I've heard a person saying there is no difference in sound, only in looks. I slighty disagree in that Fender's have a lighter, sound and Gibson's have a fuller sound. When you compare a vintage Gibson Custom it sounds more raw, nostalgic and warmer. With a vintage Fender Custom you get a smoother, chimey and bright sound. This is debatable so all opinions are welcome! Aah a nice vanilla thread!

Years ago,before there was a thing called the internet,this was the discussion that guitarists had,Gibson vs. Fender....not tone wood arguments,ash vs alder,rosewood vs maple....but this.
Anybody who can't hear a difference doesn't have good enough ears to be a guitarist...they are what they are...two entirely different playing and sounding guitars....it comes down to personal preference...I have both but favor Fender.

+1 - Couldn't have said it better myself.
I might one day like to have a SG or LP, maybe even a Rick too.
But I love my Fenders for the type of music that I enjoy playing.

I am not very welll acquainted with the Gibson product line,
so a comprehensive comparison would be unfair, even if it were possible.
But the Fender line,
(Tele, Strat, Jag, Mustang, Jazzmaster not to mention all the variations...
...oh...and the basses and acoustics, too) has something for almost everyone.

So...I'm voting "Both" based on that.

+1000!

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I love Gibsons .... but never felt the urge to buy one. I see a Fender and immediately want it. Just please don't ask me for the reason, I haven't got the slightest idea.

Cheers

David

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"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons."

I prefer a Fender sound, except when I prefer a Gibson sound...or a Gretsch sound...or a Dobro sound...or a...

All sound different, all can sound good or bad, all have their place.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I have both, a Fender American Strat and a Gib SG, very different sounding and playing instruments.
But then so are the Strat and Tele and Jag in Fenders lineup.
And one strat will sound differen from another strat, if the pups or setup are different.
Same goes for Gibson, they have many different guitars models all sound different from each other.

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Keep on Truckin, Going full speed ahead down the highway to hades.

+2000 I agree. I own both, lately I've been favoring my LP with P-90's. They just blow me away. All my guitars sound different. I consider them all brushes in my sonic pallet.

None are really "better" than the other just different and they all change my playing style somewhat, I think because not only because of the difference in scale length, but the difference in the tone of the instruments.

Fender and Gibson do not sound anything alike.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

To most people who don't know/care about the differences between the two they both just sound like guitars. Right?
In a blind test I doubt I could tell the difference in sound between a flat back and a bowl back Bouzouki. I struggle to hear the difference between a clarinet and an oboe.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

Nor should they. Ever!

Which is why I fail to see the novelty in an HSS Strat or a Les Paul with coil taps.

If somebody wants a "one-size-fits-all" guitar, buy a Vari-Axe.

JMOOC, YMMV, KDTTAH, PDOATT, yada yada yada

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I LOVE my HSS Strat. I can't say enough good things about it. Thank goodness Fender makes them

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I agree completely Arjay. My Studio 60's Tribute with P-90's sounds great. P-90 Single coils are nothing like Fenders. Way hotter than anything I've ever played on a Fender. I like them all. I'd be a pretty bored guitarist if I only had one guitar.

A Strat won't sound like a LP just because of the differences in construction and vice versa even with coil tapping. The scale length alone effects the tone.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

I agree completely with Supro and Arjay.

+100000

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Siwwy wabbitt, kix R fer trids, er, um, guitar players play guitars, a friend of mine was playing his Stat through a Vibro-lux getting magic tones at high volume and I said "your LP can't do that" and he said "yes it sure can". He was right, right guitar player + right guitar = magic. Play your music, use the guitar you want for the sound you want and you win every time. I like the longer scale of a Stratocaster but give me a Les Paul for a minute and I'll call your mama without saying a word, she'll come running, lol. (just kidding)

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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.