Having searched for the most versatile Bass for a stupid amount of years, I've been doing the same for Guitar and think I've finally found it...
Previously, I've heard Guitarists say it's the RG550 for it's HSH pickup configuration, 24 frets and double locking bridge:
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/af23fa_039caba5e3a7425b8cd9cb310470d7c8.jpg/v1/fill/w_852,h_496,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/af23fa_039caba5e3a7425b8cd9cb310470d7c8.jpg Others have said it's the Telecaster for it's jazz, rhythm and rock positions and it's ability to alternate tune:
https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--xAr0ngMb--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_620,q_90,w_620/v1446313625/sikhqnbhntw6ghl5coji.jpg However, having owned the previous two, I think it's actually a p90 SG with bigsby:
https://files2.soniccdn.com/old/268284d46d992ec6db.jpg If you went for an ES-330 instead of the latter, then that's a pretty darn good 'holy trinity' and would cover far more ground than a Stratocaster, Telecaster and Les Paul. That said, I'd be pretty happy with x3 SG's with bigsby and just have slightly hotter p90 in each.
What's yer thoughts?
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I like the Stratocaster by the way and I would substitute one for a Telecaster any day, but it'd have to be a G&L with something beefier in the bridge.
cant seem to post pics from phone but this link might work.
https://imgur.com/a/jVs1J
The Gibson C.A. electro-acoustic was on a stand in the corner of the room. The fan swoons and praises the guitar to the skies. "That guitar sounds great, Mister Atkins." Chet looks at the guitar, looks at the fan, looks back at the guitar. He replies curtly, "well, it's not sounding so good now, is it?"
So long as it plays well and holds tune you can play whatever you want on whatever you want- the audience certainly isn't going to care.
Once I came to this conclusion I just started playing my Esquire partscaster all the time.
But it doesn't totally replace my Tele, Les Paul and PRS.
Sadly most players don't seem to understand that the most powerful tools are their own hands in conjunction with the controls on the guitar itself. We've all been force fed this bullshit that you 'need' equipment to sound 'professional' or 'authentic'.
"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
Only 'down-side' is that the PRS cases are particularly big and heavy - but it's the proper case and I do have something lighter I can use if I wanted to.
After that, its my Yamaha 611VFM - H/B, P90, 3-way plus push-pull, locking tuners, trem, comfortable neck, light, great build quality, punches well above its weight. Gotta sell it though - too much gear, not enough room, and its superfluous to my needs as I have the PRS.
Now, a Tele with h/b and single-coil, or an HSS Strat would be able to cover both bases albeit of course they will still feel/sound different.