Guitar Heavy Weights

[Guest INXS]

If you think there is a guitar better then any of those please discuss.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

Gibson, hence why they usually cost an upwards of $1200 (unless they're Les Pauls, because I've seen those go for $4000).

 

Personally, I prefer my Hamer, but hey.

[Guest INXS]

There is nothing like that Gibson twang. I'll will own one some day!

[Guest redbaron51]

While Gibsons and Fenders are nice, everybody forgets about the Rickenbacker. Those are probably some of the nicest guitars that are out there, and cost more than a regular Gibson Les Paul (mainly because its made out of oak). Probably the best sound out of all of them aswell.

[Guest gangsteruwa]

The only guitar company on that list that I have had experience with is Jackson. That particular guitar (I think it was a performer or one of their "budget guitars") sucked and never stayed in tune. I prefer my old reliable Peavey Tracer which I ripped the pickups out of and put in one EMG 81. It's so ugly but I love that piece of shit.

 

Gibson makes some beautiful guitars but I'm not about to sell my organs to buy one.

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

I have a Gibson and a Fender and I don't really prefer one to the other... but I voted for Gibson just because.

[Rendclaw 0]

I love Ibanez guitars.... they are so effortless to play, and once you put in the right pickups it sounds like GOD.

 

I never liked Gibsons... and I own a squire strat so Fenders are okay by me....

[Guest Neil-o-Mac]

Hmmm...let's see here.

 

Gibson - Maker of timeless classics. If you want tonal beef, nothing beats a good Les Paul. Their quality control has apparently been a bit hit 'n' miss the last few years though. Not as bad as 70's-era Gibbo QC, though.

 

Fender - Telecaster. Stratocaster. Need any more be said? Still producing good guitars to this day. Yeah, they put out the odd duffer (the US reissues of the Jaguar and Jazzmaster from about two or three years ago were apparently a bit crap), but if you find the right one, it can be superb.

 

ESP - I've heard mixed opinions about the LTD range of ESPs...I can imagine the full-on Japanese ESPs rule, though.

 

Yamaha - Yamaha make some GREAT guitars. The Pacifica 112 has to be one of the best low-price guitars EVER, and they've produced some great high-end models as well. I use an RGX420-D6 and it's a great axe, even though it's a total Ibanez ripoff

 

B.C. Rich - Not for the faint at heart. I've heard their low-end guitars (Bronze series, for example) are crap, but their USA guitars can be fantastic. Dunno if I'd want one though.

 

Ibanez - Solid, no-nonsense designs for the most part and general all-round quality. Great guitars.

 

Epiphone - Their budget Gibson copies can be here and there (their hardware and wiring can be shoddy - I've had the neck pickup on my LP 7-string fall inside the body twice and the p/u selector can be tempramental), but if you get the right one and upgrade the pickups, you can be onto a winner. I hear good things about their Japanese Elite range though.

 

Jackson - Some of their custom shop graphic designs have been WILD. I have to wonder what being bought out by Fender will do to them though.

 

Washburn - A mixed bag. I have a friend that swears by his Dime Stealth, but he's a massive Dimebag fan, so a grain of salt is required there, methinks. Their WI-64 models look good for the cash though.

 

Rickenbacker - Can be very idiosyncratic (the necks are an aquired taste, unusual switching on some models, the 12-strings are strung differently to most 12-strings), but definitely the way to go of you're looking for something more 60's in vibe. Or, if you're a bassist, you want to be Lemmy. Slipknot cover bands need not apply.

 

I'm surprised PRS haven't been mentioned. I would've had them on the list instead of Epiphone. Nice guitars, but the lower-end SE models don't yank my crank.

 

As far as smaller companies go, G&L (started by Leo Fender and where he worked until he died), Godin and Heritage are all worth any guitarist's attention.

 

AS far as the poll goes, I'll go for Fender, purely on the basis of the Strat and the Tele.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I'd take a Fender Jazz bass over any pointy ass contraption made by Jackson or BC Rich. I don't like Jackson basses at all.

 

Blow your Load.

[Guest BAR]

I'll go with Gibson, because they're Gibson. I own a Vintage PRS and a Squier Strat.

Edited July 29, 2003 by BAR

[Guest redbaron51]

For basses, I gotta say Ibanez makes the best of them, considering I have three Ibanez basses (EDA 905, BTB 406. GSR 400) Never had a problem with them.

 

Though one day I wish I can have an Ernie Ball Music Man Sting Ray, or the Stu Hamm signature bass

[Guest GeneMean]

I voted Fender because of all the guitars I've owned over the years, these sounded the best right out of the case. Malmsteen Signature Model and an American Standard

 

disclaimer: I have never owned a Les Paul. Maybe one day but I figure I could put a down payment on a house with Les Paul money instead.

 

My Jackson Soloist is an above average guitar made great by the neck-thru construction. If it was up to me every guitar would be neck-thru

 

I've owned 3 diff Ibanez guitars and have loved them all. An RG? series, flying V (gibson copy) and an Iceman (Paul Stanley, White Zombie)

 

I do own a Steinberger which is an offshoot of Gibson but it's not reliable enough for me. I break high E strings on there like nothing.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I don't like Les Pauls. Not one bit. They just feel awkward to me, but then again I play with my guitar/bass all the way up on my chest like a fuckin' dork, so that might be why. I like something big and bulky up there.

 

Maybe I just got hosed, but I once owned an Ibanez bass, and had nothing but trouble with it. Kept coming out of tune and sounded like dogshit, among other things.

[Guest Nanks]

Maton guitars. Tommy Emmanuel plays one, therefore it owns. Oh yeah, and they're Aussie. Double owns.