Comment by vparikh | Hacker News Reader

Comment by vparikh | Hacker News Reader

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Leo Fender and the Fender company gets the credit for making the first successful solid body guitar - the Telecaster.

The common wisdom is the Stratocaster was the successor to the Telecaster - but in my opinion, I think the Telecaster is the superior guitar. The simplicity makes it indestructible, the string through fixed bridge makes more stable in tuning. It allows one to easily use alternate tunings as the Stratocaster whammy would be complete useless in this scenario.

Just take a look at all of the guitars players over the last 15 years or so have re-discovered the Telecaster. Not to mention punk, heavy metal and even thrash meal guitarists are picking them up. The running joke is that Jimmy Page sold more Les Pauls then anyone else playing Telecasters :)

Check out this video that compares the tone of Telecaster vs Les Paul:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sjAiCRemyw

Leo Fender got it right the first time.

>the string through fixed bridge makes more stable in tuning. It allows one to easily use alternate tunings as the Stratocaster whammy would be complete useless in this scenario.

On the contrary, the lack of a floating bridge on the telecaster makes it utterly useless for playing a lot of songs and styles of playing that require it. Floating bridges have huge drawbacks to be sure (maintenance, tuning stability), but they aren't there for nothing.

Many people set the strat bridge to an end position so it doesn't float and string gauge or tuning change doesn't cause so many issues. I never use the whammy bar but like the tone, the microphone setup and the contour body.

Then, you have Jeff Beck.

>the Stratocaster was the successor to the Telecaster - but in my opinion, I think the Telecaster is the superior guitar.

Telecaster flaws:

1. Ashtray bridge is uncomfortable for muting due to the sharp edge.

2. Setting intonation is a pain because each brass saddle covers two strings.

3. The lack of smooth comfort curves (and even modern teles that have curves are not as comfortable as a strat).

4. The body design adds a lot of unnecessary weight.

5. Standard pickup set is tonally limited.

6. Lack of a trem eliminates several playing styles.

Strats have their flaws too, but no where near as many as the tele IMO.

>Just take a look at all of the guitars players over the last 15 years or so have re-discovered the Telecaster.

The paths of nostalgia don't indicate technical superiority.

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