Hi guys,

These questions have been around for the longest time, but I would like to ask them

1. Which is a better guitar? Epiphone or Squier?
2. Which is a better guitar? Gibson or Fender?

Thanks!

LazBro123

`

Don't expect either to best the other.

Do expect nearly identical axen from those same
*actual* maker[s] to be sold at even lower price
without their Epiphone or Fender "co-label". NOT
knocking the quality of the products from various
nameless factories. Just knocking the extra price
for those "more prestigious" decals.



`

`

My bro, an accomplished session player and band
leader, needed a new jazz box. He wanted a deep
archtop, which ... given the typical stock in most
shops ... led to comparing Squiers and Epi's. The
Squier suited him best. HIM, not you, not me, not
the man in the moon.

So one nite I'm hanging at the back of the room
at bro's gig. A young man was so verrrrry blowed
away by bro's solos that he excused himself from
his SO, and headed up near the band for a better
look [not a better *listen*, cuz it's a small room].
He spoke excitedly to his SO before he headed up.
When he returned to her, he was rather downcast
and quiet. Funny, huh ?

My take on what I saw:

My Bro's artistry was spozed to give that young
man license to blow serious bucks on upgrading
his own ax, and his SO was on hand, to witness
for herself his justification of the expense ! But,
after his visit to the front row, the young man's
great plan was in shambles. My bro's ax was no
better [or likely, even cheaper] than the ax from
which the young man hoped to upgrade himself.

Not that I followed this couple home to confirm
my take on what I saw ... but I saw what I saw.



`

Welcome to MGR, LazBro! Hard question, but a simple answer: Whichever one you feel best playing. If one guitar suited everyone, there wouldn't be so many guitar manufacturers.

Epiphone has been making great guitars for years. Paul McCartney still uses the Epiphone Texan acoustic and Epiphone Casino he used with the Beatles. The Casino is the guitar on the blistering "Taxman" solo. John Lennon also used the Casino and it can be seen in the "Revolution" video and also in the movie "Let it Be." John did the solo to "Get Back" on the casino. I have an Epiphone Zenith bass and it is extremely well-made, sounds great and look beautiful.

Squier makes some good guitars at great prices for those who did Fender but don't have the cash for the main line models. Their Vintage Modified series guiatars & basses are really a bargain. I have a Squier Stratocaster the cost $100 but sounds every bit as good as the "real thing," which costs four times as much. I've also played a Squier fretless Jazz Bass that cost $350 but sounded and looked like Fender all the way.

Gibson and Fender also make great guitars, but to me, Gibson symbolizes solid, gutsy rock sounds (Jimmy Page) while Fender symbolizes clean, cutting sound (Beach Boys, the solos on the Beatles' "Nowhere Man."). That's an oversimplification, but it's almost down to the difference between humbuckers and single coil pickups and whether you like set necks or bolt-on necks.
I've never heard a Fender hollowbody guitar that I like, but the Gibson 335 is sweet. But I've never heard a Gibson that cuts through like a Telecaster or a Strat.

Epiphone's models closely follow Gibson's, which is a sister company, just as Squier's models parallel Fender's. In each case, lower cost doesn't always mean lower quality.

Best thing to do is try 'em all. If you've already tried a few, please do write reviews for MGR -- we have an ongoing giveaway pot for reviewers each month. The more reviews, the more money in the pot!

`

P.S.

Bro doesn't buy a Squier [or Epi, etc] cuz he's
broke or like that ... he drives huge Benzes and
never keeps one past the end of the warrantee,
keeps his late wife's Corvette as a memento of
her, travels the world, owns multiple properties
and homes, supports all ailing family members,
uses Leica cameras, a Bose PA, yada yada yada.
So he could well afford a custom ax or three or
more ... but he likes his Squier and a couple of
other zero-prestige import boxes, and he can
outplay the devil himself with those.

You DO hear me, right ?



`

I'd still be wearing Keds if they made 'em. Whatever works for you.

So you wear black Chuckys ?

I don't play jeans & teeshirt stuff. I play
dress shirt & black slacks [OK, it's black
jeans] stuff ... so, no Chucky's for me. I
wear $20 black shoes from WalMart and
they last almost 2 years in daily wear :-)



`

Thanks for the help! I understand you Golem. Also, I tried Epiphones and Squiers and I agree with everything you said Laklander and wrote two reviews so far on MGR

Brandon (LazBro123)

I have a pair of low Chucks. They have no arch support and make my feet hurt, but they look cool!

`

Uh huh.

I look exceedingly uncool.

But I play bass, so that waaay
more than makes up for it :-)



`

The nice thing about Squier and Epiphone is that you can afford one of each, and have twice as much variety in your playing. My Epiphone Les Paul is better than my Squier Strat, but then the Gibson outclasses the Fender too. the Epi feels and sounds like the real deal, the Squier only sounds like it. However the Squier is old, '88 MIK, and they may have sharpened up their quality since. But neither of them sound very much like each other, so go by what you want to play.

The link below will help you better to decide Epiphone or Squier?
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=28854833642&topic=10196

And a video for Gibson vs Fender?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Awaj5rKpc