Gibson j185 vs faith Venus shootout

gazrichards

https://youtu.be/1_pi1nR7PT0

a bit dramatic with my title maybe but as head to head as I can manage with my old (but newer) faith Venus against my new (but probably classed as vintage) Gibson ec-30/j185 (technically the same model I believe)

the faith to my ears is very impressive, almost heartbreakingly so as I bloody love the Gibson!!!

your thoughts please

jellyroll

That J-185 sounds great. Better than mine

gazrichards

jellyroll said:

That J-185 sounds great. Better than mine

Ha! It’s all in the fingers

mine is actually an ec-30 blues king which is the model that morphed into the j185 as I understand it. It has a 1piece maple back. I’m not sure of the spec of a standard j185

Whitecat

They both sound great. The Gibson has mellowed like a fine wine - sounds as beautiful as it should - the Faith has maybe a little more "cut" - but either way for the money it's hard to miss with Faith, I really love them. Good stuff!

gazrichards

Whitecat said:

They both sound great. The Gibson has mellowed like a fine wine - sounds as beautiful as it should - the Faith has maybe a little more "cut" - but either way for the money it's hard to miss with Faith, I really love them. Good stuff!

Yeah I agree. I remember when I first got the faith and compared it with my Taylor, I was blown away and for it to hold its own with the Gibson is pretty impressive. 

Not sure if it’s audible in the clips but it’s definitely got more high end than the Gibson (or the Gibson is mellower in other words)

bobblehat

The Faith sounds livelier to my ears which I prefer.

ICBM

The Gibson sounds far better to me. I'm really not a fan of that hollow, scooped-mids and zingy top-end sound of the Faith. It sounds OK when played with plain fingertips but as soon as there's the slightest bit of pick or nail attack it's way too brash. The Gibson is much fuller-sounding in the mids and softer at the top end.

I do think there's too much fret noise on both of them though - it could be the mic, but I suspect the action needs to go up slightly even on the Gibson.


(Edit - perhaps a bit harsh previously! I'm just not really a Faith fan though.)

wrinkleygit

The Gibson wins by a country mile !!

lincolnblue

I think they both sound really good. I have a faith Neptune Trembessi and so I know Faiths well and know how good they are. I think @ICBM is right in that the difference is more obvious when strumming than picking. I think the Faith has a bit more of a brash top end, but then some people like that. The Gibson has the advantage of being older and therefore has aged - give the Faith another few years and I'm sure it will come into its own more. 
If I had to choose I'd go for the Gibson, but for the money, the Faith is almost a no-brainer

gazrichards

lincolnblue said:

I think they both sound really good. I have a faith Neptune Trembessi and so I know Faiths well and know how good they are. I think @ICBM is right in that the difference is more obvious when strumming than picking. I think the Faith has a bit more of a brash top end, but then some people like that. The Gibson has the advantage of being older and therefore has aged - give the Faith another few years and I'm sure it will come into its own more. 
If I had to choose I'd go for the Gibson, but for the money, the Faith is almost a no-brainer

Agree on all parts. The Gibson I think is staying as it’s a better investment. I got it at a good price and could sell for more than it owes me at any time and with time it’ll possibly be worth more and more. The faith is a perfectly adequate substitute but a less romantic option and for a grand or so less than the Gibson it’s an astonishing guitar.