Gibson, I prefer acoustic.

I love the Les Paul, but it's a little heavy for a complete show (hard on the back) so I use a Strat mostly. I like the fret board of a strat as well, better action. I have a Epiphone Dove which I really enjoy as well. So to answer your question, I love them both. Awesome lines. Thanks

Gibson electric bass is the best guitar for sound reproduction in recording studios. Fender electric guitars are the best for both recording and live shows. Both have been long-life preferred by the recording industry and artists.

My choice is Gibson Les Paul Special 1990. Really good instrument.

Gibson Because Fender are taking over the guitar industry and buying out many smaller companys and becoming a superpower, being Brittish i always go for the under dog

fender.... who u kiddin

either right now... i have an old beat up stinger

I learned guitar with a Gibson, and now that my kids are old enough to play, I bought them Gisbson's too. I think for the price, it's a quality instrument with great sound.

generally i'd go for fender :) but there are a few exceptions

FENDER. geez, those things are american classics. I wouldn't mind a Gibson though, their designs are pretty cool. But you gotta keep it classic with a good ol' fashioned Stratocaster.

They both have for their place. I like each for different things. SRV, Clapton style I like my 79 strat. Duane Allman slide guitar my 61 SG reissue ZZ Top blues rock Led Paul. Gibson has more quality control, but are more expensive. Try them both. You need to play one to see if it speake to you or not. http://www.learningguitarnow.com

If we're comparing Strats and Les Pauls I'd say that I marginally prefer Les Pauls though both models have uniquely beautiful and useful voices. But we're comparing companies. I don't identify with either. I'm more partial to Steinberger, Parker, Teuffel, Basslab, and other pioneers in instrument technology. I also prefer my own designs to those old tires ones the corporate giants have been peddling for over 50 years.

If you are comparing apples to apples and talking strictly about quality then I can make a few simple comparisons that may help. I have bought and sold over 50 guitars. I teach guitar and have built guitars. This comparison is based on my personal experience with both lines and handling and playing hundreds of each over the last 30 years. This is also based on current retail production models not older guitars. Price Range $0 - $400 -------------------------- Fender - Mostly made in China and Taiwan now, this would be mostly the "value line" Fender's Squire, Starcaster, Hello Kitty etc. There is some quality in the $250 - $400 models however consistency in manufacture has been a known problem in the Squire line and I see regularly that it still is. I have many beginning students with their new Squire Strat's shedding pieces, parts and screws onto the floor of my studio. I do not recommend these Fender "value lines" to my students or friends. I have seen some quality builds but consistency and quality needs to be addressed and I am disappointed that Fender is willing to allow it. They should fix it or get their name off of it. Gibson - This price range is exclusively Gibson's Epiphone line. Mostly made in Korea some at the bottom end are made in China however these seem to be consistently good quality guitars for the price point. I have seen very few problems and good consistency across all Gibson's Epiphone products. The Korean made guitars are an excellent value in this price range with very good quality. Price Range $500 - $1500 ------------------------- Fender - This range begins Fenders own branded instruments and are primarily Made in Mexico(MIM) and include the Classic and Deluxe lines of fenders. My experience has been that they are reasonable quality and consistency across the price range. Despite the line names they are very standard in features and finish. My only issue with these Fenders is that there are more than a hand-full non-Fender Strat's and Tele's at this price range or lower that are of an equal or higher quality with more features than the MIMFender. My point being that you are paying the highest percentage for the Fender name at this price range. Fender American made guitars also begin in this price point. The American Standard, the American Classic, and the American Deluxe, etc. I have seen both excellent quality and surprisingly several poor quality instruments come out of the American factory at this price range. Gibson - The Gibson line of electrics start at about $800 and goes up from there. Interestingly I have seen some of the "entry level" $800 Gibson guitars that are not up to the quality of their $400 to $600 Epiphone clone cousins. Additionally, Epiphone makes some guitars in the $700 to $$1100 range that can compete with Gibson's guitars in the $1500 to $2000 range. Price Range - Over $1500 ------------------------ Fender - Guitars from the custom shop or in the artist series are everything you would expect from a high end guitar. Hand fitted for feel and playability they still have an alder body and maple neck just like the $200 Squire. Obviously the electronics are top quality as is the hardware and pups. But even after playing a few I don't quite understand what makes the $3,000 Custom Shop Strat $2,000 better than the $1,000 Am. Standard Strat. Maybe a $2000 paint job? What ever it is, these elite Strats are beautiful hot rods and make great gifts for all your friends if money is no concern. Gibson - At this price range is where the Gibson LP hits it's stride. Beyond the $2000 mark these are all hand made guitars. Hand built, fitted, hand painted, and hand polished these guitars are individual works of art. The wood and component quality just gets amazing at this level and the sound follows suit. At this level there are just no knock off guitars that are in the same league. Unlike Fender's strat and even Gibson's own SG it seems the LP can be taken to a level higher in both cost and workmanship that can not be replicated by other makers. At least not yet. In summary, above $1000 you get a beautiful high quality instrument from either of these makers. The Epiphone line beats the Squire line hands down in consistent quality. Buy your Made in Mexico Fender used for a good deal. For the perfectionist artist a $5000 Gibson Les Paul is worth every penny. Nothing looks cooler than an American Fender Strat on stage.

Gibson, I have a Standard(Mexican) Strat, I had the neck worked on and put some Lace Holy Grails in, and I love it, but costing about 750-800 bucks, it can't compete with my 2800 dollar '93 Gibson Les Paul Standard with the Bird's Eye Maple finish. And all around I prefer Gibson to fender, in my opinion the only fender guitars worth a damn are Telecasters and strats, but I would use any mainstay in the Gibson lineup over a fender any day.

I'll have to go with Gibson, Fender seems to be the typical guitar to get nowadays.... Sad to admit I own a American Stratocaster and a Japanese Tele =.="

1959 Fender Stratocaster

Depends, I play a LOT of SRV so I use a fender strat but if im really rockin, you can never go wrong with an SG.

for the best effect in the studio a combo of the 2!

like johnwtuggle said, they both have their place in music. I personally think that Fenders are better for jazz and blues, and Gibsons are better for rock.

gibson has lots of amazing guitars to choose from but the strat and tele are just awesome

As regards basses (hey they're still electric guitars sort of ;) ) I would always go for Fenders over Gibson. I have never played a Gibson bass that I enjoyed playing, nor that had a great tone. They have their pros but they just don't have the versatility. The Fender Jazz and Precision are (still) superb for a variety of situations. As for 6 string guitars I prefer neither. They each have their place. I have always preferred the Les Paul or SG for Rock, they seem to have a bigger sound by and large but I think the Start has more versatility. THe Tele has its place as well. But when you are comparing the high quality ranges (on budget instruments I would go with Gibson/Epiphone) there is little to choose and becomes a matter of personal taste.

Here's a different twist. I play Ibanez Prestige models for the neck. They are a tiny 18mm thick at the nut and have 24 frets. I use Fender custom shop pickups for the monster tone. I own, my nicest ones, an RGR1570 and a SV5470. The RGR has Texas Specials in it with my own custome wiring and swithes. My SV is new but I have managed to put seymour Duncan Fat P60's and a Texas special Bridge in the middle. That SV is a surgeons scalple compared to the RG But I play them, both. I also own 7 other Ibanez guitars.