Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

[Mukobi]

Hello,

I like to play both blues and jazz. My favorite blues artists are SRV, Robben Ford, and Clapton, and I like the jazz tones of Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, or the cliche rolled-highs jazz guitar sound. I play into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (non-III version, if it matters).

The problem is, I have a Dean Evo Special Select right now (pretty much Dean's take on the Les Paul), and while it is good for jazz and some of Robben Ford's stuff, it's rather lacking in the SRV or Clapton departments, as a LP should.

As I can't afford both right now, I was wondering if I should consider selling my Dean and getting a MIM or Classic Vibe Strat. I know it can definitely do the blues stuff I want to do but not if it can still be good for jazz (maybe the real question is can a strat do jazz well?). I know some people say the strat was never meant to play jazz, and some say they like strat jazz tones better than humbucker jazz tones. What would you guys do in this scenario?

Thanks!

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

IMO it'd be easier to get good clean jazz tones by rolling back the tone controls on a Strat than it would be to get SRV/Clapton tones from a Les Paul. It won't give you the warm woody sound of a big hollowbody, but unless you need that specific flavor of jazz tone and since you are looking for a pretty specific flavor of blues tone, my first impulse says go for the Strat.

Still, LPs do a great blues tone in the neck position, and given the right settings and touch could get pretty close to SRV territory. You might think about parallel or split wiring for your Dean as an option.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

Well the thing is that you could get the Strat but then your jazz tones will suffer. You keep the Les Paul and you don't quite nail those blues rock bands you love.

The best thing to do in this situation is to keep the Dean and save up for the Strat, too. Pinch whatever pennies you gotta pinch (put a change jar in your kitchen away from the front door and every time you get change back from buying something, put it in there. That's how I've saved up for stuff). If you sell one for the other, you'll end up regretting it and buying it back.

And when you do get that new Strat, this is what I recommend for an inexpensive but wonderful guitar (yes they do exist).

http://shop.fender.com/en-US/squier...r/deluxe-stratocaster/0300500504.html#start=1

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

You can get a Strat with HH routing, put a humbucker in the neck for jazz, a single coil in the bridge for the SRV tone.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

Wire both HB's for spin-a-split, which lets you dial in each one to make them brighter and thinner. Don't forget, SRV used other guitars besides Strats, as does Clapton on occasion, in fact both have used 335's.

 

[Χάρης]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

Unless you're a Dean fan, I don't see why you'd get a Dean over a strat for Blues and Jazz.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

Unless you're a Dean fan, I don't see why you'd get a Dean over a strat for Blues and Jazz.

I'm a hardcore blues player and don't own a Strat or Tele. Over the past 25 years I've been to dozens of blues festivals and have accumulated hundreds of blues CD's. Gibson style guitars are well represented. In fact the worst tones out of all of those are from some of the Strat players, either with too much treble so they're shrill and piercing, or thin with too much distortion for that cheesy 'bee in a can' sound.

 

[Securb]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

Clapton played a Les Paul for years. He was inspired by Freddie King another Les Paul player. Either guitar will give you great jazz, blues or even rock tones. It is all about which jazz, blues or even rock tones you are seeking. More importantly IMO is the issue that Les Pauls and Strats are two distinctly different feeling and playing guitars. I would concentrate on which style of guitar feels better first. The tone can always be dialed in or changed with mods.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

You obviously need both... and a 335, and an SG.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

My vote is LP for everything. All music. I love LP's.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

Clapton played a Les Paul for years. He was inspired by Freddie King another Les Paul player. Either guitar will give you great jazz, blues or even rock tones. It is all about which jazz, blues or even rock tones you are seeking. More importantly IMO is the issue that Les Pauls and Strats are two distinctly different feeling and playing guitars. I would concentrate on which style of guitar feels better first. The tone can always be dialed in or changed with mods.

This was said perfectly

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

Does it have to be an LP or Strat? What about a Telecaster with a humbucker in the neck. Best of both worlds.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

You need a Telecaster. Personally I prefer P-90 in the neck but a basic one can do blues and jazz well. CV tele would be enough. Or get P-Rails neck for your Dean.

 

[regan]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

The overwhelming majority of tone is in the fingers and how you approach the music you're playing.
Either guitar has more than enough tones and variety to do both genres, fenders can get fat warm tones by backing the volume and tone back a touch and remembering the neck and middle pups are where Strats are most versatile.
Counterintuitively Gibsons can get ridiculously bright on the bridge with the vol and tone maxed
If I were you I'd save a set amount every month and wait till the right guitar (which you've seen and played in the flesh) comes up, preferably on the s/h market.
It appears to me you'll be happiest when you have a nice Strat and LP or 335

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

My opinion but, you aren't going to get enough money back on the Dean to make it worth selling. Well, that is unless you come across a buyer who did zero homework on prices. I own one (Special), and it's a very respectable import LP style guitar. I'd consider keeping it and buying a Strat, outright. In the end, you'll have a good deal more ground covered. And regan is right about tone being in the fingers. You can cop the style of the players on whatever you play, if you are capable enough (I'm not). Still, ultimately a LP wont sound like a Strat and a Strat wont sound like a LP.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

What about a Telecaster with a humbucker in the neck. Best of both worlds.

Not really.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

There are quite a few Jazz players who favor Telecasters. I love Strats, but the Tele seems to be a little richer-toned for this genre.

If I'm doing something Jazzy, I like to reach for my LP Supreme with Seths, or one of my stock 335s. Both LPs and 335s are incredibly versatile guitars and appropriate for many different genres. This is true of all of the Big Five: Strat, Tele, LP, SG and 335.

I have a guitar that I gig quite a bit with, and it is so valuable to me because it has Strat ergonomics and yet has enough tonal variation to be able to back up both my G&L Legacys and my Pauls/335s. It is a G&L Legacy SPECIAL. The pickups are Dual Blade HBs by Gotoh with powerful PAF-ish tone, yet with the G&L PTB tone controls I can go from fat "woman tone" to very close to vintage alnico single coil bite. Very, very cool guitar.

Bill

 

[Securb]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

There are quite a few Jazz players who favor Telecasters. I love Strats, but the Tele seems to be a little richer-toned for this genre.

My Tele is my go to jazz guitar. The neck lipstick pickup gives a great vintage jazz vibe.

My vote is LP for everything. All music. I love LP's.

I am right with you but wanted to keep my bias to myself. If I could only have one guitar it would be my Les Paul.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

Better still, focus on your own sound with the guitar you have, rather than copping the tones as well as the riffs of someone else. No offense, but if you're still at the stage of not being able to afford both guitars, even with the price options available today, you're nowhere near where you need to be to start worrying about this tone or that tone. Focus on playing and practicing and learning, and worry about all that other stuff when you're a better player.

 

[leevc5]

Re: Strat or LP for Blues AND Jazz?

The problem is that you don't have a Les Paul. If you you did, even a Gibson Studio, I don't think you would be asking the question. You would have a guitar that has a proven track record of excellence in both blues and jazz. The artists are to numerous to begin to name.