "bridge" pickup.

The strat also has the "tremolo bar", or "whammy bar" as rockers call it. Originally, the "tremelo bar" was used for subtle lowering and back to pitch wavering to tempo (tremelo}. Later, rockers, think Jimmy Hendrix et al, "abused" this with massive pitch dives. Even later, Tremelo devices were desighned to go up and down to an extreme. Think Eddie Van Halen.

Tele;

The 2 pickups are chosen with the 3-way position switch.

Position 1 (forward), selects the "neck pickup.

Position 2 selects the "neck" and "bridge" pickups.

Position 3 selects the "bridge" pickup.

The "fixed" bridge means that the strings connect directly to the guitar. No tremelo here!

Typically, blues cats and rockers gravitate to the strat, and chicken pickers to the tele. The line is frequently crossed though. For instance, Brussel Sproutstien (not sure of the spelling here) uses tele's.

The fixed bridge allows double whole note bends while staying intune. Don't try this with a tremelo setup!

These are just a few things, hope it helps!

Rob






[This message has been edited by RJC (edited 05-17-2003).]

Jean,
When you decide to go electric you'll want to go Tele. That's going to give you more of the the sound, without much manipulation, that you will probably be looking for.

------------------
DakLander

Thanks Dak, I already have the standard Strat. I just wondered what the difference was .

Hiya Joe!
Say thanks for that link. Really neat. I'm OK, trying to stay on top of things, but not quite making it, LOL. I got a standard strat with midi a while back, but I keep running back to the old familiar. I need to take my Taylor in to get the top 3 frets replaced so I need to get busy with the Fender and be able to play it while the Taylor is in the shop. Thanks again.

Hi, Rob! Yes, that answers the questions. So now on to more:
The switches.

What does out of phase mean?

Does chorus mean it sounds like more than one guitar is playing.

When should I use the different switch positions.

And when you say bend, do you mean bending the string with my fingers? And why can't I do that with the strat? Am I supposed to use the tremelo to bend them instead?

Thanks!

JeanB

Hi Jean,

I'll start with phase. The speaker cone moves out and back in. That's how it moves air to make sound. When you use two pickups, the vibrations from the string reach the speaker cone at different times, one signal sends the speaker out while the other signal leaves it at rest. The two signals are out of phase with each other.

On the strat, this means some of the vibrations of the guitar get cancelled out, the "out" speaker signal of one pickup is cancelled by the "in" signal of the other pickup. The vibrations that are left produce an interesting tone that rings satisfyingly.

I'm off to church then to the JPF meeting, so I'll leave your other questions for other folks or other times.

All the Best,
Mike

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Mike Dunbar Music

[This message has been edited by Mike Dunbar (edited 05-18-2003).]

Hi Jean,

"Does chorus mean it sounds like more than one guitar is playing."

Kind of, but a little different, best thing to do is to try all the positions and hear the differences, here are my perspectives on them, YMMV. The reference to "chours" was in the hopes that you had, or had heard the popular stomp box effect, "chorus". If not, your conception of it from your post is close!

One way to think of the various pickup positions is each pickup is it's own EQ of the guitar sound. The "neck" position has more bass in it. The "neck" and "middle" out of phase position is a warm chorus kind of sound. The "middle" is full of the mid frequencies. The "middle" and "bridge" out of phase position is a brighter chorus sound and the "bridge" position is real bright.

Often times guitarist's will use the neck position for a big warm blend with everything else sound. The "neck" "bridge" combo for a sweet warm sound. The middle position for solo work and the next out of phase position for a bright sweet sound and finally the "bridge" position to cut through the mix like a chain saw! These are strictly generalities and are often done differently.

Of interest, you can acoustically replicate these sounds by strumming real close to the bridge, hear how it's bright? Now strum over the middle pickup and hear how it's warmer? Lastly strum up by the neck and you can hear how it's darker. The same holds true for a acoustic guitar.

"When should I use the different switch positions."

It's a taste thing that you develope with time. Here's a launching point.

"Neck" position: When you want to blend in with other instruments, as opposed to sticking out of the mix. When you want to aproximate a "humbucker" sound. Jazz.

"Neck" and "middle" out of phase. When you want to have a warm, not to out front, sound that blends well. Also a good position if you want a darker sound that doesn't compete with the bass in the sonic sound scape.

"Middle" When you want a full frequency out front sound like soloing. Using the middle pickup during vocal passages will sometimes cloud the mid frequency range of the audio spectrum The mids are where 75% of the song frequencies are, hince it's good to use whilst soloing as you're not competing/covering up the vocal.

"Middle" and "bridge" out of phase. When you want a brighter shimmery kind of sound.

"Bridge" position. when you want a very bright, cuts through the mix sound.

"And when you say bend, do you mean bending the string with my fingers? And why can't I do that with the strat? Am I supposed to use the tremelo to bend them instead?"

Let me clarify this. If you take the cover off the back of the guitar, you will see that the tremelo mechanism is three springs connected to the guitar on one end and to a "fulcrum" on the tremelo apparatus. If you bend one string with your finger, you in effect increase the tention on the springs which in turn pulls the fulcrum a little tighter thus "flating" the other strings a tad. Not noticeable if just that string is being played. In "chicken pickin", players often mimic pedal steel licks that have one or two strings bending over other strings that are sustaing a note. This is where the problem is. If you do a double whole note bend, (two strings bend up a whole note.), while one or more of the other strings are sustaining a note, the sustained notes will noticably flat making the whole "moving" chord go out of tune. Some strat players "block" the tremelo with a piece of wood to give a "fixed" bridge approximation while others put on an additional spring or two to the tremelo which minimizes the problem.Better have popeye fore arms for this one! But most don't do double whole note bends while sustaining other notes! You probably don't need to worry about it! Also of interest, if you break a string, suddenly five strings instead of six are pulling on the springs, this flats the guitar and you are no longer in tune whith the rest of the band. Best to go into air guitar mode or grab a spare if gigging. An alternative that I like to use is continue playing proudly while giving the second guitarist's dirty looks. This will imply to the other band mates and audience that HE is the reason the band sounds like poo poo.

Rob





[This message has been edited by RJC (edited 05-18-2003).]

[This message has been edited by RJC (edited 05-18-2003).]

[This message has been edited by RJC (edited 05-18-2003).]

Thanks, Mike and Rob! I'll print this out and use it as a guide this coming Memorial Day weekend.

I do notice the difference in neck, middle and bridge on the acoustic and classical.
So that will be a great help to me in relating it to the electric.

Rob, lol. I have to get a second guitarist before I use that tip. Although I suspect I have done that to other vocalists. That's the great thing about singing with groups. No one knows who was off key.

JeanB

[This message has been edited by AKA JeanB (edited 05-19-2003).]

Here's how a chorus effect works: it takes the signal (your guitar), electronically doubles it, and slightly offsets the second guitar signal by a few milliseconds. The output of the chorus effect blends the original dry signal, and the second slightly-delayed signal theoretically fattening it. The delay time is typically so fast, that you don't hear it as a delay. Most simple chorus effect pedals allow you to control the volume of the delayed signal (adding more of it makes a fatter sound). More advanced chorus effects allow you to control the delayed, altered signal, allowing depth, speed, feedback and shape controls.

Fun stuff.
I'd recommend going to one of the larger guitar stores, and trying out the effects so you can hear them first hand. Many of the larger stores I've been in have lots of various stomp boxes setup for just this thing.

Let me take a stab at the "bend thing". You can bend strings on any stringed instrument. Period. What you hear however, may not be musically pleasing.

What Rob was referring to happens with vibrato bridges. On these bridges, the strings are tuned by tension. YOu have to keep going back and forth between them to get them tuned, because different tension on the string pulling at the spring stretches it, then everythign else goes out of tune.

So when you use your fingers to bend two strings (say one going up a whole step and the other a half step), the tension on the springs increases, they stretch slightly, and the remaining strings sound a little flat. With a fixed bridge (no springs) you don't have this problem.

Makes sense??

Hi Jean B

Just to throw a wrench in the works the Nashville Tele has a strat pickup sandwiched between the two tele pick-ups, and the switching is like a strat.

However the burning question I have is: What is the difference between “AKA JeanB” and “JeanB”? and is there a website that explains that? I do hope so!

Cheers

Nige

I thought it was because JeanB exceeded her post limit and didn't want to pay the renewal fee :-)

Jean... we'll make you the next Jimi Hendrix if it kills us!
The folks at church won't know what to think!

Honestly, to make it simple... the pick-up types, phase switch, and the body styles effect the tone of the sound. Your strat *should* be able to pick up most any sound you might desire, yet the Telecaster will normally be a brighter/shriller sounding guitar. I'd suggest simply plugging it in and playing around with every switch possible, along with the gain control on your amp, to discover all the ways it can sound. It's almost endless...but it won't sound like your Taylor.
Wow... we gotta get you into string bending! That Strat is sitting there aching to have it's slinky lil' strings stretched into oblivion! Some heavy gospel blues awaits your discovery.
Have fun! I'm certain another player in your JPF Chapter would LOVE to show you all about it.
-Gary

Hi, Tom, Nige, and Gary!

Say, thanks for all the support on this matter. It's a real help. I occasionally bend the strings on my Taylor and I used to do that on my classical Hirade, but I am glad to know not to do that on my strat.

I promise I will put all this good information to use. I have played my strat a few times in my classes at school and all the little kids thought it was cool to see old Ms. Jean play an electric. They of course played their air guitars and we rocked . Playing church songs. LOL.

Re: AKA JeanB. The title Lord of this Board follows me around and people don't understand that I am only Lord of the OC forum and that my opinion carries no more weight than anyone else's. Some people don't understand that it's a title that means moderator and not what I think of myself. LOL. But I didn't want to make people think I was pretending to be someone else either, so voila the AKA.

And that's most of the story

Thanks, Guys!

PS: Hmmm, asking a certain person in my chapter is a good idea. You have given me a great idea for a workshop. Coooool !

[This message has been edited by AKA JeanB (edited 05-20-2003).]

Hmmm... Lord isn't really a proper title for a female anyway, not to be sexist, but maybe we should take this up with Brian??

Perhaps "Bard of the Board" would be better?? Bard is more generic and non-sexist.

Brian is already Bard of the Board.

Rob,

You're absolutely wrong on the Tele switching system. Here is the configuration

Forward: Neck pickup with Capacitor
Middle: Neck pickup
Rear: Bridge pickup

Gazoo

Hi Gazoo,

Just went to the Fender site to verify

http://www.fender.com/gear/gear.php?partno=0118400

Seems I'm absolutely correct! There have been many variations of the pick up wiring/switching over the years, so you may also be correct for a specific year/model. Not sure, in any case, this is just a general over view and not a comprehensive definitive answer!

Rob

Hey JeanB

when you are ready to get a new guitar look at the Fender Strats with the Lace Sensor active pickups (Buddy Guy signature model and maybe the eric clapton one) -will give you the classic strat sounds and damn near close to the Tele too (sounds very close to my '52 Butterscotch Tele reissue). Everybody who plays it falls in love with it and wants to buy it from me!

Bob

LOL, right after I get the new Taylor. Can't anyone make an electric guitar that isn't so darn heavy? I still can't used to holding the thing. It's like a rock. A big heavy flat rock. Shale probably.

JeanB

hey Jean-- thats why I do a lot of my playing sitting down Try the Parker Fly---really light but nice electric guitars! Or do some weight lifting


see http://www.parkerguitars.com/

bob

FYI Our guitars are a pleasure to hold and use. By carefully redesigning every single part of the Fly guitar, we've managed to reduce the weight of the guitar to an unheard-of 3 1/2 to 5 lbs !!!!

[This message has been edited by Bluelizardman (edited 07-09-2003).]

Hi, Blue! Thanks.

I took the parker tour. Cool! I got diverted from the weight of the guitar to the frets though.

The thing about frets wearing out. That is so true. I need to have my top three frets replaced on my Taylor. And I have had to have a classical filed down because of it.
Interesting. I will keep my eyes open for the Parker guitar and try one out.

JeanB

Here is another cool discussion I enjoyed.

Fender used to make a hollow body Tele that was very light. I don't know if they still sell them.

Use a wide guitar strap. They distribute the weight over a greater area. You'd be surprised how much of a difference that can make.

I think they have a new version of that now. I saw it on the Fender site the other day.

You can still get the f-hole teles, they are called the Thinlines. Also, telecasters are typically made with either ash or alder bodies. The alder bodies are usually quite a bit lighter than the ash bodies.

If having a light electric guitar is a bigger issue, you should look into the Danelectro remakes. They are much better quality than the originals and you'd really wow the kids in school with the cool look.

http://www.danelectro.com/guitars1.htm

Thanks Jack and Tom. Tom those guitars do look pretty cool. The price doesn't look too bad. What about the sound quality. Are they as good as Fenders?

Rumor has it that Jimmy Page used one of the original Dan Electros for the solo in Stairway to Heaven. They are "different" sounding due to the lipstick pickups. I think a little warmer and spankier than the Fender. It used to be that each Dan Electro had it's own unique sound, since the pickups were originally hand wound. Now the new ones are more uniform in tone being mass produced. You might find one in a local music shop and give it an AB comparison with the Fenders. It's a very different beast. I like them, but I have odd desires.

I cannot say whether he used the Dan Electro on Stairway to Heaven on the album, but he definitely had a Dan Electro he pulled out in concert a few times. I am pretty sure in the Video of Stairway to Heaven from a live concert that I've seen he played the double neck Gibson.

I'm pretty sure Jimmy played a tele on "Stairway" He used to use the Danelectro on songs that had that "Middle Eastern" tuning like "Kashmir"and "Black Mountain Side"

According to Wikipedia Jimmy indeed played "Stairway" on a 58' Tele.

For Jean's benefit, anyone else ever have or play a Dan Electro that wants to make comments about them? I've had probably about 6 over the years, and some were fantastic, and some were crappy. But that was all back before the newer reissues. I haven't owned any of the new ones, but I know they are much more sturdy than the originals.