If I were to buy a Gibson it would most likely be this one.
ES-175
But I'd rather wait and build one. Should be ready to attempt
this style within the next two years. I know I can handle the neck
and pickups...
 
 

oh, you make guitars? (spacey)
 
Well, to tell you the truth, I am not into guitars that much, just looking around I just find Fenders not as likeable to me as a Gibson guitar is. That is about it. I play synths more. I pour through 248 page manuals with a synth. I find Epiphone guitars cheap enough in price to buy and the quality of the one I did is very good, neck being different though.
I will use what I have and it will have to suffice.

And a cheaper priced guitar is a more comfortable guitar in the area of if it takes damage, it is not a heart attack.
 

Hopefully I'll have more geetus in my pocket when you're ready for an archtop Michael, ol pal.  I'm afraid you've given me an idea;-)
 

spacealf
oh, you make guitars? (spacey)
 
Well, to tell you the truth, I am not into guitars that much, just looking around I just find Fenders not as likeable to me as a Gibson guitar is. That is about it. I play synths more. I pour through 248 page manuals with a synth. I find Epiphone guitars cheap enough in price to buy and the quality of the one I did is very good, neck being different though.
I will use what I have and it will have to suffice.

And a cheaper priced guitar is a more comfortable guitar in the area of if it takes damage, it is not a heart attack.
 

LOL...not really...I'm not a luthier but I'm learning as a hobby. I thought after trying to learn how to play them for so many years maybe a could learn how to build them.
I played Gibsons for 30 yrs (I guess) and switched to Fenders...but I'd play whatever guitar is close by..they're all guitars. I've played models by each manufacturer that didn't do anything for me.
 
I think as long as you have a guitar in your hands...everything is just fine....and don't have a heart attack!!
 

yorolpal
Hopefully I'll have more geetus in my pocket when you're ready for an archtop Michael, ol pal.  I'm afraid you've given me an idea;-)
 

Well at least you live close enough if it ever happens it'll be a fun trip.
and you got me curious...you ain't gonna trade that new Strat for Gibson before ya even get it are you ? LOL

i've always gone for guitars that were OTHER than gibbys or fenders.
 
always looking to be different.
 
could care less about the status quo.
 

This has been a really whacky thread. I'm surprised at how strong feelings run over something like guitars. I have owned many in my life, and only in the last couple of years have I assembled my own small collection of instruments. My collection has very expensive guitars and very cheap guitars, the main criteria is usefulness. For example, I had a nice 1970 P bass, and people used to drool over it. The fact is it didn't sound good, so I sold it and kept a Peavey bass that kicked its butt.
 
Guitars have always been tough to stick with, acoustics in particular. I could never find one that talked to me until I found my old '32 Gibson L00. It looks like crap but just sings. I've got a Gibson R7 goldtop that makes me smile every time I pull it out. My previous Gibson experience in the 70's was so bad that I swore that I'd never again play a Les Paul; until I found the goldtop.
 
The stratocaster has to be one of the most versatile guitars ever designed. I've owned about 12 in my life and right now I have a custom shop 1960 with a light relic job. The thing is magic. I also have a 1965 Jazzmaster that's 100% original. It's the most valuable guitar I have but I don't use it much since I got the strat.
 
There's others laying about but that's my list of good guitars. Still on the list is a Gibson SG or Tokai SG. The SG has always called to me but I've never found one that had everything going on. Usually the necks are really mushy because of the neck joint design. I'll keep looking and likely use the Jazzmaster to fund my purchase.
 
So you can see that I don't have a real brand loyalty, it's more of a loyalty to tone and quality. What all my best guitars have in common are the following:
- Great wood
- Great tone
- Thin laquer finish, I hate poly finishes
- Made using a lot of hand labor
Because of these factors I find that there's a lot of variation between instruments and each one gets evaluated on its own merrits.

You can't believe that guitar players are passionate about guitars? :-)

Don't start a thread on "Why Marshall amps are less popular than Fender amps these days"? :-)

Nope...the Strat came in today and I've been playing for several hours now. While the neck could be a hair smaller...it's just like I remember from my teens. It is dead solid perfect as to build and playability and the pickups are the best I've ever had on a strat...no foolin. Those Japanese fellers really do know how to build em right. I think my solid body quest might be at an end. I'm finally back home.

PS: my idea was to have you build me a semi-hollow body...when you're ready...and I have the required semolians:-)

Great news Ol Pal. Those MIJ strats are some of the best. The Japanese made guitars are far better than some other offshore offerings. The 1980's models are getting to be collectable and they deserve respect. The early Squire models that say Fender Stratocaster by Squire can go for upward of $1k.
 
Enjoy.