Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
- Thread starter pushedcrayon1
- Start date
VinceT
New member
slightly_rude
New member
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
Because the Gibson USA line now uses fret over binding construction ( like most other manufacturers). This started in 2015.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
I did
I have not looked at any 2016s yet. Both of my 2014s were put together well. There are always some of the production Gibsons that go out a bit subpar, but in recent years, I honestly see far,far fewer. The mid Y2Ks were the years I saw way too many with issues. Really poor fretwork, nuts, binding, weird neck angles, etc. I bought and returned several myself.
That said, neither of my "production" Les Pauls hold a candle to the overall quality of wood (aesthetically/tonally), build, fit and finish of the SC245. You'd have to get into a R/R9/CS model to get there. It's frustrating/disappointing.
I'd hit it.
I did
I have not looked at any 2016s yet. Both of my 2014s were put together well. There are always some of the production Gibsons that go out a bit subpar, but in recent years, I honestly see far,far fewer. The mid Y2Ks were the years I saw way too many with issues. Really poor fretwork, nuts, binding, weird neck angles, etc. I bought and returned several myself.
That said, neither of my "production" Les Pauls hold a candle to the overall quality of wood (aesthetically/tonally), build, fit and finish of the SC245. You'd have to get into a R/R9/CS model to get there. It's frustrating/disappointing.
Last edited:
uOpt
Something Cool
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
Standards and Traditionals have nibs for 2016 in the "traditional" lineup.
The guitar the OP looked at should have had nibs if it was a 2016 Standard.
Standards and Traditionals have nibs for 2016 in the "traditional" lineup.
The guitar the OP looked at should have had nibs if it was a 2016 Standard.
pushedcrayon1
New member
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
I hope I didn't give anyone the wrong idea, but I'm not trying to say I do not like the whole 2016 line, or Gibson themselves, I was just disappointed with what I played, and thought I'd share my experience with you. That's all.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk
I did take the guitar to the general manager actually, I know most of the workers there, and I showed him what I was talking about. He agreed that it was a bit rough, and said he would be taking the price down in it later that day. He took the guitar off the wall so no one else would play it while he figured it out.
I hope I didn't give anyone the wrong idea, but I'm not trying to say I do not like the whole 2016 line, or Gibson themselves, I was just disappointed with what I played, and thought I'd share my experience with you. That's all.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
Me personally, I don't buy new guitars from Guitar Center...they all feel off to me. I like their used sections as I have scored some great deals but the new guitars feel better at smaller stores than the chains (they have new strings, usually are set up and have not been played by some kid with grubby hands.)
Me personally, I don't buy new guitars from Guitar Center...they all feel off to me. I like their used sections as I have scored some great deals but the new guitars feel better at smaller stores than the chains (they have new strings, usually are set up and have not been played by some kid with grubby hands.)
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
For every good guitar that was brand new, there were 2 used guitars that played and sounded just as good or better. One of the techs at the Guitar Center here said that they restring and setup every used guitar that comes in. Most of the new guitars get taken out of the box and put on the wall.
For every good guitar that was brand new, there were 2 used guitars that played and sounded just as good or better. One of the techs at the Guitar Center here said that they restring and setup every used guitar that comes in. Most of the new guitars get taken out of the box and put on the wall.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
Gibson makes some excellent guitars, we all know that. The point you made, which is very valid, is that at that price range substandard guitars should never make it past their quality control department.
Gibson makes some excellent guitars, we all know that. The point you made, which is very valid, is that at that price range substandard guitars should never make it past their quality control department.
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
I believe that–seems like every new Martin I played the other day had rusty strings...
I believe that–seems like every new Martin I played the other day had rusty strings...
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
Well that's cause you get people sweating and slobbering all over the strings. It seems every Martin that I'm interested in has been passed around like a fifth of Jack at a frat party.
Well that's cause you get people sweating and slobbering all over the strings. It seems every Martin that I'm interested in has been passed around like a fifth of Jack at a frat party.
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
Yeah, tons of people going to GC just to play the high end stuff. lol I do play their new stuff for ideas BUT I also buy from them...so I don't feel as bad about it lol (I got my '76 Guild from Guitar Center)
I love love love Martin acoustics. However, from a budget standpoint I've fallen in love with Eastman acoustics–got my E8D for $625 and while its not a Gibson it certainly sounds like a HD28.
Yeah, tons of people going to GC just to play the high end stuff. lol I do play their new stuff for ideas BUT I also buy from them...so I don't feel as bad about it lol (I got my '76 Guild from Guitar Center)
I love love love Martin acoustics. However, from a budget standpoint I've fallen in love with Eastman acoustics–got my E8D for $625 and while its not a Gibson it certainly sounds like a HD28.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
IME, Gibsons have been getting steadily ****tier since slightly before the turn of the century. Crappy ones started filtering in in higher numbers around then, and the percentage of crappy ones has just slowly increased since. Now, you can find good ones from time to time, but they are few and far between. It's fine to have mediocre quality; the world needs mid-level guitars...but if that is what you are making, you should also have the prices to match.
Not too long ago, they used to be half the price (or less) and at least twice the quality. It isn't really the specs (though the materials have changed, and not for the better); it's the quality of work, and I believe it's largely due to the way the factory is managed. From what I understand, the company's poor factory management and working environment has scared away (or fired) most of the good, experienced employees (or moved them to the Custom Shop), and created a stressful environment with high turnover. What employees are left building the guitars seem to not be particularly skilled, and to have insane amounts of pressure to produce placed on them. And this was based on reports I read probably close to 10 years ago; I can't imagine it getting any better since. You can see it on the guitars. Routs filled with router flash that is simply painted over, rough body sculpting, binding flaws, finish flaws, poorly dressed frets, poorly crafted nuts, etc. They just don't put the time consuming labor into the fine finish work on their guitars – the stuff that makes the difference between a decent guitar and a good (or great) guitar. They seem like rush jobs to me. I haven't seen Gibson in years that has made me say, "If I had built this guitar, I would be very proud of my work." And I've seen scores of them on the lower-priced end of the spectrum that seem no better than junior high school shop projects to me.
IME, Gibsons have been getting steadily ****tier since slightly before the turn of the century. Crappy ones started filtering in in higher numbers around then, and the percentage of crappy ones has just slowly increased since. Now, you can find good ones from time to time, but they are few and far between. It's fine to have mediocre quality; the world needs mid-level guitars...but if that is what you are making, you should also have the prices to match.
Not too long ago, they used to be half the price (or less) and at least twice the quality. It isn't really the specs (though the materials have changed, and not for the better); it's the quality of work, and I believe it's largely due to the way the factory is managed. From what I understand, the company's poor factory management and working environment has scared away (or fired) most of the good, experienced employees (or moved them to the Custom Shop), and created a stressful environment with high turnover. What employees are left building the guitars seem to not be particularly skilled, and to have insane amounts of pressure to produce placed on them. And this was based on reports I read probably close to 10 years ago; I can't imagine it getting any better since. You can see it on the guitars. Routs filled with router flash that is simply painted over, rough body sculpting, binding flaws, finish flaws, poorly dressed frets, poorly crafted nuts, etc. They just don't put the time consuming labor into the fine finish work on their guitars – the stuff that makes the difference between a decent guitar and a good (or great) guitar. They seem like rush jobs to me. I haven't seen Gibson in years that has made me say, "If I had built this guitar, I would be very proud of my work." And I've seen scores of them on the lower-priced end of the spectrum that seem no better than junior high school shop projects to me.
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Disappointed with 2016 Gibson
So did I. Came absolutely perfect out of the box. Frets are fantastic, finish is fantastic, set up was fantastic. Craps all over every gibson I've ever owned, even the custom shop ones
So did I. Came absolutely perfect out of the box. Frets are fantastic, finish is fantastic, set up was fantastic. Craps all over every gibson I've ever owned, even the custom shop ones
Attachments
