Gibson or Fender: The Ultimate Battle of Faith?
A Humorous Look at the Decades-long Debate Between Gibson and Fender Fans
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For decades, no, forever, a debate has divided the electric guitar scene: Gibson or Fender? The discussion resembles a holy war, with both sides firmly convinced that they are on the right side of sound. As a true Gibson disciple, I am no different, except that I know which side is right.
All About the Gibson or Fender Debate
This Gibson or Fender feud has a lot in common with other iconic duels: Beatles vs. Stones, Pepsi vs. Coke, Star Wars vs. Star Trek, Windows vs. macOS – they all have their loyal followers, their (sometimes more, sometimes less factual) arguments and their dogmas. But in the end, it all comes down to personal preference.
And that is where the humor in the Gibson or Fender conflict lies. Why are we arguing about two brands of guitars instead of just making music? Obviously, because it’s fun. And it’s a way to approach the subject of electric guitars from a different angle. In this article, we take this absurd “war” apart for just that reason – and show why it is not completely pointless.
The Camps: Two (World) Religions Compared – Gibson or Fender
Gibson on one side, Fender on the other. Both seemingly armed with the best arguments to claim their place on the guitar throne. Let’s take a look at the arguments.
The Gibson Disciples:
Gibson fans are sure of one thing: Real guitars have a set neck, fat humbuckers, and a solid piece of mahogany for the body. Anyone who plays anything else doesn’t have the “real sound” down pat. Les Paul, SG, Explorer – they’re not just instruments, they’re status symbols.
The arguments from the Gibson camp range from “Fender sounds thin and cheap” to “A guitar should be heavy – sustain, baby!“. And while the former is certainly a very subjective matter, the effect of mass on sustain is at least debatable.
What is certain, however, is that the all-massive construction combined with Gibson’s standard humbuckers results in a fat, full sound. Especially at higher gain levels, humbuckers have been shown to provide more clarity and differentiation in sound and tend to be less muddy.
The Fender Advocates:
Of course, where there is opinion A, opinion B is not far behind. And the Fender fans counter: Why carry a heavy, unaffordable piece of wood when a Tele or Strat can do it all? Traditionally, those who get a Fender go for versatility, comfort and the legendary twang.
The less objective arguments from a Fender fan’s point of view are “Leo Fender got it right when he started” or “Gibson guitars are bulky and overpriced!” And while the first statement is again too subjective, at least the price of modern Gibsons is a bit too high, in my opinion.
Both sides of the Gibson or Fender conflict have their icons, their beliefs – and, of course, objectivity on their side from time to time. But the truth is that both manufacturers have their place. But that doesn’t stop the hardcore fans from engaging in endless war of words on social media.
To move away from the polemics and into the realm of fact, let’s take a look at what really separates the two factions.
Technical Differences – and Why They Don’t Really Matter
Whenever the argument heats up, the technical differences between the two vendors are cited to create supposedly objective facts. How useful is this to the discussion? Questionable.
Gibson or Fender and the Tonewood Debate: Is Anyone Really Hearing This??
Gibson traditionally uses mahogany with a maple top, while Fender swears by alder or ash. While some claim that only mahogany provides the “right warmth,” others argue that ash provides the perfect twang.
But the real question is: Can you really hear it in a loud band or in a 480p YouTube video?
Even those who disagree about Gibson or Fender will agree that tonewoods have an impact on the vibration characteristics and ultimately the sound of a guitar. How much of that remains audible after those vibrations have been transmitted from the strings to the pickup and from the pickup to an amp via fifty-seven effects is less clear.
If you are interested in the special properties of tonewoods, you may want to take a look at this article (sorry, in German only): The Sound of Wood.
Construction Differences: Set Neck vs. Bolt-On
Another conflict in the dispute between Gibson and Fender, which is fought with almost religious zeal, is the question of the “best” construction method for the instruments.
While Gibson relies almost exclusively on set necks and the (alleged) increase in sustain that comes with them, Fender traditionally uses bolt-on necks – easier to repair, but allegedly with less sustain.
Many guitarists have strong opinions about this. I’m no exception – I can’t stand the idea that my guitar should be two independent, interchangeable elements. But ever since Eddie Van Halen made music history with a bolted-together Frankenstrat, it should be clear: A good guitarist doesn’t depend on the neck attachment.
Fortunately, I still need a few more hours of practice to reach Eddie’s level, so I can stick to my limited view of the Gibson or Fender conflict.
Humbucker vs. Single Coil – a Matter of Taste or Sonic Philosophy?
Humbuckers deliver a fat, compressed rock sound, while single-coils sound more open and direct. Some say: “You can play anything with humbuckers.” Others counter: “Then it just sounds like mush.“
Personally, I’m not as picky as you might expect a die-hard Gibson and EMG fan to be. But let’s face it: with enough gain, even a Gretsch Filtertron* can sound metal through a Diezel.
Who Needs Ergonomics When it Looks Good?
Even as I was making my case for heavy guitars, I realized that opinions on ergonomics are, shall we say, strong.
Sure, Les Pauls (and especially my beloved ’70s Custom) are heavy, slippery, and kind of unwieldy. But they’re also just plain awesome. Stratocasters, on the other hand, are light, ergonomic supercars, but after a day with a Les Paul, they feel like a toy… And Telecasters? A wooden board with strings. But it would probably survive several nuclear wars.
To anyone who cites ergonomics as the “deciding factor” in the Gibson or Fender conflict, I would counter that there are remarkably few headless multiscale guitars in circulation.
Icons of Both Camps – and Their Contradictions
With all these conflicts and opinions, you might think that Gibson players will always play Gibson and Fender fans will only be happy with a Strat or Tele. But a (brief) look at rock history shows that the boundaries are more fluid than many would like to admit.
Jimi Hendrix with a Flying V – Betrayal or Genius?
Hendrix is Fender’s ultimate idol. His name is inextricably linked with the Stratocaster. But wait! What did he play on stage? A Gibson Flying V. Blasphemy! Or just a guitarist using what was cool at the time? Whatever it is, it’s at least a reason for Epiphone to release the Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” V*.
Jimmy Page with a Telecaster – What do the Gibson Fans Say?
Les Paul, double neck SG – Jimmy Page has always been a Gibson man. But “Stairway to Heaven“, banned from all major music stores and the holy grail of all rock ballads, was recorded with a Fender Telecaster. Sacrilege? Or proof that it’s not the brand that matters?
Eric Clapton: From Les Paul God to Strat Icon
In the ’60s, Clapton was the Les Paul messiah. But then he switched to the Strat – and never looked back. Does that make him a lesser guitarist? Hardly. We already introduced Blacky and Co. in detail. Here you can find the portrait (in German only): Instruments that made history.
Eddie Van Halen: Strat with Humbucker – the Best of Both Worlds
Gibson or Fender? Why choose? Eddie Van Halen took a Strat-like guitar, put a humbucker in it, and the rest is history. His famous “Frankenstrat” model combines Fender and Gibson DNA in one instrument – and shows that guitars are not ideologies, but tools. And it just so happened that the master used it to create the Superstrat.
The Truth About Gibson or Fender: It’s All About Taste
After all the heated discussions about woods, neck designs, and pickup types, one simple truth remains: the best tone comes from your fingers.
Of course, guitars have an influence on tone. But if Stevie Ray Vaughan had played a Les Paul, would he have sounded less like SRV? Probably not. It’s technique, dynamics, and style that define a guitarist’s sound, not the brand of his instrument.
After all the discussion about tonal nuances and the Gibson or Fender battle, one hard reality remains: nowadays 90% of guitarists probably listen to guitars mostly on YouTube or Spotify, and in the end, thanks to compression, they all sound the same anyway.
And even if we come to a conciliatory, almost boring end: I like the discussions, the passionate statements, and the odd creative slam. It always gives me the feeling that all is well when the question of Gibson or Fender can play such a prominent role.
What do you think about the eternal battle between the two brands? Let us know in the comments! And please don’t be too diplomatic.
This article was originally written by Jan Rotring for GEARNEWS.de
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4 responses to “Gibson or Fender: The Ultimate Battle of Faith?”
How about promoting non-US brands in this day and age ?
Especially when the big two have had nothing to offer for decades (but for multiple time the price)
It’s not even worth comparing the two brands until Gibson reliably releases great guitars under $2K. I have my issues with Fender, but price is rarely one of them. Maybe Gibson are trying to foster a brand of higher price -> higher quality, but it comes across as “rich dentist/hedge fund manager wall decor.”
This isn’t ‘humorous’, it’s a load of unutterable nonsense. All the musicians I know are intelligent enough to make their own minds up and many play more than one so-called ‘competing’ brands.
What other nonexistent ‘eternal battles’ is Gearnews going write pointless – sorry ‘humorous’ – features about? Roland v Yamaha? Yamaha v Steinway? Marshall v Vox x Orange? Native Instruments v Arturia?
Well I guess Fender and Gibson can duke it out,while PRS that’s Paul Reed Smith for those who haven’t heard.will most likely move into second.They have a market that can fulfill even the most seasoned players and beginners So much for the single coil vs humbucker PRS has it covered!!