Gibson Challenger?

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ZEEGLER
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Gibson Challenger?

Post by ZEEGLER »

Anyone heard of one of these?

Not a Sonex. Not a Marauder.

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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by TurboPablo »

Would.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by spawnofthesith »

Ehh that one is icky to me for some reason
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by GuitarBilly »

That's from the "dark era" of Norlin, when they decided to create new models like the Sonex, Corvus, this one etc.. these are bolt-on neck guitars with low quality wood and parts. I guess that can be cool in a "trashy/punk/garage rock" way if you find one for about $400-500 and upgrade the parts. Otherwise no.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

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I like the color.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by fretless »

You know there is a big ass pool under that p/g. The bridge is interesting, wrap over tail. The headstock is odd too. Great color though looks like GT gold.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by Mike Oxhuge »

Gibson logo is off center by quite a bit, that would screw with my OCD. Lol
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by Dave »

They’re super cheap garbage.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by TurboPablo »

Bolt-on? I had no idea and rescind my "would".
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by trey85stang2 »

If I had a tune o matic, I would for sure. Not sure about that bridge.
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thermionic geek
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by thermionic geek »

GuitarBilly wrote:That's from the "dark era" of Norlin, when they decided to create new models like the Sonex, Corvus, this one etc.. these are bolt-on neck guitars with low quality wood and parts. I guess that can be cool in a "trashy/punk/garage rock" way if you find one for about $400-500 and upgrade the parts. Otherwise no.



While I agree in general, If you can get a decent price, like under $500 I think it's a decent entry level Gibson. I've been playing the crap out of the Sonex I picked up last year. I like the chunky neck and the action is super low. The hardware and electronics on the Sonex are Japanese. They did it to save money. I suspect the challenger was the same. Only the Sonex custom had the Dirty fingers pickups that everybody thinks are in all the guitars. The Japanese pickups are weird, but I like them. They only read 8K or so, but they are super loud and trebly. I play the Sonex with the tone rolled off a bit and it sounds normal to me.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by TurboPablo »

I assumed it was like a junior or something.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by GuitarBilly »

thermionic geek wrote:
GuitarBilly wrote:That's from the "dark era" of Norlin, when they decided to create new models like the Sonex, Corvus, this one etc.. these are bolt-on neck guitars with low quality wood and parts. I guess that can be cool in a "trashy/punk/garage rock" way if you find one for about $400-500 and upgrade the parts. Otherwise no.



While I agree in general, If you can get a decent price, like under $500 I think it's a decent entry level Gibson. I've been playing the crap out of the Sonex I picked up last year. I like the chunky neck and the action is super low. The hardware and electronics on the Sonex are Japanese. They did it to save money. I suspect the challenger was the same. Only the Sonex custom had the Dirty fingers pickups that everybody thinks are in all the guitars. The Japanese pickups are weird, but I like them. They only read 8K or so, but they are super loud and trebly. I play the Sonex with the tone rolled off a bit and it sounds normal to me.

yeah, under $500 it's fine.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by ajaxlepinski »

Not sure why they didn't have a pickguard designed for the single pickup model.... it looks a lot better with two pickups...
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by ZEEGLER »

TurboPablo wrote:Bolt-on? I had no idea and rescind my "would".


I still would :idk:
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by Devin »

ajaxlepinski wrote:Not sure why they didn't have a pickguard designed for the single pickup model.... it looks a lot better with two pickups...
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I think a friend of mine in highschool had one of these - or it was at least pretty similar looking. I feel like I remember it having black plastic covered EMG looking pickups


Can't remember what model it was exactly but it played well

I know it was old
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by 68sixstringer »

My first guitar was a Gibson Challenger silver/black pickguard, single p/u. It was cheap, but the action was great and the tuning was rock solid. The p/u was horrible - I ended up installing a 500T I think. I wish I still had that guitar....
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by GuitarBilly »

68sixstringer wrote:My first guitar was a Gibson Challenger silver/black pickguard, single p/u. It was cheap, but the action was great and the tuning was rock solid. The p/u was horrible - I ended up installing a 500T I think. I wish I still had that guitar....

Yeah I think that's how these guitars were marketed, to be a decent first guitar with the Gibson brand.
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Re: Gibson Challenger?

Post by Dave »

I hate these guitars so much

I knew a kid in high school that bragged about his Gibson. It was one of these things. I hated him and it.
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