Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

Jayleb

New member
Hi,
I've got a les paul studio and love the feel and tone of it. However sometimes I want it sounding a lil bit like a strat... Has anyone got any tips how this can be done easily?!
Thanks
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

Welcome to the forum!

There are so many differences between an LP and a Strat, that I don't know if it is really possible. However, it is easier to make a Strat sound like an LP than the other way around. One thing is the pickups- putting a single coil pickup in the LP still won't sound like a Strat. You can split the coils of one or both of your LP's pickups, and that can certainly help, though (or run them in parallel). All you need is 4 conductor pickups and the right kind of switch.
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

In short: No. The bolt on neck and the longer scale makes the basic tone different. Pups like the StagMag could mimick the strat electrics, but not the basic tone.
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

No, but you can get some bright twangy tones by putting the selector switch in the middle position, and experimenting with different volume and tone control setting for each pickup. Try high volume setting on the bridge pickup and low settings on the neck pickup with the tone controls set bright.
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

as everyone said, short answer is no. splitting the pups can give you some usable brighter thinner tones, i think its worth it to have as an option but it wont sound like a strat
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

Changing the head-stock might help.;)

fender-les-paul-standard.thumbnail.jpg




;>)/
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

Thanks, I guess I'll just fiddle around with the tone controls until I find something similar...
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

Why not just keep the Les Paul the way it is and just buy a Strat.;)
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

Why not just keep the Les Paul the way it is and just buy a Strat.;)

Yup....I’m a Gibson man through and through.
But I also own both a Strat and a Tele. They get sounds that the Les Paul just can’t.
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

It will never sound like a strat...but you can do some tweaks to get some cool tones.
Try adding coil taps and possibly a series/parallel switch.
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

The answer is no, but the brighter tones of a split Humbucker will get you some alternate tones.
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

While we're at it, is there a pedal that will make my sousaphone sound like a mandolin?
 
Re: Can I make my Les Paul sound like a Strat?

Let me guess... you've never actually tried it. Am I right? :)

/Peter

I don't have to. I have tried something more primitive than this : Rakarack and it did a good job in basic real time tracking. I have tried boss sy300 and it was great. Jamorigin lies somewhere in between, so you get the picture.
But the real reason I haven't tried this is because I use only Linux/Unix.
 
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