I tend to agree with Ace.

Gene, I don't own a Gabb King, but I've played on friend's, and I would prefer it hands-down over a Hohner. You also have to look at it this way -- you're not looking to blow the doors off of a jam, so volume isn't a selling point. And chances are, if you're just wanting to "learn" and not "perform", the King is perfect. You're probably going to want to upgrade to a handmade once you cut your teeth -- and only IF your interest holds -- then you might deem it important.

I have a friend that plays a couple of Kings in his zydeco band -- they're his main squeezes. They've held up fine and sound good mic'ed-up. Not my bag, for certain, but for some folks, that's the way they roll. Heck, I can't tell you how many guitarists that I've known who prefer a Mexican Tele over a well-made, big-ticket axe.

Different strokes, brutha. Go with the flow and learn the ropes. Then throwdown for one of the Big 3s (or several other lesser-known builders which are just as good). The reality is, if you can't play the King or Hohner, a Big 3 handmade isn't going to make you a better player -- only three times more in debt and ten times more frustrated. Practice, practice, practice...

~R!CK

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