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RJGold wrote:I have been playing for about 25 years. If you're looking for a single electric to play and want good variety, you have two choices (IMO). You've mentioned one, the Les Paul. I own a Les Paul (2006 model I think) Studio Custom. It is an awesome guitar.

The other is the Stratocaster.

I've owned both: a left-handed late 60's Gibson Les Paul and an early 70's left-handed Fender Strat.

Aside from the tonal differences, I just wanted to mention your shoulder will thank you for playing a Strat after a few hours of playing time. If I had an evening playing the Les Paul, I think I walked lopsided for a day or so.

This is one of those times where I am kidding, but there is more truth in kidding than not.

Hey Keith, you should join us at http://www.allenphilharmonic.org/commun ... c-society/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; some time. A little blues, a little country, a lot of folk, acoustic, and I play harmonica.

Actually, anyone is welcome, bring a chair if you can, and we break for snacks in the middle of the evening.

Jumping Frog wrote:

RJGold wrote:I have been playing for about 25 years. If you're looking for a single electric to play and want good variety, you have two choices (IMO). You've mentioned one, the Les Paul. I own a Les Paul (2006 model I think) Studio Custom. It is an awesome guitar.

The other is the Stratocaster.

I've owned both: a left-handed late 60's Gibson Les Paul and an early 70's left-handed Fender Strat.

Aside from the tonal differences, I just wanted to mention your shoulder will thank you for playing a Strat after a few hours of playing time. If I had an evening playing the Les Paul, I think I walked lopsided for a day or so.

This is one of those times where I am kidding, but there is more truth in kidding than not.

We gave my brother a brown sunburst 1961 Les Paul Custom that had been my wife's uncle's before he died. My brother is afraid to tour with it because it's for all practical purposes irreplaceable, and it'st too heavy to stand on stage for 2 hours and play. So he only uses it in the studio, and he travels with a custom strat.

I know the Les Paul is heavy, but I play most of the time on a chair or stool. If I play standing it is very short times with sitting in between.

One of you mentioned vintage if I can find it. Found the one I want http://www.vintageguitars.net/products/ ... &model=LES" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; PAUL&storeId=0&category=1

Now, just need to hit the lottery!!!

Keith B wrote:I know the Les Paul is heavy, but I play most of the time on a chair or stool. If I play standing it is very short times with sitting in between.

One of you mentioned vintage if I can find it. Found the one I want http://www.vintageguitars.net/products/ ... &model=LES" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; PAUL&storeId=0&category=1

Now, just need to hit the lottery!!!

holy cow!!! I bought a cheapo acoustic a couple of years ago thinking I'd take lessons online. It's been in it's case for over a year. I can't afford the lessons.

Just a heads up that Epiphones are generally made in China now. I had, at one point, a Japanese Epiphone Elite that was close to a Gibson in quality, but not finished as nicely. Sadly, those Japanese Epis are no longer manufactured. Also, if you buy a Fender Strat, buy an American Strat if you care about quality. The MIM (made in Mexico) Strats are a lot cheaper, but not as good in the quality department. I'm not what you call a guitar player, just someone who noodles around on the guitar. I do have a Fender Strat, an American Deluxe model with a humbucker in the bridge position, that is a very nice guitar, that I might be willing to part with for the right amount. I found out that I'm just not a Strat guy.

Lots of guys that travel are now using "cheap" guitars, replacing crap with good electronics.
Even Mexican strats can be set up to play nicely. Sounds like you're leaning toward
a Les Paul. They're nice if you've got the bucks. If not, then at least look into
upgrading a guitar to your own specs; or building one yourself. Check out
http://www.warmoth.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; As others have said, Strats rule. Good luck.

Keith B wrote:

bdickens wrote:
But seriously, you might want to look at a Line 6 Variax.

I don't need a guitar that does that, I already have a VOX modeling amp Just need a good ax to go with it.

The Variax models different guitars, not amps.

I have one of the Korean Epiphone Les Pauls that I put a set of Seymour Duncan '59 pickups in an it sounds great.

I also have a MIM Strat that I put a set of Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups in.

My favorites are my Gibson Flying V and my Schecter V1-FR, though.

Jumping Frog wrote:

RJGold wrote:I have been playing for about 25 years. If you're looking for a single electric to play and want good variety, you have two choices (IMO). You've mentioned one, the Les Paul. I own a Les Paul (2006 model I think) Studio Custom. It is an awesome guitar.

The other is the Stratocaster.

I've owned both: a left-handed late 60's Gibson Les Paul and an early 70's left-handed Fender Strat.

Aside from the tonal differences, I just wanted to mention your shoulder will thank you for playing a Strat after a few hours of playing time. If I had an evening playing the Les Paul, I think I walked lopsided for a day or so.

This is one of those times where I am kidding, but there is more truth in kidding than not.

Gibson Les Pauls made after the mid 2000s have CNC Machined cavities in the body to reduce weight. These cavities are designed to actually increase sustain instead of reducing it. Mine is from that era and it sounds and sustains great. It actually weighs less than my Strat!!!

I agree with the other folks who have said buy American if you can afford it. I own a Mexican Strat (but it's pretty old and I think the quality from there has declined since the 90s).

Seeing all of these posts reminds me I love guitars and I love guns. If I could ever get a guitar that is also a gun, I'd be in heaven!!!!

I've played guitar for almost 30 yrs, 20 professionally. I probably own in excess of 25 guitars, acoustic, nylon, resinator, and of course electric, among others. My two most commonly used electric guitars are a Telecaster and Les Paul. I would consider myself more of a rock guy, although I have a classical guitar background and play all styles on a regular basis.

Personally, if I had to pick one electric guitar, I would choose the Tele for its versatile tone, ruggedness, playability, and just sheer style. Tele's will cover all styles of rock, jazz, country, blues, etc.

That's my two cents. Good luck in your quest. Guitars are like guns, you can never have enough - no matter what your wife says. Feel free to pm if you have any questions.

Well, after much deliberation and input I have settled on this one in Black Cherry http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electri ... -Plus.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are quite a few videos and reviews out there and from what they say this one is really a good guitar due to the electronics. I talked to one of the lead guys at the local guitar store and he said if I was to go purchase the good parts that are in this guitar separately they would run over $400. Add that to the fact this one comes with a premium hard case and I can get it for about $550, that makes the body only about $75.

Here are a couple of the video reviews

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=1hZagrr-UJM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=PYXNqpvN6dk[/youtube]

Thanks for all of the input. Will let you guys know how it sounds when I get it!!

Beautiful...

Can't wait to hear what you think about it.

Near as I can tell your only guitar is like your only gun. It is a nice plan to start out with, but it just doesn't happen that way.

philip964 wrote:Near as I can tell your only guitar is like your only gun. It is a nice plan to start out with, but it just doesn't happen that way.

Yeah, but in both cases I never planned on having just one.

Find a good GIBSON Les Paul Standard. Rosewood fretboard. Much better "tone" than any Strat, or Tele. Heavy, but worth the weight. With a modeling amp, you can get lots of sounds out of it. Better yet, ditch the modeling amp and get a Mesa Boogie tuber and a couple of effect pedals of your choice and practice a bunch. THAT'S the best of all worlds IMHO. As always, YMMV....