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janusdepanus « Gibson Marauder (1978), great! »
Published on 03/18/13 at 05:48American made electric guitar. Flat Les Paul kind of body (natural mahogany, three pieces), bolt-on maple neck (three pieces), maple fretboard, arrow-like headstock (as with the Flying V), black. Two pickups: neck-pu is a humbucker, bridge-pu has the size of a single-coil (slanted position, like the bridge-pu of a tele- or stratocaster), but could be a humbucker also. The pu's are embedded in transparant epoxy, I like that. It is a Bill Lawrence design. One volume control and one tone control. In between these controls is a blend control (introduced in this year of production), instead of a toggle switch. Harmonica -bridge (made in Germany), stop tail.
UTILIZATION
It is kind of heavy, but I don't mind about that. Balance is alright, as well as the action and the fretwork. Good enough for me.
SOUNDS
I use a Fender Hotrod Theluxe and a Fender Princeton Reverb. A Ibanez Tubescreamer for overdrive. The Marauder has a very clear sound, kinda like a Telecaster but not the same, less harsh. The blend control is really inventive, don't understand you can find it only on these guitars. The combinated pickups sound sweet, distinctive, full and solid enough for country and rock. The overdriven sound rocks at the bridge and howls at the neck.
OVERALL OPINION
The Gibson Marauder sounds like no other guitar. Maybe they are a little too light for heavy metal (the pu's would squeel), but for all other styles it would do the job in its own distinctive manner. The looks might be a little cheap (a lot of plastics), but I don't mind about that. With a 1975 Gibson Deluxe and a 1967 Gretsch Chet Atkins Nashville it is one of my favorite electrics. You can still find them around 500-700 dollars (400-600 euro's), and that is good price for a vintage Gibson. I would buy one myself again, but with another wood-combination for a change, if I can find one.
UTILIZATION
It is kind of heavy, but I don't mind about that. Balance is alright, as well as the action and the fretwork. Good enough for me.
SOUNDS
I use a Fender Hotrod Theluxe and a Fender Princeton Reverb. A Ibanez Tubescreamer for overdrive. The Marauder has a very clear sound, kinda like a Telecaster but not the same, less harsh. The blend control is really inventive, don't understand you can find it only on these guitars. The combinated pickups sound sweet, distinctive, full and solid enough for country and rock. The overdriven sound rocks at the bridge and howls at the neck.
OVERALL OPINION
The Gibson Marauder sounds like no other guitar. Maybe they are a little too light for heavy metal (the pu's would squeel), but for all other styles it would do the job in its own distinctive manner. The looks might be a little cheap (a lot of plastics), but I don't mind about that. With a 1975 Gibson Deluxe and a 1967 Gretsch Chet Atkins Nashville it is one of my favorite electrics. You can still find them around 500-700 dollars (400-600 euro's), and that is good price for a vintage Gibson. I would buy one myself again, but with another wood-combination for a change, if I can find one.
