Strat style or Gibson style guitar

Which do you like better Strat or Gibson style guitars?

I used to be a strat guy only, but today I think I prefer how a Les Paul feels. I like a thick neck and easier bends.

Depends on which week it is.

Ben, does that mean that the strings on the Gibson are different and easier to press?

The strings are the same, but they feel different. This is because Les Pauls have shorter scale length (shorter distance between nut and bridge) than the Stratocasters. If you put .010 strings on both guitars and tune them the same way, the strings on the Les Paul will be a bit looser and easier to bend.

This explains it: http://www.12fret.com/fret/fv4n7.htm

nice to know. I have a strat and I actually when I got it I was expecting to have looser strings. Maybe I should have got a Les Paul.. or I dont know how Ibanez guitars are

Is that true also for acoustic Gibson?

It depends... you will have to check for each specific model.

Here's a good general list for different brands and models (mostly electric): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_%28string_instruments%29

For Gibson acoustics, the best way is to go to the Gibson website and check the Specs for each model.

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments.aspx

For example, the Gibson J-45 Standard has a scale length of 24-3/4".

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Round-Shoulder/Gibson-Acoustic/J-45-Standard/Specs.aspx

I used to only be a Gibson les Paul guy, (since 1980). The only problem was when i bought my traditional many years ago i did not realized how chunky the 50's style neck really was. Once i got over how cool it was to own the top of the line Gibson guitar(VOS), i realized as i got better i did not really like the neck, so i traded it for an American strat and overnight i turned into a strat guy. It was love at first chord progression. After a while i did miss the sound one can only achieve with a solid body Gibson Les Paul and tube amps, so i bought an Eric Clapton signature series strat and wow it is by far my favorite guitar today. It is like having the best of both worlds...... However i still missed that crunchy distortion sound (not the kind you get from a stomp box) i used to get playing my les Paul through a marshal amp back in 1980, so i bought a Gibson SG. Now I’m happy. So depends on what i want to play I’ll grab the best tone for that song I’m playing. Both very different but each has its own specialty. BBg

Originally Posted by: Zf97Which do you like better Strat or Gibson style guitars?

I think what you mainly want to look for in a guitar is what you want it to sound like.
Fender Strats and Gibson Les Pauls are pretty opposite ends of the spectrum.
the strats have bolt on necks, generally single coil pickups, bodies are made out of different types of wood than les pauls and are just a one piece body, necks are usually maple or maple with rosewood fret board.
Now, a les Paul has humbucker pick ups, set necks, bodies are usually mahogany with maple(or other wood) tops so it's a two piece body, necks are usually mahogany with rosewood fretboard.

Even the wiring is usually completely different form the two.

So with all these factors taken in to consideration, you're looking at two completely different guitars, none being better than the other just different.

Of course they're also going to feel completely different when playing them. So what you need to do is just really figure out what sound you want and get a guitar that has that sound.
Play around with different models of that brand and find one that sounds and feels the way you want.

Here's a short list of Strat and Les Paul players and songs that generally fit the description of what the guitars sound like.

Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing - Strat
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Couldn't Stand the Weather - Strat
David Gilmour - Another Brick In the Wall - Strat

Slash - Sweet Child of Mine - Les Paul
Jimmy Page - Heartbreaker (solo) - Les Paul
Joe Perry - Eat The Rich - Les Paul