Almost everyone has heard or heard of Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul electric guitars. They have been seen in the hands of some of the most iconic musicians and featured in many, if not most, popular songs of the last sixty years. Many players visit guitars shops just to hold one of these time-tested and frequently copied six-string treasures which are still bought, sold, and bartered daily. Fender and Gibson employ thousands and have yearly sales in the hundreds of millions. Some great artists have played both, for instance, Eric Clapton. In the classic rock song “Cocaine,” his performance was recorded on a singing Stratocaster, likely for its characteristic timbre, but when he played an uncredited lead guitar on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with his friends, The Beatles, he wailed longingly on a resonating Les Paul. Determining which of these gems better fits one’s style and needs can be an entertaining challenge. If you already are or want to be a guitar player, an individual’s personality and choice of classic electric guitar should harmonize. Deciding which reliable instrument is a good fit, the Fender Stratocaster or the Gibson Les Paul, should be based on an individual’s taste, style, and available assets.
Late California native, inventor, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leo Fender’s Stratocaster has been slammed to the stage and rammed through speaker cabinets in punkish tribute by The Who’s Pete Townshend, set afire by Jimi Hendrix in a sacrifice of devotion, and mastered by such incredible guitarists as Yngwie Malmsteen and Jeff Beck. Many hard rock and heavy metal stars have employed the lightweight Strat as their weapon of choice, such as Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple whose riff in “Smoke on the Water” has been attempted by many, while few dare try his dexterously amazing solo in “Highway Star.” Proto-metal surf music maestro Dick Dale shredded on his Stratocaster in “Miserlou,” which later became the theme to the film Pulp Fiction. Nile Rodgers played one on the disco mega-hit “Le Freak” by Chic. A rockabilly or country fan might prefer its bright and twangy sound, as evidenced on Buddy Holly and the Crickets’ early electric masterpiece, “Peggy Sue.” Past and current blues artists like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Bonamassa, and John Mayer, and country artists Vince Gill and Keith Urban have demonstrated their love of Stratocasters with astounding skill. If any of these styles fit your musical tastes, you are probably a Fender Stratocaster type.
The Gibson Les Paul’s sonic beauty can be enjoyed on such outstanding and diverse recordings as “Jammin’” by Bob Marley and the Wailers, “Fade to Black” by Metallica, and “Vaya con Dias,” as performed by Wisconsin’s Les Paul, the late master guitarist, inventor, and Rock Hall member on his new six-string with his talented wife Mary Ford. The deeper, fuller hard rock sound was defined by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin’s use of a Les Paul through a Marshall amplifier on the hits “Black Dog” and “Heartbreaker,” among many others. Joe Perry’s Gibson hums and squawks on his solo in Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” In the intro of the epic southern rock track “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gary Rossington’s soulful Les Paul slide playing is so warm and heavy it can bring tears to the eyes of a hardened biker. These timeless works of art could only sound exactly as they do through a Gibson Les Paul. Billy Gibbons’ main guitar in ZZ Top, “Pearly Gates,” is a ’59 model, picked with a nickel to achieve bite, and also exemplified the bluesy 1970s southern rock sound. Rolling Stones Keith Richards and Ron Wood both play them frequently, as do jazz great John McLaughlin and country star Kenny Chesney. Those who find these artists’ sounds appealing have musical taste that may lean toward a Gibson Les Paul.
The Stratocaster was considered modern and edgy when it was conceived; the same attributes are reflected in some of its famous handlers. It sports sleek California styling, a whammy bar, also known as a vibrato or tremolo bar, and single coil pickups under the strings that electromagnetically recognize sound waves and produce a clear, shimmering tone of voice that shines and soars on David Gilmour’s solo in Pink Floyd’s psychedelic classic, “Comfortably Numb.” The frequently brightly painted Fender, whose wood has been cut in a double cutaway body style to enable better access to the smooth fret board, is the most popular guitar in the world, number one in sales, and people love a winner.
The pricier Gibson Les Paul, like some of its human holders, is sturdy, constructed of the finest materials, and highly desirable. Ownership can make one feel as if they are an elite club member, and it is by far the most coveted brand and model electric guitar in the world. It sports a fat, single cutaway body style, a slightly wider neck and is noticeably heavier in weight, and many say, sound. It has a tremolo bar, hum-eliminating dual coil pickups, known as “humbuckers,” and a usually darker finish, with a notable exception being the late Randy Rhodes’ white 1974 Gibson Les Paul, dazzlingly manipulated on “Crazy Train,” with Ozzy Osbourne. A Les Paul’s voice can be deep, growly, and bombastic like Slash’s monstrous sound on “Welcome to the Jungle,” Guns and Roses’ first hit, or high and piercing like his work on “Sweet Child of Mine.” A Les Paul is multi-faceted like its creator.
A person can buy a bare-bones, new Fender Stratocaster for around five hundred dollars, or a used, very good condition standard model for a couple hundred or more. Custom models can be ordered for thousands of dollars, or if one has a few million lying around a celebrity-signed Strat can be purchased, such as one autographed by Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and many of their friends that auctioned for more than two and a half million dollars. It is all a matter of how much a person has to spend.
A studio-quality Gibson Les Paul standard model starts around a thousand dollars and can be upgraded almost limitlessly. A decent used one can be had for near seven hundred dollars, but most players do not like to part with a Gibson. A new Jimmy Page replica can go for twenty-five thousand, and a rare 1959 model, considered the most quality year of production, can go for half a million, as only around six hundred were made. Trying different Les Pauls and deciding which you enjoy most can be half of the fun.
Great tone, taste, and personality are humanistic qualities shared by both guitars. Buying either is an investment, but does not have to break one’s bank account. Most online and local guitar shops offer easy financing and with advances in electronics hardware and computer software, you can purchase either and achieve a fairly good representation of the other’s overall sound. Money can be spent on higher quality wood and installation of better electronics and hardware for new or used models. With so many good reasons to purchase Genuine Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster professional electric guitars, fledgling musicians, occasional players, and accomplished guitarists alike should sample and consider both when looking for a legendary beauty that, with proper care, can last one’s lifetime.
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