Gibson VS Fender

[Boogie Bill]

It would be a G&L. A REAL Fender!

Bill

[Varg]

I love high gain sounds, but the truth is that there's nothing in high gain - humbucker land that really seperates you as a guitarist.

[Edgecrusher]

^^^ Consider the source

[Simon_F]

If I could only have two guitars I'd have a Les Paul and a Tele, but if I could only have one I'd keep the Les Paul.

[JeffB]

Had to go with Fender out of necessity.

[Philcguitars]

Greater choice? You put a lot of thought into that. Gibson offers a wide variety of archtop and flat top solids (LP, DC LP, SG, Flying V, Explorer, Firebird, EDS-1275, etc), semi-hollows (335, 345, 355, 356, 359, etc), and full hollows (175, 295, 330, 350, Byrdland, ES-5, etc).

Gibson invented a whole range of different PU designs: HB's, P-90's, mini-HB's, Firebird HB's, Alnico Staples, & Charlie Christain single coils.

Gibson is variety.

Almost every Fender you see is a Strat or Tele, some with Gibson-designed PU's (HB's and P-90's).

This is my MKII answer as the original go lost in a timed-out login-in error.

To me Choice is the difference between an original body shape. Everything else is a variation on a theme. It is only an opinion, but I did give it thought, and will explain!

I must admit I did forget a couple of Gibson shapes, and on careful analysis find that on body shape they're equal. I just know I'm going to be corrected here - I can see it coming a mile off!

When you strip back Gibson's models, there's really only 5 [6 is a stretch] original shapes, and some of those are essentially age old stringed instrument shapes, and so the choice isn't as impressive as one might think. the same rule applies to Fender, and on review adding the models I forgot they are equal.

Using different construction techniques, adding or subtracting cutaways, S holes, etc do not really change the fact that the guitars may be all based on a single basic design shape. A doubleneck being one of them - Nothing new there. You must admit that all manufacturers have the problem that if you push the design envelope too far it becomes un-comfortable to play, and so certain rules are essentially common to all.

As for pickups you have single coil, humbucker, passive and active, piezo and microphone. Everything else is a variation of material, winding, packaging, and response. If I've forgotten a major breakthrough, I'll stand corrected. Gibson applied the humbucking principle to Guitar pickups, but the laws of physics existed prior to that. a Stack is a vertical H-B and a split returns an H-B to Single coil. A Tap allows you to choose between resistance values. The variations on these themes effect tone and give tonal choice only.

Then there's money! Gibson is always expensive, and their lower end instruments are Epiphone. Whereas a Mex Strat/Tele still comes with a Fender Label, and then you can really bottom fish with Squire.

Fender has never let me down. Gibson have let me down and frankly their customer service department's attitude stinks. If someone from Gibson wants to write to me and explain how they've changed since my last experience I'll hear you out and accept their apology!

I can buy a Fender Licenced Body/neck replacement from a number of outlets in a variety of exotic wood finishes, but to achieve the same in a Gibson shape, particularly SG is virtually impossible without running a gauntlet of litigation - Even if you want a new body/neck for an existing guitar. Oh and referring back to Gibson Service - Try commissioning one!

I like the look of both manufacturer's guitars frankly, but Fender is pulling ahead for me at present!

Now can we have a beer? Have a good weekend I'm off partying tonight!

[Inkstained]

Fender lets me sound like me. Its combination of pickups and scale length -- I'm thinking here of course of the Strat and Tele -- are insanely useful. And adaptable. Give me a good tube amp and a Tube Screamer (or maybe a Blues Driver), and I can make a Strat sound like a Les Paul *far* more easily than I can make a Paul sound like a Strat. The latter, in fact, is impossible.

Fenders are miracles.

That said, when I can afford a good Gibson -- and if I can find a good Gibson -- I'll be getting a Les Paul.

[GuitarDoc]

Doc baby, has your medication been adjusted recently? You normally are the voice of reason, and now this?

I know. I'm having a hard time figuring this out myself. What's going on?!

Actually, my #1 and #2 right now are really combinations of the two...


A Schecter C1:

Mahogany body, maple cap, mahogany neck, rosewood board, two hummers (P-Rails) like a Gibby.

25.5" scale, body shape like a Fender.


My DIY "Carmel Burst":

Mahogany body, TOM bridge, rosewood board, two buckers (C/Demon UOA5 bridge, C/59 UOA5 neck) like a Gibby,

Strat body shape, maple neck, 25.5" scale like a Fender.

[Destructone]

If you asked me this 2 or so years ago... i would've said Gibson all the way. But I recently discovered the "right" fender... and i never went back.

FENDER all the way!

[hareek]

For purposes of this thread, Fender. However I would never take a stance against Gibson like a Redskins fan would against Dallas. I want an ES-335 some kind of bad to add to the collection and love the sound of a Gibson. But a fender neck just feels better and more natural in my hands and thus I'll always gravitate towards one over other brands.

[astrozombie]

I'm not a bassist but I would have to say that I'd take a Jazz or P-bass over an EB-0 or a thunderbird bass...

Fender NAILED the bass design TWICE and I think that's a big plus one for fender.

and... Fender makes great amps to go with their guitars... If I take Gibson over fender wouldn't that also imply that I'm not going to buy a Fender amp?
That's lame because as much as LPs rule through marshalls, they also have a certain way of ruling through a cranked BFDR...

Oh and Fender owns Gretsch and I can't afford a vintage white falcon so I'm glad that FENDER still oversees a repro that doesn't suck.

If it had to be one company for me, meaning the *whole* company, fender has a lot more to offer me including bad-ass amps and the mother ****ing white falcon

I would easily rock any of these!

[Fender_Punk]

Ahh, the age old apples vs. oranges argument. I'll bite!

I like the modular abilities of Fenders. Things can easily be taken off and replaced. It's about as much to get a new Tele neck as it is to have a reputable luthier repair a headstock crack.

I'm also more used to the flat 25.5" scale. That said, I like Gibsons, I've owned an SG copy and would like another SG and a 335. But if I had to stick with just one electric guitar, it would be Sunny (my upgraded MIM).

[Markk]

Gibson! But Fender comes in a very close second

[Simon_F]

Go listen to the VERY Stratty sounding intro to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "I Know A Little" a few times, then get back to us on that one...

I always assumed that was Steve Gaines playing a Strat. Is it something else?

Never Gary and Berniece

[JOLLY]

I always assumed that was Steve Gaines playing a Strat. Is it something else?

It is Steve Gaines playing a Strat. I don't know what he was talking about.

[Jessie's ghost]

I could easily find enough Gibsons to keep my panties moist for years. If I had to go with Fender, I'd petition the court to expand the definition of "Fender" to include Gretch, Guild, Jackson, Charvel, Sunn, SWR, EVH, etc.

[gibson175]

I'd really like to listen to the gibson players in this forum playing fenders.

we should all get together and have a blues style jam in A. with strats.

you know, just in A, nothing fancy, no tempo changes or nothing. some tempo like 80 bpm.

and if we're really brave, we'll do all our soloing without plectrums.

ok here's my contribution. Strat (ssl-1s), key of Am, no plectrum, solo, warts and all. Hope you dig it!


....fwiw i still think gibson vs fender is a kinda silly discussion. Both companies make some really sweet guitars. It all comes down to what suits what you are trying to do best and what feels good to you. I would not normally play this kind of stuff on a strat cos the neck is too narrow and the strings are too light. Its kinda light and flimsy generally. I do love strats for lead work tho, maybe some light overdrive or fuzz into a sexy tube amp.

[Kramer Guy]

I would definately take Fender over Gibson, but lately I've been leaning towars ESP.

[blueman335]

I like the modular abilities of Fenders. Things can easily be taken off and replaced. It's about as much to get a new Tele neck as it is to have a reputable luthier repair a headstock crack.

This is a bizarre reason. "Things" that can be easily taken off, is the neck. The vast majority of players never break or crack a neck or headstock in their entire lives. This has no virtue as a selling point to anyone lacking basic hand-eye coordination skills. However, it would seem that Fender inherently attracts those amongst us who are prone to dropping guitars or leaving on the floor. and going thru stacks of necks. I imagine that their houses are littered with the remains of guitars that have been broken over the years: "Watch where you step Earl, there's a new Tele right in front of...aw geez, well it's a good thing I have a some spares. Bobbi Sue, be a doll and get me one of them necks on the living room floor, one that's not splintered."

With a 'modular' neck, you also have trade-offs with some neck pockets that don't fit right, requiring wood-working or shims. It's not all beer and skittles you know.

[gibson175]

lol.