<||| FENDER VS. GIBSON |||>

[The Other One]

In the never ending war between guitar manufacturers it all really comes down to two main ones, Fender and Gibson...I personally prefer Gibson because of the really great tones that the Les Paul offers but I wanted to hear from you guys about what you thought...opinions?

[Digit]

I've never been able to play Fenders.
The volume and control knobs are always right below the pickups & I keep smashing my knuckles on em.

[lalimacefolle]

They are both overpriced.
I have owned both, and for a part of the price, I have had better guitars made by luthiers.

[Dr_simon]

I like `em both though I try to avoid buying them new ! The prices for the high end LPs are just stupid and why pay 12-1400 bucks for a strat when you can get an equally good guitar second hand for 500 bucks ?

[iamthe_eggman]

I don't see why it has to be that one is better than the other... I love 'em both; the sweet, singing sustain of a Gibson LP, but then there's the signature single-coil Fender Strat sound that just cuts through.

Next vote - what's better, peaches or nectarines? ;)

[Gainer]

I own a Fender fat strat and i love it. But the gibgon les paul is such a great guitar. I love em both but i find that gibson is overpriced.

[The Other One]

Yea Gibson is overpriced thats why, when you get a les paul, get one of those beatiful ones, like my dream les paul would be a les paul standard premium plus (*drool) or a les paul '59 reissue, because you will probably get your money's worth for those kind of guiars...i like fenders too...My first electric was a Squier StratII, and i still have it and cause i love the sound on it...but as soon as i can afford it im gonna get one of those Les Pauls...i just LOVE the looks and sound...

[Tele Master]

I like both companies equally, each have their high points about them. My first guitar was a Fender, because thats what I could afford. My second guitar will be a Gibson, either a Les Paul or Hummingbird. Looking for used ones.

[Axl_Rose]

Im sorry but this overpricing you guys talk about is a myth!! If gibsons werent $1500 then everyone could afford them and people the other smaller cheaper companies would lose business. Its the same with everything
BESIDES.... EBAY!!!!!!! you can get a brilliant Gibson Les Paul Standard for about $900!!!!

[PonyOne]

I think it's somewhat useless to compare Gibson to Fender, because it's like comparing apples to oranges, BB King to Steve Vai...

I don't own a Gibson because I've never had the cash to pay for the name when I can get an (insert name) that's just as nice for (insert how much less). I'd like to get an ES-137 and drop some mini humbuckers in sometime soon, and who wouldn't love a really super-nice Les Paul, but you can't escape the fact that they are overpriced. Not as bad as some of the higher-end PRS's ($8000 for a machine-made guitar???? No way, man, that much will get you a super-sweet custom shop LP, not to mention a plethora of other nice custom guitars...).

Fender's Japanese and more costly American models are very well-built; my Jap Tele could be thrown down a flight of stairs and stay in tune, plus, the stock pickups are awesome... I don't know what model they are, but clean you get the classic Tele twang and chunk, just with a little more low, and with metal distortion it sounds like a screaming metal axe, no humming or feedback.

It's all preference. Both brands win.

[pstring]

To me it's not an X vs Y thing but more of a question of what type of sound suits you best, we all want to be able to express what we hear inside our heads, and that may change over time or from song to song, thats why so many people own both, they both have a great sound, but each is unique and that's why we still want tele's, strats and LP's even though they are nearly senior citizens in the world of guitars................

[Lordathestrings]

Guitars I was glad to get rid of: 1968 Fender Jaguar, 1962 Gibson SG.

Guitars I sold, and miss once in a while: 1986 Fender '62 Reissue JapStrat, 1971 Gibson LP Studio

Guitars I still own, and hope to never part with: 1984 Yamaha SBG1000 (TWO of 'em! :D ), 1985 Washburn A-20CS, 1984 Odyssey Custom V, 1998 Yamaha RBX 350 bass.

There's a lot more out there than Fender & Gibson.

Your tone is in your fingers! Find a guitar that makes your fingers feel at home, that makes your ears want to smile, and nothing else matters.

[The Other One]

Ok remember guys i just wanted to know your opinion on the guitars of Fender and Gibson and if you favored one over the other....

[b_hoves]

they're both pretty good, however it does depend on what model we are talking about, they both have models where you would be better off getting something else.

oh and go the Yammha RBX bass, i've been playing bass for three years, and i still use my RBX 260(my first bass) as my main bass axe.

[Edited by b_hoves on 08-17-2003 at 04:10 AM]

[tcheney]

There is no better guitar.. they are both amazing (Strat vs LP) .... The thick, hot tones of an LP are pretty sweet...I own a Standard Strat with Vintage Noisless Pickups.... Maple Fredtboard.... its plays so nicely.. and has a beautiful vibrant bluesy tone... but its all a matter of preference

[David C]

I own one of both, a Gibson Sonex-180 and a Fender Squire. They're fairly cheap, used guitars, but I like the different sounds I can get from them when I get a chance to plug in.

[sambob]

Sold my Les Paul two years ago for $900.

With that $900 I bought three Fender HM strats.

HM Strats come with great necks and Dimarzio Super Distortions or S3's in the bridge position, and the later models (like mine) have fender lace sensors and an ebony fretboard.

Now, admittedly i would buy an HM Strat if it DID cost me $900, I like them that much.

But in the price department Fender has Gibson beat. I don't see why anywone should pay $3000 for a guitar thats not custom made. And as for looks, give me a box with some strings on it, I don't need anything fancy.

[Tele Master]

Originally posted by sambob
And as for looks, give me a box with some strings on it, I don't need anything fancy.

Its all about the music for me,not the looks.

[Polera]

There both good guitars, you will not be disappointed, but it comes down to preference.

[Incidents Happen]

Like everything in music, its all about personal taste.

I don't like Fender's (or any bolt-on neck guitars), they just don't feel right to me. No long explanation, thats it. Like lord said, its in your fingers, the guitar just helps it come outta them.

~Incidents

[The Other One]

ok guys enough with the 'its all personal taste' s**t i asked for YOUR opinions

I prefer gibson (specifically Les Pauls) because of their fat, bassy tone, and their beautiful quilted maple, although i have a plain white squier stratocaster (S/S/H) and I must say it is a great guitar...I still prefer LP's...

[PonyOne]

Originally posted by The Other One
ok guys enough with the 'its all personal taste' s**t i asked for YOUR opinions

....but... that is my personal opinion... to paraphrase I'd rather use a Fender Strat for surfish stuff, a Les Paul or SG for moderate rock, a Tele for blues, and an ES335 is pretty damn dope too... oh and the Cyclone is a good all-around axe...

I just want em all, damn it.

[metalisbest]

I've never played either of them, except I have Fender Bass. They are both overpriced, and a lot of that is buying just the name. I wouldn't mind having a Gibson Les Paul or a Fender Strat, but thats just not what I'm into right now. So I say neither. GO CARVIN!

[Lordathestrings]

Originally posted by The Other One
Ok remember guys i just wanted to know your opinion on the guitars of Fender and Gibson and if you favored one over the other.... I thought I made it plain enough - I've had more than one of each, and I didn't keep any of 'em. :p

[joshdean52]

I don't care what Strat you hand me, I don't like them. But the '52 Tele Reissue is one of the best-feeling necks I've ever played. However, NO GUITAR beats the Gibson Les Paul Classic with the 496R/500T. It's simply the sweetest-playing guitar. I feel so much more talented with that guitar. Every note just falls into place. The fingerboard action is to die for, and the pickups just sing with sustain. One can be had for $500 or so on Ebay, and I think I'm long overdue. You can't hardly buy a better guitar for that money. I'm saving for one the instant I get my bigger amp.

After all that, though, I say Gibson comes out with an edge. Winner: GIBSON. But it was a close one.

[chucklivesoninmyheart]

It wouldnt be fair without posting this....

Standard Fender Strat-$350

Standard Gibson LP-$2000

those are the approximate prices from musiciansfriend.com
Fender wins the price game.Even the high end strats are around a grand.

As for whats the better playing brand...
I would give Gibson the crown for smooth playing.I'd love an SG Supreme in Fire burst finish or an LP with a flamed maple top.I would never spend that much money on a guitar in my financial situation though(poor).Bah,I'll just go get one of the new B.C Rich 2003 N.J series axes.Ebony fretboard,mahogony body and the new Speedloader bridge...For under $700...I'm sold.

[spanky10940]

I know when I went into the store to buy a guitar (I was determined to get one that very day) that I walked around the whole store and looked at em' all... Gibsons, Yamahas... I-been-had's (Ibanez hehe) peavys... I caught my strat hanging on the wall.. just loved it from the moment I picked it up and that's all she wrote. For me it wasn't that it was the awe inspiring strat or the fender name.. for that matter it could have been called the "****box" but it just spoke to me. I know if any of you know what I mean but that's kinda what I do with most things. If I see it and I like it, ya just know that it's yours.. no, I'm not some hippy fag or a deep person.. I could double for shallow hal but like I said.. I got that axe and I haven't looked back. I'll look into a gibson one day but for now FENDER ALL THE WAY!!!!

remember kids, it's opinions here so no slammin the poster =)

[Tele Master]

I am the same way when it comes to a Strat, can't play them. I just don't like them. Tele's "speak" to me. I find they are much easier to play, stay in tune, and faster to play. Mind you, I just bought an Epi LP and its different from the Tele, but not better, not worse. They are used for different things. I liek the LP for soloing and the Tele for chord rythm, and both are fun for riffs.

[Incidents Happen]

Originally posted by The Other One
ok guys enough with the 'its all personal taste' s**t i asked for YOUR opinions

I prefer gibson (specifically Les Pauls) because of their fat, bassy tone, and their beautiful quilted maple, although i have a plain white squier stratocaster (S/S/H) and I must say it is a great guitar...I still prefer LP's...

Have respect for those that choose to spend their own time posting on your thread.

As a discriminating guitarist in tone, I don't really like either. I play a Gibson Les Paul Double CutAway +, which is a fabulous guitar, but personally, I'm not a fan of mass produced guitars. That's my personal opinion; I don't see the point of this thread.

~Incidents

[Pantallica1]

I've played both, and well I don't really like either. The Gibson has a nice fat tone, but is waaaaaaaaay too heavy for my taste. (Les Paul) I've owned a Fender Squier and it was a great starter guitar, but the high end Fenders aren't that great. The necks are too big for my liking.

So, neither. :/

[JamesStrat]

I love the Fender Strat, I've played alot of Les Pauls, and apart from their nice neck and thick body and scary prices, they're not special. Each guitarist suits their own guitar for their own style, and the Fender Strat is for me.

[concrete chaos]

Yea 'digit' i have a fender strat [with floyd rose] and the volume knob keeps getting in the way when i want to PM the bottom strings, mostly.

ive never tried a gibson, but i expect a les paul or an sg as my next guitar....someday haha

[concrete chaos]

what happened to the gothic series, of the gibson ?? i cant find em on the site.

[PonyOne]

the goth series is still in production.

[Number of the Beast]

I like the fender strat, because it can be used to play basically anything, and it sounds wicked awesome with a whammy bar...but I like the les Paul better because it's probably the best sounding guitar I've ever played, it's my baby and I love it.

[Number of the Beast]

Ok, I've noticed a LOT of strat fans and LesPaul zealots, but you've got to admit that, being a guitar that's always played second fiddle the strat, the telocaster can be a fantastic guitar.

[hairbndrckr]

Well since Kramer is now a Gibson company and I am after all a "Kramer" fan, my alliegence falls toward the Gibson side of the fence... BUT...

You would NEVER catch me paying those outrageous prices they try to get for any Les Paul... They are heavy, they feel funny to me (too used to the compound radius neck), and hell, even Jimmy Page walks slightly tilted because of the damned things...

Likewise I don't think I would ever buy a top routed instrument like a Strat, just because I am not a fan of guitars with large pickguards...

Now I am a fan of the Les Paul Jr. though.. One humbucker, one knob, thin body... and a steal at $499.00... Hell you can't get a decent Epiphone for that, and you get the prestigious Gibson moniker.

[Dr_simon]

Originally posted by hairbndrckr

hell, even Jimmy Page walks slightly tilted because of the damned things...


or was he drunk !