Tell me the difference between a Tele and a Les Paul

I'm not a big guitar player, but there is a night and day difference between the Telecaster and the Les Paul. The Les Paul is a much more bolder sounding guitar, very "in your face", and not relenting. Why do you think Pete Townsend switched from a Rickenbacker to a Les Paul for "Who's Next"? The Telecaster, in my own opinion, is a very clean sounding guitar. I wouldn't say twangy, but Teles are more common with country music players. With only two pickups (base), there are a lot less electronics in it, so it is very natural sounding. I wouldn't know, but someone's comment here about the types of wood that are used to build each guitar will hold true. The Tele will sound closer to your Strat than the Les Paul would. Between the Strat, the Tele, and the Les Paul, those are the base three guitars in any guitar players world.

Not too sound like everyone else does here, but you have to try both of these guitars. you might also want to try the Fender Jazzmaster, or the Gibson SG.

nextmovesideways wrote:

I'm not a big guitar player, but there is a night and day difference between the Telecaster and the Les Paul. The Les Paul is a much more bolder sounding guitar, very "in your face", and not relenting. Why do you think Pete Townsend switched from a Rickenbacker to a Les Paul for "Who's Next"? The Telecaster, in my own opinion, is a very clean sounding guitar. I wouldn't say twangy, but Teles are more common with country music players. With only two pickups (base), there are a lot less electronics in it, so it is very natural sounding. I wouldn't know, but someone's comment here about the types of wood that are used to build each guitar will hold true. The Tele will sound closer to your Strat than the Les Paul would. Between the Strat, the Tele, and the Les Paul, those are the base three guitars in any guitar players world.

Not too sound like everyone else does here, but you have to try both of these guitars. you might also want to try the Fender Jazzmaster, or the Gibson SG.

This is true. Plus if you stray from Fender and Gibson you can get some really awesome sounding guitars. Try out several. Not just a Tele and a Paul.
SG sound badass. I know some people around here like schecters and they are very playable guitars. There are endless styles and sounds out there. You should really try alot out if you are gonna spend alotta money. I am lucky and the guitar that I love playing is a very 'cool' classic guitar, a Les Paul. I would also say, if you get a les paul get an older used one or a reissue. I am not sure what they did, but I think they changed they way they build in the late 90's. I got a 93 Les Paul for a grand about a year ago, and it is honestly the best guitar I have ever played in my life, plus its that much closer to being really valuable. Also make sure that get a guitar that makes you wanna play all the time. I could play songs and jam a little before, but since I got my Paul, my playing, jamming and creativity has grown by leaps and bounds. I have become very comfortable with it. It is definitely a guitar of a lifetime and you should search for that every time you buy a guitar.

Well Since the Les Pauls are getting all this hype, I will make a controversial statement.

I think no matter what type of music you play, the Tele (as a general rule with exceptions) conveys more of the players personality. Maybe the Les Paul is alot easier to get a great sound out of, but alot of people with a LEs Pauls get the same "great sound" as everybody else that uses the Les Paul. Does anyone get what I'm saying here?
I'm not trying to say all Les Paul players sound the same, this is just clearly not true. I am just saying it is much easier to sound like the stereo type of "guitar sound" when using a Les Paul.
If I was gonna make a record, and wanted it to sound very original, and strange and new, and to convey MY sound, it would be with a crazy Tele or some other deviant guitar, not with a Big Balls rock out with your cock out Les Paul.

Now don't get me wrong, someday I hope to own a nice wine red Les Paul studio, I just believe that their biggest fault maybe, is that they are so easy and comfotable as far as tone goes.

I am trying to think of some real tone pioneers who illustrate my point. Jack White comes to mind, with his squeeky shrill badass plastic airline guitar. Eds collection of rare Teles with strange neck pickups are anotehr example of the coolness of non Les Pauls.

I was gonna use Avril lavign as my counter example But she plays both a gray Tele and a Black Les Paul.

To say my point one more time in a less accessible and abstract way...
Teles seem to be the more sincere instrument of the 2.

Hi stuffnjunk!
Good question!!
Don't worry about the critics section!

Les Pauls generally have better sustain, like everyone said above, due to the set neck and the weight, and you probably know by now. What people REALLY need sustain for is a whole different question! How many times are people gonna stand on stage and impress the crowd with how long your guitar holds that note?
Humbucker pickups have more output and a bit less versatile sound, and are less sensitive to your touch than a single coil, so they are easier to play cranked up lead with.
It IS hard to describe chunky,,,all my years I could never describe it. I guess by now you heard some in the shops.

Stock Telecasters and Strats with single coils have a thinner sound, clearer. With less output from the single coils, and that clear sound, you DO have to work harder to get your sound out of it, your touch is way more important on a strat or a tele,,,, but that doesn't mean you can't use it for hard lead. It just means that you have to develop your fingering and picking dynamics to fully get the sound out of a Tele, and match your amp settings, and maybe your amp to single coil sounds.

If you want a hard rock lead out of a single coil Tele,, you've gotta turn up that amp and play aggressively and confidently,,, because every mistake shows more on a Strat or Tele than it would on a Paul. You can turn it down and play twangier or clearer sounds, too.
Jimmy Page used a Tele for the Yardbirds, the first Zep album, the lead on Stairway, and live for most of the 60's! Pretty full sound there.
Jeff Beck did a lot with a Tele.
Andy Summers sure got a lot out of HIS Tele, too!
Keith Richards stuck a humbucker in his neck position.
Pete Townshend's been using a Strat lately, too.



Or check into this! :
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/515207/
I just got one of these for one of my nephews, and it rocks, for $400.00
Set neck mahogany Tele with humbuckers, strings through the body. It's got a switch to split the buckers to single coils, and is a pretty well built piece! Maybe later you would put pickups to your liking and hardware, but I was impressed with it!


Well, that being said, good luck with your new Les Paul!

I love both,,,, but then again,, I just love guitars, I guess!
I just counted mine and I have 38 of them and most of them have a story!



(Ok,, I think a few of them are Youthinkyou'reold's,,,, but don't tell him.)

both are great.ive got 2 Les Pauls but i'd still like a Tele to mess about with.MMMM..... a nice 52 reissue would be VERY nice:)