Crayon Sky Music

Overall, do you like the Fender or Gibson electric guitar sound better?

I’m asking this because I’ve noticed that a lot of people seem to put themselves, pretty firmly, into Fender or Gibson “camps”. I realize I’m generalizing a bit here with this question, but I have noticed people doing this, and I’m curious what you all think. Do you significantly prefer one to the other? Slight preference? Like them about the same? What do you think?

You are not generalizing. This has been the ongoing debate since electric guitars were invented. Basically, ALL electric guitars are Fenders or Gibsons in terms of design and basic sound. Gibson has a more “mellow” sound I think, but certainly adapts itself to blues, lots of rock and roll styles etc. Gibson of course has some legendary models, the Les Pauls, SG’s, and the jazz guitars. All of which are just great to play.

That said, I’m a Fender man. It feels more balsy to me. A strat sound is really what the blues is all about. And again, can be used for just about any rock and roll sound. The Tele, my favorite guitar, has what many call a twangy sound that adapts to country and rockabilly stuff real well. But don’t kid yourself. You can shred on a Tele too. If that’s what your into that is. I really can’t explain what I hear in Fenders that’s so different from Gibsons, but I can hear and feel it when I play. If you are looking into a new Fender, don’t. Go DIRECTLY to G&L (George and Leo) Guitars. George Fullerton and Leo Fender started this company after they sold Fender to CBS. That company still builds Tele’s and Strats the way Fender used to. I have a Tele that is just tits.

If you want to experiment outside the box as it were, try some old Gretsch guitars, like the Country Gentlemen, Tennessean, Chet Atkins Model and what I think is the finest guitar ever made, The Gretsch White Falcon. Also, check out some old Guild Starfires. Nice stuff.

Anyway, as a Fender man, that’s how I see it.

The two “camps” are always going to be arguing this point. It’s part of the fun.

EDIT: My two good buddies Cowboy Neal and Sugaree make some good points. If Sug’s pop played a Gibson for all those years, that’s good enough for me. But Neal, you can’t really count acoustics. When it comes to acoustic guitars, Fender isn’t even in the race! My roommate had an old Gibson Dove way back when. But my Martin D-28 was hard to compete with!

EDIT FOR SUGAREE: Yeah, if I had any of the guitars I played back then. I had a 64 Tele, a 66 Gretsch Double Anniversary, a 70 SG and a 68 Guild Starfire V. Not to mention a couple of Jazz basses too. I’d be a freakin’ millionaire!

I still have a 59 Melody Maker though.

Gibson Les Paul: Electric Guitar Setup : How to Flip the Saddle Bridge on a Les Paul Guitar: Pt 1