Guitar Brands, Do they really matter??

[XLayaR]

Hi ya'll, I'm sure this question has been in everyone's minds. Brand names in the guitar world.

Many of us know that Gibson is THE most expensive brand in the world (at least I think it is) and their guitars are all hand made. Ever since Epiphone so called "ripped off" Les Pauls, Everyone has been asking the same question. Which should i buy?

I mean since Epiphone has Les Pauls now, and they are cheaper, why not just get one instead of a 1-2 k Gibson. Though Gibson qualities are good, there have been many brands copying Gibson. So the Question still remains. Which one would you buy? Cash aside, Which one would you buy?

 

[thor666]

Gibsons aren't the most expensive brand yet... lol

think this topic has been discussed on the forum b4... just do a search...

Epiphone is a "sister" company of Gibson like what Squier is to Fender. Given if i had the $, i would still get a Gibson over a Epip. (unless it's something specific, say a Epi custom or a Joe Perry Boneyard :twisted: )

 

[anep]

hmm...
i dun own an elect. guitar but IMO, the most important is that u'r suitable and confortable playing the guitar that u got.
so i'd say the brand does not matter but u'r playability on the guitar does.

 

[berukblue]

....and their guitars are all hand made.

Are they really hand made? I thought only their customs are handmade :?

 

[hellmurderer]

Gibsons aren't the most expensive brand yet... lol

Then what is if not gibson?

 

[wangdexian]

Tom Anderson > Gibson :lol:

 

[5stringedsoul]

u still hav PRSes, custom-guitars... i play bass, so dunno much bout guitar, but i do know Gibsons arent the most expensive.

 

[thor666]

Dusenberg? how about a Tyler?

there're quite a lot of those novelty brands on line which sell their wares for far more than Gibson does.

 

[fretless6]

http://specials.rediff.com/money/2004/jun/25look.htm

:mrgreen:

There are plenty of companies with guitars that cost alot more than Gibsons And afaik majority of Gibson guitars are built using CNC. Not that that's a bad thing, but not all Gibsons are handmade.

And Epiphone is a budget line of Gibson (at least now it is), not a rip off. It's cheaper because it's manufactured in a lower cost region, cheaper parts are used, lower paid craftsmen, lower QC and less attention to detail. The list goes on...

 

[Johnny_ReB]

If you're into budget line, i suggest you get a cheap guitar that you can feel to it, and get it moded, say changing the pickups to better ones or change the brigde/tremolo/lock and stuff.... still it'll be way under 1k...
else, stick to Gibson....


"how come a cheap aria pro can sound like ibanez??"... sumting likethat.....

 

[BlackMoo]

1 word people.























Kapok.

 

[Stillborn]

brands dun matter, quality does...

i'd take Gibson...

 

[Fruitwine]

imho, the brand does matter. coz with the big names, there is quality control, u do know that ur guitar *most likely* wont screw up on u, be it electronics or construction wise. with a cheaper brand, sure, u can mod it and get it to sound real good etc, but essentially, it just might screw up, coz at that sorta price, i doubt they can really pay too much attention to quality control. therefore the wood they use and all may not be of a certain... satisfactory grade? well, hope no one minds my 5cents share

p.s. and a good brand gives bragging rights too :lol:

 

[gargamelesp]

yeah brand does matter to me , and im sure it does to the majority of you guys.

cause it so happens that most of the well known brands make nice playing and looking guitars.

certain brands cater to a certain crowd too

most humans would want the best they can get, and more often than not, best = expensive

 

[hifi_killer]

Playing a gibson les paul will make you feel like slash, jimmy page.

playing some other not so popular brands of les pauls will make you feel like nobody.

If you have something more expensive, more prestigious item, it will definitely create the "extra passion"

 

[Newbie]

Watching Dhalif play on his Squier... Hur ok no comments. Later i kana whack by him lol.

 

[domsoon]

Brands

I think the consensus is that brands only matter insofar as you want 'status' or 'prestige'. But trust me, you will get that if you're a good enough player. The good players endorse the good brands, not the other way around.

But I think anep is right - it's how the guitar feels to you that is important. In terms of sound (and I know lots of people are going to flame me when I say this) I think the difference between mid-range and high-end guitars is only really discernible in acoustics, where quality makes that much more of a difference. This is true for all acoustic instruments, I think. For electrics so many other variables come into play: the effects you use, your amp, etc.

So if I were buying an electric, for the price of a Gibson I'd rather have a mid-range Aria or Ibanez any day. On the other hand, you don't want to go too low the price range because of quality concerns. (Knobs coming off, output jacks coming loose - sound familar, anyone?)

Okay, but within the *price range* does the brand matter? My personal opinion is: unless it's a Fender strat, no!

 

[spikes]

haha, and so people goes on discriminating fenders, saying its shape is retro, too ordinary, then japanese, mexican strats are lousy, quote from someone: highways aren't the pure americans, therefore it sucks, and i'd only buy a pure american series: sounds familiar anyone here?

 

[Newbie]

Re: Brands

I think the consensus is that brands only matter insofar as you want 'status' or 'prestige'.

Well i agree with you about the acoustic part. But the price varies because of the material thats being used to make? Example gibsons. Top quality mahogany (they call it themselves), and AAA Maple top? Plus their many many years experienced peeps crafting the guitar? Their pay and everything? I suppose maybe thats why its so expensive? Just asking, don't flame me, im a newbie!

 

[spikes]

actually, its cause of the binding on the les pauls? notice that those smartwoods, junior, junoir specials, studios, studio baritones do not have binding... whereas the classic, standard, supreme and custom has them... and whats the diff betweem all of them, they all sound the same, priced at the same, looks? only the covers on the humbuckers, thats all... and i hear people going i only want standards and customs, nothing else...