Most appropriate for lead guitarist: Fender Stratocaster or Gibson Les Paul?

Les Paul!!! all the way

Gibson!

No, Fender!

No, Gibson!

No, Fender!

Either one is great, they are both wonderful guitars, and I don't think you would ever be disappointed with either of them.

Although, to just offer my personal opinion here, I usually associate the Fender with more 'epic' guitar solos, and the Les Paul with more bluesy solos. I know that's definitely not always the case (Eric Clapton uses a Fender, for example, and Jimmy Page uses/has used a Les Paul multiple times).

Really, it's just down to which one you think looks sexier up there on stage while you're rocking so hard that the planets line up.

The wonderful thing about music playing is that: you get to choose the instrument that sounds best and is most comfortable and easy for you to play and get that sound you're reaching for!

It all depends on what kind of music you are playing mostly and what kind of sound you're reaching for.

Fender guitars are great for about all kinds/types of music, but some guitarists just don't like playing them, while others refuse to play anything but a Fender! So, go try a few Fender guitar models out and see if Fender guitars suit YOU best!

If you're playing rock or Pop, you really can't beat a Gibson Les Paul either! But again, YOU need to be the one going into a well stocked guitar shop and trying one out, playing one to find out what guitar trips your trigger best!

Les Pauls drive me NUTS to play, however, my lead guitarist is lost without his Les Paul! Go figure!

My fav guitar for all types of music thats gets great full, rich wet and wonderful sound and plays so easily, so effortlessly, gets fabulous warm sound everytime, is a semi-hollow body electric Gretsch Country Gentleman 6122. Or an original Chet Atkins Gretsch Viking guitar if you can find one.

You'll shell-out some big bucks for Gretsch guitars, but they're the last guitar you'll ever want or need! No kidding!

But, honestly....YOU won't know until YOU'VE done a lot of shopping first! It might be a Rickenbacher or a Washburn Guitar or an Ibanez or an Epiphone guitar, Yamaha makes some real nice playing guitars as well! Don't forget to try playing Martin Guitars either!

Taylor and Larrivee put out some of the best sounding and best made, easiest playing custom guitars in the world! Make sure to play some of their models too, before you buy!

But, really... it's all up to what guitar sounds and plays the best in your hand, sounds best to your ears!

You really need to take your time and go to many different guitar shops and try many different makes of guitar before you shell-out your hard-earned cash to buy that guitar you've found, that you just can't play music without!

Have a lot of fun shopping too! Good luck!

Jazzme109

Prefer Les Paul.

Either one is appropriate for both. Its a matter of taste by the person who would be playing them. Each one has its own sound. Some would say it depends on what style of music you are playing too. But either guitars are used in many ranges of styles, both solos and rhythm. Some will also say that Strats are not for soloing (hard rock/metal), ....listen to Iron Maiden, Wintersun, Yngwie ...Anyway..its a matter of preference, pick what you like, not what is the norm.