Why the Telecaster?

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 6 May 2004 5:10 am

Why the Tele?

SPANK!

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

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Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 6 May 2004 7:44 am

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

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[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 · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 6 May 2004 7:55 am

Cool shot Herb

Mucho gusto!

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 6 May 2004 11:23 am

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 · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 6 May 2004 11:30 am

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 · Post by **Tony Prior** » 6 May 2004 1:33 pm

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 · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 7 May 2004 7:09 am

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

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

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 7 May 2004 8:47 am

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 · Post by **David Mason** » 7 May 2004 9:33 pm

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 · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 8 May 2004 2:30 am

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

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www.gregertsen.com

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

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 8 May 2004 8:43 am

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 · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 8 May 2004 9:10 am

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

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www.gregertsen.com

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 8 May 2004 11:31 am

Roy Nichols

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

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 9 May 2004 5:36 am

Do you mean that all we had to write was 'Roy Nichols'?

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 9 May 2004 7:20 am

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 12 May 2004 6:22 pm

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 · Post by **Tony Prior** » 13 May 2004 3:40 am

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 · Post by **Jerry Clardy** » 13 May 2004 8:39 am

Why the Telecaster?

Why not, the Telecaster?

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 13 May 2004 1:23 pm

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 · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 14 May 2004 1:33 pm

Amen, Earl.......JH

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

Chris Scruggs · Post by **Chris Scruggs** » 17 May 2004 10:13 pm

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 · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 18 May 2004 2:22 am

Roy Nichols!

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

)

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 18 May 2004 4:51 am

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 · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 18 May 2004 7:48 am

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.)

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 28 Jun 2004 4:37 am

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

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