Does every genre need its own “perfect guitar,” or is the issue overrated? As our author argues, it appears that even metal with a Stratocaster is no problem at all. Let’s take a closer look.
Is there such a thing as the perfect guitar for your style of music?
In this article, we’d like to draw your attention to a recent, rather thought-provoking video by Tyler Larson. He runs the highly successful YouTube channel “Music is Win.” His videos are pretty amusing and always very informative. Tyler seems to be a pretty talented guitarist with plenty of things to say about music and guitars.
His video, “The Best Guitar For Each Genre (Is Not What You Think)”, was eye-opening for me. And I think you might like it too. Is it just a widespread myth that every genre requires its perfect guitar? That, in order to create the respective sound, no other guitar can do it? Or has this idea long since been disproved?
Country without a Telecaster, but an SG
Can country music sound like country music with something other than a Telecaster? The Telecaster is the perfect guitar for country music. Why is that? Thanks to its single-coil pickups, the Telecaster delivers a clear and assertive sound that blends perfectly with the mix of steel guitar and other country instruments.
Furthermore, the Tele’s cool design and reliable construction make it the ideal companion for wild live shows and raunchy studio recordings. With its unmistakable look, the guitar perfectly matches the traditional flair of country music.
Guitarists like James Burton, Merle Haggard, and Brad Paisley have made the Telecaster famous. Legends like them are responsible for making it an iconic instrument in the country scene. The Telecaster is great for playing different country styles, from honky-tonk to modern country rock.
In Tyler’s video, he shows us how Country sounds when you play it with a Gibson SG. An SG could be considered the guitar with the least connection to the Telecaster. Its sound is more associated with the music of AC/DC (Angus Young). It’s also assertive but with different mids and a sweeter sound.
With riffs and power chords, it’s a little wider and fatter in detail. You definitely don’t hear a Telecaster here. The missing treble and the milder attack of a Gibson SG have to be compensated for by adjusting the amp and striking the strings closer to the bridge. Nevertheless, the pure sound should convince many that it works.
If you’re looking for the perfect guitar for metal music, it’s probably not the classic Stratocaster with single-coil pickups. In the video, Tyler plays a PRS Silver Sky. It’s known for its clear, delicate Strat sounds, but it’s not the first guitar you’d think of. However, you can clearly hear in the video that it is possible, and using a Strat even has advantages.
Its tone is clear even at high gain, with good attack and a certain rawness. There’s less low-end, which is helpful in the mix when recording. Higher gain settings can lead to feedback in louder situations when performing live. Single coils are more sensitive than humbuckers in this respect.
Jazz with a modern humbucker guitar and Floyd Rose
It sounds a bit strange and almost seems like a punishable offense. I doubt a jazz guitarist would choose an Ibanez Steve Vai Signature or similar guitar for performing delicate Jazz solos. Tyler Larson plays a PRS Custom 24 Floyd for comparison. It’s a modern electric guitar with modern features. There are no classic elements, and it’s pretty different from a Gibson ES or similar hollow-body guitars.
In the video, Tyler uses the Floyd Rose tremolo to give playing Jazz a new approach. This vibrato sound can’t be produced with hollow-body guitars. However, in this example, he has also succeeded in producing the typical warm jazz sound. We are familiar with this slightly coated sound when we think of Jazz. After hearing this, who can still claim that Jazz only works with hollow-body guitars?
Conclusion on the “perfect guitar”
Does it really matter? Do we guitarists need the perfect guitar for every genre? The answer is “yes and no”. Tyler Larson’s YouTube video impressively demonstrates that there should be no prohibitions and that every type of guitar can do everything. “The sound comes from the fingers.” Damn right.
In the end, it’s all about the look. Telecasters and Country music just go together historically. Metal screams for humbucker guitars with modern features and a striking look. A Jazz guitarist longs for a hollow body with f-holes. These are the images we have been ingrained with over decades. They are not bad or “wrong” images—that is not the point—but they still influence our opinions.
All the guitars mentioned here have their own sound. But nothing is forbidden in music. Artistic freedom leads to experimentation. The atypical use of guitars creates new sounds, and that’s a good thing. So let your creativity flow. The grass is green and lush, and so many amazing guitars are waiting for you. Maybe you’ve already found the perfect guitar for every genre?
What do you think about the topic of “the perfect guitar for every genre”? Let us know in the comments!
More on the perfect guitar
Originally published at Gearnews.de by Andreas, translation by Julian Schmauch.
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