Random Thought. How much do/did Gibson amps SUCK??

Fender, Marshall and Vox dominated so much of the classic rock and roll era through the 80s and 90s really, before someone like Mesa Boogie could even crack the wall. Peavey, Orange, etc. had their adherents, but the Big 3 left no room for Gibson who must have been happy selling their overpriced guitars.

(ETA: As for your question about solid bodies - lots of people work working on them, Bigsby, Leo Fender, the Gibson company, in the late 40s and early 50s. Guys were also blocking acoustics and trying to get them amplified without feedback and then some of those same guys realized they could use feedback if controlled - that was the experimental era that gave birth to rock and roll. Fender's 1950 Esquire/Broadcaster was the first successful, mass produced solid body of any note. Because of trademark issues and Leo Fender's famous frugality, that guitar became the Telecaster in 1951.)

I’m sure they had some good ones, but they just never really hit a stride. IMO, guitar popularity kind of blew up because of natural overdrive, which Gibsons weren’t going after. A lot of their line at that time was hollow bodied guitars which can be very difficult to control feedback. Meanwhile fender and Marshall were producing multiple popular circuits that are still used today. Fender also just did a good job with building affordable equipment relative to Gibson.

Gibson just never positioned themselves well in the amplifier market, by the time their name could market itself they were just too far behind.

So are Gibson amps decent clean style amps?

Yes, saw Jesse Daniel’s old guitarist play through one and it sounded incredible with a tele.

Bump to add to my old amp struggles. Lol


I’m not a smart man, Jenny.

I’m at Fullers. Which is the guitar shop for Houston. Playing around on a Tweed Blues Junior. They have an awesome rode hard Fender Tweed Tremolux. Not even a price tag. It ain’t a relic or reissue. It’s a real deal 50’s maybe early 60’s.

My stupid arse is holding a strat which is plugged into a modern Tweed. I touch the old Tweed because it’s sitting there and cool. Feels tingly. Then felt hot. Then I realize I am slowly electrocuting myself. Lol. The guy at the shop came over and realized somebody else had left the old thing plugged in. Wasn’t me BTW. Old and ungrounded all original amp. Live and learn.

Any of you who played electric guitar today. Hold your loved ones. It could have been you.