The perfect solidbody electric guitar:

[Cogswell]

Did Leo Fender beat Gibson by four years? I love my Les Pauls but lately my Telecaster is my go-to guitar. I think the similarities are all there. The differences are, too.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Did Leo Fender beat Gibson by four years?

Yes, but after those four years the Les Paul surpassed the Tele and even the Strat, IMNSHO. :ganz

 

[Daniel James]

:salude Great guitars. I wouldn't say they're the perfect solidbody, personally, but they're definitely up there. Spent some time on a friend's '54 blackguard last week and as far as Teles go they really do eclipse all else. TWANG!

I've got a '73 that's been a real great workhorse (and it's fortunately not a boat anchor). A nice resonant old guitar...but no blackguard.

 

[Three13]

I always enjoy this guy, but my '53/'57 conversion gets all the play these days...

 

[JR.Deluxe]

Univox hi flyer. Hey it was perfect when i was 16.

 

[Nobi]

Did Leo Fender beat Gibson by four years? I love my Les Pauls but lately my Telecaster is my go-to guitar. I think the similarities are all there. The differences are, too.

after getting my Tele a couple months ago i came to the same conclusion.

 

[J T]

Fender? No. JT#001

Harmonic Design pickups, Wilkinson brass bridge RS Vintage electronics.

Tele

 

[J T]

My Fender '75 Tele

 

[yeti]

There is no better guitar than a blackguard Tele. Nothing is as directly tuned in to the players intent and ability. Blackguard tele= no place to hide.
My #1 is not a legit vintage guitar, just a parts guitar but it embodies the best of the blackguards for me.:yah

 

[Elliot Easton]

There are things I can play on a Telecaster that I can't play on any other guitar. I just play them differently, pedal steel licks, 2-string bends, etc. I like to say that you can't tell lies on a Telecaster. You get out of it exactly what you put in.

 

[lpnv59]

What I don't get is when people say you have to fight a Tele and that it is harder to play than other electrics. Personally, Strats are much tougher to deal with. But that fight goes away when I block the trem up. I find a great Tele, set up right, almost plays itself. Blackguards are great too, but I like the different eras just as much. White guards have their nuances. I played a early 60's Custom at the show last year that sounded great. Late 60's w/ maplecap necks have their own thing, and its just as inspiring for me to play one of those as any blackguard I've played on. I really love playing gigs with my '68 Paisley. For the last 5 years, it been my favorite guitar out of all that I own right now. Teles to me are the most expressive electric ever made. More so than any burst I think, which I also love to play. But I play a burst for the fat Gibson sound. I play the Tele for everything else......except for 12 string sounds :teeth

 

[ppgf]

for what i do, a tele or a les paul will get me there with the same ease.

those two guitars are closer than most want to admit.

What I don't get is when people say you have to fight a Tele and that it is harder to play than other electrics. Personally, Strats are much tougher to deal with. But that fight goes away when I block the trem up. I find a great Tele, set up right, almost plays itself. Blackguards are great too, but I like the different eras just as much. White guards have their nuances. I played a early 60's Custom at the show last year that sounded great. Late 60's w/ maplecap necks have their own thing, and its just as inspiring for me to play one of those as any blackguard I've played on. I really love playing gigs with my '68 Paisley. For the last 5 years, it been my favorite guitar out of all that I own right now. Teles to me are the most expressive electric ever made. More so than any burst I think, which I also love to play. But I play a burst for the fat Gibson sound. I play the Tele for everything else......except for 12 string sounds :teeth

 

[Cogswell]

I agree. I think of Teles & Les Pauls as brothers from different mothers

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Strats are much tougher to deal with. But that fight goes away when I block the trem up.

+10, or perhaps 11. :salude

 

[Red Baron]

Teles to me are the most expressive electric ever made.

As much as I love Les Paul's, I have to agree :hank

 

[Aqualung]

I have almost zero playing experience of a Fender, but if/when I try that route I imagine it's a Tele I'd grab first.

But then again, when I hear some Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler or Robert Cray, Strats sound appealing too.........

 

[Cogswell]

That settles it, then. You'll have to get at least one of each

 

[esoteric pete]

for the last 4 years ive played my scott lentz guitars pretty exclusively and they are wonderful guitars with a vast array of tones.

that being said, i have been playing nothing but my R5 and my mutt tele for weeks on end now. i always go back to them, both of those guitars just feel so right and ive always felt the similarities between them as well..

 

[Three13]

That settles it, then. You'll have to get at least one of each

"At least" being the key phrase...

 

[DanD]

That settles it, then. You'll have to get at least one of each

Not so fast. If you were cheap bastard such as I am a Nashville Tele might cover both bases for you.

Mine is wired so the only Strat selection I don't have is the middle pup alone which I never use.

On positions 1, 3, & 5 it's straight up Tele. Positions 2 & 4 are quack heaven. :jim

My next build is looking like a Nashville Tele with Strat ergo top and back routes. Fender did a CS run of those a few years back. I haven't seen one available on the used market since tho. eace2