Want controversy? Well you’re in luck because I have a week gap between reviews and decided to go nuts.
Klons and Klones Suck
After trying 14 klones over at Ultimate-Guitar.com I have been left feeling completely underwhelmed by the whole genre. Yes, I did like many of the pedals individually, but really most of my favorites were klones that could do a lot of non-Klone things, like the Gaia or Homunculus.
They’re just overdrive pedals, they’re not the magical, special source you imagine it to be. The most authentic clones, the most adventurous, they’re all good but they’re not magical clean boosts. They don’t even have the “magic” diodes engaged when you use it as a clean boost. Get over the Klon guys, please.
I know some of you are gonna chime in and say that I’ve never played a real Klon. And no, I haven’t, that’s kind of the problem with this whole genre of pedals. Almost all of us have never and will never play one. So how do we know it’s even that good??
I’m Done With Gibson
I have two Gibson guitars that I do have a lot of sentimental attachment to, but I’m not sure I’ll ever be buying another. Not only has Gibson personally been a bit, uhhh, less than ideal towards me, but the guitars are getting too expensive. As I’ve written about a ton, they’re moving to make their money off the real high end of the marketplace. I just don’t foresee myself ever wanting to spend $5,000 USD on a guitar. Certainly not one that isn’t completely customized and signature to me.
I have a Les Paul Jr alternative on the way from Moon Guitars already, plus my two Gibsons, and if I need anything else I think that the Maybach/Stanford brands will cover my bases. Gibson has been taking a step forward and then a step back when it comes to earning back the trust of the greater guitar world. Let’s hope they get it right one of these days. And if their PR team sees this, you know I’ll be getting an email or phone call (which I have before).
Squier > Mexican Fenders
I’m sure this one is not super surprising to you all, but Squier guitars are just getting so good and still cost less than $500. Mexican Fenders are fine, I’ve loved many I’ve tried. But with prices climbing, and Squier doing more interesting stuff with the Contemporary and Paranormal Series, I just feel no urge to buy a MiM Fender like I used to.
Mexican guitars, while great in their own ways, are starting to eclipse $1000 and at that point, I’m thinking of diving into the USA stuff. The only redeeming factor I will give Fender is that they are still making some whacky MiM guitars that seem really cool. The Noventa and Gold Foil series are fun, and you can’t get that from the USA lineup. So if they keep getting weird with it, I’ll keep giving them some attention. But Squier is really making up ground fast.
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Not a Gibson guy, predominantly because a good friend has an LP Standard that he just cannot get to play in tune. He has had it into a shop multiple times, changed strings, new nut, etc. When you pay a couple of thousand or more for a guitar my expectation is that it should play in tune.
In addition, do some guitar repairs and spent a couple of days with a Luthier. He can practically retire on what he makes from fixing broken headstocks. Ridiculous that this is a known weakness and a real, real problem. Gibson? Crickets.
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On one hand, I get it. They know that the way they do things is likely to break, but that design also provides their guitar with the signature sound/look. Would probably have to redesign it from ground up to improve engineering? But yeah, I have broken headstock on my LP twice. That’s a big part of my frustration and willingness to tear that guitar apart
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Hi Matt, totally understand and the LP is a gorgeous looking guitar. My venture into HBs is a Squier Tele with 2 HBs that I completely upgraded all the post, wires, switches and jacks. I have no idea if it sounds like a LP but all the LP owners that I know rarely play their guitars straight into the amp. Repeatedly hear that they are very good when going through pedals. LOL, most guitars are very good when they go through pedals.
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Disagree on Klon comments. I see reviews on youtube, I look at the frequency profile, I believe it’s a good sound. I trust credible professional reviewers (I subscribe to this), they exist so that I don’t have to spend money to try out everything.
However, I agree with you on Gibson. I would go so far as to say Ibanez made USA obsolete years ago. There is so much “boutique” stuff now, and it’s mostly overpriced gimickry. The modern version of fender/gibson+marshall is Ibanez + Boss, better sound and feel, better quality. Having said that, my next guitar will be a Yamaha or a self-build kit.
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I cannot recommend a Yamaha more, they are phenomenal guitars!!
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