Telecasters vs. Stratocaster: Which is Best for a Beginner?

If you’re after a beginner’s guitar, then you’ve probably heard a lot about the Stratocaster and Telecaster.

They’re two of the most iconic electric guitars ever produced and have a great reputation. There’s a huge range of different models to suit every budget, from the premium Fender models to the more affordable Squier brand.

But which is actually the best electric guitar for a beginner?

In this post, I’ll go through all the similarities and differences between the Stratocaster and Telecaster. This in depth comparison will also address the bih question, which should you choose for your first guitar.

A Quick Comparison

Here’s a really quick rundown of the main features of each electric guitar.

Feature	Stratocaster	Telecaster
Body Shape	Double Cutaway, Contoured	Single Cutaway, Flat
Pickups	Three single-coil	Two single-coil
Neck Shape	C-Shape/ V-Shape	C-Shape/ U-Shape
Frets	22	22
Scale Length	25.5”	25.5”
Bridge	Floating Tremolo Bridge	String-Through Bridge
Tone Knobs	2	1
Weight	8 pounds (3.6 kg)	8 pounds (3.6 kg)

Here are links to entry-level Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars so you can compare prices:

Sound

Both guitars have single coil pickups which produce that bright and twangy sound that you associate with Strats and Teles. The main difference in tone is due to the addition of a pickup in the middle of the Strat. This three pickup configuration, plus the extra tone control gives you added versatility.

The classic Stratocaster also has a tremolo bridge which allows you to add a vibrato effect to your playing, without requiring the addition of an effects pedal. The Tele has a fixed bridge so will not give you this effect.

Look

Both guitars have an iconic look. The Strat has a double cutaway design, whereas the Tele has one single cutaway. The Strat is also contoured and curved, unlike the Tele which has a very flat body.

Both guitars have the same number of frets, and scale length. You also get pretty similar colour options with each, and the addition of a pickguard.

Feel

The Tele’s flatter body can sometimes feel less comfortable compared to the contours on the Strat. Most Fender and Squier Strats and Teles in the same price bracket have the same neck profile so feel similar otherwise.

In terms of similarities, both guitars weight roughly the same and have the same scale length, although the Strat is longer when you take into account the headstock.

Which is Best for a Beginner?

When it comes to deciding which guitar is best, it is all down to personal preference, so I’d always say the best thing to do is to try both guitars, and see which one you prefer.

However, in my opinion, I think the Stratocaster is probably more suitable for most beginners for the following reasons.

The contoured body is more comfortable to hold.
The double cutaway helps access to the high frets, again improving playability.
The three coil pickup configuration and dual tone controls allow for extra versatility in terms of sound.

However, there are several arguments that the Telecaster is better for beginners such as:

The Tele has simpler controls
The bridge design is more simplistic on the Tele so the guitar is easier to keep in tune and the strings are easier to change

Even with that said though, there are plenty of reasons why you may still prefer the Telecaster, even if you’re a complete beginner. So make sure you try both and see which you prefer.

Key Features

Now we’ve been through a quick comparison between the two electric guitars, I’ll run through the main features of each in more detail.

Body

The body shapes of the Tele and Strat vary quite significantly, and this impacts the look, but also the feel of the guitar and how easy they are to play.

The Stratocaster has a double cutaway design and contoured body. This is great for two things. The double cutaway design makes it easy to reach the high frets. And the contoured body feels comfortable to hold when both sitting and standing. These two features are often appreciated by beginners.

The Telecaster on the other hand, has a single cutaway design and a flat body without any contouring. This makes it a bit harder to reach the top frets of the guitar, and it can be a little uncomfortable to hold for a long time. Although, some players, no matter their experience, can prefer the feel of the Tele compared to the Strat.

Most Teles and Strats have an alder or ash body on premium Fender models, and a cheaper Poplar body on more affordable Squier models.

Neck

There are a number of similarities and differences between the necks of Telecasters and Stratocasters which affect how they play, and hence how good they are for a first guitar. Keep in mind though, that individual models can vary, this is just a comparison between the standard features.

We’ll start with the similarities. Both guitars have a 25.5″ scale which is pretty large, especially compared to other big guitar models like the Gibson Les Paul and PRS Custom 24. Both guitars also have 22 frets and usually a bolt-on neck construction. They also usually have maple necks.

Strat necks are usually either a C-shape or a V-shape, which is the most common electric guitar neck profile. Tele necks are typically either a C-shape or U-shape.

Strat and Tele in the same series (e.g Player, American Performer etc.) usually have the same neck profile.

Pickups

Both electric guitars have single coil pickups. You can get some guitars which have humbuckers instead, but the standard models have only single coils.

This means you get a twangy, bright tone that’s well suited to clean or low-gain amp settings. If you crank the gain up, you can start to get some humming background noise. Check out this post on the main pickup types to learn more.

The main difference is, that you get 3 pickups with the Strat, and 2 with the Tele. This different pickup configuration changes the number of different tones you can achieve. With 3 pickups, you can get 5 possible tones, but with 2 pickups, then you can only get 3 possible tones.

If you don’t know much about this topic and want to learn more, then check out this pickup configuration 101.

Another difference is that you get two tone pots with Strat, and only one with a Tele. Having more tone pots (aka controls or knobs), gives you more options when it comes to dialling in the perfect tone.

For some beginners, this isn’t really necessary and can be an over-complication. But other newer players prefer having more variety and versatility.

Bridge

One of the most notable differences between the Strat and Tele, is the bridge type. Telecasters have a string-through bridge, and Stratocasters have a synchronised tremolo bridge.

The Strat’s bridge allows you to use a tremolo arm to add a vibrato effect to your playing, without using an effects pedal. But the Tele does not have this option.

The tremolo arm on the Strat is great for adding an extra effect to your playing, but it’s not completely necessary, especially for a beginner. It can be difficult to setup, keep in tune, and change the strings. So sometimes this can add unnecessary complication, and some beginners may prefer the more fuss-free Telecaster bridge.

Price and Options

Now we’ve been through all the key features, let’s talk about the different options and prices.

The original manufacturer of both the Telecaster and Stratocaster, is Fender. This is a brand with an iconic and rich history. They produce very high-quality premium instruments, but also have some lower end models. Generally the low-end Fender guitars cost around $700 and the top end models cost several thousand.

If you want a more affordable beginner’s electric guitar, then you’re best off going for a Squier brand guitar. The company Squier is owned by Fender and produces much more affordable guitars starting from around $130.

There are also many different guitars in the Squier and Fender range. Here’s a quick rundown of each series ranging from least to most expensive.

Squier

The entry level model.
Affinity: affordable and traditional.
Standard: the most true to the Fender line.
Classic Vibe: designed to best emulate iconic Fender guitars.
Contemporary: a modern twist on the classic guitars.

Fender

Player: the most affordable option.
American Performer: most affordable USA model
American Professional: standard USA made model.
American Ultra/ Elite: more premium USA made options.
Custom Shop: top of the range.

If you’re interested in purchasing a Squier or Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, the check out Guitar Center for some great deals.

Here are links to entry-level Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars so you can compare prices:

Looking for a more in-depth comparison? Check out my complete comparison between the Stratocaster and Telecaster

Summary

This has been a pretty big article, so I thought it’d be best to summarise everything and keep things super clear. So this brings us back the original question. Which is best for a beginner, the Strat or the Tele?

My first guitar was a Squier Stratocaster, and I found it really great to learn on. The three pickups and two tone controls gives you plenty of versatility, the body is contoured and the double cutaway increases playabilty. I personally think it makes a great option for a beginner.

That doesn’t mean that the Telecaster isn’t the best option for you though. Check out both guitars in the store to see which one you prefer in terms of the sound, feel and looks. It all depends what’s important and feels best to you. Here’s a quick picture to sum up the pros and cons of each guitar.

I’ve written a complete buyer’s guide for electric guitars which takes you through all the things you need to consider and a step-by-step method to narrowing down your selection and choosing the best option. Here is a link to the article.

So there you go! There’s the in-depth comparison between Stratocasters and Telecasters for beginners! I hope you’ve found this article helpful, thanks for reading. Here are some other posts you might find useful: