Strat players vs. Les Paul Players

[Blues_Man]

I think people who play stratocasters tend to be the better guitarist.
But what do you all think? are strat players better than les paul players?

[Polera]

Although u are correct, in that it may seem that way....i beleive it does more to do with the fact that different guitars are suited to different styles that more or less showcase talents. For instances...now a days Les Puals are popular for todays music...that requires little talent... while strats have been a favourate with blues...and more guitar driven style. With that bein said, i can name a few great Les pual guitarest such as duane allmen, Plant, Slash...

[Kevin Taylor]

I think most guys in the past tended to go for Fenders cause of their looks. There used to be a time when the only two makes you'd consider buying if you were serious about guitar were Fenders or Gibsons. Generally, Gibsons looked fat & bulky and Fenders looked cool. Plus the Fenders had a whammy bar which you had to have if you wanted to play anything by Van Halen.
If you were into rock it was a Fender Strat and a Marshall amp.
If you were into blues or country then it was a Gibson Les Paul with a Fender Twin amp.

[CW14]

If you were into rock it was a Fender Strat and a Marshall amp.
If you were into blues or country then it was a Gibson Les Paul with a Fender Twin amp.
Hmmm... I've always associated strats with blues and LP's with rock

[ren]

I've got both - does that make me a good player or a bad one? :D

Choice of guitar has nothing to do with ability really. There are guys who can blaze on a Les Paul, and guys who can't play at all with Ibanez JEMs...

[Dr_simon]

Me 2, what about PRS players ?

[Kevin Taylor]

I always whap my knuckles on the volume knobs on Fenders so I had to buy a Gibson.
So... yeah, Gibson players are much better.

[aschleman]

Me 2, what about PRS players ?

90 percent of all modern rock (within the last 2-4 years) that you hear on the radio or see on MTV are recorded with PRS guitars and Mesa Boogie Amps..... Because they are considered now as the "Top of the line" guitars. Which they are... but when young bands make a little cash the first thing they do is go buy a PRS and a Boogie.

As for Strats vs LP's... I would say that they suit different peoples tastes and they reflect peoples inspirations... I personally was inspired to play the guitar by a guy named Jimi Hendrix. So I bet you can guess what kind of guitar I bought.... I own two strats. People who were fans of guitarists that played LP's generally play LPs.

In my opinion Les Pauls are better for rock than a Strat... The humbuckers respond better to distortion and they get more sustain in comparison with Strats. Strats are more versatile though. You can play almost any kind of music with a Strat.

[PRSplaya]

90 percent of all modern rock (within the last 2-4 years) that you hear on the radio or see on MTV are recorded with PRS guitars and Mesa Boogie Amps..... Because they are considered now as the "Top of the line" guitars. Which they are... but when young bands make a little cash the first thing they do is go buy a PRS and a Boogie.
I would say it's more like 50% or less. And, there's no telling what they're using in the studio. BTW, most recording engineers hate it when they see some kid bring in a rectumfrier, because most don't know jack about how to set them. As far as PRS's go, what can I say, they're great guitars, and a lot of great guitarist play them.

[z0s0_jp]

i think strats are easier to play.....talent aside that is....could iron maiden fly with lp's....hmmmmmm

[x0o_BurnOut_o0x]

Yeah i think its a bunch of bull**** to say ppl that play strats are better players. It depends on the person. Slash plays a Les Paul and hes awesome. Its just preference.

[Jolly McJollyson]

Angus Young, Slash, and Zakk Wylde all play Les Pauls...Jimmy Page plays one too...I think it doesn't make a **** of difference. I mean, Strat players are people like Clapton, Hendrix, Buddy Guy, they're all greats as well. However, Yngwie plays a modified strat and he's a friggin' wanker, so it's pretty clear that it doesn't really matter. I mean, hell, all of my favs play Ibanez. Oh, except David Gilmour, who, when he plays electric, uses a Les Paul (perhaps both, though). Mark Knopfler uses both, and players don't get much better than the two of them (Knopfler and Gilmour).

[z0s0_jp]

i believe gilmour only uses strats...lp's have better tone imop with the mohogany/maple construction...

[Jolly McJollyson]

i believe gilmour only uses strats...lp's have better tone imop with the mohogany/maple construction...
I've seen him play a Les Paul, as in I've literally watched him play it.

As far as Iron Maiden goes, of course they could fly on Les Pauls like they do on strats. Look at Zakk Wylde. He's playing twice as fast as Gers or Smith, and he's doing it on a paul. Also, the Paul's shorter neck might even make it easier to play more quickly in some respects.

[z0s0_jp]

ok i dont doubt you ...ive never seen him play gibsons but thats just with my eyeballs...and you r right about maiden im sure they could fly on a block of wood with piano wire

[z0s0_jp]

personally i like pauls better :D

[aschleman]

I would say it's more like 50% or less. And, there's no telling what they're using in the studio. BTW, most recording engineers hate it when they see some kid bring in a rectumfrier, because most don't know jack about how to set them. As far as PRS's go, what can I say, they're great guitars, and a lot of great guitarist play them.

Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Chevelle, 3 Doors Down, Shinedown, Seether, Crossfade....... among others are bands that I've seen play live and they all played PRS's with either a Hughes & Kettner... or a Boogie. And I would put money on it that it's more than 50%. You're right about the studio becuase the producer makes the band play what he wants them to play... but when they play live the band will play what they want to play... PRS's are nice guitars... I would never buy one ... I don't need a 2 thousand dollar guitar... and most people that I know that have them only bought them to compensate for their lack of skill and to have something to brag about... I guess the only way I would buy one is if I was ever famous... I would buy a bunch of them and give them out for free... just so their prices would go down. I would also smash one at the end of every show just to piss people off.................besides my Strat sounds better anyway.

LP or Strat... doesn't matter what a guitarist plays. The guitar doesn't make someone a good guitarist. It's all opinions when it comes to which one is better and truth be-told, it will never matter. As long as the Earth goes around the Sun there will always be Gibson fans and Fender fans... and they will always think they're better than each other.

[z0s0_jp]

alex lifeson...prs/hughes and kettner...(gibson/tele as well but in concert he used mainly the prs and on all rush's songs that required acoustic electric switching)

[Polera]

STRATS ROCK....i had to fit this in

[Jolly McJollyson]

alex lifeson...prs/hughes and kettner...(gibson/tele as well but in concert he used mainly the prs and on all rush's songs that required acoustic electric switching)
Lifeson is the man.

[z0s0_jp]

Lifeson is the man.
very underrated...one of the best in rock

[tehplatypus]

I think people who play stratocasters tend to be the better guitarist.
But what do you all think? are strat players better than les paul players?

hendrix's favorite guitar was a les paul jr that he used only in the studio.

[Matthew O'Regan]

...they all played PRS's with either a Hughes & Kettner... or a Boogie. And I would put money on it that it's more than 50%.

The other 50% being on Jacksons/ESPs with EMGs... I agree about the amps too - all Hughes & Kettner or Boogies.

Anyway, back on topic. I prefer Strats to LPs, but as has been said, that doesnt mean anything about my skill whatsoever. I just like the sound and look of my guitar, as Im sure 90% of the people out there do with their axes as well. We all like "our" guitars, with our choice of pickups and colours, with the little dings and the fret ware that WE put there. If this werent the case we'd all be playing Line 6 Variaxs. :(

[Lordathestrings]

.... If this werent the case we'd all be playing Line 6 Variaxs. :(eeeeeeewwww :p

[The Ace]

I think we're taking this question as, "Which guitar can people play better?" whereas the question was, "Which players are better - those who use strats or pauls?"

In terms of the first question that's already been said: it doesn't matter, it's all preference about what the guys like.

But if we answer the question that was asked - strat players are generally better. Wait that's not right to say - strat players have more of a legacy.

Off the top of my head these are a few players who, FOR THE MOST PART, use strats - Hendrix, Jeff Back, Clapton, Yngwie, SRV, Eric Johnson, Robert Cray, myself...

and the same thing, 'cept with Les Pauls - Zakk Wylde, Slash, Randy Rhoads (flying V too), etc....

So I think the talent scale is leaning a little to the Strat side... but then, of course, talent is completely subjective... whatever.

But I think you are all right - it doesn't matter what they play, they'll still fly, but throughout history strats have generally churned out more "legends" on the guitar than Les Pauls.

[Katoomba]

......bring in a rectumfrier......

It's been a long, tiring weekend: that one went over my head! :confused:

[CW14]

It's been a long, tiring weekend: that one went over my head! :confused:
He was referring to a Mesa Boogie Rectifier amp. I take it he doesn't like them... hehe

[Katoomba]

He was referring to a Mesa Boogie Rectifier amp. I take it he doesn't like them... hehe


Thanks! Now I can stop scratching my head. ;)

[Pantallica1]

But if we answer the question that was asked - strat players are generally better. Wait that's not right to say - strat players have more of a legacy.

Off the top of my head these are a few players who, FOR THE MOST PART, use strats - Hendrix, Jeff Back, Clapton, Yngwie, SRV, Eric Johnson, Robert Cray, myself...

LOL! Nice one!

[The Ace]

I couldn't resist...

[CW14]

BAH...

I'm better than all of those players.

[PRSplaya]

He was referring to a Mesa Boogie Rectifier amp. I take it he doesn't like them... hehe
Correct, minus the part about me not likeing them. I just think that's a funny thing to call them. You know, like Ibenhad's (Ibanez). Now those I don't really like, but I do like boogies, just not my favorite by any means.

[Raskolnikov]

Yeah, I'm the one around here that doesn't like Mesas.

[PonyOne]

this is one of those debates that will last as long as people play guitars.

when i first embarked on my guitar playing oddesey, i looked at what bands i listened to, and what gutiars they tended to play. onstage at least, i saw more Les Pauls, SG's and other similar, 2 hb/mahogany guitars. so i got an Epi SG as my first guitar. I didn't really think much of Fenders; I didn't think they "fit my style."

the longer i played the more i found myself gravitating towards Telecasters; I love the Tele sound. The more I got into Teles, the more I got into Strats. and then all of a sudden I realized that, despite my love of hard-hitting distorted rock, i just didn't really like Gibsons all that much.

I own a Strat and a Tele, and a Kramer Baretta, which awesome for out-and-out hard rock. And a Gretsch, which no one ever stops to think about... don't mess with that guitar, man. It will beat your ass up.

In terms of amps, I like the two extremes; Vox AC15/AC30's, and Mesa Rectifiers or Soldanos, the latter being better overall but way more expensive. I've played Rectifiers and I like the sound a lot; it has nothing to do with who plays them. I'm way past that point.

I see more and more new artists endorsed by ESP, Ibanez and PRS than Fneder and Gibson. I like ESP's, they're pretty cool. I've never been into Ibanez and PRS' have never "wowed" me like I thought they would.

If you want to talk legendary guitars, then the Strat would probably be #1; I'm sorry, there's just no arguing it. After that, the Les Paul; even if people don't know what it's called, they recognize its shape, they remember seeing Slash wailing on one in the video to November Rain if they were alive back then, they see them onstage at shows, etc. Third would probably be the Telecaster.

I find it really annoying that every time I go to a club and see up-and-coming bands, they seem to always have a brand new Les Paul plugged into a Marshall stack; that's the norm here in LA. it looks like they just jacked the rig off the floor of guitar center :D i just wish that people weren't so into "looking" cool that they would actually focus on creating a sound; I mean, if your sound is an LP into a JCM, then more power to you. But all my band friends seem to be impressed by the distortion I get out of my 50th Anniversary Telecaster through my Vox. Why not be original?

I'll take a Benedetto with a 60's AC30, thank you. And yes I will sweep and whatnot.

[Polera]

I agree with ponyone on all acounts of his message.

[HDJ]

I always whap my knuckles on the volume knobs on Fenders so I had to buy a Gibson.
So... yeah, Gibson players are much better.

I had that same problem with my strat....I simply took out the middle tone knob, which is useless in my book, and moved the volume knob down one hole, so the top hole where they put the volume knob to close the strings is empty...eliminated that problem..

Although I own a strat, I rarely play it, just depends on the sound I'm after....I actually prefer the fat sounds of Les Paul's, I just haven't saved up the money to buy one yet...

[HDJ]

Yeah, I'm the one around here that doesn't like Mesas.

I'm with you on that, I don't like Mesa's either...Marshall all the way!!

[PonyOne]

I'm with you on that, I don't like Mesa's either...Marshall all the way!!
and i'm the inverse... i don't like Marshalls, and I like Mesas.

please don't hate me.

[Lordathestrings]

... i don't like Marshalls, and I like Mesas...Nah, you're both full of slimy stumpwater. The real deal is an old Ampeg. The M&M's are same-old-same-old. :p

[Raskolnikov]

Nah, you're both full of slimy stumpwater. The real deal is an old Ampeg. The M&M's are same-old-same-old. :p
Personally, I go for a good Sunn or a spunky little tube combo, cranked up until it's hoppin' up and down on the jam room floor.

[PRSplaya]

PEAVEY all the way baby http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/musik/music-smiley-005.gif

[Raskolnikov]

PEAVEY all the way baby http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/musik/music-smiley-005.gif
Can I get a Hell, Yeah?


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[PRSplaya]

Why "hay-yal yay-ya"