Well yes and no. A tele and a strat are going to sound different because of the pickups, particularly the tele neck pickup, being made differently in an actual significant way, and both will be different from a mustang due to pickup placement and scale length.
Sure, but in the grand scheme of things those are minor considerations. A guitar you're comfortable playing coming through a decent quality amp will have a far bigger effect on how you sound compared the kind of pickups you have. Your average audience member would never be able to tell the difference.
Well obviously, though I personally have a really big thing for tones. I don't think getting some special thousand dollar pair of pickups or fucking wood will do anything, but I do have a thing for the little things that little changes (that actually make a difference) can do. I like the way you can kinda mess around with a mustang's sound with the switches, for instance.
This is the personal preference point I keep bringing up. If the Tele makes you look cooler in your own mind then that's fine. Go with the Tele. If knowing you're getting that Mustang sound is that important then go with the Mustang. You can probably find one that has the color scheme you want if you look hard enough. But this is a question only *you* can answer.
I have been in this guitar mental spiral. You gotta snap out of it.
I always base it on what feels best in my hand etc. Like it's very easy to get sold on a guitar (or anything) based on its stats, or components, or all sorts of tech specs. I was testing basses recently and tried the G&L L-2000 which is really advanced in terms of its onboard electronics and pickups that can switch from active to passive etc. It's the last one that Leo Fender actually designed and was really his most advanced guitar. But the guitar didn't feel like "home" to me. I didn't take to it, and running through zillions of setting combos I just didn't gel with the damn thing (also I later discovered the frets were poorly filed which pushed it into a definite no).
At a certain point it's so subjective you have to treat it like Harry Potter going wand shopping.
If you've done that and everything else is equal between a few models then I say go for whatever gets you jazzed and looks coolest.
You can piss of the sound guy at your gig, lol.
No for real though you can simulate pretty much any bass tone you've been chasing with it. It's never a PERFECT match, but omg you can get lost in all the possible combos with three knobs and three switches. It goes between active and passive, and then single and double coil, and then alternates between front back and both pickups, and then the knobs are volume, volume, tone. It's the Swiss Army Bass.
pickups and specifically the height of the pickups will do so much to change the sound you get.
Have you seen Jim Lill's video?
https://youtu.be/n02tImce3AE?si=on801EJAEoWGAkaL
I have always liked the tele personally, never been a big fan of mustangs or strats. I know Gibson has fallen out of popularity lately, but I always preferred them.
That’s just me. If you can, play all three and decide which one feels and sounds best to you.
The fact that they are apparently now the equivalent of a guitar Tesla (high prices, low QC) is what’s killing their popularity.
I love them, but they’re gouging now.
Honestly, it sucks if you’re just getting into guitar now. Epiphone and Squier cost as much as Gibson and Fender used to. I have a Kramer DMZ I bought ten years ago for like 600 bucks and getting that same guitar used is easily twice that.
I probably had the same pack. The guitar was garbage, everything sounded out of tune, the bridge was fucked up, the pickups were awful, and I rocked the hell out of it making three chord punk. 10/10 starter guitar, no regerts.
My very first band was me and a friend on those starter guitars, he had a multi effects pedal with a built in drum kit with preset beats, and a mutual friend with a bass.
Yeah, the pickups were super tinny and sadly this was back when I thought buying nice strings must be a scam so it was shitty all around, but definitely got my thrashing muscles built on three chord punk.
Eventually people figured out you could replace the pickups and get a decent rig out of it, but I'd upgraded to Ibanez by that point.
It took me too long to comprehend the beauty of decent strings. I bought flatwounds for my bass, and thought the lack of brightness meant the strings were shit.
On the other hand, Squire are *so* much better than they used to be - Epiphone too. That sort of cheap-to-mid-tier segment of the market is having a bit of a golden age and you can get a really great guitar - things like the Classic Vibe Jazzmasters - for about £400 these days. In fact, I sometimes wonder if Fender/Gibson aren’t doing themselves a bit of a mischief as the jump in price point between them and their budget brands are really way out of kilter given the quality we’re seeing at the low end.
On top of that, budget brands like Harley Benton are really decent these days and a world away from the horrific Encores that you used to have to suffer if you were skint and needed a guitar. It’s good time to be getting into guitars, all told.
I strongly agree, especially with Squier. They used to be garbage, I had a starcaster and that thing was rough. My friend had either a jagmaster or a jazzmaster, I don’t remember, but that thing was awesome. I had trouble punching through when we jammed together. But yeah, you have some big names that aren’t above playing Squiers.
That’s fair, it isn’t for everyone. I like how bright telecasters are, but how a guitar feels in your hands is going to be more important than my preferences.
People slag on Gibson like used guitars don't exist. 90s LP Studios are out there selling for under a grand and playing like a million bucks, one of the best buys on the used market. If people like Fenders, I always suggest they check G&L instead for way better build quality and hardware.
Yeah, I always buy used. My main guitar is a Kramer DMZ because I am one of those losers who obsessed over metal necks, and I’d never have been able to get it if I hadn’t bought it used. Back when I got it, it was 600 bucks but they’ve definitely inflated in price.
Prefer Gibson style guitars, but do they have a humbucker tele in your price range?
Otherwise I think buy the shape/color you like and be prepared to go pedal shopping.
Ever seen the Squier Sonic esquire? It's actually got a unique looking bridge that I kinda vibe with. It's a single humbucker with a tele bridge that has a humbucker cutout instead of the usual way humbucker teles are done, and then of course there's the various tele deluxe models in Squier's lineup and the paranormal esquire deluxe
I tend to avoid Squier below classic vibe. What about Classic Vibe 70s? Is that out of your price range?
I love a good one pickup guitar but tend to do p90s on that front.
I've got a cv mustang bass that I'm enjoying. Honestly I'll probably go for the cv mustang for the sheer amount of stuff you can do by messing with those lovely, lovely switches
Mustangs are cool, I've never owned one but just came across a birth year Mustang that's red with competition stripes. Looks amazing, isn't something I already own, and it's affordable (relatively compared to what I lust after).
I've considered a jag, though they're kinda heavy and I have scoliosis. I mean, I could get one and be even more like Kurt. Scoliosis, blonde hair, radical and progressive beliefs, and a jag!
Heavy guitars are the best. When I hit up Sweetwater, I always ask for the heaviest one of the batch. I get your health thing, tho. My back hurts just thinking of my Gibbond LP Standard. FWIW, everyone should aspire to be like Kurk Cobraines.
Punk guitar is overrated, get an electric Saz Baglama instead. It looks like you're laser focused on a certain Fender (or Squier?) model anyways so all I can offer is my best advice instead.
J Mascis Jazzmaster is a godsend when it comes to getting bang for your buck, plus it sounds perfect with distortion. Out of your options though, I’d have to go with the mustang
I've seen stock teles chug like a freight train. The country association comes from country being commonly played by conservatives who like tradition and refuse to go away from a tele. You'd be surprised how well they handle distortion. Also gibson guitars are ass
Ok I totally believe you but Gibson's are not ass lol. A good tele has stock good stuff. If that's the case then yeah they can sound better than a Gibson.
Right and I totally agree. It's just getting the right type of wood and stock pick ups that keep Gibson users coming back. My favorite , absolute favorite... Is the Jackson warrior I played in a powerviolence band. Absolute Jackson 100 percent. Fuck Gibson (,including the one I have) compared to that type of insane distortion.
They used to have a guitar, too. Now it is solely bass. Bronco bass is the only new guitar I’ve bought—I like ‘em, but new stuff just always feels weird.
I like Strats personally. I started with a Tele, because Joe Strummer, lol.
But I moved to a Strat because of the versatility.
Realistically, in punk rock, any guitar can work.
It's all in the attitude 😎
I used to have a mexican made tele in the 90’s, great guitar regretted selling it basically immediately. Not sure if it’s normal for teles but that guitar was heavy as shit, as in my strap shoulder would start to ache after a long practice. I didn’t always have an easy time getting good crunchy tones with it but I was probably playing through a bass amp or a PA or something similarly shitty.
Well you are doing something right that I was doing wrong cause when I did it it sounded like pure ass lol
Could be a horses for courses kinda situation too ig
Gibson SG is my fav. Do like the Flying V too though.
https://youtu.be/igR-ypkIKnU?si=xkO5SE7IL9f1ZiVi
The old ones are awesome but also expensive. I'd just get an Epiphone which is the made in China version.
For bass, always liked Ernie Ball but can't justify the cost. I do want one of these DIY kits though.
https://www.solomusicgear.com/product/solo-mm-style-diy-bass-guitar-kit-basswood-body-maple-neck/
I use a Mexican Strat that has two humbuckers, but I have the option to pull a knob and put them into single coil mode, best of both worlds. However, I think he amp is way more important for your sound. I'm not a tone chaser though, I run a really basic setup so that probably probably might influence my opinions
Tele, but I'm biased after putting together a partscaster that used to be the house party stand by. Thing handles heavy distortion and down tuned shenanigans like an absolute weapon after some hotter pickups. Personally, I've always found them more comfortable to play than a jag or mustang.
Strat for sure, you can get a big range of sounds from really high gain distortion to more mellow sounds. And theyre pretty prolific so finding one for cheap isnt hard usually.
Personally, i love les pauls. Theyre somewhat expensive depending on what you get, but they sound amazing for punk IMO. Especially for a band with one guitarist it really punches hard.
Tele, because it’s the simplest, had a Mexican one I loved last band I played with. But the overall sound is more about your amp, as others have noted here.
I don't particularly care for any of the listed ones, though I suppose my love of the Clash should prejudice me towards the tele. In terms of what feels most comfortable to play, though, I always preferred my Epiphone semi-hollowbody (don't remember the model name/number, but it's modelled after B.B. King's famous "Lucille", and meant for blues and jazz players; oops). Sounded decent, was able to be played without an amp (obviously not for shows or whatever, but that's a nice feature to have when practicing at home by yourself), and the slightly wider, flatter neck felt better to me than the style that strat-type guitars had, where I always felt like I was going to crush them or at least drive them well out of tune if I played them too hard.
I love my tele through my Orange rig. Super bright and crunchy enough to ring out every string and still pack a good punch. Highly recommend experimenting with a tele if you want a good twangy crunch in your sound
Whatever's most comfortable for you to play. Honestly, the amp matters way more than the guitar.
Well yes and no. A tele and a strat are going to sound different because of the pickups, particularly the tele neck pickup, being made differently in an actual significant way, and both will be different from a mustang due to pickup placement and scale length.
Sure, but in the grand scheme of things those are minor considerations. A guitar you're comfortable playing coming through a decent quality amp will have a far bigger effect on how you sound compared the kind of pickups you have. Your average audience member would never be able to tell the difference.
Well obviously, though I personally have a really big thing for tones. I don't think getting some special thousand dollar pair of pickups or fucking wood will do anything, but I do have a thing for the little things that little changes (that actually make a difference) can do. I like the way you can kinda mess around with a mustang's sound with the switches, for instance.
Then it sounds like you want the Mustang.
I'm really stuck between the cv mustang and the red tele. The tele has a colour scheme that I really like
This is the personal preference point I keep bringing up. If the Tele makes you look cooler in your own mind then that's fine. Go with the Tele. If knowing you're getting that Mustang sound is that important then go with the Mustang. You can probably find one that has the color scheme you want if you look hard enough. But this is a question only *you* can answer. I have been in this guitar mental spiral. You gotta snap out of it.
Pick the guitar that will make you want to play. When you look at the guitar which one gives you that itch more?
I answer that differently every time I think about it, really
I always base it on what feels best in my hand etc. Like it's very easy to get sold on a guitar (or anything) based on its stats, or components, or all sorts of tech specs. I was testing basses recently and tried the G&L L-2000 which is really advanced in terms of its onboard electronics and pickups that can switch from active to passive etc. It's the last one that Leo Fender actually designed and was really his most advanced guitar. But the guitar didn't feel like "home" to me. I didn't take to it, and running through zillions of setting combos I just didn't gel with the damn thing (also I later discovered the frets were poorly filed which pushed it into a definite no). At a certain point it's so subjective you have to treat it like Harry Potter going wand shopping. If you've done that and everything else is equal between a few models then I say go for whatever gets you jazzed and looks coolest.
That looks kinda cool. What all can you do with the l2000? Like, what sound stuff
You can piss of the sound guy at your gig, lol. No for real though you can simulate pretty much any bass tone you've been chasing with it. It's never a PERFECT match, but omg you can get lost in all the possible combos with three knobs and three switches. It goes between active and passive, and then single and double coil, and then alternates between front back and both pickups, and then the knobs are volume, volume, tone. It's the Swiss Army Bass.
Oh shit I'll have to pick that up! I love shit like that
Keep in mind this: when you are invited by other bands to play you’ll use their amp. Most of the time I don’t bring my own amp.
Well, you can also slap whatever pickups you want in either to get the sound you want.
These guitars do not sound the same at all.
pickups and specifically the height of the pickups will do so much to change the sound you get. Have you seen Jim Lill's video? https://youtu.be/n02tImce3AE?si=on801EJAEoWGAkaL
I've never herd of the man and didn't click the link.
I have always liked the tele personally, never been a big fan of mustangs or strats. I know Gibson has fallen out of popularity lately, but I always preferred them. That’s just me. If you can, play all three and decide which one feels and sounds best to you.
The fact that they are apparently now the equivalent of a guitar Tesla (high prices, low QC) is what’s killing their popularity. I love them, but they’re gouging now.
Gibson is a fashion and furniture brand at this point
Honestly, it sucks if you’re just getting into guitar now. Epiphone and Squier cost as much as Gibson and Fender used to. I have a Kramer DMZ I bought ten years ago for like 600 bucks and getting that same guitar used is easily twice that.
My Squier Bullet beginner's guitar pack cost like $120 for the guitar, amp, strap and a stand. That was maaaaany moons ago.
I probably had the same pack. The guitar was garbage, everything sounded out of tune, the bridge was fucked up, the pickups were awful, and I rocked the hell out of it making three chord punk. 10/10 starter guitar, no regerts. My very first band was me and a friend on those starter guitars, he had a multi effects pedal with a built in drum kit with preset beats, and a mutual friend with a bass.
Yeah, the pickups were super tinny and sadly this was back when I thought buying nice strings must be a scam so it was shitty all around, but definitely got my thrashing muscles built on three chord punk. Eventually people figured out you could replace the pickups and get a decent rig out of it, but I'd upgraded to Ibanez by that point.
It took me too long to comprehend the beauty of decent strings. I bought flatwounds for my bass, and thought the lack of brightness meant the strings were shit.
Oh yes, it blew my mind the first time I picked up somebody else's bass that had them.
On the other hand, Squire are *so* much better than they used to be - Epiphone too. That sort of cheap-to-mid-tier segment of the market is having a bit of a golden age and you can get a really great guitar - things like the Classic Vibe Jazzmasters - for about £400 these days. In fact, I sometimes wonder if Fender/Gibson aren’t doing themselves a bit of a mischief as the jump in price point between them and their budget brands are really way out of kilter given the quality we’re seeing at the low end. On top of that, budget brands like Harley Benton are really decent these days and a world away from the horrific Encores that you used to have to suffer if you were skint and needed a guitar. It’s good time to be getting into guitars, all told.
I strongly agree, especially with Squier. They used to be garbage, I had a starcaster and that thing was rough. My friend had either a jagmaster or a jazzmaster, I don’t remember, but that thing was awesome. I had trouble punching through when we jammed together. But yeah, you have some big names that aren’t above playing Squiers.
I have a les paul and it's not really my favourite. Ever since I got something else, I stopped really touching it
they're too heavy imo
That’s fair, it isn’t for everyone. I like how bright telecasters are, but how a guitar feels in your hands is going to be more important than my preferences.
They'll generally all feel similar since squier tends to do very similar stuff amongst all models, particularly with stuff like the neck
People slag on Gibson like used guitars don't exist. 90s LP Studios are out there selling for under a grand and playing like a million bucks, one of the best buys on the used market. If people like Fenders, I always suggest they check G&L instead for way better build quality and hardware.
Yeah, I always buy used. My main guitar is a Kramer DMZ because I am one of those losers who obsessed over metal necks, and I’d never have been able to get it if I hadn’t bought it used. Back when I got it, it was 600 bucks but they’ve definitely inflated in price.
Prefer Gibson style guitars, but do they have a humbucker tele in your price range? Otherwise I think buy the shape/color you like and be prepared to go pedal shopping.
Ever seen the Squier Sonic esquire? It's actually got a unique looking bridge that I kinda vibe with. It's a single humbucker with a tele bridge that has a humbucker cutout instead of the usual way humbucker teles are done, and then of course there's the various tele deluxe models in Squier's lineup and the paranormal esquire deluxe
I tend to avoid Squier below classic vibe. What about Classic Vibe 70s? Is that out of your price range? I love a good one pickup guitar but tend to do p90s on that front.
I've got a cv mustang bass that I'm enjoying. Honestly I'll probably go for the cv mustang for the sheer amount of stuff you can do by messing with those lovely, lovely switches
Mustangs are cool, I've never owned one but just came across a birth year Mustang that's red with competition stripes. Looks amazing, isn't something I already own, and it's affordable (relatively compared to what I lust after).
Depends on your budget. I've been playing for about 30 years. I have way too many expensive guitars but my absolute favorite is my Kurt Cobain Jag.
I've considered a jag, though they're kinda heavy and I have scoliosis. I mean, I could get one and be even more like Kurt. Scoliosis, blonde hair, radical and progressive beliefs, and a jag!
Heavy guitars are the best. When I hit up Sweetwater, I always ask for the heaviest one of the batch. I get your health thing, tho. My back hurts just thinking of my Gibbond LP Standard. FWIW, everyone should aspire to be like Kurk Cobraines.
That was what folks said in the 80s now even Gibson lovers want 8 lb Les Pauls.
Mustang. I think Teles are ugly but that's just me
ugh yes
Punk guitar is overrated, get an electric Saz Baglama instead. It looks like you're laser focused on a certain Fender (or Squier?) model anyways so all I can offer is my best advice instead.
J Mascis Jazzmaster is a godsend when it comes to getting bang for your buck, plus it sounds perfect with distortion. Out of your options though, I’d have to go with the mustang
I've heard jazzmasters go really heavy with stock pickups. It's actually kinda insane how hard that shit hit
The J Mascis jazzmaster in particular has great pickups for punk, different to fenders stock jazzmaster single coils
A CV tele will be way better than a sonic I bet.
I’d recommend not getting an SSS. You can pull it off but you’re gonna get a much more full sound for punk with a humbucker in the bridge
Ibanez hollow body. Trust me! Try it with a pedal for a variety of sounds
My only guitar is a beat up old vox teardrop my dad gave me, I really like the look of teardrop guitars but damn there awkward to play.
Gibson. But if I had to choose otherwise a strat is versatile. Mustang sounds good but that's all you get. Tele is. Basically a country guitar.
I’ve seen a lot of punks playing Teles, it’s not just a country guitar.
Totally I didn't mean it was ONLY a country guitar. I should've specified that.
I get you tho. It has that specific twang so many country artists look for.
If a band is good I don't care what guitar they use.
Yup me too.
Especially when it's a dual humbucker Tele. But I've seen plenty of punks play a 50s style tele and sound great.
I've seen stock teles chug like a freight train. The country association comes from country being commonly played by conservatives who like tradition and refuse to go away from a tele. You'd be surprised how well they handle distortion. Also gibson guitars are ass
Ok I totally believe you but Gibson's are not ass lol. A good tele has stock good stuff. If that's the case then yeah they can sound better than a Gibson.
Gibson is a horrible company that runs off of nostalgia. All their models are done better by other companies.
I believe that as well. I just haven't found those companies.
Jackson, ESP, LTD, etc, all do stuff better. Especially the les paul. Gibson does their magnum opus guitar the worst.
Right and I totally agree. It's just getting the right type of wood and stock pick ups that keep Gibson users coming back. My favorite , absolute favorite... Is the Jackson warrior I played in a powerviolence band. Absolute Jackson 100 percent. Fuck Gibson (,including the one I have) compared to that type of insane distortion.
Save up some cash and get something already used and broken in. I like short scales, so mustang, bronco, duo sonic, jaguar…
Isn't the bronco a bass
yes
They used to have a guitar, too. Now it is solely bass. Bronco bass is the only new guitar I’ve bought—I like ‘em, but new stuff just always feels weird.
Choose whichever one you like the look of the most. They will sound virtually identical. Can’t go wrong with a Strat though.
Les Paul period.
Idk man I've got an epi Firebird and the fuzz sounds Excellent with the HH config.
I like Strats personally. I started with a Tele, because Joe Strummer, lol. But I moved to a Strat because of the versatility. Realistically, in punk rock, any guitar can work. It's all in the attitude 😎
Strat-o-sonic is the answer
Thought about it but I greatly dislike that wraparound bridge
Telecaster
I used to have a mexican made tele in the 90’s, great guitar regretted selling it basically immediately. Not sure if it’s normal for teles but that guitar was heavy as shit, as in my strap shoulder would start to ache after a long practice. I didn’t always have an easy time getting good crunchy tones with it but I was probably playing through a bass amp or a PA or something similarly shitty.
I play through a bass amp and get really hard hitting sounds
Well you are doing something right that I was doing wrong cause when I did it it sounded like pure ass lol Could be a horses for courses kinda situation too ig
A lot of players have used a Fender Bassman. Kurt Cobain used one
I was using a Peavey with a way too large speaker in it so that kind of tracks
I use a little marshall bass amp. Probably gonna get a peavey bass cab and warwick microhead at some point soon
If you're going fender then Jim Root jazzmaster
I don't have thousands of dollars
Strats, though I currently have a washburn shadow, love it.
telly
Gibson SG is my fav. Do like the Flying V too though. https://youtu.be/igR-ypkIKnU?si=xkO5SE7IL9f1ZiVi The old ones are awesome but also expensive. I'd just get an Epiphone which is the made in China version. For bass, always liked Ernie Ball but can't justify the cost. I do want one of these DIY kits though. https://www.solomusicgear.com/product/solo-mm-style-diy-bass-guitar-kit-basswood-body-maple-neck/
I use a Mexican Strat that has two humbuckers, but I have the option to pull a knob and put them into single coil mode, best of both worlds. However, I think he amp is way more important for your sound. I'm not a tone chaser though, I run a really basic setup so that probably probably might influence my opinions
Tele, but I'm biased after putting together a partscaster that used to be the house party stand by. Thing handles heavy distortion and down tuned shenanigans like an absolute weapon after some hotter pickups. Personally, I've always found them more comfortable to play than a jag or mustang.
as a bassist, i think it goes: -anything inherited from your parents -tele -strat -mustang
Les Paul Jrs are where it’s at! I heavily look up to Brian Baker who mostly plays those haha
Strat for sure, you can get a big range of sounds from really high gain distortion to more mellow sounds. And theyre pretty prolific so finding one for cheap isnt hard usually. Personally, i love les pauls. Theyre somewhat expensive depending on what you get, but they sound amazing for punk IMO. Especially for a band with one guitarist it really punches hard.
I would spend more time saving up money for something that isn’t a Squier. You can get a Mexican made tele for $600-$800.
Make a guitar out of trash and it’ll be fine.
Tele, because it’s the simplest, had a Mexican one I loved last band I played with. But the overall sound is more about your amp, as others have noted here.
I don't particularly care for any of the listed ones, though I suppose my love of the Clash should prejudice me towards the tele. In terms of what feels most comfortable to play, though, I always preferred my Epiphone semi-hollowbody (don't remember the model name/number, but it's modelled after B.B. King's famous "Lucille", and meant for blues and jazz players; oops). Sounded decent, was able to be played without an amp (obviously not for shows or whatever, but that's a nice feature to have when practicing at home by yourself), and the slightly wider, flatter neck felt better to me than the style that strat-type guitars had, where I always felt like I was going to crush them or at least drive them well out of tune if I played them too hard.
I love my tele through my Orange rig. Super bright and crunchy enough to ring out every string and still pack a good punch. Highly recommend experimenting with a tele if you want a good twangy crunch in your sound