Are you a Strat or LP kind 'a guy?

[Plank_Spanker]

I wanted to return to this discussion and expand it a little. I am curious about what fretters think the two guitars (and teles, etc. for that matter) do or have inherently that make them their favorite.

I remember Tone saying somewhere that having a Strat complements having an LP and helps to make one a better player. Not owning an LP, I just don't know yet.
A guy I have watched and played with that favors a shechter LP type definately was not a single coil guy, but when he tried my guitar, he got into it, and mentioned it made him approach his playing differently.

I would suspect it would have something to do with action and fretboard radius and scale, but I don't know how those interplay, or what the practical effect is of a difference in any one of those three areas.

Comments on the above? Also, now that you have declared your allegience, what is it about your axe that shapes how you approach playing?

To me the answer is not one axe is somehow "better", but that they have attributes and characteristics that draw out different things. I would like to understand that better.

I think it all really depends on your style of playing, what you're playing, and the sound that you seek. Strats, Teles, LP's - they're all just colors on the pallette, and each does it's own very distinctive thing. If I need a thick, hard driven, in your face overdriven sound, I reach for the LP. If I need some split coil "glass", I have a Strat. I believe that a player's first few guitars really shape his approach. I grew up playing Gibsons through Marshalls, so I can admit that they are my personal favorites. I'll bet that the guys playing Strats as a first or two guitar will always have an affinity for Strats. But that doesn't mean that you don't grow and seek new sonic ground.

Action, fretboard radius, and scale are non-factors to me personally. Actions are adjustable. The scale change between 24 3/4" and 25 1/2" doesn't bother me. Fretboard radius doesn't bother me. I'm looking for the sound.

Colors on the pallette...................

[Spudman***]

I agree to some extent herr Plankster.

The differences in scale lengths does change how one (me) plays each instrument. Because of the feel, tension and pickup response I never play a Fender the same as a Les Paul. I just can't. The response and voice is so different between the two that it just doesn't allow me to treat them the same.

I can do some of the same licks on each, but it always comes out differently than it would on the other one. There is a tactile difference. One that my hands and brain cannot blend into saying that the difference doesn't matter.

I do agree that I too look for "the sound" when toggling between the two. They have their own unique voices and that is my primary reason for playing one or the other.

I have also noticed that if I put down the Strat and stick with the LP for several months my style of playing does change. I think of that as a good thing.

[t_ross33]

+1 on the colors of the palette, PS. I've finally been able to demonstrate to Mrs. T that I needed a Tele style AND a 335 style guitar because they are each unique and serve specific tonal purposes. Until I sat down and showed her, a guitar was just a block of wood with strings.

For me, neck width, radius, and to a lesser degree, scale to come into play. I just play better (or more instinctively) on guitars that fit me comfortably. My Tele and my Washburn have very different neck profiles and I really have to concentrate when playing on the thicker/heavier Washburn neck. As mentioned before, I love the neck on my Squier Tele. From the moment I picked it up it just seemed to fit my hand perfectly.

That said, each is a tool for achieving (or attempting to achieve in my case ) a specific sound/tone.

Variax, Fender VG etc. aside (haven't played them, so I can't really comment), there isn't really one guitar that suits ALL styles IMHO, although there are certainly makes and models that are more versitile and cover greater range sonically.

Half the fun is trying out new and different gear and exploring your own idea of what sounds good, feels good, and heck... looks good!

[Plank_Spanker]

I agree to some extent herr Plankster.

The differences in scale lengths does change how one (me) plays each instrument. Because of the feel, tension and pickup response I never play a Fender the same as a Les Paul. I just can't. The response and voice is so different between the two that it just doesn't allow me to treat them the same.

I can do some of the same licks on each, but it always comes out differently than it would on the other one. There is a tactile difference. One that my hands and brain cannot blend into saying that the difference doesn't matter.

I do agree that I too look for "the sound" when toggling between the two. They have their own unique voices and that is my primary reason for playing one or the other.

I have also noticed that if I put down the Strat and stick with the LP for several months my style of playing does change. I think of that as a good thing.

Oops................................

Never meant to imply that the two don't require different approaches to playing - they certainly do. I just switch back and forth between the two so often that I don't even think about it anymore. The shorter scale Gibson necks require a bit of precision, especially on bends. The Strat just says "abuse me". You might work a little harder on a Strat, but it's more forgiving and you can just wring notes out of one.

[Spudman***]

Oops................................

The Strat just says "abuse me". You might work a little harder on a Strat, but it's more forgiving and you can just wring notes out of one.

and that is exactly why I play one. I love that physical challenge. However, now it has gotten similar to my cycling endeavors. Where I used to be a champion mountain bike racer I now prefer to ride my road bike more. Where I used to love to wrangle a Strat I now love the ease of playability of the Les Paul. It's easier.


Cripes! I just read that and it sounds like I'm getting old. Waaaaaaaa

[sunvalleylaw]

Thanks guys for the input. I think I get the idea. Ok, I'll continue to be a Strat wrangler 'til I add a LP to develop a finer precision and touch, and to add a color to my palette. Based on what I have picked up so far in the way of LPs, I think I will look for a narrower neck one though.

[Jimi75]

I have also noticed that if I put down the Strat and stick with the LP for several months my style of playing does change. I think of that as a good thing.[/QUOTE]

Yep! Same here for me. The LP makes me play in a different way. Sometimes when I feel that I don't move on on the Strat, I grab the LP for a couple of weeks and discover new ground - same is valid vice versa.

I do not pick up the LP just because I need a fat humbucker sound for a song or I have any kind of yound in my mind. I can get creamy lead with my Strat, too.

The reason why I play and like my Strat more is, that I prefer the clarity if the single notes, I am a worker on the guitar and working out those woody licks and diving with my fingers deep into the fretboard is what gives me the best shape and colour of my personal tone.