Ahem...Class come to attention.... Buhler...Buhler...Buhler....

Oh Never mind..

Thanks for the nod Stratters.

First of all, to make things simple, both are GREAT Axes. Both have their place in Rock history, and anyone who plays should be proud to have either one.

That being said there are some differences, big differences.

First, Monkey boy, look at you fingers. Do you have long elegant tentacles or short stubby hotdogs (like me)? The Les Pauls (all Gibsons and Epiphones for the most part) use a 24 3/4" scale length, Fenders use a 25 1/2" scale. What does this mean you may ask?

The shorter scale length means that for a neck with the same number of frets the frets will be closer together on the shorter scale neck. If you've got short fingers, the Gibson will feel easier to play.

Also, to get the same pitch out of the strings on a shorter scale length neck, the strings will have less tension. Good news, bend city, if you like to bend and "make 'em cry and sing", you can easily. Bad news, they don't stay in tune as well and are more succeptable to changes in temp, and humidity.

The main aspect that most folks pick up on is (no pun intended) the pick-up situation. The Gibsons come standard with humbuckers that give that distinctive Gibson growl. The double coil (humbucking) sound stems from the fact that you actually have two pickups, wired in series, in effect, working against one another to create an interferance signal. This "muddy" or "dirty" signal is characteristic of double coils.

The Fender uses three single coils wired independently. Yes, you can switch to using two simultaneously, but it's not the same as a true doube coil. The single coils characteristic sound is derrived from a very "Clean" signal from the string vibrating within the magnetic field of the pickup. For "pure" signal, you want a single coil.

If you are planing to use emulators, MIDI interfaces, or an array of effects pedals I would suggest sticking with single coils.

Think of it like painting a wall. If you start with a pure white wall (single coil, clean signal) any color that you add (effects) will show in all it's glory.

If you start with a black wall (double coil, muddy signal) and attempt to paint in a lighter color, the black will bleed through and discolor the intended final product.

If you notice, most recording artist that use MIDI or emulators, will use a Strat or Tele as their guitar of choice.

Those are the major differences, but as I said at the outset, both are excellent guitars.

I own a '69 Strat (see my pic in the AFPPN Yearboook thread).
A homebuilt Tele with a Seymour Duncan 1/4 lb double coil in the neck position.
A Dean Sarasota with two double coils
And an Epiphone Supernova, again Double coils.

Amp wise, I have a Peavy Audition 20, 20 watt combo amp.
A Marshal micro stack, 15 watt short stack
and a Crate Blue Voodoo 120 watt head with a Crate 4x12 Blue Voodoo cab.

Hope this helps. Ask any question I may have missed.

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