LP vs Strat in the Metal Context

Squonk

I have noticed that a lot of you metal heads seem to prefer the Les Paul type of guitar as opposed to the Strat style.
Is there any reason for this?
My thinking has always been a bridge humbucker = good metal tone, wouldn't this work in a Strat style Axe?

I have only one electric guitar, Peavey T-60 which is great but I need to acquire another one to put on thicker gauge strings and to also change the tuning. What should I look out for?

ralley

A Strat with a bridge humbucker is a very versatile guitar and does metal just fine (just ask Dave Murray from Iron Maiden).

aja

If I were a metal man
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum

HEHE!

But If I were a metal guy there would be only one guitar for me - the Jim Root tele::
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Artist-Series-Jim-Root-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=514652

mattyd

While Strats are extremely versatile and can do metal (I'm actually getting one and gonna use it for that among other things), the LP is generally favoured because it's naturally got a "fatter" tone compared to a Strat and it can handle extreme down-tunings better (by virtue of it's hardtail bridge and scale length of the neck).

If I played metal exclusively then I would probably get something like an ESP with EMG pickups.
Marshall Music in Cape Town have a beautiful one going for a steal of a price.

dee

The Les Paul has more bottom end than that of a Strat, due to the mahogony body as apposed to the Strat's alder or ash. There is also a lot more body to the Les Paul.

Otherwise, I think most people just prefer the Les Paul's single cut looks, over that of the Strat's. I personally blame Jimmy Page for making the Les Paul look so cool.

Bob-Dubery

aja wrote If I were a metal man
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a metal man then I'd take care not to stand out in the rain.

I don't pay a lot of attention to contemporary metal, but from what I hear I think humbuckers would be the way to go, and a baritone guitar might not be a bad idea either.

Explorerlover

mattyd wrote
If I played metal exclusively then I would probably get something like an ESP with EMG pickups.

+1 ?

AlanRatcliffe

mattyd wrote the LP <snip> can handle extreme down-tunings better (by virtue of it's hardtail bridge and scale length of the neck).

You find that? Longer scale length gives you more tension for the same gauge strings.

AlanRatcliffe

Neither is better. Play what you like playing - both guitar and music. Look at John 5...

mattyd

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
mattyd wrote the LP <snip> can handle extreme down-tunings better (by virtue of it's hardtail bridge and scale length of the neck).
You find that? Longer scale length gives you more tension for the same gauge strings.

Ya to be honest, I prefer a longer scale length myself. I like that extra tension in the strings.
But I know a lot of my friends prefer the shorter scale length for heavier gauge strings.

Personally, I would never go more than 11's... and even that is pushing it for me.

Sean

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Neither is better. Play what you like playing - both guitar and music. Look at John 5...

Wow, a squire tele, now that's interesting, point made Alan ?

needleshy

i've played on both a clasic lp and a U.S strat and the feel and smoothness of the strat was alot better than the LP. also what i've seen of the LP's of today are shocking. some of them haven't even been filed down properly around the holes and have rough edges. for half the price that u pay for a LP you'd expect nothing but top brass.i have a tele and had a set of hot rails in em and could pull of some seriouse metal chugs and chomps.

i've also played on a Fender flathead once ...... thats an awsome guitar and i'd get one over a LP anyday and i think they are more or less in the same price range.

cain

I have a strat with a humbucker in the bridge and i had one with rails, even tho you can get away playing metal on them, something still feels missing. A LP type guitar or other strat body guitar i.e. ibanez etc just has a much fuller sound.