Difference Between Les Paul and Stratocaster

Les Paul vs Stratocaster

Les Paul and Stratocaster are the most popular guitars available on the market. These two guitars are considered the best of the guitars and, as such, these are the most copied guitar styles the world over.

When looking at the Les Paul and the Stratocaster, the main difference is noticed in the pickups. When the Les Paul uses Humbucker pickups, the Stratocaster uses single coil pickups. The Les Paul has a three-way toggle switch whereas the Stratocaster has a five-way toggle switch. The Les Paul comes with two volume and two tone controls whereas the Stratocaster comes with two tone and a single volume control.

There is also difference in the design of the two guitars. The Les Paul has a set neck which means that the neck and the body are joined together as a single piece. The Stratocaster has a bolt on the neck design which means that the neck is joined to the body with long screws.

Les Paul comes with a fixed bridge which does not move. On the other hand, the Stratocaster comes with a movable bridge with a whammy bar.

The headstock in a Les Paul has a tilting of about a 15-degree angle. And this tilting gives the strings of the Les Paul guitars more tension which is said to make these guitars more sustainable than Stratocaster guitars. This tilting is not visible in a Stratocaster, and the strings are tightened to the nuts through the string keepers.

When comparing the neck of the two guitars, the Stratocaster guitar has a slender neck and the Les Paul guitar has a thicker neck.

Summary:

1.When the Les Paul uses Humbucker pickups, the Stratocaster uses single coil pickups.
2.The Les Paul has a set neck which means that the neck and the body are joined together as a single piece. The 3.Stratocaster has a bolt on the neck design which means that the neck is joined to the body with long screws.
4.The Les Paul has a three-way toggle switch whereas the Stratocaster has a five-way toggle switch. The Les Paul comes with two volume and two tone controls whereas the Stratocaster comes with two tone and a single volume control.
5.The headstock in a Les Paul has a tilting of about a 15-degree angle. And this tilting gives the strings of the Les Paul guitars more tension. This tilting is not visible in a Stratocaster and the strings are tightened to the nuts through the string keepers.
6.The Stratocaster guitar has a slender neck, and the Les Paul guitar has a thicker neck.

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