Les Paul...Fender Strat....or Fender Tele?

2

Comments

  • butterfly1
    butterfly1 Posts: 372
    I own a LP R8, a MIM strat and a PRS SC. If you have a Lp, its a tough choice between the Strat and the Tele. I would go for the strat over the tele on personal preference and flexibility.
    OTOH, Ed plays a tele, and Jimmy used one for the early Zep records so there you go!
  • MichaelMcKevin
    MichaelMcKevin Posts: 1,161
    Jam10 wrote:
    What is an R8, R9 etc.?

    R8 = 1958 Reissue (r= reissue, 8= 1958)

    So R7 = 1957 Reissue
    And R9= 1959 Reissue (the holy grail of factory Les Pauls)

    Just nicknames
    Camden I '06, Camden II '06, Bonnaroo '08, Camden I '08, Camden II '08, Philly Spectrum II/III/IV '09, MSG I '10, MSG II '10, Made In America '12, Wrigley '13, Brooklyn II '13, Philly I '13, Philly II '13, ...
  • Stone Is God
    Stone Is God Posts: 1,331
    moster78 wrote:
    I have a 57 Gold Top Reissue that is amazing,

    That guitar is my Holy Grail. Love that guitar. The local music store has one one the wall that I want but I don't have the coin to spring on it. A man can dream, can't he.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • stickman jay
    stickman jay Posts: 44
    Les paul its the shape of the body that does it for me
  • i am a target
    i am a target Posts: 808
    PRS guitars play incredibly smooth. but i find the tone to be soooo incredibly generic.
  • Anon
    Anon Posts: 11,175
    My strat is more comfy and versatile, but i love the tone of my tele. Hard to chose.
  • DOSW
    DOSW Posts: 2,014
    Yep, I have an Epi LP Ultra right now which is sufficient for my skill level. I'd love to get a Gibson VOS R8 someday though. The plain-top doesn't bother me at all, and the price difference between the R8 and R9 is all the more convincing.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • westsidepie
    westsidepie Posts: 627
    I have an ESP, which I love, a Jackson soloist, which I also love, and Fender Strat, the Texas special, and I love it too. I love Les Pauls, but I refuse to pay the current prices, because I think the current models are not worth money. I am going to buy either and ESP Eclipse, a Heritage (made by some of the original designers of the Les Paul), or a PRS. The only guitar I don't like is the Tele, too bright for my taste.
    To pie I will reply
    But mr. justam
    is who I am

    "That's a repulsive combination of horrible information and bad breath."-Pickles

    "Remember, death is a natural part of the workplace. So, when you see a dead body at work, don't freak out, just ring your death bell." "ting"-Toki Wartooth
  • MANKIND
    MANKIND Posts: 218
    go gibson or go home
    Va Beach 08-03-00, Pittsburgh 04-28-03, State College 05-03-03, Hershey 07-12-03, Boston 09-29-04, Reading 10-01-04, Philly 10-03-05, Camden 05-27-06, Pittsburgh 06-23-06, Va Beach 06-17-08, Philly 10-30-09, Philly 10-31-09, Bristow 05-13-10
  • westsidepie
    westsidepie Posts: 627
    MANKIND wrote:
    go gibson or go home


    Well, I guess you leave me no choice....

    "screw you guys, I'm going home."
    To pie I will reply
    But mr. justam
    is who I am

    "That's a repulsive combination of horrible information and bad breath."-Pickles

    "Remember, death is a natural part of the workplace. So, when you see a dead body at work, don't freak out, just ring your death bell." "ting"-Toki Wartooth
  • Puck78
    Puck78 Posts: 737
    I have a fender squier, so i'm out of the game ;) But why don't you consider a fender mustang, jaguar or jazzmaster too? I'd like to try one of those...
    www.amnesty.org
    www.amnesty.org.uk
  • keeponrockin
    keeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Puck78 wrote:
    I have a fender squier, so i'm out of the game ;) But why don't you consider a fender mustang, jaguar or jazzmaster too? I'd like to try one of those...
    Good idea, but Jags aren't as versitile as a Strat, ditto for the Jazzmaster and Mustang.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • seanw1010
    seanw1010 Posts: 1,205
    all three
    i couldnt survive without having all ofthem. they are all so different, and i need the sounds of all of them

    btw, ive got an american std strat, an american deluxe ash tele, and a 58 custom shop les paul reissue
    they call them fingers, but i never see them fing. oh, there they go
  • Toolgarden
    Toolgarden Posts: 88
    When I was first learning how to play, I relied on my best friend, a really great guitarist who had a Les Paul and a beautiful '79 sunburst Strat. I immediately fell in love with the feel of the Strat. The quickness of the neck(I have small hands) and the basic shape felt like a hug from a beautiful woman. The first guitar I bought was naturally a nice american strat. Nothing fancy, but I was a beginner and it was the nicest guitar I could afford. I still have it and love it to death. The main reason I bought it, though was for the "feel" of it. I have since played my friend's Les Paul and even though my skill level isn't that high, there is something about the tone of it that is miraculous. It feels heavy, bulky, and kinda like a peice of furniture, rather than an instrument, if that makes sense. But the sound is amazing. And that is where my question comes in. Can anyone explain to this novice player why the LP sounds so different from the Strat-Played on the same amp, same pedals, same musician? I am really wanting to invest in an LP now, but want to know exactly what is going on here. What are the advantages of the LP over the Strat, and vice-versa? Tell me as you would a child, as my musical vocabulary is infantile, at best.
    Thank you.
    "Should I tell you my room is walled up? In what way might I leave it? Here is how; Goodwill knows no obstacle. Nothing can stand before a deep desire. All I have to do is imagine a door." -Schultz

    Trading stories with the leaves instead
  • keeponrockin
    keeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Toolgarden wrote:
    When I was first learning how to play, I relied on my best friend, a really great guitarist who had a Les Paul and a beautiful '79 sunburst Strat. I immediately fell in love with the feel of the Strat. The quickness of the neck(I have small hands) and the basic shape felt like a hug from a beautiful woman. The first guitar I bought was naturally a nice american strat. Nothing fancy, but I was a beginner and it was the nicest guitar I could afford. I still have it and love it to death. The main reason I bought it, though was for the "feel" of it. I have since played my friend's Les Paul and even though my skill level isn't that high, there is something about the tone of it that is miraculous. It feels heavy, bulky, and kinda like a peice of furniture, rather than an instrument, if that makes sense. But the sound is amazing. And that is where my question comes in. Can anyone explain to this novice player why the LP sounds so different from the Strat-Played on the same amp, same pedals, same musician? I am really wanting to invest in an LP now, but want to know exactly what is going on here. What are the advantages of the LP over the Strat, and vice-versa? Tell me as you would a child, as my musical vocabulary is infantile, at best.
    Thank you.

    Many factors.

    First thing is the pickups. The humbuckers provide a higher output, and fatter tone. Sounds GREAT for distortion.

    The weight of the les paul is part of what gives it that fat sound. The wood helps the guitar sustain.

    I agree, Les Pauls DO sound awesome, I just don't enjoy playing them
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • Anon
    Anon Posts: 11,175
    Toolgarden wrote:
    I have since played my friend's Les Paul and even though my skill level isn't that high, there is something about the tone of it that is miraculous. It feels heavy, bulky, and kinda like a peice of furniture, rather than an instrument, if that makes sense. But the sound is amazing. And that is where my question comes in. Can anyone explain to this novice player why the LP sounds so different from the Strat-Played on the same amp, same pedals, same musician? I am really wanting to invest in an LP now, but want to know exactly what is going on here.
    I agree with keeponrockin. The Les pauls sound incredible. No doubt about it, but i prefer the comfort of my strat.
    There's quite a few fans of the LP's on here, and they are awesome guitars, but you have to remember that not everyone feels the same. You've already said that they feel bulky and like a piece of furniture to you, and that you fell in love with the feel of the strat. That's just how it is for some people. The best sound in the world is one thing, and we can tell you what we prefer, but the guitar still needs to feel right with you. I guess what i'm saying is, when you say you really wanna invest in an LP now, why do you? For the sound? You really need to pick some up, play them and test some out, and if you still hate the feel then save your money, because honestly, it will spend more time sitting in the corner and you will go back to your comfy strat.

    Hit the stores and play as many as you can. Try before you buy. Get what's best for you :)
  • Toolgarden
    Toolgarden Posts: 88
    Pj_Gurl wrote:
    I agree with keeponrockin. The Les pauls sound incredible. No doubt about it, but i prefer the comfort of my strat.
    There's quite a few fans of the LP's on here, and they are awesome guitars, but you have to remember that not everyone feels the same. You've already said that they feel bulky and like a piece of furniture to you, and that you fell in love with the feel of the strat. That's just how it is for some people. The best sound in the world is one thing, and we can tell you what we prefer, but the guitar still needs to feel right with you. I guess what i'm saying is, when you say you really wanna invest in an LP now, why do you? For the sound? You really need to pick some up, play them and test some out, and if you still hate the feel then save your money, because honestly, it will spend more time sitting in the corner and you will go back to your comfy strat.

    Hit the stores and play as many as you can. Try before you buy. Get what's best for you :)


    Thanks, both. I guess I was just wondering how or why LP lovers feel so strongly about them. Because from my perspective, it can't be the feel. There must be a technical aspect I am not aware of yet. I will always love my strat and will never part with it because it just feels right, like a part of my heart when I play. But the LPs I have played(maybe a half dozen), just sound so full and meaty. I like the sound, but not the feel. But as you say, music really is more about the feel than the sound. I guess I am lucky that I picked the right one from the start!

    Thanks again,
    Scott
    "Should I tell you my room is walled up? In what way might I leave it? Here is how; Goodwill knows no obstacle. Nothing can stand before a deep desire. All I have to do is imagine a door." -Schultz

    Trading stories with the leaves instead
  • westsidepie
    westsidepie Posts: 627
    Toolgarden wrote:
    Thanks, both. I guess I was just wondering how or why LP lovers feel so strongly about them. Because from my perspective, it can't be the feel. There must be a technical aspect I am not aware of yet. I will always love my strat and will never part with it because it just feels right, like a part of my heart when I play. But the LPs I have played(maybe a half dozen), just sound so full and meaty. I like the sound, but not the feel. But as you say, music really is more about the feel than the sound. I guess I am lucky that I picked the right one from the start!

    Thanks again,
    Scott

    Keeponrocking gave you the answer, but I will fill it in a little more. I love the sound of an LP, and personally I like the way they feel to play. (I just don't want to pay what Gibson wants for one these days. I would rather buy one used.) The single coil pickups on the strat produce that chimey bright sound full of harmonics. Humbucker pickups are really two single coil pickups that act as a single pickup. Also, the magnets in the LP humbuckers th3 498T and 500T are stronger. This has two effects. First, the electrical output produced by the humbucker is much stronger, so the signal going into the amp has a higher voltage. A higher voltage signal going into the amp causes the preamp tubes to distort (produce a non-linear signal) and they send a hotter signal to the output tubes. You get the same effect with a Tubescreamer between your strat and the amp input. Also, humbucker pickups act like low pass filters. That is, they cut highest part of the signal. You will never get a humbucker to chime like a strat single coil. The filter effect is one ingredient in the fat warm sound. Second, the wood is thicker and harder, mahogany. The wood effects the way the string vibrates, and in fact can cause it to vibrate longer, i.e. sustain. The wood also acts as an EQ, and gives LPs a midrange bump. This is another reason people use Tubescreamers with strats, to give them more midrange. Finally, the fixed bridge helps the sound a lot, especially with chunky palm muting. The tremelo bridge on the strat gives you a whole different sound. Having said all this, you can build super-strats that have a very LP sound. HTH.
    To pie I will reply
    But mr. justam
    is who I am

    "That's a repulsive combination of horrible information and bad breath."-Pickles

    "Remember, death is a natural part of the workplace. So, when you see a dead body at work, don't freak out, just ring your death bell." "ting"-Toki Wartooth
  • Toolgarden
    Toolgarden Posts: 88
    Aha. Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks very much. Guess I should get a tubescreamer and save myself 2K!
    :)
    "Should I tell you my room is walled up? In what way might I leave it? Here is how; Goodwill knows no obstacle. Nothing can stand before a deep desire. All I have to do is imagine a door." -Schultz

    Trading stories with the leaves instead
  • keeponrockin
    keeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Toolgarden wrote:
    Aha. Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks very much. Guess I should get a tubescreamer and save myself 2K!
    :)
    A tubescreamer won't make a strat sound like a les paul, more like, a loud strat!
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V

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