OK my fellow guitar heroes’ listen up. Down through the ROCK AGES there has been a distinct tonal difference between Gibson Les Paul guitars and Fender Strats. For the sake of competition from our axe slingers out there, I prefer the Les Paul, so I am biased. But for our audience that is unfamiliar with them, Slash plays a Les Paul on “Sweet Child o’ Mine”. He rocks back on the neck pick up and pours his heart and soul into that solo everyone air guitars to. Need another example? Zakk Wlyde also uses Les Paul’s. His awesome sound can be heard on “Ozzy Osbourne’s” No More Tears”. That opening guitar lick sets the tone. Thick and heavy and Zakk delivers it like Thor’s hammer to a nail. The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body guitar that was handed down by the rock gods to Mr. Les Paul to inspire countless kids to become rock gods themselves. In the other corner we have Leo Fender’s Stratocaster. Also handed down by the rock gods. The Strat is a thin body guitar that the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn used along with Jeff Beck. It also has a distinct tone to it. Not as warm as a Les Paul but still a great sound. Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton prefer the sweet sounds that pour out of a Strat too. David Gilmour uses a Strat in Pink Floyd and no doubt about it, that guitar tone along with his playing helped set the mood for that “PINK FLOYD” sound. Check out “Comfortable Numb” for just one example. It wouldn’t be the same without it. So head to the comment section and VOTE!!I’ll post the winner next time around!!
(chuck)
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What no Gretsch?
O.K. Strat it is then.
id rather play an iceman any fuckin day but if i have too les paul
nope. no gretschs allowed:)..they are a great guitar and I know Malcom Young uses one that is a killer one but at the top of guitar pile there is only room for 1 guitar and thats either the Les Paul or the Stratocaster..Those two are the king of kings of guitar.. Agree?..
chuck
OK Dude. Now, you’ve thrown down the gauntlet! You KNOW I had to weigh in on this one.
Those Les Paul’s are cool for crushing distortion and/or driving a high gain amp into overdrive, no doubt. BUT, and it’s a Big BUTT. Players who are into a greater variety of tones, from clean, to crunch, to growl, to scream, usually go for a Strat. Or at least single coils of some kind (here’s a nod to the Gretsch Dudes).
The old guard, the seasoned old guys very often end up with a strat (and they learn to appreciate Big Butts too).
Early Jeff Beck = Les Paul, Late Jeff Beck = Strat. Early Clapton = Gibson SG, Late Clapton = Strat. Early Jimi Hendrix = Sometime Flying V, Late Jimi = strat all the way.
Nothing wrong at all with signature Les Paul tone. I love it and I’ve always said they make a great second guitar!
Have Strat, will travel.
Besides them damn Paul’s get HEAVY by the third set.
bwana
Nah, I don’t but hey if the guitar gods say so then it must be, right?
BUT, Gretsch guitars are in the studio and on more album takes then most would like to admit.
First of all…Slash used a Les Paul copy for recording. Not the genuine thing. He plays Pauls live. Older Pauls…fat, beefy and smooth sailing. Newer Pauls feel cheap. As with many companys, they can feel cheap in comparison to their ancestors. The Start plays smoothly and sounds vicious. Mind you…I have S-S-H configuration. I can get a multitude of tones from the thing. Clear, punchy and chunky. Then you need to think about pickups. Zakk is Zakk thanks to his EMGs. You put those on a broom handle and you still get Zakk. The classic picks, Alnico, JBs, 90s feed from the touch and the body. My opinion. I also don’t like painted necks.
So…Pauls? Only the older ones…Strats? Older and American…maybe a Mexican. Every line has their cheap bs models. In todays world it comes down to feel for each guitarists as almost every guitar can achieve monster sound, hard or soft…thanks to technology.
I have both and i seem to play the strat more often. wierd!
Did you see Pete Townsend at the Super Bowl halftime? Doin’ the windmill on a red Strat. Fender amps too.