Fender and Gibson USA standard guitar models: Which would you buy?

stonevibe

"Fender and Gibson USA standard guitar models: Which would you buy?"

I'm asking the above question for our GearNews site and thought you lot might like to vote. If you fancy casting your vote click here

p90fool

I voted Gibson. I can cobble a Strat or Tele together myself in an hour for a few hundred quid but have never found a cheap substitute for a proper Les Paul. 

Grampa

Over 50% of votes 'Neither of the above'....Interesting

stonevibe

I figured it would be interesting to see what the world thinks. We get a lot of traffic from America and Europe, so this could get ugly.

I reckon we may get a lot of neither, as people buy import models or Custom Shop a lot these days. Of course, many players like other brands as well, so will be fun to watch what happens in the comments section, as people usually let us know what they like and what they don't.

Whitecat

I mean, it is a little loaded with that third option... if the choice is purely between Fender & Gibson then for me it would be Fender as far as the basic USA core offerings go (and that's what I voted for) - things are less clear-cut at the Custom Shop level...

But, in terms of "if I had £2k-ish to spend" - there are loads of other things I would likely look at first.

stonevibe

Yeah, Custom Shop models may well be my next pole. I wanted to find out how many people prefer basic US Fender vs Gibson in this one.

Whitecat

stonevibe said:

Yeah, Custom Shop models may well be my next pole. I wanted to find out how many people prefer basic US Fender vs Gibson in this one.

It's still an interesting question. I think one thing that struck me when I was thinking briefly about it is how expensive both are now... was trying to imagine that number in my head, and the top of the heap for USA is £2k for Gibson and actually somehow even more for Fender if you look at their limited USA runs like the Exotic series etc... £2.2k asking price is not uncommon. 

Thankfully both have cheaper options in the form of Studios and American Pros or even Specials, but those top-tier prices for what in the catalogue is only the middle page is kind of crazy when you take a step back and look at it.

stonevibe

Yeah, it is pretty insane the prices you see as RRPs for basic 'standard' US made Fender and Gibson models these days.

When I was a kid the divide in price was certainly different and Gibson were the more expensive option nearly always when buying new.

Grampa

If it was just a choice between Fender & Gibson, then Fender every time.

Sassafras

I wouldn't bother paying the "US made" premium. It's meaningless.

stonevibe

Sassafras said:

I wouldn't bother paying the "US made" premium. It's meaningless.

This is pretty much the problem, as it doesn't guarantee it will be any better made these days.

stickyfiddle

You don’t mention SGs,. I’d have an Original SG 61, without question.

stonevibe

stickyfiddle said:

You don’t mention SGs,. I’d have an Original SG 61, without question.

SGs are definitely included in the poll, in fact any core US made instrument from either brand.

Schmo

Fender American Original Strat & Tele, Gibson LP Special TV Yellow !

Heel

Chapman.

Just kidding. 

Gretsch.

rossi

I played the new LP special and loved it .

MagicPigDetective

I have a US Standard Strat and a Les Paul Standard 60’s. Both superb. Buy both! 

mcsdan

Massive Gibson fan but have a couple of American originals that I've been playing alot. Around the £1400 mark so a bit cheaper too.  Worth checking out.

Kittyfrisk

What exactly is an  'American Original' ? 

mcsdan

Kittyfrisk said:

What exactly is an  'American Original' ? 

They are the replacement for the American Vintage Reissue with a slight twist (fretboard radius is more modern at 9.5inch rather than 7.25inch). The neck is also a soft V but quite chunky. Feels really great.

Pickups are really good. I've done a back to back with my 50s american original with a strat loaded with bareknuckle apaches and there isn't anything between them.

Nitro too so will wear nicely.

great series from Fender, IMO of course.

https://www.fender.com/pages/american-original-electric-guitars-basses