A good Strat is a total mayhem machine. But also very tasteful.
It's funny that the S-100 we speak of was conceived in 1970, because looking at one next to a Strat which was conceived in the early 50's, you get the impression that the Strat is 20 years ahead of the S-100.
I'd have to give the S-100 the edge immediately as a rhythm guitar. Also, the ability to bend is the ultimate on a fixed tailpiece guitar.
The S-100 feels like a good songwriting tool, has a strong fundamental acoustic tone. The Strat sounds metallic, with long steel guitar like sustain.
Night and day basically.
A recording would prove it out. Both guitars have the same GHS Brite Flats on them in fact.
The Strat is the ultimate tinkertoy. I can adjust the neck angle with an allen wrench. Strats are fiddly guitars. Some have more personalities than Sybil...
The Guild you just concentrate on playing, boring... no pickups to buy, etc..
With a Strat, you can spend hours on in the internet, shopping for "new shoes".
With the S-100, you just look at it because it can't be improved on.
I don't like to shoot these side by side, it doesn't usually do the non Strat guitar any favors. Although my Strat is totally unfair competition, it looks better than roomfuls of others, like people, a few stand out.
As you can see, the Strat looks like it's from outer space compared to the Guild that looks a lot more traditional and has many square edges.
There is nothing square on a Strat, it is asymetrical, everything is organic and fluid, and so is the sound.
They're both eye candy in they're own way.
The Strat may be thee quintessential American guitar. Not the Tele, not the Les Paul, the Strat. Undoubtedly the most copied guitar in the world. The most tinkered with, the most revered, from Buddy Holly to Jimi at Woodstock, immortalized in Rock history.
