Someone took my '78 Les Paul Deluxe, and that hurt, but nothing like what you're talking about. Damn...they shoot horse thieves, don't they? Just saying...
I think the Starts feel better than a Lester and some of my favorite music was recorded on either a Strat or Tele., so I wouldn't argue with you at all.
In fact, I've got my eye on a Tele at the guitar store in town, but I spent all my money on those Gibsons. Oh well...
To be honest, I really only wanted the Studio to practice with, since that Custom is simply too nice for someone like me to take it out of the case.
If the Studio gets damaged, that would suck, but it's not the end of the world, not like it would be with that Custom.
Unfortunately for my checkbook, I got to liking that 2016 Swamp Ash Studio so much I bought the 2016 Standard, and was then powerless to resist the 2017 Bourbon Burst Standard T. Simply beautiful in every way.
If I was married, there's no way I could justify it, but I'm not and it was my birthday, after all.
They are so much fun to play and the necks are a little different, too, so I'm not sure which one I like the best.
In fact, you might like the they way Gibson USA wired up the Standards.
The push/pull controls let you switch between several coil options and combos, not just HBs only.
Okay...you'll understand that now I've have to go pick up that Swamp Ash and attempt to "tame the Swamp"...or vice versa.
Thanks for the motivation/inspiration!
I have friends who are Nashville studio cats. They told me, many years ago, that they were all buying MIJ Teles, because they were so much better than the American made guitars. I gotta tell you, I don’t know what wood the Japanese used, but far superior to US made guitars, And when I put on the 60’s Maple neck? Wow! It’s a beat up frat band guitar, with “Billy Goat” scratched into the body, but it’s famous in Cleveland!