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Les Paul vs Strat. How come they never told me?
I've played Strat and super Strat style guitars (25.5 neck, XJ frets) for 20 years. I recently bought a Les Paul copy (24.75 scale neck Jumbo/Medium frets) and I am floored. Further research shows me thatthis is a standard... you either have a Les Paul neck (Les Paul copies, SG copies, Explorer copies) or a strat neck (everything else) and your playing style will gravitate naturally toward one or the other. Starting as a metal player (and since branching to everything else) I've always been recommended strat-style guitars (THIS is for metal). With the advent of the internet, I am realizing how totally untrue this paradigm is... people play what they like, regardless of musical style. The more I play this guitar, the more I realize I've been playing the wrong guitars for 20 years! To this day, I have to tell people I am a blues or jazz guitarist to have them recommend a 24.75-necked guitar. I and many others have no trouble shredding or jamming on the J/M frets. So you don't get the full 24 frets. You can bend that last full step, if you absolutely need to.
So WHY does this dichotomy still exist? And even further, why does no one tell you that this prejudice exists? Since the electric guitar comes in only two basic setups, how come no one ever explains this? If I were trying to help a novice (as anyone would want to) this is the first part of guitar selection I explain. It makes people's who learning process easier. Since developing your personal preferences is always a 'find what you like and stick with it' kind of thing, how come no one ever brings this aspect of guitar selection up? I feel like I just reached the 24th rank of Freemasonry or something by learning this very basic aspect of guitar construction after 20 years of living with the instrument.
Thanks Sal. I always appreciate your input. I don't know if you can really count the PRS guitars. It's like the Schecters where they put a 25.5 on a Les Paul body (sacrilege! I know!) And a LOT of it is perception... you know, the old "neck thrus have better sustain! thing that has yet to be proven. I see punk guys play semi-hollows, so I try not to get stuck in the fiddy-duddy stuff. But the fact that nobody ever even mentioned this to me (sure I noticed there were different necks, but I never thought it was such a standardized thing!) just blows me away.
2 Answers
- Sal ChæchLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
Actually, there's more setups than just that. For example PRS commonly uses a 25" flat scale. The rule of thumb is basically the longer the scale the more twang (but of course it's not that simple). A banjo uses a 26" - 27" scale.
As far as the full 24 frets goes, I always preferred that because it makes a good reference point for harmonics. I rarely use past the 22, though it happens sometimes.
And for finding what you like and sticking with it, I feel it's good to have a bit of diversity in music. As the battle rages on whether the Strat or the Les Paul is the best, I'm always switching from side to side depending on how I feel at the moment.
It's funny that you're just finding this out after 20 years. Don't feel bad, I didn't know until I hit the 10 year mark. You've got to realize that what this all comes down to is the difference of 3/4". The differences are there, but they're subtle. It takes a trained ear and a trained hand to notice the real differences. Then once you notice, you see that there's a world of difference, and now you can use that to your advantage in your arsenal of music.
I was the other way around. I always thought I was a Les Paul guy, still just as metal, thinking Strats are for blues. It snuck up on me like a ton of bricks, and the change was revolutionary.
- ?Lv 45 years ago
Like somebody already mentioned the Les Paul won't make you speedier. the only element you will desire to do on your equip. to help velocity could be to alter the action on the neck. I quite have very low action on my Jackson and a minimum of it makes me experience like its much less complicated to go around the be aggravating board. Now to make the Fender participant's mad... I hate Fenders, The severe treble grates on my ears. i could purchase that Epiphone take the %.-united statesout and stick in something appropriate of the line. Then sit down decrease back and luxuriate in the wealthy complete sound your getting while in comparison with that of the strat. My first guitar replaced right into a strat, my 2nd replaced into an Epiphone Les Paul. After touching that Les Paul I on no account had to play a Fender returned.
