Gibson USA $299

Re: Gibson USA $299

Considering the quality-drop seen on so many recent Gibsons costing ~twice what that apparently went for, I'm sort of afraid of it. But it looks kind of cool. Especially if you're not used to seeing all the things that are missing.
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

Gibson has been shipping Melody Makers in various forms for 50 years. Solid wood. Glued in solid neck. Entire wiring harness can be replaced without de-soldering the original. Can be sleepers. I have a V and an Explorer MM. Work great for rhythm playing and testing pickups. Rock on, wid yo' 'Strawberry Milk' self.
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

300$ US means about 400$ canadian with the actual exchange rate, maybe 375$. That being said, refailers will most likely be asking closer to 600$ based on my experience. Add Quebec's 15% taxes and you get 690$ total... I'd much rather shell out a bit more on the used market and get a used special, lpj/sgj or even one of the melody makers they were putting out a few years ago instead. I understand the appeal when it comes to upgrading it (new electronics and nut could make for a fun guitar indeed) but for me up here it makes no sense considering what retailers will ask for it.

May e my 600$ estimate will prove to have been to cknservative (although I doubt it), but even at 500$ I'd rather get something else.

Gibson wants to reclaim the low-budget end of the spectrum but it's already filled with guitars made in china/indonesia which are already quite good considering the price-range. Unless they intend to seriously up their game quality-wise (which seems unprobable at that price for a us-made guitar), the name on the headstock will be the only real appeal for those guitars.
Of course, I realize that this is nothing but speculations until I can try one out...
 
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Re: Gibson USA $299

I wonder how Fender will respond; they haven't felt any need to "respond" to a lot of Gibson's lower priced US guitars anyway, though.

BTW, now $400
 
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Re: Gibson USA $299

Ehh, it's another Gibson Zero model...

I've played a Firebird Zero & the S.G. Zero, both of them couldn't hold a candle to their Epi. counterparts of the same value.....

I love me some Gibby's but $400 is a lot for a $150 guitar with a Gibson logo! Perhaps it could be cool if you were opening up one of those awful restaurants with all the garbage on the walls? It is a guitar & it does say Gibson, but that's about where the good attributes stop with these guys....

You can pick up a much better used 2012-2015 Melody Maker, L.P.J./, L.P.M., S.G.J., S.G.M, Etc. for a extra $100 consistently on Reverb & you'll actually have a good playing/sounding guitar when you're done. Not just a wall hanger!!!
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

At first glance, I thought the Phantom grey looked kinda cool. Plus, I like the look of the keys better than those (IMO) Awful butter bean things. But reading the specs... Maple neck, solid wood body. Solid what? Def have a different tonal character..
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

Thanks for this. I bought one after you had this. It is NO Les Paul, but it IS a wonderfully cool guitar!! I have been playing it for about 3 hours now and I'm loving it!! Never did a setup, just tuned it and played!! Thanks again!!
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

At first glance, I thought the Phantom grey looked kinda cool. Plus, I like the look of the keys better than those (IMO) Awful butter bean things. But reading the specs... Maple neck, solid wood body. Solid what? Def have a different tonal character..

The bodies are made from Poplar....
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

I saw these at a store in Santiago. Didn't try them, but I've been looking up and down and it seems you're better off with a Epiphone Les Paul Standard.

Check this (huge) thread at another forum, it seems they're not happy at all with their M2s and they know what they're talking about:
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380896

Of course, that will not stop me from forming my own opinion and trying them out sooner or later. But it's a fair warning sign.
 
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Re: Gibson USA $299

I'll curl up with that thread when the board has returned from maintenance; I've heard about bridge/neck issues so far so I'm a bit relieved I didn't grab one. I was conflicted on it; they were irresistibly cheap but I dislike throwing money at Gibson new and it seemed like a perfect storm for poor quality.
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

saw this at the store. its really skinny but probably a solid piece of wood. it does have swimming pool route as i've seen bodies on stratosphere for sale already.
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

Today I tried a Gibson SG Fusion from this series. Super cheap (less than a Epi Les Paul Std) and my god was it crap.
The finishes, if you can call them that, are laughable. Extremely rough, plain and cheap looking in all models.
Very light and comfy, though.

Tonewise it was supremely stock and average. Nothing particularly good and two Epiphones (one with Epiphone generic pups and another with Probuckers) killed it in sound overall.
Playability is a JOKE. I can confirm what was assessed in the other forum I linked above; the action cannot be brought down much.
At it's lowest, it's very high, probably between 4 mm. over the top of the frets on both sides.
It would be OK for a slide guitar maybe or if you really like a high action, but you cannot even make it medium-high. Just straight ****ing high as a kite is what you get.
Also the damn thing wouldn't stop going out of tune, unlike the two Epis I tried.

I honestly don't get the point of the existence of these models. They're flawed.
I tried also a Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top Pro and there's so much more guitar in that guitar than the Gibson. I just don't get it.
 
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Re: Gibson USA $299

Gibson seems to be trying a lot of things lately. My guess is that they weren't doing well just being an expensive lifestyle brand. Maybe this will work for them, but my guess is probably not.
 
Re: Gibson USA $299

Sounds like the death rattle of a company at the end of it's downward spiral.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
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