To the guys...

[deepblue]

I hope some guys on here dont think we are starting a class system.

Gibson USA vs Gibson Custom Shop.

 

This place is all about opinions, and just like butt cracks we all have one. Just because one guitar costs more then another does not make it better. Custom shop guitars cost more. A little extra time is taken, they are more choosy in selecting componants etc. So we, the consumer in the end pay more money. Im absolutly sure there are some Gibson USA guitars that sound just as good if not better the Custom shop models. They are all still Gibsons made by real people in the USA, and nothing in my opinion sounds or looks better.

It was suggested by others here to try a reissue. I did, and I loved not only what I saw, but what I heard and felt.

They even smell different. You get a cool vibe when you hold one. Maybe its mind over matter who knows. I just know that I love this R9, and I along with Tim, FennRx and others want you guys to try one out. It may be your cuppa, it may not. At least you can say youve tried one and werent that impressed.

 

Its all about Mojo boys. Does that guitar that you are looking at right now have Mojo?

If all the planets were in alignment and there was good Karma at the Gibson factory that day then youll have a

guitar thatll sound as sweet as the honey. If not, then youll end up with a guitar that your old Hondo will blow out of the water. Its a crap shoot indeed!

 

Bottom line fellas. We are all mates here. I dont want this place to end up as a snobatorium. Well leave that to the LPF! lol......some of those guys have their heads completely up their wazooos!

[ChanMan]

Well stated sir. I am open minded about the R series... even though I have not found one that matches my Standard yet. I played a lot of other Standards that weren't as nice as the one I brought home, too. I'll wager that one day I'll pick up one of those feather light R9s and it will just sing.... then I can start telling folks about the wonders of the R series, too ^_^

 

 

But I don't feel like I am a second class guitar owner for lack of a CS axe... and would hope no one else does, either. I personally have found a guitar I like in all models!

[Wolff]

I guess this has something to do with me? I understand what you guys are getting at and I agree there is no snobbery around here. It's one of those things that once posts start rolling you dig yourself in deeper just to defend your position. I'm happy with my Standards and do not covet reissues, Tim is happy with his re-issues, TG is happy with his Tele and Dave damn well better be happy with his JP double-neck. It's all good - I think there is a really interesting bunch of guys here and I hope to continue to be active. Again, sorry if I caused trouble, I thought this was settled.

[ChanMan]

I guess this has something to do with me? I understand what you guys are getting at and I agree there is no snobbery around here. It's one of those things that once posts start rolling you dig yourself in deeper just to defend your position. I'm happy with my Standards and do not covet reissues' date=' Tim is happy with his re-issues, TG is happy with his Tele and Dave damn well better be happy with his JP double-neck. It's all good - I think there is a really interesting bunch of guys here and I hope to continue to be active. Again, sorry if I caused trouble, I thought this was settled.[/quote']

 

No issues from my end Wolff . Not sure, but maybe Applecock got this going with his crying over our guitar porn...

[Thundergod]

Hey... before I get flamed... I am happy with my Tele... but I am happy with my gibbies too hehehe... (sorry Tim... my Tele makes me MORE happy than my lesters right now!)

[Thundergod]

Very good thread BTW Deepblue.

 

I think some members may feel bad or may stopo posting because they can feel they are being... ehhh... WTF guys we all love Gibson guitars (and guitars in general!)

[jefleppard]

interesting point. especially with a financial crash looming. my epi firebird studio is the coolest guitar i've ever owned and it was only 500 bucks. i had a squier tele that cost $185 in 1986 that was my fave for 15 years. i have a 2K gibby SWD that i've yet to bond with and a $200 epi L-00 that i cant put down. if all your guitars were suddenly considered worthless in dollars and cents, which one would be your fave?

[Notes_Norton]

It all comes down to the point of diminishing returns.

 

My ES-330 is worth about $5,000 used. My Casino is worth about $425 used.

 

Is the Gibson 10 times the guitar that the Epiphone is?

 

Definitely not.

 

Sure the Gibson is made of 3 ply instead of 5 ply wood. Sure the Gibson has real MOP neck inlays while the Epi has MOP (mother of plastic) ones. Sure the Gibson sounds a little nicer as an acoustic guitar, but plug them in, and they are almost identical in sound.

 

So while the Gibson is worth over 10 times the cash that the Epi is worth, the Epi is 90% of the guitar that the Gibson is.

 

If someone offered me one ES-330 or 10 Casinos, I'd take the Casinos.

 

 

I play my Gibson at home, where I practice mostly unplugged, and take the Casino on stage where I plug in and "double" on guitar, sax, flute, wind synthesizer, percussion controller, vocals, and sometimes keyboard synths. This means I have to switch instruments quickly, and that means there is a possibility of my instruments getting scratched or dinged. I'd much rather scratch a $425 instrument than a $5,000 one.

 

And since they play the same (neck, action, etc,) and sound the same through the amp, I can't see any other reason to do it any differently.

 

If a guitarist comes up to me and gets a snob attitude because I'm not playing a real Gibson, that's his/her problem. If I can't be evaluated on the music I am making, and if your only opinion of me is the money I spent on my gear, then your opinion is worthless to me.

 

(end of rant).

 

Insights and incites by Notes

[Tim Plains]

I hope some guys on here dont think we are starting a class system.

Gibson USA vs Gibson Custom Shop.

I don't think we're starting a class system' date=' but there is one out there...created by Gibson.

All we do is buy them, play them and talk about them, right?

 

Not sure' date=' but maybe Applecock got this going with his crying over our guitar porn...[/quote']

We have a member named Applecock?

 

Hey... before I get flamed... I am happy with my Tele... but I am happy with my gibbies too hehehe... (sorry Tim... my Tele makes me MORE happy than my lesters right now!)

Well' date=' maybe if you got your hands on a reissue...[img']http://forum.gibson.com/public/style_emoticons/default/eusa_whistle.gif[/img]

Just kidding. Teles have been around forever and they have a huge following; so, they must be great guitars...I'm not questioning or doubting that.

 

Not bad mouthing them here, just stating my opinion/view. I can't get over the way they look. I know they're a part of rock n' roll and Page often played one and all that jargon. To me though, they look like nothing but country and I'll never own one...or even play one...just because of that. Even if I came across one that was absolutely incredible and put every Gibson Les Paul to shame, I would never know because I wouldn't even pick it up. To each their own...

 

Thunder, I'm glad to hear you're lovin' your Tele...but just so you know, I will throw the occasional comment out there just for your benefit. I almost feel compelled to.

[daveinspain]

 

Bottom line fellas. We are all mates here. I dont want this place to end up as a snobatorium. Well leave that to the LPF! lol......some of those guys have their heads completely up their wazooos!

 

I agree with your whole post Deep' date=' well said... I think everyone is with you... That being said I did get a little annoyed when people talk down my LP Classic. Here I was loving my guitar when all of the sudden it was brought to my attention that it has snott green inlays, a hollow body, lacks sustain and the pick ups are s**t... But I got over it and still love it...[img']http://forum.gibson.com/public/style_emoticons/default/eusa_boohoo.gif[/img]

[Tim Plains]

Yeah that 'snott green' comment get thrown a lot when Classics are discussed. That would drive me nuts, too!

[ChanMan]

if all your guitars were suddenly considered worthless in dollars and cents' date=' which one would be your fave?[/quote']

 

 

Fair question, given the topic at hand! Hands down, my Les Paul is "the one". For the record, I am not a collector, and the guitars value will be whatever it is when they sell them.... after I am dead. I don't own a guitar I don't play... and don't buy guitars that do not play well or sound good.

 

 

Ok, and apparently look good either (but I won't play an ugly guitar. If you never play one, you'll never wind up owning one..... )

[saturn]

Thanks Blue.

 

I do sometimes feel a little outclassed with my modest collection, but it's not because any of the members here have tried to make me feel that way. You just see all these beautiful Standards, Customs and Reissues and sometimes feel like "what am I doing here". But we all love our Gibsons and like to share knowledge and bounce ideas off each other. That's the cool thing.

 

Regarding the R and VOS thing. I never put much stock into those Custom Shops being being so much above the USA models. I played several over the years and never found too much difference to justify the $. But after helping my buddy choose his 57 VOS Goldtop I'm sold. That thing oozes tone, mojo quality, whatever you want to call it. I hate to say it, but when I'm around that guitar, I don't want to touch my USA Studio Plus! So now I know there's some truth to Tim, PhennRX and other CS Reissue fanatics around here. Maybe some day I'll have my own and join the club.

[ChanMan]

Sorry Tim. Applecock=apillock. I must have misread the name...

 

 

 

 

 

That's my story, I'm sticking to it.

[SRV-Zeppelin]

I personally prefer the Standard models due to the price. I love Custom Shops, and I especially have a soft spot for R9s and R0s... but if I could choose, I'd rather take two USA models for the price of a Custom Shop. In fact, I may be getting an LP Standard sometime VERY soon... *cough*

I'll make sure I post tons of pics in the LP forum if I do....