Posted in: Guitar by arabbassist on December 13, 2008 | 9 Comments
Are you trying to decide if Gibson or Fender guitars are better?
This is an article explaining the differences between Gibson guitars and Fender guitars. Fender and Gibson both have their strengths and weaknesses. First I will talk about their weight. Gibson guitars generally are heavier than Fenders because they consist of more wood and a heavier wood. Gibson guitars usually consist of a maple body, while Fenders consist of ash body. Maple is a heavier wood. Some people like heavy bodies while others like lighter bodies. Next I will talk about the neck. Gibson guitars generally have a glossy neck, which provides more resistance on shifts. Fenders on the other hand are usually smoothed down wood which provides fast, swift shifts. Gibson guitars are generally a bit more popular than fender guitars. It is all based on personal preference.
Now I will talk about the difference between a Fender bass and a Gibson bass. Both basses have similar features to the guitar. Bassists generally like Fender basses better because of their smooth neck. Fender basses are also generally easier to slap and pop on. But as I said before it is all based on personal preference.
Dave December 14th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Well, Gibson guitars MUST be better. A basic, plain vanilla U.S.-made Les Paul Stnadard, for example, will cost you $2,499 today from the Musician’s friend Web site. A U.S.-made Fender American Standard Stratocaster is priced at $1,099 from the same place.
So, as most people who insist Gibsons are “better” will tell you (in VERY LOUD VOICES) in order to rationalize their purchases and fanaticism, you get what you pay for.
So, guitars with “Gibson” on the headstock are $1,400 “better.”
Dwight December 14th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
If you don;t care about the name on the headstock, but a cheap Chinese guitar. This description of the differences between Fender and Gibson is hopelessly simplistic. Both makers make many models and some models are better than others. Some Gibson basses are better than some Fender basses and vice versa. Some Ibanez basses are better than some models by either company. The point being, don’t look for brands. Look for quality and features that you want. (BTW, if your hand doesn’t move smoothly on the neck, it’s not the neck’s fault. It means you’re not holding your left hand correctly.)
arabbassist December 14th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
i actually own an epi and its good
Michael January 22nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Fenders are better. you can get a thousand dollar strat and it is better made than a two thousand dollar les paul. Plus Les Pauls go out of tune a lot more often then Strats. Even if the strat has a tremolo. but the Les Paul can ge a lot heavier. Even then the quality of fender products are better made a modestly priced compared to a gibson product
Patrick March 31st, 2009 at 9:15 am
Go to a guitar shop and pick up a new Fender Stratocaster. Examine it very closely. Then pick up a Gibson Les Paul and examine it closely. There’s no question Gibson puts a LOT more effort into the quality of their guitars. Plus, all Gibsons are made in the USA and most Fenders are made in Mexico or South Korea.
There’s a reason why Gibsons cost more. They cost more to make. I played a Fender Strat exclusively for about 6 years until I tried a Gibson SG at a guitar shop. I was so blown away by the Gibson SG a few days later I traded my Stratocaster for it plus a few hundred more bucks. I now own 2 Gibson SGs and a Gibson Les Paul and will never go back to Fender.
No offense to Fender lovers..I’ve been there.
your superior April 4th, 2009 at 8:14 am
rofl!!!!! Im a bass player, but i use to play the electric, i both tried sg, les paul and strats and tele’s
I.M.H.O gibsons look cooler, but thats it..fenders are smoother, better feeling, and sound cleaner and smoother.
And for basses dont even get me started
Gibson basses are a joke. Fender basses are the best in the world, Fender p & J basses are amazing.
Johnathan April 30th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Hey, I don’t really care whos is better. A Gibson is heavier, but it is worth it. I personally am playing a Fender right now, but I think Gibson is better than Fender. Fenders are smoother and lighter, and Gibsons are opposite. Gibsons are put together more creativly(more time was spent to put it together.) Choose the one YOU like better, but I’ll assure you one thing:
GIBSON LES PAULS ROCK.
Karlo-Slash June 17th, 2009 at 12:28 am
to me, gibson is better beacuse he is prettyer and he has better sound to me.
Paul June 22nd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I play bass, so it’s not even a contest. You can play any style of music with a fender bass from funk to jazz to punk to metal to country to gospel. I have played all these styles (and some others) and every studio engineer I’ve ever worked with has been relieved when I show up with a Fender Jazz. This is because Fender basses have a quality tone with a lot of malleability, dependability, and reliability. All the pedals in the world can’t make a lousy bass sound good: you just can’t polish a turd.