Tell me how you really feel about Gibson Today

[lfm]

Clapton... Je did mention that he could no longer play as he did in younger years. Peter Frampton has stated that he too cannot play like he did in his earlier years.

Partly I wonder if that is not over entire career too.

I have some collection of Montreux festival for Rory Gallagher and Nils Lofgren.
- the early years it was like they were "hungry" and on the way to their peak
- latter years more like "just another job" kind of feel to it

If you then add age to it, even worse.

Same thing listening to Jan Akkerman the early Focus years, really brilliant in every aspect.
- now listening to him/them more recent live concerts is very average I would say

I think Akkerman played a LP Custom here, just lovely

[tapper mike]

For the most part over the years
My LP's and other 24.7 guitars have always had tens.
My solid body 25.5 have always had nines

My fingers play best with thinner but not the thinnest necks. My current Tele neck while not being a serious chunky monkey could still go with a trimming

As for LP's /SG's/335'sI always preferred the thinner 60's/70's neck profile

[machinesworking]

The modified 78 Les Paul is still the easiest guitar to play action wise, during their bad period, so maybe things get a bit overblown.

Overall Gibson, thanks to shorter scale length, is easier to play. Put same string guage on a 25.5 and 24.75 and the 24.75 feel like one step lighter set.

the Powerjet is also 24.75. In this case the great playability is due to really solid low action and the traditional flat frets on Gibsons. Its just a great guitar, even other Gibsons seem clunky compared.

[morelia]

I own all the Gibsons I'm likely to own, so what they do from now on doesn't change my opinion. Happy Gibson owner here.

[Uncle E]

When I was a kid, I strung my Ibanez Les Paul's with 11's and wound G strings. The sound was so brilliant and piano-like. Now I always use 10's regardless of scale length.

Ironically, it's the opposite with bass, I use lights. Heavier strings are easier to play (your plucking fingers bounce right off of them) but they sound dead.

[lfm]

For the most part over the years
My LP's and other 24.7 guitars have always had tens.
My solid body 25.5 have always had nines

That makes perfect sense.

From having used hybrid 009-046 on all electrics for 20 years, but only had Fenders for 7 years, I will try 010 on LP. Having played Fender a lot hybrid on LP feels like rubberbands.

[lfm]

the Powerjet is also 24.75. In this case the great playability is due to really solid low action and the traditional flat frets on Gibsons. Its just a great guitar, even other Gibsons seem clunky compared.

I think Jaguar has shorter scale length too, and said to have worse sustain.

My theory is that bolt on necks needs thicker strings. Set necks can get away with thinner from sustain point of view since neck is integrated part of instrument.
- then it's about what you feel is better and not getting rubber band feel

[Uncle E]

Jaguar is 24". Imagine the jump from Fender to Gibson, it's the same jump from Gibson to Jaguar.

[lfm]

Jaguar is 24". Imagine the jump from Fender to Gibson, it's the same jump from Gibson to Jaguar.

Would you have an idea why they did such a different cat in Jaguar?
- more controls than the others, but why scale length?

[Uncle E]

Student guitar.

[Grizzellda]

You guys are talking Les Pauls, SG's, but has anyone mentioned Epiphone??

That's what I got, and they are good!!!

Also, I saw on Sweetwater's site, it looks like they have brought back the Gibson "RD artist", a unique axe from the seventies...do any of you older fellas know what I'm talking about?

[Uncle E]

Epiphone Elitists are great, especially if you like thinner necks. If it weren't for that, I would prefer them over US Gibson's. The Japan-market Epiphone's I've owned (LPS-80 and some LQ's) weren't as good as the Elitists.

[tapper mike]

Student guitar.

Back in the 90's I had this Mitchell semi hollow body shaped like a Les Paul with P90's it was a student guitar with 22 inch scale length. It sounded and played like a Gibson Blueshawk Because of the Mitchell branding I dared not take it on stage. But I'd keep it in my car and practice with my pignose hog (30 watts battery powered) between jobs while essentially working three jobs and trying to get bookings for my studio.

Then a very bad thing happened
...I fell in love.

A Brazilian college student started working with me at a restaurant. She was separated with her husband at the time and also played guitar but didn't bring one. She also fell in love...with my guitar. She was all of 4'11" She convinced me that my guitar that I got for myself was much safer in her apartment. Love bloomed for a time. Then she got her degree and went back to Brazil.

I loved her, I loved that guitar. I do miss the guitar from time to time.

[Cuauhtli]

I feel about Gibson the same as I ever did: neutral. I do have an Epiphone Les Paul. Sounds great.

As for string gauge, I've started using 8s on the Strat, 9s on my other guitar, and 10s on the Epi.

[CapnLockheed]

I've owned several LP's, SG's and a '65 Melody Maker over the years. My fav was a beat up '68 SG I bought in the 90's for $250. Had to sell it a few years later to make rent....for $450....sniff. I imagine it would bring a bit more today. I like the SG & Melody Maker better than any of the LP's. That being said, I've had some 70's MIJ guitars that totally out-Gibsoned any Gibsons I've ever played. I had a 77 Burny FLG-70 that was hands down the best LP I've ever played. Almost as good was my 90's Dillion LP Custom with all the trimmings. I also had several 70's Matsumoku made guitars that were superb.

Currently, the only Gibson branded guitar I own is a 2013 70's Tribute SG. Tho it's a "70's Tribute" it feels and plays more like my old '68 than any other SG I've picked up. I got it new on closeout for $495!! That is likely the last Gibson I will own....unless some, as yet unknown, uncle dies and leaves me one!!

How do I feel about Gibson today?? I think THIS sums it up pretty well: