Fender Stratocaster or Gibson Les Paul?

[themanofthedark]

what should I get?

I was at a guitar shop earlier today and sat there and played both...

Both seem like amazing guitars, the Les Paul is just sexy, and the Strat is just a classic...

I dont really like the Telecaster much though...

[x999x]

I frequent the Viper Room quite a bit, and while you do see Fenders, Gibson is just much more common. I'm not sure why to be honest. I had a lengthy talk with Fender's PR over drinks at a party for Tenacious D, and they're totally fine with being #2. They supplied the movie with equipment, but since Kyle uses a Gibson SG, they had to remove the fender logos as part of their contract.

Fender makes a very fine profit supplying hardware to video and movie shoots, whatever doesn't come back or is damaged is billable.

and btw i should photoshop some Lennon specs on you, lol.

[acosmichippo]

get a biran moore.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a393/acosmicfriend/guitars2.jpg?t=1208060092


sorry... shameless plug.

to answer your question, i would personally go with a strat. but they both have completely different sounds and feels. This is a cliche, but it is for a reason; get the one that sounds and feels the best to you. Forget image, brand name, endorsements, all of that.

[ColsTiger]

A good PRS or Ernie Ball would be my choice. Both the Les Paul and Stratocastor seem too heavy for me.

[x999x]

Hey, speaking of guitars, anyone see the new PocketGuitar update?

Its pretty hot now.

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/7131/img0001xr1.png

[Hondamaker]

what should I get?

I was at a guitar shop earlier today and sat there and played both...

Both seem like amazing guitars, the Les Paul is just sexy, and the Strat is just a classic...

I dont really like the Telecaster much though...Gibson Les Paul FTW. Strats are OK, but you can't go wrong with a Les Paul Custom Gold!!!

[acosmichippo]

hmm... can't say i've ever seen a Gold Custom.

[Hondamaker]

hmm... can't say i've ever seen a Gold Custom.
A long time ago, in a guitar store in Springfield OH, there was a Les Paul Custom. The play was incredible. True story.

[chcorey52]

Well Ive got a american telecaster hs which i love but also an epiphone firebird VII but overall i think you should go with the fender. I have played both and the strat is just so comfortable and sounds just amazing

[Hayesimus]

TMOTD, put up some pics of your two options. iLazy, and iDon'tfeellikegoogling... :P

[themanofthedark]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Fender_strat.jpg

^^That is a Fender Stratocaster.
http://www.rare-guitars.co.uk/guitars/GibsonLesPaulClassic/LesPaulClassic.jpg
^^ That is a Gibson Les Paul.

[kokogirl]

I do not play guitar, but I am (or was) a musician. I think that you have to go with the feel and sound that appeals most to you, like was already stated.

[chcorey52]

Just curious but what guitar do you have now?

[themanofthedark]

im embarrassed to say.

a 3/4 scale Greg Bennet acoustic.

ok, everyone, go on, laugh.

the reason I own such a shameful guitar, really, is because I got it six years ago, to try and learn how to play, and haven't touched it until November of last year.

Im actually getting pretty good, and perhaps, when I get a electric guitar, I will post a video.

i take it to school a lot, though, and its small enough not to be a pain in the ass

[coasts]

hey hippo, looks like you've got a nice Zappa collection. TMOTD, have you picked up Hot Rats yet? if not, why not??

[acosmichippo]

i forgot i posted that pic, so i was wondering how you knew i was a Zappa fan...

anyway, yeah, i think Frank is one of the greatest musical geniuses of the 20th century... in ANY genre. Those shelves are actually much more bare than they are now, because that was before my iPod/iPhone days, so i had CDs scattered all over the house, car, etc...

[chcorey52]

But really either one would be awesome...ya i started out with a terrible acoustic and never really got into it until i had an electric so good luck on findin the one you really want

[psylichon]

Gibson.... much easier to record.

[chcorey52]

Gibson.... much easier to record.
true...but fenders still have such an amazing sound....and just wondering are you going full blown gibson and american fender when you are buying or squier and epiphone? Cus if it was me i would choose american fender over gibson and epiphone over squier

[acosmichippo]

Gibson.... much easier to record.

why? because of the lower hum and higher output?

[psylichon]

That and they sound better :)

[chcorey52]

That and they sound better :)
Thats debatable

[acosmichippo]

well, they both have their uses.

i prefer mine though. :)

[chcorey52]

Ive kind of have both...american telecaster aand epiphone firebird VII. I love them both so much.....

[psylichon]

[shrug] I'm not a guitar guy. I put a Coles 4038 ribbon mic in front of the amp and run it through a Neve 1073 or similar and then if it sounds like crap I get to blame the guitarist. I also take the DI signal to reamp once the guitarist realizes his tone is terrible for that song.

[chcorey52]

[shrug] I'm not a guitar guy. I put a Coles 4038 ribbon mic in front of the amp and run it through a Neve 1073 or similar and then if it sounds like crap I get to blame the guitarist. I also take the DI signal to reamp once the guitarist realizes his tone is terrible for that song.
What are you? Singer Drummer?

[chcorey52]

My babys http://photos-550.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v213/251/20/569811550/n569811550_723723_9399.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=723721&id=569811550)

[acosmichippo]

[shrug]...I get to blame the guitarist.

unfortunately, that is usually with whom the fault lies.

[chcorey52]

unfortunately, that is usually with whom the fault lies.
sad but true......i think this might be my favorite thread on this site now

[psylichon]

What are you? Singer Drummer?

Engineer/Producer. And sometimes keys.

[chcorey52]

Nice thats pretty cool.. i wish i could play the keyboard..

[psylichon]

It's easier than guitar.

[chcorey52]

Ya ive just never tried other instruments ive always wanted to learn keyboard and drums.......and hell even to sing

[Hayesimus]

TMOTD i like the first one. Just maybe a different color like RED or some sort of SUNBURST ORANGE. lol. i think the second one just looks... dated. :S i dunno. i'm not very traditional. :P

[acosmichippo]

fiesta red or seafoam green.

http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/admin/pages/upload/Solids/Fender/Stratocaster/Mexico/50sreissue-fiestared_m.jpg

http://www.themusiczoo.com/62_Stratocaster_Sea_Foam_Green_V174688full.jpg

[chris]

The Les Paul will deliver a beefier sound (IMHO). If you plan on playing on stage, the LP is much heavier than the Strat. Not sure what other brands are out there these days. My guitar is an old Kramer. If I start playing again, I'll probably look for an old Charvel. By far, that was my favorite guitar and I'm bummed I sold it. It was white with a rising sun. Very 80's, very Warren DeMartini...

Found a picture of it through Google...

http://www.jcfonline.com/gallery/char-strats-pics/3522.jpg

[Hayesimus]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2049/1823642834_33ee9fef19.jpg?v=1193991830

i LOVE the shape of this one!

[chris]

i LOVE the shape of this one!


"Reminds me of a 57 Chevy I used to own." ..... Bodi, Point Break

[chcorey52]

fiesta red or seafoam green.

http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/admin/pages/upload/Solids/Fender/Stratocaster/Mexico/50sreissue-fiestared_m.jpg

http://www.themusiczoo.com/62_Stratocaster_Sea_Foam_Green_V174688full.jpg
Definately seafoam......you should also look at olympic white its pretty sweet...i decided if i ever get a strat its gonna be that since i already have a jet black tele

[themanofthedark]

I like this one.

http://www.gravitystrings.com/images/FenRedAmStdStrat%20001.jpg

[themanofthedark]

and should I get a guitar with a whammy bar or no?

I just don't really see myself really using one, but, do they actually have any real advantages?

and I saw a wood, black, GLP today.

it was sexy.

[acosmichippo]

a good trem unit is a wonderful thing, but a sub-par one is REALLY bad to have... just creates tuning stability and durability issues. If you don't see yourself using it, i wouldn't get a guitar with one.

once again, it's a case of the two options being different... not better/worse.

[chcorey52]

a good trem unit is a wonderful thing, but a sub-par one is REALLY bad to have... just creates tuning stability and durability issues. If you don't see yourself using it, i wouldn't get a guitar with one.

once again, it's a case of the two options being different... not better/worse.
Exactly what i would have said. Tremolo is definately alot better than a whammy bar. I got my tele with no whammy bar and firebird with tremolo. Love both of them

[acosmichippo]

well, tremolo and whammy are synonymous terms (when speaking of guitar hardware; NOT effects)... 'tremolo' is actually a misnomer, but it has been accepted into the guitar lexicon thanks to Leo Fender.

[chcorey52]

I thouht a tremolo is like a bigsby compared to the one that just connect straight to the bridge piece? i guess i was wrong i just noticed that the ones with just the bars get out of tune quicker (usually) compared to the ones connected to the body with a floating bridge? my bad if i was wrong

[acosmichippo]

yeah, bigsbys, floating, locking... they're all trems... or in 80's lingo "whammys".

you are correct, though, systems like bigsbys are not meant to stand up to the kind of abuse that floating (especially locking... i.e. floyd rose) trems can endure.

[chcorey52]

yeah, bigsbys, floating, locking... they're all trems... or in 80's lingo "whammys".

you are correct, though, systems like bigsbys are not meant to stand up to the kind of abuse that floating (especially locking... i.e. floyd rose) trems can endure.
O ok got it now..thanks for clearing that up i was just a lil confused

[phsycology]

What did you get in the end? I know I'm a bit late but if you're buying the guitar for use then it depends on the type of music you enjoy playing (different guitars are more efficient for different types of music). However, if you're buying the guitar just to sit in your room and look cool ;) then obviously it depends on the look of the guitar.

[themanofthedark]

I got an Alpine White Fender Stratocaster.


and i love it.

[chris]

I got an Alpine White Fender Stratocaster.


and i love it.


Good choice. Hard to go wrong with that.

[phsycology]

Nice :)

How did you decide?

[psylichon]

Nice one, Sam. Post a tune soon!

[themanofthedark]

I fell out of love with the Les Paul.

and I have a song on an mp3, that I wrote, but once I get my MacBook, I plan on re-recording it, to make it three tones higher and to use a less feedback-prone pickup.

so, it will come.

(and by the way, I've written four songs)


-typed from iPhone.