Bassists who are also into guitar...tele-stratocaster?

KayXero · #1 12-14-2010, 11:31 AM

This is a question for those here who also play guitar. I chose to open this thread here because I did not wanna run to a guitar forum and feel like a noob.

Either way I have been very into guitar lately, due to my being a huge john mayer fan. I just bought my first strat style guitar and dig the tone and feel. However my best friend has a tele and its sounds so dang clear and twangy. I was thinking this had to do with the bridge pup in that metal frame. (correct me if im wrong though)

Now, from my experience, in terms of popularity and where they stand in music....Stratocaster is to P bass(numero uno), as Telecaster is to J bass(numero dos). These two basses and guitars being the top figure heads of fender in each market, if not the whole bass and guitar world. We have a PJ bass already, and I wish there was a fender Tele Strat combo being made. Esp considering I never see anyone really use the strat bridge pickup and I dislike the bridge pup a bit myself on those that ive tried.

I was thinking of taking a start body, giving it a nice smooth tele neck. And replacing the bridge pickup with a tele assembly.

What I ask of you is would you like that idea, or are you more partial to the tele neck pup?

And because of the tele bridge pup having that metal frame, I would def lose my tremolo wouldnt I ?

guroove · #2 12-14-2010, 12:04 PM

I always thought that the tele's sounded nastier because they had the solid bridge sans tremolo. That bridge pickup is definitely the source of the signature twang. It's funny, I've often thought of the analogy the other way around, because the tele and the P came first, and the J and the strat were thought to be improvements on the original designs.

MonetBass · #3 12-14-2010, 01:08 PM

The Tele sound has more to do with pickup placement than anything else. And +1 to what guroove said; I'm a Jazz and Strat guy, mainly because both of those instruments are more versatile than the Precision and Tele (IMO).

Din Of Win · #4 12-14-2010, 01:11 PM

I also love Fender guitars... but morseo the weird ones...

Jazzmasters, Jags, and Mustangs are my faves.

But of the two mainstays... i preffer the Tele to the Strat.

5StringBlues · #5 12-14-2010, 01:12 PM

A good Tele,in the right hands,is a beautiful thing.

M0ses · #6 12-14-2010, 01:14 PM

Definitely think that that P - Tele and J - Strat makes more sense. J and Strat have more pickups. Tele and P came first, and can be both more traditional but also totally tear it up.

Meyatch · #7 12-14-2010, 01:16 PM

1951 P bass - Telecaster
1957 P bass - Strat
Jazz bass - Jazzmaster

electracoyote · #8 12-14-2010, 01:21 PM

I prefer Teles to Strats. I'm not a fan of three-pickup guitars, they impede my picking style. Teles feel ergonomically better to me as well.

Crunktacular · #9 12-14-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayXero

What I ask of you is would you like that idea, or are you more partial to the tele neck pup?

Only you should decide these types of things. Do not base your decision on what someone else likes. Base it on what sounds good to your ears. Research video clips of various pickup configs\manufacturers and figure out what you like.

Also keep in mind that the sound you like now will probably change in a few years. You want to get something with a good resale value so you can move on to the next guitar without too much money out of your pocket. (I made this mistake.

) Buy used if possible...

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayXero

And because of the tele bridge pup having that metal frame, I would def lose my tremolo wouldnt I ?

I think you can get a Bigsby added to a Tele, if I'm not mistaken. I've seen it in pics somewhere...

MysticMichael · #10 12-14-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayXero

What I ask of you is would you like that idea, or are you more partial to the tele neck pup?

No, I would not like that idea. If I were way into Fender guitars, I would much prefer to get one of each - a Telecaster and a Stratocaster - rather than trying to combine the best of both instruments into one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guroove

It's funny, I've often thought of the analogy the other way around, because the tele and the P came first, and the J and the strat were thought to be improvements on the original designs.

I agree: It makes much more intuitive sense to conceive of "Precision Bass is to the Telecaster as the Jazz Bass is to the Stratocaster" in terms of design & function - rather than to think of them solely in terms of their overall sales figures (thereby assuming popularity)...

MM

Scottpro1969 · #11 12-14-2010, 01:27 PM

the Tele also has a wider fingerboard, which is much better for those of us big hand, fat finger bassists.

essentre · #12 12-14-2010, 01:29 PM

I really don't have much to add to the thread but I love playing guitar just as much as bass. I'm a Les Paul guy though

bassist4dalord · #13 12-14-2010, 01:30 PM

If I played electric, it'd be a Strat. I love the sound of a Strat through a good tube amp

vicvarado · #14 12-14-2010, 01:33 PM

A Nashville Tele has a Strat pickup inbetween the regular Tele pickups. I've heard one at a show before, sounded like one or the other at times. Mostly the Tele though. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, but there's an option I think.

Rockmusician · #15 12-14-2010, 01:39 PM

I love Fender basses but I do not like Strats. I prefer Gibson Les Pauls. I like the sound better and I have an easier time playing them. I think its because the neck is fatter than on a Strat and I am used to a larger neck on the bass.

plangentmusic · #16 12-14-2010, 01:40 PM

I think what the OP will wind up with will be neither fish, nor fowl. Many things make up the Tele sound, including the body shape. Stats are more versatile. I wouldn't mess with it.

Or...the Squier CV strats and tels are pretty, pretty nice! For the cost of all the mixing and matching, you can have both.

CTbass613 · #17 12-14-2010, 01:42 PM

Check oyut the nashville telecaster...that would be the blend of the two...they do a few different models the B bender is the american version, and then they have the nashville tele at the mexican level, its a tele with a strat pickup thrown in the middle position.

AntekStalich · #18 12-14-2010, 01:53 PM

KayXero, please do not make the Monstratcaster. It will not work, trust my word.

Telecaster is very special guitar, for true lovers of that guitar, only. You will get wonderful "twang!" on the clean channel, and not more than pleasant light overdrive (crunch) on the overdriven channel.

1. Neck - you'll find variety of neck, from lumpy ones (U shape), vintage C (lumpy), modern C (convenient).

2. Fretboard. Classic Telecaster has no fretboard - the fret-wire is mounted directly on the neck. Modern Teles have a freatboard.
The radius is critical. Classic 7.25" is round. I find it hard to play. Modern radiuses are 9.5" (like in most of Strats), or even flatter (12") - better for fast soloing.

3. Body. Remember, we are talking on VERY HEAVY lump of flat wood. Ash bodies give wonderful tone, but are extremely heavy. Tele has no tummy-cut, so players with large belly will experience problems ;-)

4. Pickups. The neck pup is for muddy, dark tone, good for jazz, also some blues. The bridge pup is the key. Telecaster bridge pup is unlike any other. It has special construction, is large, has special distance between magnet poles, and is mounted on a skew. Tele pups are Tele pups and cannot be replaced with anything else. Yes, you can buy "noiseless" Tele pickups, Hot-Rails (which is special humbucker), etc, but the pickup format is Tele. You cannot replace Tele pups with other pups. Tele pups are another factor giving the "twang!" tone.

5. Bridge. You have noticed properly. The bridge (fixed bridge, not tremolo!) made of steel plate is what mostly contributes to Tele tone. Notice that the bridge has oval cut for the pickup.
And now we have come to the worst: 3-saddle or 6-saddle bridge? The 3-saddle bridge is the most responsible for "twang!". This is because with such saddle it is not possible to set proper intonation for pairs of strings: E-B, G-D, A-E. The 6-saddle bridge allows precise intonation, less of Twang!

The fixed bridge plus heavy wood cause one of longest sustains naturally possible.

There are many more funny things with Tele - like the truss-rod that you can only access with all strings taken out and the pick-guard also taken out...

There are many Telecaster models - look what is best for you. If you prefer a Strat - go for Strat.

Do not even try mixing these two.
---
EDIT: Nashville Telecaster is one of the most modern models.

AwkwardLoudness · #19 12-14-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayXero

I was thinking of taking a start body, giving it a nice smooth tele neck. And replacing the bridge pickup with a tele assembly.

What do you prefer about the Strat body when you want the twang of the Tele at the bridge? A Strat-shaped body could be custom built with the Tele metal box and 3-part bridge. You wouldn't want to this to an existing strat since there's a cavity for the springs and Strat bridge there already. Teles are solid wood in this location except the narrow holes for the strings. Both Strats and Teles have 25.5" scale...well most of them...and the necks are interchangeable as long the neck pocket fits the neck. There are different neck shapes in terms of thickness, width, and contour, so try to figure out your preference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayXero

What I ask of you is would you like that idea, or are you more partial to the tele neck pup?

The twangy sound isn't my style, but I don't want to discourage you. I personally like the 70's style Telecasters with wide range humbucker pickups rather than the traditional ones. The Jazzmaster is my favorite Fender guitar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayXero

And because of the tele bridge pup having that metal frame, I would def lose my tremolo wouldnt I ?

Yes, you would lose the tremolo if you insisted on using a traditional Tele 3-part bridge. You could put a Tele single coil bridge in a Strat bridge position and hear what happens, but it won't have quite the same twang and spank to it.

There are Tele type guitars available that have the Strat type floating tremolo bridge and the metal around the bridge pickup, but it won't quite be the same sound.

KayXero · #20 12-14-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guroove

I always thought that the tele's sounded nastier because they had the solid bridge sans tremolo. That bridge pickup is definitely the source of the signature twang. It's funny, I've often thought of the analogy the other way around, because the tele and the P came first, and the J and the strat were thought to be improvements on the original designs.

Ive been doing some research and apparently I can still get the fixed bridge and put a trem underneath it. Some teles in the past were like this. The strings instead just went over the metal pup frame and into the trem system underneath obviously. Hmmmm more reading needs to be done.

And about the analogy. You are right about the strat and J bass being the improvements on the first two. I just made my analogy because of the popularity the P bass and strat hold over their brothers, the higher sales figures, and the same body shape.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonetBass

The Tele sound has more to do with pickup placement than anything else. And +1 to what guroove said; I'm a Jazz and Strat guy, mainly because both of those instruments are more versatile than the Precision and Tele (IMO).

more versatile than a P bass special =D?