"Gibson Dependable"

The Dali

The Dali

MeltedClockologist
Not sure what you all think of this ebay seller who takes apart Gibson guitars and sells the parts so people can buy the parts and put them back together. I think this model makes sense for bolt-on guitars, but I'm not so sure with set-necks... but in any event, I was looking at some pickups he was selling and this is his grading system:



Condition Chart
Please note: All parts are in good working condition unless otherwise noted in the description.

Brand New: Brand new from the factory or sales floor.
Mint: Mint condition with no flaws.
Near Mint/Mint: Has only a very lite flaw.
Near Mint: Has only one flaw or a couple very lite flaws.
Near Mint/Excellent Mint: Has a noticeable flaw or a couple lite flaws.
Excellent Mint: Has more than one noticeable flaw.
Reliced: Has a vintage aged look.


So... if it is in "mint" it has no flaws, yet if it is in "near mint/excellen mint" it has a noticable flaw or a couple of lite flaws... WTF?
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

Different people have different logic they use when the come up with their grading systems... I had a seller once that I asked him about his description of a guitar being "mint" when there was visible belt buckle rash on the guitar. His reply was that since it was on the back and its normal for guitars to be scratched on the back that he still considered it mint.... WTF:omg:
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

I bought my stripped SG from this seller. The description was accurate, and it was well packed for its shipping - which was halfway around the world. I've not gone back to them since but given the nature/condition of what I bought I'd have no hesitation.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

My issue is the use of "mint" to influence the buyer. It is an overly confusing way to grade your products. I'd prefer a simpler approach:

Brand New: Brand new from the factory or sales floor.
A: Mint condition with no flaws.
A-: Has only a very lite flaw.
B+: Has only one flaw or a couple very lite flaws.
B : Has a noticeable flaw or a couple lite flaws.
B- : Has more than one noticeable flaw.
C : Has a vintage aged look.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

It's just a way for him to sell more stuff to uninformed buyers. If somebody sees something that says "excellent mint" instead of "ok" condition less people would buy the latter.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

Way too much mint there!

It's mint if it looks like it's fresh from the factory (like it's just been minted).

If it has flaws it ain't mint.

Unless it's a factory flaw :scratchch
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

Exactly. MINT means it just came off the factory line... Many people would consider any item that has actually touched a customer's hand (ie, not sealed) cannot be labeled as MINT.

In fact, you could say that MINT is actually BETTER than NEW.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

I know of the seller, I remember he once sold a Faded V stripped for more then a whole one cost new
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

The Dali said:
My issue is the use of "mint" to influence the buyer. It is an overly confusing way to grade your products. I'd prefer a simpler approach:

Brand New: Brand new from the factory or sales floor.
A: Mint condition with no flaws.
A-: Has only a very lite flaw.
B+: Has only one flaw or a couple very lite flaws.
B : Has a noticeable flaw or a couple lite flaws.
B- : Has more than one noticeable flaw.
C : Has a vintage aged look.
Click to expand...

+1. I was going to say, this whole thing really just needs a number system. But the grades do the same thing. Anythings better than just making up phrases to try to explain the difference between a slightly flaw and a noticeable flaw.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

The Dali said:
Not sure what you all think of this ebay seller who takes apart Gibson guitars and sells the parts so people can buy the parts and put them back together. I think this model makes sense for bolt-on guitars, but I'm not so sure with set-necks... but in any event, I was looking at some pickups he was selling and this is his grading system:



Condition Chart
Please note: All parts are in good working condition unless otherwise noted in the description.

Brand New: Brand new from the factory or sales floor.
Mint: Mint condition with no flaws.
Near Mint/Mint: Has only a very lite flaw.
Near Mint: Has only one flaw or a couple very lite flaws.
Near Mint/Excellent Mint: Has a noticeable flaw or a couple lite flaws.
Excellent Mint: Has more than one noticeable flaw.
Reliced: Has a vintage aged look.


So... if it is in "mint" it has no flaws, yet if it is in "near mint/excellen mint" it has a noticable flaw or a couple of lite flaws... WTF?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I lnow of some other nit wit doing that to alot of Fender stuff too! Not a big fan of it myself, but oh well, welcome to America!
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

WTF is "Excellent Mint"? It should be called "below average". I don't know this guy, but already I think he's a d0uche.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

The Dali said:
Not sure what you all think of this ebay seller who takes apart Gibson guitars and sells the parts so people can buy the parts and put them back together. I think this model makes sense for bolt-on guitars, but I'm not so sure with set-necks... but in any event, I was looking at some pickups he was selling and this is his grading system:



Condition Chart
Please note: All parts are in good working condition unless otherwise noted in the description.

Brand New: Brand new from the factory or sales floor.
Mint: Mint condition with no flaws.
Near Mint/Mint: Has only a very lite flaw.
Near Mint: Has only one flaw or a couple very lite flaws.
Near Mint/Excellent Mint: Has a noticeable flaw or a couple lite flaws.
Excellent Mint: Has more than one noticeable flaw.
Reliced: Has a vintage aged look.


So... if it is in "mint" it has no flaws, yet if it is in "near mint/excellen mint" it has a noticable flaw or a couple of lite flaws... WTF?
Click to expand...


Here's my scale:

Mint: Absolutely NOTHING wrong. Many things, even when they are brand new and still in the package, are not mint!

Near Mint: Nothing wrong. Nothing noticeably wrong. New. See: New.

Very good: Below near mint.

Good: Very good, or nothing noticeably wrong until you look closely at it.

Fair: Something is visually obvious.

Bad: Obviously damaged.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

The Dali said:
Not sure what you all think of this ebay seller who takes apart Gibson guitars and sells the parts so people can buy the parts and put them back together. I think this model makes sense for bolt-on guitars, but I'm not so sure with set-necks... but in any event, I was looking at some pickups he was selling and this is his grading system:



Condition Chart
Please note: All parts are in good working condition unless otherwise noted in the description.

Brand New: Brand new from the factory or sales floor.
Mint: Mint condition with no flaws.
Near Mint/Mint: Has only a very lite flaw.
Near Mint: Has only one flaw or a couple very lite flaws.
Near Mint/Excellent Mint: Has a noticeable flaw or a couple lite flaws.
Excellent Mint: Has more than one noticeable flaw.
Reliced: Has a vintage aged look.


So... if it is in "mint" it has no flaws, yet if it is in "near mint/excellen mint" it has a noticable flaw or a couple of lite flaws... WTF?
Click to expand...

Total D-bag. I'd kick him in the junk just for making up that list. I might even try to sell him a P-P-P-P-Powerbook.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

Not entirely 'off subject' but illustrating the point....
Gibsondependable?? A misnomer if ever there was one! AVOID AVOID AVOID. I have had nothing but trouble with this conniving individual. As at least one other contributor states, he employs delaying tactics, both with posting stuff out and in dealing with emails when the stuff arrives NOT as described. Bought through ebay, so I agree that his aim is to delay so long that ebay won't take action and I won't be able to leave suitable feedback. I ordered a wiring harness from a Les Paul Custom complete with pots, mounting plate, switch, switch nut, tip, black 'Rhythm / Treble' disc. Only fault listed was 'some discolouring of the pot washers'. One of the pot shaft splines was bent right over (straighten it out and they break) so impossible to fit the knob. The switch nut was off a cheap copy so that it didn't fit. The switch tip was also off a cheap far east switch and also didn't fit. After many emails, I am still no nearer to receiving what I paid for and what was described in the ebay listing. This fella seems to sell tat at inflated prices by listing stuff as better than it really is. I repeat, for everyone elses sanity! AVOID AVOID AVOID. Martyn in the UK
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

The Dali said:
My issue is the use of "mint" to influence the buyer.
Click to expand...

Yep, it's bullsh!t.

Just like when companies f*ck up and say "sorry for any confusion," when there was never any confusion at all - it was very clear, in fact. That they f*cked up.

Marketing / PR is the worst.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

I love the jump from 'Excellent Mint' directly to 'Reliced'

It's like the first six categories have only a very negligible difference between them, but between the last two there's a sea of damage that could be present.
 
Re: "Gibson Dependable"

Gibson Dirty Fingers even in rough shape go for $200 on eBay. He sold me a "Near Mint/Excellent Mint" 80's DF for $100 because it was missing 1 inch of braid on the output wire. (Yes, I'm postive it's one of the 80's DF pickups) Great to deal with.
 
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