Fender

fender_guitar1

At the center of the Fender Electric Guitar line is the Telecaster (Tele) and the Stratocaster (Strat). Used together or separately, these two guitars create a resonance that is recognizable throughout the music industry.

The Telecaster became the signature instrument for early country musicians. Dubbed as the "working mans" guitar, its clarity of tone drove to the heart of country music. Blues and Soul guitarists like Muddy Waters and Steve Cropper used the Telecaster exclusively for large parts of their careers. It became a staple in Rock and was used by Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen and so many others.

Strat 3 pick up design

The Fender Stratocaster is a three coil pickup design with a floating bridge that allows players to control the tone through the use of a tremolo bar (where the Telecaster has just one pickup and a fixed bridge). Many artists fixed the floating bridge on the Stratocaster into one position. This kept the guitar in tune and allowed for better vibration transfer of the strings to the body of the guitar. To really hear the signature sound of the Stratocaster, Mark Knopfler's work as a member of Dire Straits comes to mind. Knopfler used a 1961/62 Strat as his primary guitar. The lead on Sultans of Swing is one of many that feature the guitars trademark sound.

The difference in bridge set ups and pickups between the Strat and Tele set off a friendly war amongst Fender enthusiasts in regards to which sounded better. It's really a matter of personal preference. Both the Strat and the Tele have bright clean tones.

The real difference maker in sound for these two models is the addition of the extra pickups on the Stratocaster. By selecting either the bridge pickup, middle pickup, neck pickup or a combination of these, sounds can range from bright and punchy, to full and mellow.

Other Fender Electric Guitar Brands to consider:

* Squier
* Mustang
* Guild
* Benedetto
* Jackson
* Charvel
* EVH guitars

A recent acquisition of Kaman Music Corp. added the Hamer brand to the Fender list.

Take a look at some great deals on Fender guitars. To see other results for Fender guitars try searching for the specific brand you are looking for using the search window in the upper right corner.