software

I'm look for a guitar that gets me at least in the ball park -soundwize- of a Les Paul but that has (most importantly) a strat-style bridge (does'nt matter if it's vibrato or not).
I find it difficult to change between the two.
Any ideas?

A Gibson Nighthawk?
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It's got a mahogany body and neck with a maple cap, but is 25.5quot; scale, five-way pickup switching. The bridge splits and sounds very much like a Strat bridge single.



A Brian Moore C-90 or C-55 is all you will ever need.Perfect Strat/Paul hybrid.

YOu´re describuing the entire idea behind the 80s superstrat movement....

from : localhost/, can be had in various PU and bridge configs

I'd get on Ebay and do a search for Fender Japan Squire Strats. Look for one with two humbuckers, rosewood fingerboard and vintage style bridge. Should be $300 or less. Buy it and then put some great Duncan humbucking pickups in it: Jazz/JB, Jazz/Custom, etc. Lew

Look for a 70's - 80's Hamer USA Sunburst model (Pre-Studio). This is not to be confused with the import Sunburst models of today. The USA made Sunbursts had a strat-style hardtail, string-thru body bridge, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard, maple caps. Totally kick @ss guitars.

Edit: Forgot to mention, the import Sunbursts are easy to distinquish from the originals. They have TOM bridges instead of the strat-style hardtail.


Originally Posted by ErikHLook for a 70's - 80's Hamer USA Sunburst model (Pre-Studio). This is not to be confused with the import Sunburst models of today. The USA made Sunbursts had a strat-style hardtail, string-thru body bridge, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard, maple caps. Totally kick @ss guitars.

Edit: Forgot to mention, the import Sunbursts are easy to distinquish from the originals. They have TOM bridges instead of the strat-style hardtail.

I have an 81 Special, which is very similar to a Suburst but has a flat maple cap as opposed to an arch top. These are great guitars.

Another option would be a PRS CU22 with a trem.


Originally Posted by Benjy_26I have an 81 Special, which is very similar to a Suburst but has a flat maple cap as opposed to an arch top. These are great guitars.

Another option would be a PRS CU22 with a trem.
Those specials are sweet too. I'm patiently watching eBay for a Sunburst.

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I do have strat with a super distortion in it. still does'nt ahve that big sound

Well, the typical quot;big soundquot; of a Les paul can only be had from a Les Paul... anything else is a compromise of that sound for playability

how bout this: from : localhost/www.fender.com/products/searc...tno=0137702306

throw a 59er in there....


Originally Posted by nepalnt21how bout this: from : localhost/Dad used to have one of those that I played, wish he still had it. nice guitar

24 3/4quot; scale length, mahogany body and mahogany/rosewood neck.

I'd recommend the Fender Deluxes with flame maple veneer/ no pickguard.
Or the Gamp;L Legacy Deluxe with the same layout. I've also found that putting any type of Gibson humbucker in the bridge will automatically make the guitar take on the LP sound.

from : localhost/found that these dual humbucker, set neck, mahogany Tele's sound very fat and LP like. They're not Fendery at all, tonewise, just look-wise.
I should probably suggest a Paul Reed Smith, of course, that's what most people wanting something in between an LP and a Strat go for.

thanks guys. I really like that last one.And the Brian moore seems pretty cool with gibo scale length.


Originally Posted by ZerberusWell, the typical quot;big soundquot; of a Les paul can only be had from a Les Paul... anything else is a compromise of that sound for playability

I don't feel strats are any more playable *for me* than Gibsons style instruments, but in essence, Zerb is correct.

You are never gonna get the tone of a paula through anything else but a paula...you can get closest with another Gibson or Gibson-like intrument (the Hamers mentioned by Benjy for example), because they share similar construction, scale, etc. Once you deviate from the same scale length and body shape, things really start to change. My MCCarty didn't sound Gibson-like at all even though it's (indirectly) touted as sounding that way. My Firebird sounds more like a Paula, and my Hamer is the closest I've come yet, REAL close. IT's nearly identical to one construction-wise except for the body shape.

Once you get into longer scales, bolt ons, different bridges, neck throughs, different neck/headstock angles, etc etc...AFAIC, they just sound like a humbucker equipped strat...not even a GIbson sound in general, and certainly not a Les Paul sound in particular.

I spent thousand and thousands of $ in my youth trying to find the mythical quot;sounds like a les paul, but isn'tquot; guitar.
it doesn't exist


Originally Posted by gOgIverYour's had the rosewood neck?

No it did not. It was out of my price range anyway, but I did play one of those... That particular guitar was very muddy, though It very well could have been the pickups. I don't really know. It sustained for days tho.

I was amazed how different each McCarty sounded...the ones I played (all at the same shop back to back through the same amp) all had very different distinct tones.... bright and edgy with no lows.... warm and not so clear.... all midrange, etc...I picked mine based on the fact it had the best clarity, balance of tone, as well as best low end. A/B ed with a R9 they had there too..very different sound/s. It was a fantastic instrument, just ultimately not what I wanted.