Well known players moving from Fender to Gibson

[J. Hayes]

I did do it for a living for over two decades before moving to Virginia and am still playing at least three nights a week. That said, since getting out of the Army in '63 I've played all types of guitars but mostly Teles or Gibsons and it always seemed to me mostly to fit the style of music that was currently popular. When chicken pickin' got big I played my Tele mostly but always took a LP or 335 to the gig also. I've always been a devotee of taking more than one guitar to a gig because they all have their own unique voices.

One thing that I've found (at least to me) is the actual feel of the guitar. I favor a Tele for all 'round playing these days but there's no comparison to a good Les Paul. When you pick up a nice well set up Gibson the "quality" of the instrument can actually be felt! IMO.... I've never found a Fender guitar that actually felt like a high dollar instrument when compared to a nice Gibson. Now my main guitar for gigs is an '83 Tele top loader with a P/W bender but my go to guitar at home (and second guitar on gigs is an old beat up Les Paul ) It's a piece of junk but plays and sounds great. Here's an action shot of it. (The Bigsby Palm Pedal has been removed and transplanted to an Epiphone LP........JH in Va.

[casterway]

Tony Iommi, a well known SG player, switched early on from Strats when the pickup gave out on him. His backup guitar was a right hand SG, and he traded with a right handed guy that had a left handed one, and the rest is history.

Here's Tony playing said Strat with Jethro Tull.