Rivalry between Fender and Gibson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Throughout their long, storied histories, Fender and Gibson have often been rivals in the production of electric guitars, basses, and related products.

Contents

[edit] Background

The electric guitar was necessitated by the need to amplify traditional guitars; brass instruments easily drowned them out in bands of the day. Rickenbacker, with the "Frying Pan", would be the first to commercially produce an electric guitar; however, Fender and Gibson are the two most successful companies, and have tried to capture portions of the opponent's market share repeatedly.

The traditions of each marque differ notably on several issues:

  • Pickups: Gibson invented the humbucker, Fender concentrated on single coil.
  • Body styles: Fender concentrated on solid bodies, Gibson also developed the semi-acoustic based on their existing archtops.
  • Body woods: Most Fenders have alder, ash or basswood bodies, while Gibsons favour mahogany (sometimes with a maple top) on solid body instruments and maple laminates on hollow bodies.
  • Neck woods: Fenders have maple necks with maple or rosewood fingerboards. Gibsons have mahogany necks with rosewood or ebony fingerboards.
  • Neck joint: Gibsons use traditional set necks, which are glued to the body using a dovetail joint. Fender pioneered the bolt-on neck—a misnomer since it actually uses large wood screws, not bolts.
  • Scale length: Fender's standard scale lengths are 25.5" for guitars and 34" for basses, while Gibson tends to the shorter 24.75" and 30.5", respectively.
  • Tremolo arm: Fender developed integrated mechanisms routed deep into the body of the guitar and an essential part of the design, while Gibson concentrated on optional tailpieces with mechanisms mainly above the belly.
  • Head style: Gibson tended to retain the three-a-side head, Fender standardised on six-in-line.

These each define a prototype of each marque's more successful models, represented for example by the Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster, and provide talking points for enthusiasts on both sides. However both marques have long also offered a range of models in the opposing traditions, including variants of these prototypical models.

[edit] Pickups

In the public view, the companies have traditionally been divided into "Gibson, the humbucker brand" and "Fender, the single-coil brand".

By the mid-1950s, Fender had established itself as a trusted maker of solidbody guitars. Fender's Telecaster had essentially created the market, and his Stratocaster, though nowhere near the immense popularity it would come to enjoy in later years, was garnering its own share of respect; Buddy Holly's 1957 debut album cover prominently featured a sunburst Strat.

Gibson's Les Paul, with a pair of single-coils, comprised Gibson's contribution to the market. However, Gibson had a plan; instead of merely trying to compete with Fender via a similar model, it would create a new pickup that reduced the noise inherent to single-coils. Seth Lover, a Gibson engineer, was given the job of designing the new hardware. By connecting two single-coils in opposite electric and magnetic polarity (often mistakenly referred to as "out of phase"), he invented the humbucking pickup. His patent was filed June 22, 1955. By 1957, his "PAF" (Patent Applied For) pickups had been made a part of the Les Paul. The humbucker would go on to be the key to Gibson's solidbody success.

In 1967, Fender hired Lover away from Gibson to make humbuckers for Fender's new models. Lover's original patent had not expired yet, so his new designs featured two staggered groups of three visible poles, instead of the traditional line of six. The pickups would be used on a variety of models, such as the 1976 Starcaster (gone by 1980) and the Telecaster Deluxe (1972 or 73-1981), but never garnered the same results as his original PAFs.

[edit] Solidbodies

Undoubtedly the most heated competition between the two companies has been in the realm of solidbody electric guitars.

In 1950, Leo Fender released what would be known as the Telecaster, the first mass-produced solidbody electric guitar.

In 1952, Gibson released its flagship Les Paul (at this point with two single-coil pickups), named for the guitarist and engineer Les Paul.

In 1954, Fender, realizing that the competition was growing, released his legendary Stratocaster.

In 1961, when Gibson temporarily discontinued the Les Paul, it was replaced by a new "Les Paul", later renamed the SG.

[edit] Basses

Fender has long dominated the electric bass market, with its 1951 Precision Bass and 1960 Jazz Bass. Gibson has made multiple models, such as the Les Paul Bass, Thunderbird, and EB series, but has never matched Fender's models for sales and longevity.

[edit] Hollowbodies

Serving as a counterpoint to Fender's grip on the bass market is Gibson's long dominance over the electric hollowbody market. The ES (electro-Spanish) series, especially the 1958 semi-hollowbody ES-335, have been leaders for many years, going back to the ES-150. One of Fender's aims for many years has been to release a successful hollowbody, but attempts such as the mid-sixties Coronado and the higher quality 1976 Starcaster have failed. In 2003, Fender signed agreements with famed hollowbody maker Gretsch giving Fender control over most of Gretsch's production.

Gibson were able to build their hollow-body range based on their existing range of archtop guitars, of which they were the inventors. This influence can also be seen in their solid body guitars, for example in the arched top of the Gibson Les Paul. Fender had no such traditions, and based their body shapes loosely on spanish guitars, shapes which required far more radical modification to produce a solid-body guitar, but which had flat tops as does the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jaguar, and most other Fender electric guitars.

[edit] Amplifiers

The instrument amplifier market is diverse, with makers such as Marshall owning significant portions of sales; however, between Fender and Gibson, Fender has traditionally been far ahead in amp sales, with models such as the Twin Reverb and Bassman.

[edit] Artists

Arguably, one of the most important assets a guitar can have is the adoption by a well-known musician. This is certainly true of Fender and Gibson; their flagship models can attribute much success to their use in the hands of the guitar heroes of the 1960s.

The Beatles had long used a variety of guitars and basses (including Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Höfner and Gibson, but notably excluding Fender) for their famous early-sixties tours; however, in 1965, as they swore off live shows and moved into the studio, George Harrison and John Lennon each found a Stratocaster; Harrison was seen in 1967 with a distinctive psychedelically custom-painted "Rocky" Strat. Harrison would also play a Rosewood Telecaster for the Let It Be project. Both did, however, use Gibson guitars commonly; they both utilized electric/acoustic J-160E models, and Harrison also played an SG (later given to Pete Ham of Badfinger) and a Les Paul (a gift from Eric Clapton).

B. B. King's longtime use of Gibson's ES-335 (actually, the ES-355), always named Lucille, led to an endorsement beginning in 1980; to this day, King plays a black ES-355.

Jimi Hendrix's arrival on the scene, with his white Stratocaster (strung upside-down for left-handed use), had an immense effect on the popularity of the Stratocaster. As a Fender salesman named Dale Hyatt once remarked, "As a matter of fact, I think Jimi Hendrix caused more Stratocasters to be sold than all the Fender salesmen put together." However, in later years, Hendrix would use a Gibson Flying V (1968 stock model, although he hand painted it) in the studio. however, onstage he would rarely use anything other than his Olympic White Stratocaster.

Geddy Lee of Rush plays a Fender Jazz bass along with a Wal and a Rickenbacker. In fact, Fender now produces the Geddy Lee Jazz bass - which is a replica of Geddy's own instrument.

Rush's guitarist Alex Lifeson, however, owns one Fender Telecaster, five Gibsons, and one Epiphone 'Masterbilt' guitar, including one double-necked 6/12-string and three Les Pauls.

Between 1960 and 1968, the Gibson Les Paul was put out of production, to be replaced by the Gibson SG. However, when artists such as Mike Bloomfield and Eric Clapton took up late 50's Les Pauls, the model's popularity jumped, and was subsequently reintroduced. Clapton would also use the SG in his Cream days. However, Clapton, for his landmark 1970 Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, possibly due to Hendrix's influence, began to use a sunburst Stratocaster, nicknamed "Brownie". He later assembled "Blackie" from the components of several vintage Strats, which he would use for many years, until the introduction of his own signature Eric Clapton Stratocaster.

After using Gibsons, Clapton made a permanent switch to the Stratocaster
Enlarge
After using Gibsons, Clapton made a permanent switch to the Stratocaster

On the same album that featured Clapton's adoption of the Strat, a guest guitarist by the name of Duane Allman contributed some of his best known slide guitar on a Les Paul.

Jimmy Page has used a variety of guitars from both companies. For his early studio recordings with Led Zeppelin (i.e. the solo in "Stairway to Heaven" and most of their first album), he used a Fender Telecaster; on the other hand, in the latter days, he often used Gibson, such as a distinctive SG doubleneck (the EDS-1275, that he used for live performances. Since 1970 he has been using mainly 1959 Gibson Les Paul, which he describes as his favourite.

Pete Townshend and John Entwistle of The Who played Rickenbacker instruments in their early days, but both were commonly seen with both Fender and Gibson guitars and basses throughout their career. Townshend favored the Gibson SG and Les Paul models during the late 60s through the 70's. He has played a modified Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster model, almost exclusivley, since 1988. The Fender Precision Bass was Entwistle's favored weapon until 1973, when he switched briefly to Gibson Thunderbird basses before ultimately progressing to custom-built instruments.

David Gilmour of Pink Floyd uses Fender Stratocasters almost exclusively. His main two Strats are a black 1968-71 body with maple neck and white pickguard, and a 70s black body with a rosewood-slab neck. This instrument also sports a black pickguard and white pickup covers, switch tip and knobs. Roger Waters, Pink Floyd's bassist, also prefers Fenders, using two Precision Basses. He also uses a Rickenbacker 4001S occasionally.

Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd of Television have used Fender guitars exclusively since the mid 1970's. Bassist Fred Smith also commonly used Fenders, though he also performed with a black Rickenbacker 4003 and a Danelectro on occasion.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath has always favored his custom made SG with 24 frets and the Tony Iommi signature pickups which were hand wound for Tony and recreated by Gibson. Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler preferred Fenders, primarily the Precision Bass.

Bernard Albrecht of Joy Division used a stock 1970's Gibson SG, as well as a black Shergold Masquerader Custom, and has recently played Gibson ES-335s and Rickenbacker 330s with New Order.

Neil Young's electric guitar of choice is a 1953 Les Paul goldtop that has been painted over in black. The guitar is aptly nicknamed "Old Black". However, Young has also been known to use Fender guitars on occasion, and uses Fender amplifiers almost exclusively.

John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and a solo artist in his own right is a virtually exclusive Fender user, wielding primarily either a 1962 sunburst Stratocaster, 1953 Telecaster and on occasion a hollow bodied Gretsch White Falcon. He does use Gibson guitars, like a SG Custom (Fortune Faded) and a Les Paul.

Yngwie Malmsteen A prominent solo artist known for his fast speed and neo-classical riffs, Yngwie uses Fender Stratocasters almost exclusively. Fender have produced an Yngwie signature model Stratocaster. He endorsed Aria for a small while before his deal with Fender.

Finally, Angus Young from AC/DC has been playing an SG since AC/DC's early days, and has almost never been seen with a different guitar (However, when AC/DC played with the Rolling Stones in 2003, he played a Gibson ES-335, one of the only times he has ever been onstage without an SG).

[edit] Trivia

A 1989 action/sci-fi film Cyborg has 3 rival characters that are obviously named in reference to guitar manufacturers:

[edit] References

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/i/v/Rivalry_between_Fender_and_Gibson_ae01.html"