OK So I agree its not a fair contest but...it says something about tonal characteristics and the way that tone and our perception of tone is affected by perceptions of value.
If you regard a nice well played in pre-CBS Telecaster as being a super cool super playable guitar as being the peak of guitar construction and tonal excellence (and there are lots that do!) then think for a moment about its construction. Slab alder or ash body, maple neck, "monkey metal" chromed plate bridge and those rinky dink single coil pickups. Put up against any older Les Paul ( and I am not talking $250,000 59 Standards) and the the tonal characteristics should be obvious. But which is more unique ? Which guitar will more allow the characteristics of the player the shine through? No in any book weight = sustain and density and mass = ultra sustain. But why then do the 1970's guitars with heavy bodies, over glazed necks and lumpy brass parts weighing 14lbs not sustain way beyond what the other two guitars do. Especially reference this telecaster again at this point...it really is the best of both worlds; or you could buy in one with a retro or factory fitted Bigsby and go for an optimum mix of the two sets of sometimes conflicting ideas!
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