What is the most versatile guitar?

[Securb]

I have been pondering this today. I am leaning toward the ES335. It is played in Country, Jazz, Blues, Prog, Fusion, Hard Rock, Alt, Pop, and almost every style I can think of save Metal. The more I think about Les Pauls they really are not used in Jazz much. Strats? I see more Jazz guys with Telecasters.

 

[Liam1963]

This is a great question! Didn't Richie Blackmore play an ES335 early in his career? I seem to remember some video of him with one. I purchased a CS336 a few years back, smaller body, but same great tone, actually, more comfortable for me to play than my ES335.

 

[NegativeEase]

Well, the technical answer is the Strat -if you lump all of the Strat and Super Strat variants into one bucket of course -if thats the way we are measuring -by amount of guitars used for multiple purposes, but it's probably the Tele if you are counting actual brand and model "Fender Telecaster" versus other brands and models. In the studio, everyone has to have a Tele -because that ashtray bridge mounted pickup and maple construction spank is easy to roll off a bit to get a different sound -but hard to create without a Tele -so it's sort of a must in the versatility department with making nice thick multi guitar mixes etc

But I think the 335 is a good shout as being the most "technically" versatile of all (if you count stuff rags in the body as acceptable criteria for certain uses) , and I can think of a few metal bands that use them too.

 

[jeremy]

it has to be some kind of strat. hsh, ssh. super playable, tons of tonal options, wiggle stick that can stay in tune, comfortable body contours that fit almost anyone. jazz doesnt get played on strats cause people have preconceptions of what the tool is for or the lineage of the style that suggests a certain guitar we all have our preferences, and an hsh strat isnt one of mine, but with the right setup and pups, theres almost nothing it couldnt do and sound damn good.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

For tonal/texture and performance versatility I'd say a Strat variant with humbucking bridge.
A high end PRS also is good at covering all the bases, with a livelier feel and set-neck sustain.

Across various different genres, though, I agree it's likely Tele or ES-type.

 

[GuitarStv]

An HSS strat can be wired to be pretty darned versatile. . . but you can make almost any guitar work in almost any genre.

 

[solspirit]

An hh four pot strat with a series, parallel minswitch. :bowdown:

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Well, loads - anything that has 2-3 medium/low output pickups in the hands of the right player can do many things.

For specifics and sake of discussion I'd say this thing. Wouldn't say it's for metal or speedy stuff (neck is 'thicc', as the kids say these days), but other stuff, sure - loads of tones from very fat to skinny. Most punters get one to cop Queen tones, but there's far more potential.

 

[Securb]

I don't know if I am going with the Superstrat is a Strat. I can put a decent humbucker in any body shape and make it rock. When I think of Strat I think of Leo's design.

 

[Securb]

This is a great question! Didn't Richie Blackmore play an ES335 early in his career? I seem to remember some video of him with one. I purchased a CS336 a few years back, smaller body, but same great tone, actually, more comfortable for me to play than my ES335.

Blackmore is one of the people that got me thinking about the ES335. Alex Lifson, Andy Scott, Alvin Lee, Jimmy Page... there have been some pretty hard-rocking guitarists that have used the ES335.

 

[GuitarStv]

Blackmore is one of the people that got me thinking about the ES335. Alex Lifson, Andy Scott, Alvin Lee, Jimmy Page... there have been some pretty hard-rocking guitarists that have used the ES335.

I think anybody comfortable with the tones of a Les Paul will probably be happy with a 335. There's a lot of overlap there.

 

[Mincer]

This is a great question! Didn't Richie Blackmore play an ES335 early in his career? I seem to remember some video of him with one. I purchased a CS336 a few years back, smaller body, but same great tone, actually, more comfortable for me to play than my ES335.

He did, on the first 3.5 Deep Purple albums. I think the answer to th OP is up to the player, though. For me, it is a super stratish guitar with 2 humbuckers, and my Do It All wiring.

 

[Securb]

I think the answer to th OP is up to the player

It is definitely up to the player. I am wondering what guitar you can hand to 20 guitar players and 19 of them would be happy.

 

[some_dude]

My vote goes for the HSH or SSH Strat.

But I’m not a Strat guy so my personal preference is more towards PRS… which (depending upon the model) is kind of a Super Les Paul (LP-ish sound with Super Strat-ish ergonomics and functionality).

 

[BeKindRewind]

a strat with a swimming pool route and a closet full of pickguards

 

[Clint 55]

Strat absolutely. Can play anything, especially jazz. This is the most versatile pickup config I've ever seen with the stock pickup locations. Mini neck, stack mid, full hb bridge. Can get any possible tone.

I guess he's playing a tele tho.

 

[beaubrummels]

IME a Telecaster. I've gotten more music out of, and played in more types of bands, with a Telecaster than any other guitar. ES335 has definitely been used on more recordings than people are aware of, but I don't know if you can get chicken' picken' country out of it. Whereas a Tele, I can get anything from twangy country, roll the tone and play jazz, or rock, blues, funk, have even done some metal tunes with one in a pinch.

 

[Seashore]

For me I guess the baseline is an LP. I've been playing Gibson-style guitars for so long that I don't dig Fender ergonomics. I want a Tune O Matic and I want that neck angle.

But also I don't really dig "versatility" too much with my guitars. I'm happier with a one-trick pony that's set up perfectly for me than I am with Endless Possibilities and Tonal Variations. My favorite guitar is still this Explorer I've had for about 25 years with the bridge pickup wired to the jack. I guess I'm not the target audience for this question. ​​​​​

 

[Mincer]

I hate switching guitars, so I'd rather have a few I can do the whole gig with, one at a time. Versatility is in the skill of the player, not the instruments. Steve Howe does it with an ES 175, Steve Morse does it with a 4 pickup super strat Music Man.

 

[GuitarDoc]

My vote is for the Strat with HSS with splitable bucker. Dave's HH with his "Do-it-all" wiring is also an excellent choice with the right pups.

But the ES335 has been used to play just about anything...
Chuck Berry; Ritchie Blackmore; Jason Isbell; Justin Hayward; Bob Weir; Alvin Lee; Larry Carlton; June Millington, Elliott Smith; Noel Gallagher; Peter Frampton, Carl Wilson; Dave Grohl; Freddie King; Eric Clapton; B.B. King; and Alex Lifeson, are just a few of the notable players with different styles.