Gibson
Although Gibson has been around since 1902, the more modern Gibson that we all know of, began in the 1950s. Since then, they’ve almost exclusively focused on manufacturing premium-level guitars.
Along with brands like Fender, they’ve helped define the modern guitar. Even to this day, a lot of electric guitars usually lean towards Gibson or Fender’s original designs. So, it’s no surprise that Gibson has set such a high standard.
There’s a lot more to the Gibson brand than just its historical legacy. Most of their instruments still retain many of the classic traits. Although, there’re still some more contemporary features on some models. Many of Gibson’s models have a great blend of old-school and modern guitars.
However, not everyone loves Gibson. There are some critics that have valid points. One, in particular, is down to their pretty high prices, given that their cheapest models are usually above the $1000 mark.
Some people are also critical of them not changing some of the older design features. For example, many believe that their angled headstocks should have a different design. And some of the old practices have some negative aspects, like parts if guitars being more fragile than modern designs.
Regardless, Gibson still makes outstanding stuff by and large. Their guitars give off a classic feel, and traditionally gritty tone, and work well with tube-driven amps. Their electronics are also great, usually focusing on old-school tones.
What also makes the Gibson brand great are more detailed controls. Other than the 3-way switch and 4 pots, newer Gibson’s usually come with push-pull knobs for advanced humbucker features.
Gibson Guitar Models
Of course, Gibson’s biggest model is their sub-brand of Les Paul. But it’s available in so many variants that it’s hard to keep track of all their models. Their most famed guitars are those made in 1959, reaching astronomical prices among collectors.
These are some of the most common Les Paul series:
- Standard
- Studio
- Junior
- Special
- Tribute
- Classic
- Modern
Then there’s their classic and well-known SG, which is one of the most versatile guitars on the market. You can find the same exact variant used in many different genres.
Of course, Gibson produces other guitars. Most notably, there’re Gibson’s hollow-body and semi-hollow-body lines. Their ES-335 is probably the most popular model. Here are some other great examples:
- ES-345
- ES-339
- ES-355
- ES-175
- ES-165
And they’re also those other more or less experimental Gibson models. Models such as the Flying V, Explorers, Firebirds, and others. However, Les Paul, SG, and ES-335 are the most popular series.
Schecter
If you’ve been in the guitar manufacturing business for over 40 years, then chances are that you’re going to get a pretty good idea of what guitarists actually want. That’s exactly where Schecter has struck gold; originally a guitar parts and customisation manufacturer, they’ve since branched out into building exclusive guitars in 1979.
Since then, the rest has been history – These days Schecter produces a vast range of guitars, many of which are geared toward modern metal players. These formidable Schecter models feature high-output pickups, fast necks, extended ranges and ominous designs, and are played by the likes of Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold), Dan Donegan (Disturbed), Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy) and many more popular musicians with the genre!
Schecter also makes their own high-performance strat-style guitars, semi-hollow models, extended-range basses and even some acoustics!
Schecter Vs Gibson – Sound
Both Schecter and Gibson make models that have an incredibly good sound for hard rock/heavy metal.
The fact that guitar models from both brands are used as signature guitars for some of the most famous metal guitarists speaks volumes.
For instance, Schecter can brag about the original sound their guitars produce, thanks to their unique pickup systems.
Schecter’s most used pickups are their Schecter USA Pasadena, Lundgren M6, Sustainiac, and Schecter Diamond Decimator (Diamond series) with a Push-Pull 3-Way Switch.
However, Gibson doesn’t hold back either when it comes to pickups, with their higher-end guitars usually having high-quality humbucker pickups with a volume/tone 3-Way Toggle.
Schecter Vs Gibson: Price
Schecters guitars can typically start at around $300 and go up from there.
Gibson guitars are a lot pricier with the Les Paul Tribute P-90 starting at around $1000.
Conclusion
What brand you should pick comes down to a few things. Do you have a tight budget? If so, then Schecter would defiantly be the way to go. You could get a Gibson-type model, with the same build quality but for half the price.
However, if your wallet will allow it, then Gibson could be the way to go given that Gibson guitars have a good resale value.