Fender is winning the war against Gibson - But don't count Gibson out

[@JeffSeale]

If this is all true, then Fender would be wise to think about their regular price increases over the next year. When MIM models are breaking the $1000 mark and new MIA models are >$2k they are going to end up in the same boat as Gibson.

[@charlesrense5199]

Look, everything's going up in price. Fender can't do anything about inflation. But as long as they have reasonably affordable options compared with gibson they're doing just fine.

[@rheinhardtgrafvonthiesenha4869]

Yeah but without the justification. Bolt on neck guitars shouldn’t be 2k

[@jamesgroat5992]

@@rheinhardtgrafvonthiesenha4869 screw on neck lol

[@tobytootimes7639]

This is a very good point.

[@EM-km8em]

You are extremely right on this! I only got back to guitar after 10+ years because i found a good quality Squier classic vibes for $300. I tried some of the MIM and some of the necks were sharp as hell, heavy bodies, and $600-1000+ for that ??? Hell NO, a used classic 60’s vibes weights only 7lbs, all their necks are smooth no sharp frets, the necks are also smaller, glossy and feel way more comfortable tha ln the extremely uncomfortable modern jumbo thick frets and necks in modern fenders. Again if it wasn’t for the used $300 price, quality and the same specs of the latest classic vibe modelsI would not have ever gotten back into guitar and Im sure these goes to most beginners and folks that stopped playing guitar in todays over priced world.

[@richsackett3423]

"Fender is winning the war against Gibson" for the last twenty years.

[@USSLIBERTYREMEMBERER]

More like the last 30-40. My dad gave me his fernandez lawsuit mustang when he bought his MIA this year. I gave my squier mustang to my little cousin. The people who grew up playing knockoff fenders all play fenders now; i don’t even know how to EQ a humbucker

[@maxmustardman298]

Gibson lost without a fight. From the time the tele was invented.

[@wadeguidry6675]

More like: since the early 1950s.

[@richsackett3423]

@@wadeguidry6675 Ha. No. CBS, remember?

[@wadeguidry6675]

@@richsackett3423 I've got a silver face super reverb that I like, but yeah you right

[@mbledsoe52]

Gibson is so stuck in the past that they came out with a brand new guitar shape (Theodore) and 100% of their marketing was focused on how Ted McCarty designed it in the 50s.

[@raytorvalds3699]

Ah yeah, the tulip with a hockey stick attached to it. Great idea ! (lol)

[@broken927]

They have an ad in Vintage Guitar that reads (to my eyes) The Odor, much like The Oneders of That Thing You Do fame.

[@Tim85-y2q]

To be fair, at least part of that is because many of their fanboys rag on anything that isn't from the 50's.

[@autodidacticprofessor869]

At least they won't put their name on Mexican and Chinese made garbage. Quality doesn't matter when you need goofy seafoam green offset guitars to make your hipster friends happy.

[@raytorvalds3699]

@@autodidacticprofessor869 So you're saying Gibson's quality is better than everything made in Mexico and/or China ?

[@robertlewis8024]

Two thoughts: Fender guitars have always been easier to modify/customize.....and Gibson has pissed us off more times than Fender (although not by much!).

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

I agree. All my guitars have basically become partscasters, I’ve switched or swapped parts, upgraded.

[@USSLIBERTYREMEMBERER]

They also piss us off in VERY different capacities. My biggest beef with fender right now is too many slab bodies and not enough shell pink. Gibson is out here suing mfs

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

@@USSLIBERTYREMEMBERER Gibson is suing mfs, that shit cracked me up 😂

[@timnewman1172]

Fender figured it out that people wanted to buy Fender necks & other parts to put together their own personal version of a "custom" guitar. I have 2 partscasters(1 Strat, 1 Tele" that to me are better than an off the shelf guitar. Both have 12" radius Fender necks which is my preference... You just can't do that with a Gibson!

[@sciencemansandera]

When I looked at a Gibson recently and looked at how the sides of the frets were dressed I was like they can sell that shit lol? It look like China 101

[@the92project]

Gibson is all about nostalgia and bragging rights. Fender is about playing the thing and making music.

[@Jeymez]

The 92 Project: i mean you can say the same about Fender to, there designs haven't changed that much. a Telecaster still looks like a Telecaster from the 50's and 60's for the most part. same with a Stratocaster to. a Les Paul hasn't changed much, but there's very little reason to. the only thing ive ever complained about a Gibson is the headstock, that's the one thing i wish they improved on. but i think what your getting at is there marketing philosophies, that's where they differ. Fender has a better out reach with affordable brands like Squier, whereas with Epiphone most people don't realize how good there guitars been the last 5 years. in alot of cases Epiphone makes better Les Pauls than Gibson, the only downside is Epiphone has gone up in price since they been making Inspired by Gibson guitars. but buying a Les Paul is about music to, the only difference between the two for me one is about looks, the other is about functionality.

[@thesmellycatjazz]

I think it's mostly because Squier is such a strong brand. That and the fact that you can get a Fender branded instrument, even if it's not American, for cheaper makes it easier to "buy in" to the brand.

[@RyanOManchester]

And the Fender Player series are still fantastic touring grade instruments surely doesn't hurt. I love the fancy American stuff but a player telecaster or HSS strat will get you really far for not a lot of money (and it's a great platform to upgrade pickups/tuners etc if you want to)..

[@DavidHBurkart]

@@RyanOManchester ...and today's Squiers, at least the CVs and even the Affinity series, are quality instuments in their own right

[@RyanOManchester]

@@DavidHBurkart I've never tried the Classic Vibe guitars but I've got a Classic Vibe bass and it definitely is quite the bass for the money

[@EM-km8em]

You nailed it! Only reason i got back to guitar after 10+ years is because i found a used $300 classic 60’s vibes that feels much better, weights less, and the neck is also thinner smaller and the back gloss makes it play like butter compared to their modern jumbo neck frets. $300 used classic vibes for decent quality otherwise i would have never gotten back to guitar. Todays prices for some of these higher quality guitars are way off the board and tbh the quality isnt even there a lot of times. Squier is whats saving and keeping Fender #1

[@IndigoJo]

Fender really has an instrument at every price point; Gibson doesn't. With them it's either USA or China, and that doesn't accommodate anyone who doesn't want to buy Chinese. By all accounts Mexican Fenders are good quality and the factory itself has a good reputation as a good place to work staffed by people who are into music.

[@rontheguitarcollector]

Fender also has had the foresight to buy Charvel and Jackson. The Fender family has a much wider spectrum of usability.

[@NIN34]

And Jackson quality went down, not to mention they have basically had the same line up for the past 20 years

[@rontheguitarcollector]

@@NIN34 I guess that depends on what Jacksons you are buying. I have a PC1 and a custom shop SL2H and they are both fantastic.

[@NIN34]

@@rontheguitarcollector well for the wait time and what they charge a custom shop should be just that

[@leftwrite]

Fender has always been the "working man's" guitar. That was Leo's approach. That's why there are so many out in the wild. Gibson has always been the opposite. Both are fast approaching being unaffordable (Gibson has a big head start here). I think Fender owns the used market making them the choice of new players searching for a serious instrument they can afford.

[@CarsInDimension]

"Working man"? No. Working musician, yes. Leo Fender made his products for professional guitarists. In 1951, a Telecaster was $190, which works out to $2,100 in 2022 dollars.

[@StuartPeel]

@@CarsInDimension And in 1951, I'm pretty sure that it didn't come with a case - that was extra.

[@marksanders8066]

That's a difference between the old days and now they used to come with a case.

[@Tim85-y2q]

Fender was only ever the cheaper option in relative terms. The original models from Leo's day sold, in inflation adjusted terms, for around what you'll pay for a team built custom shop model now.

[@anthonycraig1458]

Every guitar is affordable for someone, even a 10K custom shop creation. Maybe not everyone could afford it but someone can. That's life and has always been the way of the world.

[@dstdenis01]

Fender has a clear sense of purpose: Help people get a good guitar and amp they can afford, learn how to play it, and have fun! Everything they do revolves around this mission. Gibson doesn't seem to know what they want to do. They have a great tradition for making fine instruments, but they seem bored by that. Instead, they want to become a "lifestyle brand," whatever that means. Let's make records, partner with a virtual guitar investment scheme... everything but make musical instruments. I hope they toss aside all these distractions and focus on building great guitars again (and mandolins, and banjos...).

[@csnide6702]

Plus .... have you ever played a Gibson amp....? Horrible - even when you can find one........

[@Cocorobet25p35p]

true fender is helped beginner like me learning in their website, also their design is so varies and unique, from jaguar, telecaster, stratocaster, jazzmaster, and mustang, gibson i know just les paul, SG, and hollow body e335 thats it and the colors is limited also

[@maraviyoso8473]

@@csnide6702 have you ever played a hollow Fender guitar?

[@csnide6702]

@@maraviyoso8473 yeah... it sucked... sounded out of tune when it wasn't

[@charlesrense5199]

To be or remain a viable alternative you must compete on either price, quality, or innovation. Gibson asks the question: "is there an option 4?"

[@rolyat]

Option 4 is marketing towards lawyers who play blues rock and saying you're the "original"

[@Artymofo13]

I've been a Gibson and Fender fan since I was a kid. I still am, but their prices have made me take a serious look at other manufacturers like Yamaha and Reverend where I'm finding a solid balance of quality, innovation, and value.

[@Kenzabukuro]

+ Yamaha. Wish I could find a Reverend to try out.

[@robertjudson7750]

Reverend double agent og. It is what's up🤘

[@rstuartcpa]

Love my RevStar..it’s starting to be my number one.

[@sebastianaviles3359]

I think a big part of this is the air of "self-superiority" that is given off by Gibson at times. Marc Agnesi even said, "Gibson is an aspirational brand" which to me says that they don't even believe in bringing young guitar players into a fold of truly professional quality, innovative, and stylish instruments. Rather, they're content to make really good Epiphones that do exactly the same thing as their Gibson counterparts, and expect people to fawn over the name on the headstock.

[@Artymofo13]

I heard that comment as well, and it really turned me off.

[@jobiazgarza9571]

I tend to agree with Agnesi.

[@peterwilson8039]

Here in Canada the going price for an Epiphone Les Paul with a set neck, is mostly in the range of $800 to $1000. Even a used one is a minimum of about $500. I used to have a Model 100, that I bought used for $150, new they were around $400, but it was heavy, it was ugly, it didn't balance well, and the sound was mediocre at best, and every time I got it out to play I felt like I was playing a piece of crap because I was too cheap to buy a decent guitar. By contrast about the same time I bought an almost new Squier Affinity in a pawnshop for $200, and it was awesome. I loved it.

[@harrybryan9633]

I aspired to own a Gibson - I am now the proud owner of a Gibson-Baldwin Epoch.

[@ashleyjohansson230]

Gibson does the same thing as any other company, they have expensive USA made models and they have cheaper chinese versions. The only difference is gibson names their cheaper chinese models epiphones. In reality if you compare all american made models of any company, gibsons are no more expensive and sometimes even cheaper than most others.

[@MrSmiley1964]

My rock n roll nephew was all about a PRS SE. I bought it for him as a graduation present. He loves it. My niece is much more serious, she a multi-instrumentalist, she has a great voice, she plays and hits her marks. Her music varies from the 70's -20's. I asked her what she wanted, she said a Fender Strat. I sent her a Mexican Player. She acted like I sent her Hendrix's favorite axe. She has truly blossomed as a musician since that day, I hope she does something with it.

[@jaorte10]

Early 70's my cousin had a band. I went to watch them practice. When he opened his guitar case and I saw that Les Paul gold top. I was enamored. Then they started playing "black cloud" by Trapeze. I was blown away by tone. I always wanted my own. Flash 50 years later. I've got a custom equipped gold top. And I wouldn't trade it for any other.

[@rickbrooks1956]

I have several Fender and Squier guitars and I'm very happy with them. But I wanted to add a Les Paul and an ES type guitar to my collection. I couldn't justify the price of a Gibson, even though I can afford one. The Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard caught my attention, so I bought it, and it's an excellent guitar! It led me to buy an Epiphone Sheraton II Pro, and the Epi Lucille. Three well made guitars for the price of one Gibson, and so much more versatility than what you can get from one guitar. I don't know that I'll ever buy a Gibson when there are good quality alternatives at a more affordable price, and totally gig worthy.

[@e7thstar]

Bro, sell those pos and buy a gibson. Epiphone necks feel like plastic. Even their high end ones

[@jimroadhouse4872]

Bought the Epiphone 59 my self great guitar

[@paulthomasmiller1842]

The Epiphone Sheraton II Pro is an outstanding guitar. Excellent tone. I sold mine to get a Gibson studio 335. I regretted it immediately. The Epiphone was superior to the Gibson in tone and playability at a fraction of the price.

[@rickbrooks1956]

@@paulthomasmiller1842 I was vacationing in Nashville last summer, and was looking at an Epiphone ES-335. A sales person at Gibson Garage steered me to the Sheraton Pro II, and pointed out the additional features it had. I played it, and would've bought it right then, but they didn't have one for sale! I stopped in the Atlanta area at 3 stores, none in inventory. Finally called AMS and it arrived two days later. It was a great purchase!

[@paulthomasmiller1842]

@@rickbrooks1956 I was fortunate enough to record in a studio in Brentwood, and one of the players had an Epiphone Sheraton II pro and it sounded amazing.

[@ravenbom]

What struck me as strange about 5 years ago was that I noticed A LOT more Telecaster players. I had ALWAYS written the tele off as like Nashville sound or background/rhythm but suddenly all my favorite bands had Teles front and center and suddenly I had to reconsider. I eventually fell in love with the tele neck, it pairs like a fine wine with a Vox AC amp for lots of chime and cuts through a mix without hurting your ears. And the bridge pickup is more usable than the Strat's. Plus Fender put out some love for the P90s which have been my at home pandemic favorite because it gets dirty if you play hard and is still nice if you treat it sweet. My Noventa has been such a great Fender (just wish it had 22 frets!)

[@MrSmiley1964]

When I first started playing I played this guys explorer. I thought I really wanted one, I was such a Rock n Roller. Then I played a Telecaster a friend of my father owned and I never looked back. 45 years later and I've yet to own an Explorer. But I currently own 4 Telecasters.

[@sjazzp]

My Fender Tele JA-90 with two Seymour Duncan P90s has 22 frets and sounds amazing. IMHO it’s a very underrated guitar, I preferred it to the Noventa

[@danielstoddart]

Actually, Nashville was the last place in America that the Telecaster conquered. Ever listen to those really old country records from the 1940's and '50's? Almost all of those were recorded with Gibsons. That's why if you have the misfortune of seeing your Gibson suffer from the infamous headsock break, to this day there are repair shops all over Nashville with jigs to repair that specific issue. At that time Fenders were way more of a New York/Chicago kind of instruments. It's ironic and weird that today the Telecaster is so closely associated with Nashville but that's a relatively recent development that started in the 1960's.

[@blaineadams7484]

I've been playing a strat for 30 years, when I finally had the money for my dream les paul, I went with a telecaster FMT. Not willing to risk the qc problems of gibson

[@Scaredycat-dad]

I agree with everything you guys said. When things got really tight for me financially it was my 335 that I sold, not one of my three Fenders or my PRS. It was heartbreaking and I hope one day to get one again. I will say that the Gibson held its value really well.

[@wadeguidry6675]

I sold my Les Paul Standard when I went through a rough financial patch, but I held on to my USA Fender stuff AND my Harley for the same reason: the Gibson had the best resale value. I too hope to get another Gibson.

[@kitano0]

I said this on Rhett's site, but I believe the popularity of the Meteora will sustain and grow, with the potential to be one of Fender's flagship models.

[@PeterDebreceni]

I always wonder about the effect and demographics of guitar colors. Are black, red, gold and sunburst really that essential? Are yellows, oranges, greens etc so niche? Fender definitely pushes finish boundaries wider than Gibson. I’d love to hear the real industry knowledge on this.

[@user-tz2zz5ij1s]

I would imagine it’s the same as for cars. Cars come in the standard classic colors. Not everyone is into a yellow or orange car. They do have their niche though. Guitars are probably the same especially when you get into higher end models. Most people when making a big purchase want something classic. There are definitely outliers and when you get into super expensive cars like Ferrari, that’s a whole different world that only a slim percentage of consumers will every get to experience.

[@v1rtualnish]

That's very true. I never really realized that. Gibson would never do something like Fender did with that recent Limited Run Ferrari Yellow Strat.

[@Tim85-y2q]

Especially now that they launched the mod shop. Provided you're willing to pay a bit more, you can pretty much get a production line Fender with whatever finish and hardware (from their catalog) that you want.

[@MrPhins]

I'm a hs soccer coach and I don't think I've ever run into a student that hasn't heard of AC/DC or Guns n Roses. Where are these kids from? 🤣

[@craigthomson3621]

A while ago the narrative was “the death of the guitar” as the instrument was featuring less in some new music. At least there are now a lot of new bands and musicians featuring guitars, whatever the brand. The new management at Gibson probably had to prioritise on what to concentrate on in trying to turn around the company given the parlous state it was in. So first thing was to reconnect with its current core audience in relaunching it’s 50s and 60s models based on what its customers said they wanted. Now, however, Gibson needs to add new younger musicians to its user base, and needs to adapt its marketing and pricing strategy - and product line - to achieve that.

[@cutez0r]

I recently got a Fender player plus in bel-air blue. The guitar is absolutely stunning and plays beautifully. I would like to eventually own a Gibson LP, but can't see that happening too soon given their pricing and offers from the competition.

[@crswro1690]

agreed. love the LP shape but could not give less of a sh!t if the headstock says gibson. in fact i would prefer that it didnt say gibson and was built by a company that do a proper finish and QC it before it ships. and maybe address that horrendous gibson 17deg auto erotic decapitation angle of the headstocks...

[@Barbarapape]

Fender and Gibson have been hiking their prices up for years, but now it's every few months. Thankfully i bought my collection many years ago, and i thought they were expensive then compared to the low wages here in the UK. Today i buy other brands, and even they have increased in price compared to only 12 months ago. These price rises will continue until buyers just can't afford them, the sooner this happens the better.

[@DaveWestGuitar]

Not on board with the synopsis here. I ordered a Fender USA YJM. We are now waiting for the 2nd replacement! The first and first replacement (2 tries!) had huge QC issues. Maxed out saddles and less than 1/16” action at 12th fret on low E. Hopefully the 3rd guitar is the charm. It’s as if nobody is even inspecting what they ship.

[@davehossack7191]

You hit some really good points fellas...something I've been trying to explain. Having owned several Gibsons and Fenders, I can say without question that I'm a Fender. There is something fun about Fender that Gibson totally missing..

[@anonymouslime2644]

Just food for thought, but with the matching instrument comment, ain't no body playing any gibson basses nowadays...

[@TopherCMc]

I’ve played and collected fender / squire since I started playing in ‘94. Just a pile of oddball stuff, offset bodies and obscure Strats. But recently I bought my first a Gibson, an es-335, and it’s completely different. It smells completely different. I can look close and see that a human cut / carved parts of it. Little tooling marks. It’s more art to me. It took me 28 years to be able to buy one. I wouldn’t gig with it. But I do love it.

[@palidiciovermingagurainia1760]

thanks for listening.

[@jonlaurie-beaumont9830]

Marketing aside, if I had to rely on one guitar for gigging or especially touring I'd pick something from Fender. On average I've found them more consistent and reliable. I feel like I have to baby my 335, but maybe that's just me.

[@Dram1984]

A lot has to do with just the type of music that's popular isn't a sound associated with Gibson. Same reason Marshall is struggling.

[@justiceforall6412]

I quit buying Gibsons a long time back. Epiphone does just as good a job at a fraction of the cost. That said, I have found that Fenders and Gretschs are much more versatile, better built, and better priced. Plain and simple. The only real reason to buy Gibsons is for the investment value.

[@andreasf6671]

I'd take a Gibson Tribute/special over anything Epiphone. I've always been disappointed with the lack of quality of Epiphone's whether it's the most expensive ones like the Gold Glory or hollowbodies. I don't get the hype.

[@justiceforall6412]

@@andreasf6671 I have to disagree. I have three Epis and I'd put them up against anything Gibson has put out. I've gigged with them both live and in sessions. I've never been disappointed. I have, however, bought Gibsons in the past that I ended up selling after just a short time.

[@keithcostanza96]

Agree. I take an Epi over a Gibson even if it falls short (I’m not even sure that Gibsons are that much better than some Epiphones) On principal alone I wouldn’t buy a Gibson just for their business practices and the way they’ve treated mom and pop music stores and then you have the infamous embarrassing “Play Authentic” video that was embarrassing and the Guitar community was in agreement on that for the most part.

[@justiceforall6412]

@@keithcostanza96 I wasn't aware of any video, but as I told one fellow, I sold my Gibson electrics and replaced them with 3 Epis and I can't hear any difference.

[@eparock]

i concurr my friend with every word.

[@matthewtucker1699]

I love this, because as any big Gibson or fender fan will know this is pretty much exactly the conversation we had back in the late 50s, when *cough* the greatest guitars we’re ever made but no one wanted them. I think in 10 years or less this will happen again, history repeats itself we’ve seen plenty of proof of that. I predict this new Theodore will be the “burst” or “v” of our generation, people generally have shown distaste for it and everyone’s saying fender is king, but before 2030 those Theodore’s will be the soup of the day, that’s my humble, yet educated take on this whole thing.

[@ericwarrington6650]

I'm not sure the Theodore will ever be anything more than a shit in the dark unless an entire line of these is released...artisan collection? That means plural...I'm curious what's next..you may be correct but I don't think that one fringe guitar is going to be a holy grail on the lines w bursts..

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I love my Gibsons and my Fenders. But I gravitate toward my Gibsons. Some are way too pricey for my budget (both brands) but there are still “affordable” options out there that are available.

[@guitarhillbilly1482]

My favorite Blues player of all time is Freddie King- [Gibson 345 & 355 player] . Having said that Fender Telecaster is still my guitar of choice since 1973.

[@seanfromaustin]

I grew up playing a Les Paul, but now in my forties I'm Fender all the way.

[@TheWelhaven]

Got three US Gibsons (V, SG, LP jr.) and four modded MiM Fenders (2x strats, 2x teles). They are all my favourites.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

I mean, if you look at the Gibson artist collection, I don't think that have a single person on that roster under 40. Some of them (looking at you, Elvis Dove and SJ-200) have been dead for decades. It seems like Gibson are looking to sell to people who have paid off their mortgage, while Fender are looking at people who have been saving up their allowance.

[@Tim85-y2q]

Yeah I'm pretty sure their youngest endorser is Lzzy Hale, and they're not even currently producing her signature model.

[@joeykelly5642]

I’ve noticed a lot of Gretsch Electromatics and Streamliners in my local music scene. A lot of Fenders, too, but idk if that’ll hold up with the price increases and poor QC with their Player line… Within a few years I think it’ll be mostly Squiers

[@TheRealDadJoke]

Gibsons biggest issue as I see it out in the wild is thier distribution network. They have cut off even medium sized stores. You can't find a new one to play with in 40 miles of me right now. How is a new player going to try one to see if they even like it? The stores are flush with fenders though.

[@renehernandez881]

I am 48 years old and i like indie rock music. Fender guitar are the best for indie music

[@danocatster]

How does the Kramer division fit in for Gibson? They are all great guitars, including $179 Baretta Special.

[@coles347]

I think that Fender is being really smart in focusing on building brand loyalty and familiarity with younger people. My dad had a Fender Jazz Bass when I was a kid which I thought was the coolest thing ever. So when I got older and was looking to get into guitar for myself, I automatically gravitated towards Fenders. I ended up getting a Tele and it's still my number one. Gibsons are cool, to be sure. I have a Epiphone Les Paul Gold Top which I really like, but I'll probably always be a Fender Fan Boy simply because it's what I thought was cool when I was a kid.

[@Moonshot568]

When you watching fender custom shop you watching love smiles and passion… when you watching gibson the feeling is , hey we are gibson and you’ll be lucky to have one if you can afford us . I LOVE THEM BOTH and hope that gibson will figure it out.

[@stevenpipes1555]

There's not a competition. Gibson makes guitars that we dream about getting someday, maybe, and Fender makes guitars that we can actually get as well as making dream guitars!

[@BrandonOutside]

Rhett was just talking about this too (I stg y’all KZbinrs have secret meetings and decide what topic everyone will talk about for the week 😆). I think D’Angelico is doing a great job supporting the newer, up-and-coming artists. And I love the range they have, everything from LP and 335 style, to offsets with single coils. They pretty much cover all the bases, and they look great too!

[@randrothify]

I agree. D’Angelicos are sweet and have their own brand heritage kinda of like Gretsch. I love Gibsons but they’ve got to offer more variety in colors, configurations, sounds, and price points. Would also help if they could come out with some designs that are sleek and well-proportioned instead of the ungainly, overly pointy, and polarizing stuff like Theodore. Oh yeah, would help if they made them less fragile and easier to repair, or at least offer replacement necks even if the labor to replace is expensive.

[@sharkbark9338]

I picked up a Gibson SG Tribute for $1200 which is easily in the Fender range price wise. I really love this guitar. Gibson fixed the neck-drop issue. It's affordable, very well made and sounds great! You can easily mod these guitars any way you like. I can see the Tribute Les Pauls and SGs becoming workhorse guitars for many professional bands in the coming future. These guitars will become iconic through KZbin videos, etc. I think Gibson is trying to reach a younger market. Hopefully they will continue in this direction.

[@guitarhillbilly1482]

I think one of many reasons why the majority of guitar folks prefer Fender over Gibson is that Fender Telecasters and Stratocasters are what we hear on most recordings since the 1950's. We have heard and seen Famous players using Fender guitars more than Gibson and they could afford any guitar of their choosing. Although USA Fenders are closing the price gap with Gibson for decades there was a huge disparity in Price. When the words "Country Music" are said the first word that come to mind for a guitar Player is Telecaster. Telecasters are great in many different genres of music but they own Country Music. At one time Gibson and Gretsch owned Nashville. When the words "Bakersfield Sound" are spoken players do not think of Gibson. Blues Rock players bring to mind Jimmy Hendrix - Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. One of my favorite Rockabilly Players Carl Perkins played Gibson's Early in his career but switched to Fender or Fender type guitars in the 1970's and never looked back. The question is what made him switch because it was not economics? I started playing Fender guitars since 1973 [ Mustang then Telecaster] and have owned Gibson's and PRS both and they are great guitars but I eventually sold them and play nothing but Fender or Fender type guitars.People like what they are familiar with and most folks starting out with Fender Type guitars will remain with them for their lifetime. Gibson is losing this battle.

[@e7thstar]

Not true. Did santana play fender? Nah he went yamaha. Did ccr go fender? No he went rickenbacker with gibson 57s. Only "rockers " that used was Jimmy hendrix and David Gilmore. Both with stringy glassy sounds. Sure page used the tele on his recordings, but he played gibson live. Why? Because they just sound better live. Now fender markets to the abc mafia. It's killing the guitar worse than the 2000s emo scene

[@e7thstar]

Also, you should try an ibamez prestige ...hell even a $200 ibanez. It will dance circles around your fenders

[@guitarhillbilly1482]

@@e7thstar LOL!!! LOL!!! TROLL!

[@texhaines9957]

Having played acoustic for 50 years, Having a back and hand issues, what first electric guitar would you recommend for OLD tunes (folk, rock-a-billy, gospel, country and tunes from the 1960s and 70s? Taylor Tz5? Gretsch something? Les Paul? What say you?

[@erickmo1188]

Thankfully fender has been able to maintain QC across the board with this pandemic. I’ve bought something from every range during it and have been blown away

[@ericwarrington6650]

Providing the dealers do right by them and don't pull shit like Gc sending ppl floor models and clearly played instruments when buying brand new...it happened w my strat...send me demo in odd box w no paperwork no case or bag and no case candy whatsoever and missing trem arm...like who sends someone a guitar like that for 1100 dollars? Then as I was big enough to keep it cuz it is a definite player level axe..they gave me a hard time.. basically called me a liar and then completely dropped off my email when I asked for my $7 trem bar I should have received...in hindsight I should have just taken the whole thing bk... prob was I fell for the guitar...hard...live and learn..but manufacturer success rides on dealer quality...if bums are selling your stuff u don't stand much chance...so I took all my business to Sweetwater and have only ordered one thing from gc since cuz only one who had it...40th anniversary ts9 Ruby red tube screamer...in 2021 I spent around 15 thousand dollars in guitars and gear etc...that's real $ from one guy...they blew it

[@erhock92]

I’ve honestly been struggling with the QC from fender these last two years. They seem to be doing something really wrong with their fret dressing, between roughly polished frets and horrid fret sprout I have struggled to find one under $1500 that was usable. Granted I live in an area that has very dry air, so grain of salt added.

[@ericwarrington6650]

@@erhock92 correct...I honestly feel it was more guitar centers fault than fenders but my fender experience was the same...I love the guitar but it's far from what it should be off factory floor for 1100 bucks u know?

[@erhock92]

@@ericwarrington6650 I totally get what you’re saying. I don’t even have a Guitar Center near where I live. I have a boutique guitar store that’s much closer, and even they’ve struggled with the fret sprout. I love Fender guitars, but for $850, I can get a Sliver Sky(PRS strat) that actually has well dressed frets. I’m not even bashing Fender, I would love for them to put out a better product. But, right now I’m just not seeing the value.

[@ericwarrington6650]

@@erhock92 spoken wisely my friend...I love fender...love the history..love the instruments and the tones that result..my complaint is with GC alone..they didn't do right by me...grimy to send someone a guitar that's clearly been played without the proper stuff or even the whammy bar...then ignore me and runaround when I addressed it... couldn't answer my email after telling me they'd "look into it"??? How do u look into something like that...u can't... obviously didn't believe me or too much of a bother...either way...lost my business and Sweetwater HOOKS ME UP

[@v1rtualnish]

I'm 24 years old, and I would love a Gibson. They're Gibson for god's sake. But when I see a Gibson SG Special for $1600 all I think is, ''hell no!'' Especially when the Epiphone is $430, and I can just upgrade the pickups. Also, I feel Fender and Gibson have paid so much attention to Epiphone and Squier that they have neglected to make their American series appealing. Especially Fender. They're so milquetoast.

[@michaelmorales3819]

I love teles & strats. But I’m loving the Gibson tribute I just got. $1,200 isn’t bad at all for a Gibson. Love the maple neck too

[@BrandtJorgensen]

I totally remember seeing the wine red LP Studio at live gigs often too, Jonathan!

[@jbizley]

Same here! That was the only gibson you got players could afford in the 90's it was so ugly!

[@michaeljohnson8552]

Give me Fender everytime. An SG Special ...pelham blue that l recently bought...will it stay in tune??? .

[@fretish5425]

I think Gibson views themself as a premium brand. And it flows from that view that they price their products higher, they don’t do “giveaways” and they don’t waste resources going after a young demographic with little/no disposable income. Does that serve them long term? Probably not. It may be worth exploring what Epiphone’s marketing team is doing/not doing vis a vis Squier and Fender. Because, IMO, Epiphone marketing seems to be an afterthought.

[@charlesrense5199]

I'm fine with gibson being a premium brand... as long as they're making a premium product.

[@mn6576]

J

[@LexingtonDaniel]

It'll be interesting to see what happens as these artists hit their "mid-career switch" age. Clapton started on Les Paul with the Bluesbreakers, then SG with Cream, and ended with the Strat. Hendrix had moved towards Gibsons leading up to his end. Townsend was a Strat and Ric guy before the SGs and eventual Les Pauls. Page was Tele and Danelectro before the doubleneck SG and Les Paul era... There are a lot of upstarts gaining traction too - Bilt, Dusenburg, Strandberg, etc. Where do brands like PRS and Ibanez fit in? Will anyone ever actually use a Carvin/Kiesel or Tom Anderson guitar?

[@JonathanRodriguez-lh5mb]

I think Gibson would be smart to push the Inspired By Gibson Epiphone line. Market it as their Classic Vibe equivalent to get younger people to buy into the brand. Also more vibrant colors should help.

[@ianbrailsford5843]

Here in England the backline is always Marshall. They're our Fender in amp terms.

[@DDE_ADDICT]

I posted this on rhett Shulls page 2 days ago; Ok I will start here; I am a 56-year-old player and played since age 12. The very first Music store I went in all the salesman are Gibson, Gibson, you got to try a Gibson. My 15-year-old comment back was “If a Strat was good enough for Jimi it is sure as hell good enough for me”. I bought a Squire Japan Strat that day that was very early 1980’s. Next, I have huge hands, my thumb can Barr the E-A-D, and all other finer are still usable. My ring finger at the tip is 5/8” wide at the tip. A Gibson scale is 5/8” wide on the 12th fret. That makes playing past the 14th fret on their scale to hard, it’s like trying to put a 3/4-inch dowel in a ½” hole. I also hate the D shaped squared shoulders and thin neck all my S&T style guitars have a huge necks that didn’t cost an extra 2000K to get. Now Trogly’s Guitar Show just did an episode last week talking about custom “V” guitar just released at over 40K, they also sent some husks to and artist to do his custom take and he was selling the compete “V” for 6K that means Gibson sent him Gibson V husks for under 4K. The math doesn’t lie. Gibson is charging the buyers an extra 35ish K for it to say Gibson. We all romanticize about our classics, but I want a guitar, a tool like Joe Bonamassa say’s, not a dinning room table. Now I have made my own guitars since the early 1990’s. I have been employed in the Antique restoration, cabinet and chair maker, radial mill work specialist, and shipwright and industrial coatings for more than 30 years. Yes, there is a lot of labor. However, if you buy a truss rod for 8 bucks one at a time that adds up, but they buy a 100,000 at a time at a cost of $0.030 each. If I go to exotic wood here in Canada and buy a piece of AAAAA flame maple for a top it would cost me about 70-90 CND. However, if I buy an entire tree that will have a lot of burl, quilt, flame, and other figured growths I can buy the entire tree for under 10K, sell what I don’t need and have enough for 400 guitar tops. Like the mill work shops I have worked in we often bought wood that came in by train loads. Now it is pennies on the dollar. And let us not forget the very unneeded 14* headstock angle, 7* would have been fine. Buddy Mack

[@timhonan7321]

Is it a war? I have Fenders and Gibsons. Love them both. Different tools for different things. Rising tides lifts all boats. May they both flourish.

[@jordanpratt3821]

I really think it comes down to cost more than anything.If Gibsons cost as much as a MIM,or even MIA fender and a standard fender was 3 grand which one do you think you'd see everyone playing??

[@autodidacticprofessor869]

Mexican made Vintura "Fender" guitars cost the same as the US made Gibson tribute models that come WITH a gig bag. Why would I choose the Fender unless I only care about looks and style?

[@wammons007]

Love my Gibsons started with a studio up to a custom shop awesome btw and just got my Adam Jones standard. Don’t love them equally but love them

[@guguslive]

I went to Nashville last year... and I watched, I don't know, 7 bands during the weekend... I only saw an SG and a Les Paul, the rest were Teles and Strats.

[@SavageJaceClark]

I'm 21 mostly listening to classic rock, joan jett, rainbow, def leppard, the cars. The simple fact of the matter is gibson is priced completely out of the market after factoring in their qc issues. I got a fender special edition custom telecaster fmt hh in black cherry burst it sounds good, plays good and looks amazing, stays in tune, has coil splitting and didn't come from the factory needing fretwork. I considered a Gibson les paul tribute but it was several hundred dollars more. My local shop an hour away didn't have either one in stock so I had to order in. That left only one logical choice the fender. It's the best choice I could have made. I would still own a les paul studio, classic or one with a maple fretboard, flying v or explorer but there is so much other gear I would buy with that kind of money so definitely not buying one new.

[@e7thstar]

Problem with fenders is that they are cheap uncomfortable slabs of wood. I own three strats. A 99 indonesian squier, a new sparkly green Mexican fender, and a quilted maple top American deluxe. They are all the same quality. One was $200 20 years ago and the qmt was 2k. Gibson gives you more for your money on the high end. As far as telecasters go, those things cut the circulation to my right hand. The neck is tiny (I'm 5 6")...volume and tone knobs are all placed horribly wrong...idk how ANYONE can comfortably play a telecaster

[@visionop8]

That's said perfectly.

[@SavageJaceClark]

@@e7thstar this tele has a set neck, carved heel and a strat style comfort curve. Every time I pick it up I think wow this guitar is worth way more then then $1200 I've never picked up a gibson and been like wow this is worth $1600+. I will admit that my cv50s tele can put my right hand to sleep but I don't have that problem with the fmt.

[@e7thstar]

@@SavageJaceClark im guessing you're talking about the fmt tele with the seymours. That's been on my watch list for about 10 years. They don't even market that guitar but have been constantly making them for over a decade. I find that weird

[@SavageJaceClark]

@@e7thstar yes that's the one. They are great guitars, there's close to a two year back order on production of them. before the recent price increase they were sell above factor price on reverb. The only changes I'd consider making to it are putting dimazios in it and maybe changing the tunners. Both are perfectly fine stock. I'm just looking for a little more mids (my current practice amp dosnt have mid eq on it) from the pickups and perfur vintage style tunners. I don't think they market them because it was Korean made now Indonesian, most of the marketing goes to Lead Series around the same price point.

[@SyntagmaStation]

First video of theirs I’ve seen. Immediately liked them. Great on-camera vibe. Also, I think they’re right.

[@Jamzocd]

Gibson has gotten the reputation of a “Dad” Guitar. Hell, even Slash is 56 years old. They pride themselves on making products of the yesteryear. Fenders you can also mod the hell out of which is appealing to younger people.

[@rstuartcpa]

Speaking of Fender: just got my Pro Reverb that I ordered in November 2021 and it was worth the wait. You can believe all the hype. Love Gibson amps…they should resurrect their amp line. It may translate to guitar sales.

[@HSet77]

Those old Gibson GA-40 amps were great. Bring them back! I own two guitars a 2020 Fender Pro II Tele and a 2019 Les Paul Special Tribute with P-90's. The Fender cost more. Which would I keep if I could only keep one...?

[@cwmims]

I wasn't able to afford my Gibson ES-345 until I was 40. Hence, I grew up playing Fenders and still play them to this day. Not only are Fenders more accessible for many guitarist, but Fender has put in considerable work in marketing their guitars towards younger players and artists of diverse cultural and musical backgrounds. The H.E.R. signature Strat is a perfect example as H.E.R. is an emerging black female R&B / Neo Soul artist. Gibson on the other hand markets their products towards middle-age and older adults who have a certain level of discretionary income. There's Gibson TV that interviews rock icon's of the 70's, 80's, and 90's and revels in the insanely expensive collection of affluent blues lawyers / doctors. To be honest, Gibson (who I love) is really out of touch with the younger generation of musical artists. This is where companies like Fender and D'Angelico have been crushing it.

[@minorcek]

Accurate

[@rpm4999]

I am 58 now and have just purchased a les paul special could not justify a standard When i was 18 i paid for a new les paul custom long gone now…. They just keep going up in price and demand i wouldn’t spend my money on anything other than gibson fender or martin

[@alangreenway6695]

Gibson electrics weren’t popular in the 50’s or early 60’s, but then they dominated when Clapton picked one up all the way through to the Clash and the Pistols. They then had a lean run through the early 80’s as New Wave, Hair Metal, and soft rock dominated, but blew up again as G’n’R, Aerosmith, and the grunge bands became big. Fender tends to be usable in all types of music, but Gibson’s are more subject to musical fashions. A lot more bling for Hard Rock, Metal, Jazz, and Blues. I would guess Gibson will have a resurgence when we need more sustain and a thicker tone.

[@terryshrk]

I sort of agree,.and I am a Strat guy loL! I think its super super difficult to get anything to do that particular "Les Paul thing" other than a nice well made Gibson Les Paul. I love and play Blues and Blues/rock and you just soak in the tones of the likes of a Jimmy Page or Billy Gibbons Pearly gates ro even Bernie Marsdens " The Beast" and its very very difficult to get "that tone" on a Fender without really being selective with amps and pedals. I mean,.to yoru point about "sustain and thinker tone,.no one ever complains about Hendrix tone not being "thick enough" or anything,.yet Hendrix,.wasnt really just riffing,.LoL! He was also playing brilliant melodies that would eventually inspire SRV and Fruciante,.so thats a differnt thing. But really Gibsons rally do bring something unique to the musical playing field,..its just that they also cost a lot more to produce ,.so they aren't as easily accessible as the bolt on from Cali

[@caiusmadison2996]

Dominated? During this time frame, every single great of the Strat and Tele simultaneously was on screen and recognized in the common household. Never, has Gibson been a better seller nor producer than Fender. What are you even taking about? They've simply never actually come close to the business Fender has always done.

[@Tim85-y2q]

If anything, that seems more ominous for Gibson. I don't see a resurgence of the types of music traditionally associated with their brand/models anytime soon. Fender meanwhile has signiture models and endorsers from all over the modern popular music scene.

[@benweekes2797]

I definitely was a Fender guy through and through, but when you start looking at decent production models being the same price as the Gibson counterparts now I must admit I’m shifting allegiance. Even more so when it comes to the custom shop…

[@mikefromusa6902]

Thank and bless you guys for something for me to look forward to on a daily basis.

[@matthewtyler-jones8317]

Another thing that Fender do that I don’t see from Gibson is anything like the Squier Contemporary line. Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, they are evidence of Fender/Squier trying out new things and new looks on established body shapes.

[@jerrymorgan1752]

When I bring home a Gibson, the guitar will stay intact unless I don’t like the pickups. The fender Strat on the other hand, mods are endless. Change the pick guard to lower the volume knob, dump a humbucker in the bridge and swap to locking tuners. It’s just easier to make your own.

[@e7thstar]

So gibson gives you more for your money.

[@jerrymorgan1752]

Yes and no. Quality control has plagued gibson for quite some time. I purchased a few of them that I had to return because they were not built right. Just saying you don’t really need them on Gibson because you know what you’re getting.

[@cal_goodi]

No way Baxter is 22, I would’ve thought he was max 20

[@rontheguitarcollector]

Wow, Rhett Shull did almost this same video yesterday. Only difference, you guys are awesome and he’s a tool!! Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!! Love you guys!!!!!!!

[@smelltheglove2038]

You HAVE to set your amp to just at break up.

[@richsackett3423]

@@smelltheglove2038 Insufferable. Or the field trips to CME where he enthuses vapidly over guitars he can’t possibly afford. AYFKM

[@smelltheglove2038]

He reminds me of that kid you introduced to a hobby, be it fishing, collecting records, skateboarding, whatever, and then a month later they are the expert on that subject. The over use of buzzwords really says it all. The very definition of “pretentious”. Though, I like “poseur” more.

[@dangolguitartech]

🤠

[@eljefe8564]

I had been wondering what Pauly Shore was up to....

[@seanalan3252]

If Gibson let epiphone use the Gibson headstock design/ shape I think there would be a monumental shift in sales. Just saying.

[@Ghost_Electricity]

Leo Fender was a design genius who made guitars with modular parts. This makes them not only cheaper to manufacture, but also easier to modify and work on. This fits with the DIY ethos of punk & indie music. On top of that fenders just look more modern and cool to my eye, to this day than any other guitar out there, and they were designed 70 years ago. Name another 70 year old design that has the staying power of fender guitars and basses. Don't forget fender invented and dominate the electric bass as well.

[@brittsmith8260]

Does the Fender trend hold true for basses as well?

[@CauseWiredVideo]

The reason is the Telecaster. It's the elemental electric guitar and you can still afford to buy the real thing (mostly).

[@Funkybassuk]

I had to become a lawyer before I could afford a Gibson. I think Gibson is missing a trick with the Les Paul Jr. They should make it affordable and just hand out 1000 to different young groups, instagram players and youtubers. They’re great no-frills guitars that sound amazing. They also need to up their game when it comes to basses if bands are going to be all playing the same body shape instrument. That hasn’t really been done since the days of the SG and EB3 with Cream or Black Sabbath. Thunderbirds, EB-3s and Les Paul basses are all very cool instruments but have certain associations with them. Ironically the Les Paul bass - which you never see anywhere - is a versatile and well-made bass. I think Gibson did try something like Fender marketing with The Theodore - but it didn’t look cool. I haven’t watched any of the video reviews on KZbin that appeared a few weeks ago.

[@jimherleva4541]

Disagree. Gibson shouldn’t pander to new bands or poor people. The brand holds on to its “exclusive” appeal and should continue to do so. Like Ferrari is or Lamborghini - they aren’t desirable because they are economical or easy to drive, they are desirable because the brand has an exclusivity that excludes those that can’t afford them.

[@randrothify]

@@jimherleva4541 The problem with that strategy is that you eventually become irrelevant. And in the music industry, which is driven by pop culture and a more egalitarian ethos, irrelevance equals declining sales volume that no amount of higher pricing can overcome. A more appropriate comparison is not Ferrari or Lambroghini, but Leica or Hasselblad. And the photography industry is arguably more welcoming of high-culture art than the pop-driven musical instruments industry.

[@Funkybassuk]

@@jimherleva4541 They are the best cars to drive in terms of sports performance so I don’t think your analogy works. The Gibson Les Paul Junior cost $120 in 1957, whereas the Fender Esquire cost $149.50 in 1955. The price argument just doesn’t hold up when neither design has really been changed in nearly 70 years.

[@danielphillipsmusic9145]

I only play 50s Spec P basses, and Teles, and Gretsch Acoustics. Gibson is probably still winning against FMIC when it comes to acoustics, but when it comes to basses no company is ever going to touch Fender's market share. That said, I get that FMIC is doing the right thing shooting for the younger market in terms of longevity. However, now that they don't make vintage correct factory models anymore all I have left is the odd CS models or my latest secret of buying a few of the 50s Road Worn Replacement necks before they were discontinued to do builds. I think it all goes in cycles. The kids now are being influenced a lot by the 80s and 90s alt and indie rock bands and that's where a lot of the old 60's offset models got a second chance at life. It's kinda cool to watch even if I don't necessarily dig the music. I think the big, loud 70s stuff will come back around again and you'll see some off the Gibson models come back into fashion more.

[@martinclayton7260]

I'd love one of the old Gibson Les Paul studio's, especially the ones with an ebony fretboard, and l love the wine red Les Paul's, but it would have to be one with gold hardware. But I mainly play Fenders now.

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

The brand names maybe the only thing keeping them in the lead. DeArmond, Epiphone, and similar are viable options. There's no need to buy either of those brands unless you intend to resell it later at a profit. For some people who bought their Gibsons 40 years ago, or even at a cheap price whenever, the resale value of a set is a small amount of retirement money.

[@IndigoJo]

I suspect it's because Fender offers choice in terms of pickups and electronics; you can buy single-coils, humbuckers, or a combination of the two. Nearly all Gibsons have the same electronics; the only choice they offer is between different bodies. They also have an instrument at every price point, while with Gibson it's either US or China and that leaves people who can't afford an American made instrument but don't want to buy Chinese out of luck.

[@leevitalone]

Fender is diverse has a format and guitar for so many genres. It's Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Telecasters, Mustangs, Stats, etc. Feed it through a Deluxe Reverb and you can play Jazz, Indie, Alt, Metal, check out Joff from Wolf Alice, incredible musician look at the Goon Sax from Australia. The weight of the guitars the circuit work of Fender is superior.

[@andrewbuck242]

I have a Les Paul Classic and love it. I would not however recommend it to someone starting out. Tuning stability is not as good as , say, a Fender with Kluson-style tuners. Plus, you can bang around a Fender and not get super concerned. Gibson is a beautiful instrument that can break.

[@geducam]

Fender is kicking ass… just bought a telecaster twisted bridge pickup that has an amazing sound.. Gibson is great, but I cannot find anything new and different in their custom shop models. PRS is innovating much more too.

[@johnhart2861]

do you know for sure your perception is supported by the balance sheets of the two companies? I don't but you guys may. It would be nice to know. Personally, i love both brands but in the past few years i have divested in both and spend my money on the Tom Anderson, Kiesel and Suhr brands. I still have one Gibson, the red wine studio you talked about which has a unique tone no one else can get right and two American strats.

[@drivenmad7676]

I live in Maine, do you know a good Luthier who works on electrics? Also an amp tech. There are a few luthiers who work on acoustic guitars only.

[@AbcDino843]

I've been in a place for quite a while now, where PRS has completely replaced Gibson in my mind. Gibson needs to get rid of all management and restructure seriously. They don't need a branding guy that looks the part, with a stubble and a leather jacket, they need a serious manufacturing guy so they can get the level of quality for the price right. The fact that they even hired that guy was a signal to me that they are completely out of touch with reality.

[@michaeljoyce3286]

My whole thing is Gibson to set neck fenders a bolt on neck there’s gonna be a labor cost difference within the two but now you have all these boutique builders that you can get for the same price as an entry-level Gibson

[@tonepilot]

Funny, when I think of Gibson, I think of older players, when I think of Fender, I think of younger folks, especially with Fender’s offsets which are pretty amazing these days.

[@willjones4992]

gibson also just doesnt really have any quirky single coil options. that's the sound these days, pretty sparkley single coil tones oftentimes played in open tunings with a capo. that doesn't really suit a les paul.

[@mansonrustrelic]

Thanks for another top video, I see that Royal Blood who have had a phenomenal rise over here in the UK over the last few years (apart from the pedals) have a full Fender and Gretsh backline and bass guitars nowadays

[@24collin24Collin]

Question for you guys: Would it be a bad idea to open a boutique store only for metal and modern guitars?? not boutiques brands though. Do you know anyone that has done this??

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Badflower is a relatively new band and they definitely use a lot of silver face back line and play Teles. Awesome live band.