Les Paul vs Stratocaster - Which Guitar Do You lIke More? I Tim Pierce | Guitar Lesson | Tone

Here's a YouTube video where I show off some tones with both a Strat and a Les Paul and talk about the virtues of each.

This is my sonic answer to the question, "Strat or Les Paul."

[RJRonquillo]

Great informative video Tim! I played a PRS SE years ago, and I remember being very impressed with the quality at that price point.

[MM-uzgn]

HSS Strat for me, a combination of all the aspects I like about each guitar.

[MHoffp]

Everyone needs a Strat, Les Paul and a Telecaster

[goodpeopleoftheworldunite]

I personally prefer strats. I do think your amp setting is too trebley for the strat in this video though. You can get a beautiful smooth sound from them.

[jonathananthony]

Man it's impossible to class ANY guitar as "better" than another. It's which ever guitar fits the needs of the player and the needs of the sounds in the song! This video was awesome in showing the strengths that each model has to offer! That's what I love about playing guitar, each model and style evokes a different emotion and feeling. Even plugging into different amps cam make you PLAY and FEEL differently. People ask me why I'm always buying and selling guitars, and why I don't stick with one or another for the last 15 years. I ask them why they don't wear the exact same jeans every day? Or why they don't eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday! Variety is LIFE!! 🤘😃

[Diy-fever]

Blackmore used the bridge pickup for most riffs, he never used the middle as far as I know. What made it sound thicker is the preamp from the tape recorder that he used to push the amps (probably Marshal Major) hard and to shape the tone. And he played that particular riff with all upstrokes. That gives it the right attitude.

Great video, btw. Always a pleasure to watch and learn.

[ejw]

Wow - a very concise and essential walk through of the major influential/quintessential tones that have been at the center of music for the last 40 (or more) years. Awesome job Tim!

[joemasse]

I usually take a Les Paul standard, and a strat when I play a gig, and although I usually plan on playing both guitars during the gig, but a lot of times, what ever guitar starts the night, is the only one I might use for the whole show, that’s how great and versatile these guitars are, but they are 2 different animals, and it’s fun to change up, your sound, and dynamics of playing each one! Gotta have both, plus a casino, and tele! By the way, your videos are great, and informative, and your playing is something else! Great job!

[edwinstovall]

Thank you for mentioning Earth, Wind and Fire and their jazzy clean tones. These tones grabbed and started influencing my guitarist's tastes before I was a guitarist! I'd have to say that Johnnie Graham and Al McKay tended to use Alnico humbuckers rather a lot, because that tone stayed in my head for years without my knowing it. It became the gold standard that I chased for years and missed, because I didn't know what I was chasing. The day I DID learn about that standard was the day I started buying guitars with Alnico humbuckers, then later the humbuckers themselves for swapping into existing guitars. I now have four sets of good Alnico humbuckers in four two-pickup guitars. Two of these were found that first day and bought later -- first a Hamer Sunburst Archtop (very Les Paul in feel and vibe), next a beautiful amber quilt-topped Schecter C-1 Élite which enhances Gibson-like wood choices, pickups and bridge/tail solutions with Fender-esque neck characteristics, scale length, and metal-ready EXTRA-jumbo frets! The other two were inexpensive guitars I modified with aftermarket pickups. I found this particular Ibanez RG22B in a pawn shop, rescued it, glued its cracked neck and replaced nearly everything but the tuners. It got a set of Epiphone Alnico Classics, which it uses to great advantage. I bought the Jackson JS22 Dinky DKA in Natural Oil about 19 months ago and caved in to the temptation to replace the (admittedly great-sounding) stock, ceramic, high-output humbuckers with equally high-output Alnico 2(!) bucks with double cream coils. It didn't change that guitar's bridge pickup sound very much, but the neck and middle switch positions sound noticeably better. To me. Who else matters?

[myc]

You are the first one to really show me the difference in tones. I could never tell the difference before.

[rarch]

Neither is better, neither is worse, they are different, they are both perfection, they are yin & yang...They are my religion because I believe in the magical power of both.

[CalvinEdmonson]

I used to live a couple blocks from Guitar Center so when I decided to buy I went in and tried them ALL. Since I was a beginner and never owned an electric guitar it came down to the feel. How it felt in my hands, and how it felt when I played, even how I could position my right hand while playing.
For me NOTHING is sweeter than the Fender Stratocaster. Now I would take a Strat over any other guitar just because it feels so right in my hands.
Love your videos Tim. Your skills are top flight.Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[jonnihard]

That riff you did at 00:40 literally gave me moderate to severe mesophelioma. Well done!

[Josbornevonosborne]

I and so glad to hear somebody I respect as much as Tim mention a PRS SE. I just went half with my mother on a PRS SE Custom 24 but I cannot play it until Christmas morning

[sn_mustang_garage]

I have both. My Strat has the HSS configuration and has a Suhr Thornbucker Plus in the bridge (Suhr V60LP single coils). I didn't stop there I went with Suhr Electronics, added a Treble Bleed Kit and Blend Knob. It's so versatile that it can give my expensive Les Paul Traditional Honey Burst a run. Les Paul thickness with 57 pickups and the Mahogany body with Maple cap is just a perfect mix of components. Love them both, get both and you'll have everything.

[michaelbrendzel]

The topic has been done to death; I came just because I love to hear your playing. You covered the tired subject well and added some new points. Another great video, Tim.

[Karlgolden]

So epic! \m/ This one is much better way of comparing! love it

[georgekelly]

Here is my take on it. I think if your looking for two different sounds you need two different guitars. You can play with pedals, play with software but in the end, get the guitars and skip the effects. True tone comes from a well engineered instrument, the extra add ons are jut to enhance the real guitar. That’s all I have to say about that. Great job Tim, you gave us a real good breakdown of what they sound like by someone who knows how to play an instrument. Thanks for the vid.oh, and don’t discount the telecaster, it can be your secret weapon in your arsenal of sounds.

[justingarcia]

I am a Tele player but recently purchased a strat (John Mayer model with Lollar PUPs) and a Heritage “les Paul” (h150cm with Lollar low wind imperials)...really enjoying the new sounds I’m getting, I can more easily transition to the Les Paul from the Tele than the strat, the strat is more a special flavor for me. Those looking for a LP style in a good price range Id encourage Heritage, killer machines. Great vid as always!

[brianmckenzie]

Loved the video!!!  Great discussion of pros and cons, and then you just pick the right tool for the job!  Thank you!!!!