Gibson's Biggest Problem Isn't The Price
- Thread starter JMP/HBE
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misterwhizzy
Well-known member
I like Ola, but everything he plays sounds exactly the same. And maybe that's the lesson. Players always sound like themselves, regardless of the gear they're picking up that day.
xxxplorer
Well-known member
Kinda why I like Ola. He sticks to his wheel house. Doesn't really try to be anything other than what he is.
Does it chug or not? It's that simple lol. I also just appreciate his goofyness. Feels like I'm watching someone real.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
On the SS fret debate... I've never tried SS, so I don't really know how they sound or feel.
But I will say that the fretwire Gibson use is definitely higher quality (or at least harder wearing) than what many other midrange and lower-end guitars use IME. I've had my Tribute for 3-4 years now, I play it the most out of all my guitars, and I play pretty aggressively. I like picking hard. The frets on that guitar still show very minimal wear compared my old Fender MIM partscaster, my Squiers, and even my LTD did in the shorter time I had them.
Just my two cents. I know it's still not stainless steel, but my point is I'm pretty sure it's not just black and white with fretwire material.
But I will say that the fretwire Gibson use is definitely higher quality (or at least harder wearing) than what many other midrange and lower-end guitars use IME. I've had my Tribute for 3-4 years now, I play it the most out of all my guitars, and I play pretty aggressively. I like picking hard. The frets on that guitar still show very minimal wear compared my old Fender MIM partscaster, my Squiers, and even my LTD did in the shorter time I had them.
Just my two cents. I know it's still not stainless steel, but my point is I'm pretty sure it's not just black and white with fretwire material.
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Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
I think the problem regarding the price nowadays is that the process of making guitars is significantly more automated, but prices haven't gone down. Some may argue that the cost of materials (and now in conjunction with tariffs) has offset this, but I don't know the math. Then there's the competition - the build quality of some (i.e. PRS) for the similar price bracket is quite superior in general. Regarding the amount of handwork in a guitar, there's plenty of factory tours now on YT, everyone can see for themselves how it's apportioned between people and machines.
Whenever I go to shops, I look at Gibsons from a qc point of interest - from what I see, too many have meh to bad binding/nibs and tooling marks on the fretboard.
As discussed, they should offer more SS fret options (though maybe they're focusing more on lines in Epiphone having these more non traditional specs), and for the modern style single cut or whichever model, they're out-competed by the likes of ESP, Schecter and so on. But maybe they don't want to get into that and it's partly down to the kind of narrative they themselves project about the company, history etc. In contrast, Fender doesn't face that kind of critique when they put out a modern spec like the Ultra series. People who want this stuff are interested; those who prefer vintage don't trouble themselves as their options are taken care of.
Re. ss frets, I don't notice a difference in sound from nickel. Feel, sure, they are slinkier.
Whenever I go to shops, I look at Gibsons from a qc point of interest - from what I see, too many have meh to bad binding/nibs and tooling marks on the fretboard.
As discussed, they should offer more SS fret options (though maybe they're focusing more on lines in Epiphone having these more non traditional specs), and for the modern style single cut or whichever model, they're out-competed by the likes of ESP, Schecter and so on. But maybe they don't want to get into that and it's partly down to the kind of narrative they themselves project about the company, history etc. In contrast, Fender doesn't face that kind of critique when they put out a modern spec like the Ultra series. People who want this stuff are interested; those who prefer vintage don't trouble themselves as their options are taken care of.
Re. ss frets, I don't notice a difference in sound from nickel. Feel, sure, they are slinkier.
Online debates and all.....isnt it all a matter of walking in a guitar shop finding one that suites your eye picking it up and feeling it playing it and making the do I wanna spend this much decision?
Little inperfections dont bother me if it feels and sounds good and it has the I cant put it down, I have to have it factor.
That said Im not looking at $5000 guitars either...I dobt even aspire to have one. Even $2000 is stratling the line of can I really use the shit outta this or is it gonna be a case and polish queen.Id rather have a work horse I can drag out to regular gigs and can lean up in a corner when I take a break from practice in the music room. Sonething I can sit on the couch and play and lean on the cushions.
To each there own
Little inperfections dont bother me if it feels and sounds good and it has the I cant put it down, I have to have it factor.
That said Im not looking at $5000 guitars either...I dobt even aspire to have one. Even $2000 is stratling the line of can I really use the shit outta this or is it gonna be a case and polish queen.Id rather have a work horse I can drag out to regular gigs and can lean up in a corner when I take a break from practice in the music room. Sonething I can sit on the couch and play and lean on the cushions.
To each there own
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Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
That's why I dig Warmoths. They are a working musician's instrument when built right. Brand prestige doesn't mean shit to me. But again, to each their own.
Everybody's gotta start somewhere. I started on Squier, Fender, Epiphone, and Gibson stuff before discovering Warmoth. Where we end up as guitarists is part of the experience.
Everybody's gotta start somewhere. I started on Squier, Fender, Epiphone, and Gibson stuff before discovering Warmoth. Where we end up as guitarists is part of the experience.
Very True its an expieriance.
I dont really do brand prestige either.
I spent a decade playing a 1979 25th anniversary strat....that had been smashed and stripped. I bought it when I was 15 had a local( long since retired)luthier put the neck back on. I played the frets off it had it refretted and divoted them up. It sounded great. Looked like a rats ass I even took it on a club level tour.
I traded it to a freind for EAW PA cabinets. Then regretted it and wanted it back and he had sold it.
My main giggers( 30yrs later) are 3 Gibson Tributes( SG and LP jr) a parts tele a parts strat a MIC Charvel with duncans and a bone stock squier affinity that just sounds good. And an aspired by Epiphone SG P90 for open A slide
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
My acoustic is worth more than three grand and it gets the most use of any of my guitars. It made me sad when I put the first scratch on the top, but not sad enough to stop playing it. I don't understand buying an expensive guitar and then never using it. That's like having a hot wife and being celibate. : P
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
I'm pretty sure "hot wife" means a different thing than it did when we were young.
Yea I can kinda get an expensive acoustic. Unlike electrics that you can gran a budget guitar like a high end Squier and mod it to taste. Cheap Acoustics not all the time but allot, tend to sound like cigar boxes. But even then $3k is allot of cash to be exposing to the elements of the road.
Ive never had a good acoustic in 30+ yrs. Ive had a couple mid level Takamines for writting. Then I usually borrow one if Im tracking something.
I want a Taylor...but as soon as I get tge cash another electric or amp comes home. Lol
I don't think so. I made that neck in 2019 I think, and I only started SS frets in earnest in 2022. I have a buttload of guitars that still have jescar nickelsilver, which is fine, but gosh, now I wish I knew then what I know now because SS frets is not a lot more difficult to do! in hindsight... obviously.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
I think you used Jescar SS frets on my bass. They don't show any wear after 2+ years anyway.
Absolutely i did. 100% confirmed
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Awesome! I will play it to my heart's desire!
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Eventually I just figured - it's a guitar. The point of a guitar is to make music. If you can't make music with a guitar (for whatever reason, it doesn't sound good to you, it doesn't feel right when you play it, you're afraid of breaking it, whatever) then sell it. But if you want to keep it, play it. That's what it's for, right? I'd rather have an instrument worn out, broken, or stolen from taking it everywhere and playing it a lot than have it grow old without a scratch on it and never having been used. (Granted I'd rather have none of those bad things happen ideally though.)
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80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Gibsons only real problem these days is all the online haters.
I sed wut I sed.
I sed wut I sed.
