Some of my favorite guitarists used Strats: Hendrix, Blackmore, Trower, Healey, Gallagher, Montoya, Clapton (sometimes, there are exceptions), etc. Wonderful tones. But what I hear far too often are the 'bad Strat' clean tones: thin, shrill, empty, tinny, an aluminum 'clunk' kind of sound. Most Strat players don't know how to get decent tones from their guitars. Treble on top of treble. That's what's turned me off. Not the pros, the average knucklehead.
Obviously it's possible for a Strat to sound good clean, as some guys do it exceptionally well, but it takes some effort & know how. Doesn't happen by accident. When I can listen to a song and can tell the guitarist is playing a Strat, that's usually a bad thing. Yes, it's a more unique tone than an LP (which can be hard to tell apart from an SG or 335), but 'unique' not in a good way. Strats stand out as having both some of the best, and (more often) some of the worst tones ever produced by electric guitars. In the average hands they are all too often a source of irritation. I've got CD's where the guitarist has basically ruined otherwise good songs with his clean Strat tones during solos. Nails on a chalkboard. I can't think of instances of this happening with LP's.
Any votes for Strats having a superior clean sound, must come with the qualification that it's only capable by a limited percentage of Strat players. In sheer numbers, more average LP players sound better clean than average Strat players. This can be referred to as 'the dufus factor.' If you can't get your Strat to sound good, get some help or get another guitar. Just stop hurting my ears.
