Let's have out with it: the Stratocaster is seriously over-exposed

singemonkey · 2012-10-08T20:52:07+00:00

So I've been doing a bunch of gigs in the better part of the last 2 years. All have been in the Western Cape, so maybe things are different elsewhere. That incredibly well known guitar, the Les Paul, I've seen played by precisely four other gigging musicians besides me: Our Reinhard and Nick, the player in a band called Barre Code, and one time by a guy called John Paine (a nice old early '80s Standard with EMGs that he needs to change out ?). Telecasters... Kevin Floyd... not sure who else. I've seen pics of Manfred playing his wonderful home-made number in CT. Maybe one other person. Our EZ has started gigging so that's one more Les Paul and one more Tele. I've seen a handful of Ibanez. One 335. And everywhere, as ubiquitous as a bass drum or a microphone stand... the Fender Stratocaster. Every colour. Every pickup combination. Running through every kind of amp. Every kind of effects board. Played by kids and those who get pensioners rates at the movies. Band after band. Everywhere. Stratocasters. Stretching to infinity like they're trapped between mirrors. We talk about a lot of different guitars here. But statistically speaking, there is the Stratocaster... and a few outliers.

singemonkey

Donovan Banks wrote
ez wrote The question is: Why are there so many more strats on show on stages than other types of guitar.
Because strats make you play better, and tone isn't in your fingers... 8)

It's a secret all over town. ?

Psean

ez wrote
The question is: Why are there so many more strats on show on stages than other types of guitar.

One thing that nobody mentioned yet is the metal scene. There you will surely not see so many strats and les pauls and Teles (and other rounder guitars). Pointy and V shaped guitars rules there I would think. I almost never go to metal gigs so I wouldn't know what gets played there but I would imagine fewer strats there (mostly).

I did make a passing reference in clumsily written post:

[quote author=Psean link=topic=18792.msg205660#msg205660 date=1349767185

[/quote]

Besides metal and punk gig's I'd struggle to thing of a show where I haven't seen one.

[/quote]

And thinking about it more; the first gigs I started whatching when I went to varity were bands playing "Indie" type stuff, some bands with a bluesy element, and it was strats across the board. Then I started going to metal gigs and there were no strats.

The last gig I went to, I saw at least one strat, but If I actually take the time to think about it, the the younger bands semm to be giving the other guitars some decent exposure; I could put together an imaginary line up of at least 5 bands where there's not a strat in sight (although it's probably pretty as easy to come up with an all strat lineup). Hopefully, as good as strats are, the trend of de-stratification continues in favour of some diversity.

EDIT: Still doesn't get to WHY there are so many strats.

V8

ez wrote
Vic wrote So there...all you okes who complain about heavy guitars...and amps.....start gym'ing ! ?
or buy a Strat

Or you could try one of these...2.2kg Hohner GT2 vs 3.6kg for the strat pictured. Scale length, width at nut and 12th fret all pretty much strat sized. Neck profile and radius is completely different though. Until I get a 90's Parker Fly this will have to do :-[

TapeHissandSparkle

Kinda just responding to the title of this thread, as I've only read little bits of the 7 pages. So here's my opinion, if anyone actually really cares to read it.

I just don't like Strats' feel. They don't 'wrap around you' like other guitars. I think this is largely due to the fact that their necks are flatsawn, they don't have the scarf joint for their headstocks like an LP for example. I also like necks that are a little flatter in the middle on the back, Strats just end feeling like I'm holding a baseball bat... maybe that's why they get smashed so often. Which brings up a question you've got to ask yourself, is it their ubiquity that makes them the most smashed guitar of all time, or rather that their just so uncomfortable.

epictring

TapeHissandSparkle wrote Kinda just responding to the title of this thread, as I've only read little bits of the 7 pages. So here's my opinion, if anyone actually really cares to read it.

I just don't like Strats' feel. They don't 'wrap around you' like other guitars. I think this is largely due to the fact that their necks are flatsawn, they don't have the scarf joint for their headstocks like an LP for example. I also like necks that are a little flatter in the middle on the back, Strats just end feeling like I'm holding a baseball bat... maybe that's why they get smashed so often. Which brings up a question you've got to ask yourself, is it their ubiquity that makes them the most smashed guitar of all time, or rather that their just so uncomfortable.

I like the smashing part.

Sorry I should stop with the hate.

TapeHissandSparkle

Yeah I think it's cool, I mean, I'd feel bad if I saw a smashing of a Les Paul or something else, but with a Strat, I don't really mind that much.

Squonk

TapeHissandSparkle wrote Yeah I think it's cool, I mean, I'd feel bad if I saw a smashing of a Les Paul or something else, but with a Strat, I don't really mind that much.

You wouldn't get on with Pete then?

TapeHissandSparkle

he's a very bad man ?

singemonkey

TapeHissandSparkle wrote Kinda just responding to the title of this thread, as I've only read little bits of the 7 pages. So here's my opinion, if anyone actually really cares to read it.

I just don't like Strats' feel. They don't 'wrap around you' like other guitars. I think this is largely due to the fact that their necks are flatsawn, they don't have the scarf joint for their headstocks like an LP for example. I also like necks that are a little flatter in the middle on the back, Strats just end feeling like I'm holding a baseball bat... maybe that's why they get smashed so often. Which brings up a question you've got to ask yourself, is it their ubiquity that makes them the most smashed guitar of all time, or rather that their just so uncomfortable.

Just to point out that only very cheap LPs have a scarf joint.

Gibsons and MIJ Tokais are actually cut from a single piece of lumber to have that headstock angle. It's very fragile, but not because there's a wood join there.

TapeHissandSparkle

The scarf joint is by no means a "cheap" thing... having a whole chunk of wood actually makes the neck weaker, as there'll be short grain run out, so i doubt they would do that with their high-end models, and if they do, then i'm shocked. ???

do you have proof?

rockinmuso

Been round the block, Maestros, Hofners, Gibson Melody maker, Gibson Les Paul Gold deluxe 1974, Ibanez Les Paul 1977, Epiphones, Telecasters, and Stratocasters! I have finally after all these years gone back to my Stratocaster 1961, this being the most versatile instrument on the market, well for me anyway! I suppose at the end of the day it is the genre of music one is directed at! 8)

studmissile

This thread is becoming seriously overexposed, everybody knows the best guitar is a Tele, and those who don't will one day find out! 8)

singemonkey

TapeHissandSparkle wrote The scarf joint is by no means a "cheap" thing... having a whole chunk of wood actually makes the neck weaker, as there'll be short grain run out, so i doubt they would do that with their high-end models, and if they do, then i'm shocked. ???

do you have proof?

I'm not saying scarf joints are cheap. I'm saying not having them is more expensive (since you need a big piece of wood) and that's how '50s Gibsons were made, and how Gibsons and accurate copies are still made.

My proof is seeing many, many examples, owning 3, and seeing this discussed over and over. So I can't point you to the official place where they explain this. But you can trust me, and other Gibson guitar fans will back me up on this.

Scarf joints may be a better design, I'm not arguing with you there. But on LPs they are not used, except on cheaper ones like Epis where they do it for the purpose of saving costs.

TapeHissandSparkle

interesting. well i'm not impressed. ecologically not sound. seems like they're charging the customers for wasted wood.

plus, it's the strengthens your headstock. I'm currently doing a guitar-building course at Casimi guitars and i'm sure most luthier would not NOT use a scarf joint. It just doesn't make sense.

Nitebob

studmissile wrote This thread is becoming seriously overexposed, everybody knows the best guitar is a Tele, and those who don't will one day find out! 8)

Yes! But so ugly!

Please put down your stones and back away slowly, it's only a joke....

AlanRatcliffe

TapeHissandSparkle wrote The scarf joint is by no means a "cheap" thing... having a whole chunk of wood actually makes the neck weaker, as there'll be short grain run out, so i doubt they would do that with their high-end models, and if they do, then i'm shocked. ???

do you have proof?

He's right. That's why Gibson headstocks fall off if you look at them funny. You don't need a scarf joint on a flat headstock like a Fender, they are naturally stronger than the angled stock of a Gibson. IMO, the best way to do a scarf it is the way Ibanez do it - at the second fret. Your other alternative to strengthen the weak point is a volute, but historically Gibson players don't like them.

TapeHissandSparkle

Weird. Didn't think they would. I don't own one, but I've played a few but never thought to look out for it.
I guess Fender can use commercial lumber then, as their necks are flatsawn - as far as I know (not quartersawn, and hence the non-angled headstock you're talking about Alan) hence the design. Which is pretty commendable engineering. But I still don't like them. But that's just an opinion, and my personal taste.

Nitebob

Squonk wrote
TapeHissandSparkle wrote Yeah I think it's cool, I mean, I'd feel bad if I saw a smashing of a Les Paul or something else, but with a Strat, I don't really mind that much.
You wouldn't get on with Pete then?

Or Greenday...

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/youtube-guitar-videos/so-apparently-green-day-is-not-justin-bieber/

This thread by the way also mentions the headstock issue...

nick

AlanRatcliffe

TapeHissandSparkle wrote I just don't like Strats' feel. They don't 'wrap around you' like other guitars.

Seriously, are you saying that a Les Paul is more comfortable than a Strat? Thanks to the body contouring, the only time a Strat doesn't wrap around you is when you play really low down (but then I don't know any guitars with knee contouring ?). There are a variety of neck contours and thicknesses to suit every taste.

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