Why do people think the biggest guitar companies automatically make the best guitars?
I see answers to questions asking for guitar recommendations all the time suggesting Gibson or Fender guitars, with the reason given being that "they are the best".
My question is: Why do so many people assume that because a company is well known and popular, they automatically make the highest quality instruments?
I would think that the opposite would be true, and the smaller companies that still do everything by hand would make the better guitars.
So why is there the perception that Gibson and Fender make better guitars than anyone else when the vast majority of their guitars are assembled on a production line?
2013-05-10T05:58:29Z
Kind of missed the point of my question with the answers so far.
Why is it a guitar that says Fender or Gibson on it is considered better than a guitar that says Mayones or Caparison on it, based solely on the name on the headstock.....without ever taking the actual quality of the instrument into consideration?
I see it all the time. People say "Gibson and Fender are the best" . Never mind that the people saying that have never actually compared them to other companies' guitars side by side. There are a lot of smaller companies out there that flat out blow either of the big two away, and they are never given the credit they deserve.
2013-05-11T07:11:58Z
Don't get me wrong. I wasn't bashing Gibson or Fender. I happen to like the way vintage examples from both companies sound. I personally hate the way they play, but they do sound good. I'd like to add a vintage Flying V or Explorer to my collection someday, and maybe a real '57 Strat (no reissues, the real thing).
But, their new instruments are frequently outdone by a lot of smaller, lesser known guitar makers. A brand new Gibson Les Paul Standard will run you about $3,500, I can get a Mayones Regius or VIdius for about the same price and it will be a superior quality instrument (doesn't necessarily mean everyone will like it better, but in terms of build quality it is objectively a better guitar). I can get a Caparison Horus for $700 less than the Les Paul.
I tend to recommend guitars that I think might suit the person asking. If it sounds like a Gibson or Fender will suit the style of music they play, I will recommend one. If I think something else will suit
Russell E2013-05-10T16:52:34Z
Favorite Answer
I guess I'll chime in on this one, too. Regarding electric only, mind you.....I'm not going to get into the acoustic debate...
Many points have been covered, such as the brand snobs or teenaged doofuses who don't know any better. Those are the best known brands and they are the industry "standards", but not necessarily the "best" but all the young kids will pop in and give a stock answer because they are too stupid to know the difference. Also, those who know me on here will know that I always try to tell these noobs to go to an actual store and play every guitar in their price range, and pick the one they feel is the best for them and buy it, regardless of brand.
For us older players, back in the day, Gibson and Fender WERE the best. There were not a lot of boutique guitars and the cheap brands like Teisco were just that, cheap pieces of crap, but good for the young kids who couldn't afford a Fender or Gibson.(you should have seen MY first electric..it wasn't even as good as a Teisco!!) Even so, there were a a lot of "copy" guitars out there during the lawsuit guitar period that played just fine and sounded pretty good. I had a really nice Univox LP from the late 60's that was exceptional. It's big fault was one bad tuning machine. Now, there are SO MANY damn guitars out there that no one can possibly know everything about every brand, but will rely on "popular" opinion. No question, there are many more "good" brands out there than there used to be. But there are a lot of people here who will actually "shun" Gibsons or Fenders just because they are popular and constantly push PRS or Jackson or whatever. Soon PRS will join your list, just because everyone talks about them.
Not many people have heard of Mayones or Caparisons, hell, I had to google them to see what you were talking about. BUT, even so, they ARE modeled from the old classics......
Hell , for a lot of these youngsters, A Squier or an Epiphone is the "best" choice for them at that time. Even an Ibanez for the shredder wanna-bes. For those who really need to know, they don't have to ask those stupid questions.
(and personally I DO love the Fender Strat! so there!! LOL) but, yes it could stand a little modernization to fix the age old tremolo difficulties.
Hi, 'C. The choir you're addressing has started showing up.
I'd say lack of experience, wanting to have something acceptable, and a little fear of the unknown.
Not that I'd turn down a '58 'Paul or Strat for say $750, knowing that some of these Gibson and Fender guitars are some of the best, "from the country that invented Rock and Roll".
What actually bothers me more is hearing here from so many young ones agonizing over which guitar to buy as a first instrument, hung up over the way it looks, even the color, then this brand stuff. TC's here so far (yourself included) generally try to encourage beginners to "import" that experience by having someone go-with shopping, getting hands-on vs. clicking on pics, etc, Good effort, about all that can be done.
So I'm heading off for a bite before work, and will drive right by McDonalds, the most famous hamburger joint in the history of the free world, and go to a local place that has real food.
Gibson and Fender are icons. They are the two biggest brands because they designed the guitars that 95% of all other guitars directly copy or are based on. Sure there are some Fender and Gibson products that are overpriced but to suggest that they do not make top quality electric instruments is simply ridiculous. Gibson and Fender use the exact same CNC manufactured parts in their production guitars that the vast majority of so called custom builders such as Nash guitars uses. The difference of course being that they actually make their own parts instead of outsourcing them from Japan or elsewhere.
As far as boutique builders such as Mayones or Caparison are concerned.. what the heck is your point? Gibson and Fender make guitars based on their own classic designs. That is their niche. You may as well scold them for not making brass instruments because that comparison would make about as much sense. They do not make exotic guitars with 27" scales or market their product to shredder guitarists.
As with almost all manufacturing in the last 60 years, it's true that the largest guitar makers spit out lots of production line axes. Along with Fender and Gibson you can include PRS, Gretsch (owned by Fender), and to a lesser extent (as in far less output) Ibanez, Peavey et al. Does that make them bad, not necessarily. Will you get a bad one from a prod line or model, sometimes. You simply have to play them. I've been playing guitar, (electric and acoustic), for 40 years and I've pretty much stuck to the big names for two main reasons, 1 - I like the way they sound, play and feel, 2 - You can nearly always get good quality guitars relatively inexpensively, especially Fender and lower end Gretsch models. Gibsons are waaay overpriced in my opinion, but I have 2 of the sweetest vintage Les Pauls and I will not be needing another in this lifetime! btw, I bought a Fender Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster last year, and man I'm telling you it puts my 1973 Telly to shame!! It has become my favorite guitar to play! So yea, you can pay $5K and up for your handmade boutique guitars, ain't nobody stopping you, and you can pay a little less for something from the Fender or Gibson Custom Shops. So many guitars, so little time..... Have fun.
How do you know these people haven't tried other brand guitars. I know I have. I play acoustic so cant really say much for electric. Its the same With acoustics. I genuinely prefer martin more than anything else. Ive tried most brands and they dont do it for me. I can definitely say I hate gibson and fender acoustics. Gibson j45 is one of the worst Guitars I've ever played. Id like a gibson in my collection because Of the popularity but to me they sound rubbish. Taylor are too Bright. When someone asks for recommendations I will say Martin if they have the money.not for the name but because I Think they are quality all round. They're just opinions and easy Solid answers. I think epiphones are better value than gibson.