[Robboman]

Single coil Strats sound different from SC Teles. Maybe a subtle difference to some, but I'm becoming more keenly aware over time, the more guitars I try.

I've been a Strat guy for 25 years only because it was my first and we bonded. There IS no more comfortable guitar to hold and play, S just fits me like no other. I still acquired other guitars, chasing HB tones, etc, but the S was always my main go to.

For years I never paid much attention to Teles, because I thought I already had 'Fender single coil' covered off by my Strats. But now I have this Tele that really does that Tele thing. It just rings and twangs harder than a Strat can, in my experience. I swear I can actually feel the guitar body and neck vibrate and resonate when I punch out chords. Never felt that from a Strat.

So, it got me thinking.. what would it take to build a guitar with a Strat body and neck that twangs and vibrates the same as the best Tele?

I'm guessing it has a lot to do with the bridge. My Tele has the vintage style with three compensated brass saddles. Bigass solid plate that screws tight to the body, compared to the Strat trem which must soak up a lot of vibration.

Anyone here ever try to mount a T bridge on a S? Would you need a non-routed hardtail Strat body to start? Would it end up too ugly and weird to work on a S? Am I missing anything else for the Tone recipe here? What about that metal plate that goes under the bridge pickup on Teles?

I realize I could also just keep it simple and play a Tele

 

[Budda]

I think people have definitely done the crossover thing, but I can't cite anything and don't know what the results are.

I do know that if you make a tele mahogany body maple cap, hog neck with buckers it sounds like an LP.

 

[cboutilier]

Single coil Strats sound different from SC Teles. Maybe a subtle difference to some, but I'm becoming more keenly aware over time, the more guitars I try.

I've been a Strat guy for 25 years only because it was my first and we bonded. There IS no more comfortable guitar to hold and play, S just fits me like no other. I still acquired other guitars, chasing HB tones, etc, but the S was always my main go to.

For years I never paid much attention to Teles, because I thought I already had 'Fender single coil' covered off by my Strats. But now I have this Tele that really does that Tele thing. It just rings and twangs harder than a Strat can, in my experience. I swear I can actually feel the guitar body and neck vibrate and resonate when I punch out chords. Never felt that from a Strat.

So, it got me thinking.. what would it take to build a guitar with a Strat body and neck that twangs and vibrates the same as the best Tele?

I'm guessing it has a lot to do with the bridge. My Tele has the vintage style with three compensated brass saddles. Bigass solid plate that screws tight to the body, compared to the Strat trem which must soak up a lot of vibration.

Anyone here ever try to mount a T bridge on a S? Would you need a non-routed hardtail Strat body to start? Would it end up too ugly and weird to work on a S? Am I missing anything else for the Tone recipe here? What about that metal plate that goes under the bridge pickup on Teles?

I realize I could also just keep it simple and play a Tele

The metal baseplate will get you close to T town.

 

[Guest]

go for one of these?

 

[Robboman]

Is that something you can buy off the rack?? I did Google for 'Strat with a Tele bridge' and looked at images.. thought they were all one-offs, or partscasters.

Edit: I just scrolled through 13 pages of Strat models on Fender.com.. nothing like this.

Edit 2: 2011 custom shop masterbuilt.. here's one that sold for almost 9 grand last year!
Used 2011 Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Yuriy Shishkov Tennessee Stratocaster NOS Electric Guitar

 

[Guest]

You can always build one
Warmoth Custom Guitar Parts - Classic Showcase

 

[Moosehead]

fender lead ii is close to what you're describing. hard tail bridge with strings through the body a la tele but its got the smaller strat style bridge not the ashtray tele style.
I have one and its a good player, having not played many tele's I cant compare the sound. I put a hot rails in the bridge so i'm sure mine doesnt sound very tele like atm. I should try the metal plate with the original pup.

 

[djmarcelca]

Simple way to do it:
push pull bridge enable mod.

Push/pull turns the bridge on in any position of the blade.
allows for all 3 or bridge/neck for tele(esque) sounds

Wiring Diagrams

**EDIT**
to get real tele sounds out of a strat it'd be necessary to do the push/pull mod and also do the master volume/master tone mod

This diagram:
Strat w/ Single Master Tone Control

 

[Moosehead]

Thanks dude, that would work very well with the 2 knob lead ii.
Instead of push pull though I'd just use the 2 way switch that is already in place.
It was originally for phase switching while in the middle position which never sounded that great imo.

 

[garrettdavis275]

I think Lowell George put a tele pickup in the bridle of his strat which sounds tele-ish to me.

The guys above are all right tho, adding a ferrous base plate is apparently a big step towards T-town. I'd guesstimate that of you put an actual Tele pickup into a hardtail Strat you'd be 99% there. I actually think it'd be 100% but I'm lowballing just to be safe

 

[nnieman]

Tele with body contours?
I've done a couple of those, that would make it feel more like strat.

YOu could always make it a 3 pickup one to give you that middle pickup sound.

Nathan

 

[Steadfastly]

There IS no more comfortable guitar to hold and play, S just fits me like no other.

I am wondering if you have you ever played a tele with belly cut and forearm cut (contoured) and if so, how that felt?

 

[knight_yyz]

If you put a tele body on top of a strat body, the only difference is the upper horn and the pickups. And whether it has a tummy cut or not.

 

[mitchy_116]

One of these got posted on kijiji NS!
Hybrid Strat! Beautiful! | guitars | City of Halifax | Kijiji

 

[cboutilier]

I am wondering if you have you ever played a tele with belly cut and forearm cut (contoured) and if so, how that felt?

It's ok. I prefer to feel the sharp edges of a Tele though. Something magical about a tele

 

[High/Deaf]

It's ok. I prefer to feel the sharp edges of a Tele though. Something magical about a tele

I agree. "Producing art should be painful" or something like that. Probably also why I prefer to crush my scapula with an LP.

 

[cboutilier]

I agree. "Producing art should be painful" or something like that. Probably also why I prefer to crush my scapula with an LP.

I like to think my guitars play me.

 

[Steadfastly]

It's ok. I prefer to feel the sharp edges of a Tele though. Something magical about a tele

I prefer the looks of a double bound tele but for comfort, I prefer the contouring.

 

[Bubb]

I don't feel the edges on any guitar really ,never have .
Probably comes from learning everything I've forgotten on a LP copy


And teles shouldn't have binding .

Ever

 

[fraser]

As mentioned earlier, Lowell George used tele pups in the bridge position of his strats. Other than that bridge plate, a tele also has that copper plate on the bridge pup.
That makes a difference.
Try decking a strat trem and adding a tele pup.

The other thing, as already pointed out, is a tele with strat contours.
I own one- feels like a strat to hold.