Oh my I don't have a Fender or a Gibson (electric anywho). Does that make me outmoded? Guess I'll need to buck up and try to play harder.
 
Regards,

So a year and a half after the thread first started, things haven't changed? :P
 
Fender is probably still selling more guitars than Gibson, if only for the fact that they are offering tons of cheap models. Guitars like the stratocaster player series (MIM) go for under $400 - and they still have the Fender logo on them. 
 
On the other hand, cording to a rep back in Canada, Gibson are doing better than they've done in years.
 
If I look at the Facebook picture profiles of all my fellow musicians from back home - 90% of whom used to play stratocasters and/or super strats - I'd say that things have changed radically. The Les Paul seems to be the new strat and all those guys seem to have switched. I guess it's in the air. 
 
Big Gibson are probably overpriced, but I've started seeing Fender strats and Tele go for $3000-$4000 more and more frequently these days. And Gibson have started offering less expensive guitars.
 
I just saw a $9600 CS Telecaster on Sweetwaters's web site. Now THAT is overpriced if you ask me. The most expensive Les Paul ($14 000) does not seem overpriced by comparison, imho...

The Strat has a bevel for my pot belly. Enough said.

gswitz
The Strat has a bevel for my pot belly. Enough said.

So did my Gibson Double-cut.
(Not enough said?  )

:-) Nice Craig! I didn't know they made them like that. I'm going to have to shop some more.

That was one of the few things I had to say in favour of my old strat vs my Les Pauls. The SG made it a moot point.
 

Sorry for the poor picture, but you can see it over there on the right.  I liked it so much that it's now part of my custom designs as well.
 

Hi,
 
Weird discussion!
 
Apples or Oranges?
 
Tomato or Tomatoe?
 
John or Jon?
 
I don't think the instrument is the most important part of it all. I seriously doubt it.
 
It's the person behind it, and if Jimi did not have a Strat, he would still be able to do his thing, and if Pete didn't have the Gibs, he would still smash it, and what not!
 
When you hear others play, and you check what they are playing and how they do this or that ... it can be one or the other ... so what?
 
And you think you can do what they do on their type of guitar and you can't do it on yours? I seriously doubt that ... but you can't get past the image that it can't be done?
 
Ex: Jeff Beck copied Terje Rypdal. Terje plays a Fender Strat. Jeff uses a Gibson, I think. The result is still VERY GOOD ... and no shame that Jeff is also capable of doing that kind of stuff that Terje did 40 years ago, when Jeff was still playing 1,2,3 and 4 rock'n'roll music, instead of experimenting with classical and chamber music like he is now!

This is no different than some bozo standing out in the middle of field looking up at an empty sky...
and the first thing you know...
 
Felt like somebody should mention that.....unless pissin' in the wind is your thang.
 

 I still love my Variax guitar which is very stratlike in appearance and feel * runs and ducks for cove*r. I like it so much that I would buy another one. There is a Gibson type modeler out there and a shredder version loaded with some killer models. 
 
 Im not especially nostalgic. I like nice guitars and I appreciate a quality guitar no matter who makes it. The name of the game for me is sound and feel. I'm not overly concerned with how it looks in the studio. If I buy another straight up guitar as opposed to a modeler I would look long and hard at Carvin. The quality and ability to customize and the price are tough to beat. They make a really good solid quality guitar on par with the very best for much less. 3000.00 dollars will get you a guitar you can't lay down.
 
 I am still tempeted to make a guitar. Not a kit. I have access to a few woodshops and could probably use those tools. I have some tools of my own. I think it would be a fun thing to do. If I wasn't between two other large projects right now I would have likely already ordered some plans to look over. I could see myself at least attempting it in the next year or so. Cutting the frets in looks complicated,the body and neck not so much. Measure three times  wait to cut and don't use a chinese micrometer.