I had a Gibson Les Paul Custom but had to sell it because I had my third child on the way. When I got some bucks together I went and bought another guitar. I could not afford a Les Paul so I bought a Fender Strat. The Strats OK but it does not rock nearly as good as the Les Paul. Try and play hard rock with a Strat and you will be disappointed. The pickups can't handle it and end up producing a buzzing mushy distorted sound. The power from a Les Paul sounds as though it could cut the Earth in half. Its the sound of going to war.