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This is really a silly question. It is akin to asking 'chocolate or vanilla?'. Gee, I don't know, two whole flavors to choose from....

Granted, both Gibson and Fender are pioneers in the guitar business. Many of today's guitars by other companies derive from things that Gibson or Fender have done but that is short sighted to limit. Let's consider the case of Mr. Leo Fender. After being the guiding light and main innovator of the Fender company, he sold Fender in 1965 due to health reasons. In 1980 he formed G&L (yes, there was Musicman between that time) and took his designs that made Fender famous and innovated further. He consider the Commanche his crowning acheivement because it embodied everything the Stratocaster had, added some cooler, more useful features and improved on other components. So, Leo Fender, the man behind such models as the Telecaster, Stratocaster and basically everything Fender has been making since then, believed he could do better than a 'Fender'.

This is not to knock Fender, they are fine products overall, but to point out that a limit to Gibson and Fender as being the two choices to consider is to limit yourself to 'chocolate or vanilla'.

Let's consider Gibson. It is well known that both Gibson and Fender's quality went considerably downhill in the mid 70's to early 80's. This is an opinion but a pretty widely held fact amongst guitar collectors. In that time, companies like Dean (the early US originals), Hamer, Ibanez, etc. sprung up basically 'eating Gibson's lunch'. The Les Paul suffered several changes that most now feel were detrimental (pickups, maple necks, butcher block bodies). Meanwhile some of these other companies came into existence as an answer to the 'don't make 'em like they used to' syndrom.

Bottom line: there are many great guitars to consider. I tell people all the time in my professional capacity - 'Explore, keep an open mind, there are many options, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Look into other types of guitars and be rewarded.' Remember, both Gibson and Fender are huge companies, they are not driven strictly by the art of the guitar but by the commerce side even more than most companies.

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