Jinder Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I have played and/or owned a lot of different guitars over the years, and have found myself coming back to Gibson every time for my main squeeze. That said, I own an Epiphone EJ200 which is stellar, and a battered Takamine EAN20C which sounds as good as any of my other guitars. I'm not a brand snob, but I know what I like. I've never played a Taylor which I desperately wanted to own, I've owned a few Martins I've liked but not loved, I've played a couple of Atkins which blew my mind, I've played a few Huss and Daltons which left me cold, I've owned a few Guilds which I liked (one of which I loved, but had to be returned due to structural problems...the replacement had the same issues, so I bade Guild goodbye), and so on. If I had to travel the world with one guitar, it would be my AJ. But my old Takamine would probably be my second choice, just because it sounds great plugged in and unplugged, and is dependable as all hell. Brand snobbery is just silly. It's a good thing it doesn't exist in gastronomy...can you imagine? "I only eat Ham. Any other type of food is substandard, has varying quality control and is overpriced. I know a friend who bought a steak which needed a neck reset BEFORE HE EVEN LEFT THE BUTCHER'S SHOP!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brannon67 Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Well said guys, Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 As for acquired tastes. If playing styles change over the years, that may lead to a change in preferences. I'm going through this thing right now where, for years, I have really been into the sound of my J50 for solo play. But I've never quite liked it for rags and, lately, I've been involved more in group scenes where I'm looking for a bigger note and am not getting it. I hear rosewood beckoning. I also have a Martin 000 that hasnt won me over, but its very articulate, which has me thinking I may hear Martin rosewood calling. Things change. Play what works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Nilppeznaf Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I know a friend who bought a steak which needed a neck reset BEFORE HE EVEN LEFT THE BUTCHER'S SHOP!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 So you would not have anything made in China like an Epiphone Masterbilt or anything like that then? For me, if there is an offshore-made guitar that will break my import fast I am guessing it would be a little old Epiphone Blues Master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duende Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Heres to keeping an open mind! I am not a brand snob either and have 21 guitars from England, Spain, Mexico, Japan, China and America. American guitars are one of my favourite foreign countries that make good guitars - particularly their electric guitars :) Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I am insane for all acoustic guitars! When I played a Strat all those years, I always thought of acoustic guitars as like the beast I had to learn on and would not really believe that anyone would actually want to play one! But we change over the years - I got hooked on a '32 basswood Dobro I played in a second hand shop and took home, then Martins, then Gibson, what next? BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Well I agree with keeping an open mind, and over many years have happily played to death a cheap Spanish BM classical (only part made of solid wood the neck, I suspect), to near-death a Hondo Les Paul (made who knows where, only part made of solid wood the neck, I suspect, and perhaps not even that - so that would be an all-laminate solid electric, then), then initially happily a Korean Epiphone Casino, and belatedly happily an Indonesian Lyon by Washburn laminate dread. I've even enjoyed picking blues on my sister-in-law's 1970s student model of unknown Eastern Bloc extraction. So I'll happily play whatever's available - up to a point. But there are limits. My Casino's appeal wore off when I worked out that pull-offs would always pull the outer strings off the rather narrow neck, and that adjusting my playing to the neck like a pro would actually mean not performing pull-offs at all. It wore off even more when the front pick-up went dead for no apparent reason, and then a year after the subsequent repair, the pick-up selector started moving itself like a glass on a ouija board. It still will not stay in the 'rhythm' position. When I got a Gibson semi the difference in quality was literally tangible. The feel of the neck and the reliability of the hardware were just streets ahead of the Epi. And while the once detested Lyon (forced purchase for a gig, always hard on the hands, unforgiving on the ear) has turned into a pleasurable beater (I now love it because I don't care if it gets dings, as a result of having hated it, and I've grown accustomed to its harder sounds), it cannot hold a candle to my Woody Guthrie SJ. No Martin I've tried ever made me want to give up either a classical or an electric as my main guitar, but the Woody has that capacity (though it won't entirely edge out my Howard Roberts). So while I'm open to anything in general, I am loving my Gibsons at present, and admiring their quality. And I'm not alone here in having chosen a Gibson with a Banner headstock - after all, it was the Gibson company itself which came up with the original statement of exclusive brand loyalty, wasn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotto Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I am a Gibson fan, but I wouldn't rule any specific brand of guitar. I am always on the hunt for another guitar. I have bought/sold/traded 26 guitars in the last 6 years. Of those 26, there are only 2 that I will not part with: 1) 2004 Gibson Montana Gold J200 and 2) 1992 Gibson Starburst Flame. Having said that, I have a couple of great sounding Takamine's, and a Taylor GS-Mini that is a great travel guitar. To me it is about the comfort and playability as much as anything. I have relatively small hands, and don't like guitars with thick necks. I have a friend who has a Martin D28 that sounds amazing, but I don't care for the "feel" of the guitar. For me, I think the search for a great guitar is nearly as good as actually finding it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 But we change over the years - I got hooked on a '32 basswood Dobro I played in a second hand shop and took home, then Martins, then Gibson, what next? BluesKing777. One made of U.S. steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 One made of U.S. steel. I have one of these dobros - does the job but not like your National, ZW: http://s958.photobucket.com/albums/ae63/brehanclaire/?action=view¤t=photo16.jpg&newest=1 BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 As was said in the OP, it is in the eye and ear of the beholder. To my ear, many acoustic brands sound good. To my eye, it's Gibson period. I mean the j 200 is a striking guitar to look at, very unique. I guess one thing to add to the old adage would be eye, ear and feel - playability. My Gibson's just play so well, no competition for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightspore68 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I like a ton of other guitars, I just don't mention them here since they're not usually relevant. I like Ovations, Epiphones, Takamines, Collings, Breedloves, Goodalls, Pimentels. What I have become biased toward are rosewood backs and sides. Other woods like maple or mahogany, at least on acoustic guitars, sound too bright to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowster Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 iam not a brand snob but its got be gibson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 To repeat some of what has already been written here and other places on this forum... I love accoustic guitars... if we were in another dimension where Gibson didn't exist, I'd be happy with Martin, or Taylor (or older Guilds). But, since we aren't - I've found the more 'manufactured' guitars don't compare to the 'surround sound' of Gibsons. I do have a Cordoba Gypsy King that I love to play every bit as much as my two Gibsons. That said, I only plunk down serious cash if the guitar is made in the USA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brannon67 Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 I ahve a feeling that my two Epiphone Masterbilts will be replaced by a new (US MADE) J45 Standard soon.I can just feel it Baby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.