I can't make strat's sing!

[danglybanger]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

I agree, which is why I have a wide assortment of Gibson-style designs: LP, SG, 335, Flying V, thinline hollowbody, & full-depth hollowbody.

Reminds me of people around here saying "I like both kinds of music, country and western :laugh2:"

Anyway, as for the short scale being an impediment to Gibson players playing Fenders... That (and the darker tone, no icepicky bridge) is why I think most Gibson players would be happier with a Mustang than a Strat.

 

[blueman335]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Reminds me of people around here saying "I like both kinds of music, country and western :laugh2:"

Anyway, as for the short scale being an impediment to Gibson players playing Fenders... That (and the darker tone, no icepicky bridge) is why I think most Gibson players would be happier with a Mustang than a Strat.

Maybe... if Mustangs weren't so darn ugly.

"Country and Western": Ha! Well, there's certainly more variety to the design and sound of Gibson's popular models (LP, SG, 335, Flying V, Firebird, Explorer, ES175, ES330/Casino, etc) than to the two models that account for 95% of Fender's sales. Leo peaked in 1954, while Ted and the boys (Gibson) were just getting started. The innovation in the models introduced in 1958 alone exceeds what any other guitar company has come up with, ever. If you're going to be in one camp or the other, looks like Gibson's got the bigger assortment.

 

[JeffB]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

PRS sucks

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Don't know how you Fender players manage to get to the same destination, but some of you do, and more power to you.

Music is the destination....Gibson, Fender...doesn't really matter. It is all just personal preference.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Maybe... if Mustangs weren't so darn ugly.

"Country and Western": Ha! Well, there's certainly more variety to the design and sound of Gibson's popular models (LP, SG, 335, Flying V, Firebird, Explorer, ES175, ES330/Casino, etc) than to the two models that account for 95% of Fender's sales. Leo peaked in 1954, while Ted and the boys (Gibson) were just getting started. The innovation in the models introduced in 1958 alone exceeds what any other guitar company has come up with, ever. If you're going to be in one camp or the other, looks like Gibson's got the bigger assortment.

Wow, a "mostly" civilized encounter with Blueman

The Mustang is ugly compared to the Jaguar Other than that it's one of the first guitar designs that really struck me as amazing (looking) personally...

To my ears, the Strat and Tele sound fairly different and offer significantly different tonal options with the different pickup and control configurations, while LPs, SGs, Explorers, Vs are all ballpark enough. Variations in tone between them seem as diverse as variations in tone between one model of guitar. The Firebird and ES4234324@#$@ models by nature are something a bit different, but as for Gibson's mainstream models, as configured I find they mostly play and sound similarly, or at least moreso than comparing a Strat's glass to a Tele's bark and twang... But while you can generallize the SG and LP sounds, it's easier to find an SG sounding LP than a Tele sounding Strat, so to speak.

Not to mention that Fender also made the Tele Deluxe, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Mustang etc., which all go more diverse than Gibson's arrangement (and are at least equally popular as the "unpopular" Gibsons), each with their own tonal circuits, pickups, bridges etc.

In terms of innovation, I think Fender's packaging and construction of the strat has to eclipse Gibson in the late 50s (I can't see what you're refering to about that year other than adding a flamed top and buckers to a traditionally built solidbody?), and since 1958 I'd probably say that Fender has tried more bridge and pickup designs... Though both companies are stagnant in design today and for a while, imo.

Gibson had its forays with active/low impedance pickups too (probably less successful as Fender's attempts and shorter lived), but I guess it's less about innovation than tone anyway...

 

[ErikH]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Good grief, this Gibson versus Fender thing gets OLD real fast. If you like Gibsons, FINE, play 'em. If you like Fenders, FINE, play 'em. There's no reason to be so harsh against one if you play the other. Neither one is better than the other. The only thing they share is they are guitars. Everything else is totally different. Just shut up and play.

Sheesh, and I thought guitar lovers appreciated all sorts of different types and styles.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

I don't view this as an argument, I've had arguments with Blueman in the past, but since he appears to be at least acting more calmly than usual it seemed like a decent time to go against my policy of avoiding the discussion and really having an ideological talkout. :laugh2: Hopes are that this will be more of a discussion, anyone apt to "argue" is hopefully too tired of arguing to join in at this point as it is a wasteful subject to talk about, unless you're like me and really are suicidally curious as to why Blueman thinks that Gibson innovated in 1958 more than Fender has since its inception...

In fact, I don't think I addressed how GOOD the respective guitars sounded at all, Gibson or Fender, so I'm not insulting anyone's taste. Or not trying to.

And this thread has gone on too long about other boring things anyway and already been hijacked enough times that it doesn't dirty the board too much to talk about it We could take it to PM I guess but that strikes me as rather... gay.

 

[uOpt]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Rating which of my guitars I can make "sing" reasonably easy and which are difficult for me I come up 50:50 Gibson style and Fender style.

I don't think this is it. And neither does Gilmour

 

[ErikH]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

I don't see it as an argument either. Just the same old smelly stuff in thread after thread after thread when the two makes are even remotely brought up in a guitar thread.

And for the record, all my guitars sings how I want them to. It took making some changes here and there, but in the end, a good setup, and I mean GOOD setup, makes all the difference, no matter what pickups, finish or what have you, are in/on the guitar. Sure, talent has something to do with it, but a good setup goes a long way.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Off topic yes, but he started it so he's to blame, I called him out so I'm to blame, it's the same discussion yes, but largely that's the type of discourse this board is based on, I think by now we've all talked about just about everything before; but if we used the search function every time, this place would be more boring at least (though some may still say better).

I could call the whole situation childish and find that grounds for my own shutting my trap, but maybe I don't post here enough lately and am not sufficiently tired of it any more. So as it is I'll just run with it and just for the benefit of my own ears keep the discussion going in as civilized a way I can find, and apologize if that's uncivilized board conduct in the first place.

 

[ErikH]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Better you than me....LOL

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Here is some reversed school of thought. After playing nothing but a Strat for 10 years, I got my 1st LP. Everyone who heard me said I sounded much better with my Strat? WTF? I soon realized that I needed to lighten my picking attack with the LP.It's all about finesse with a LP.(IMO) You can play a Strat with finesse, But when you get brutal with it...It will Sing,Scream,Moan,Cry. Basically do anything you will it to do.k:

 

[guitarded]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

I don't have any finesse. Every tone I pull from my Fenders is done with brute force and I can take a single a note and make it sound 10 different ways just by changing the attack. I just feel like Strats / Teles become more like an extension of what I hear in my head while doing improvised solo'ing and I am way more confident with them.

Here is some reversed school of thought. After playing nothing but a Strat for 10 years, I got my 1st LP. Everyone who heard me said I sounded much better with my Strat? WTF? I soon realized that I needed to lighten my picking attack with the LP.It's all about finesse with a LP.(IMO) You can play a Strat with finesse, But when you get brutal with it...It will Sing,Scream,Moan,Cry. Basically do anything you will it to do.k:

 

[Stratman]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Lower the pups, use heaver gauge strings, raise the strings, and pick with attack.






PS: You are not SRV!

 

[alex1fly]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Good grief, this Gibson versus Fender thing gets OLD real fast. If you like Gibsons, FINE, play 'em. If you like Fenders, FINE, play 'em. There's no reason to be so harsh against one if you play the other. Neither one is better than the other. The only thing they share is they are guitars. Everything else is totally different. Just shut up and play.

Sheesh, and I thought guitar lovers appreciated all sorts of different types and styles.

Lol. Fender player = Gibson player = stubborn player. Guitar player = musician. Burn! :firedevil

 

[alex1fly]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Burn as in ooh, diss, not as in "I hope you die" or anything.

 

[guitarded]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

I don't think it needs to go there. First of all there are actually other guitars besides Fenders and Gibsons. Secondly to be a well rounded player you should be able to use what is at hand. What kind of guitar I use depends largely on the style of music and what the other guitar player uses. My current project does a lot of twin guitar, so the blending of tones is very important.

Good grief, this Gibson versus Fender thing gets OLD real fast. If you like Gibsons, FINE, play 'em. If you like Fenders, FINE, play 'em. There's no reason to be so harsh against one if you play the other. Neither one is better than the other. The only thing they share is they are guitars. Everything else is totally different. Just shut up and play.

Sheesh, and I thought guitar lovers appreciated all sorts of different types and styles.

 

[guitarded]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

I thought you meant get some lighter fluid and play Purple Haze

Burn as in ooh, diss, not as in "I hope you die" or anything.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

I tell ya, this forum, and these kinds of threads actually negatively influences my playing.
I just to be a grip and rip kind of guy. I would find a guitar I liked the look, feel and sound of and let the music fly.
Now as my knowledge of scale length, intonation issues, wiring differences, etc....
My brain is so cluttered with the technical aspect of music it's much more difficult to get into the Art side.
I had a feeling this thread would turn into Fender vs Gibson, Ford vs Chevy,
Boxers vs Briefs, front to back vs back to front.

As for making strat's sing, I guess since I have big hands I've always felt more comfortable with heavier strings, a bit higher action, and playing it like I hate it. Which would probably explain why I don't have an issue there. When I play my 335 copy, I'm usually playing jazz, where I'm not really laying into it with my right hand nearly as much, or bending a bunch of notes using vibrato to sustain it.
See there I go thinking again... nothing good has EVER come from that.:34:

 

[blueman335]

Re: I can't make strat's sing!

Off topic yes, but he started it so he's to blame, I called him out so I'm to blame, it's the same discussion yes, but largely that's the type of discourse this board is based on, I think by now we've all talked about just about everything before; but if we used the search function every time, this place would be more boring at least (though some may still say better).

You're right. If we discouraged topics that some members are "tired of", then you're right, what would we talk about? The weather? I'm sure all of us are sick of posts about something. But we don't barge in and make a big deal about it (at least Danglybanger & I are gentlemen enough not to).

But really, I don't see how we can constantly come up with new & exciting material to talk about on a daily basis. Almost everything here is rehashed, usually when a new member joins with questions and we all give our opinions and tell him the other members are full of hot air (a forum tradition). And since there are so many new members who haven't heard the full spectrum of topics, by gosh, they just may get resurrected so that the new guys get up to speed, and can make their own informed decisions, like we did.

Seems like a normal, healthy process to me.