Les Pauls, Strats and Teles --- random thoughts

[Eskimo_Joe]

As some of you may recall, I finally fulfilled my dream of buying a Les Paul last October. So for the last few months, I've had the privilege of switching back and forth between a LP, a tele and a strat.

Here are some random observations:

- Strat is most versatile and probably my favorite guitar to hear other people play (i.e. Ian Moore, Clapton, Ronnie Earl, Hendrix, SRV, etc.)
- Les Paul is the most playable guitar to my hands. Not versatile at all, but great at what it does.
- Tele is the king of the hill for me. When I play, I just like what comes out of the tele the most. It's most in tune with me and my style (if I have a style).

Les Paul
- I've tried several of the "upgrades" -- RS Kit, real 50's bumblebees, boutique pickups, pigtail tailpiece.
- Amazingly enough, they all made a very noticable difference and I'd recommend all of them if you aren't 100% satisfied with your sound. That said, they can backfire. The result isn't always good, sometimes just different. Bumblebees were by far the best investment, followed by the tailpiece believe it or not. Pickups are a crap shoot. RS is great if you use the controls, otherwise pretty unnecessary.

[analoghog]

..but you left out one important one...have you ever played an SG ?...

[Jagattack]

SGs possibly offer the extra versatility in a Gibson style package, and I think an SG can be your main guitar.
BUT, it can't quite do a LP tone.

You're right about the Tele though, some Teles seem to be very close to doing a LP tone, as well as still having
normal Tele tones available. I don't know how people achieve this though (pickups, amp, FX etc).

Also, there's the LP with P90s that could be interesting - would love to try one of these.

[soulsonic]

Bumblebee's make that much difference? I have a handful of 'em... I guess it's time to experiment... and put some on the 'bay!

[Eskimo_Joe]

Bumblebee's make that much difference? I have a handful of 'em... I guess it's time to experiment... and put some on the 'bay!

I can only speak to my experience, but the guitar came with the Advil-looking caps, and I also tried reissue Bumblebees and real Bumbleees which were tested and have the same specs as they did back in the 50s. The reissues were really harsh. The Advil caps were decent but a bit dark. The real Bees brought a lot of warmth and dimension. Needless to say, if you seek out real ones, they are old and tempermental, far from a sure thing.

[Eskimo_Joe]

..but you left out one important one...have you ever played an SG ?...

I like to play SGs when I go to Guitar Center. That was the first guitar I really wanted, but Strats were cheaper so I went with a strat. Anyway, I love the way they look and sound, but I can't get used to how light they are and how thin the necks are. I've got big hands and generally like a bigger neck.

[mrpicard]

Bumblebees were by far the best investment

That is something I have not done yet but have thought about.. Problem is, I would then want to double up on my LPs - you know, one with Bumblebees and one without. It would be nice to do a side-by-side comparison though.

[Donner]

..but you left out one important one...have you ever played an SG ?...

I like to play SGs when I go to Guitar Center. That was the first guitar I really wanted, but Strats were cheaper so I went with a strat. Anyway, I love the way they look and sound, but I can't get used to how light they are and how thin the necks are. I've got big hands and generally like a bigger neck.

You know what they say 'Big Hands, Big necks'

[jfromel]

Here is my stable. I have re-capped all of them except for the strat which I just got this week to replace my oly white strat

The LP and the Strat are my two main guitars, the previous strat was a '62 avri so not a lot of difference. The tele is the one that gets the most playing done though, It lives in my shop and is the guitar I use to test all the pedals. It really is a great tele. My first guitar was a '72 tele, black with white pickguard, I miss that guitar.

I think everyone should have one of each

Baja mexicaster custom shop design. Tex Spc pup
'89 Les Paul Std w/ Wolftone P-90's (came with P-100's)
'05 Custom Shop 1960 Closet Classic Strat - stock vintage pups
'05 SG Standard - stock pups I think a 490 or something like that.

[jfromel]

Bumblebees were by far the best investment

That is something I have not done yet but have thought about.. Problem is, I would then want to double up on my LPs - you know, one with Bumblebees and one without. It would be nice to do a side-by-side comparison though.

David Myka's guitars have a tone cap switch so you can swap the caps on the fly http://www.mykaguitars.com , I think he uses a push pull pot on the tone control, that way you don't have to buy two Les Pauls, unless you just have to buy two Les Pauls