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Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:46 pm
by ZEEGLER
Anyone heard of one of these?

Not a Sonex. Not a Marauder.

Image

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:46 pm
by TurboPablo
Would.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:48 pm
by spawnofthesith
Ehh that one is icky to me for some reason

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:51 pm
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.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:54 pm
by JiveTurkey
I like the color.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:59 pm
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.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:06 pm
by Mike Oxhuge
Gibson logo is off center by quite a bit, that would screw with my OCD. Lol

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:47 pm
by Dave
They’re super cheap garbage.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 4:40 pm
by TurboPablo
Bolt-on? I had no idea and rescind my "would".

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 4:53 pm
by trey85stang2
If I had a tune o matic, I would for sure. Not sure about that bridge.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:01 pm
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.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:17 pm
by TurboPablo
I assumed it was like a junior or something.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:42 pm
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.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:05 pm
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...
Image

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2023 11:22 am
by ZEEGLER
TurboPablo wrote:Bolt-on? I had no idea and rescind my "would".


I still would :idk:

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2023 11:25 am
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...
Image


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

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 1:08 pm
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....

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 2:36 pm
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.

Re: Gibson Challenger?

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 6:19 pm
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.