I simply cannot play any other guitar other than a Les Paul

[biggus dikkus]

How Ive tried to get along with other guitars , Ive had Fender USA Strats but they dont hang comfortably on me at all , I actually find the body contours uncomfortable and ive never gotten along with single coil pickups. I cant play Ibanez guitars as I find those necks just too thin and I really do not like tremelo systems at all, a hardtail would be the answer but there is still the skinny neck problem for me.

Every other guitar apart from a Les Paul has a flaw that I cannot get along with it seems.

Players mention the weight of Les Pauls , but they are looking at Standards or Customs which can weigh from a heavy 10lbs to an insane 12lbs for an old norlin . When you go the Historic route you get into the premium select woods and players cannot believe just how light my 8lbs 5oz 2001 R9 is.

The Les Paul just has as much its own sound as a Fender Strat does , I dont think any other guitar apart from a Fender Strat can chime like a Fender Strat , nor do I believe any other guitar can bloom like a Les Paul does, just 2 immediately recognisable and legendary sonic signatures.

When I put on a Les Paul it just feels so right and is like a hand slipping into a glove for me, if I get around to buying a 2nd guitar , Im fairly sure it will be a R7 goldtop, a guitar that offers stupendous tones at a lot more affordable price than an R8 or R9.

What about you , is there a model of guitar or guitar brand that is like coming home for you or are you just a player who doesnt bond in that way ?

BD

[axe2grind]

Well BD, I think Les Pauls are one of the most comfortable guitars to play as far as picking hand goes and the neck is still pretty comfortable. I've played a few, from a custom to a studio. Have you tried an Ibanez SZ guitar or a wolfgang custom carved top, both have carved tops, fixed bridge (an option with the wolfie) and fairly chunky necks although the ibanez is thinner but NOT like the wizard or wizard II necks. I thought both were similar playing experience to an LP but a lot lighter. Must admit, I cannot get on with flat bodied guitar, arched tops are the way to go for me, my Ibanez S470 has a great arched top, can't think of a better axe for me personally.

[ozzyman527]

My problem is the controls on a fender get in the way of my picking hand, so halfway through a song I have the volume all the way down.

[Hooper]

Ahh the age old question!

Me?
Strat all the way. The fatter the neck the better.

BTW my dad still owns his Gibson acoustic that he bought back in 1957. I rarely see it or him for that matter. Can't remember the model. He always had heavy ass strings on it. He always played Johnny Cash stuff. My mom used to play banjo.
They and their friends had little jam sessions on our front porch when I was growing up. We lived out in the boonies. Ahh.. great memories!

[El_jalepeno]

My thought is that as a musician you should be able to adapt to most any guitar out there rather than pigeon-holeing only a couple guitars that you prefer to play. Afterall, it is all in the hands.

[Hazelife]

I've actually got 2 guitars that basically are the only two guitars that have ever felt and sounded "right" to me.

Both made by a company called "Aria" - one's a telecaster, cost me £130 and plays and sounds awesome with a switched out bridge pickup.

The other is a TA-62, a 335 shaped semi hollow which, again, with a pickup change, plays and feels awesome. Cost me £400ish with the pickup switch to the old GFS Dream90s.

I must share hands with the people who design arias. I might get a cheap strat from them to mod up when i've sold off a couple of my other guitars.

[Joe King]

I'll play anything with strings on it. I don't have a problem with that and I'll use different guitars in songs I write as well. But to be honest, I am a strat style guitar fan. And preference is something with a Floyd Rose Original or Ibanez Edge trem. I use a bar a ton in my playing, I use it like a pitch wheel on a synth, so it's a neccesity.

I had a Les Paul for a long time, got rid of it in '86 or so, and never bought another. I have a hardtail guitar right now, it's a Shecter Omen 6. A really cheap guitar, but I spent some time, set it up, leveled the frets, and swapped out the pickups, and it just toally sings. But, it's still somewhat a Strat style shape as opposed to the Les Paul.

But home for me is Ibanez. I simply love them. I have a Jackson Soloist SL1 that I play often as well, but the Ibanez guitars get a lot more playtime. In fact MOST of the playtime.

J

[Stiglar]

Originally Posted by El_jalepeno

My thought is that as a musician you should be able to adapt to most any guitar out there rather than pigeon-holeing only a couple guitars that you prefer to play. Afterall, it is all in the hands.

I'm with EJ on this one , Whilst i think most people will have a preference , I don't really see how you can be unable to play a certain brand or type of guitar , I own many different types of guitars that i play all on a regular basis at gigs, and whilst it can be a little awkward at first , it doesn't really take long to get used to one neck or another.

[Edenbridge]

for me a Ibanez S series guitar is thee most comfy guitar to play. i just love the body shape.

[Wolfman]

I have to agree with EJ as well. I'm primarily a Strat guy these days, but at the same time I couldn't live without my Wolfgangs. I'm also a real big fan of Schecter lately, and I've lusted over some Dean Hardtails the last two years. Godin makes a Synth-ready superstrat that I think is bitchin' as well.

.

[VHF]

Well I also have to agree with E.J. I think playing many guitars will keep things interesting. I have several and they all have pros and cons. A LP is a great guitar....awesome tone and a classic, but it's not easy to reach the higher frets. I love the tune-o-matic bridge for heavy palm muting.

I had a Ibanez with a Wizard neck, but sold it because the neck was just too thin.....but I have another RG with a great neck.

My favorite guitar is a Wolfgang and I would love another one with a hard tail.

That said.....I do have a LP and should be getting another 2 soon if 357 ever comes around.

[irongolem85]

hm...i used to always want an LP cause thats what all the cool cats played.. the only one i've ever played was a lower end Epi version and it was not kept up worth shti at the GC i went to play it at...screws missing rusty strings mucky fingerboard, so on and so forth...anyway, i still liked the damn thing and almost bought it... i like the tension of the strings, it lets me fret and bend a lil easier w/thicker more toneful strings...

i've played a bunch of other stuff too, and the only one i could say i did not immediately feel comfortable with (either playingwise or soundwise) was this Schecter 7 string...it was craptastic in every sense of the word..but whatever

i agree w/EJ about the not getting pigeonholed, it kind of limits your ability...i understand wanting to be perfectly comfortable when playing, but you use an axe to split wood and a knife to filet a fish, so you use an LP w/EMG's when you're scoopin and gallopin, and you use a strat on the neck when you're playin a certain kind of lightish redish psychedelia.....

[Simon Cowell]

hey Big dink..I find you guitar playing absolutely dreadfull! Who do you thing you are? Jimmy Page would be embarassed knowing you play the same guitar as him!

[KLAATU]

.

[Joe King]

Originally Posted by Simon Cowell

Hi My name is Simon. I really know nothing about playing guitar. Or for that matter singing. And sooner or later, I will learn proper grammar. But I can't speak right now, I still have a mouthful of Reuben Stoddard's left ass cheek.

Wow.....