LP or Strat game

RVA

RVA

Ambassador
There has been a lot of talk about the LP tone and the immense differences between a Strat and LP. I often doubt the abilities of people to discern the difference in a blind test.

So here is an easy, easy game. I had a guitar on my lap and decided to record it and post the clip here. I change the pickup selection and volume a number of times. So what it it, an LP or a Strat? Whichever it is, it is not one of my Frankenstein creations. I have stock versions of both and this is one of them.

https://soundcloud.com/user-903662928/mixdown-3/s-ZN6tj
 
First off....cool jam.
These psychological games give me the shakes.....

I'd say Strat
 
  • Like
Reactions: RVA
Hmmmm.
I hear strat quack in one section and 2 distinctly different neck pickup sounds.
Did you switch guitars partway through?
 
Tony M. said:
Hmmmm.
I hear strat quack in one section and 2 distinctly different neck pickup sounds.
Did you switch guitars partway through?
Click to expand...
No, same guitar and same amp settings. I just changed pickup selections and guitar volume.
 
The quack is not a dead giveaway. It could be a strat
or the middle position on a 3 puckup LP custom.

I honestly am not sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RVA
Tony M. said:
The quack is not a dead giveaway. It could be a strat
or the middle position on a 3 puckup LP custom.

I honestly am not sure.
Click to expand...
So far, everyone who has guessed knows a thing or 2 or 3 about guitar. I listened myself and was shocked how difficult it is.
 
Im gonna say a Strat to,mainly because of the middle part of your recording i hear a slight Hendrixy tone. I dont think a Les Paul has that sound to it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RVA
Than you to all who were brave enough to play the game. So here is the answer:

This is a Gibson Custom Shop '56 VOS LP with P90s (R6), stock (except that I routed the pup cavities to make them height adjustable). It was played through the emulated out of a Marshall JVM without any EQ other than my normal amp EQ settings. No compression was used. The only effects are the amp's reverb and slight analog delay from a EH Memory Toy. The guitar is heavy at 10.5 pounds.

My 2 cents:
Be careful in your quest for tone. Play what feels comfortable and try to discard pre-conceived notions. You will be happier. In the end, and all people will really hear is your playing.


20160612_190831_zps8wcgjrc5.jpg
 
I wish I would have seen this sooner. I couldn't tell you what guitar it was, but I could tell you after the first five notes it was a 24-3/4" scale.
 
I was expecting this or a split coil LP... Either way, the clip sounded good.

It's clearly a single coil, and the great thing about P90s is that they can do good straty single coil sounds aswellas getting close to humbucker output and 'width' too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RVA
RVA said:
Than you to all who were brave enough to play the game.

My 2 cents:
Be careful in your quest for tone. Play what feels comfortable and try to discard pre-conceived notions.
You will be happier. In the end, and all people will really hear is your playing.
Click to expand...

This.
When I try a guitar it doesn't even get plugged in for the first 20 minutes.
The absolute first priority is the feel of the instrument.
10 mins sitting.
"Do you have a strap I can borrow please?"
10 mins hanging off a strap. (I gig standing up thank you.)
"OK. It feels good, now let's plug it in.
If the guitar feels wrong, no point in knowing
what it sounds like because I ain't buyin' it.
 
Tony M. said:
This.
When I try a guitar it doesn't even get plugged in for the first 20 minutes.
The absolute first priority is the feel of the instrument.
10 mins sitting.
"Do you have a strap I can borrow please?"
10 mins hanging off a strap. (I gig standing up thank you.)
"OK. It feels good, now let's plug it in.
If the guitar feels wrong, no point in knowing
what it sounds like because I ain't buyin' it.
Click to expand...


Good point...

I usually know when I pick it up....


For me, the neck has to feel good in my hand, the intonation perfect to my ear everywhere along the fretboard....pickups must be quiet and volume even when switched...it has to sit comfortably on the leg, as well as hanging evenly from the strap...tone has to be big, massive, with a searing harmonic...I don't play clean, except on other people's recordings and I do not own or play an acoustic, except on studio recordings for others for hire...the guitar has to feel as though it is an extension of my fingers, no fighting it to keep it in tune, good volume and tone controls...never muddy...it needs to have an evil, dissonant quality....

The biggest compliment I ever had came a few months ago. I was trying out a new DSL100H Marshall and cabinet at Guitar Sinner through my 2016 Gibson SG. After a while, a young, skinny, tattooed fellow with chrome aviators came up to me and said, "Damn, dude, you play like you are mad at somebody. You just sound evil. It's like I can feel your rage...It's scary, Man, but in a good way..."

That means I am in my zone.... :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top