Stratocaster vs. Telecaster

Those '51s look interesting. I don't think I'd paid them any attention until now. Any idea why they're called '51 though? What's that about?

Not sure, never heard an explanation of the 51 name. It must be said that they are very cheaply made guitars, single ply scratch plate, cheap hardware, characterless pickups etc. so don't expect a "sleeper". People have loved them as modding platforms but despite the great design they feel like a budget Indonesian made guitar.
Neck is very full in the hand, and that plus the satin finish was a winning combo for some people. I had one and it always felt cheap to me, I'd go back to my "real" 1983 Squier Japan Tele Custom and it was a whole other level of quality. But that's one of my all time favourites so the competition is tough.
Fender put out a MIJ version of the 51 in their Pawn Shop series a few years ago, I never tried one of those.
I always think a Tele is like a futon and a Strat is like a spring mattress. I have always preferred to sleep on a futon but there are times I sleep on a spring mattress and it feels just right.

i really wish i could get a G&L 80s version of either, those are great

man I'd probably sell you my ASAT, I love it but I never use it any more. I've never owned a strat so I can't really vote with anything but "the one I chose to buy is the one I like" but whenever I've tried 'em out in studios, they're not my choice. but then again I can't shred. you have to promise not to be mean when I use the proceeds of the sale to buy a pre-'96 PRS.

Gibson hate on this thread is of course ridiculous, LP > Strat for me

Start looking at $2k plus for a new instrument and Fender and Gibson hate are both kinda justified compared to the abundance of better-quality small shop Gibson and Fender-inspired instruments. Wouldn't buy a brand new one of either, although in my experience new Gibsons are more obviously carelessly put-together than new Fenders. New Fenders are not bad guitars, but there's a guy in your town making a better Telecaster.

I'd agree w/that if yr talking about recent-build Fenders & Gibsons for sure, really no reason to buy one of those. classic Gibsons I will stan for they sound f'in' awesome.

We are in agreement!

BUT -- 'cause you knew that was coming -- the air gets rare fast with the good old instruments in terms of price. I'm a bass dude and watch that world more; there aren't a whole lot of undiscovered good Gibson models out there these days, and the ones I like are prone to headstock breakage. I still covet a Epiphone Embassy a lot, but as the prices approach $5k for one with an unbroken headstock, I look at what's out there for $4k from some starving genius and wonder if the coveting is a little silly.

I've found a good strategy is buying Mexican made Fenders and then with the hundreds of dollars saved spend a little more on upgrading pickups and electronics. I have a Mexican Tele and a Mexican Strat with great Fralin pick-ups, and an Epi Les Paul with Lollar noise-cancelling P-90s. Each guitar probably cost around $400, max, then I independently spent a little extra on the upgrades. (I also have an SG, a '61 reissue, but I play that the least.)

My fave guitar was a '52 reissue American-made 1993 Tele (1993 being a great year, for some reason - maybe the custom shop guys were still involved more?) that got stolen. It had Fralin pickups, too, and sounded awesome, and was weirdly light as well (relatively speaking).

Hm, I've been pretty happy with the Cherry Dot ES-335 I picked up three years ago. Is there a less expensive version you guys prefer?

I don't know what you paid, and I don't have your instrument in front of me. But this thing is a monster with breathtaking workmanship: http://www.schwarz-custom.de/cardinal.html

Isn't the Gibson company really shitty politically too?

as of late yep. read lots of stuff about disgruntled employees and management basically running the company into the ground

This is way too good to just talk about on IMM: Gibson Guitars supremely embarrassing Tea Party pandering "Government Series"

I refuse to vote in this until the options are changed to S-500 vs ASAT

Also yes Gibson is a horrible company both on the political side, and to work for.

I've played an American Standard Tele and it was the best guitar I played in my life. It's just so transparent - every tiny nuance of your fingers comes right through, in a good way. You can make it sound like anything you want. Strats never felt right to me and they sounded generic in comparison.

I don't know what you paid, and I don't have your instrument in front of me. But this thing is a monster with breathtaking workmanship: http://www.schwarz-custom.de/cardinal.html

That's an unfortunate logo. Who wants SCHVATZ on their headstock?

Shvar

Starting price on that thing is $4454 US, which by my estimates is around double what I've spent in my entire life on musical gear in total - and this includes my recent extravagant splurge (for me) on a 1978 Princeton Reverb.

man those things look NICE.

x-post: I believe it, joygoat, and there's no shame in that -- I'm just saying compare the Schwarz with a new Gibson ES 335 around the same price (and they make a couple that are more expensive) and the Gibson comes off looking very, very bad.

JC: I've only touched the guitars, but I've played the basses. They are all that.

That's an unfortunate logo.

Schwanz?

Yeah, Gibson is shit politically and environmentally, and I would have probably shopped around more if I knew what I know now. (I think the whole classical guitar industry is a little problematic environmentally tbh, as an aside.) The Schwarz definitely costs more than what my Gibson did, if I'm reading the price right, but I'm definitely going to want to check one out if you're saying it puts the 335 to shame!

Check this out, S: http://www.leonardo-guitar-research.com/

Whoa, thanks. I just bought one less than a year ago, and it was 40 years old so at least no new trees were cut down for it, but I'll definitely remember that.

I'd also take a serious look at Heritage as a modern Gibson alternative.

http://heritageguitar.com

https://cdn.meme.am/cache/instances/folder464/54312464.jpg

i play a tele. I've never liked strats. that's all.

i've heard nothing but good things about heritage but damn those headstocks are hideous

having said that, i've just acquired a prs s2 starla and totally fallen in love with it after previously regarding prses as the tools of ponytailed session men, rich assholes and carlos santana so my judgement may well be impaired

prses as the tools of ponytailed session men, rich assholes and carlos santana

so OTM. I just recoil at ridiculously colored quilted maple tops and those stupid bird inlays.

The starla isn't bad looking though.

years ago i saw a £5k prs on the wall of a guitar store that had a ridiculously ornate flame top covered with a turquoise-to-purple burst. it was genuinely traumatic

EBay and Reverb are filled with the broken dreams of partcaster builds. You can sometimes get $800 worth of parts for like $300. You open it up and realize the reason it sounded like a turd was soldered wrong.

Really like the new FSR Tele Standard in white opal, going for about 500

the site Adorama often has crazy deals on Standard USA Strats and Teles (esp Strats with 2 singles and a humbucker on the bridge, which tbh might be kinda nice)

I refuse to vote in this until the options are changed to S-500 vs ASAT

― Here, let me Danesplain that for you (jjjusten), Monday, November 28, 2016 12:36 PM (two days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Shit, the S-500. And of course, add Marissa Paternoster to the "strat" players list.

http://loopvideos.com/ilroTI32p5s?from=10&to=18

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

The correct answer!

Indeed.

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

yesssss

Absolutely the correct answer.

While I voted otherwise, I understand and respect the outcome; further, I am not surprised given what I know of ilx0rz.

I own and love both, and I certainly have gone through Telemoods that lasted years.

You know both would lose to a Jazzmaster if polled so here.

The correct answer to that poll is Telecaster and Jazzmaster.
https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5509/14363665828_193718576f_h.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/eupat/DSCN5312.jpg

The offset body with Tele-style controls looks quite righteous. Not crazy about the three-saddle bridge but I applaud the purity of vision.