This is actually a reprint of one of the longest running and hottest topics in all of guitar playing.

Welcome to Questions Answered. Jim Miller also authors Tech Notes Online, a weekly Sweetwater column covering all aspects of today’s music, from stage to studio.

Q: “Is there a noticeable sonic difference between Strats & Teles?”

A: This is somewhat of a loaded question. Of course there are differences between any two guitars – sometimes even between the same model built different years.

Historically, the Telecaster (Tele) featured a solid ash body with single coil bridge and neck pickups along with a maple neck and fingerboard. The Stratocaster (Strat) was Fender’s “upscale” model, with a contoured body, three single coil pickups, a tremolo tailpiece and a maple neck and fingerboard. As you might expect, having three pickups offers more tones (particularly when you factor in the two “out-of-phase” positions available on models with a five-way switch).

Some Strats may have a rosewood fingerboard that will warm up the sound slightly. The same would be true for Teles. Both are legendary for their clean, bright tone (sometimes referred to as “spank”). Newer releases of either instrument have added various options such as maple tops, additional pickups (or different pickup types: humbuckers or active Lace Sensors with mid range boost for instance).

To a true guitar-a-holic, Teles and Strats are quite different instruments, normally used to achieve different sounds for different types of music. On a recording, most “normal” people would not hear a noticeable difference between a recording of a Strat or Tele using the bridge pickup. The main tonal differences would be most noticeable when a Strat is played using the “out-of-phase” pickup combinations, which produce a clear, glossy tone, perfect with a chorus effect. Most players actually choose a specific Fender model based on looks and feel as much as for their respective tones. Unquestionably, both are classics that have stood the test of time!

Check out the comparison between these two beauties recorded by Youtube user larsenpeople:

Posted by Dan Orr

These are great looking amps with hand wired circuitry feature the usual Fender Tweed settings with a few extra features requested by the great guitarist himself. All of the models include built in output bias tremolo – creating a more throbbing tremolo that Fender’s later models and a single control for speed (with an additional control for intensity for the larger Twinolux™). This in itself is a rather unique feature for an amp.

The other feature consistent with all three models is the power attenuator switch. This feature allows greater control of the output volume without sacrificing the “crunch” achieved at higher amp levels. Simply dial up the amp to its sweet spot with the volume control and hit the power attenuator switch to maintain the sweet spot but drop the overall volume allowing lower level.

Unfortunately, for humbucker lovers, you may struggle to achieve the full spectrum of harmonic richness with the amps in this series. That’s not to say, there is reason to dismiss any of them outright. Experimenting with the tone pots on your guitar and the amp, altering your picking attack and avoiding use of the neck pick up will help achieve a blues-ier feel. In essence, a guitar armed with single coils or mini humbuckers is going to get the liveliest of sounds from the amps.

If you’re in love with the sound of ‘50s Tweed amps with that vintage Fender sound spectrum, then the EC Series is going to be something you wanna check out if you haven’t already.

For a full list of specs and a full picture gallery Fender.com

Posted by Dan Orr

While it still may be a bit cold to hit the surf, the idea of the beach is steadily growing more and more appealing for those of us coming out of  a pretty cold winter and the Stephen Shackinger track entitled Perfect Waves paints a picture for me of that exact feeling.

This is a fantastic piece of music. The Fender Stratocaster he plays provides a beautiful tone that is very reminiscent of that Dire Straits kind of guitar sound especially from about 4:17. He is using delay over the verse sections which create that echo you can hear. Also his backing track is laden with all sorts of nice embellishment’s and some duelling lines that seam to track the lead line or play up the octave.

His use of interesting licks woven in and around the main motif are very well crafted and while this man is clearly very proficient on the guitar he is also very disciplined with when, where and how he uses some of his more flashy techniques.

Check it out and let us know what you think:

Sustainability, in a broad sense, is the capacity to endure. It can be defined as the ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes, functions, biodiversity and productivity into the future. In ecology, the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time.

Sustainable maintenance of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources is a defining issue of our time.

In musical terms sustain is the duration of a sound before it becomes inaudible.

Guitars have a lot of sustain, which is one reason for their rich sound and tone. Rosewood, maple, mahogany, ebony and spruce, are some of the more popular tonewoods because they are workable as well as durable and beautiful.

Unfortunately it has become highly important for the guitar manufacturing industry as a whole to consider preserving the trees from which guitars are made so that they do not become irrevocably lost.

Bob Taylor, cofounder and president of Taylor Guitars, says it’s a simple function of    “More people, more goods and a higher rate of harvest than regrowth.” And, he says, “We need good, quality wood.”

Gibson, Fender, Martin, Taylor and Yamaha have put their best foot forward though and joined forces with Greenpeace to create the MUSIC WOOD COALITION:

The Greenpeace Music Wood Campaign is partnering with the music industry to protect threatened forest habitats and safeguard the future of the trees critical to making musical instruments.

There are several eco-friendly guitar makers so there is no EXCUSE anymore for destroying the environment for the sake of tone! THe Mada guitars below are some of the most beautiful guitar-art-objects I have ever seen.

Simon Lee Cyclotrons

High Quality, hand made, sustainable guitars and basses, using environmentally sound processes and materials where possible. Explore each style, each has its own unique tone and feel. Full specifications are listed on each page. Full and partial customisation of styles and body material and pickups are available upon request.

First Act Eco guitars

The Bambusa guitar’s body and neck are constructed of bamboo, one of the fastest growing plants in the world, and an uncommonly renewable resource. In its processed state, bamboo is harder than maple, making it a supreme-sounding and killer-looking substitute for high quality tonewoods. The guitar also has a water-based natural matte finish, and uses food safe glue.

“It’s a guitar you can rock out with, and feel good about playing. It feels so good, like you’ve played it a thousand times, but it has a ‘sizzle’ to it’s tone that you’re hearing for the first time.” says Craig Small, Director of Product Development.

Zero Impact Guitars

Zero Impact Guitars’ lovingly hand-crafted eco-Axe body is made from SmartWood FSC-certified Alder, the neck is moses graphite and the bridge is made from recycled steel.

Mada Guitars

The MADA caimes body is an organically shaped semi-acoustic electric guitar body made of hemp pulp and is not carved or milled like traditional guitars. Design has revolutionized the production technique. One form without any linings or bracings. With its edge-less organic shape, MADA develops an unmistakable, wonderful sharp and organic sound.  Why hemp? The permanent transition from impact sound into airborne sound is essential to the sound. Thats how resonances are formed. This makes Hempstone® the perfect 3 dimensional molding material for music instruments. The material consists of 100 % hemp fibres and contains no plastics, which would close these resonance-gaps.

Flaxwood guitars

We’re open to any technology (ancient, medieval or new) that can help us make a great guitar.

What sets Flaxwood apart from many other great guitar producers is that we don’t limit our options; the phrase “…because that’s the way guitars have always been built” is constantly questioned at Flaxwood. Is there a better way to do things? Do the new technologies now available have something to offer that we are unaware of?

Yes, we’re irreverent, we’re curious, we’re open-minded, and innovative technology does not spook us. But we don’t love innovative technology for its own sake; we only use technology that delivers, that helps us get closer to that tone and that feel we crave for. If technology does not deliver, we stick to time-tested solutions.

As much as we love wood, we wondered whether wood could be made more resonant, more uniform, and more stable.
In the process, using spruce as our base material, we created a completely new high-end tonewood in its own right – flaxwood. This wonderful material gave us a combination of properties that we were unable to find in traditional woods, and this material is at the heart of the wonderful vintage Flaxwood tone. And yes, it really is probably the most environmentally friendly tonewood available today.

Cheers,

Jake Edwards

1. dR. O`s White House performance Gibson guitar  – $1,000,000 U.S.

dR. O played this 1954 Gibson ES175 at the White House on 09 11 07 in Lafayette Park.

dR. O is successfully using his ebay auction to drive traffic to his myspace page – clever.

An absolute steal at the low, low price of one million bucks.

Doctor Who?

2. Michael Jackson Signed 1952 Gibson Les Paul  – $185,000 U.S.

Tito Jackson played on this Gibson at the 1994 Jackson Family Awards and the guitar is signed by This guitar was signed by, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Randy Jackson and also Michael Jackson!

Unfortunately it`s not possible to wear a spangly glove whilst playing this baby.

3. Gibson Les Paul Standard Premium Plus guitar personally owned by Les Paul – $75,000 U.S.

The vendor acquired it through a fund raising event for the Uniformed Firefighters’ Association Widows and Children Fund after the tragic NYC attacks of 9/11.  It was given to Peter Ortel, a retired New York City fireman from Rescue 3.  He painted the poignant September 11 scenes on the guitar and it was returned to Les Paul to be signed.  With his signature intact the guitar was then sent to be displayed in the lobby of Madison Square Garden in New York City for roughly eight months.  In December of 2002 the guitar was auctioned on eBay to raise funds for the families of our fallen heroes. It has been played…but…sparingly and with kid gloves. Mint / Near Mint + Condition.  Serial number 02441***.  Having it displayed has brought me, my family, and our friends a great since of pride in our Country, and our Citizens.

4. Oliver Leibers 1959 Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitar -$65,000 U.S.

Producer and songwriter Oliver Leiber’s produced Paula Abdul’s first album, “Forever Your Girl.”

Selling between ten and twelve million copies worldwide, Leiber’s songwriting prowess, demonstrated by writing the hit singles “Opposites Attract”,  “It’s Just The Way That You Love Me” and “Forever Your Girl”  factored highly into that album’s mainstream popular appeal.

Leiber’s also collaborated with Irish singing multi-platinum group, the Corrs.

Leiber’s next went on the road with veteran rocker Rod Stewart.

5. Tronical Powertune Stratocaster with Gibson Robot Machines – $50,ooo U.S.

This custom made guitar features one of the few Tronical Powertune Systems ever made for a Strat before Tronical signed an exclusive agreement with Gibson and stopped making them. This is destined to become a rare piece of guitar history that you won’t find for sale anywhere else (but of course I can’t guarantee that).

Maple neck with ebony fretboard and standard (med-jumbo) frets. Poplar body with hand rubbed dove white tinted finish creates a smooth natural wood feel. Seymour Duncan JB model humbucker.

Comes with Fender hardshell case and Tronical Powertune box and manuals. AMAZINGLY good looking and unique stratocaster.

If anyone would like to buy me this baby…please go right ahead!

5. 1967 Gibson ES 355 owned by Freddie King -$47,500 U.S.

This is one of several ES 355s that Freddie owned as well as a ES 345 and several Les Pauls. The guitar was built in 1967. The Serial # 580445 is from a time when Gibson often duplicated serial numbers, sometimes up to 4 times. The date of 1967 is probably within a year.

Freddie had disabled the Gibson tremolo and added a tail stop.

The guitar has been inspected under black light and there has been no repairs. As you can see by the photos, it has seen many road miles. I have an appraisal done in August of 2000 in Nashville by James Jaworowicz of Memphis Memorabilia. At that time the appraisal value in 2000 was between $35,000 and $37,500.00.

Included with the paperwork, is rather humorous letter written by a tech that was traveling with one of Freddie’s opening bands. It tells of how he was stenciling the bands new equipment and Freddie asked to borrow the stencils. Together the two of them stenciled the guitar case” Freddie King-Texas Cannonball – Fragle”, misspelling the word “Fragile”.

6.1992 Gibson Explorer ZZ Top Billy Gibbons Signed Art -$20,000 U.S.

Up for auction is this 1992 Gibson Explorer in white finish Signed by all of the members of ZZ top….Dusty, Billy and Frank. With one of a kind artwork by the Reverend Billy Gibbons! All original. MADE IN THE USA!!

This is a fine example of ONE-OF-A-KIND ARTWORK by Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame artist Billy Gibbons.

Get this great piece for your house or office.  Will include Oak or Cherrywood Display Case absolutely free!!  A $500 value.

You have to grow your own beard though people.

Well, That`s all folks, you know where I am, I`ll take the strat and the 355.
Cheers…

Jake Edwards

Jackson`s first album began with the luminescent touch of Larry Carlton, and on Beat It from Thriller included both Eddie Van Halen (you know that solo) and Steve Lukather as well as Jeff Porcaro (drums) and, as usual, Quincy Jones` inimitable production. The following album, Bad, featured Billy Idol`s guitarist Steve Stevens and on tour the fiery Jennifer Batten (later to work with Jeff Beck).

1992`s Dangerous saw the in clusion of Guns `n` Roses Slash and the album Invincible featured the melodic leads of Carlos Santana.

Fender have got together with Eddie Van Halen and introduced the Frankenstein replica model guitar as well as the EVH Brand. The Frankenstein is a complete snip at around $20,000 U.S. and you can even get yourself some matching shoes here if you`re a sucker for accessorising. Not bad going considering Eddie didn`t hesitate in describing his guitar as a “piece of shit”. Is it right to suppose that the dudes with 20 Grand spare to spend on this baby are likely limited to being either Eddie himself, or the kind of CEO`s who bid on Clapton`s bathwater in the vain hope that its tonic “qualities” offer the true elixir of snake oil blues talent in a bottle. Aaagh. If you do however have more sense than money I recommend coloured tape.

No, Im not talking about Dizzee Rascal, Fu-Snchickens or Tenor Saw. Every now and then we have a fire drill. I`ll be damned if Im going to leave my favourite Stratocaster Plus in a burning building: it`s been to Washington State, New York City, France, California, the U.K.  and all around Aotearoa. Cremation is not on the cards. The fire officer is not impressed and obviously not a Hendrix fan. I`ll drink the lighter fluid before I toast my fretboard.

Hey here`s Ben if you`d like to get into dat REGGAE STRUM ting mon!