Historically speaking, a lot of musician who've breathed life back into rock were often using "the wrong tools". The rest was simply riding on a wave. 

Like you said above, Hendrix first used a strat because he could afford one. The rest is history. In fact, he used to say that a lot of the stuff he played was  the result of him trying to imitate a horn line or whatever - talk about using the wrong tool. 

The Doors didn't have a bass player and had to rely on the keyboard player for a bass line. The White Stripes didn't even have a keyboard player to play the bass. The Beatles had Ringo for a drummer!

Necessity s the mother of invention.

When they can afford the "right tools", it's usually not long before it gets too comfortable and rock goes back to sleep.

Ultimately, the "right tools" are a standard - and rock is (partly) about going against the grain. 

Fender is more popular than Gibson now'a'days because SRV played a Start! lol and pretty much the same reason I've not bought one. At least, that's what pops into my mind.

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I own both, and for the most part have since the mid to late 70's. I can't agree that one sounds "better" than the other. That's just not a sensible argument, and it's unprovable regardless of which one you side with.
 
As for popularity, it swings back and forth, and always has. The quality of the guitars has nothing to do with it. When Led Zep came out, everybody started playing LPs. Then Eddie came along and it swung to Strats. Then Slash came and it was back to LPs. etc. etc.
 
The guitars are just tools. A player will use what the song calls for.
 
Randy

"why gibson is less popular then fender these days?"

 
 
oh, that's simple.
 
the fender models are more affordable.
there are more options.
 
 
gibsons are overpriced.
 

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...

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

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

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.
 

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!

 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. 

Oh, my and I just bought one because they were on sale this last weekend. (went up again at a certain place).
But others have push/pull coil taps and can either sound like a humbucker or a single coil pickup and Fenders can also cost more like $1600 and Customs way up there like Gibsons.
 
I  bought the solid body LP because this is the first year in a long time that Gibson has made one.

 
But then I do not take good pictures though and the color is different than what the picture shows.
 
Whatever!

 
I could of passed up the deal but then, I could not either with 30% off at the end of year sale, but read first sentence again. Just got it today.
 
(and because of the sale quite a few were bought this weekend at least at one place.)
 

Iced Tea? Very nice!

Like Sunday, while I was talking to them the other one (10lbs. 2oz monster) was sold. That ended that day.

That's my kind of mid-life crisis!

tbosco, they will sell you another one also!