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  Why the Telecaster? (Page 2)

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Author Topic:   Why the Telecaster?
David L. Donald
Member

From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

posted 02 May 2004 03:58 AM     profile     
I haven't tried the Variax, but I have tried the Line6 amps and use the Protools Ampfarm plug-ins ALL the time. Couldn't live without them.

I would have gotten the Line6 tube amp, but it is 3000€ over here, just ridiculous, but a great sounding unit.

The Variax is for those needing 20 different guitars in one package, I can identify with that.
Will it be a purist Tele; no,
will it be a very cool unit for what it does, which is a lot ; most likely yes.

Piney Woods
Member

From: Lawrence, KS, USA

posted 02 May 2004 09:33 AM     profile     
R.E. Variax replacing Teles, etc.
I remember back in the 80s when electronic drums were going to make "real" drums obsolete.
The Variax is probably a great tool, but I think humans have too great a tendency to proclaim that every new thing makes every old thing it was designed to replace obsolete.I run a used & new record store and we sell more vinyl every year.Every good thing has it's place.Or,to paraphrase Johnny Horton, very little difference between the two but hooray for that little difference!

[This message was edited by Piney Woods on 02 May 2004 at 09:33 AM.]

Stephen Gambrell
Member

From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA

posted 02 May 2004 05:09 PM     profile     
A wise man once told me,"Son, if you want a yo-yo, get a Duncan."

Steve Gambrell
Fender Telecaster(s)
Emmons push-pull
'55 Martin D-28
'67 Martin D-18
Some amps
Some Gibsons
some more stuff
Jerry Hayes
Member

From: Virginia Beach, Va.

posted 03 May 2004 05:32 AM     profile     
At this moment I've got 4 Telecasters in various pickup configurations and they're all great. Most of my professional (full time) career I played a Gibson but I always had a Tele on the bandstand as you can't duplicate that sound on anything. The sound of an old Tele through a Fender tube amp is something that can't be duplicated by Line 6 or whoever. I don't care how close it might come, maybe it's a mental thing with me but I don't want no "Fake Twang".... I want the real thing......Have a good 'un, JH

------------------
Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.


Rick McDuffie
Member

From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA

posted 05 May 2004 09:39 AM     profile     
Why the Strat?
Andy Volk
Member

From: Boston, MA

posted 05 May 2004 01:22 PM     profile     
Why the Tele? Um ....

In no particular order:

Jimmy Bryant
Roy Nichols
Luther Perkins
Danny Gatton
Albert Collins
Roy Buchanan
Amos Garrett
Ed Bickert
Ray Benson
Albert Lee
Arlen Roth
Jim Caplilongo
Joe Dalton
James Burton
Steve Cropper
Jerry Donahue
Mike Stern
Clarence White
John Jorganson

I could go on.

Tony Prior
Member

From: Charlotte NC

posted 05 May 2004 03:01 PM     profile     
Red Volkaert
Brad Paisley
Brent Mason
Merle Haggard
Don Rich
Robben Ford
Mike Stern
Steve Wariner
James Mitchell
John Jorgenson
Jason Jordan
Keith Urban..who's he ?
Ray Flacke
Andy Sommers
Albert Lee


and on and on and on..

oh and don't forget me and the crew I hang with..

Jimmy Garret
Sonny Falls
Matt Cook
T Prior ( geek )
Woody Mitchell

Who are those other guys ? Just a few more Tele' geeks I suppose..

t

CrowBear Schmitt
Member

From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

posted 05 May 2004 04:06 PM     profile     
Buck Owens
Robbie Robertson
Muddy Waters
Jeff Beck
Danny Weiss
Jesse Ed Davis
Bruce Springsteen
Cornell Dupree
Rick McDuffie
Member

From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA

posted 05 May 2004 04:47 PM     profile     
Umm...

Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck
Mark Knopfler
SRV
Jimi

Jerry Hayes
Member

From: Virginia Beach, Va.

posted 06 May 2004 04:34 AM     profile     
And there ain't no "Fake Twang" among the lot of 'em.........JH

------------------
Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.


John McGann
Member

From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

posted 06 May 2004 06:10 AM     profile     
Why the Tele?


SPANK!

(not you; the sound of the SPANK with the strings passing thru the body and the steel bridge pickup assembly!)

------------------
http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff.


Herb Steiner
Member

From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX

posted 06 May 2004 08:44 AM     profile     

Left to right: Boomer Norman, yours truly, David Biller, Paul Skelton, Bill Kirchen

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association


[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 06 May 2004 at 08:46 AM.]

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 08 May 2004 at 11:41 AM.]

Rick McDuffie
Member

From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA

posted 06 May 2004 08:55 AM     profile     
Cool shot Herb

Mucho gusto!

Stephen Gambrell
Member

From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA

posted 06 May 2004 12:23 PM     profile     
Rick---NEVER MIND THE STRAT, GET YOURSELF A HAT!!

And Herb, I bet a guy named "Boomer Norman" can peel strings off a Tele.

Mike Perlowin
Member

From: Los Angeles CA

posted 06 May 2004 12:30 PM     profile     
quote:
And there ain't no "Fake Twang"....

Every time a new idea comes along, it is met with resistance. They lauged at the Wright Brothers fo thinking they could build a machine that coud fly. Columbus was considered a fool for suggesting that the Earth was round. Gallalao was put in prison for saying that the earth revolved around the sun instead of vice versa.

There is nothing fake of gimmicky about the Variax. The guitar is real. The sounds are real. And that fact that people used other kinds of guitars prior to it's invention is irrelivant.

Jerry, I hear your skepticism. To be honest. I was skeptical myself until I had a chance to sit down with one and put it through all it's paces.

All I can say is try one out and see for yourself. Knowing you as I do, I think that once you actually hear one of these guitars are realize what they can do, and just how good they sound, you'll change your mind.

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 06 May 2004 at 01:27 PM.]

Tony Prior
Member

From: Charlotte NC

posted 06 May 2004 02:33 PM     profile     
Mike, I don't think anyone is doubting the value and playability of the Variax guitar..I have heard very good things about them..

Playing a Tele' is not just playing guitar..it's a way of life...

I am going to check out the variax guitars and maybe someday I may choose to acquire one..but it would not..no..make that never be to replace one of my Tele's..

and you are wright..I mean right..the Wright brothers invented an airplane..and now we have 707E's or something like that..gone to the Moon ..fly around in Shuttles etc..but in the guitar world..a 6 string fine playing Tele' with an awesome piece of wood is still revered ,respected and capable of playing any song that anyone could desire...

The early airplanes cannot hold a candle to todays modern flight machines..not so in the guitar world..it was a good try though !

t

Jerry Hayes
Member

From: Virginia Beach, Va.

posted 07 May 2004 08:09 AM     profile     
Mike,
I could probably get into one of these guitars if I was doing any studio work as I can see how handy it would really be. I haven't done but a couple of sessions since I left LA and moved to Virginia. I do all live gigs now and sometimes take 3 or 4 different guitars to the gig which all have their own unique sound. I think it's more of a show thing for the audience to have multiple instruments. I've been told by folks in the audience how much they like my guitars and the different sounds of each one. I think in a live situation it'd take something away by doing everything on one guitar. I know it'd be a lot easier on me but I like that feel of a Tele with the uncomfortable part where your arm lays on it and the Strat with the comfortable body contours and the old Ibanez Artist with that damn weight and sustain. They all sound different but they all "feel" different which is why I like 'em. I never play slide on my Tele's even when the tune might call for it but on the Ibanez or the Strat it's natural. On the Variax no matter what it sounded like, it would still "feel" the same. Have a great day and I'll talk to ya later down the line...JH

------------------
Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.


Steinar Gregertsen
Member

From: Arendal, Norway

posted 07 May 2004 09:47 AM     profile     
I have to agree with Jerry about the 'feel' factor. My playing change going from a Tele to a Les Paul, not only because of the sound but also because of the totally different feel of the two guitars.
However,- I might very well invest in a Variax, in fact I've been close to buying one several times, because I do a lot of recording and having such a huge palette of sounds available would be great.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com


David Mason
Member

From: Cambridge, MD, USA

posted 07 May 2004 10:33 PM     profile     
In the Guitar Player magazine review of the Variax, several big name players were asked their opinion. Steve Morse (who is no slouch when it comes to tone variation) and a few others mentioned the underlying "piezo" tonal nature of all the different variants available on the Variax. That alone gives me the willies, as I consider the "piezofication" of acoustic guitar tone to be a grave mistake. People got used to that twanky, compressed, awful plastic tone because it is admittedly easier to control on stage, and now they think it's the "right" tone for recording too. It's even struck the bluegrass bands on the Opry - the fiddle, mandolin and dobro players will all be miked, and the piezo-powered guitar player will sound like he's playing inside of a tin can. Of course a chip can "model" the sound of a string sampled six inches from the bridge by a pickup, but something is lost in the traslation, just as something is lost trying to duplicate tube amp tone. I think today's hit records already sound rather sterile and dead, and it's not going to ne helped when everyone's playing a Variax through a modeling amp.
Steinar Gregertsen
Member

From: Arendal, Norway

posted 08 May 2004 03:30 AM     profile     
David,- you are talking about the new 'acoustic' Variax, aren't you? In that case I agree, I can't stand the 'piezo' sound and always record my acoustics with decent microphones, and the demo I've heard of it absolutely sounded very 'piezo' to me.
If you're refering to the original, electric model, then I don't quite understand.. How can a Les Paul, Strat or jazz-box modelling sound 'piezo'?

Steinar


------------------
www.gregertsen.com


[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 08 May 2004 at 03:32 AM.]

Mike Perlowin
Member

From: Los Angeles CA

posted 08 May 2004 09:43 AM     profile     
Stienar, he was talking about the acoustic guitar sounds on the original. There are 5 acoustic models. A D-28, a parlor guitar, a Gibson J-200, and a couple of 12 strings.

I agree, nothing duplicates or beats the sound of a good acoustic played into a mike, but as el/ac guitars go, I like the J-200 sound in the Variax more than the sound of my real el/ac. My guitar has new 2.0 software which seems to be aimed improving the acoustic sounds.

However, I am very interested in this guitar from Germany.

http://www.vogel-guitars.com/

I saw them at NAMM and was very impressed, but the din in the room was so loud I couldn't hear what they sounded like.

Steinar Gregertsen
Member

From: Arendal, Norway

posted 08 May 2004 10:10 AM     profile     
What? Another Vogel Guitars company?
I just bougth a lap steel from Vogel Guitars......... in Ecuador (led by Bob Vogel). http://www.vogelguitars.com/index_i.html

Steinar

------------------
www.gregertsen.com


Charles French
Member

From: Ms.

posted 08 May 2004 12:31 PM     profile     
Roy Nichols

Nuff Said

[This message was edited by Charles French on 08 May 2004 at 12:35 PM.]

Roger Rettig
Member

From: NAPLES, FL

posted 09 May 2004 06:36 AM     profile     
Do you mean that all we had to write was 'Roy Nichols'?

Charles French
Member

From: Ms.

posted 09 May 2004 08:20 AM     profile     
yep
Jennings Ward
Member

From: Edgewater, Florida, USA

posted 12 May 2004 07:22 PM     profile     
In the begenning, Tele was by far the cheaper guitar. MOst every one played arch/top style gits.. Tele sold cheaper then a Strat, My Strat cost me 218.00 in 1956, inc . tweed case& strap& cord// Tele was 30.00 cheaper. I ordered Tele , redc . strat. paid difference and have been pleased with the strat since..Dont get me wrong I love teles also, good sound. My stage equip. was a 56 Strat. Gibson 40 amp. and Gretch flat wounds. 10 to 50. Middle pick up gpt mpst of the work.... No doubt about it, both in good shape are great ax's . they both have their places,,,,It relly dont matter to me which I Play.....Jennings Ward.............
Tony Prior
Member

From: Charlotte NC

posted 13 May 2004 04:40 AM     profile     
I did go and play the Variax guitar thru a Line 6 modeling amp..It was ok, not bad, pretty good,cool,..etc...Neat sounds..too many in my view..

but..

It didn't feel like my Tele's and I didn't play the same on it. The bridge and Rosewood neck feel was not comparible to me Tele's bridge and one piece Maple neck.

Resting the right hand over the very distinct Tele' string thru bridge assy cannot be replaced. Unless of course it's replaced by yet another Tele' !

t

Jerry Clardy
Member

From: El Paso, Texas, USA

posted 13 May 2004 09:39 AM     profile     
quote:
Why the Telecaster?

Why not, the Telecaster?
Earl Erb
Member

From: Old Hickory Tenn

posted 13 May 2004 02:23 PM     profile     
My tenure as a guitar player,roughly 48 years,I grew up on Gretsch,Gibson,and Fender guitars.The only guitar I play now is a Tele.Frankly,its the only guitar that doesn't bore me.
Jerry Hayes
Member

From: Virginia Beach, Va.

posted 14 May 2004 02:33 PM     profile     
Amen, Earl.......JH

------------------
Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.


Chris Scruggs
Member

From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

posted 17 May 2004 11:13 PM     profile     
Rick Schmidt,

Telecasters AND Stratocasters are both 25 1/2" scale. The only shortscale non-student Fender guitar is the Jaguar, which is 24".

But I still prefer Tele's. I don't like the angle my right arm takes against the contoured body, and I always bump into the volume knob with my pick. I also miss the sound of the brigde and neck pickup together, and I can't STAND the quacky out of phase Strat stuff.

CS

Roger Rettig
Member

From: NAPLES, FL

posted 18 May 2004 03:22 AM     profile     
Roy Nichols!

(I just thought I'd try it and see what happens.....

)

Stephen Gambrell
Member

From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA

posted 18 May 2004 05:51 AM     profile     
How much "classic country" was cut with Gibson Hollowbodies? Remember that D'Angelico that Chet had? Remember those GRETSCHES??? Don't get me wrong, I'm a twanger, too (2 Tele's and counting), but what were Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Leon Rhodes, and them other early session guys playing?
BTW, uh, ROY NICHOLS!!
Ernie Renn
Member

From: Brainerd, Minnesota USA

posted 18 May 2004 08:48 AM     profile     
I got my first one in 1968 and except for a couple of days (after it was stolen in 1979,) I have owned at least one Tele the whole time. I don't feel comfortable playing them and consequentially have never owned a Les Paul or a Strat. I do have a Squier Tele for around the house.

It's a plain and simple thing. Twangy lead pickup, rhythm pickup, switch to go between pickups, volume and tone.

My Dad told me that the more basic you keep it, the less there is to go wrong. (This is also true with every solo I have ever taken.)

------------------
My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

John Floyd
Member

From: Somewhere between Camden County , NC and Saluda S.C.

posted 28 June 2004 05:37 AM     profile     
Just found this thread, after being offline for a while and decided to add my 2 cents.

Surprised that nobody mentioned the G&L ASAT, Leo's final version of the Telecaster and in Particular the ASAT Special. Leo's genius produced better Telecasters than Fender with more bite and twang on the bridge pickup and switch to the neck pickup and there is a beautiful clean tone. I own one of these guitars and I am fascinated with it as does Mike Johnson who is in the BAnd "Timeless Highway" with Tommy Dodd out of Atlanta. Mike is a monster, basically unknown, player, who works his G&L ASAT Special hard, as well as any Well known player I've ever seen. Great Picker who can do it all.

John

------------------
The Southern Steel Guitar Convention at Saluda, SC Since 1987

For informstion on the Shriners Childrens Hospitals, go to:
http://www.shrinershq.org/hospitals/geninfo.html

[This message was edited by John Floyd on 28 June 2004 at 05:40 AM.]

Andy Zynda
Member

From: Wisconsin

posted 28 June 2004 06:53 AM     profile     
Why the Tele?
Why the Stradavarius?!?!?

Danny Gatton called the Telecaster the Stradavarius of electric guitars.
He was and is right. And, the older, the better, generally speaking.

I like Strats, but I have to mod mine with the Blender-Pot, mod, so I can get a good Tele sound when I need it.

What you CANT do with only two pickups, (tele) is get the Strat out-of-phase, 2 & 4 pickup selector positions.

Tele and Strat. G&L ASAT, S-500 and Comanche.
All made by the greatest guitar and amp builder that ever walked the planet.
God rest you and bless you, Leo Fender.
2 cents
-andy-

Toby Rider
Member

From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

posted 28 June 2004 01:40 PM     profile     
Here's a few of my Teles:


PS: Please don't pick fun on my lame-o volume pedal, I can't afford a good one yet :-)

[This message was edited by Toby Rider on 28 June 2004 at 01:45 PM.]


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