agreed.... whats the point of putting out new guitars constantly if nobody wants to buy or play them?

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Melvins
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I somewhat agree but Gibson have always had a unspoken traditionalist reputation. Infact thats why the majority of us find their new ideas a bit silly.

Aside from the V and Explorer in 58, maybe the SG in the early 60's, they haven't been a company to push boundaries. Whilst Fender have pushed those boundaries since they started in 46.
The Les Paul isnt going to go anywhere, neither will the SG, V or Xplorer. Their far too iconic. The self tuners and modelling guitars will die off one day. Lets face it, despite it's great performance I dont think the VG did too well. It was pulled from the lineup after a short appearance.

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No no and no

It has nothing to do with any one playing them.
They are mostly catering to collectors and beginners.
Sad reality. I have a $900 Gibson SG.
I love it, yeah I said it.
But,................Without their mid level I don't really see much the average player can afford. JMHO
I agree w/ you Nevin for the most part....(great to have you back BTW)
-N

Gibson has alot to offer like fender they have there staples. Les Pauls, SG, ES 335,and alot more fender has strats, teles, jags and more. Gibson aint going away and neither is fender. I love them both.

My money says your wrong! Fender Annihilating RIGHT!
Thats why they laid 27% of the Corona Plant staff off last year. Production is down.
Gibson knows who buys there stuff and its not just LP's and SG's look at Gibby Mando's among the top and there other acoustics they don't compare.

Tell me where you see Fender annihilating Gibson? The VG Strat?

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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

It is hard to call it junk though, and for someone to say the only Gibson buyers are collectors and beginners is ridiculous. eight out of ten beginners buy Strats there like a$$S-holes everyone has one. I see a lot of LP's on stage.
Most greats have a stable of not just Strats but my favorites Tele's and Lp's
I like guitars no matter who makes them as long as they are nice.

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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

Nothing sounds like a LP standard through a marshall

Yeah I agree too, there getting ridiculous.

Have you heard endless nameless? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJdBl0_e-I
its awesome as!! hardcore grunge....

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riley

Both companies fill their niche but frankly I’m getting tired of both of them.. I want a guitar than fills the middle ground Gibson and fender don’t….I want a guitar that plays like a fender but sounds like a Gibson. I know good luck huh? We need some real innovations from these guys not just the midi, modeling, and signatures.

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(80’s Hair Metal) = A snapshot in time before Grunge ruined Rock & Roll forever!!!!

I like Les Pauls, A lot. But they are so expensive (new and used ). My next Guitar is going to be a Charvel San Dimas.

Great thread . If I had to choose between my MIA Standard Stratocaster, or my Gibson USA LP Standard, My Strat would be out the door in a second.
You are talking about 2 different companies, with 2 different marketing plans, and opposite production theories. 10 Fenders (or more) roll off the line for every one Gibson. Does that mean that Gibson is headed for the crapper? Personally I think its nice that Gibson doesnt throw their name on any $500 student model guitar from factories in China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, or Pakistan, for all I know. You want a Gibson? Yeah, its coming from a plant in Nashville, TN (unless you want an acoustic, in which case its coming from Knoxville).
Yes, Gibson has dabbled in robot guitars. They invented robot guitars. So, Fender's robot guitar did not work out so well. That must mean that the Les Paul is marked for death.
Yes, Fender makes kick azz amps, and Gibson does not. But, I have yet to play a Fender acoustic that is worth more than its weight in fire wood. Gibson; some of the best acoustic guitars in the world.
Fender moving into the future, while Gibson comes out with the same old crap? (2008-current) Gibson Les Paul Standard- NEW neck profile, NEW tone chambers, Grover locking tuners, strap locks, locking bridge, output jack locks- all standard.
Fender Stratocaster- pretty much the same thing. NEW bridge block, new logo (a sticker, by the way) and vintage bridge saddles. Yeah, really moving into the future!
A limited run for Gibson is like, a few hundred instruments (maybe 400). And a limited run for Fender is, what... 40,000? So yes, I really think that Gibson will flop if they dont sell those 400 Dusk Tigers. Fender custom shop makes more units that the entire Gibson corp.
If you dont like Les Pauls, thats fine. They are not for everyone. But, dont come on a Fender forum and player hate because you dont have enough $$ to buy a Gibson. At least they are playing with new ideas. Want some new, cutting edge Fender gear? You can buy a new American Special, a.k.a. Hwy 1 minus the rosewood fret board.

I thought the ES-339 was an excellent development. Very logical and highly desirable! I get a GAS attack everytime Forum user mclmk8d posts pictures of his:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=38164

Actually, altogether that picture gives me enough GAS to fill an airship!

Cheers - C

nevin , what was the last exciting thing fender made , the strat ? or the tele ?
fender are in the same boat , same old , same old

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I don't see why the Les Paul needs all that stupid gadgetry. You had the recipe perfected the first time, why change it? IMHO if I buy a Les Paul I want it to be a Les Paul and nothing more, because it doesn't need any more. It's kind of like beer, I don't want my beer to taste like fruit, come out of some robotic glass that keeps the right amount of carbonation, and infused with probiotic cultures to improve my digestive tract, I want it to taste like beer and get me fawkin drunk. >_>

The only beef I have with Gibson is that they made it so small stores have to sell $100,000 worth of Gibson stuff to remain a Gibson dealer and their QC has been less than stellar in recent years, not good for a company with such a rich heritage.

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

Fender gear is my favorite and Gibson Les Paul is a guitar to have in your collection because it sounds so great similarly to the Stratocaster and Telecaster all unique but Leo did some other amazing work ie G&L I really like those guitars and would like to play a G&L bass one of these days the G&L instruments are a bit pricey not so much as the LPs but definitely worth the cost if you compare the differences/similarities very player friendly guitars those G&Ls.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.