Everyone will tell you the older Gibsons are way better than the new ones and they are right. Mines a '76 and I think it's the best guitar I've ever played (biased statement). However I also have an Epiphone LP I got a couple years ago and it's great too. I guess it all boils down to personal taste. Lats likes his Yamahas. Ponyone likes his Gretsch. I like my Gibson. Pogo likes his Encore. I guess you just have to find the one you like.