Hey guys. I have currently been deciding whether to buy the new Custom Shop Deluxe Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul Traditional. I currently have a 2004 Fender American Stratocaster. The problem is that I'm worried that if I get another stratocaster there might be no use for my american strat. The les paul sounds completely different, but I feel more comfortable playing a stratocaster. I'd love to hear what you guys have to say.

get a Deluxe with the HSS pups--a little of both worlds

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2011 PRS 25th SAS
2008 Eric Clapton Custom Antigua Strat
2012 PRS Artist Package Studio Special Order

If you're gunna do it, do it in style.

(Please click the above link.)

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

You're posing a tough question. While I am a die hard Fender nut, I like my Gibsons too (shhh...I did not say that on a Fender Forum! ) But having some variation is really nice. that is why I have Teles and Strats of different flavors, as well as 1 Les Paul (and some other Gibbys). So I would either get the Paul or another Strat that is different than the one you have right now, like with S-1 Switching or something, or even a Tele, if you like them. This way you can switch around and have different feels and tones and not end up two that are pretty much the same.

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

I wouldn't get either. I NEVER buy new guitars - I can get a way better guitar at a much better price second-hand.

I like both Strats & Les Pauls - but they are very different guitars, they feel very different, sound very different, and you actually play them differently. Strats are harder to play but more versatile. Les Paul's are less versatile but easier to play and what they do, no other guitar can - their sustain and rock raunch is legendry. No Strat can ever sound like a Les Paul or vice-a-versa - not even a HSS!

Ultimately it depends on the style of music you play & the tones you like. Some players like me, especially if they have a wide range of playing styles, are very comfortable with lots of different guitars and switching from LP to strat is no problem. Others struggle to adapt to different p/ups, controls, scale necks, different feel of neck, camber, radii etc.

But there are other guitars that can give you a very good balance between LP & Strat type tones. To save switching from LP to Strat at gigs, my main gigging guitar is now a Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 (Bird inlays, zebra p/ups, vintage amber). Scale length is slap bang between a LP & Strat so it's an easy transition. Superb consistent build quality, gorgeous neck, easy string changing, excellent tremolo, lighter and slimmer than a LP. I went with the traditional 5-position rotary because the single-coil positions 2 & 4 are so much more strat like as compared to the push-pull/3-way toggle option. Brand new, a PRS Cu24 will set you back £2,500. Mine is a 2002 model, bought secondhand, immaculate with the original PRS case for £850! - a THIRD of the new price. Here's a couple of pics:





If you want a guitar that can do it all, a PRS Cu24 is tough to beat. If you want to hear it, check out my demo vids on you-tube (just search for 'Voxman5') - it's incredibly versatile & I can get pretty much any sound I want from it! Here's a couple of my vids with lots of switching between HB & single-coils:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFgyt4Pqfyw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDfkhiFw ... re=related

Another great guitar if you can find one is an original Patrick Eggle Berlin Pro (they used to call these 'the British PRS').

If you decide on a Les Paul, forget the Traditional. I recommend you get a proper s/hand LP Standard or Custom - an 80's-90's version are way superior - better made and better tone than the new ones. Again, you can find these for half the price of a new one or even less.

Rich

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"I started out with nothing ...and I've still got most of it left!" (Seasick Steve)

Rich - I agree on the PRS front. Mine pretty much can do anything. Personally I prefer the harmonic balance of the 22 fret necks; although yours is rather tasty!

As we're all doing it...

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

That's a purdy colour!

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"I started out with nothing ...and I've still got most of it left!" (Seasick Steve)

I second the HSS strat .. but i dont know if the custom shop deluxe as a real HSS verison .. the one ive seen have a Duncan JeffBeck JR ( single coil size humbucker ) .

I have a 2004 american strat too mine is hss . although i havent tried a lot of strat .. theyre jsut something "right" about it . 2004 was a anniversary year .. and the guitar is jsut awesome .

get an american deluxe Hss and youll have both world.

i put a Duncan distortion sh-6 humbucker on it .. sound great for hard rock/metal BUT not enough bass .. if you want a good humbucker for a strat for metal with thick low end .. than the sh-5 custom should be better .. more bass response . ) . if your not into that thrash metal .. than a jeff beck

but the stock Dh-1 of the u.s.a deluxe hss should be fine . depending of your style of course . im metalhead with a strat

im a humbucker guy .. so i guess soundwise i would be more gibson .. but for the feel and playability .. i feel so much more confortable on a strat .. best guitar ever .

My vote is for a Custom Deluxe.

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Support your local guitar shop.

I'm on the fence with this, I'm suffering from from
Bad Gibson lp gas, I'm looking into the traditional right now.
However the strat custom deluxe is bad@ss!!!

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

I'm on the fence with this, I'm suffering from from
Bad Gibson lp gas, I'm looking into the traditional right now.
However the strat custom deluxe is bad@ss!!!

Hey rockcat, sick prs dude, I agree with you on great deals
On second hand, both srv and hr57 strats were second hand,
Believe I'm on craigslist day and night looking for a good deal
On a les Paul, not eBay though, I vowed never to buy before
I play it, unless brand new. Great video by the way

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Hey everyone thanks for the input. By any chance does someone own or has anyone played a custom deluxe strat.

I just got my Candy Red 2011 Custom Shop Custom Deluxe Strat S-S-S model, a month ago. I think it is the best guitar I have ever played. It is absolutely stunning and sounds better than it looks.

I think Fender hit on the perfect combination with this one. Birds-eye maple neck, modern Jeff Beck type bridge and tremolo, locking tuners, C-shape neck, and custom shop master pickups. This guitar is unbelievable. I set this guitar up and put a set of 10s Fender 250 bullets on it and it plays wonderfully. I love the bridge and smooth operation of the tremolo.

I own a Custom Shop Eric Clapton Signature Strat, a 59th anniversary "57" reissue Les Paul, and a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe acoustic guitar. This 2011 is by far my favorite and my number 1 to pickup and play.