Any Love For Gibsons?

[EDHGirl]

During my seemingly eternal quest for the right guitar, I had finally settled on a Martin D-28 when I turned around and saw a Gibson Songwriter. Well I really loved it. I liked the fact that the nut is 1.72, since I've never really been able to decide between 1.75 and 1.68. Tone was beautiful and it just felt right.

 

So I came back home and checked all my internet favorites for reviews and I'm pretty much met with a resounding thud. Lots of people who had problems with the guitar and had trouble getting it fixed and people questioning Gibson's quality control. I don't really know enough about the ins and outs of the guitar to spend too much time trying to diagnose problems so this worries me.

 

I've noticed that not a lot of people here play Gibson and wondered if there was a general consensus against them or whether people felt that there are better guitars than the songwriter in that price range?

 

Any help or comment would be very much appreciated. I know that I can't go wrong with the D-28 but I'm not in love with it either.

[drnihili]

The overwhelming advice here is to buy the guitar you love. It's true that Gibsons get a bit less love here than other brands, but if that particular Songwriter makes you grin and want to play, then grab it.

 

That said, I'll leave it to others to comment in more detail as I have no personal experience with Gibsons.

[missedmyexit]

Best advice I can give unless you have some serious money a D-28 is too much to spend for a guitar you are not "in love with". I'm not saying it is not worth the money to others but at that price point you should really be "in love" with what you buy. The Gibson Songwriter is a solid guitar and if you love it get it. There are many high quality guitars out there and what is better then the other is more a personal preference at that price range. In the end the only person that has to be happy with your purchase is you.

[whit townsend]

Play what you love. Gibson makes some fine guitars.

[EvilTwin]

 

Play what you love. Gibson makes some fine guitars.

 

 

+1

 

You gotta play what feels right in your hands and sounds good to your ears. If it's a Gibbie, so be it.

 

Personally, I think Gibson's QC is a little suspect, but I've played hit and miss guitars from just about every manufacturer (Martin included). If you find "the one," don't let the name on the headstock defer you.

[TXTooMuch]

I have had mine for a couple of years now and I absolutly love it. Plenty of love for them here.

[fingerpicker]

I love my two Gibsons, and the songwriter is a fine guitar.

[Bernie P.]

My favorite git of all I've played so far is a Gibson.I don't recall the model but it was a little over 2100 at GC.To much for me and I know nothing about them as far as dependability goes but it sure was sweet.If you really like it I'd say grab it and play the daylights out of it "IF!!!- it has a lifetime warranty and the store allows 30-45 days to decide.Hopefully any problems will surface early and you can get a refund.If not you've got the warranty to fall back on and a guitar you really love.If you don't love the D28 why bother.There's lots of great ones out there and sooner or later you'll find the one for you.

[Michael Martin]

I love Songwriters--have played a few different ones and would spend the bucks on one if I was in need of a new dread. I own an older Hummingbird that is still my main squeeze.

[MBWendel]

Like EvilTwin, I'm a bit sketchy about Gibson QC, however, I think that they do better with their acoustics than they do with the electric side. In terms of Gibson, I love their J45. I certainly prefer the slope dreads in terms of looks over the Martin standard, and a few that I have played have been great. I'm also a sucker for a nice sunburst. They sure do those well!

[AK47]

I can't say about Gibsons current QC because both of mine are older. I will say "I love my Gibsons." A guitar I've been gassing over for a while but haven't yet pulled the trigger is the J185. It is hard to beat a Gibson jumbo.

[guit30]

I think Gibsons are awesome(better than Taylors or Martins) would love one those songwriter series, love that cascade cutaway model and the regular songwriter deluxe, about 1850 too much

Jim

[guitarist21]

I love Gibson jumbos but cannot afford them.

 

Ellen

[AK47]

I love Gibson jumbos but cannot afford them. Ellen

 

That's why I haven't pulled the trigger Ellen. I could buy it but there is better uses for the money right now.

[Attila]

I'm loving my J-45R

[slodge]

The Songwriter's a great instrument. I tried one when I was shopping and really liked it. Of course, I wound up with a Martin, but they were my ears and my hands and they wanted THAT guitar. Listen to your ears and hands and get YOUR guitar.

[rhythmdoctor]

I have a Gibson and couldn't be happier.

 

If I could offer another model for you to try it would be what I have, the Gibson Advanced Jumbo. Gibson originally made these back in the 30s to compete with the D28. Try to play a few - IMO they are much better than D28s. Good luck.

[larry50]

I'm a Martin man myself. However, during the last two weeks I played several Gibson's at two different GC's in the LA area: two J-45's, a Songwriter, an Advanced Jumbo and a gorgeous J-200. All were absolutely great guitars with great tone and what appeared to be very good QC (no sharp frets, no obvious finish flaws and a bone nut that actually looked like it was cut correctly). The J-45's were both hogs, and sounded lush with that "Gibson" dry voice. The Advanced Jumbo looked and sounded dreamy. The J-200 in particular was just a honking great guitar with bass you could hear across the street. Either the QC at Gibson has improved, or all of the guitars I played were happy mistakes (given Gibsons known QC issues).

[Treborklow]

Gibson may have some occasional QC issues with their electrics but their Bozeman made acoustics are top notch. The Songwriter in particuar is a really great sounding guitar and I've never played a bad one.

[rtilryarms]

My favorite guitar was the one I started out on. My brother was sent to Vietnam and I was told to take care of his 1967 Gibson J-45 Sunburst.

 

I have had every guitar since then from Fender to Guild to Martin but I guess it's like crack, I am always looking for that original thrill that Gibson gave me.

 

My current guitar is a Martin. I do like the lower action. Back when I used Gibson, I was more of a strummer so I guess I would say that your style should dictate your guitar.

 

Are you Cat Stevens, in which case I would go with Gibson; or James Taylor, where I would go with the Martin et al...?

[Tony Burns]

Gibson advanced jumbos are wonderfull - give one a test drive !

[bardsley]

And remember, recent phsychological tests done about the concept of choice has shown conclusively that you'll be more happy with something you like and pick immediately than something that you spend a lot of time researching and investigating different models.

The more choice you become aware of between different guitars, the more worried you'll be that you made the wrong one. If oyu just pick something on a whim that you love, you won't necessarily have those same doubts, unless you hang about in these forums too much!

[EDHGirl]

Good to know there are some happy Gibson owners here. Bardsley is right; if it weren't for these forums I'd have bought something by now and been perfectly happy. Now every time somebody on the forum raves about a guitar I feel like I have to go play it.

 

I've pretty much narrowed it down to the Songwriter or the Guild D-55. Don't think I can really go wrong with either one.

[AndrewGG]

 

Gibson advanced jumbos are wonderfull - give one a test drive !

 

 

Yes! Mine is a 2002 model. I have owned many rosewood dreads, Martin included, and this is hands down the finest I have played.

If you want a great sounding alternative to a D-28 this is it.

[BigRed51]

 

Now every time somebody on the forum raves about a guitar I feel like I have to go play it. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the Songwriter or the Guild D-55. Don't think I can really go wrong with either one.

 

 

Remember, the typical answer on a forum is "buy what I own." All advice comes without knowing your playing style, playing environment, and personal preferences as to sound, neck, and appearance. So what's REALLY important is what YOU like! I have not seen any sign of the legendary "QC problems" from Gibson in several years. In fact, I think they are consistently building some of the best guitars on the market right now. The Advanced Jumbo is an amazing guitar, which compares very favorably to a Martin HD-28, for considerably less money. The Songwriter is, IMO, the most versatile guitar in it's price range, and is very well priced.

 

You may want to consider a trip to Guitar Center this week-end. Memorial Day is their biggest sale of the year, and they generally offer 15 month interest free financing. You also have a 30 day return policy, and I have never seen them hesitate to give a refund if you don't like it ... as long as it's in the same condition you bought it in, and they can still sell it as new. Just be sure not to register the warranty until you decide for sure you're gonna keep it. That gives you ample time to play the guitar in your environment ... remember, they always sound different in music stores.