Guitar Giants Head-to-Head: Gibson Versus Fender

For many musicians, especially guitar players, this has probably been the biggest question of all time. Which guitar do I buy, a Gibson or a Fender? In particular the choice of buying Gibson's Les Paul, and Fender's Stratocaster. These two guitars are buy far the most popular in the world, yet are worlds apart.

Let's start with the eldest of the two. The Gibson Les Paul, which made its debut in 1952, is widely known for its beautiful appearance, fat sound, and impressive sustain. Where appearance is concerned, the Les Paul's carved, flamed maple top makes it seem more like a work of art than a musical instrument. The combination of the two humbucker pickups, and three way switch, allow you to get anything from a rich deep tone, to a down right raunchy growl. The slightly thick neck can tend to make you work harder to play fast notes or a lot of string bends, but the rewards you get from the sound may be well worth the extra effort. The Les Paul is a hefty guitar, so you may want to make sure your back is in good shape if you plan to stand and play for long periods.

Now, the one major downside to owning a Les Paul may be its price. You should be prepared to spend well over one thousand dollars for a new Les Paul. If you decide to try and find a vintage guitar, then I hope you have a very hefty bank account. Many vintage Les Paul's have sold in the tens of thousands.

Now, lets move on to the younger of our comparison. The Fender Stratocaster, also know as a strat. The Stratocaster made its debut in 1954, a mere two years after the Les Paul. While the Stratocaster may not have the stunning looks of the Les Paul, many would argue that it is by far the more versatile of the two. With it's three single coil pickups, and five-way switch you get a much wider range of sounds. From warn smooth tones, to high pitch squeals, the Fender Stratocaster has definitely made its mark in music history.

The Stratocaster has a double cutaway body, which in turn makes it a lighter guitar. The guitars neck is thin, giving you more maneuverability and reach. Another added advantage of the Stratocaster is the use of a tremolo system. The tremolo allows you to loosen or tighten the strings, resulting in a change in pitch. The downside to having a tremolo is a slight loss in sustain, but the wide range of sound obtainable from the Stratocaster by far make up for that loss. Another upside to the Fender is the price. Most Stratocasters are hundreds of dollars cheaper than the Les Paul.

Both of these guitars are capable of providing their very own unique and beautiful sound. This has been proven throughout the world, by the many great artist who have chosen these guitars. They have both been an inspiration and an influence for many budding guitarists. Without the Les Paul or the Statocaster I venture to say that music as we know it today would be much more different. With all of these factors, and the huge difference between these two guitars, you can very well see how this is by far one of the biggest decisions for a guitar player. Not to mention starting some of the longest and loudest arguments in the musical community.

Most importantly, the largest factor in choosing either a Gibson Les Paul, or Fender Statocaster would be the tone. The decision lies in the musicians' ear. So I say to you all, go forth and play.