BigAlTheBird
Guest
So here are the very first pics of my new (and first) Gibson! This is a 1996 Gem Series Sapphire Les Paul Studio I bought on eBay the night before my 20th birthday 10 days ago. They routinely fetch about $700+ on eBay and elsewhere, got it for $510, including Straplocks, upgraded pups (IMO) and the Gibson case (with blanket!). The pups were professionally replaced (and the dude did a fantastic job). THe old stock P90s (which I do wish it had) were replaced with a DMZ PAF neck and Super Distortion bridge. I don't have a decent amp, so I cannot give a great review here, but they sounded fine through my crappy amp.
Some thoughts about the guitar: It is really awesome! It is heavier than the Epiphone, and I like the headstock more. I also dig the fretboard a lot more (the rosewood is obviously better quality). The sustain is slightly better. Overall the guitar just sounds more open I guess, or clearer than the Epiphone. Also easier to play for some reason (the frets are different, I like them more). The same neck (50's C-neck) so that's cool. I hate that one of the knobs is amber, but I'll change that soon. Also, the ToM is slightly cracked (how this happened, I don't know) but that's a cheap fix. I'm going to bring it up with the seller though, he may throw me a few $$$ since he didn't list it in the auction. No biggie though.
Here are the pics. Please note that this guitar is in no way even close to mint. Also, for the Gem Series (I did my research), Gibson used a very nitro-based finish (as opposed to the poly finishes they use today). The finishes on the Gem series guitars are some of the most delicate they produced. As such, you see there are plenty dings and even some checking already. The dings don't bother me (well, one does but it's no biggie) and I love the checking. As a matter of fact, checking on a guitar's finish is one of my most favorite things in the world. This guitar has vertical checking which is weird, but I still like it (a LOT!). Here we go! I'll get more pics later.
Some thoughts about the guitar: It is really awesome! It is heavier than the Epiphone, and I like the headstock more. I also dig the fretboard a lot more (the rosewood is obviously better quality). The sustain is slightly better. Overall the guitar just sounds more open I guess, or clearer than the Epiphone. Also easier to play for some reason (the frets are different, I like them more). The same neck (50's C-neck) so that's cool. I hate that one of the knobs is amber, but I'll change that soon. Also, the ToM is slightly cracked (how this happened, I don't know) but that's a cheap fix. I'm going to bring it up with the seller though, he may throw me a few $$$ since he didn't list it in the auction. No biggie though.
Here are the pics. Please note that this guitar is in no way even close to mint. Also, for the Gem Series (I did my research), Gibson used a very nitro-based finish (as opposed to the poly finishes they use today). The finishes on the Gem series guitars are some of the most delicate they produced. As such, you see there are plenty dings and even some checking already. The dings don't bother me (well, one does but it's no biggie) and I love the checking. As a matter of fact, checking on a guitar's finish is one of my most favorite things in the world. This guitar has vertical checking which is weird, but I still like it (a LOT!). Here we go! I'll get more pics later.
.
Big Al !! I had that guitar on my watch list last week! I was planning on making a run on it. I got caught snoozing.:smack: I was pissed it went off for $510 and I missed it.:blackeye: I glad a Fellow Forum bro got it.
