Les Paul Classic Adventures

devastone

New member
I had to take advantage of the stupid GC LP Classic sale, couldn't pass up $1699 (one more day of Guitar-a-thon for those interested) for a guitar that is normally $2499 (or $2199 with G's current sponsored sale) and got a buddy at the local GC to order a Chicago blue one. He looked for a store that had 2 in stock in the hopes that the one they would ship would be unopened, we all know what guitars on the wall in GC often go through. It came in last Tuesday and I ran down to get it. Great color, nice weight, but looking at it in the light quite a few micro scratches in the finish, apparently it was not the boxed one. Yes, I know it will have them in a few months of playing, but, it's new. So, I left it and he had the Friday tech buff out the scratches and I picked it up Saturday. Got it home and finally got a chance to sit down and spend some time with it last night. Into a gainy channel it was quite noisy, and annoying when using a Rat as a boost, WTH. I switched guitars with my others and none of them were as noisy as it, I originally thought it was the Burstbuckers which are asymmetrical winds and unpotted (if G's website is correct), but then I touched the metal on the end of the cable and it quietened down to a normal level. Grabbed my meter and sure enough, no string ground, so, going back today to get it fixed. Normally I would just fix it myself but I went to pull the electronics cover off and it is stuck to the paint, with my luck if I force it it will chip. So, trying to get everything working as a new guitar should before I rip the strings off and set it up for me. I was excited when I ordered my first new LP, but that is starting to wear thin.

If it gets dialed in, it may get some upgraded pickups, but for now, I'm hoping to get it up to "new" guitar specs.
 
I've wanted a black Les Paul Classic for so long.

I really want a Standard, but I also want a thin neck, and I don't want a boomerburst finish.
 
I like the black too, but ended up going with the blue, well, because. It's a nice deep, transparent blue in person. I couldn't pass up a real Les Paul for that price.
 
Those looked really nice. I would have jumped on it if I didn't have an LP already. Welcome to the club!

Pics shall be compulsory, or said purchase must not have happened.
 
Microscratches in Gibsons? how shocking.

(Gibson stops sanding at grit 600, with a palm sander, not even finish-sanding by hand), and then use 3 compounds when buffing, creating a nice sheen but still a ton of microscratches. Hilarious.

The ground issue that's a problem,yeah, but the stuck cover, I wouldn't be too concerned about that. Tightly screwed covers on finish have a tendency to imprint on the finish (just like, say, foam layers inside the case and between the body and case lining). I'd unscrew the jack plate, unscrew the backplate, and stick my finger or a small screwdriver in the control cavity to pop off the backplate via the inside of the cavity.
 
I did unscrew it and tried to pop it off with no luck, I'm sure I could have gotten it off, but didn't want to take a chance on scratching it or anything, besides, I gave them $ for a new guitar, let them fix it. As far as the microscratches go, I guess I got some extra care from the tech, he did a good job buffing it out. The trans blue also probably shows them more than the lighter colors.
 
LOL, got the Gibbons back yesterday afternoon, was in a rush so I just grabbed it and had to run. When I finally got home last night I checked the ground with a meter from the jack to the bridge, nope, still open. I should have known when the tech called me to tell me it was ready and I asked what he did and didn't get a clear answer, apparently he didn't understand that the bridge/strings needed to be grounded. Eh, it was GC, I'll just do it myself this weekend, needs fresh strings anyway.
 
Yeah, it got buffed out by another tech before I picked it up the first time. Didn't find out about the ground until I got it home after that and plugged it in.
 
I wouldn't let a GC "tech" touch any of my guitars. I've seen how some of them do their work outside of changing strings. I'm very thankful I know how to do all that myself.
 
I wouldn't let a GC "tech" touch any of my guitars. I've seen how some of them do their work outside of changing strings. I'm very thankful I know how to do all that myself.

Yeah, me neither until this one, it's brand new, so it they screwed it up, I get another new one, which was an option, but this one has a good weight and another one would be taking a chance. Of course, it's GC, I can still take it back, but I'm going to pull the strings and try to fix the ground today. The guy that buffed it out did a great job, and, I know the guy I bought it from so he'll take care of me.
 
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