Guitar Wars: Fender vs. Gibson

obieone · June 2013

Which brand holds the title to most iconic guitarists? Most icons use both, but each has a primary brand.
I vote Gibson, and here's why:

B.B. King
Jimmy Page
Tony Iommi
Alex Lifeson
Rik Emmett

jeremymarcinko · June 2013

Gibson, of course.

goofyGAguy · June 2013

obieone wrote: »

I vote Gibson, and here's why:

B.B. King
Jimmy Page
Tony Iommi
Alex Lifeson
Rik Emmett

True, but

David Gilmour
Eric Clapton
Rory Gallagher
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Jimi Hendrix

make a good case for Fender.

halo71 · June 2013

Fender all the way. I've played many Gibson's before, never owned one, but they just didn't have that "feel" to me that many Fenders have had that I have owned over the years. Though now days I prefer something along the line of vintage Kramer, Charvel or ESP. I do still have a custom made strat a friend made that is my goto guitar.

And I agree with above....those guys are some of my favs and they play Fender. Some other favs like Mustaine an DeGarmo play or played ESP though.

hochpt21 · June 2013

I'm in the middle.

Having owned an Epiphone Les Paul (I know not a true Gibson) and a Fender Strat. I really like the strat which I have currently, but do miss playing the Les Paul which I sold.

So how about a vote for each.

unc2701 · June 2013

http://www.whereseric.com/the-vault/guitars-amps-and-related-equipment/gibson-guitars-eric-claptons-history-gibson

http://iconicaxes.blogspot.com/2012/09/jimmy-pages-fender-dragon-telecaster.html

A good guitarist is a good guitarist and can make anything wail.

hochpt21 · June 2013

Rick88 wrote: »

For me, it's Fender all the way, in particular the Telecaster baby!!

Attachment not found.

We want some pics of your babies!

halo71 · June 2013

Some of my babies.....

A body I was building but never finished. Body is solid mahogany.

Kramer's

Upstatemax · June 2013

I've always preferred the tone of a Strat.

Both brands have giants playing their guitars and both can make awesome music.

But if push comes to shove, I love me some Strat...

bmbguy · June 2013

Icons:

Jimmy Page - Gibson? Played a Telecaster on much of Zep's studio stuff, including on the solo to "Stairway To Heaven".

Clapton - Fender? Played a Les Paul with Cream...

Gilmour - Fender? Seen a number of vids with him playing a Les Paul lately, and used one for the "Brick In The Wall" solo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22OeyKSKMw

Knopfler - Fender? Gibson? Lots of both, especially with later Dire Straits and his solo stuff.

Different tools for different jobs.

Dawgfish · June 2013

I like both and some of my favorite guitarists play both. There's just something about SRV wailing on a Strat however......

newbie308 · June 2013

Don't forget Carlos Santana and Pete Townshend! They both play a Gibson. My B-day present to my son last year was a new guitar. I let him try the Fender Strat and the Tele (both American made), but he simply fell in love with the American made Gibson SG with humbucker pickups. He's played that guitar an hour a day since it came home on December 31st, and I never get tired of listening to him play! Not to downplay the Fender, but I think the Mahogany body of the SG makes a huge difference in the sound.

gudnoyez · June 2013

I had a cherry red SG, Angus Young played one, Tony Iommi , and Frank Zappa played one, so Gibson it is.

SWFalken · June 2013

I can find something to like in just about any guitar but for me, Fender Telecaster. Mine is so tonally versatile and
dead easy to play. Modern Fender necks are just so playable, 9.5" radius, satin finish on the back, comfortable shape. Some nights I can't put it down.

bmbguy · June 2013

Can't we all just get along?

george daniel · June 2013

Strat with Marshall stacks x 4

add Robin Trower to the Fender list please

Hobbyguy · June 2013

Soon to add an EVH 5150 III FSR 100 watt head and EVH III Cab
Love the twangy sound of my Strat but hard to beat the heavy metal sound of my Carvin

george daniel · June 2013

Nice gear-- are the amps ss or tubed? Pardon my ignorance.

Hobbyguy · June 2013

Thanks George! LOL no pardon needed! The TRRI uses 6 preamp tubes (4 x 12AX7, 2 X 12AT7) and 4 output tubes (4 x 6L6) with a solid state rectifier. The Vox uses a single 12ax7 preamp tube and the rest is ss, but it is a very nice modeling amp. The TRRI probably is the cleanest sounding amp that fender makes and boy does it have power to spare. I have on order

and can't wait to compare.

Mikey081057 · June 2013

For me it's both they sound different and each has it's place. But there is only 1 amp for me:

My toys

halo71 · June 2013

Very nice amp Mikey!!

Mikey081057 · June 2013

Any Phil X fans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_uH3dzcxaU

Mikey081057 · June 2013

Actually too their are other fine guitars out there: PRS - Santana, Music Man John Petrucci and Steve Morse. I kinda like guitars that have both single coils and humbuckers or humbuckers that you can split coils with (ala Jimmy Page)

cmy330go · June 2013

Sooooo not a clear winner here. My initial instinct was to say this is a Chevy vs Ford battle, but it's really more like a BMW vs Mercedes battle. There is no wrong answer, both have OUTSTANDING products. Just comes down to taste or application.

mantis · June 2013

Eddie Van Halen ( Made his own from a Fender Strat)
Jimmy Hendricks
Eric Clapton
Al Di Meola

I could list many but do you really need anymore then that?

Mikey081057 · June 2013

mantis wrote: »

Eddie Van Halen ( Made his own from a Fender Strat)
Jimmy Hendricks
Eric Clapton
Al Di Meola

I could list many but do you really need anymore then that?

EVH's Frankenstrat was pieced together by this guy. Paul Unkert a master luthier from my hometown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvAseNkeAnw

dragon1952 · June 2013

bmbguy wrote: »

Icons:

Jimmy Page - Gibson? Played a Telecaster on much of Zep's studio stuff, including on the solo to "Stairway To Heaven".

Clapton - Fender? Played a Les Paul with Cream...

Gilmour - Fender? Seen a number of vids with him playing a Les Paul lately, and used one for the "Brick In The Wall" solo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22OeyKSKMw

Knopfler - Fender? Gibson? Lots of both, especially with later Dire Straits and his solo stuff.

Different tools for different jobs.

You know, that's pretty lame. Yeah so guitarists sometimes play other models on certain songs or even change altogether. Doesn't change what they are most associated with. I've seen Gilmour play a sax too...doesn't mean he's changed to sax. To dispute Gilmour, especially, as being A Strat guy is ludicrous.

goofyGAguy · June 2013

mantis wrote: »

Jimmy Hendricks

Jimmy Hendricks? :eek:

Mikey081057 · June 2013

goofyGAguy wrote: »

Jimmy Hendricks? :eek:

and Jimi Paige

Hobbyguy · June 2013

Nice set of Axes!

Mikey081057 wrote: »

For me it's both they sound different and each has it's place. But there is only 1 amp for me:

My toys

bmbguy · June 2013

dragon1952 wrote: »

To dispute Gilmour, especially, as being A Strat guy is ludicrous.

I wasn't 'disputing' anything -- just pointing out that most guitarists know that there are differences in the various instruments and choose to utilize each of them depending on the sound they're after. And that means that 'Fender guys' use Gibsons, and 'Gibson guys' use Fenders.

I certainly wasn't saying Gilmour isn't known as a Strat guy -- just saying he doesn't play Strats exclusively. Nor do the others. So not even they pick just one or the other. Which is what the poll was asking us to do -- associate the icons with just one brand.

Guitar Wars: Fender vs. Gibson

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