I often wonder how the Strat and the Les Paul both got to a point where they were compared to each other or were considered rivals. Let's just take the normal configuration only in terms of one having single coils only and the other humbuckers.

One is a thinner sounding Guitar and the other is a warmer thicker sounding Guitar. The Gibson is a solid body archtop, the Fender is not. They are both so different in so many ways.

Is it because they both came out within a couple of years of each other and were among the first of the truly accepted solid bodies? Why isn't the Tele a rival for the Les Paul and not the Strat as it was the Tele that made Gibson step up production of their first solid body Guitar in 1952, two years before the Strat. Having a fatter sound, should the Tele not be in comptetition with the Gibson?

This theory of competition between the Strat and the Les Paul has always confounded me.

Maybe the biggest reason is the famous Guitarists down the years who switched from one to the other. Clapton, Townsend and Beck moved from Gibsons to Fenders Strats while Jimmy Page moved to Gibsons after playing Teles and even Strats.

These are just my personal thoughts on this and this could prove to be a devisive subject for some. I'm hoping for some calm and measured responses.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

Ford vs Chevy

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08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher

I don't think of them as rivals and I don't have any friends who think of them as rivals either. In fact they are not rivals at all except in the most general terms. As far as any practical aspects are concerned they are completely different creations. About the only things they have in common is that they are both 6 string, solid body electric guitars with storied histories. The Les Paul's rival would be the PRS Single Cut, not the Fender Strat. It's not Ford vs Chevy. It's Toyota vs Caterpillar.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

The fact that they're so different yet both so good creates a unique situation that makes picking one as the better, impossible to do. This fuels the rivalry. I bought my LP about three weeks ago, and we're on honeymoon now. I seriously love this guitar. But, I'll be sitting, playing the LP, tweaking the amp and getting great sounds. Then I'll plug in my Strat, without changing any settings on the amp and I get more great sounds and it plays great and I think, I could be happy with either one of these guitars. I'm glad to have both. I would have a seriously hard time choosing one over the other if I had to sell one.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

ah! stop there right now you're making me jealous! i bought a beautiful LP custom sunburst back quite a few years ago and sold it when i ran into some money problems, i wish i still had that guitar it's a sore one thinking about it. Man i love Les paul's as well as strats. Incidentally les Paul and Leo were friends i believe both being into inventing and tinkering with designs. Where would the rock world be without these two genius's?

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Exactly. I own a Les Paul and an American Special Strat. I love them both equally for their differences and what both of them bring to the table but standing them up against each other is pointless.

I do consider myself very lucky to be able to reach for one or the other daily.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

I would like to own a strat, tele and a Les Paul!!

Well i've owned them all at one time but not all at the same time! When i had the strat and the LP i didn't have the Tele, and then when the LP was gone i got the Tele!

Guitar shop in Glasgow gave me £500 for it, £1200 it cost new at that time. I was robbed as it was mint condition as well!

I feel so sad every time i think about it.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I hear you my friend. I've had them all but the Les Paul. For one reason or the other the Les Paul was always second on the list of things I wanted at the time and never got around to purchasing the second item!! One day!!

Two entirely different guitars with entirely different tonal characteristics.Every guitarist should have at least one of each in his/her arsenal-simple as that.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I own:
2 Gibson LP's
4 Fender Strat's
2 PRSi

Each one is unique and completely different. It is great being able to have a choice of which one to play.

Every guitar player should own different makes/models of guitars!!

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

EXACTLY!!! Oops didn't meant to shout, hit caps lock instead of shift.........

I would say that if you look at the histories, and I am well prepared and accept that I may get shot down here, the 'rivalry' came about more because of the fact that at various points in both histories the build qualities varied greatly for each company. When Gibson did a 'bad run' Fender cashed in and vice versa. Obviously it is all relative and subjective as people prefer different models from different times. I have an early 80s two knob AMerican Strat and I love it dearly yet I know many who look at that guitar with disdain and I get the 'Not a real Fender' quotes often.
I would say, in my ownn humble opinion, that at the moment, build quality in the Gibsons is not as good as it has been. If you look at the quality of some of the late 70s LP Customs I reckon they would blow PRS out of the water now but at the moment I think PRS has the edge in that style.
Again all subjective but, like they say, like arseholes.......everyone has one........

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

More like a tank vs a monster truck.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Every guitarist should own what he/she is comfortable with and can use.

LP/Strat? Meh, lets hear what goes on with em before any conflict is drawn up.

It's down to the player not the guitar.

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No no and no

LOL! You posted the same post over the Gibson Lounge Forum.

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topi ... -les-paul/

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam