It took a year but my new Novo Miris J with fralin p-90s has more then lived up too it’s hype !!! Very very happy with this guitar now at gigs it’s my tele and the novo it’s all I need and it plays spectacular through my brand new Carr Impala amp !!! Best two choices I have ever made in gear
Hey, I have a Tele with Fralin Stock Tele pickups and I love it. I recently got a Jay Turser Mosrite copy (my first guitar with P90s) and the pickups are pretty decent, but I've been thinking about swapping in some Fralin P90s. I'd love to hear your thoughts, if you don't mind...
I have a G&L Legacy which is absolutely fantastic. I do whish they would stop relying on the Fender history. It is more different than other Strat like guitars to a Strat. Different wiring, vastly different trems and bridges, nothing except maybe the tuners would cross. Even the body shape is slightly different. If they would focus on their strengths, I think they would be more well known.
When I started playing back in the 70's for the most part most brands produced garbage fender and gibson looking products that you could buy in a record store, Sears, Penny's, Montgomery Wards catalog and guitar shop. What I learned then was "If you want a Fender or Gibson, BUY A FENDER OR GIBSON!!!!" When it comes to Acoustic guitars the story is different. They tend to be basically the same shape and made of the same woods, but there are some amazing builders out there, and the name isn't just Gibson or Martin. Do your homework play and when you think you've found one, get somebody who can play to play it while you stand in front of it. Because the old girl sounds a lot different in front than she does from behind. It's just something to think about.
agree 100% but the worst is when the person you get to play the guitar in testing question makes it sound much better than you can. it happens. some players just have the touch that can make any guitar sound good.
I think we currently live in a kind of golden age of electric guitar - even stuff that's affordable is better quality than the stuff that was around when I was a kid starting out (in the 1980's). I like that there are so many different choices at so many price-points. I'll never be able to afford a custom shop guitar...but who cares? The fact that I own a Les Paul, two Strats, a Godin from 1993 and a really nice Ibanez acoustic still kind of shocks me. Sixteen year old me would've been amazed. I feel lucky to have what I've got, and if I ever became independently wealthy I'd consider a custom built guitar...but I don't feel like I'm missing anything.
Hell Yeah! Imagine growing up in the '70's when both Fender ( Crappy 3 bolt necks that wobbled all over the place) and Gibson ( Need I say anything other than 'The 20Lb Norin'?) sucked. Even the midrange as well as some of the entry level stuff today is as well or better made than stuff from the '60's!
Hey guys, kind of wondering why you don’t mention MusicMan more. This is the first episode that I think I’ve even heard them mentioned. A Family owned American Manf that produce high quality guitars (they’re QC is 2nd to none outside of custom shop) with guitars like the Axis, Albert Lee, and Petrucci series, and more recently the St. Vincent, Mariposa, Kaizen being some of the most uniquely shaped guitars with pro features and one of the finest feeling necks in the guitar game. Are they the “classic” brand from your childhood? No, they’re better. 🙏🎸🤘
music man was the quality brand of MY childhood 😂 if i had a couple grand to blow on a guitar it would be spent on a music man, any oof them they are all great
this video is so spot on! I mean if someone wants a Fender or a Gibson, thats what they're gonna buy, not some knockoff that claims to be better. I don't get why guitar builders are so terrified of innovation, the vast majority just wanna be the best at recreating whatever magic was happening in the 60's. I mean I get a lot of it, the scroll style headstock that fender created wasn't new at all, it was just a new take on an old design but it wasn't trying to be a better version of another headstock, it was something totally new that just borrowed shapes and curves for looks, and its not like the hourglass shape of a les paul was anything new either so these instruments borrowed plenty from other instruments that came first, so why is it they were able to create something so amazing, and now the market has been largely stagnant for 60 years? I think it comes down to one simple thing.... courage... Leo Fender had the courage to innovate, knowing he would encounter criticism, and now these companies are run with one goal, to avoid criticism.... the goal should always be innovation and tone. The guitar world deserves a better class of builder.
The builders are making things that will sell, they're not our benefactors, they need to make a living. A lot of them are also making guitars with specs that you can only get from a custom shop, but at lower cost and similar quality.
so why stop there, why not just pick 10 songs we all like, and all music for the rest of time will be people playing 1 of 10 songs and 1 of 3 different kinds of guitars, meh fuck it just let AI do it all right? Art is just about consumerism anyway... PASS. Stay tuned, a better class of instrument is on its way. Europe and Asia aren't locked into this lunacy like the USA seems to be, it's only a matter of time until American craftsmanship kicks back into high gear and does what these other guys are doing, but to perfection.
@@MayorMcCheese2000 You are railing against the makers instead of the consumers. There is plenty of unique and innovative guitar builders here, just their stuff doesn't sell and they are not that well known.
Gretsch fan girl here. Eddie Cochran, Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins, were my first inspiration. I've never had the opportunity to play vintage Gretsch, but I would stack my 6120DE against any of them. I've had many hollow bodies through the years, Ibanez, Epiphone, Michael Kelly none of them came close to my Gretsch.
@@AbcDino843 I just disagree, I don't think there's a whole lot to be excited about right now, I think the builders have lost their nerve and the market is begging for more and they're unwilling to put themselves out there.
The best thing about boutique is the detail given to the smallest detail, and you realize how much the details matter, Still if i want a strat I'll buy a fender first
Interesting that Leo’s first design (MusicMan) after leaving Fender was quite a radical departure from what went before. However Leo’s last design (G&L) went back closer to his original Fender designs. I have 2 G&L’s and I am impressed with both of them. Smaller brands that I have played that have impressed me include Collins and Xotic (both USA built). I do have some Fenders and Gibsons and if you try before you buy you can still get good ones. If I was to buy an Epiphone I would go for one of their own designs (Broadway, Casino, Riviera, Sheraton) rather than an “inspired by Gibson” model.
Ehhhhh not really. Gotta remember with G&L Leo wanted nothing to do with the classic Fender designs. His first G&L was an F100 then we saw the SC's and Cavaliers etc. The reason there is even an ASAT was Dale Hyatt. He conspired with George Fullerton to create the ASAT. George went in to the attic (The G&L factory is in Leo's old CLF Research facility Blah Blah) got the old Telecaster template (Yes the original template) and created the ASAT body. Fast forward, Dale was able to sell ASAT's and as a result Strats and Jazz masters came along. So Yeah they are building a lot of versions of fender guitars, but not because that is what Leo wanted to do, it is just what folks will buy.
Yeah, I love fenders, but… I play my Suhr classic s and PRS hollowbody piezo the most, so… Also, your discussions are inexplicably but wonderfully enjoyable.
I love at 3:35 the Vienne sausage reference! When Ray Kroc made the deal with the McDonald Bros. to license their concept, they couldn't get the french fries right. They finally figuired out it had to do with how long they set after they were unboxed and washed to dry. It affected the way they cooked!
My “Les Paul Special” is a Collings 290 with a vintage replacement wraparound bridge/tailpiece. I Neil Young’d it with a rewound Firebird pickup in the bridge position too. ☺️ It’s a real ringer.
Thought about this the other day, Reverb is not enough to have resale, so the guitar shops that remain are gonna be awesome, containing gems more often if the bigs quit selling to shops. This just makes it worth it to take up luthiery schooling while maintaining your shop, amd produce an in-house brand. Make a student model, and the rest mid to eventual greatness
I’ve never bonded with a Fender, but, totally unexpectedly, gravitated to the G&L ASAT variations after playing Gibsons for years. You like what you like regardless of brand name.
Got some nice Custom Shops and a nice Murphy Lab so definitely able to give a true comparison/ opinion. Just picked up a Kauffmann ( Germany boutique) T54 in heavy relic’d butterscotch and it’s absolutely top draw. Looks, feels and plays like a Master Build without the 8k price tag. Fender and Gibson continuous price hiking has made me consider some serious alternatives.
I have two G&Ls: a Fallout bass, which I love (though it has a darker sound than a P-bass or Mustang bass), and a Comanche, which I like, but it doesn't replace a Strat for me.
After watching this I realize I'm a fender fan boy I bought my first fender bass in 1972 I recently bought a american strat and a player mustang I had a highway one tele, American jazz bass , fender princeton, a bassman 60 and 100 amp, old gear I know . I do own a martin 00015 and a 1977 epiphone ft 120 in mint condition thanks guys for giving me another name
One comment struck close to home….”they’ve done it before”….”troubles happen when they’re purchased just to turn a profit”…”when it’s not the original people”…as I sit and play a Baritone Tacoma Thunderhawk….damn you, Fender.
My Nash S63 and T63 are way better than both my custom shops. I have a late 70’s schecter tele that is amazing. For amps, Friedman and Victoria are hard to beat by their Marshall and Fender counterparts.
I absolutely love Victoria Amps. In my opinion they are definitely much better than any amp Fender currently makes. I honestly think they are as good as and possibly better than the original Fender amps they are based on.
My dream rig is a Carr Superbee and Nash S63. My Fender MIM Road Worn looks great but the fret work sucks. Not getting rid of it but I'm going to do some fret work to make it like it should be. I've heard the fret work on Nash is fantastic. I hope so.
Made me come to the realization of what they mean by "plays like butter". Never knew before what they were talking about in terms of my experience....... never too late.......
My best guitar is a Forshage........... GT (his tele style offering) ...... most precise action I've ever owned....... Roasted bird's eye maple neck, SS 6105 frets, sassafras body....Vega trem......Lollar '52 in the neck and Lollar El Rayo in the bridge with push/pull tone knob to change the humbucker from series to parallel....... Very versatile...... compound radius 10" to 14"
Found a Harley Benton TE90FLT Vintage White (Cabronita copy) that is as awesome as my Fender Cabronita and the Roswell pickups definitely hold their own. My Epiphones (Korea) LP Junior, SG and LP Special DC rival their Gibson equivalents. Still a Fender and Gibson supporter! 🤙🏼
I like my Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s more than Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. Of course real flame top looks nicer and Gibson is bit lighter but this is whered advantages end. Better fretwork, better tuning stability on Epi for 300 euro used. i have also Gibson LP tribute and even I would not say it has really the vibe people buy Les Paul for but on the other hand, it is great (also better than Gibson LP Standard) in its own right.
I have a tribute that I absolutely love. I think the maple neck makes it much more stable or something. At 1200 bucks for a U.S. made instrument it’s a goddamn steal.
@@smelltheglove2038 Tuning stability in my opinion comes to these things in this order: how is the nut cut, what is the headstock angle, angle of the string between nut and tuner and only after that quality of tuners. I managed to get my 2018 Gibson Les Paul Tribute in a great shape for 600 euro last year. Terrific instrument.
The original Heritage guitars weren’t simply built in Kalamazoo, they were built by the same men & women that previously built the Gibsons there. They’ve also generally stuck to the old methods of construction & specs that traditionalist prefer. Gibsons QC has been considerably better, starting with the 2019 models, compared to most of the 2010s, but pretty much any guitar that came out of Heritage, after the reopened the factory, were consistently great, with better attention to detail & QC. Gibson has had 5-10 year spans of really inconsistent production over that same period of time.
I think the QC had more to do with Heritage building less guitars to actually check, less product volume means more time to inspect each individual guitar.
Appeal to Heritage is the original tooling, in the original plant, using the original methods from the guys that worked at Gibson in the golden era of the 50’s and. 60’s. Even more so is the following they have. Every year for 15 years a group of guitarists visit the factory, get a private tour, take a group photo out front like it was done in the 40’s, then jam away into the night. The guitars brought them together, but the fellowship brings them back. There is a story there people just don’t know, but should be told
I have 2 heritage guitars. To me, as a kid who grew up in Michigan in the 70s, the heritage doesn’t necessarily “out Gibson” Gibson, but they DO feel like OLDER Gibsons, and for me that makes them a bit better. I do own 3 modern Gibson guitars as well, and they feel different, as do most modern Gibson. Both are good choices, I personally just prefer the heritage models. All IMHO
I’m very very sneaky sir! And I don’t think Leo was responsible for guitar design, beyond the pickups and wiring. He didn’t do much after he sold Fender musical corp, beyond some pup innovations. Before that, mainly amp design I agree with Baxter on fender guitars. Something about the Fender logo and headstock is irreplaceable. Strat style guitars just don’t look as cool without the right headstock shape!
I had a artisan aged Heritage H150 and it was a very good guitar but I hated the tomato soupy back. Hated the headstock too. Could barely see the wood grain and it wasn't that much better than my Gibson Les Paul Traditional so I returned it in exchange for a Magnatone Varsity Reverb. Magnatone does it better than the inspirational models they've built their models around. Even the vintage Magnatones.
I don’t even own a Fender anymore. Currently have K-Line, Gretsch, and PRS (SS and Fiore). FCS is amazing, I’m sure. I just have a $3k mental barrier I haven’t been able to get past when it comes to money spent on a single guitar.
Great episode, fellas! I’ve purchased a few Heritage 535s (still own a one of a kind) and love it. I’ve spent plenty of money on guitars (Falcons, Mules, etc) so it isn’t the Gibson price. For me, it’s just the seeming anti-player mentality and approach that Gibson comes to market with. (I’ve also purchased several Bensons).
@@jfar3340 - Oh, ok. My thought was that at the price point and audience, as well as generation/age of sponsored players, it seems (again, only to me) that they are selling to guys my age (48 +) rather than picking up new artists that might resonate with a younger and upcoming crowd. JJN “only” got an Epiphone, as an example. That’s where my mind set came from. Be well! 👍🏻
I've tried A TON of boutique builders over the years, and while Gibson has released some duds, when you find THE Gibson, nothing else does that thing better. That being said, I do feel a strong pull toward the Frank Brothers.
I don't know, I obviously like the classic guitars, but in the modern world it's just a different ballgame when you factor in all the PRS lineups, Strandberg, etc.
Damn got to the 44 second mark, and already said all that needed to be said! New record! I find it funny that the Les Paul is the single most successful signature model ever. So what does Gibson do? Signature versions of a signature guitar.
@@kerbyfab Oh, go and get it. You'll only suffer for a few years paying it off. I know how much I would like a Suhr whatever and a Suhr 68 PT Model. Mmmmmm. Perhaps a 3rd Power kitchen sink. You only live once and most are never supposed to be rich anyway. Chuckle.
Fender is only the brand name while G&L guitars are actually Leo Fender's last designs which are superior to Fender's old stuck in time design and that includes Music Man. Leo's G&L Guitars was Leo Fender’s final business venture before his death in 1991. Famously labelling them as “the best instruments” he had ever made, Leo’s later guitar designs would sport several cutting-edge features that improved upon some of his most famed formulas. And of these, his G&L ‘MFD’ pickups are perhaps the most acclaimed. The Magnetic Field Design pups leave his old Fender pups behind and that's the truth.
The MFD pickups are great. I have an ‘86 Broadcaster…one of all-time favorite guitars. But I don’t think they replace anything. They’re another tasty flavor.
I do love my heritage guitars… they’re absolutely incredible and have all the vibe, quality and appeal of a Gibby custom shop to ME. I don’t like the headstock appearance but I love that it keeps the guitar in tune wayyyy better than Gibby. Also, I have found that I don’t really look at the headstock ever while I’m playing, and kind of lose myself in the sound and feel experience while playing those guitars. My fenders are my fav though.
I was just thinking Heritage, who literally bought the old Gibson plant with the molds and templates. Everyone who worked there as Gibson employees just clocked in a few months later as Heritage guys, except they were all excited to do it better.
@@jfar3340 I can definitely appreciate that you see a ton of folks on the forum blowing a lot of smoke about this or that company is better than Gibson. I’m not here to definitively say that Heritage IS better. Just to merely state that I’ve had great experiences with both companies, however I have become less of a Gibson loyalist in the recent years. From 2015-2021 I had owned 5 Gibson R8 Les Pauls and 3 R7 Les Pauls. I was fortunate enough to go through and find my keepers. I sold all but one R8 (2016) and one R7 (a well worn 2001). I’ve had over 25 Gibsons in my life and currently only have 3. Those 3 Gibsons are lifers. I’ve had 4 heritage guitars and all 4 will be staying with me. I’ve had much less of a testing pool to say definitively that Heritage Guitars are better, but in my experience the ones I’ve had have been consistently great. Great wood, great finish work, great electronics, and great value. I’m sure if I’ve had 25 heritage guitars, a large majority of them would have the same problems that some of the Gibson I’ve owned have had (shitty 300k pots instead of 500k, binding nibs separating from the frets which grab strings, truss rods being maxed from the factory, bad nut, tuning instability due to the nut[yes I can and have fixed this so not the biggest issue], lifeless/ sterile pickups, finish flaws). Again….These are MY experiences, however I still won’t say heritage is BETTER… just maybe better for me at this point in my life. My next big purchase will likely be a Gibson 64 custom shop Es335… so that’s that… but that’s why there are options. At the end of the day it should be about the art that we make and less about the brush we use to paint with. If that brush does what you want and helps inspire you to create new work… than that’s the best brush.
Are Heritage and G&L really boutique anyway? They are about the same price range as Gibson and Fender, they just make smaller quantities. A standard G&L ASAT is in between Fender Performer and Professional Telecasters. Does boutique just mean small, or does it mean expensive? I've seen Telecasters made by companies that usually make acoustics (Atkin and Larrivee spring to mind) that cost thousands of pounds or dollars. It seems like you're paying for them to lower themselves to make one, rather than a guitar aged to look like it came from the owner's grandad's time (and the grandad didn't make guitars) or a fancy rosewood and abalone acoustic with a vine inlay.
The Adam Sandler movie is Mr. Deeds, I think, at the very least. his last name is Deeds. His butler had a foot with no feeling in it, and he was the true heir to the money but he hooked Deeds up, I am working today. thank you for doing a video.
If you go way back in Gibson history, they had a similar headstock. I own 2 Heritage guitars. I actually gig every week. The Heritage guitars absolutely stay in tune better because of the headstock. So, the function is important to me more than the superficial looks. Oh, I’m 74 now and I was a Gibson player for many years until Rudy Penza in NYC introduced me to Heritage. Just my thoughts.
@@robertkondrk1086 The Heritage headstock is an objectively better design, when it comes to functionality. Folks don't have to like the look, and that's cool, because that's subjective. Similarly, the PRS Silver Sky headstock (and the rest of the guitar) is functionally better than a Fender Strat, from any design, engineering, or ergonomic perspective, but people trash it all the time... for not being a Fender.
@@tacdoc8736 it’s interesting that you mentioned Silver Sky. I have 2 Heritage guitars and a Silver Sky. They work for me. And yes, I had Gibson and Fender guitars until their quality went downhill.
The Heritage headstock has grown on me . . . especially the custom core version. I own a Custom Core H150 and Standard H535. Both are awesome guitars. I really like the custom humbuckers in the H150 Custom Core. I don't think I'll ever buy another new Gibson of any flavor. There are just too many quality guitars out there for so much less $$.
@@tacdoc8736 I don't hate it for not being a gibson headstock....and I like the heritage headstock with the binding... without it looks a little bland.
Well, since "better" is subjective... visual appeal, build quality, playability, and overall tone depend largely on the player. That being said, I have expensive taste in guitars, and I like the quirky pawn shop finds I've come across.
What do people want for innovations on guitars? Everyone is always saying the 40-50 year old boomers are set in their ways. What amazing innovations on electric guitars have happened since the fifties? Just refinements is all I really see. Boutique or off the shelf…I go for the used whatever!
Gibson left Kalamazoo almost 40 years ago. How many former Gibson employees are still around? It isn't the building or the tools that make the guitar, it's the people 😀 I don't own (or want to own) a boutique guitar. An MIM Vintera '50s Tele is close enough to a '54 Tele for me. The only reissue I own is the cheapest Gibson reissue I know of, a 2007 '59 Melody Maker 🤣 My guitars are regular production low to mid tier Gibsons, a couple of MIM Teles and a motley bunch of various other manufacturers' gear. I have a few pedals from low production builders, so those are all hand built and some are quite rare.
Kiesel versions of Strats, teles & even Gibson styles are amazing . But the contrast between a likeness & the original is different. It just comes down to personal preference :)
I agree with this. I own a Carvin SH550, and it is too perfect, but it is a little heavy and the stock humbucker pickups are beautifully bright, clean, and articulate, but lack much for the grit of a PAF, and some might call them sterile. It is wonderfully well built, extremely playable, and beautiful. Similar in style to a 339 or LP Semi-hollow.
I would never buy a G&L or heritage. I stick to gibby and fender, thank you very much. Maybe one day I'll venture in the very high end boutique manufacturers (collings, prewar, danocaster); for now, gibby and fender with nitro finish. And martin standard series. Thank you very much.
It's like going to see a band with only one original member. I can't justify the cost of what is a modern copy. You can build a MJT copy for under $1000.
I've been playing for 60 years and have seen many changes and improvements in the world of guitars & amps so what I detect here is our addiction to brand names rather than the understanding of what makes our gear work well.When Leo sold Fender he sold the brand name not the expertise that made Fender gear great he took that with him to Music Man and G&L. so if we really want a Fender amp or guitar we should go with Leo to G&L If you want to see Fender on the head-stock you're paying a lot of money for old technology this attitude shows how effective Fender's marketing was and still is.
667 here ✴️ am not 🚫 allowing for any apocalypse i cancelled it - i would rather hear music 🎵🎶 you guys play guitar 🎸🔥 for us that should be your next video TH-cam Baxter and Jonathan 📽️ there is that reliced strat with tortoise pickguard rosewood 🌹 Fretboard behind you let's hear how it sounds
Baxter mentioned: Don’t like the headstock (Shape). I can 100% identify with that. I can’t like a G&L or Heritage or PJE Macon. 🤷🏻♂️ just can’t. There are more …
@@drsrsv8884 I can’t speak for the original poster, but I’m a huge “made in America “ guy. 1. I hate supporting companies that don’t have fair labor practices (and it’s hard to tell which companies in a country like China does or does not have fair labor practices, so I err on the side of pessimism). I wish there was a universal company rating system. 2. I like supporting jobs in my country. I feel fine buying an English, Japanese, or whatever product, but it is nice knowing the money is recirculating one more time in the economy I live. Unfortunately, most of the time that means my money buys less.
@@drsrsv8884 sadly the consumers have chosen junk. I have a Korean made and I think Indonesian schecter. I'd love a usa but the price tag is steep. Eventually I get a music man
Why? Eastman isn’t a “boutique” brand. Additionally, there are many of us who refuse to buy Chinese instruments (since it is one of the few products where we still have other options) especially when I can buy an American made instrument for the same price.
I see "boutique guitars" and I assume you are talking about acoustics. It's common that the second version is an improvement on the original. Many times the original goes away because they cannot adapt.
I like the heritage headstock fine the only headstocks that bug me are the dean bunny ears or the big balls dangling off the end fender just looks like a bass to me
I'm the opposite of these guys. I've owned 3 Gibson and a Strat. Aside from the fact that they're great-sounding, extremely well-constructed guitars, a big reason I've owned 9 G&Ls is that they're *not* Gibson or Fender. Fender has hardly innovated since Leo sold the company; they appropriate the innovations of others and use their market share to crush competitors. Ask Fender dealers about the pressure Fender puts on them to not sell competitors.
Gibson is a boomer brand and not to many young cats on fender either. Music man took over the scene from 2010 till lat 2010s. Kiesel has a lot of modern players. Shinedown hasnt been big in 15 years. And no guitar player is looking for a shinedown signature. Mark holcomb imho is the big signature prs artist currently
Gibson must save a lot of money by not doing any R&D. Just keep cranking out LP's, SG's, 335's, and Firebirds, etc., just the same stuff for a new generation because we must that Gibson logo on the headstock.
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Definitely Suhr’s and the American built G&L’s. Phenomenal guitars.
and tom anderson
My American Fender Strat has taken a back seat to the Sonic Blue G&L Legacy I picked up about a year ago.
It took a year but my new Novo Miris J with fralin p-90s has more then lived up too it’s hype !!! Very very happy with this guitar now at gigs it’s my tele and the novo it’s all I need and it plays spectacular through my brand new Carr Impala amp !!! Best two choices I have ever made in gear
Hey, I have a Tele with Fralin Stock Tele pickups and I love it. I recently got a Jay Turser Mosrite copy (my first guitar with P90s) and the pickups are pretty decent, but I've been thinking about swapping in some Fralin P90s. I'd love to hear your thoughts, if you don't mind...
I have a G&L Legacy which is absolutely fantastic. I do whish they would stop relying on the Fender history. It is more different than other Strat like guitars to a Strat. Different wiring, vastly different trems and bridges, nothing except maybe the tuners would cross. Even the body shape is slightly different. If they would focus on their strengths, I think they would be more well known.
I agree 100%. I have 2 G&L basses and 4 Fenders. The only commonality with Fender is Leo's involvement. G&L is better in so many ways in my opinion.
I like some of the unique(ish) designs by Reverend. Their pickups are good, too.
When I started playing back in the 70's for the most part most brands produced garbage fender and gibson looking products that you could buy in a record store, Sears, Penny's, Montgomery Wards catalog and guitar shop. What I learned then was "If you want a Fender or Gibson, BUY A FENDER OR GIBSON!!!!"
When it comes to Acoustic guitars the story is different. They tend to be basically the same shape and made of the same woods, but there are some amazing builders out there, and the name isn't just Gibson or Martin. Do your homework play and when you think you've found one, get somebody who can play to play it while you stand in front of it. Because the old girl sounds a lot different in front than she does from behind. It's just something to think about.
agree 100% but the worst is when the person you get to play the guitar in testing question makes it sound much better than you can. it happens. some players just have the touch that can make any guitar sound good.
@@johnstaub8968 I guess I should amend my statement to say bring someone along whose opinion you trust when trying out a guitar.
I think we currently live in a kind of golden age of electric guitar - even stuff that's affordable is better quality than the stuff that was around when I was a kid starting out (in the 1980's). I like that there are so many different choices at so many price-points. I'll never be able to afford a custom shop guitar...but who cares? The fact that I own a Les Paul, two Strats, a Godin from 1993 and a really nice Ibanez acoustic still kind of shocks me. Sixteen year old me would've been amazed. I feel lucky to have what I've got, and if I ever became independently wealthy I'd consider a custom built guitar...but I don't feel like I'm missing anything.
Hell Yeah! Imagine growing up in the '70's when both Fender ( Crappy 3 bolt necks that wobbled all over the place) and Gibson ( Need I say anything other than 'The 20Lb Norin'?) sucked. Even the midrange as well as some of the entry level stuff today is as well or better made than stuff from the '60's!
2:39 Mr. Deeds 😂
Hey guys, kind of wondering why you don’t mention MusicMan more. This is the first episode that I think I’ve even heard them mentioned. A Family owned American Manf that produce high quality guitars (they’re QC is 2nd to none outside of custom shop) with guitars like the Axis, Albert Lee, and Petrucci series, and more recently the St. Vincent, Mariposa, Kaizen being some of the most uniquely shaped guitars with pro features and one of the finest feeling necks in the guitar game. Are they the “classic” brand from your childhood? No, they’re better. 🙏🎸🤘
music man was the quality brand of MY childhood 😂 if i had a couple grand to blow on a guitar it would be spent on a music man, any oof them they are all great
this video is so spot on! I mean if someone wants a Fender or a Gibson, thats what they're gonna buy, not some knockoff that claims to be better. I don't get why guitar builders are so terrified of innovation, the vast majority just wanna be the best at recreating whatever magic was happening in the 60's. I mean I get a lot of it, the scroll style headstock that fender created wasn't new at all, it was just a new take on an old design but it wasn't trying to be a better version of another headstock, it was something totally new that just borrowed shapes and curves for looks, and its not like the hourglass shape of a les paul was anything new either so these instruments borrowed plenty from other instruments that came first, so why is it they were able to create something so amazing, and now the market has been largely stagnant for 60 years? I think it comes down to one simple thing.... courage... Leo Fender had the courage to innovate, knowing he would encounter criticism, and now these companies are run with one goal, to avoid criticism.... the goal should always be innovation and tone. The guitar world deserves a better class of builder.
The builders are making things that will sell, they're not our benefactors, they need to make a living. A lot of them are also making guitars with specs that you can only get from a custom shop, but at lower cost and similar quality.
so why stop there, why not just pick 10 songs we all like, and all music for the rest of time will be people playing 1 of 10 songs and 1 of 3 different kinds of guitars, meh fuck it just let AI do it all right? Art is just about consumerism anyway... PASS. Stay tuned, a better class of instrument is on its way. Europe and Asia aren't locked into this lunacy like the USA seems to be, it's only a matter of time until American craftsmanship kicks back into high gear and does what these other guys are doing, but to perfection.
@@MayorMcCheese2000 You are railing against the makers instead of the consumers. There is plenty of unique and innovative guitar builders here, just their stuff doesn't sell and they are not that well known.
Gretsch fan girl here. Eddie Cochran, Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins, were my first inspiration. I've never had the opportunity to play vintage Gretsch, but I would stack my 6120DE against any of them. I've had many hollow bodies through the years, Ibanez, Epiphone, Michael Kelly none of them came close to my Gretsch.
@@AbcDino843 I just disagree, I don't think there's a whole lot to be excited about right now, I think the builders have lost their nerve and the market is begging for more and they're unwilling to put themselves out there.
The best thing about boutique is the detail given to the smallest detail, and you realize how much the details matter,
Still if i want a strat I'll buy a fender first
I looked very hard at Heritage guitars before buying an Epiphone 1959 spec. Decided to save my money at this time, But will be looking at them again.
Interesting that Leo’s first design (MusicMan) after leaving Fender was quite a radical departure from what went before. However Leo’s last design (G&L) went back closer to his original Fender designs. I have 2 G&L’s and I am impressed with both of them. Smaller brands that I have played that have impressed me include Collins and Xotic (both USA built). I do have some Fenders and Gibsons and if you try before you buy you can still get good ones. If I was to buy an Epiphone I would go for one of their own designs (Broadway, Casino, Riviera, Sheraton) rather than an “inspired by Gibson” model.
Ehhhhh not really. Gotta remember with G&L Leo wanted nothing to do with the classic Fender designs. His first G&L was an F100 then we saw the SC's and Cavaliers etc. The reason there is even an ASAT was Dale Hyatt. He conspired with George Fullerton to create the ASAT. George went in to the attic (The G&L factory is in Leo's old CLF Research facility Blah Blah) got the old Telecaster template (Yes the original template) and created the ASAT body. Fast forward, Dale was able to sell ASAT's and as a result Strats and Jazz masters came along. So Yeah they are building a lot of versions of fender guitars, but not because that is what Leo wanted to do, it is just what folks will buy.
Yeah, I love fenders, but… I play my Suhr classic s and PRS hollowbody piezo the most, so… Also, your discussions are inexplicably but wonderfully enjoyable.
100% agree with 8:48. I have a Zach Myers and it is easily my #1. Never got down with Shinedown or any of his music but that guitar is killer.
Great subject! I have been thinking about this for years. Wondering when somebody would talk about this.
I love at 3:35 the Vienne sausage reference! When Ray Kroc made the deal with the McDonald Bros. to license their concept, they couldn't get the french fries right. They finally figuired out it had to do with how long they set after they were unboxed and washed to dry. It affected the way they cooked!
My “Les Paul Special” is a Collings 290 with a vintage replacement wraparound bridge/tailpiece. I Neil Young’d it with a rewound Firebird pickup in the bridge position too. ☺️ It’s a real ringer.
Thought about this the other day, Reverb is not enough to have resale, so the guitar shops that remain are gonna be awesome, containing gems more often if the bigs quit selling to shops. This just makes it worth it to take up luthiery schooling while maintaining your shop, amd produce an in-house brand. Make a student model, and the rest mid to eventual greatness
Yeah I’ve been wanting to find a local luthier to build me a guitar. Someone should make a network of luthiers so everyone can find someone local
I’ve never bonded with a Fender, but, totally unexpectedly, gravitated to the G&L ASAT variations after playing Gibsons for years. You like what you like regardless of brand name.
The G&L basses are phenomenal.
I’ve never been a Fender fan, but I love G&L. It helps that their factory is near here. On the other hand I am still a huge fan of Gibson.
Got some nice Custom Shops and a nice Murphy Lab so definitely able to give a true comparison/ opinion. Just picked up a Kauffmann ( Germany boutique) T54 in heavy relic’d butterscotch and it’s absolutely top draw. Looks, feels and plays like a Master Build without the 8k price tag. Fender and Gibson continuous price hiking has made me consider some serious alternatives.
I have two G&Ls: a Fallout bass, which I love (though it has a darker sound than a P-bass or Mustang bass), and a Comanche, which I like, but it doesn't replace a Strat for me.
After watching this I realize I'm a fender fan boy I bought my first fender bass in 1972 I recently bought a american strat and a player mustang I had a highway one tele, American jazz bass , fender princeton, a bassman 60 and 100 amp, old gear I know . I do own a martin 00015 and a 1977 epiphone ft 120 in mint condition thanks guys for giving me another name
One comment struck close to home….”they’ve done it before”….”troubles happen when they’re purchased just to turn a profit”…”when it’s not the original people”…as I sit and play a Baritone Tacoma Thunderhawk….damn you, Fender.
Collings >
The Vienna sausage story just made it for me!
That is a very interesting question
SOLDANO. Amen.
Thank you, Mike, for the greatest amp ever.
My Nash S63 and T63 are way better than both my custom shops. I have a late 70’s schecter tele that is amazing. For amps, Friedman and Victoria are hard to beat by their Marshall and Fender counterparts.
I absolutely love Victoria Amps. In my opinion they are definitely much better than any amp Fender currently makes. I honestly think they are as good as and possibly better than the original Fender amps they are based on.
My dream rig is a Carr Superbee and Nash S63. My Fender MIM Road Worn looks great but the fret work sucks. Not getting rid of it but I'm going to do some fret work to make it like it should be. I've heard the fret work on Nash is fantastic. I hope so.
Made me come to the realization of what they mean by "plays like butter". Never knew before what they were talking about in terms of my experience....... never too late.......
I do love Fenders, but I think Nash beats most of their custom shop line.
My best guitar is a Forshage........... GT (his tele style offering) ...... most precise action I've ever owned....... Roasted bird's eye maple neck, SS 6105 frets, sassafras body....Vega trem......Lollar '52 in the neck and Lollar El Rayo in the bridge with push/pull tone knob to change the humbucker from series to parallel....... Very versatile...... compound radius 10" to 14"
Found a Harley Benton TE90FLT Vintage White (Cabronita copy) that is as awesome as my Fender Cabronita and the Roswell pickups definitely hold their own. My Epiphones (Korea) LP Junior, SG and LP Special DC rival their Gibson equivalents. Still a Fender and Gibson supporter! 🤙🏼
Would love to hear your thoughts on LSL teles…
I like my Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s more than Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. Of course real flame top looks nicer and Gibson is bit lighter but this is whered advantages end. Better fretwork, better tuning stability on Epi for 300 euro used. i have also Gibson LP tribute and even I would not say it has really the vibe people buy Les Paul for but on the other hand, it is great (also better than Gibson LP Standard) in its own right.
I have a tribute that I absolutely love. I think the maple neck makes it much more stable or something. At 1200 bucks for a U.S. made instrument it’s a goddamn steal.
@@smelltheglove2038 Tuning stability in my opinion comes to these things in this order: how is the nut cut, what is the headstock angle, angle of the string between nut and tuner and only after that quality of tuners.
I managed to get my 2018 Gibson Les Paul Tribute in a great shape for 600 euro last year. Terrific instrument.
The original Heritage guitars weren’t simply built in Kalamazoo, they were built by the same men & women that previously built the Gibsons there. They’ve also generally stuck to the old methods of construction & specs that traditionalist prefer. Gibsons QC has been considerably better, starting with the 2019 models, compared to most of the 2010s, but pretty much any guitar that came out of Heritage, after the reopened the factory, were consistently great, with better attention to detail & QC. Gibson has had 5-10 year spans of really inconsistent production over that same period of time.
I think the QC had more to do with Heritage building less guitars to actually check, less product volume means more time to inspect each individual guitar.
And the old equipment!
Appeal to Heritage is the original tooling, in the original plant, using the original methods from the guys that worked at Gibson in the golden era of the 50’s and. 60’s. Even more so is the following they have. Every year for 15 years a group of guitarists visit the factory, get a private tour, take a group photo out front like it was done in the 40’s, then jam away into the night. The guitars brought them together, but the fellowship brings them back. There is a story there people just don’t know, but should be told
The Butler with the hand is Chris Elliot in Scary Movie I forget which one.
I have 2 heritage guitars. To me, as a kid who grew up in Michigan in the 70s, the heritage doesn’t necessarily “out Gibson” Gibson, but they DO feel like OLDER Gibsons, and for me that makes them a bit better. I do own 3 modern Gibson guitars as well, and they feel different, as do most modern Gibson. Both are good choices, I personally just prefer the heritage models. All IMHO
You guys should try to get your hands in some dunables!
The best bass I've ever played was a G&L. Not a bassist, but if I was going to buy one, that's where I would start.
My best tele is a Whitfill.
I’m very very sneaky sir!
And I don’t think Leo was responsible for guitar design, beyond the pickups and wiring. He didn’t do much after he sold Fender musical corp, beyond some pup innovations. Before that, mainly amp design
I agree with Baxter on fender guitars. Something about the Fender logo and headstock is irreplaceable. Strat style guitars just don’t look as cool without the right headstock shape!
Love my Kauer Banshees over my Gibson Firebird. By a lot.
I had a artisan aged Heritage H150 and it was a very good guitar but I hated the tomato soupy back. Hated the headstock too. Could barely see the wood grain and it wasn't that much better than my Gibson Les Paul Traditional so I returned it in exchange for a Magnatone Varsity Reverb. Magnatone does it better than the inspirational models they've built their models around. Even the vintage Magnatones.
I don’t even own a Fender anymore. Currently have K-Line, Gretsch, and PRS (SS and Fiore). FCS is amazing, I’m sure. I just have a $3k mental barrier I haven’t been able to get past when it comes to money spent on a single guitar.
Music is joy and Mason brought his Epiphone Casino in for the rehearsal today....mmmmm cool.
Great episode, fellas! I’ve purchased a few Heritage 535s (still own a one of a kind) and love it. I’ve spent plenty of money on guitars (Falcons, Mules, etc) so it isn’t the Gibson price. For me, it’s just the seeming anti-player mentality and approach that Gibson comes to market with. (I’ve also purchased several Bensons).
lol wut gibby is 100% player oriented
@@jfar3340 - Genuinely, and with no offense, I’m not sure what you’re actually saying.
@@rumbletruck1 you re saying that gibson has an anti player mentality, I replied that actually it is player oriented (player focused)
@@jfar3340 - Oh, ok. My thought was that at the price point and audience, as well as generation/age of sponsored players, it seems (again, only to me) that they are selling to guys my age (48 +) rather than picking up new artists that might resonate with a younger and upcoming crowd. JJN “only” got an Epiphone, as an example. That’s where my mind set came from. Be well! 👍🏻
@@rumbletruck1 yeah maybe I don't know. I started collecting and acquired all my gibsons in my 30s (I'm in my 30s)
I love my G&L’s every bit as much as my Fenders. I think they are magnificent guitars. The quality is unsurpassed in my opinion.
I'm a Fender fan boy too...
I've tried A TON of boutique builders over the years, and while Gibson has released some duds, when you find THE Gibson, nothing else does that thing better.
That being said, I do feel a strong pull toward the Frank Brothers.
I don't know, I obviously like the classic guitars, but in the modern world it's just a different ballgame when you factor in all the PRS lineups, Strandberg, etc.
Marty Schwartz signature Epiphone! YAY!
Some of us who started later in life don't have guitar heros that played PRS
Damn got to the 44 second mark, and already said all that needed to be said! New record!
I find it funny that the Les Paul is the single most successful signature model ever. So what does Gibson do? Signature versions of a signature guitar.
70s 80s hamers work for cheap trick they work for me those guys play those instruments everyday and sound great
PRS is great.
It is, but it's not a boutique anymore :)
I agree! I have many brands, but I think prs is my favorite. Threir attention to detail, even in the SE line is impressive. 😊
Out in the weeds are folks like Dan Ransom, or John Guilford. It all starts with wood.
I see some Knaggs guitars in the hands of famous players. Do they sound any different than a LP? I don't know.
They sure are beautiful!! I’ve been drooling over one in my local guitar shop… just hard to drop $5k.
@@kerbyfab Oh, go and get it. You'll only suffer for a few years paying it off. I know how much I would like a Suhr whatever and a Suhr 68 PT Model. Mmmmmm. Perhaps a 3rd Power kitchen sink. You only live once and most are never supposed to be rich anyway. Chuckle.
Gil Yaron met the original Gibson guys at the Heritage factory.
Guys, G&L are really, really good. Settle down.
Fender is only the brand name while G&L guitars are actually Leo Fender's last designs which are superior to Fender's old stuck in time design and that includes Music Man. Leo's G&L Guitars was Leo Fender’s final business venture before his death in 1991. Famously labelling them as “the best instruments” he had ever made, Leo’s later guitar designs would sport several cutting-edge features that improved upon some of his most famed formulas. And of these, his G&L ‘MFD’ pickups are perhaps the most acclaimed.
The Magnetic Field Design pups leave his old Fender pups behind and that's the truth.
The MFD pickups are great. I have an ‘86 Broadcaster…one of all-time favorite guitars. But I don’t think they replace anything. They’re another tasty flavor.
lol. not really...
I do love my heritage guitars… they’re absolutely incredible and have all the vibe, quality and appeal of a Gibby custom shop to ME. I don’t like the headstock appearance but I love that it keeps the guitar in tune wayyyy better than Gibby. Also, I have found that I don’t really look at the headstock ever while I’m playing, and kind of lose myself in the sound and feel experience while playing those guitars. My fenders are my fav though.
I was just thinking Heritage, who literally bought the old Gibson plant with the molds and templates. Everyone who worked there as Gibson employees just clocked in a few months later as Heritage guys, except they were all excited to do it better.
uh not in my experience,. gibson is way better than heritage and the vaaaast majority of people in real life (ie not in forum echo chambers) agree
@@_Yep_Yep_ yeah, but no. Gibson is vastly superior
@@jfar3340 I can definitely appreciate that you see a ton of folks on the forum blowing a lot of smoke about this or that company is better than Gibson. I’m not here to definitively say that Heritage IS better. Just to merely state that I’ve had great experiences with both companies, however I have become less of a Gibson loyalist in the recent years. From 2015-2021 I had owned 5 Gibson R8 Les Pauls and 3 R7 Les Pauls. I was fortunate enough to go through and find my keepers. I sold all but one R8 (2016) and one R7 (a well worn 2001). I’ve had over 25 Gibsons in my life and currently only have 3. Those 3 Gibsons are lifers. I’ve had 4 heritage guitars and all 4 will be staying with me. I’ve had much less of a testing pool to say definitively that Heritage Guitars are better, but in my experience the ones I’ve had have been consistently great. Great wood, great finish work, great electronics, and great value. I’m sure if I’ve had 25 heritage guitars, a large majority of them would have the same problems that some of the Gibson I’ve owned have had (shitty 300k pots instead of 500k, binding nibs separating from the frets which grab strings, truss rods being maxed from the factory, bad nut, tuning instability due to the nut[yes I can and have fixed this so not the biggest issue], lifeless/ sterile pickups, finish flaws). Again….These are MY experiences, however I still won’t say heritage is BETTER… just maybe better for me at this point in my life. My next big purchase will likely be a Gibson 64 custom shop Es335… so that’s that… but that’s why there are options. At the end of the day it should be about the art that we make and less about the brush we use to paint with. If that brush does what you want and helps inspire you to create new work… than that’s the best brush.
I have owned both a custom shop Gibson and Heritage and hands down Heritage is better. I sold my Gibson to get back the Heritage Custom Shop I sold.
marshall 1 watt head with 1x12 cab. yay or nay?
I do love my Maybach. Do love my Gibsons too, so. A good guitar is a good guitar, I guess.
Palir and Bilt make good Jazzmaster style gits.......... I have a Palir Imperial........ great guitar ....... only 2,300 clams
Are Heritage and G&L really boutique anyway? They are about the same price range as Gibson and Fender, they just make smaller quantities. A standard G&L ASAT is in between Fender Performer and Professional Telecasters. Does boutique just mean small, or does it mean expensive? I've seen Telecasters made by companies that usually make acoustics (Atkin and Larrivee spring to mind) that cost thousands of pounds or dollars. It seems like you're paying for them to lower themselves to make one, rather than a guitar aged to look like it came from the owner's grandad's time (and the grandad didn't make guitars) or a fancy rosewood and abalone acoustic with a vine inlay.
The Adam Sandler movie is Mr. Deeds, I think, at the very least. his last name is Deeds. His butler had a foot with no feeling in it, and he was the true heir to the money but he hooked Deeds up, I am working today. thank you for doing a video.
Im lretty sure it was the other way around. Deeds gave the money back at the end, and proved the Butler was the rightful heir. The Butler didnt know.
@@RByrne that’s what I meant to say if it didn’t come across that way.
As much as i love Heritage Guitars, i cant get over the headstock!!
If you go way back in Gibson history, they had a similar headstock. I own 2 Heritage guitars. I actually gig every week. The Heritage guitars absolutely stay in tune better because of the headstock. So, the function is important to me more than the superficial looks. Oh, I’m 74 now and I was a Gibson player for many years until Rudy Penza in NYC introduced me to Heritage. Just my thoughts.
@@robertkondrk1086 The Heritage headstock is an objectively better design, when it comes to functionality. Folks don't have to like the look, and that's cool, because that's subjective. Similarly, the PRS Silver Sky headstock (and the rest of the guitar) is functionally better than a Fender Strat, from any design, engineering, or ergonomic perspective, but people trash it all the time... for not being a Fender.
@@tacdoc8736 it’s interesting that you mentioned Silver Sky. I have 2 Heritage guitars and a Silver Sky. They work for me. And yes, I had Gibson and Fender guitars until their quality went downhill.
The Heritage headstock has grown on me . . . especially the custom core version. I own a Custom Core H150 and Standard H535. Both are awesome guitars. I really like the custom humbuckers in the H150 Custom Core. I don't think I'll ever buy another new Gibson of any flavor. There are just too many quality guitars out there for so much less $$.
@@tacdoc8736 I don't hate it for not being a gibson headstock....and I like the heritage headstock with the binding... without it looks a little bland.
Well, since "better" is subjective... visual appeal, build quality, playability, and overall tone depend largely on the player.
That being said, I have expensive taste in guitars, and I like the quirky pawn shop finds I've come across.
What do people want for innovations on guitars? Everyone is always saying the 40-50 year old boomers are set in their ways. What amazing innovations on electric guitars have happened since the fifties? Just refinements is all I really see. Boutique or off the shelf…I go for the used whatever!
Gibson left Kalamazoo almost 40 years ago. How many former Gibson employees are still around?
It isn't the building or the tools that make the guitar, it's the people 😀
I don't own (or want to own) a boutique guitar. An MIM Vintera '50s Tele is close enough to a '54 Tele for me. The only reissue I own is the cheapest Gibson reissue I know of, a 2007 '59 Melody Maker 🤣
My guitars are regular production low to mid tier Gibsons, a couple of MIM Teles and a motley bunch of various other manufacturers' gear.
I have a few pedals from low production builders, so those are all hand built and some are quite rare.
Kiesel versions of Strats, teles & even Gibson styles are amazing . But the contrast between a likeness & the original is different. It just comes down to personal preference :)
I agree with this. I own a Carvin SH550, and it is too perfect, but it is a little heavy and the stock humbucker pickups are beautifully bright, clean, and articulate, but lack much for the grit of a PAF, and some might call them sterile. It is wonderfully well built, extremely playable, and beautiful. Similar in style to a 339 or LP Semi-hollow.
I would never buy a G&L or heritage. I stick to gibby and fender, thank you very much. Maybe one day I'll venture in the very high end boutique manufacturers (collings, prewar, danocaster); for now, gibby and fender with nitro finish. And martin standard series. Thank you very much.
@@drsrsv8884 yeah I like fender and gibson, a LOT.
Mr. Deeds is the Adan Sandler movie....
It's like going to see a band with only one original member. I can't justify the cost of what is a modern copy. You can build a MJT copy for under $1000.
I've been playing for 60 years and have seen many changes and improvements in the world of guitars & amps so what I detect here is our addiction to brand names rather than the understanding of what makes our gear work well.When Leo sold Fender he sold the brand name not the expertise that made Fender gear great he took that with him to Music Man and G&L. so if we really want a Fender amp or guitar we should go with Leo to G&L If you want to see Fender on the head-stock you're paying a lot of money for old technology this attitude shows how effective Fender's marketing was and still is.
jon wearing a texas t-shirt?
Sadowsky is a better Jazz bass if you prefer thinner necks and an active bass.
Collings by far!!!
Mo Gibson than a Gibson!
Mo Gibson than a Gibson!
Mo Gibson than a Gibson!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Yeah!
667 here ✴️
am not 🚫
allowing for any apocalypse
i cancelled it -
i would rather hear music 🎵🎶
you guys play guitar
🎸🔥
for us
that should be your next video TH-cam Baxter and Jonathan
📽️
there is that reliced strat with tortoise pickguard rosewood 🌹 Fretboard behind you let's hear how it sounds
Y'all are thinking of Mr deeds
I’ve learned so much more about Vienna sausages that I care to know. That being said, I am a little hungry right now…
Jonathan, Mr.Deeds. Sandler had the foot.
Maybe the “originals” just have a vibe and mojo built on the history of the brands, but they are way cooler.
Baxter mentioned: Don’t like the headstock (Shape). I can 100% identify with that. I can’t like a G&L or Heritage or PJE Macon. 🤷🏻♂️ just can’t. There are more …
If Gibson moved Epiphone manufacturing out of China I would be more inclined to buy one. It’s my biggest gripe with Gibson.
That and the fact they're trying to justify $1300--1500 for MIC Epiphones, with low quality electronics, hardware, and bad fret jobs, now.
@@drsrsv8884 ccp
@@drsrsv8884my issue with china is humanitarian issues. But in the current state of the world, it's hard to avoid chinese products 100%
@@drsrsv8884 I can’t speak for the original poster, but I’m a huge “made in America “ guy. 1. I hate supporting companies that don’t have fair labor practices (and it’s hard to tell which companies in a country like China does or does not have fair labor practices, so I err on the side of pessimism). I wish there was a universal company rating system. 2. I like supporting jobs in my country. I feel fine buying an English, Japanese, or whatever product, but it is nice knowing the money is recirculating one more time in the economy I live. Unfortunately, most of the time that means my money buys less.
@@drsrsv8884 sadly the consumers have chosen junk.
I have a Korean made and I think Indonesian schecter. I'd love a usa but the price tag is steep. Eventually I get a music man
I’m surprised no one mentioned Eastman here
Why? Eastman isn’t a “boutique” brand. Additionally, there are many of us who refuse to buy Chinese instruments (since it is one of the few products where we still have other options) especially when I can buy an American made instrument for the same price.
@@charlesbolton8471 I was just surprised no one mentioned it the SB59 sounds better than most lp standards I’ve heard
That's it Baxter, you need the right aging room!! Like the right smoker!! Ha Ha Ha!
Some folks like boutique brands just to be different from everyone else😉
Denis Fano….
I see "boutique guitars" and I assume you are talking about acoustics. It's common that the second version is an improvement on the original. Many times the original goes away because they cannot adapt.
Harley Benton / Monoprice
I like the heritage headstock fine the only headstocks that bug me are the dean bunny ears or the big balls dangling off the end fender just looks like a bass to me
I'm the opposite of these guys. I've owned 3 Gibson and a Strat. Aside from the fact that they're great-sounding, extremely well-constructed guitars, a big reason I've owned 9 G&Ls is that they're *not* Gibson or Fender. Fender has hardly innovated since Leo sold the company; they appropriate the innovations of others and use their market share to crush competitors. Ask Fender dealers about the pressure Fender puts on them to not sell competitors.
Gibson is a boomer brand and not to many young cats on fender either. Music man took over the scene from 2010 till lat 2010s. Kiesel has a lot of modern players.
Shinedown hasnt been big in 15 years. And no guitar player is looking for a shinedown signature. Mark holcomb imho is the big signature prs artist currently
Gibson must save a lot of money by not doing any R&D. Just keep cranking out LP's, SG's, 335's, and Firebirds, etc., just the same stuff for a new generation because we must that Gibson logo on the headstock.