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Fender’s Telecaster and Stratocaster are two of the world’s most legendary guitars, both born in the 50’s from – what was at the time – a small guitar manufacturer based on the West-Coast of the US. As Fender grew into the biggest guitar brand on the planet, the Tele and Strat also became industry stalwarts, gracing countless stages.
In most walks of life, products regularly need to innovate to stay relevant; this is not the case for the Tele and Strat, both of which – barring some minor evolution here and there – have retained their unique qualities that put them on the map all those years ago. Given they’ve remained so similar from conception to the present day, it’s easy to distinguish their key characteristics, including what separates them from each other.
For this feature we’ve gone into detail about the history, the players and the tones that set these two guitars apart. And if you’re in the market for a new Strat or Tele, we’ve highlighted some of our favorites with some expert buying advice towards the end of the article.
Stratocaster vs Telecaster: The History
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In many ways, the Telecaster is the godfather of every other mass-manufactured solid-body guitar on the market today. Arriving in 1951 – and not instantly adored by the masses – it was Western Swing players that first gravitated towards the guitar, taking several years until the Telecaster found its way to the genres it’s now synonymous with – country, and rock ‘n’ roll.
Coming to market three years after the Telecaster, the Stratocaster was born out of a sleek reinvention of Fender’s Precision Bass and designed as a more upmarket instrument to succeed the Telecaster and compete with the mighty Gibson Les Paul (released in 1952).
The Stratocaster added more tonal options than the Telecaster, with its additional pickup and switching, and had a contoured body, making it more comfortable to play.
By the end of the ‘50s, both had become mainstays of the music at the time, with rock ‘n’ roll moving away from the likes of piano and brass, towards the electric guitar. Both the Tele and Strat undoubtedly played a part in shaping the sound of the popular music that followed.
Stratocaster vs Telecaster: The players
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As guitars with around 70 years of use each, the list of users is near-endless, and the majority of well known players have dabbled with both, however there are some key themes and styles that often are aligned with each.
The Tele, with its brutish tone, found its way into the hands of the likes of Keith Richards and Jimmy Page, godfathers of rock whose riffing would define the genre. Strats on the other hand, whilst also more than comfortable in the realms of rock – just ask Pete Townshend – were often the choice of players who wanted something more nuanced.