Gibson VS Fender

Gibson VS Fender

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Re: Gibson VS Fender

blueman335 said:
If you think how many Strat/Super Strat copies there are these days, the Strat shape has become the definition of generic. Way overdone.
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As much as I love Fender, this is true. I protested getting a strat for a long while because of that very reason... until I realized how cool a good strat is.
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

jcthejester13 said:
As much as I love Fender, this is true. I protested getting a strat for a long while because of that very reason... until I realized how cool a good strat is.
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That's why I only buy American Strats. Say what you will about Mexican and Japanese, there is a difference between those and American. Same with Epiphone versus Gibson. They're more expensive for a reason, and it's not just because of the name. It doesn't mean you can't get a good MIM or Japanese strat. But the American made ones are just better.

Edit: I guess I should add that due to my Stratocaster patriotism, I subsequently only own one, as owning multiple has been out of my budget. Didn't want to sound like I have some Clapton-style arsenal of strats. I'm a committed man to only one love right now.
 
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Re: Gibson VS Fender

jcthejester13 said:
As much as I love Fender, this is true. I protested getting a strat for a long while because of that very reason.
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All of this boils down to what you've gotten used to holding and hearing.

Besides finding Gibson designs more comfortable and more appealing asthetically, I also like the fact that at most gigs and blues jams, I'm usually the only guy not playing a Strat or Tele. Which also means I'm usually the only guy with any midrange or low end. Since the average Fender player doesn't seem to understand that there's a point at which treble becomes umpleasant, by default my warm, crunchy tones seem that much better (even if my playing isn't). :14:
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

Who was it that said or suggested that needing a re-fret in 20 years or so was a far too distant criteria?

Man, you aren't playing enough on that guitar!, or you have too many!:naughty:
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

hareek said:
That's why I only buy American Strats. Say what you will about Mexican and Japanese, there is a difference between those and American. Same with Epiphone versus Gibson. They're more expensive for a reason, and it's not just because of the name. It doesn't mean you can't get a good MIM or Japanese strat. But the American made ones are just better.

Edit: I guess I should add that due to my Stratocaster patriotism, I subsequently only own one, as owning multiple has been out of my budget. Didn't want to sound like I have some Clapton-style arsenal of strats. I'm a committed man to only one love right now.
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I've had both American and Japanese Fender Strats, and I like my Japanese Strat more.

For what it's worth.
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

Agileguy_101 said:
I've had both American and Japanese Fender Strats, and I like my Japanese Strat more.

For what it's worth.
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Yup! That's why there was that whole MIJ are better than MIUSA in the 90's. I seem to remember that some heads roled at Fender over that!

Pleased to say I have a pre the trouble MIJ - Fantastic! Not sure it's the best Lefty Strat I ever played, but certainly the best I own!

Why is it I just know I've just broken a taboo!:scratchch
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

Ive had a jap strat and a jap tele from the 80s. Both were nice axes (especially the tele), but neither of them resonated as well as the woods on the american fenders ive had.
 
blueman335 said:
If you think how many Strat/Super Strat copies there are these days, the Strat shape has become the definition of generic. Way overdone.
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I think you can say that about any of the basic archetypal designs. When I see somebody with one of them, I don't really pay attention to the guitar -- I focus on the player and what he or she is doing with it.
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

Same with Epiphone versus Gibson. They're more expensive for a reason, and it's not just because of the name. It doesn't mean you can't get a good MIM or Japanese strat. But the American made ones are just better.
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I would take you to task on that. I can give you specific facts as to why a Gibson trumps and Epiphone, but can name absolutely nothing for the same comparison of Jap or Mexi strats to American. After having worked on a lot of them and having owned a lot of them 10 years or so ago before I got tired of FMIC's craptastic quality and ergonomics, my observation was that the mexican and japanese ones had better fretwork in general and sounded at least as good. Their only drawbacks were lack of the 22nd fret overhang and 6 screw trem, but as far as "quality" they met or exceeded the US counterparts.
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

RayBarbeeMusic said:
I would take you to task on that. I can give you specific facts as to why a Gibson trumps and Epiphone, but can name absolutely nothing for the same comparison of Jap or Mexi strats to American. After having worked on a lot of them and having owned a lot of them 10 years or so ago before I got tired of FMIC's craptastic quality and ergonomics, my observation was that the mexican and japanese ones had better fretwork in general and sounded at least as good. Their only drawbacks were lack of the 22nd fret overhang and 6 screw trem, but as far as "quality" they met or exceeded the US counterparts.
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I've had two MIM Strats and eventually came to hate both of them. From what I could tell based on others I played in the 90's, they weren't duds -- that was just how they were. On the other hand, I loved the most of the MIA Strats and Teles I've played. Better fretwork, nicer finishes, better sound. That's what I experienced, and we all have to speak our own truths, don't we?
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

RayBarbeeMusic said:
I would take you to task on that. I can give you specific facts as to why a Gibson trumps and Epiphone, but can name absolutely nothing for the same comparison of Jap or Mexi strats to American. After having worked on a lot of them and having owned a lot of them 10 years or so ago before I got tired of FMIC's craptastic quality and ergonomics, my observation was that the mexican and japanese ones had better fretwork in general and sounded at least as good. Their only drawbacks were lack of the 22nd fret overhang and 6 screw trem, but as far as "quality" they met or exceeded the US counterparts.
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My old neighbor was a guitarist that played a lot in the 80's. Toured all over, very skilled player, never hit it big though and eventually got married and had kids. But he was a guitar junkie and could not stop buying guitars. I kid you not, he had maybe 50 or 60 guitars in his house. A lot of very nice Les Pauls, PRS's, and some other el cheapos. He also had a bout 15 or 20 mexican strats. My American one smoked all of them in quality, playability, construction, and tone. There is no comparison at all. Better craftsmanship, better hardware, better wood. Again, I didn't say you can't get a good Mexican or Japanese strat. But if they really were the best, then they would make all of their products like that. The fact that they don't is because they are providing a good but cheaper alternative to the better and more expensive stuff.
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

astrozombie said:
Fender Japan is still equal (or superior) in quality vs Fender USA.
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Considering how innovative Japan is and the quality of products they make, I don't doubt that they can make very nice versions of the Stratocaster. I've only played one in my lifetime and it was a pretty nice guitar no doubt, so I won't comment too much on it. I admit I know more about the Mexican versus USA products than I do about the Japanese version. I don't even think we can get Japanese made strats in the US anymore can we? I never see them available at any music store. Either way as a lover of Fender, it is a sin in my book to buy anything but U.S.A. made.

I do have a pretty cool Japanese made Strat-copy called a Fresher Straighter. It was my dad's that he got in the 70's. It has built in effects...Phaser, Sustain, and Auto-Wah. I'll try to find some pictures on the web and post. It's a pretty guitar though I've been meaning to get it from him and fix it up a little. Put some new SD's in it!


Edit: Here this is pretty much the exact same guitar I'm talking about:

fresher_straighter.jpg
 
Re: Gibson VS Fender

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

Never Gary and Berniece :eyecrazy:
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JOLLY said:
It is Steve Gaines playing a Strat. I don't know what he was talking about.
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Found a quote in an interview with Ed King, who confirms that the part was recorded on a Les Paul.


From Woodytone.com


I’ve never heard anyone, on video or live, nail the ‘I Know a Little’ intro. I’ve heard people say they knew someone who could or did, but…are you sure they NAILED it? Following is Steve playing it pre-Skynyrd, and a few how-to vids. But first, here’s Ed King’s opinion on the intro, which most people think is played on a Strat:

(Ed King)“I don’t care what y’all say – ‘I Know a Little’ was played on the Les Paul Custom (that had some modifications on the wiring), and ‘That Smell’ was a Strat. That is IT.”

:smokin:
 
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Re: Gibson VS Fender

blueman335 said:
'Manly men.' You mean men that are attracted to other men?
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