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I have been playing guitar off and on for around 15 years, and for during that time I have alternated between a Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul.

Pickups are a very important component in what makes one electric guitar sound different from another. Pickups are what convert the vibration of sound waves into electronic signals. The Fender Stratocaster is known for using single coil pickups. Single coil pickups are infamous for being very noisy, sensitive pickups that will create feedback very easily. Now, most people would look at this as a negative aspect, but depending on the type of sound you're looking to achieve, it can be a positive attribute. Jimmy Hendrix was able to produce his signature sound by using these noisy pickups to emanate horrific feedback from his Strat. The Gibson Les Paul, on the other hand, has always been know for it's use of double humbuckers; which produce a much cleaner sound, free of noise and humming.

Pickup selectors and tone/volume knobs: Stratocasters have a five-channel pickup selector, two tone knobs, and one volume knob. The pickup selector can be used to select five different combinations of the three single coil pickups, and the two tone knobs can be used to fine tune any of the combinations. The Les Paul has a three-channel pick up selector (toggle switch), two tone knobs, and one volume knob. Obviously the Les Paul has less options as far as tone is concerned, but the extra volume knob makes a great kill-switch if you turn one channel to 0 and then use the toggle switch to go back and forth.

In my opion I prefer a Gibson over the Fender, but some of the Pre 70's Vintage Fenders have a much nicer sound, but finding a non reissue in mint condition is a very hard find. I use my fender for any raw material with lots of distortion, which seems to be my prefrence now days.