Vote! WhichVote! -- Gibson SG Standard or Fender American Standard Telecaster

[BostonRedSox]

Which would you rather own? I am getting one or the other for my birthday from my wife. I have a feeling she is going to choose the Telecaster because it doesn't look "mean," but who knows. I am leaving the decision up to her, considering it is a gift and I figure I can't go wrong either way.

I am asking because I have little experience with both. I had an SG for a week before returning it to get an amp I wanted. I barely had time to play and bond with it, so I really can't say anything about it. Either way, I am very excited for NGD!

[SGNick]

Definitely the SG, but that's just me...

[BostonRedSox]

And, so it begins ...

[BostonRedSox]

Wow, the Tele is really winning out so far.

[TresGatos]

What is your skill level and what are you used to playing?

If you don't really care which you get, then either will be just fine.

Some SGs have horribly shaped necks where pretty much the whole range of Teles have good neck shapes.

Enjoy the new toy and happy birthday.

[BostonRedSox]

Thanks TresGatos! I am leaving this decision up to my wife. I have many American Standard and Deluxe Stratocasters already, but she asked me what kind of guitar I wanted, so I gave the those two options to choose from. Either will make me happy, but I suspect she'll choose the Tele because she is a bit put off from the SG body shape. She is going to go look at them in person and superficially choose a style that she likes, then order one untouched online.

I play really anything and everything. I guess I don't play metal, but everything else is fair game and fun to experiment and play with. At the end of the day, for most styles and genres it is all about knowing your notes, chords, and being creative. I definitely haven't worked on my metal chops, that's for sure!

The one thing I hear on most forums is that the Tele, even though it is a rather simple instrument, is truly a guitar player's guitar. That is actually how I've always felt about Stratocaster's with humbuckers in the bridge -- they can just do it all, and do most of it really well. If she gets me the Tele, it will be a welcome change to have a single coil in the bridge. All of my Strats have humbuckers in the bridge. I am not a vintage fanatic and never cared for the single coil bridge Strats, because frankly I like a good humbucker in my bridge for some gainy rhythm playing.

Either way, I am excited. I am surprised that the Tele is winning this vote though -- I thought the love for SGs was bigger. I also had a Flying V on the list, but my wife hated the idea of buying me one of those! Ah, well, I'll just have to surprise her with one the next time I choose a guitar for myself! As a young guy (29), I've never considered a Tele really because it seemed so block-like. If I get one, it'll definitely be fun to acquaint myself with it.

I'll let you all know which guitar and style I got on Wednesday. As for my skill level, I am a good guitarist and weekend gigger. I can hold my own just fine, I know my chords and scales, understand playing modally, etc. I can definitely play, but there is always stuff to work on, no?

[dsmc80]

Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but at the end of the day I will always take a Tele. To me they have such a broad palette of usable tones. They can easily go from chickin pickin, to funk to jazz to metal and beyond. My favorite tool for almost any job.

[dcooper830]

Yeah that would be a truly difficult decision for me.

Fortunately...... I have BOTH in my arsenal and I enjoy them equally. I'd hate to have to choose.

Although...... my Teles are an American Special and a '52 AVRI........ so I don't have an American Standard.

But nonetheless..... I'm covered in both the SG and Tele departments.


I'd say...... since you already have some Strats for Fender sounds.... You should get the SG Standard so you can have some Gibson sounds.

But then again...... no guitarist should have to live without a Tele in their collection.

[WordMan]

The Tele is the most versatile solidbody out there, simple, reliable and, after you learn to get your sound out of one, makes you a better player on most other guitars.

The SG is a cool example of a Gibson-layout guitar with its own vibe.

A Tele is the first guitar I would buy if I had to replace my gear; an SG would be in the Top 10, but down the line...

[BostonRedSox]

The SG is seeming to catch up to the Tele in votes!

[THebert]

SG here- all the way.

[Jaan]

Tele.

[sputniksavoy]

you get an sg once you have a tele.......

[hipcat]

tele

[BostonRedSox]

Wowzers, the Tele seems to have reclaimed a good lead -- no pun intended!

I hope if my wife gets me a Tele, she gets the Candy Cola red one, with maple fretboard. If it is the SG, the I hope it is the black one -- which I know will not be the case! She is already a bit terrified at the masculinity of the SG, I doubt she'd get me a black one! Who knows though?

Clearly, she is going to choose this based on superficial means, but I am sure I'll love either guitar a lot -- plus, change is GOOD! I trust Fender's quality control a lot. They seem to consistently put out great guitars. I am not familiar with Gibson however, but I've read a lot of bashing on their quality on a lot of forums. I sense though that the bashing is probably a little overblown, no? I've seen a few Fenders at GC that have the most obvious paint flaws, which I am guessing must've slipped through their QC somehow.