One thing a lot of people miss is musicians in Japan wanted to buy guitars from Gibson and Fender but the quality was patchy in the 70s/80s, and the costs prohibitive for most so the local guitar factories stepped up to make excellent guitars at an affordable price. This let more people play good instruments, more bands, more music in the world, how cool is that?

@creamydistortion

2 ай бұрын

I have a fake strat from China that actually says "Stratocaster" on the (beautifully matching) headstock. I put Burns Trisonic pickups and 6 switches in it like Brian May. It kicks ass and cost less than $120. 🎉

@calebmunkirs9661

2 ай бұрын

All of the Japanese guitars are probably significantly better than their pricey Gibson counterparts

@bladeoflucatiel

2 ай бұрын

My japanese fender strat that I paid 500 euro bucks new is better than my standard mexican and american strat.

@blackman5867

2 ай бұрын

I guess this is why there are so much quality music from Japan. So much so that it is even said that the music industry in Japan is about as big as in the US. Which is very impressive, those folks are the smart bastards

@EpictheEpicest

2 ай бұрын

Import copies were always more budget friendly and still packed with quality features. Metallica used Fernandes guitars on the first few records because that's all they could afford, Yngwie was an Aria endorsed artist for a while and played an Aria. ETC

The easiest way to tell A Gibson from a knockoff: Turn it over, then trace a straight line up the back to the headstock. Once there, turn the price tag over, and if it's 3 to 5 times more expensive than every other comparable guitar, it's a Gibson.

@steveng6721

Ай бұрын

Or tap it gently on a wall, if the headstock shatters it's a Gibson

@ChristopherSibert

Ай бұрын

Or you can submit multiple photos of it to a guitar forum and watch while dozens of strangers argue back and forth...

@shroompicn-shrooman

26 күн бұрын

Facts

@skillracoonful

18 күн бұрын

😂😂😂

Just admit it, Gibson is the equivalent to the spoiled brat who doesn’t like others doing their work

@galenmarek8287

2 ай бұрын

Or like the older brother who’s mad because the younger brother just does things better.

@joselopez6990

2 ай бұрын

@@galenmarek8287 bingo

@caiusmadison2996

2 ай бұрын

*better than they can do it too.

@tallicafan2010

2 ай бұрын

The fact that 9 times out of 10 the Japanese brands actually tend to have better quality control, and playability

@williamfoged6242

2 ай бұрын

Its like a kid copying another kid’s homework and the kid gets mad… Oh wait doesn’t that sound completely reasonable?.. Ofcourse its easier and less expensive to just copy someone else, which also means you can spend that time and money elsewhere.

If my memory serves, Gibson sent Ibanez a “cease and desist” letter, not an actual “lawsuit”, but yeah, one sounds more badass than the other. 😂

@differentbutsimilar7893

2 ай бұрын

That's the path to litigation, it's letting you know that you're on your way to being sued. In cases where there are legal grounds to send one, you should - it greatly helps out later when you establish that contact was made... and ignored... documented on both sides. Also kinda a slick way of doing the 'intent to sue' without going all of the way when you haven't built a good enough case to grandstand on em. It's also just better for the sender if the recipient abides the C&D. Saves em both a tonna cash in legal fees. For companies like these, battles are best won before going to court, even if they will be going to court anyway. They'll go to court with YOU any day. Other companies can actually go toe to toe on a level where sometimes you lose even when you win. So often they avoid it until the payoff is all but guaranteed.

@pihermoso11

2 ай бұрын

I heard from owners their lawsuit era Ibanez guitars were better built and better sounding than their Gibson counterparts, specially the flying V

@Chromatic_Orbison

2 ай бұрын

I have a 1976 lawsuit Les and it’s a dream

@phayzyre1052

2 ай бұрын

I don’t think there’s a guitar company around that Gibson hasn’t either sued or threatened to sue. If Gibson‘s going to be around for much longer they had better get their heads out of their asses and look for ways to make their guitars more affordable.

@reducedfaticecreamisjustde1447

2 ай бұрын

These days, you pay for a Gibson just for the name.

Meanwhile here in Brazil I can think of at least 6 totally different guitar brands making budget Les Paul models left and right

@bladeoflucatiel

Ай бұрын

Mas não é o mesmo headstock

@coldguto

10 күн бұрын

@@bladeoflucatiel pagando 1800 numa les paul barata de qualidade, sinceramente eu não ligaria pro headstock ser diferente

Good job, Japan. Keep making great guitars!

@scuffedcovers

2 ай бұрын

ngl i prefer the japanese guitars rather than the original american ones

@porkypile

2 ай бұрын

@@scuffedcovers I wanna try one!

@scuffedcovers

2 ай бұрын

@@porkypile its worth it. i hope you get to try one

@porkypile

2 ай бұрын

@@scuffedcovers Thank you. I know a store locally that might have some in as they sell mostly second hand instruments when it comes to electric guitars ^_^

@herculesbrofister265

2 ай бұрын

And cars.

I never noticed that the headstock looked like an open book. I always thought it was just a nice wavy shape. Thanks for the info!

@ared18t

Ай бұрын

It looks like a music sheet booklet on an easel

@billyghostal

Ай бұрын

wild that you've never heard the term "Open Book Headstock" before! but now ya know!

So Gibson is Apple of Guitar.

@Augrills

Ай бұрын

I always thought of it as the Harley Davidson. Hasn’t made a product anyone under the age of 40 has wanted since the early 90s.

@workdesu

28 күн бұрын

or Nvidia

@Why_U_Geh

5 күн бұрын

​@@workdesu nvidia is in a league of their own...a rare kind of evil. Nobody on earth sells their products for 900% profit, not apple not gibson..no one but nvidia

I firmly believe ESP makes the best guitars from top to bottom. Every guitar I've played from them from budget models to custom shops is just so silky smooth and nice

@terran236

2 ай бұрын

Agreed. I have a E2 horizon 3. What a freaking guitar. Neck is super comfortable , the body shape and binding make it look classy. Fret job is smooth, fretboard is ebony polished to a shine. Definitely a keeper.

@zodi9783

2 ай бұрын

@terran236 I've got, amongst others an LTD H3 in White with gold hardware and the thing is just beautiful and drippy!

@terran236

2 ай бұрын

@@zodi9783 just looked it up I can't believe how much they cost nowadays. What you paid for that LTD is what I paid for my Japanese e2 to about 7 years ago. Inflation man. Beautiful guitar newho!

@tomikola1864

2 ай бұрын

Agree 👍

@Bubaq666

2 ай бұрын

best guitar will always be the random unamed copy

Gibson needs to learn. If there are companies out there making the products better now than before. It makes sense to get a chibson. Or something equivalent at a much more reduced price. Made in the US. Honestly doesn't mean shit anymore. We all STILL shop at Walmart and other places. To get the same cheaper. Quality died once things became massed produced.. see. You can go to Papa Ginos and get a pizza. But it's expensive now. Verses that mom and pop shop that still shows unmolested corporate greed and puts out a better product. So buying an off brand and achieving equal to superior quality of a name brand, just speaks volumes to me. It's a no brainer 😂

Wife just surprised me with 77 "Lawsuit" Ibanez "Les Paul Custom" Got it pretty darn cheap too. I'm not a Les Paul or Gibson guy, but this guitar is freaking awesome.

Don’t forget Yamaha had their studio Lord and Lord player Les Paul shape guitars made in Japan. Yamaha deserves the same amount of respect as you give ESP/Edwards/Grassroots.

@billyghostal

Ай бұрын

And dont forget those ultra high end Hondo's! lol jk jk My first electric ever was a Hondo bol[t] on and I loved that thing, wish i still had it

me sitting here with my lawsuit era Hondo II lol

@justaguyinthematrix

Ай бұрын

Me sitting here with my CHIBSON because the American ones are way too overpriced and the quality is not there.

As someone who owns 3 Grecos, I can say with complete confidence that they play better than the American versions they're based off of.

@bluesoddity2094

Ай бұрын

Those are beautiful man yeah! I'd love to own one someday soon.

@StevieZero

Ай бұрын

Same with my Burny

@bluesoddity2094

Ай бұрын

@@StevieZero I have a 78 Gibson LP Standard that was my first guitar, had it 40 yrs. Couldn't ever find another guitar with that feel till i found my first Burny. I have 4 now and will keep buying them. Burnys... fucken LOVE them.

@justinkline1294

23 күн бұрын

Shit yeah I have several Grecos basses, including a 1974 RB850 fireglo that I wouldn't trade for any "real" Rickenbacker 4001 or ever sell. No matter the offer. JV's were likely the best production instruments being made in the world during that period.

@StevieZero

23 күн бұрын

I just bought a 1973 Greco F250 acoustic last week it sounds amazing and plays beautifully...

Fuk yeah Japan, think I’ll go Les Paul shopping there.

@damone70

2 ай бұрын

Lol... without Gibson design and innovation most of these guitar companies wouldn't exist.

@Rodrim777

2 ай бұрын

@@damone70Womp Womp better guitar for a fraction of the price

@jasonosborne9063

2 ай бұрын

@@damone70 true. Too fkn expensive though.

@SakugaAsu

2 ай бұрын

The quality of Japanese guitars triumphs way over any American models. I kinda want to sell all my electric guitars just to get a pink japan built tele

@damone70

2 ай бұрын

@rodrigo4728 Lol... ESP's, which are top notch guitars, prices far exceeds pretty much anything put out by Fender/Gibson

In Australia we love the Japanese versions.. we don't share the same patriotism obviously for USA made guitars as our American friends

@bluesoddity2094

Ай бұрын

I have 4 Burny Les Pauls. Absolutely superb guitars that are as close to the original 58-60 Gibson LPs...

@fermiticus4034

Ай бұрын

Not all of us! I'm a Jackson man, myself. I do have an early 90's Custom Shop prototype(early 90's), for the higher end MiJ line (Rhoads). It's a heavier wood and has a much thicker sound than the USA Rhoads. I had a USA King V...but after getting a MiJ "Demmelition", I sold the USA King. The rest I have are all MiJ.

@auntjenifer7774

Ай бұрын

😂 I expect that's due to the fact Australia gets the 500% increase in price right !?

FENDER: OK

I own two lp Burnys, and I love those guitars. They from the 80s. Great quality

@jcsk8

2 ай бұрын

Same. One 1980 and one 1986

Grass Roots and Edwards are the hidden gems of guitar brands, I have one and highly recommend them over LTD if you don’t have the budget for E-II series

This Video inspired a purchase of a Burny from Japan, I wasn’t looking and I wasn’t trying but this was the video responsible for my purchase! I can’t wait till it arrives

Personally I think Ltd have a better single cut shape, limitation breeds innovation I guess

@bread6085

2 ай бұрын

I would buy one in a heartbeat if they had the 4 knob les Paul layout

@d3ath18

2 ай бұрын

@@bread6085 There are several ESP eclipse with 4 knobs. Just not LTD iirc.

@bread6085

2 ай бұрын

@@d3ath18 no wayy

@mr.giggles4995

2 ай бұрын

Intellectual property and patents don't necessarily promote innovation because no one is allowed to improve on the design except the patent-holder because they'll be sued.

@NexSkala

2 ай бұрын

I had an LTD EC-256 in cherry sunburnt finish until passing it along to my kid when he decided he wanted to start learning. He played for two weeks and now it's where he hangs his hoodies in the corner of his bedroom. 😑.

Well, good on Japan! Keep making those killer and affordable guitars please.

I played a Burny LP about 15 years ago and i still think about it and wish id bought it

I've got a MIJ Tokai from 2004 and I recently picked up a 1981 Greco Super Real EGF850, both brilliant guitars.

"How is this even legal?" What I actually wonder how is legal is a company trademarking the "shape" of a guitar

I tried Grassroots for metal but it seems it will choke when I crank up the gain. This guitar is for all around purposes, not for extreme metal genre

@NeZversSounds

Ай бұрын

Skill issue

@joshludge

29 күн бұрын

@@NeZversSounds you dont know, you dont own one

That "open book" design dates back to the Sellas workshop in the 1640's!

I have a 77 Ibanez Les Paul black beauty. It plays like butter and screams. My bro bought it in 82 from a local shredder. Years later he saw my bro and said his missed it. Said it sounded and played better than a genuine LP he bought to replace it. I play it for hours everyday. Its my favorite ax.😎🌴🎸

That one with the silver pick guard and hardware is so pretty

to be fair, they don't realllly have a tight grip on the shape in the US either. ESP makes my favorite 'copies' with the Eclipse lineup.

Gibson allegedly won a lawsuit against ESP over the Eclipse/single cut and EX/Explorer models. Most seem to agree this is why Americans can't get a true replica of the ESP EET F** Explorer James Hetfield model with that oversized headstock combined with the Explorer body. Also, Gibson sued PRS over their SC single cut model and lost, thank God. There was a video on You Tube about five years ago describing allegedly Kiesel Guitars were given some sort of "Cease and Desist" order to stop making or change their single cut models because it was too close to the Les Paul. What exactly happened I don't know but I vaguely remember Jeff Kiesel saying something in that video about Kiesel is not going to change their single cut model because Gibson had decades to pursue Trademark claims. What happened to Dean is terrible. Just imho, the Dean prong headstock should have been enough for exemption. Gibson had decades to pursue this against Dean and the jury still sided with Gibson. Many people on these public forums have agreed how greedy Gibson is. Gibson has oceans of money to employ law firms to sue the universe, aquire Mesa Boogie and Kramer brands yet not enough money to be able to keep their Memphis factory open to keep people employed or fix those Firebirds X guitar to donate them to some poor folk who can't afford them. Instead Gibson drives a bulldozer over them, unbelievable.

I WANT THAT PINK ONE GRASS ROOTS LET'S GO

I have a 1974 Greco LP and it plays buttery smooth!

you and your grassroots bro. love it haha

Oooh, that black one at the end! I don't play anymore but I still see guitars I want. 😊

I've been playing Japanese copies for most of my guitar playing life. Best guitars I've ever owned. It's worth noting is Japanese 'lawsuit' era acoustics are also of excellent quality. I have an old Yamaha, Takemine and a Morris 12 string that are brilliant and purchased at a third of the price of the Martins they're based off.

As long as they’re not trying to pass it off as a Gibson then what’s the problem. Their branding on it makes it their own, not the shape, it’s called competition!

I had one of those Japanese Les Paul's as my first decent guitar, while I was taking lessons. Bought from my instructor, who also had a guitar store, as was his recommendation. Beautiful craftsmanship, potted pickups, ebony fingerboard, almost indistinguishable from the Gibson, except for open-geared tuners, which was an easy replacement with proper sealed Klusen tuning machines. Idiot me sold it for less than the $300 I paid, because I was trying to buy a car, which was probably worth less than either would sell for today.

Great, i found myself a lawsuit era strat which lead to me getting a genuine strat. Now i have to do the same thing for les paul

Bought me a nice grassroots explorer recently love Japanese guitars

Edwards 130CD Black Beauty is a dream purchase of mine

@centraal22

2 ай бұрын

Same here.

Meanwhile, the start shaped guitar! 🎸

Gibson eventually relented and just opened their own shop in Japan under the moniker Orville. They also produced Epiphones for the Japanese domestic market with the open book headstock for a short period at the end of the '90s into the early 2000s. Those were quality instruments that were made in the same factory as the Elitists.

I have one Givson SG 1979 left. Have found Aria Pro II and a number of other Japanese brands to exceed anything Gibson has built in decades. A 1980 Gibson will cost me stupid money, an APII about 800 bucks. I'm not here to collect crap, I'm here to play music.

Currently trying to cut a Les Paul pickguard to fit an unbranded LP-style guitar. Considering the standard LP specs generic is far better for consumers.

@mr.giggles4995

2 ай бұрын

Me too! 😂 I have some old MIJ Les Paul copies without pickguards. I bought a scroll saw to cut them out of wood. It's a little trickier than I thought.

I just watched a documentary on The Beach Boys last night, and the bass player with the Wrecking Crew they brought in to record a ton of their material was currently, like in modern times like whenever they recently recorded her interview, was playing an Aria Pro II bass. I’m sure this person could have chosen any instrument in the world, and had decades of recording experience behind her, but chose this bass. For a reason.

I have a MIJ Encore N9 lawsuit LP. I bought it because it's a natural finish. and I'm addicted to natural finishes. and it's a really good guitar it was one of the best deals I have ever made on a guitar.

Ebony fretboard for $300 is mindblowing

I have a Monoprice Route 66 that is very much a Les Paul with a slightly different shape at the top of the headstock. The current Indio 66 have a more unique headstock design and cost almost double what I paid for mine 10 years ago. The new headstock shape looks like less bend in the string from the nut to the tuning pegs, but it also looks like they went from a carve top on the older models to flat top on the new models. I wonder if that means Monoprice got in trouble selling these in the US market and if that explains the redesign and increased cost or if they had any other modifications that got them past the Gibson licensing issues. My guitar set up pretty well, and it was a good project platform to upgrade tuners, and. I've just updated the tuners, changed pickups and added a pick guard. It even fits snuggly in a Musician's Friend LP hard case. A friend got a Chinese knockoff that copied Gibson logos and everything. I tried to perform a setup, and it was terrible. The upper frets were still not completely playable after fret leveling, and the electronics were poorly wired. If I remember correctly, they had some type of circuit board in the control panel that made made tracing and repairing loose solder joints very difficult. I'm not sure how much he paid for it, but at least it looked pretty and had a nice "Gibson" case.

Gibson is such a cry baby

@sirderpsalot

Ай бұрын

Pretty much every US company.

One of my Bucket List guitars is the Burny LP style body with the Floyd Rose and a sustainer system.

I live in Russia and American guitars are very expensive here, but we have nice access to the great amount of Japan clones. I’m a guitar teacher, three days ago my student bought a nice Burny white Les Paul custom

My stepbrother had one of the Ibanez Les Pauls and it was one of the best guitars I've ever played!

Repairer/Luthier here: I’ve played and repaired those copies and I haven’t found one which has been as good as a Gibson, but that isn’t saying much. The older models were very poorly built, as were some Gibsons. But these copies were far cheaper, and if you’re lucky, you get what you pay for.

@auntjenifer7774

Ай бұрын

😂 ok. I have a Greco-335 made in 1970's and it's a dead ringer for the 1967 Gibson 335 I played maybe 3 or 4 times at a pawn shop. That Japanese guitar is old and awesome ! I also have a mid 2002 Epiphone Elitist SG STANDARD 1961 REISSUE THAT BLOWS GIBSON SG FADED AWAY AND YOU GET THE EPIPHONE JAPAN GUITARS FOR HALF THE PRICE OF THE FADED GIBSON OF SIMILAR YEARS.

Samick actually makes most of the Japanese, Korean, and Indonesian guitars for other companies, they also have their own Samick branded guitars. The Greg Bennett line are pretty darn nice and quiet affordable

I live in Japan. Always wondered about that. Thanks.

Good to know! Thanks!

I came across a 1976(?) Ventura a few years back that had beautiful tone....I think it was kind of..tiger striped..cool sound, easy to play

bro what was that guitar in the final shot with the fishmans on it? that's a need

Gibson did use one of the Japanese manufacturers as a house brand in Japan, they called them Orville. I'm not sure which company made them.

Burny or Grassroots? What's better quality for the money?

@frankcooke1692

2 ай бұрын

Fernandes/Burny are top notch. Their Fender/Gibson copies from the 70s/80s are at least as good as the originals.

Fun facts had no idea of the differences 🎸

Thanks

Levi tried it too with Japanese selvedge denim brands. Courts in both the US and Japan ruled they have no rights to claim the style or cut of jeans as copyrighten or trademarked. Repros were 100% legal and were obviously not Levi branded because the companies very clearly had their own logos and branding on them. The only thing was the Japanese brands could no longer use the red tab tag on the back pocket or copy the arcuate designs because those were actually a trademark.

😂 Gibson waited too long is an understatement ! So how did a judge even hear the case in the usa when Gibson clearly waited too long to later law suit Dean guitars !?

I have a Greco Les Paul sunburst and its awesome

sitting a room right now with 7 late 70's aria pro 2 les pauls and 1 explorer.

I once played a Greco from 1970 at.... school. Yes, one of the personnel had this guitar, it was a very nice instrument. It is on my channel

Love my Japanese el degas Gibson rip off

I have an Avon from the 70s. It's amazing.

I had the Gibson V shown here. The one with the heart-shaped pick-ups. Mine was blonde wood with gold hardware. About an 82 I believe. Great axe! The Atomik sends. Peace ✌. 😊

It's almost like Japan has free competition and the US doesn't allow competition to happen!

I kinda want a playlist with all these songs but I'm too lazy to make it myself

Thanks for clarifying that but I always thought it was something like that...

It also helps that copyright law in Japan isn't nearly as BS, if it even exists at all.

Wow that grass roots!

How does one go about ordering a Grass Roots model in Canada

The Japanese Matsumoku guitars where of exellent quality in 70ies up til 1987 when the factory got destroyed.

My first electric guitar-1st purchased myself was a Fernandez copy of a strat (bc at 12 I’d read that’s what BillieJoe Armstrongs iconic blue guitar is) it absolutely looks like a strat and even now so many years later I still have it and would never dream of paying $600 more to have a fender instead. Gibson though that’s another story. I was gifted a Gibson bass which I played and still do. The circumstances were very sad though as I was given that bass after a friend passed away. He actually had been in the same band I was playing in then and the case already had my bands name spray painted across it. I did NOT replace him bc he died though. He moved away and that’s when I began playing with them. Glad I’d gotten to talk to him about that a few times after he’d moved before he died too.

There's also a ton of boutique FSOs in Japan

My dad actually has an Ibanez Les Paul from 1977. I believe it’s the model 2350.

Interesting 🤘

The great thing about these "knock offs" is that they stay in-tune!!

The old vintage Ibanez Les Paul’s are dope

Im no les paul guy but those grassroots guitars sound awesome.

“The Tokyo court found that customers were smart enough to know the difference” if only we had this kind of faith in people here in the US

@akaRicoSanchez

Ай бұрын

It's has nothing to do with trusting in the wisdom of customers and everything to do with japanese courts siding with the japanese companies.

@studiodsr

Ай бұрын

@@akaRicoSanchez There’s probably an aspect of that, sure, but Japan is generally a much less litigious culture than the US. People rarely bring lawsuits, and when they do they rarely win. It’s part of why Japanese tv has those super dangerous game shows - people there just don’t sue

Japan had a Gibson licence back in the 80's.... Samick SG was another copy. I had a cherry red Samick SG. They are ace.

They seem to do what gibson doesnt.

There are some sleeper les paul style guitars for sure. The early Jay Turser LP style guitars made in Korea are excellent.

I've got a Burny LP and it's great

Got an ESP guitar. very good, but the switch seems a bit cheap when switching between pickups. Hard on 9V batteries too so don't leave it plugged in.

The only reason Gibson didn’t sue Ibanez is because Ibanez changed the headstock design. The body style Gibson could not sue for as Bigsby and O.W. Appleton had the single cutaway design way before Gibson built the first Les Paul. Yes, it’s true, Les Paul did not build the first electric guitar. Rickenbacker built the first electric guitar. O.W Appleton built the first viable solid body electric in 1941. Appleton took his guitar to Gibson to see if they were interested and they told him that they knew nobody that wanted a solid body electric. See the website about Mr. Appleton’s guitar. Notice that Fender doesn’t sue anybody. Imitation is the best form of flattery.

There is many Japanese Les pauls I would love to get my hands-on.. The few that I played play better than the Gibson's Is I've owned

Dunno what any of this means but I live in Tokyo and bought my very first guitar, one of these cheaper Ibanez things, and am beginning to learn and practice playing! Wish me luck✨

Japan makes awesome and good quality guitars wether we like it or not. I do have a 1975 Pro Martin W-200 acoustic guitar that is believed to be a copy of the Martin D-28 and it sounds great.

why is everybody trashing Gibson? they along with the fender Stratocaster basically invented and defined the modern guitar as we know it.

I have Orville by Gibson Japanese sg copy.. it’s a absolutely killer of American one!

I think it should be open here in the US. If you make the better quality instrument, you will get the consumers.

I have a Tokai ‘ Springy Sound’ Strat. It’s a good as a Fender

that black navigator lp copy with the chrome pickguard 🤤

@-suphur

2 ай бұрын

Probably a John Sykes model, I had a late '80s Burny JS.