@rusty Yes that's true!! The big music store here has a beautiful Epiphone cherry burst Les Paul right now for $1,600.00. It is beautiful and sounds good. But seeing Epiphone on the headstock I'm told hurts it's sales from people who are big Les Paul fans. They want it to read "Gibson" and that costs a lot more money!!
But there are other things that make the Gibson version different than the Epiphone version I'm told.
@robertdee Unrelated but applicable: years ago, the Coke-a-Cola CEO at the time, said that if any other bottler stole the exact formula for Coke and went to market that it wouldn't sell as well simply because it is not Coke-a-Cola.
The former Gibson plant in Kalamazoo is staffed by former Gibson employers using the exact lathes, saws etc. that were used to build the vintage Gibson line. They make instruments unter the name of Heritage Guitars. Trust me - those guitars are every bit as good (maybe better?) than anything that Gibson is currently making in Memphis or Montana. Main difference is that it does not say Gibson on the different shaped headstock. Same with Fender/G&L - great quality builds, but they can't compete (or beat) their forefathers in sales or resale value.
Gibson 1963/64 FIrebird III
@bill_graham Paul Reed Smith is doing very well and growing. They have decent market share now too. Not sure they will catch up to Gibson and Fender. Fender I was reading has a big Amp business worldwide too.
Dean Guitars on the verge of going out of existence.
https://www.guitarworld.com/news/dean-guitars-armadillo-foreclosure-debts
Funky 1960's LaBoz Bison Guitar
https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/wizard-of-odd/a-hefty-laboz-bison
Why Robin Trower went from Gibson's to playing a Fender Strat
https://www.guitarworld.com/news/why-robin-trower-plays-fender-stratocasters
@bill_graham "... one player who would strongly disagree with the sentiments of Malmsteen, Blackmore and Trower is Sammy Hagar. .... “I have Strats; I just don’t play them.”
If the "Red Rocker" has any Strat's that he ain't playin' he can sling one or two of 'em my way! 😉
This version of how Robin Trower contradicts the story that I have come accustomed to - that he saw Hendrix and was inspired by him to go Strat. Great player, regardless!
@rusty Eric Clapton has said meeting and getting to know Jimi Hendrix was why he switched from a Gibson ( I think at the time he switched it was an SG with a wild paint design) to a Strat.
But like you Rusty, I remember Trower saying Jimi Hendrix is why he began to want a Stratocaster.
But it goes the other way too. Dickey said when he first met and played with Duane Allman he was playing a Strat. And when the ABB formed Duane was still playing a Strat. But when he ran across a GoldTop Les Paul, Duane liked it so much he managed to buy it.
The Strat Duane was playing when the Allman Brothers Band was formed was a guitar Delaney Bramlett loved and always wanted to play when he was around Duane. Eventually Duane sat in with Delaney and Bonnie and brought the Strat. To Delaney's surprise, Duane gave him the Strat at the end of the show and it became Delaney's number one guitar to play live.
Pearl Jam guitarist says new Fender digital Amps are the best on the market. And he swore he would always be a tube amp man.
Guitar wise he says he uses both Les Pauls and Strats depending on what he is playing. Also Clapton still plays a Gibson ES-335 on certain songs.
https://www.guitarworld.com/news/pearl-jam-mike-mccready-switch-to-fender-digital-tone-master-amps
Here is Duane on a Stratocaster. This is the track Eric Clapton and I read in Alan Paul's new book Brothers and Sisters Phil Walden did the same thing. When Clapton and Walden heard it on the radio they both called Jerry Wexler to see who the guitarist was.
"Pearl Jam guitarist says new Fender digital Amps are the best on the market. And he swore he would always be a tube amp man. "
I'm sure this makes him popular with the roadies!
For years, Jack Pearson played shows with a little Yamaha solid state amp. Somebody told me that it finally died out on him.
Here is Dickey I've been told years ago by a few fans playing the Strat that Duane later in 1970 gave to Delaney Bramlett. It is not the same Strat Duane used at Muscle Shoals. P.S. I've always been skeptical Dickey was playing that particular Strat. Dickey owned his own Strat too and played it from very late 1969 to about June of 1970 then went to the SG he later gave Duane. As a matter of fact, the first few times I saw the band in early 1970, Dickey was playing a Strat.
Duane playing a nice blues in 1968 or 9.
Derek Trucks shows a lockdown tune they have never played live. He mentions two of his favorite guitar players I've never heard him mention and Duane Allman's Little Martha.
Eric Johnson on cords that allow thinking outside the box. ( why does he always have messed up hair?)
https://youtube.com/shorts/o4PPpf8yZtU?si=GJHoLm4wGoS26ONN
@robertdee I just wish that I knew even 1% of anything that EJ might've forgotten about guitar playing! 😉
Albert Lee on his playing a Fender Telecaster
https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/albert-lee-live-in-rome-2010
Gibson Les Paul history
https://breakthroughguitar.com/the-les-paul-guitar-a-classic-guitars-history-and-features/
@bill_graham Les was a note machine. But yet doesn't sound like your typical shredder.
And don't forget the cigarette Les and Mary enjoy!! It's the brand of cigarette MORE DOCTORS SMOKE THAN ANY OTHER BRAND!!!
The Brothers and Sisters lineup with a sensational version of Les Brers in A Minor!!!
Jaimoe plays Monkey Skulls and the beginning. Dickey plays them on the Eat A Peach original. Lamar Williams is stellar on bass guitar plus Chuck, Dickey Butch and Gregg all deliver outstanding performances.
This think is smoking once it's gets going!!!
@bill_graham Great Les Paul tone and sustain!! It's why the Les Paul was/is a home run!!
Another 1962 Gibson ES-335. This time a burst. Beautiful if you have $32k laying aroung
https://cartervintage.com/shop/gibson-es-335-1962-sunburst/2U7a4P21oeB4GZUzj5ubK5B4vnG
@bill_graham My "Holy Grail" guitar is an ES 335 ... but I ain't paying $32K for one. Looking for a recent model in the $2K - 3K range. They're out there ...
Nice vintage Les Paul Jr's
Nice selection of vintage Gibson's
https://www.williesguitars.com/product-category/electric-guitars/gibson-electric-guitars/
@bill_graham Nice article on why some guitarists prefer a HARDTAIL Stratocaster.
I remember Dickey talking about his old 1956 Fender Stratocaster hardtail and what a great rhythm guitar it is. Always stays in tune and when playing lead, your bends are always what you are going for everytime.
Must be more solid with staying in tune than the far more popular whammy bar versions.
https://allforturntables.com/2023/09/14/what-are-the-advantages-of-a-hardtail-strat/
