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"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
But if it's different scale length then it ain't the same for bending.
My point is that I can get all the sounds I want by setting the amp and pedals differently and the way I play anyway. Maybe this is why I don't really see the point in using different guitars either mostly! Even though I plead guilty to owning several… I don't use them for different sounds as such, more for different situations and what fits the vibe of the band. I don't take more than one to gigs normally, I don't feel any need to.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I'm sure much of this boils down to what guitars you've spent the most time with in your playing career.
I've owned a Strat for 33 of my 42 years as a guitarist. I got my first electric 39 years ago - it was a copy of a 70s Telecaster Custom. So I'm pretty much a 'dyed in the wool' Fender player. The 'geometry' of a Fender (for want of a better word) just works for me - specifically the lack of back-angle of the neck relative to the body and the position of the bridge and nut relative to my hands. A Les Paul feels too far to the right for me - ie, both arms have to be repositioned to play one. This always feels very unnatural to me.
Perhaps if I'd spent my formative years playing a Les Paul instead, I would have grown to like the things about the design which annoy me. You clearly love them.
Vive la difference!
I used to gig an LP and found it better on a strap than when seated. I generally used it for the whole of the second set, so I only had to adjust to the difference in feel once but I still disliked the back angle, lack of upper fret access and control layout....
I too had trouble for a long time
Part of the trouble is that few amps work for both SSS and HH guitars, and even the ones that do tend to need different settings. My DC30 is the least problematic with this, just a tweak to the cut control will do it, and sometimes don't even need that, just ride the tone controls more on the LP. I did have a pair of EMG 89s in an Epi LP, which was interesting, since you could set both to a bright Single coil tone, that was quite interesting
In terms of the ergonomics, I think the strat is a better design, I can play an LP, but I always feel less constrained on a strat. My chambered LP is less cumbersome.
The scale length also contributes, I think Dave Gilmour uses strings that are half a gauge heavier for his LPs, presumably to make it easier to switch between them and strats, whilst still being able to do accurate huge bends
I like to use the LP as a way to disrupt my normal style, to do something different. For the same reason, I have 30 and 27 inch scale length guitars, a strat in DADGAD, and an very-heavy singlecut with P90s, along with lap steels, a 335 and a Jazz box, a bass, a U-Bass, and acoustics: including baritone & tenor.
I suspect the frustration many feel is when they want the same style and basic sound to transfer from one guitar to another, whereas I choose to own different types of guitar with the opposite intention in mind
I use a different guitar because I want a different sound. Their different feels make me play differently also.
I use a higher string gauge on my 335 and PRS than I do on my Strat, but the 335 somehow lends itself to bigger bends - probably because of the flatter fingerboard radius. The different attack/sustain envelopes of the 335 and PRS lend themselves to different styles, even though they are both 2 HB guitars...
The OP's question was specifically about swapping between a Strat and a Les Paul. Like him, I find it difficult, to the point in my case where I've given up. As I stated in my earlier post, my McCarty handles LP duties now.
I really like using different instruments but for me, the difference between a Strat and an LP is too great.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I have my JCM2000 on the lesser lead channel, lead 1 I think, cranked at 4 or 4 and a half and the mids cranked. It's almost perfect for getting a JImi sound or RHCP sound through SSL1's or using Texas Specials and doing SRV on a strat, the same as it is if if I use a Charvel with a JB or Tonezone and getting Demartini tones or....well the Tonezone is a bit dry, but dare I say Gilberty stuff or using the BCRich or Charvel Hardtail for Rhoadsy stuff. I hate fiddling with the amp and like to leave it well alone, apart from the volume. You cannot make a Strat with SSL's sound like a cranked Les Paul and you absolutely cannot make a Les Paul bounce and shimmer on the tubes like a Strat with SSL's does. I agree, different sound, change the guitar.
I don't have a problem making the switch and getting bends in tune, even on weakly sprung floating floyds from a hardtail or TOM bridge, but sometimes I will start playing a whole tone higher in B, instead of A on 24 fret guitars, as that always throws me. I think I can only count to 21 or 22.
Tele is the only guitar I have never tried, ever! Apart from my Charvel rock tele. But I would like to get some country down on it though and like Donohue. Are they similar to a strat to play then or what?