Fender Strat or Gibson Les Paul?

Question

After one previous question on here and a few days of internet research, I have decided that I want to buy a more expensive first guitar - i'll feel more motivated to learn than if I had cheap one. And besides, a good guitar is for life right?!
I've narrowed down my preferences to either purchasing a Gibson Les Paul or an Fender American Stratocaster. A Les Paul is my very first choice - i've always loved the look of this guitar. I'm also a big Aerosmith fan, and I see Joe Perry playing these all the time. But is a Fender easier to play/learn on? What would you suggest?
Also, are there any particular Gibson or Fender models you can recommend? Keep in mind I don't want to spend over £1,300 (still a lot!)

Been looking around again and came across the Les Paul Goddess (i'm a woman, before you ask :p ). What do you think about these/how would you compare them to others?

Answer 1

In actuality, if you know how to play, you can make any guitar sound good. This is my recommendation.

Go to your music and try them out, or let someone else try it out for you. Listen to it, and if you can tell a difference between them, pick the one that sounds best to you. You could even turn your back while someone else plays it. At this point you really don't know what it is that you want, so buy a Fender Squier and see how it goes. If you progress and like it, you will get more of an idea of what you want and like.

It would suck to spend that much money on a guitar to later find out you really wanted a different guitar.

Answer 2

If your just learning, I would look at it from the standpoint of what kind of music you want to play. I have always been a "Gibson guy". Played them all my life, but recently changed the style of music I was playing and the Strat was a better choice. Les Paul's have a BIG full sound, great for heavy metal, rock, etc. Strat's have a thinner, more versatile tone and works well for blues, gospel, country. I like to select the bridge/middle pickup setting on my Strat to get a very "Glassy" tone, Really Hendrixy sounding, or John Mayer sounding. But, what I found immediately was that I kept hitting the volume knob when I'd strum my Strat. Les Paul's can be played anywhere between the bridge and neck without this problem. With the Strat, I find I now play closer to the neck to avoid this problem. For a beginner, it is just a matter of what you get use to, but if I had to choose one that's easier to learn on, I'd have to pick the Les Paul.

If the weight and cost is a problem, you might try a Les Paul Junior. They have the same qualities as a LP but without the weight and cost. If only the cost is a problem, Gibson has some Les Paul versions that are below $1000. Check out Musicians Friend.

Either way, both are great guitars and can be used for any kind of music!

Answer 3

I would personally go for the Ibanez JS1000 with that kind of money. or a PRS. But to answer your question No a Fender Strat is NOT easier to learn on, nor is it harder to learn on. The real difference is going to be the wood. What kind of wood is the body and neck made of. Also the pickups. The Strat has single coil pickups (usually 3). They make a very particular sound. The Les Paul has Humbuckers (usually 2). Personally I like the sound of the Humbuckers. I like the full thick rich sound of the Humbuckers and I like the fact that when I'm soloing, I can use the Humbucker in the bridge position to reach those amazing highs and not lose the fat sound of the lows. If you like Aerosmith's music then maybe the Les Paul is the way to go. If you prefer a more Hendrixy sound then go with the Strat. Btw, I don't know how big you are, but the Les Paul is quite a bit heavier than the Fender Strat. Just something to think about.
Another thing, look at where the volume/tone knobs are on the guitar. Is your strumming hand going to move a lot? If so, then you might be hitting the volume knob on the strat and lose sound in the middle of a song.
Good luck and Rock On.

Answer 4

They are both great guitars. I've owned both and speaking for myself only I recommend Les Pauls.

You need to check out the necks. Strat necks are slimmer with a bit more taper towards the nut while Les Paul necks are thicker in most cases unless you are looking at a Custom.

You should also consider if you want a whammy bar. Strats have em, Les Pauls generally don't (unless its a Bigsby).

The things I like most about Strats is the sweet sound they can get and the whammy bar. Les Pauls can't make that candy twangy tone.
The thing I don't like about Strats is the location of the Volume switch which is too easily turned down accidentally by bumping it with your picking hand.

The things I like most about Les Pauls are the overall power of the pickups, the seperate volume and tone controls for each pickup and the 3 way toggle switch. Also the tune-a-matic bridge is excellent if your technique tends toward anchoring your picking hand on the bridge.
The thing I don't like about the Les Paul is the weight, but you get used to that.

If you are willing to spend 1,300 pounds, which I think is about 2,200 US dollars then I'd say get a Les Paul Standard or the best used Les Paul you can get for the money primarily because Les Pauls don't loose their value while new Strats aren't considered investment quality unless they come from the Custom Shop.

A lot depends too on your style. If you are into SRV, Clapton (post Creem) and that type of sound then a Strat is your style.

If you like Billy Gibbons, Joe Perry, Slash, Neil Young, then go for a Les Paul.

Finally, you really ought to try a Fender Telecaster too. They are nice. I've owned Teles, Strats, Les Pauls, Firebirds, Gretsch Country Gentleman and a Mosrite Ventures Model. They were all great but I now own a 68 Fender Telecaster Deluxe and a Gibson Les Paul 69 Custom.

Oh check out YouTube Billy Gibbons Guitar Lesson. Cool stuff on a Gretsch.

Answer 5

I own both, so here's my tuppence worth.

I absolutely LOVE Gibson Les Paul guitars, but Fender Stratocasters are cool too. The thing is, although they are both guitars they are DIFFERENT guitars. The Gibson has "humbucking" pickups, the Strat has "single-coil" and they have VERY different sounds. The Strat has a "whammy bar" system (although Eric Clapton has his "blocked"). The Fender has a 25.5" scale-length, the Gibson electrics are 24.75". If you have short, skinny fingers, try the Gibson. If you have long, "fat" fingers, try the Fender. There are also differences in the neck shapes, so notice that too - I like the "50's profile" (thicker) necks, some prefer the "60's" profile necks (thinner - both referring to Gibsons). The Strats have "C" shaped necks or "V" shaped. If you wrap your thumb around the neck, the V-shape might feel more comfortable. If you use a more classically-oriented technique on the fretboard, a C-shaped neck will feel better to you.

What you need to do is go to a place where you can try out both kinds of guitars and play them for a long time and figure out which is the one that you just HAVE to take home with you.

AND... there are differences in the quality of these guitars too - a Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1968 Les Paul Custom will sound different (and I think better) than a Gibson "Studio", which is still considered a Les Paul, but the "Custom" will probably blow it away. Be careful WHICH of the models you go for - not all Stratocasters and Les Pauls are created equal. And there are other guitars out there now that are just as cool - look around!

Lastly, go for a "used in good condition" instrument - that's how got my favorite guitar, and I saved a bundle on it that way. Take along an extremely experienced guitar player with you when you go shopping (buy them lunch if you have to) and they will be able to help steer to to the good stuff, and away from the "also rans". And DO NOT BUY A GUITAR BECAUSE IT WORKS FOR SOMEBODY ELSE - BUY ONE THAT WORKS FOR YOU!!! Happy hunting!

p.s. I wonder how many of these people have seen the video of Jimi Hendrix on You Tube where he is playing a GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM, or the Rainbow Bridge movie, where he plays a GIBSON FLYING V. Just because Hendrix played Strats, doesn't mean he ALWAYS played them.

If you are a complete beginner, get a $129 (USD) Behringer with a USB port and wear it out... THEN go get a Les Paul, etc. And... TAKE LESSONS - I forgot to put that in there - the other guys are right about that.

Answer 6

Both,
as long as we're spending YOUR money!
Seriously, the choice between these two guitars is not an easy one. Look at Eric Clapton, he played Les Pauls in the 60's and early 70's, then switched to Strat full time. He occasionally picks up a Gibson nowadays, but not often. They are both awesome guitars and if you could afford to get one now and one later, that would be the best. Neither guitar is easier to play, although some might argue that lower action can be achieved on the Gibson. If the Les Paul is your first choice, I'd say go for it!!! Good luck.

Answer 7

Go with a Gibson Les Paul!!! Unless your willing get a vintage Strat, I wouldn't go down that road! The new Strats are garbage! Trust me I own a Les Paul and I won't trade it for the world!!! Also keep in mind, what kind of music your wanting to play. If your a metal head you might want to look in another direction. Such as a Jackson, Dean, Ibanez, or even an ESP! If you would like to talk more, just look me up. I'm more than willing to help you get something you like and a quality guitar! Rock on DUDE!!!

Answer 8

In my humble opinion, I don't think that Gibson ever made a solid-body elecric that was worth the asking price. I'd get the Strat. Even assuming that all other things are equal, the weight of a Les Paul leads to discomfort when playing for more than 60-90 minutes.

If you recall, Les Paul himself always played sitting down. Therefore the weight of the instrument was a non-issue to the man himself !!

Answer 9

I've played, gigged, taught, and horsetraded guitars on the side for many years, and since this is your first guitar, spend the money on some lessons. There are plenty of relatively inexpensive axes out there, like used Epiphones and Mexican Strats. At your level, an Epi Les Paul with a good setup will go a long way. Good Luck!

Answer 10

you are amazing. i loved it when you said you will feel more motivated to learn on a more expensive guitar and you want an expensive one for your first guitar. i totally agree. and just remember this when you are buying a guitar. FENDER. fenders are extremely versatile and look amazing not to mention they have amazing sound. also, they are by FAR the hottest, and coolest guitars money can buy. pfff, only losers with no taste buy ibanez. although, gibsons are great (especially the les paul) but people tend to agree with me that too many musicians now adays are playing les pauls and, they look great, but are too common. same with the SG. but man, its great ur getting a good guitar for your first one. so many beginners are startin off with crappy little squiers.
im gunna say this once. STRAT. they are amazing. the more expensive you get, the better it is. when ur buying a fender (and if you are cool you will) get a japanese or american-not mexican. personally, if you want a nice higher end model, the one i would recommend are a fender mustang, or a fender jaguar. these are hard to find, but they look awesome and both hav totally unique sounds. you wont see many people playing them, so you may feel left out when u start playing with the billions of other little posers that play les pauls. just find a good guitar shop that specializes in guitars only, and they will have the best more harder to come by guitars such as the mustang and jag.

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