They are different to say the least, but I wouldn't say either is "better" than the other. I play my LP and tele about equally depending on my mood.

Also, price doesn't necessarily correlate with better sounding. As mentioned above, Gibson's manufacturing process (set neck, binding, etc) brings the cost up, but those things do not relate to sound.

If you like how yours sounds, enjoy what you have and play.

I have both, play both & love both--they each serve their purpose--no problem having both, as well as other brands too.

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

Fenson vs Gibder I will have to think on this one!!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

LVA,

I have owned a Gibson V and it was a nice guitar. It had a set neck instead of a bolt on neck, 2 humbuckers instead SSS or HSS (Although you can make a Fender or Squier a HH configuration), string spacing is a little different, and the bridge is way different.

My only opinion is Gibson is different than Fender. They are not any better or worse than Fender guitars. That is all a matter of personal preference. Try not to worry about Gear Snobs and their opinions. Be proud of YOUR guitar.

RK

Shame on those guys for dissing your guitar. That's childish. I know you'll let it slide off your back, as others have suggested.

A few things not mentioned regarding differenses;

Gibson typicaly finishes their guitars in nitrocellulose, which is more expensive (a lot of this cost is labor, requiring several coats and lots of drying time). Not as encapsulationg as a poly finish...allows the body to breath and vibrate. Whether this can be perceived by the ear is argumentative. It is easier to repair a ding or mar than poly.

Gibsons typically have a shorter scale length (24.75 vs 25.5") resulting in less tension required for the same pitch with a given string guage. Bends are a little easier in this case or string gage can be increased for more tone.

Gibsons typically have a flatter fretboard (12" vs 9.5").

String height at the playing point for the picking hand on the body is higher on most Gibsons.

I've 3 Gibsons (335, LP Studio, LP Special) 2 GreTschs (Country Club, Country Classic) and one* Fender (American Deluxe Strat).

I bought the Strat a year and a half ago and love it. This is an exceptional guitar. In fact it is exquisite. My hat is off to Fender. The build quality of this guitar is not exceeded by any I own or have ever played.

But, growing up on Gibsons I still struggle a bit to play it. I think for me the difficulty comes down to the closeness of the strings to the body for my picking hand, and the floating trem/bridge.

Part of this is due to the bad habit I developed of resting the heal of my picking hand on the bridge. So the Strat forces me to try to improve my technique, but it hasn't been easy. I am getting better and determined to master it. I love the guitar and the Strat Player Gods too much to quit on it.

* I also own 2 DRRIs (play through in parallel), a Blues Jr NOS, Pro Jr and have just ordered an American Deluxe P-Bass.

Although binding was mentioned we didn't discuss hollow or semi hollow bodies. These take more time and effort to construct, as well.

I hope that this helps...I started out with a Gibson LP..great guitar...fantastic for what I was playing at the time...heavier stuff..then I went to Strats...I will always have a fond spot for Strats...then I found my true musical love...the Tele... My musical style evolved and the Tele is the perfect fit for ME! I am a dyed in the wool Fender guy. Does that mean Gibson is better or Fender is better...who cares...it has to be what YOU like. If someone wants to bash your gear they are just showing their insecurity. Do what you like and want to do. Never knuckle under to peer pressure.

two different weapons my friend, you can kill'em softly with a Strat or just kill'em causing all kinds of pain, either way you're gonna kill'em. I have them both and I love them both. \\m//

For the longest time I was not interested in Fenders. I have always admired them and do acknowledge that Fender makes great guitars but I felt like for my style I was more of a Gibson guy. Well one day I found this awesome MIA Standard Stratocaster with ash body that just called my name, I mean it was one of those "I have to have it or I'll die" moments. So, now I own 3 MIA Stratocasters and I love them. I also own a Gibson and I love it as well. As stated, both are awesome guitar manufacturers, but both make totally different beasts.


hotrod

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1983 Gibson Explorer 1 (main axe)
2004 Fender American Standard Stratocaster (Butterscotch on ash 1 piece maple neck and fretboard) (my baby)
2008 BC Rich Assassin neck thru(fun toy)
Peavey 5150 212 combo (early model) FREAKIN CRUNCH MONSTER!

There`s another thing that differs Fender and Gibson guitars - the Gibsons are very fragile and easily break their necks. Gibsons are among the guitars with the most neck repairs. I had a Les Paul that one of my fellow musicians accidentally kicked off its`stand backstage - it landed on the floor and lost the headstock - a real Nightmare. I brought it to a Luthier who repaired it for me. He told me that this was the most common repair on a Gibson. I asked him if there was any electric guitar, suitable for Rock which would be less fragile and he suggested I should try a Fender Telecaster because these things are like tanks. "You can play Baseball with a Tele and take it to your Gig afterwards, it won`t ever make you any problems concerning construction stability." And he was right, plus they are real Allrounders amongst the electric guitars. And fun to play.

Its why i always thought that if they made an american standard tele with humbuckers with coil tap, i recon it would sell like hot cakes since it would make it alot more versitile.

Anyway, another thing into the price of a gibson, gibson prices its guitars high to make you think that they're better because they cost more. Its true look it up.

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"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"

While growing up and learning to play, I had to take daily criticism on my choice of brand/model guitar. In spite of it all, I was always happy and content with my choice of guitar. I learned to ignore all the negativity and strived to get to the point where I could play anything on my guitar better than they could on their super high end ones. Believe me, it is the absolute best way to shut them all up!

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You dig?

I spent a few years debating between Gibson and Fenders. I went with Epiphone and Shecter guitars before going with the Stratocaster. I will say I bought a 300.00 Epiphone Dot Studio and put Seymour Duncan 59's in, what an amazing guitar... My primary guitar became the Mahogany HSS Stratocaster. The Diamondback humbucker gives that added punch If I choose. I wanted the ability to have that option similiar of a Gibson yet maintain the distinctive Fender Tone with incredible sustain. The Stratocaster has personality and created options in improving my technique and sound. The truth that has been repeated in this forum is, Music is in the Man. MIA vs. MIM is a good example of this topic. Inexpensive guitars can compete with the rest in many areas, Gibsons may be better suited for certain styles of playing. The Stratocaster suits mine.

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American HSS Mahogany Special Stratocaster-Limited Edition 2008
American HSS Special Stratocaster (Black) 2010

Excellent choice --

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I own a Gibson Les Paul Special Faded w/ Humbuckers and a MIM strat, and I really dig both.

My Gibson has a "60s Profile" neck, which means flat and thin. The body is thin and has no cap, so it's about the same weight as my strat, which in fact may be a little heavier. The 498T in the bridge can be pretty much whatever you want it to be; jazzy, bluesy, classic rock or metal, if you know how to use your guitar's voulume knob. It is very well put together, and I've owned it for over a year and the only problem I had was that I had a hair--yes, a human hair--grounding my bridge pup's volume knob. No biggie, and it didn't come from the factory like that, so I can't blame them. The neck pup is more bluesy, but it'll still hammer the pre-amp if you dial up the volume knob.

Anyway, it's a great guitar nad I got it new with HSC for 700...great deal!

My strat is a black w/ maple MIM standard that I got on clearance new for about $280. The 9.5"radius neck is more comfortable to me (than my Les Paul) on any song that requires a lot of barre chords, because the neck on the Lester is like trying to squeeze an envelope. The Gibson's neck definitely works better for me on anything "technical" (which won't be too technical, because I'm not much of "technical" player). I really like the strat also, because it feels like I can drop it, or hit someone upside the head with it, and it'd probably even stay in tune.

I'm not a "tone snob" so I've got stock pups on all three of my electrics, and I can get sounds I like out of them. I own an Epi Les Paul that doesn't get played much, but it will probably get new pups at some point. [shrug]

Price plays a major factor, and yes, Fender's prices are probably a little more reasonable, but that's in part because all Gibsons are made in the USA; there are no MIM Gibsons. The Am Deluxe guitars are pretty pricey too, and I suspect that if you can afford one of those, you can probably cross shop Gibsons.

I know this is a Fender forum, but I love my Les Paul.