Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
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JeffB
Let it B
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
:bigthumb: Man, you and I are on the same page. I love a Strat..as a diversion, but where others see/hear "clean" or "pristine", I hear "anemic" and frankly lack of balls/power. Oh sure a FEW (VERY FEW) guys could get HUGE sounds out of a single coil equipped strat...SRV for example (with bridge cables for strings and the action a half mile off the board), but the vast majority all sound pretty small and thin to me...Hendrix, Clapton, even guys who's strat tones I really like: Yngwie, Uli, and Ritchie....great sounds but hardly "big". Luckily all those Strat guys can phrase and hit ya hard with the notes as opposed to the tone. And yup, alot of strat guys as you mentioned run tons of peds and various amps to get "big" or "fat" sound. Not my thing...
Another +1. I hate fighting a guitar. Having some tension is good, but I have little reach and fairly small hands...25.5" scale is a PITA for me. PRS scale is about as much as I can deal with. When I'm "on" with a a Strat it's a great feeling, but when I'm "off"..ughhh, talk about frustrating. And yup, most strat necks until you get into the high dollar "reissue"/custom shop stuff are way too small for me, the radius is a big short circuit, and just the fact that there's no neck ANGLE like on a Gibson style instrument drives me nuts.
Also true IME. Perhaps it's just the music I play, but pretty much a Strat's so called "versatility" in tone is not applicable for me. I DO like the middle position unlike most, unfortunately the stupid thing is always in my way for picking so I roll it down and end up not using it. When I was younger I liked the notch/quack positions, but as I've grown older I really dislike that sound. Too much exposure to bad 80s and 90s pop music :laugh2:
I tend to use only the bridge and neck for high gain stuff, but only the bridge and middle for cleans. I especially like the bridge rolled off for cleans, and the middle position for nasty blues type tones (Since I've Been Loving you from TSRTS is a good example). The neck is pretty much always a higher gain lead type thing for me..though on occasion I liek it for bluesy type chord work or when I'm fiddling around playing more complex "jazzy" type chords (quite poorly I might add :bigthumb
Also the versatilty is there with a Les Paul or other 4 knob gibson, if you know how to work the volume knobs and tone controls in the middle postion. It's not as "easy" as just flipping a switch but there are alot of sounds to be had if you experiment.
Thats just me though...everyone is different obviously. I'm GASing for another strat, but it would be just a diversion...if I wanted to get "serious" the Strat would stay in the case, and I'd pull out the Gibson styled instrument every single time.
boycott mahogany! :laugh2:
the_Chris said:
:bigthumb: Man, you and I are on the same page. I love a Strat..as a diversion, but where others see/hear "clean" or "pristine", I hear "anemic" and frankly lack of balls/power. Oh sure a FEW (VERY FEW) guys could get HUGE sounds out of a single coil equipped strat...SRV for example (with bridge cables for strings and the action a half mile off the board), but the vast majority all sound pretty small and thin to me...Hendrix, Clapton, even guys who's strat tones I really like: Yngwie, Uli, and Ritchie....great sounds but hardly "big". Luckily all those Strat guys can phrase and hit ya hard with the notes as opposed to the tone. And yup, alot of strat guys as you mentioned run tons of peds and various amps to get "big" or "fat" sound. Not my thing...
Another +1. I hate fighting a guitar. Having some tension is good, but I have little reach and fairly small hands...25.5" scale is a PITA for me. PRS scale is about as much as I can deal with. When I'm "on" with a a Strat it's a great feeling, but when I'm "off"..ughhh, talk about frustrating. And yup, most strat necks until you get into the high dollar "reissue"/custom shop stuff are way too small for me, the radius is a big short circuit, and just the fact that there's no neck ANGLE like on a Gibson style instrument drives me nuts.
Also true IME. Perhaps it's just the music I play, but pretty much a Strat's so called "versatility" in tone is not applicable for me. I DO like the middle position unlike most, unfortunately the stupid thing is always in my way for picking so I roll it down and end up not using it. When I was younger I liked the notch/quack positions, but as I've grown older I really dislike that sound. Too much exposure to bad 80s and 90s pop music :laugh2:
I tend to use only the bridge and neck for high gain stuff, but only the bridge and middle for cleans. I especially like the bridge rolled off for cleans, and the middle position for nasty blues type tones (Since I've Been Loving you from TSRTS is a good example). The neck is pretty much always a higher gain lead type thing for me..though on occasion I liek it for bluesy type chord work or when I'm fiddling around playing more complex "jazzy" type chords (quite poorly I might add :bigthumb
Also the versatilty is there with a Les Paul or other 4 knob gibson, if you know how to work the volume knobs and tone controls in the middle postion. It's not as "easy" as just flipping a switch but there are alot of sounds to be had if you experiment.
Thats just me though...everyone is different obviously. I'm GASing for another strat, but it would be just a diversion...if I wanted to get "serious" the Strat would stay in the case, and I'd pull out the Gibson styled instrument every single time.
boycott mahogany! :laugh2:
callous_frigid_chill
New member
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
LP's all the way. IMO, better tone and feel.
LP's all the way. IMO, better tone and feel.
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
These threads never cease to amuse me, it's like the Hatfields & The McCoys.
If you are firmly in one camp, nothing the other one says will convince you one way or the other.
They are both unique and we need both for Rock & Roll IMO.
Nothing can replace the enormity of a full blown Les Paul assault for real heavyweight rock, but nothing can approach a strat on a Gilmour type lead on a song like "Time" or "Comfortably Numb".
Playability issues aside, that is a seperate argument, and there is no universal right answer, only the one that is right for you.
These threads never cease to amuse me, it's like the Hatfields & The McCoys.
If you are firmly in one camp, nothing the other one says will convince you one way or the other.
They are both unique and we need both for Rock & Roll IMO.
Nothing can replace the enormity of a full blown Les Paul assault for real heavyweight rock, but nothing can approach a strat on a Gilmour type lead on a song like "Time" or "Comfortably Numb".
Playability issues aside, that is a seperate argument, and there is no universal right answer, only the one that is right for you.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
I've got the Fantastic Four in my stable -- LP, Strat, Tele, and a 335 (355 really, but you get the idea). All are extremely cool, but if it came down to it, the LP and 355 would be in a steel cage death match to make it with me to the desert island...
I've got the Fantastic Four in my stable -- LP, Strat, Tele, and a 335 (355 really, but you get the idea). All are extremely cool, but if it came down to it, the LP and 355 would be in a steel cage death match to make it with me to the desert island...
flank
New member
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
i pretty much hate les pauls. They feel clunky to me, the sound is unfocused, the bass is too much, and the whole feel of it is too big and clunky. the neck scale makes the strings too slack. I don't feel like i can really slam chords on a les paul because the strings are not tight enough.
I don't like the sound of strats anymore though either
so, in conclusion, Teles are just cooler than all of them
i pretty much hate les pauls. They feel clunky to me, the sound is unfocused, the bass is too much, and the whole feel of it is too big and clunky. the neck scale makes the strings too slack. I don't feel like i can really slam chords on a les paul because the strings are not tight enough.
I don't like the sound of strats anymore though either
so, in conclusion, Teles are just cooler than all of them
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
I'm 50/50 in every way.....how much I bond with them, how much time I spend on each, and the care I took in seeking out exactly the ones I wanted.
Everyone already knows the differences, so why debate it?
I'm not worried about LP's sounding like mud, because I use the best Duncans. I've even tailored the pickups in my strats and tele to be 'period specific.'
For example...
LP Goldtop Hot vintage A5.....Brobucker/Jazz.....MJ wound
LP Std. Prem Plus vintage A2......50th Ann. Seth Lovers......MJ wound
LP Custom Black Beauty modern A5......gold C-5/59n/59n
Fender American Standard SB/rosewood.....Chubtone El Gordo/63's. SRV/Mayer tone
Fender American Series Silverburst.....Chubtone rev. stagger 69's. Hello Jimi.
Fender American Series Blueburst......Duncan JB/Surfers Stevie Ray Cantrell
I'm 50/50 in every way.....how much I bond with them, how much time I spend on each, and the care I took in seeking out exactly the ones I wanted.
Everyone already knows the differences, so why debate it?
I'm not worried about LP's sounding like mud, because I use the best Duncans. I've even tailored the pickups in my strats and tele to be 'period specific.'
For example...
LP Goldtop Hot vintage A5.....Brobucker/Jazz.....MJ wound
LP Std. Prem Plus vintage A2......50th Ann. Seth Lovers......MJ wound
LP Custom Black Beauty modern A5......gold C-5/59n/59n
Fender American Standard SB/rosewood.....Chubtone El Gordo/63's. SRV/Mayer tone
Fender American Series Silverburst.....Chubtone rev. stagger 69's. Hello Jimi.
Fender American Series Blueburst......Duncan JB/Surfers Stevie Ray Cantrell
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L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
I'll tell ya: my Strat with a PGn and Custom has a on/on/on switch for each pickup. I can go from series/single/parallel with either pickup.
I get some of the best "Les Paul" humbucker tones and some of the best Strat/Tele single coil tones out the ONE guitar with that guitar that I've ever acheived.
The single coil tones are surprisingly Tele like when the two pickups are combined in single coil mode.
BTW, I prefer Strats over Les Pauls because they sound better, weigh less and play better for me than Les Pauls.
I rarely touch my Les Paul...although it's a great one.
I prefer the open clear tone of single coils when I'm playing rythym, but if a guy wants the best of both worlds I've found the PGn and Custom HB set to have great HB tone as well as really good single coil tone when split.
kaffimann said:
I'll tell ya: my Strat with a PGn and Custom has a on/on/on switch for each pickup. I can go from series/single/parallel with either pickup.
I get some of the best "Les Paul" humbucker tones and some of the best Strat/Tele single coil tones out the ONE guitar with that guitar that I've ever acheived.
The single coil tones are surprisingly Tele like when the two pickups are combined in single coil mode.
BTW, I prefer Strats over Les Pauls because they sound better, weigh less and play better for me than Les Pauls.
I rarely touch my Les Paul...although it's a great one.
I prefer the open clear tone of single coils when I'm playing rythym, but if a guy wants the best of both worlds I've found the PGn and Custom HB set to have great HB tone as well as really good single coil tone when split.
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MichaelMadeja
New member
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
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Kommerzbassist
Thunderbirdologist
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
Did anyone already mention that a LP Studio costs the same as a Deluxe Strat?
Did anyone already mention that a LP Studio costs the same as a Deluxe Strat?
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Wattage
High Voltologist
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
No surprise I am sure but LP's are my main guitar and have been since, mmmm, a long time anyway.
Strats are cool too, man I love all guitars everyone of them has something cool about it if you take the time to find what it is.
No surprise I am sure but LP's are my main guitar and have been since, mmmm, a long time anyway.
Strats are cool too, man I love all guitars everyone of them has something cool about it if you take the time to find what it is.
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Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
Variax....:naughty:
Variax....:naughty:
Re: Why I prefer Strats to Les Pauls
This may have already been mentioned, but the price difference is directly reltated to the design and construction method of each guitar. The Les Paul was desingned to be a solid body version of the classic Gibson....pretty much a cost no object assault. The Tele and Strat were specifically designed to be the best possible guitars that could be mass produced and sold at reasonable prices. I would argue that both compnaies succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.:fingersx:
This may have already been mentioned, but the price difference is directly reltated to the design and construction method of each guitar. The Les Paul was desingned to be a solid body version of the classic Gibson....pretty much a cost no object assault. The Tele and Strat were specifically designed to be the best possible guitars that could be mass produced and sold at reasonable prices. I would argue that both compnaies succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.:fingersx:
