Simple And Terrible Machines
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Simple And Terrible Machines
1–10 of 13 posts
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#2The author thinks the Telecaster is very hard to improve on. But the bridge design is ergonomically and technically really bad. There are small screws pointing out towards the strumming hand, just waiting to draw blood. And the intonation is only adjustable on string pairs.
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#3The author thinks the Telecaster is very hard to improve on. But the bridge design is ergonomically and technically really bad. There are small screws pointing out towards the strumming hand, just waiting to draw blood. And the intonation is only adjustable on string pairs.
I came here to type this! As a former (sads) guitarist the big three(Strat, Tele, Les Paul) electric designs are all flawed and compromised designs IMO. Don't get me wrong I love the sound and feel of the better examples but many guitars are far better designed now. It's quite a bit like C vs C++ vs Rust. C is still usable and for the right player (programmer) it's a powerful instrument. Much like a tele was called a truth machine for a long time, meaning the limited design doesn't forgive mistakes very well much like C.
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#4If you're interested in how simple they can get, "Tested: Where Does The Tone Come From In An Electric Guitar?" is a fun and technically-interesting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n02tImce3AE
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#5If you're interested in how simple they can get, "Tested: Where Does The Tone Come From In An Electric Guitar?" is a fun and technically-interesting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n02tImce3AE
That vid blew me away.
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#6The author thinks the Telecaster is very hard to improve on. But the bridge design is ergonomically and technically really bad. There are small screws pointing out towards the strumming hand, just waiting to draw blood. And the intonation is only adjustable on string pairs.
I came here to type this! As a former (sads) guitarist the big three(Strat, Tele, Les Paul) electric designs are all flawed and compromised designs IMO. Don't get me wrong I love the sound and feel of the better examples but many guitars are far better designed now. It's quite a bit like C vs C++ vs Rust. C is still usable and for the right player (programmer) it's a powerful instrument. Much like a tele was called a…
In your opinion, what are the best electric designs available today (that aren't crazy expensive)? Would also be interested in acoustic options!
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#7The author thinks the Telecaster is very hard to improve on. But the bridge design is ergonomically and technically really bad. There are small screws pointing out towards the strumming hand, just waiting to draw blood. And the intonation is only adjustable on string pairs.
I think your example, i.e. the bridge construction, is actually addressed when the author discusses changes or update of the ‘implementation’ of a Tele vs the design of the Tele. He addresses the inclusion of noiseless pickups as an example of an implementation detail. I don’t think it is a stretch to include a modern construction six saddle bridge (although I think a term would veer towards changing design and not be an implementation detail).
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#8I feel like zig is aiming for this space. Might he just a hair too complex, but time will tell.
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#9The author thinks the Telecaster is very hard to improve on. But the bridge design is ergonomically and technically really bad. There are small screws pointing out towards the strumming hand, just waiting to draw blood. And the intonation is only adjustable on string pairs.
I came here to type this! As a former (sads) guitarist the big three(Strat, Tele, Les Paul) electric designs are all flawed and compromised designs IMO. Don't get me wrong I love the sound and feel of the better examples but many guitars are far better designed now. It's quite a bit like C vs C++ vs Rust. C is still usable and for the right player (programmer) it's a powerful instrument. Much like a tele was called a…
I would be interested in what you include in a group of better designed guitars than those three. More to the point, I’m really interested in what features of the proposed better designs you are finding and why they make such a difference.
As an aside, I just can not imagine comparing any three electric guitars and finding so much separation as to warrant a C/C++/Rust analogy. To my mind, the design of the electric guitar is so similar in pertinent detail between Leo’s Broadcaster and a 2022 custom luthier made electric that I wouldn’t even know which language to use in the analogy.
Re: Simple And Terrible Machines
#10The author thinks the Telecaster is very hard to improve on. But the bridge design is ergonomically and technically really bad. There are small screws pointing out towards the strumming hand, just waiting to draw blood. And the intonation is only adjustable on string pairs.
My Tele has a six saddle bridge, so the intonation is fine but now there's twice as many screws to cut yourself on. I like to think the guitar demands a tribute in blood before it'll sound good, certainly I've bled into it a lot over the years.