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Hi all - years since I've posted here. I'm looking for a new guitar to replace a 335 I've lost inspiration with. I also need a quieter guitar acoustically, to practice in the house with the little ones. I'm torn between a deluxe telecaster (humbuckers) and a Les paul. I'd say my sound/influences lean towards Grant Green, George Benson.. but I like a brighter tone, like Melvin Sparks. I haven't ruled out a strat either.
Anyways, any ideas on what could best get me there? Opinions on either of these guitars?
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02-26-2025 06:41 AM
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Strat, Tele or Les Paul will acoustically unsatisfying for home practice. We don't know your budget. A fully hollow thinline guitar might work for you.
For examples:
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Budget isn't an issue. Just looking for a solid-body. I don't care how it sounds acoustically, as it'll be plugged in to headphones at home.
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I have a Strat and a Les Paul. I use the LP more for jazz, so between the two that’s what I’d recommend. Mine has P90, which might get you a little closer to the tones you’re describing than humbuckers, but YMMV.
I’m not a Tele guy (and have never played a Deluxe as far as I can recall), so I’ll leave commentary on that to others.
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Obviously Telecaster has a different scale length that 335. Les Paul would be a closer experience to what you have than a Telecaster. That might be a plus or a minus depending on your preference. I would also suggest Jazzmaster as a long scale option. It can accommodate both brighter and darker tones.
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If you're going to be playing sitting down, I wouldn't go for a Les Paul, purely from a comfort and not-slipping-off-your-knee perspective.
Ergonomically, nothing beats a jazzmaster. The Squier J Mascis is reputed to have a very comfortable neck and has P90s rather than standard JM pickups, so is likely to be able to bring the bright edge you mention. I've only owned a standard jazzmaster. It was a bit bright for me.
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Not a problem if you use a strap.
Originally Posted by Gladders
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Less of a problem, sure, but still uncomfortable for me. Originally Posted by John A.
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Anyone have experience with Telecaster Deluxe?
I've never played a Rickenbacker, or even seen one in a shop, so would have no idea what to expect.
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For me (maybe not for you) a Les Paul has the wrong geometry to play seated, even with a strap.
Telecasters, even though they're about the same size as LPs, work better for me. Strats and Jazzmasters, too.
A "Fat Tele" (HB at neck, SC at bridge) works well enough for me that I even have one.
I never liked the large Fender HB pickups in the Tele Deluxe or Custom.
I like the Gibson-like HBs as on the Performer Tele Hum and others. Some variants on Deluxes have these.
Others you might find interesting:
Ibanez AMH90 - small body semihollow
PRS SE McCarty 594 - about the same size as a LP but with the upper horn it hangs better on a strap for me
PRS SE Hollowbody Standard - a little bigger than the PRS SE McCarty, very comfortable
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Yamaha Revstar, just better than a Les Paul in every way
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Of all my solid bodied guitars I would say my SG was the most resonant. It's the 2013 SGJ with a maple neck and 24 frets.
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I had a similar search going when I was looking for a less fragile (and less expensive) guitar to take on the road instead of my beloved custom shop 330L. I was looking for something short scale, and solid body...and something a little different.
I wound up getting a Fender American Performer Mustang. I immediately got rid of their silly treble circuit thing they have and installed a pair of Fralin High Output Split Blade noiseless pickups which happen to sound pretty close to the P90's in my Gibson.
I've come to really love this guitar.
Edit: In case anyone is curious I thought I'd add that the Mustang I got weighs in at 7.5 lbs. Which is about a pound heavier than my 330L but probably a bit lighter than a 335.Last edited by gggguitar; 03-01-2025 at 11:30 AM.
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.... What about Les Paul Deluxe with Mini-buckers ? It's still a Les Paul but with some brighter mini-buckers in it. That might be your ticket to best of both worlds ?
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I find a Les Paul is ideal for curling up on the couch and putting in a lot of play time. Seated in a normal seating position they are less comfortable.
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Never tried the couch, but I find my Les Heritage (with strap) almost as comfortable to play on a bar-stool as a Tele.
To OP, I was debating between similar guitars, a HH Kingfish Tele (love the guy AND the guitar looks stunning) and a LP. Ended up with a Heritage because it is somewhat louder acoustically than the Tele, it feels a bit more resonant (is it the set neck vs bolt-on?) and, since I already have a SS Tele, I thought some variety would be nice. On this last point, since you already have a 335 and you mentioned 'inspiration' why not go with something a bit different and pick a Tele? Maybe an SS or a P90 version?
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If I was really after a good Les Paul type guitar I'd personally look at a Hamer USA Artist, Sunburst, or Artist Custom. Fantastic guitars and not everyone already has one. The Artist Custom is a semi-hollow, and the necks pre-'96 were a bit thinner (think Gibson '60) than afterwards (more of a '58-'59 profile).
Of the ones you mention, I'd look for a Tele, specifically one of the recent tele Elites; compound radius, wheel neck adjustment at the body and silent pickups. It's a versatile and great playing guitar.
Now, if money really is no object, then I am super jealous
That said, a small number of folks on here are all head over heels for their PRS McCarty 594 Hollowbody II's. I've never played one because of the price but every review seems to be "best guitar I've ever played". So...you've been warned 
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The answer lies here:
Bunch of great plank guitars I don't need - V.2 for 2025!
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I am trying to process / understand the "I'm looking for a new guitar to replace a 335 I've lost inspiration with" part. Originally Posted by p1p
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Ibanez has a new AZ Standard model that looks like an absolutely fantastic value. As with all links here, it might say access denied, but it'll work...
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Wish these had the 2 post trem instead of the six, about the only gripe I have with them Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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Fender has humbucker versions of all, or almost all, of their latest models, this is one of their more inexpensive newer models: Originally Posted by p1p
Fender Special-Edition Custom Telecaster FMT HH Electric Guitar | Guitar Center
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Does a Tele with HBs still sound like a Tele? Originally Posted by Mick-7
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The Japanese made ones (the Prestige series) have 2 point trems. Originally Posted by chris32895
AZ | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars
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