It’s well known that Journey’s Neal Schon plays primarily Gibson Les Paul guitars both in the studio and when the band plays live. Well, there’s one Journey song that you just can’t get the right tone on without a Fender Stratocaster. That song is “Lights”, so there you go all you Gibson Les Paul fans out there. Let’s face it, the Fender Stratocaster has a delicious, bluesy sounding neck pickup.
In this video, Neal Schon is demonstrating his parts on “Lights” while playing a Fender Stratocaster. It looks like he’s using an early 90’s Strat Plus with Lace Sensor pickups and a Floyd Rose double locking tremelo. What’s doubly cool in this video is the fact that he’s looping his rhythm part and playing lead over it. I don’t know if he does that live or not but it sure sounds cool here.
Neal Schon Plays “Lights” On Fender Stratocaster
So what do you think? Is Neal commiting sacrelige against his beloved Gibson Les Paul or is he simply playing the right guitar, for the right tone, for the right song? Leave a comment below…
Great video. Would have been nice if the camera man had managed to get a bit more of the fretboard during the solo – oh well.
I had a guitar teacher transcribe this for me once, a long time ago. Really great song.
It’s funny how out of place guitar players appear when they’re known for playing either a Stratocaster or a Les Paul and then they’re seen playing the other. Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton playing Les Pauls… Jimmy Page and Steve Clark playing Strats… Something just doesn’t seem right.
Neal’s always been a bit more experimental than the true Les Paul devotees. Still, it does seem a bit odd. Of course, he’s Neal Schon so he can play whatever he wants. The thing is, for my tastes, the Strat tone isn’t doing the song justice – it’s way too nice.
The Video is okay and great music but yea the strat is wierd
a true guitar deity.
the ‘Lights’ solo is an
irreproachable masterpiece.