Stratocasters--I have seen the light...

[Colo Springs E]

....I have been an avowed Strat-hater for most of my guitar-playing life. I don't know why; they just didn't do it for me. I respected the Strat, and it's rightful place in a Blues and Rock history (and I suppose to some degree, even C&W?).

Of course, all sorts of "guitar gods" played them; why didn't I dig them?

Dunno; just didn't connect.

I had the good fortune to pick up a sort of "guitar of my dreams" a few weeks ago, a real live Gibson Les Paul (ok, it's a Classic, but it's a real LP). I am totally in love with that LP, it is the best rock 'n roll axe imagineable (to me). Crunch? Distorted riffs? Nothing comes close.

But then the other guitarist in our band, Kevin, opened me up to the wonderful world of Strats.

As great a R'nR axe as the LP is, it does not come CLOSE to approaching the beautiful bell-like glassy tone of my brand new American Strat (NOS, in the shop for about 2 years--I got it for like $10 over cost!).

This guitar is the bomb. Between this LP and this Strat, I officially have the bases covered:



Will I get another Tele in the stable at some point? Yup, but for now, this is my tone arsenal.

I can't WAIT for our next gig!! :)

-Eric

[photoweborama]

Cool. Great combo. But you do need a Tele also!

I love my Strats, but my Tele has the most radical Blues tone when I run it through a Tubescreamer. I tried to get the same tone out of my Strats, but they just can't there from here...

[Colo Springs E]

...you make a good point--and trust me, at some point I'll have a Tele again!--but for the band I'm in (a cover band that does 80s/90s/00s dance rock such as "The Clash," "The Cure," "The Ramones," "The Police," "Social D," and similar) a good crunch guitar is the ticket for probably 75+% of what we do. For the other quarter of songs, it's good to have the "in-between" Strat songs, and that beautiful glassy tone; a Tele would be a "nice-to-have," but honestly, not really a necessity.

Because of all the stuff I take to gigs, I like to take only 2 axes. The LP will be there, ain't no debatin' that! So the "choice" would be between this Strat and a Tele. The Strat is just more versatile, to me there's really no arguing that point.

Take care,
-Eric

[raisindot]

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

I had the good fortune to pick up a sort of "guitar of my dreams" a few weeks ago, a real live Gibson Les Paul (ok, it's a Classic, but it's a real LP).
-Eric

Hey, hey, hey--what's with all this Classic-bashing? Just because it isn't a "Standard" or a "Custom" doesn't mean it's any less of a 'real' LP. Now, if you had an Epi LP your doubts would be justified...

Jeff in Boston

[timgreene]

You did'nt get rid of that mim white/soniclue tele? :D

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by timgreene

You did'nt get rid of that mim white/soniclue tele? :D

....and made it past the new year's date as I promised! LOL

take care, -Eric

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by raisindot

Hey, hey, hey--what's with all this Classic-bashing? Just because it isn't a "Standard" or a "Custom" doesn't mean it's any less of a 'real' LP. Now, if you had an Epi LP your doubts would be justified...

Jeff in Boston

......I guess it's just because I can't actually say, "I have a Les Paul Standard." Does it bug me? Naw, I love my Classic! Man does it rock well. It actually makes me sound like I know how to play guitar (sometimes). LOL

[Kevin]

I've always said that the thing about Strats is that there are just sooo many "average" ones out there, but very few good ones. When you find that magical one, though....

I've been through about five strats in the last year. I keep one. Although the others were very nice guitars -- and the people who have them now love them -- they just didn't do it for me. My old greenie, though, will stay with me forever; it just has the magic. It's the only guitar on which I've ever had a neck refretted....

And a Classic is a "real" Les Paul!

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I've always said that the thing about Strats is that there are just sooo many "average" ones out there, but very few good ones. When you find that magical one, though....

Here's my version of that:

I've always said that the thing about guitars is that there are just sooo many "average" ones out there, but very few good ones. When you find that magical one, though....

The sheer number of mediocre guitars available today is staggering. Just walk into any Guitar Center, Sam Ash, or your favorite mom and pop store. I'd estimate that 95% of their inventory is mediocre (yes, I'm including the Teles - sorry folks but that's how I feel).

[hippietim]

Anyone want to start a pool on when Eric switches his fancy again?

I'm picking April 24th.

[genelovesjez]

...what amps are you using with those guitars?

[Colo Springs E]

....these guits will be with me forever, just like all the others I've owned! LOL Seriously, now that I'm gigging and it's important for me to kinda dial things in and leave it, I really think I'll probably hold onto both of these guitars for some time.

But you never know!

Gene: if your question was for me, I have a Peavey XL Supreme (solid state) 120w head running into a Marshall JCM900 Lead 1960 cab. I use a Vox ToneLab SE modeller for various amp tones and effects. I'm very pleased with my rig.

One day I'll likely upgrade to a Marshall tube head, but I need to make more gig money before that'll happen, probably sometime later in the year. With as many effects as we use, I'm not sure the Marshall would actually sound significantly better, since the Vox is actually supplying the amplifier tones.

But that Marshall head would look really cool on top of that Marshall cab!

-Eric

[Scotland]

I've been a Strat lover all my life and I think this has been well documented here so it's good to see you have been converted. A Strat is just that...a Strat, it's not a Les Paul, it's not a Tele..it's a Stratocaster and does what no other guitar does..it sounds like a Stratocaster !
Enjoy it my friend. Oh, and Kevin can make you a beautiful Mary Kaye one if you talk to him nicely.

[holndav]

I thought we asked you to go last time you dissed us Tele lovers with your all your "uber-guitar psycho-babble".

Jeez! Les Paul's, Strats, what next Eric? An Electric Banjo? Your new name here "Bela-E"

I thought you liked Teles...

[Mik]

Is this an "April Fools Day Thread" Eric?


Happy AFD,
Mik

[Hey Joe]

I have to say youve got good taste.

[photoweborama]

I have a love like relationship with my Strats. I always like them, but at times I love them.

I'm in love mode right now. For some reason the neck middle position on my stock AmSer Strat sounds so good to me now. I've never been a fan of in-between positions, but right now, that's all I play..

Weird.

Strats are great.. To know them is to love them...

[lenny]

Originally Posted by hippietim

Anyone want to start a pool on when Eric switches his fancy again?

I'm picking April 24th.

reading this was deja vu, i was thinking "wait a second what about the les paul that he devoted his eternal love to last month "
i had to check the date..
april 1 eh? QUIT LYING!

[GopherTele]

Eric is trying to get to 2000 posts, 6 of which are actually about teles and not solid state amps or playing Duran Duran covers.

[shakedancer]

I'll say tommorrow!!! 8)

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by GopherTele

Eric is trying to get to 2000 posts, 6 of which are actually about teles and not solid state amps or playing Duran Duran covers.

...on second thought, it doesn't really deserve a response.

[Colo Springs E]

edited out...

-Eric

[e-merlin]

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

....
One day I'll likely upgrade to a Marshall tube head, but I need to make more gig money before that'll happen, probably sometime later in the year.
-Eric

Hit the local pawn shops with $150 or so and look for a Peavey VTM 60, VTM 120, or Butcher. You might not need that Marshall head unless you are set on getting a head that cosmetically matches your cab.

Hey, I agree with Kevin and Tim. When you find a great one hold on to it. I have one great Tele and one great Strat. The rest of my guitars are average and I could part with them without much fuss.