Why do people think the biggest guitar companies automatically make the best guitars?

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.

Opinions, opinions, opinions.

Yep.

Know very well what you mean and kudos to the other vets that answered here.

But it was like back in the 60's and growing up, comparing the Big Three (even Four) car companies with one another for their greatness... and then suggesting Toyota, Datsun (ha!) and Honda or BMW, VW and Porsche with them in being in the same class of power, style or performance.

I learned through 'Road & Track' magazine real quick and had issue about fuel injection (as example) for all cars back then, when overseas were already well into the technology. And, test driving all of 'em eventually.

And when it came to guitars, it was 'Guitar Player' magazine (later, 'Acoustic Guitar') and their buying guides. And, trying out, owning and playing 'em over the years.

But it has been 'buy American' on all fronts, until we realize the global offerings and what is really available, and even more affordable, for something that has become overpriced and overrated stateside.

So one has to explore and try the products out first hand, and then form an opinion worth its weight against any argument over what use to be thought as 'the best and greatest' of any product line.

Even, humble guitars of all kinds, shapes, sizes, styles and ethnic origins.

Short, of anything that will be custom made for your very own hands and ears.

But that is what we can do on our own, is to learn more and actually get involved with what we may be curious about and can accomplish in the process.

Then the truth shall set one free.

(Still would love to have a Porsche 904. Even, if it would be a VW powered replica.) Get the picture?

It's especially annoying when people assume that those particular names invariably make for a good ACOUSTIC guitar.

Mostly, I think it's because those names are familiar, and there are a lot of people out there who don't really know HOW to evaluate a guitar hands-on. Brand name at least provides some sort of guide, as long as it's not used incorrectly (like thinking a company that makes good electrics will invariably make good acoustics, or vice versa). Even in a company's core areas, knowing which models are the "clunkers" is going to take more study than non-guitar-geeks are probably going to put in.

And there's the matter of resale value - big name guitars are easy to establish value on and tend to be easy to sell. With a good guitar by a smaller maker, you may have to wait longer for a buyer.

One interesting thing I've noticed since I started posting here is that Gibson acoustics seem to enjoy a greater reputation abroad than in the USA. I often get the impression they are regarded as some sort of touchstone of quality, while US guitar geeks tend to go "meh" except in the case of particular guitars or models.

cnew, it's because the people saying this are not informed about guitars in general. I know Bill Nash makes a better guitar than Fender, but how many people on this forum have even heard of Nash guitars. I mean it's YA, lot's of uninformed people here. I totally get what you are saying. It is very frustrating for folks like us to hear the asinine answers given here.

To the first two folks, I have one word for you...Bieber. He is about the most popular singer in the world. Does that make him the best? There is a huge difference between great marketing and great quality.

You should probably wait until you have more money. Stay away from Chinese Fenders, there not worth it. For low end guitars consider Ibanez. good luck

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