The Stratocaster

Leo Fender changed the face of modern music in 1950 (arguably sooner) when he produced the instrument we now know as the Telecaster. Also in 1950, Leo Fender sought to outdo even his first accomplishment, he set out to create the perfect instrument. By many's opinion, he succeeded. That effort yielded none other than the Stratocaster.

   Fender's first success was the Telecaster. The Telecaster, among other things (like being great), was unrefined. By some accounts, the Telecaster is a slab of wood with the right parts to make a guitar. On some level that account is correct. If that is the case then the Telecaster is the roadster and the Stratocaster plays the role of the high powered luxury super-car. To take a look at the stats, the Strat walks away with a win. Three single-coil pickups, two tone knobs, double cut-away design, recessed input jack, and a shape more than a little reminiscent of the Stradivarius violins make it a master piece. If the Telecaster was proof of concept then the Stratocaster was Leo Fenders signature piece.

The Stratocaster has seen several innovations. The very first additions had a three-way switch that only let you select one pickup at a time. Many players would stick the selector between the first and second position to select the first and second pickups. This trend actually caused the now standard five-way selector to be added. The shape of the Stratocaster is as close to perfect one could image a guitar being. The curves and bevels hug one's body. The weight and balance do delicate dance, being heavy enough to feel substantial but balanced so that the weight sits on the players shoulders.

Leo Fender knew what made a instrument great, three single-coil pickups. Many people love the sound made by humbucker pickups (myself included). These pickups combined high output with noise cancelling, reverse wound coils. In a time were the popular music would mellow and jazz and classical influenced, Leo Fender knew that musicians of the time need presence and clarity to standout from the musical mix. If the sound of the single-coil was too sharp, then the player could adjust either of the tone knobs to cut some of the high-frequencies from the guitar's single, or by adding the second pickup to imitate the sound of a humbucker. So Leo Fender made a guitar feels good, sounds good, and looks good. Perhaps that is why many of the greatest guitarist have chosen to associate themselves with this particular instrument.

Notable Players Include:

Eric Clapton
Buddy Guy
Jimi Hendrix
Buddy Holly
Yngwie J. Malmsteen
John Mayer
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Pete Townshend

Such a great design has inspired countless imitators, in fact my first electric guitar was a copy of a statocaster. I can't say that I favor the Stratocaster. I am a Telecaster player, but I do appreciate the accomplishment made by the greatest innovator of the greatest instrument in the world.  

The Telecaster

Many years ago there was a man named Leo Fender. He was a man's man. He made things when his hands. There was a vast fascination with music and music in those days was live and acoustic. Any type us amplification of instrument was crude and mostly ineffective in a live setting. Loud volumes were accomplished by multiples of the same instrument playing the same note at the same time. The face of the modern "band" was changing and Leo was greatly aware.

The first guitar the Fender musical instrument company ever produced was called the esquire. The Shape and line are that of the present day telecaster. The instrument was a hit and many musician flocked the the sturdy, reliable, and cheap new instrument. The popularity gave Leo the latitude that he needed to move forward with the two pick-up version of the esquire, The Broadcaster. I know what your thinking. An Esquire with two pick-ups is a Telecaster. Well, the broadcaster's realise got a lot of attention, even the attention of the established Gretsch instruments. They already had trademark a line called Broadkaster. The claimed that the Broadcaster guitar infringed upon that. So the name was changed to "Telecaster".

So the Telecaster was born. Thank goodness, because I would have no idea what I would spend all my money on if it weren't for Leo Fender and his amazing instrument. But since the induction of the Telecaster there has been many models and changes made the guitar. The original Telecaster came with three saddle. The adjustable intonation was relative. Later model changed to six saddles for a more precise set-up. Many combinations of woods, and hollow bodied models have been produced. The Telecaster has worn just about every hat in the book, which adds to the reason I love this particular piece of gear. My Tele.

My First Telecaster was a standard model (made in Mexico) and I still play it. I've owed it over 12 years now. It has seen many places and has been through it all with me. I've replace pick-ups, input jacks, pots, wires, and strap buttons. Its been slung across a room and into a wall. I think toothpicks and wood-glue hold it together and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It still plays like a dream.

My next Tele was a gift from my wife. A Tele Deluxe. Double humbuckers in a Tele, its like awesomeness in awesomeness. I was given that guitar about a year ago now. It seems like a long time but it's just now getting broken in. It has gotten its first sticker (and that was a 6+ month process). Now its just a matter of time before I find the right gauge of string and peg the set-up.

My last Tele (actually belongs to my wife) is a Tele Custom with P-90's. I haven't really had that much to do with P-90 Pick-ups but I thought this would be a good way to learn, plus the guitar looked good and it was a Tele. When my wife picked it out at the store and told me she wanted it I just had to let her have it.

The Telecaster is an amazing instrument worthy of the praise given here, but it is far from the perfect guitar. I would rather play a Tele but other swear by there axes just I do mine. The best thing is to get out there and play them. See what feels right to you. I own, and have owned, many types of guitars and there's just no getting around it. I'm a Tele player.


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