In the guitar lesson, we will look at which guitar is easier to maintain, the Les Paul or the Stratocaster. The two most iconic guitars on the planet. These two guitars have set the standard for every guitar after them. Like most everything else, you have pros and cons to both. So it is best to choose which kind of guitar fits your style.
Fender Stratocaster
A Stratocaster is easier to maintain than a Les Paul. Why? It's because Leo Fender specifically designed it that way. He designed it for the working musician. The one who is out there making a living from playing guitar.
That is why he put on a bolt-on neck instead of a glued neck like Les Paul. If you break a neck on a Strat, you just unbolt it and replace it. With a Les Paul, you’d have to send it in to get fit ixed. Not a great thing when you are on the road and have a gig coming up.
The pickups are also connected to the pickguard for an easy fix or replacement if necessary. This can be a very important aspect of a guitar if you are playing it for a living or want to make cosmetic changes to the guitar itself.
Fender Stratocaster Bridge
The Fender bridge is also designed for quick setup of not only all the strings like a Les Paul but also for each string. And not just the string intonation but the radius as well. Not to mention the tremolo bar for added vibrato.
This is why the Fender Stratocaster is one of the all-time greatest guitars that were ever built. Aside from the great revolutionary design. Think of all the guitars by other MFG companies that look like a Strat. There is a reason for this.
Gibson Les Paul
When it comes to a great guitar for looks and playability, nothing can beat the Gibson Les Paul. An icon design that works great for just about any style of music. This guitar has been played by some of the most successful guitar players who have ever recorded music.
This guitar is made with a glued neck (for sustainability), a mahogany body for warmth, and two humbucker pickups that produce a nice, full sound. It also has two volume knobs and two tone knobs. One for each pickup. This gives the guitar player plenty of diversity to work with the guitar.
It also provides three tuners on each side of the headstock, which seems to allow the guitar to slip out of tune. This may be from the angle of the headstock. A two-piece design. As with the Fender Stratocaster, it has only one.
Gibson Les Paul Bridge
The Gibson Les Paul also has a bridge that is designed quite a bit differently from the Fender Stratocaster. Instead of a bridge with a vibrato arm, it uses a simpler design. A bridge and tailpiece that is designed for stability and tuning accuracy.
As you can see from the picture above, the bridge and tailpiece have a simple design and can be adjusted and maintained with ease. Although I am someone who has built guitars. I don’t think it's quite as easy as the Fender Stratocaster. The reason for this is that the Fender Stratocaster doesn’t have a tailpiece. So, making changes to the bridge is easier.
No matter which one you choose. I believe they both have their pros and cons. Very much like comparing an apple to an orange. You just need to figure out what is best for you. Most guitar players seem to lean toward one or the other. I personally like them both.
Get professional guidance
Once you've got the guitar you like and understand how it works to maintain it, it's time to learn how to play it. One great place to start is a good how-to book. This is how I learned to play many years before the internet.
Still a very good way to get started. Why? A good, solid method book will teach you in a very systematic order, with lessons that build upon one themselves. This will save you time and allow you to understand musical concepts a lot easier. Here is a book that I authored and self-published for this specific reason.
Learn To Play Electric Guitar
Learn To Play Electric Guitar is a comprehensive course for beginners to get started enjoying the fun of playing the electric guitar. It will lead you on a path to electric guitar mastery. It will show you a very simple method of how to get started playing the electric guitar.
Learn parts of the guitar, how to hold it properly, what chords need to be learned first, and how to play those guitar chords to create music.
Learn techniques such as strumming, arpeggiating, timing, and practicing habits. Learn common scales for playing guitar solos, and training exercises. In a simple step-by-step method that will produce quick results. Yep, it's all here in this book.
Beginner friendly
If you've always wanted to learn to play the electric guitar, then this book is for you. Even if you play guitar already, you can still learn some new music concepts from this book. Packed with information that most guitar players don't know.
This book is designed to take you from an absolute newbie (who knows nothing about the guitar) to a well-proficient player with music knowledge and understanding. Improve your rhythm guitar playing, Lead guitar playing, music theory, and techniques associated with playing electric guitar in this comprehensive course.
If more help is needed
If more help is needed, be sure to check out my private one-on-one guitar instruction. With over 20 years of teaching experience. Both online and in-person. I specialize in crafting customized lessons that cater to your musical journey. Even if you have no formal training.
With your interest and availability, I can tailor our lessons to suit your pace and schedule. Whether you want to dive into the basics or explore different musical styles, I can guide you every step of the way. Just contact me at my website, and we'll embark on this new and exciting adventure together.
Thanks for your time reading, and good luck with your guitar journey.
Sincerely, Dwayne Jenkins
