[3bolt79]

And if you do, how many do you have?

I have a Gibson LP Tribute and an SG Standard.

I want one more, but it is almost 3K. So I will wait for awhile. There is an LP Custom I’m looking at that is 4K as well.

In all actuality, I have all of the guitars on my
Bucket List except for a top shelf Les Paul and a late 70’s Gretsch Super Axe.

 

[ibaraki_gaijin]

I'm not sure about Gibson..
I've played various Les Pauls and SGs, an Es335 and a custom shop semi hollow.

They mostly all looked beautiful. But I didn't find the necks hugely ergonomic on them. Even the custom shop one. The Les Paul has a satisfyingly rich low end and a lovely thick lead tone though.

But the £3k-£4k they ask for them is excessive.

So a mixed bag I guess...

My opinion is probably unrealistically influenced by the fantastic lawsuit era 70s Japanese Lee Paul I have though, which can outplay Gibson's I've tried that we're easily 8x the price tag...
I've tried a few old Japanese copies that were junk though so I might've just got lucky..

 

[ruscio]

My first guitar was a Gibson SG, and I've occasionally picked one up at a guitar store but find that I like nothing about them. The ergonomics are just awful and to my eye they're pretty ugly as well. I know that's 100% subjective, but for example I can't stand the black headstock on a guitar that has a beautiful top on the body (whether flame maple, gold top, black, etc., I will give 'em credit for some really nice tops/paints). Stubborn persistence in bad design bugs me, too. For example, the way the strings come through the nut on a LP to ensure you go out of tune quickly, the LP headstock that makes it more vulnerable to breaking than any other popular guitar, these just seem dumb. These are bad designs that have been improved on so many other guitars. The heel joint on at least some models (e.g., LP) makes it really hard to play on the high frets, also a flaw that's been fixed on many other guitars. I could go on, but what's the point? I really, really dislike Gibson guitars--not on principle, but based on the products they've put out and failed to improve. Go ahead and let me have it if you like, but I'm just giving my honest answer to a direct question, @3bolt79 asked for it!

 

[jemboyee]

My first guitar was a Gibson SG, and I've occasionally picked one up at a guitar store but find that I like nothing about them. The ergonomics are just awful and to my eye they're pretty ugly as well. I know that's 100% subjective, but for example I can't stand the black headstock on a guitar that has a beautiful top on the body (whether flame maple, gold top, black, etc., I will give 'em credit for some really nice tops/paints). Stubborn persistence in bad design bugs me, too. For example, the way the strings come through the nut on a LP to ensure you go out of tune quickly, the LP headstock that makes it more vulnerable to breaking than any other popular guitar, these just seem dumb. These are bad designs that have been improved on so many other guitars. The heel joint on at least some models (e.g., LP) makes it really hard to play on the high frets, also a flaw that's been fixed on many other guitars. I could go on, but what's the point? I really, really dislike Gibson guitars--not on principle, but based on the products they've put out and failed to improve. Go ahead and let me have it if you like, but I'm just giving my honest answer to a direct question, @3bolt79 asked for it!

With all those issues, I have no idea how Randy Rhoads, John Sykes, Joel Hoekstrsa, Doug Aldrich, Al DiMeola, Zakk Wylde, etc, etc, etc… ever got on using them. 😉

 

[ruscio]

With all those issues, I have no idea how Randy Rhoads, John Sykes, Joel Hoekstrsa, Doug Aldrich, Al DiMeola, Zakk Wylde, etc, etc, etc… ever got on using them. 😉

I know, right? They really could have made something of themselves if they'd all played the same guitars that I like best. It's a shame they had to let so much talent go to waste.

 

[brett8388]

I guess I like Gibsons. I have a 59, a 1994 59 Reissue, a 2006 59 Reissue, and I'm going to pick up a Greeny this weekend. Still prefer my Universe models though.

 

[3bolt79]

I just ordered an Epi 59 Les Paul Standard. It is the best Epi I have seen. Burst Buckers, CTS and Switch Craft, etc. about $900.00 with OHSC.

 

[jono]

I need to start breeding Gila Monsters

I'm not a big Gibson fan to be honest, they just don't sit right with me physically. I learned guitar with Slash as a huge influence, and think they sound fantastic, but I never got on with the guitar myself.

I'd absolutely have one if I could warrant the cost, but to be honest, it'd sit in its case

 

[pingfloid]

Heavy and anti-ergonomic. Not for me

 

[bob493]

I guess I like Gibsons. I have a 59, a 1994 59 Reissue, a 2006 59 Reissue, and I'm going to pick up a Greeny this weekend. Still prefer my Universe models though.

An easier question for you is what DONT you have lmao. You have an honest to god 59 though? Thats incredible. Still sad you didnt buy my EVH though.... lol

That said, I have to admit I have a soft spot for maple neck 70's les pauls for reasons Im not even sure of. Dont particularly care if it has a volute or not, but the carve on the ones I've played (all 3 of them) were thin as hell, and super comfortable. They sustained like crazy and sounded great. Hard to argue. I just dont particularly get along with 24 3/4" is the crux really.

 

[tipiay]

For 3 decades my only electric guitar was a Gibson SG Standard. I have no reason to complain, I sold it because I wanted to try something else. I have had some years as a Fender guy. They are also gone now where I am in a period of Ibanez. With todays prices I don't think a new Gibson is in sight. But I enjoyed what I had. Delicious and super playability. And that was for a Norlin era 🤠

 

[JH1980]

I just ordered an Epi 59 Les Paul Standard. It is the best Epi I have seen. Burst Buckers, CTS and Switch Craft, etc. about $900.00 with OHSC.

You won't be disappointment with the 59' Les Paul from Epiphone. I had a 2020 model, and have kicked myself for letting it go. Mine had Dimarzio's swapped in place of the Burstbuckers(which I didn't mind). The neck was a wonder to play, the tone that came from that guitar was wonderful. I broke even on it when I sold it, so I can't complain. But they are a really nice guitar, plus it's an Epiphone and they always make nice guitars(regardless of what some will say). I've owned about 10 Epi's over the years and every one of them played very well. Some didn't have the tone I liked but for play-ability they were always nice to play. Easy to set up too.

 

[3bolt79]

I am going to put crème coils in my Gibson LP Tribute.

If I really dig the Epi sq guitar, I will get one just like the other except for the color, and have a spare.I will set them up the same.

 

[451]

A better question might be: How many of us DON'T like Gibson guitars.

Personally I don't. Gibson as a brand seems to have let themselves go. They remind me of the big 3 auto manufacturers here in the U.S. during the 70s & 80s - figuring no one would ever come along and eat their lunch for them. Until it happened. There's always someone poorer, smarter and hungrier out there, that's how it went for cars, that's how it went for electronics, that's how it went for guitars. In my opinion. Technology changed, styles changed, manufacturing improved, QA improved and Gibson just kind of stayed the same until they started getting worse and worse.

I'm sure there's lots of quality examples of "good" Gibsons and no slight to anyone that plays, enjoys or generally disagrees with me and likes them. There's enough to go around. Just not my thing and it's mainly due to stupid pricing and "meh" quality for every single one I've ever tried out over 3 decades of playing. Not at those price points. And for that reason... I'm out. 😁

 

[JsXLine6]

I can't say I am a big fan of Gibson either. I have an Epiphone Les Paul that I do like to use for some tone variety in tracking... It has DiMarzio pickups and has a bone nut... And actually level frets unlike it did when I bought it. Though the headstock angle isn't as harsh as a Gibson so it does tend to stay in tune. But it mostly sits. I prefer a 25.5 inch scale, I love single coil tones... And I am a tremoholic... I feel very naked without a trem of some kind. I do appreciate the legacy... Because afterall without Gibson's humbucker Eddie wouldn't have invented the super strat that we all seem to have the most appreciation for.

 

[jemboyee]

I have an SG-Z, SG90, and two V90s all of which are 25.5” scale that I believe this crowd could appreciate.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

^^ Those are some of the coolest ones they offered. I recall gassing for an SG-Z (and X) back in the day.

I've got no particular skin in the game but have played several over the years. They have a sound, for sure, and their place in rawk history is undisputed. The ones I've liked the most tended to be real old ones or vos, partly because of the lower neck angle, which makes them, for me anyway, more comfortable to play. I tend to like SGs, because they're light, have full fret access and the body is a bit bigger than a LP.

I do have one of those Epiphone Specials, an older one when they had plywood bodies and maple necks - it is a good sounding and playing guitar after new pups (original mudbuckers would be more at home in an EB-3 ), tuners and stripping the paint off the neck. I imagine the ones being made now are a bit nicer, though by the looks of it still have the same rubbish tuners (gotta cut the cost somewhere). Still not much of a LP guy all the same - small (heavy) body and tight upper fret access. However, the combination of a 24.75 scale with the 12" radius and a set of 9s makes for effortless playing.

If I wanted a Gibson style guitar, I'd probably sooner get a Japanese copy like an Edwards, Burny or Greco.

There's also the M3, which is a pretty well-appointed superstrat, imo, but unpopular due to missing the initial boat and the consensus among some parties that 'Gibson can't/shouldn't do superstrats' . I guess now since they own Kramer, they can don't have to.

 

[3bolt79]

The Kramer guitars are a nightmare for any one that isn’t a skilled tech or luthier.

I had a polka dot Kramer NightSwan that came with one broken tuner. It took 4 months to get me the part.

The guitars frets needed a leveling and also had pokey frets. The nut was too high, and I wound up lowering the Thing by removing some wood under the Floyd nut. That, and then adjusting everything else.

The seller knocked $200.00 because of the problems. So I took the money, and fixed it myself.

 

[3bolt79]

Well I just had this one delivered yesterday. I do like LP’s. I went with this Epiphone 59 guitar. $900.00 brand new OHSC.

This one has American Gibson pups and come with CTS pots and Switch Craft toggle and jack.

I am cheap, and the Epi was well equipped and just a buck under $900.00. The Gibson I was looking at is $2800.00. And that was out of my reach at this time.

 

[3bolt79]

I'm not sure about Gibson..
I've tried a few old Japanese copies that were junk though so I might've just got lucky..

Lucky? I kind of feel that I got lucky on more than a few guitars. Especially as far as the Les Paul type guitars goes. And my Aria RS KnightWarrior as well.