Ten Times The Tone? Gibson vs Vintage

[@steveroberts]

I am blown away. Guitar B sounded better across the board, I wrongly assumed B to be the Gibson. Well done Vintage. Nice video

[@SidBonkers51]

Me too, but Im not a LP player, so thats my excuse ;)

[@cave1970]

same and also a proud owner of a vintage v100 lemondrop :)

[@РуменБогоев-е7ы]

You could hear the difference between the two guitars and the Gibson was definitely recognizable in such a juxtaposition. It has a cleaner sound. Vintage kind of muddies the tones if you listen, but Vintage sounds good nonetheless.

[@duplexedfm3820]

It's a different sound. You can pick the Gibson right away. The Vintage sounds awesome, but it's really bright and plays a different colour. I would find myself getting frustrated with the vintage over time and would do significant setup changes. It's the music store catch. They sound cool and are attention grabbing but do not carry the range and toneability compered to the Gibson. In saying that, the Gibson is for the 0.1% Unless you are playing live regularly or recording the Vintage is the way to go.

[@rubbadubdub6543]

@@duplexedfm3820You own a Gibson then?

[@OddTimeMan]

I'd rather have ten $350 guitars than one $3,500 guitar. When I was a kid back in the 1970's, inexpensive guitars were crap. Today, you can get very well-made guitars in the $300-$500 range.

[@guilletjean-jacques5107]

a squier stratocaster CV now , is better quality made of a stratocaster 1960 .

[@darrenmiller1981]

I think it depends on who is making the £3500 guitar - if it’s Gibson or Fender, then absolutely look at a cheaper model in their range if not elsewhere. If it’s PRS, Knaggs, Suhr, Tom Anderson etc etc then the quality difference is tangible. I tried several guitars before buying a core PRS Custom 24 and it blew the wheels of any comparably priced Gibson or Fender...

[@theshyguitarist]

OddTimeMan Not a Les Paul.

[@stuartanthony6409]

@@guilletjean-jacques5107 Nah!! Pretty sure you've never had a pre-80's Strat in that case.

[@gianluigidautilia406]

exactly, i started early 90s, and i remember guitars in price range (today) around 500-600 euros were totally crap, hardly you could play. I had a Washburn that was a pice of junk for that price. Now , 600 euros are truly good guitars. agree.

[@jovanbadnjar453]

I thought B was the Gibson.. To me B sounded better.

[@seb250cr]

Exactly the same for me. I was sure B was the Gibson. Very useful for saving money.

[@wiseguy9202]

Guilty!

[@fredfle5880]

agree i think the same .....

[@andreaslange7052]

I agree. B soundet much better to me. Unbelievable!

[@wiseguy9202]

I was thinking about this and realistically, I usually swap my Gibson pickups out anyway. So the reactions here make sense. I normally reinstall their 496R/500T set which to me are like auditory gold.

[@TenPester]

I'm surprised that I thought B was the Gibby. Preferred the sound of it. I don't need another guitar, i don't need ano....

[@martin-1965]

That was a year ago. Admit it, you're amongst fellow guitar addicts, it's a safe place. How many more guitars have your bought since lol 😂

[@TenPester]

@@martin-1965 I actually built my own last year.

[@martin-1965]

@@TenPester Haha wise move mate. I've been ripping old unloved guitars apart and learning all about the guts and tricks of making a guitar sing myself. It's cheaper and more fun. Keep rocking 😎

[@patriciaydiegoormaza-marti2446]

Yeah, exactly the same that happened to me... Nice sound...

[@Geetarman69420]

@@patriciaydiegoormaza-marti2446 me too. The tones were just better

[@studuke1952]

I am a huge Gibson fan.....I have 3!.....but if I was buying and had to buy on sound alone...I would have picked B

[@AleStolt]

I had A as best sounding to be very critical but the difference was not big, speaking of sound. B had a little "canny like" tone but not bad at all, it was difficult to tell the difference

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

I agree... i own 3 Gibson's as well and I have been intrigued by these V100's for a while now. Honestly, i gotta say, the Vintage held up very well with the Gibson.

[@jasonladd6400]

You must like dull sounding guitars

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

@@jasonladd6400 absolutely.

[@btlnckr]

Yep, esp. in the middle position it was a dead giveaway! The reverse neck pup got the Greeny tone!

[@6stringsandthetruth]

I’ve got 7 Les Pauls and I thought it was B. Looks like I wasted a tonne of money.

[@antuny9269]

7 les pauls? jesus

[@IcarusSuite]

For richs like you nah, it'll be fine.

[@morturiom9651]

i quess, sell 5 of those. keep the 2 best ones. and buy another...uhmm.. 40/50 vintage les pauls? :D nah i think that might be a little too mutch:)

[@jaezryl]

Nope, keep the GB's. If I have the money, I go for Gb

[@nbidnm]

If I send you my address will you send me one of those Les Pauls. I will make sure my grandchildren will still be telling the story of your generosity for generations to come.

[@Dad-Gad]

Apparently Gibson sounds better because it says Gibson on the headstock , in reality the Vintage sounds easily as good as the Gibson , chuck an eq pedal on it and go and buy yourself a 1 bed flat in Caerphilly with the change 👍

[@reckonitmayhelp5962]

...and you could probably play there at the annual cheese festival with your band...

[@stillben]

Haha

[@rubenTR309]

Ive been to Caerphilly, stepped in sheep shit near the castle

[@Dad-Gad]

@@rubenTR309 That was my nan , sorry .

[@moosey62]

Well Johnny bach You should have been walking more Caerphilly, innit.

[@domformula1]

Watched this believing B was the custom shop the whole time. A simply didnt have the clarity and in places sounded harsh. Then went out and bought a Lemon Drop, was so happy with it i now have two, one distressed and one non distressed. Absolutely stunning guitars!

[@iaincobain3594]

I thought the same, the Lemon Drop had a better sound to my ears.

[@gregaltenhofel7326]

It was in 1972 or 73 I was 14 or 15. I’ve been playing sense 65 or 66 maybe before but not quite a decade. I went into Watkins Music on Jefferson Ave in Dallas, TX ready to step up my game. That day I learned what I suppose was one of the most invaluable lessons I’d ever learn. Even after going on to get a degree in music. It’s something I rely to musicians new & seasoned. On that day I went in and I was going to buy a Les Paul. Yes it was ridiculously heavy. But the details, the finishes on this very expensive guitar. made this brand new guitar almost seem used. The knobs, the surrounds around the pick ups. Where the neck attached to the body. The tuning pegs bridge all pretty disappointing at that price point. So first the salesman thought it was out of my budget and showed me a SG. It look like it had been put together by A carpenter who built fences or wooden decks. Though I did like it better because it was lighter. By then we had been talking for a bit. And he understood correctly that I really wanted Gibson. Then he said something that change the way I Purchased every instrument ever sense. Close your eyes. How does it feel in your hands? How does it sound when you play it? He had handed me an Aria model 1932A I think it is. This was their SG copy. Heavier than a Gibson SG but lighter than a Les Paul a little bit. It felt great in my hands. And sounded amazing. And when I open my eyes and saw a clear finish opposed to a poorly stained SG or painted Les Paul. She was beautiful as well. By the time the 70s rolled around American Guitar manufactures we’re both having a hard time keeping up with demand. And worse trying to squeeze every nickel a profit they could out of the guitar. Japan took advantage. They had been trying to flood the market with better built better sounding better playing guitars for a lot less money. I no longer have that exact same guitar because someone stole it. But I have one just like it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

[@TheRicokilla]

To see a cheaper guitar being able to go head to head with a Custom Shop Lespaul is definitely worth checking out.

[@mate-g]

...and if you buy a Gibson sticker to the Vintage, you will have a Vintage Gibson which worth $5,000 😂

[@RubbelisPro]

Gotta love the buttery smooth wilkinson hardware vintage guitars get shipped out with.

[@AMERICANPRIDE1100]

I love mine I will say the pots don’t hold up but the pickups and neck are great

[@ludoludo4334]

I prefered guitar B for almost every sounds. So i was thinking « yeah Easy B is the Gibson » I was suprised....makes me humble :) Interesting video The same with a Fender custom shop against something?

Against Vintage V6?

[@rsmallfield]

Me too! I put a Seymore Duncan neck pickup on my Vintage AFD Paradise and it was transformed. But I preferred the sound of the Wilkinson pickups on this video, to my surprise.

[@musikus7092]

Me too

[@benmac1977]

Same here.

[@johnvcougar]

On the subject of Fender CS, I have a mate who got his hands on a Fender CS Surf Green Strat. It's a clear standout, one of the best guitars I've ever played. He's on a promise to give me first option if he ever sells. He won't, drat it.

[@jimi4405]

I bought a Vintage Lemon Drop a few months back and, to be fair, it blew my socks off. The tones you can get from the thing is simply amazing. And i’m not going to use the cliche “for the money” because it’s simply an amazing guitar. If I had heard one before I knew the price, I would easily have paid double what I did!

[@Olegstuff21986]

In all honesty, the V100 could be very good, but not with those pickups. They're obviously lacking in definiton. After a good pickup change - sure, it could probably compete with a Gibson.

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

I preferred B and I own a Gibson! Maybe time to cash in and get myself a vintage. Great sound for 350 sheets!!

[@dogdaymusicandphoto]

I did, sold my 91 custom after buying a vintage jo bonamassa lawsuit les paul. The sound and feel were a little different to my gibson but given the price (£100 ebay bargain) i couldn't complain. However build quality wasn't particularly hot. Crack in the body needed gluing, tone pots were crap and the pick up screws kept coming out of the pick up holders. But I actually preferred it to my gibson so i let the Gibson go. Got about £1,700 for it as well.

[@larryadams1873]

The Gibson did sound a bit more detailed. The Vintage just didn’t have all the little overtones of the Gibson but for the price it held its own. I’ve played of few of the Vintage guitars and they’re a great value. If you put them against most Epiphones they win hands down.

[@kingstumble]

I agree. I have had two Vintage Lemon Drops and lots of different Epiphones. The Vintage pickups are superior to any which Epiphone use.

[@jarazimmerman3400]

I recently found my Vintage Les Paul on my parents attic. Not seen it for 10 years. Polished the frets and it honestly plays better than any of my current guitars even after being neglected for so long. Going to enjoy playing it again!

[@ivanbastos4963]

That would be a dream come true for me

[@mikey2363]

Unless you’re playing sell out concerts at Wembley then just concentrate on perfecting your art with the guitar. There’s no point in spending stupid amounts of money as 99.9% of people that are listening wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference. I once saw a guy who didn’t have a lot of money and had a “cheap” guitar but played it like he was an angel from heaven. It’s like the things between your legs - it’s all about what you can do with it that counts - not how impressive it looks.

[@imacnz]

I agree. My example is that Tiger Woods could putt with a broomstick.

[@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040]

Dave Simpson of youtube comes to mind. He doesn't own a Gibson either.

[@skobywankenobi]

Like everything in life the people who actually need Les Paul's never pay for them.

[@jamesguitar7384]

@@imacnz He could , what , with a broomstick ?

[@melissarodgers6379]

I have a Fender, Gibson, Epiphone and a Vintage PGM. The Vintage sounds better than my other guitars. The Wilkinson pickups are HOT. I play my Vintage more than my other guitars. The out of phase sounds great, RIP Peter Green.

[@em-dashman4404]

Add me to the list of people who thought B was the Gibbo! But then I’m already a Vintage convert - bought a V6M24 purple meanie a couple of years back after seeing/hearing someone else play one and absolutely haven’t regretted it. Amazing bit of kit for the money. Seriously tempted to get the lemon drop 😎

[@benmac1977]

So, I prefer 10 different Vintage guitars than just one Gibson!

[@hugomejia593]

Me too

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

Plus it wouldn't be anywhere near as worrying to gig a less expensive guitar than it is to gig an expensive one in terms of the guitar being stolen, lost or damaged.

[@TheMrLoucrazy]

That is true at all

[@pstrokeslibsarctic]

I actually prefer one good 59 Gibby.

[@ziotomasi4597]

Me too

[@toxicmartoc]

I have a vintage les paul, sounds as good as my gibson and cost nearly 10 times less

[@ampedwales]

Controversial, but my road worn Lemon Drop is one of the best single cut 59 style guitars I've ever played. I actually pick it up more that my Gibson Les Pauls... I'll just leave that there.

[@11000038]

Yes and B was my choice. I know there is more than the sound and even that can compensated for with amp settings or a booster or eq pedal.

[@johncarter4131]

I honestly thought they were the other way round, hats off to the Vintage.

[@lennartbrand9503]

I really was at the B-side for the Gibson. It had a warmer sound.

[@craigsowerby442]

I think A sounded warmer and B had more clarity. I got the vintage afd paradise with the intention of swapping the pickups to the slash Seymour Duncan’s but 6 years later I’m still happy with the Wilkinson’s they’re remarkable.

[@dalstar925]

I guessed B was the Gib. Imagine my surprise. Much warmer and rounder. I’ve had my hands on one of these and it played perfectly too. Didn’t get to plug it in but sat and played it for a good 15-20 min. Excellent value.

[@darrenandrews9724]

I was the same, thought B was the Gibson...and I just sold my Gibson too..maybe the Vintage is Under-rated?

[@Gannon_The_Great]

Genuinely thought B was the Gibson, seems vintage sounds better! Good job Trev!

[@agr7879]

Why is the Vintage only £350?? Thinking of getting one. Beautiful looking guitar

[@leftymadrid]

Well... I can say I have owned both. But, when playing The Vintage, it literally blew my mind!!!! I would recommend a Vintage to anyone looking for a single cut... Believe you me, it will be hard to put down lol :-)

[@thebuddybud]

WOAH The vintage sounded FANTASTIC. Very single coil-like and jangly, just how I like my low output humbuckers.

[@togmor]

I tried every guitar sub £500 in my local guitar shop, and the Vintage was by far my favourite. I knew next to nothing about the brand, but I've had it a while now and its been very impressive. I did like both of these on the drive tones but really did prefer B in all the clean tones, so its really interesting to hear this. It is also a pretty thing! Mick Ronson tribute.

[@leslawrenson]

I recently bought a secondhand Vintage VS6 (SG copy) for £100 and it is fantastic! It looks like an SG, it sounds like an SG, and it feels like an SG. Everything about it is quality. The only reason I would by the real thing for six or seven times as much is to have "Gibson" on the headstock.

[@derekhenderson1730]

From the get go I thought "B" was the Gibson, ,beautiful neck pup and great out of phase tone definition on the bridge was on the money. I stopped name hunting many years ago as I've heard to many fellas get superb tone from very ordinary instruments. The build quality may have been not "up there" but for me its all about tone and sometimes ,especially these days, money often doesn't buy that as it really is all in the hands. I've seen a lot of fellas with some real high end hardware get uninspiring and sometimes awful tone from a big name.

[@pablodebiddlybo3771]

Holy shit I swear to god I had guitar B as the LP. I’m off to pick-up a lemon drop now. That is a fantastic guitar

[@thiagohermes4806]

To my ears: Vintage owns when it comes to clean tones and Gibson nailed in the overdrive but the competitor did very good in both tests. I have a Vintage V100 Wine Reissue and I don't wanna get rid of this baby. Ever!

[@jerbear1601]

Pickups make a lot of difference. The same pickups in two guitars would be a better indicator of sound difference and playability differences being the criteria. I recently changed to Dimarzio's on my Vintage V6 and now it roars and has better clarity.

[@Hendrix67297]

So True. For the comment that the vintage sounds Clanky....£300 for pickups and fitting.. The pick ups on this vintage are good.. Find me someone who owns one and thinks otherwise.. Play mine through a blues jr... Goodness..

[@mattyburrows9059]

to make it fair on the gibson.lol..i think if you able to compare a ford with a rolls royce then rolls royce have either become shit or ford are now in the same bracket as rolls royce

[@jamesguitar7384]

@@Hendrix67297 I know your comment was a while ago but I've had tremendous quality from Iron Gear pickups . Not expensive , tremendous quality . You should check them . Best wishes

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I just recently purchased a Vintage V6 Reissue and love it. Cut heel, Pearloid guard, Wilkinson hardware and pickups, EZ lock tuners, satin finished Canadian maple neck... ALL upgrades for even a player series strat.

[@TheBadGuy1974]

I was looking what to get for my first guitar. I now think its gonna be a Vintage.

[@thorndog100]

I have two Vintages and for the price point, they are spot on. I have the reverse headstock 80s style strat and the Tele style. I love both of them. I also own 14 guitars altogether so i have a rough idea of what a good guitar is. Buy one man you won't be disappointed.

[@gotaguitarforsale]

I recommend getting a vintage and even checking the second- hand market if you are on a budget. I bought one recently for €200 and very impressed. Also check out spider guitar cases in staffordshire, they do a tweed les paul case for all money 😀

[@EdCoombesDogs]

You will love it the v100 is my favourite guitar I have 😁🤘🏻

[@Mr.Heller]

Recognized Vintage right away, has the exact same quirks in sound as my own.

[@LorenHenderson-r5i]

As a gibson player I could hear it but didn’t want to believe it. When the drive came on there’s no denying the gibson growl and slight loss of clarity. The Vintage stayed way to clean/thin but still had a growl. Lower blues tones indistinguishable the vintage clearer. Very nice comparison. We are chasing headstocks. I recently picked up an Amazon fesley super strat. It out plays my usa fender pro2. It was $140 vs 2k. But the feel of a hand built custom shop guitar can’t be beat. It feels like a worn in old friend. But obviously the sound can be achieved for a fraction.

[@zepp3lin]

Blindfold, I will definitely pick B as my choice.

[@matthewstollar2678]

They are both 'different' but 'I' was convinced the Vintage was the Gibson because the one on the right had a few boutique/subtle sharp but velvety tones the left one didn't have.

[@m.norhishamm.radthi9768]

Wow really Gibson custom shop just to compare the off the shelve Vintage guitar? I think that alone is a win for Vintage guitar.. 😜

[@GWRFan281]

Proof that a good guitar is a good guitar no matter what the name it is on the headstock. I preferred the sound of guitar B and was blown away that it was the Vintage. For far too long my Vintage V100 MK1 has been left in it's case while my Epi and Gibson Studio gets all the glory. It is about time the Vintage got it's fair share of the limelight.

[@stuartmacdonald5361]

I thought guitar A was easily the best sounding guitar and thus, thought that A maybe the Gibson. To my ear the guitar B was muddy and I just did not like the tone as much as A. I am amazed that I am one of the few that knew which was the Gibson and preferred it.

[@motherlessblues1565]

On that sound test they were very close however the test is when you play the guitar at different sound levels and then hear how it reacts to your playing.

[@richard.featherstone]

I picked B as the Wilkinson AND as the preferable sound.

[@sid35gb]

Dave Simpson uses a lemon drop Vintage les Paul in his demo videos. He gets some unreal tones out of it.

[@jamesguitar7384]

Dave Simpson is the dog's bollocks ! ( If your not British , that means he's outstandingly good )

[@danthony8603]

I was just sure guitar B was the custom shop. I was pleasantly surprised it was the vintage. I just bought one!

[@ceebee491]

Me too!

[@cazykraut9677]

Me too!!

[@DS-yg4qs]

That video is made just for you. That comparition pushed you over the edge. They are doing hell of a job in marketing.

[@ianskelding2218]

To be honest, the greenie Moore V100 sounded better to my ears, having a bit more out of phase quack than the custom shop costing 10 times more than the Wilkinson brand Vintage.

[@fishing4truth91]

From the first note, I felt that Guitar B had the better sound. It was clearer and crisp where guitar A, sounded muddy (too much middle) to me. I'm not surprised that guitar B is the Vintage Lemon Drop.

[@AJLTunes]

I got rid of a v100 recently and bought a les Paul standard. The les Paul was truly awful for a guitar that was £2000. Going to sell it and get a v100 lemon drop. These v100s are superb guitars for the money. Can’t believe how much better this one sounds on the video

[@kevycanavan]

The Gibson definitely has more character in the sound and the gloss is much more refined, but I reckon with a pickup swap out on the Vintage for maybe a set of deacci we could be getting even closer. There’s definitely a difference but not a four grand difference.

[@frankcarter6427]

what does 'character in the sound' mean?

[@drunyon08]

I have the Vintage AFD100 and I love it. Damn thing plays better than any Gibson I've ever picked up.

[@Owen_plays_music1049]

It would be fun to do Harley Benton vs Vintage :)

[@johnkk7863]

It was done and vintage won out

[@raimondodalmotto6442]

Vintage wins without doubt

[@leodesil6869]

wow, i really thought guitar B was the Guibson. This is proof that price and reputation do not make quality. It's a Gibson Custom Shop, and the other is a Vintage V100, I think there's about $ 1,500 difference between the two.

[@gilmanoel]

I guessed the blind test right, chose A in all the examples. But for the price, Vintage is a great choice. I particularly still prefer an Epiphone Tribute 1960+ over Vintage. Thanks so much for the video (and for no volume differences between one guitar and another). Cheers!

[@robertclinger7351]

I, too, like my 1960 Tribute. There IS a maple cap under the veneer, and the '57 Classic pickups sing!

[@seanbarker6478]

The only reason for buying the Gibson would be for investment purposes.

[@sheen4dean71]

I thought B. Not just because it sounded like the pickups were a tad more powerful, but because the sound was more refined. Certainly amazed me. But having played Gibson and Epiphone before, the feel of the real deal is as important when you're gigging, playing sets. The feel of a neck definitely influences your playing and inspiration.

[@wickedcrypto6004]

The cool thing about Vintage guitars is the magic that it somehow possess. It is the same magic that a lot of LP had back in the 60's, 70's and 80's. If your lucky to own one of these guitar you will quickly notice how your guitar playing enhances. The guitar technically whisper in your ears and it makes you believe your a Rock Star. I have a Vintage V100AFD reissued paradise guitar and believe me its freaking amazing. Wilkinson ready deserves to be on top side by side with all the great guitar makers.

[@ozflyer1]

wilkinsons DONT MAKE GUITARS.....they make pickups lol

[@wrongfuture]

The Vintage definitely sounds much better, but it also definitely has much more gain which changes how the amp reacts considerably, and it sounds like the Gibson has old strings while the Vintage has new, which would also make a big difference in sound. Guess I'll have to go and check out for myself.

[@germainvargas8496]

I thought guitar B was the gibson it sound cleaner and crunchy

[@iloveitall]

I could tell which was which. People most often prefer the more clearer tone and do not see that harsh cleans are fizzy in gain mode. The Gibson has a smooth slightly darker tone, what makes it more pleasant overall. But: Most of the tone is up to the pickups in this comparison. I'd like to hear them with pickups swapped.

[@munchyman6898]

I have a Gibbo Traditional LP and an Epi Standard. Love them both. I did have to install some upgrades on the Epi (pups mainly) for it to stand up with my Gibson, tone wise. Obviously this adds extra cost but little value . So for the Vintage LP to sound that good off off the rack, is a no brainer for me when seeking that 'Gibson sound' on a budget. I am impressed..Nice work

[@pedr0p0lis]

I've got 2 les pauls, 1 is a classic 60's tribute and 1 is a 72 deluxe, and ive got a first run vintage v100 and an afd vintage, both vintages blow my Gibsons away, but that little logo on the headstock makes me admire the branding skills from the mighty Gibson

[@17YuNgA]

Its a shame when branding justifies 10x the price, not the quality, but Gibson HAVE earnt that right due to their contribution to all styles of amplified music. in my humble opinion. You pays your money and make your choice? But I think Gibson are fighting a losing battle.

[@mudpluggerdisco7853]

Get in there vintage...when purchasing,, I was dead set on a Gibson,,played one in-store,,then shop owner said try the vintage...looking at him strange,I did..totally blew me away for the price..I went in with 3k.....I came out with 2600......guess which I bought....!!

[@bewusstsein3527]

Squire strat HH

[@nickburmanmusic]

That’s a great story and says more than any review. Thanks for sharing. Are you still happy, 2 months later?

[@mudpluggerdisco7853]

@@nickburmanmusic more than happy with the vintage..fantastic build and sound quality...an old Gibson friend of mine has also got the vintage bug...and purchased one...blew him away too..if you ain't bought one yet, go play one in store like I did...I bet you buy one....all the best.

[@whuseman1881]

I honestly thought B was Gibson because the pickups sounded more focused and brighter, better IMHO. Kudos to the the Vintage brand guitar and Wilkinson's pickups!

[@mattlillis6152]

Great video! The Gibson pickups have more string/definition and clarity to my ears. I’d wager if you put Gibson pups in the Vintage they would sound almost identical. The real test is how they play and feel to the player because sound and look-wise they’re pretty close. Cheers!

[@arjenvanblanken1436]

I have a Vintage V100 and played more than just the one I own, so I'm pretty familiar with the sound. I instantly picked B to be the Vintage, but I'm incredibly amazed by everyone thinking B was the Gibson... Just goes to show! I absolutely love the Vintage brand, got 4 Vintage guitars as of now (out of the 6 guitars that I own!), and my V100 is the one I often refer to as "my baby". It's easily my favourite guitar!

[@stringsonfirevic]

Me got both,a Gibson Standard and 2 vintage les pauls I prefer the Gibson every single time

[@kingstumble]

Got it right! The Gibson was more defined, clearer and had more "girth". The Vintage is a very good guitar though---I know because I've got one. I would say though that to get that Peter Green tone, you have to twiddle(technical term)both the tone and volume controls till you find it.

[@albert.rw2]

me: "tsk, the A is the vintage, listen how good sounds the one on the B, you can clearly hear the better pups" *B being literally the Vintage* Me: ooooooooooooh... *opens wallet*

[@colinwhite3656]

I'd choose B on sound alone. I preferred every tone apart from the middle clean, but even that was close.

[@slipps_mwb9478]

My mind is blown. I wish you guys would do this for every guitar ever!!!

[@bluesoddity2094]

Bought my 1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard in 1988 for $599. Back then 10yr old Gibsons were on the racks for 4-6 bills and the 70's Strats that no one wanted were 2-300 bucks. In 1994, I passed up a 77 tobacco Gibson V at $400, still kicking myself to this day.

[@danhopper8266]

The Vintage Destroyed the Gibson in this one

[@jamesguitar7384]

I'm a Vintage V100 owner and listening to the blindfold test I had to grudgingly admit that the Gibson was better and then found out that it wasn't the Gibson , it was the Vintage !

[@eddieconnor8864]

I have 4 guitars, one being a vintage lemon drop an other a fender telecaster. I like my lemon drop the best.

[@jamesduckworth9117]

I picked a Vintage V-6 Strat-style Guitar over an actual American Fender Strat. Still not mad I did that. I love my Vintage and I spent less than $400 with a hard case.

[@TheTomLees]

I currently use a V100 sunburst as part of my setup and I absolutely love it

[@aaron6841]

They both sound good! The Gibson just sounds like it has more clarity and more expensive. Bare in mind changing the pickups in the vintage wouldn't be difficult.

[@dusterhoond]

B sounded the best out of the two, which really surprised me. I'd like to hear a test with both guitars through a Marshall JCM 800.

[@jeremydankiw5178]

I have 4 Harley Benton guitars with the Wilkinson pickups and figured I would swap them out when they arrived but then after playing them I was really happy with the tone and clarity of them. They actually sound really great. No way I would spend the money it would take to swap them out with anything. Honestly think it would be a waste of time and money.

[@Criticochato1]

Vintage sounds so much better!!!

[@Bangkokguitar]

Was having a difficult on the clean sound. But as soon as gain was added I knew that A was the Gibson. You could hear the pickup choking a bit on the B. But as for the point you made, I agree "Is it worth 10 times the price?"

[@Jesus666Ramone]

Meus amigos brasileiros que estão aqui, toquei essa vintage 100 afd, o som dela é muito bonito, bem construída, madeira boa, se está buscando um custo benefício pode levar! Tamo junto, bom som!

[@oxnegative]

eu errei.

[@jimbo6036]

I'm glad I guessed which is which. Guitar A sounded slightly more musical to me. There are no very expensive materials in a guitar which means that cheap copies can be made. But you have to keep in mind that a guitar is much more than its sound, it is also how it feels in the hands, the durability and of course the brand on the headstock.

[@hugomejia593]

Damn I Though guitar B could be Gibson so I think Vintage Is great guitar too

[@jcordova01]

I guessed A, had that smoother fat sound. I have an LP custom that I purchased used for about 2400 USD, got a good deal. The thing about the custom is that is really is standard guitar. Anything less will keep you wondering if you are getting the most out of your playing. In no way is it ten times better but there is something about the sound, feel, and even the smell that screams this history/quality standard.

[@mikeflanders1292]

I own a vintage lp. And it's probably my number one guitar. While playing it, you'd swear it's a gibson.... but it sounds better. And the quality on it is top notch. I love my vintage

[@Wargasm644]

I’m considering a Vintage V100. Does anyone know what the neck thickness is? By the way, I prefer the Gibson. So the Vintage would get a pickup swap. Not that they sound bad. Just not hot enough for the shit I play.

[@DrewPeabaws]

Wargasm644 I think it’s a 50s neck. I have one and it’s chunky compared to my last tanglewood electric, but it’s great for chords and 70s style soloing

[@robertcross5402]

If it's a Lemondrop you are getting its a nice size. Not thick.

[@utahprepper8925]

I would have bet my bottom dollar that B was the Gibson.

[@jefflegresley7106]

That's what I thought, and I own many custom shop gibby's. But we were wrong lol

[@motherlessblues1565]

Yes B was a better sound overall all pick up choices however the volume was soft,,, that’s not how you will play in a club gig etc so the real test is at speed or volume and finally you need to play it and see how it feels & sounds to your own playing.

[@dnaentertainmentwa]

I bought a Vintage Reissued V6 White Strat style with reversed Headstock. It’s basically a Jimi Hendrix Strat copy. I paid $470 USD. It blows me away to tones I get from it clean or driven. I own a Mexican Strat & it blows that away in tones. The Fender has slightly more Quack in mid pup position. That’s it. The Vintage brings much more to the table. Plus the mods Vintage stock as standard is impressive. The offset strings block, the double holes in the string trees for locking the higher strings, the extra pup under the plate to remove the hum from the single coils are some of the features. Big Ups to Vintage

[@randymiles904]

Im a big fan of bang for buck. I've really been into modding imports lately. Deans, ltd's, schecters, squire, and Epiphones. Often times, the bodies.of these guitars are great. A good setup, and swapping in some premium hardware and electronics, will give you an instrument that rivals those costing ten times more. Plus you have EXACTLY what you want. I'll have to give these a shot. I'm already a big fan of Wilkinson.

[@freepressright]

Same here. I've become a players guitar guy, and I gig every weekend in a cover band that's getting over $1,000 a booking.

[@randymiles904]

@@freepressright that's awesome. It's always good when you can do something you love, and making some extra cash is a big plus. 👍

[@olejoergenmalm16]

Do you know if the bridge pickups on the V100 guitars are alnico or ceramic. Some websites say alnico, some say ceramic.

[@jbowenize]

I asked this question. Sent it to Vintage. The Wilkinson mini hum buckets use alnico V magnets.

[@olindobasel3723]

I will order the Vintage immediately! Unbelievable sound!

[@GunterDierickx]

Found a AFD V100 with headstock broken for 50€. Repaired for 250€.

[@RobertHoward-w4p]

I've just bought a Vintage v100 paradise reissued. Waiting for it to be delivered. I nearly went for the lemon drop but slightly preferred the open pickups and a 50 quid cheaper price label. Can't wait for the delivery!!

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

If anyone wants to check my video I did a few years ago on the Gibson es335 vs the vintage VSA500 it’s on my channel and I couldn’t believe just how incredible - how authentic and closely matched the vsa500 was to the Gibson. Literally a £3500 guitar vs £350 at the time. The thing is whilst doing the video I really did enjoy playing the Gibson and appreciated it for its woody tone but every time I picked up the vsa500 after playing the Gibson I just appreciated the vsa all the more because if I was going to notice the shortfalls it would be straight after playing the Gibson - but nope…. The vsa had all the charm - character - woody authentic tone - it was incredibly eye opening.

[@stevelogan1699]

Really interesting video, Adam. I found the split screen technique and the use of the same riffs on each section of the tone-test helped me listen carefully to the subtleties of tone. Great playing too! I would have been happy just to watch you play the riffs on a single guitar. I suppose it would be fair to factor in the other crucial thing, apart from sound and prestige which make people buy a Gibson and that’s the feel of the instrument in your hands. A simple difference like a nitro versus a poly finish, to say nothing of neck shape, weight and balance, can be hugely influential. The only way you’d ever find out what people really wanted would be if both guitars cost the same and it was a straight choice between them. Good to know you’re in South Wales. I hope to get to your shop before too long. Keep the videos coming.

[@stuartmiller7419]

You're right, a nitro finish can be hugely influential, especially when it ages and turns your investment a piss yellow colour, which some people think makes it more saleable but most of us think just makes it look piss coloured.

[@garrymoss8021]

I am so happy to find out that B was the Vintage. I am actually working on a possible deal to acquire one now.

[@Θανος-ι6φ]

As soon as he started to play i knew A was a Gibson and B was Vintage guitar, B lacked clarity and that tone.

[@donkeevney]

Bullshit.

[@chrisjones8977]

I totally agree.

[@edwardmonsariste4050]

Yeah same. You could instantly tell that guitar B was lacking something. It sounded thinner than guitar A. It was brighter than guitar A and didn’t have a lower mid fullness.

[@redrock1963]

Here's the set up. In the early stages of the vid, the Gibson was on the right of our screens - the host drew our attention to this (around the 2:26 mark) as he described what was going to happen here. This MAY have prejudiced people to thinking that the gibson was still on the right when in fact it had been switched to the left of the screen. This is called "subliminal messaging" or "priming". I don't know if this was in play here, but it certainly is a proven strategy used in the commercial world. I think these days, you can make a broomstick sound great with the right pickups.