miroslav wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:20 am
I would think that perceived versatility is a personal, subjective thing also, when it comes to guitars.
I don't see that the number of pickups or the shape/style is the only defining factor...or that it's just a matter of adding those thing sup and comparing them...but though those things may be part of what makes it more or less versatile....to you.
The fascinating thing i like about this debate is that Greg is very much 100% right that by definition and design the Strat does in fact meet all criteria to win the "versatile" award in a very literal, physical sense on the exterior. It is anything but a matter of perspective or opinion. it is concrete. So really whats the debate about right? We could effectively lay the whole thing to rest. Mutt, Sweet Dan, and myself included have stated that tonally, the tele can do more than Strat. it just can. By design it covers a lot of ground tonally in a much more minimalist design. Does this make it versatile? no not really. I'd even go so far as to say no not at all in an all encompassing literal sense. But it sure does give a start a run for it's money enough to the point that maybe it actually could be a versatile tool for an artist to have to access to? part of being versatile is adapting. If one can adapt the flavor of a tele into their sound, then where are we at?
The tele is like the poor kid down the street who could detail your car with a sponge and an old t shirt and do as good of a job as the detailing company with a three car bay and a staff of 12 people lined up to fuck their boss over with a few smoke breaks at your expense. He's adapted and made him self a alternative to the wankers with the 3 bay car shop? yes? I'd hire the kid myself for a multitude of reasons.
Is the poor kid versatile? hell no. not by literal definition. He's got a sponge and his dads old steely dan t shirt. but he did manage to do the same job as the car detailing shop with all the bells and whistles and fancy features.
I digress at this point i'm straying a little to far from a literal meaning and hen pecking that adaptation aspect of being versatile. So i'll cut it off here.
Perspective and opinion only come into play when discussing which provides more tone. and really, when you start examining that it will always and forever be a matter of perspective, personal preferences, tastes and opinion. We may as well just be discussing the merits of Gibson over Fender or should lt.Bob should hang up the sax and start playing bagpipes.
And it is at this point my opinion is that when i hear something i like and i go looking at what that player uses it would always surprise me if they were using a tele. my curiosities have never led me to a player with a Strat. like, ever. Thats when i started thinking i needed a tele for my own line up to play with. (still waiting to be finished
) I personally think they look ridiculous and the necks are always kind of wimpy like Miro stated but god damn if they don't have that little sparkle i kind of want in a very minimal bundle.
