New Gibsons at GC

[Liam1963]

Sunday I was at my local GC, killing time while my wife was fabric shopping (don't ask...). Anyway, spied a new Gibson Les Paul Special in cherry, GC wants $1099.00 for it, upon closer inspection, I notice the combo bridge/tailpiece setup, and I think, How do you set the intonation on that? Not sure if this is done "automagically" or if the guitar never needs to have its intonation set? Anyone own one of these, any of the stop tailpiece guitars I own (with one exception, a PRS SE Tremonti)have a bridge separate from the tailpiece. I'd like to hear if this setup is actually a good idea, or is Gibson pursuing cost-cutting?

 

[Condemnedsoul]

61 Melody Maker

61 Melody Maker

Use the same size strings. Still not satisfied, install a bridge to your liking. You hurt my feelings, Gibson cuts corners on their guitars? Really!
These bridges have been on guitars since I was in grade school and before. Here is a picture of a 61 Melody Maker. Is that the bridge you are talking about?

Seriously, no disrespect intended. It has been a long hard day.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

You set the intonation on those by buying a replacement bridge...

 

[gottalovethe80s]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

I never liked guitars with those kinda bridges because I tend to jump between string gauges, alot.
they can be upgraded with these though

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

I never liked guitars with those kinda bridges because I tend to jump between string gauges, alot.
they can be upgraded with these though

At least as long as it's a flat top. I put one of these on my 97 Les Paul DC Studio and because of the carved top it bottoms out in the middle before getting low enough for proper string height.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

At least as long as it's a flat top. I put one of these on my 97 Les Paul DC Studio and because of the carved top it bottoms out in the middle before getting low enough for proper string height.

Why can't you compensate that with saddle height? In this case a metal file on em?

 

[Liam1963]

Re: 61 Melody Maker

Re: 61 Melody Maker

Use the same size strings. Still not satisfied, install a bridge to your liking. You hurt my feelings, Gibson cuts corners on their guitars? Really!
These bridges have been on guitars since I was in grade school and before. Here is a picture of a 61 Melody Maker. Is that the bridge you are talking about?

Seriously, no disrespect intended. It has been a long hard day.

No offense taken, I have seen the wraparound tailpiece, but on this particular model, the saddles appear to be machined into the top surface of the bridge, I have never seen that before, hence the reason for my post.

 

[Detroitblues]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

They cannot be precisely innotated like a tune-o-matic, but there are allen screws that allow some innotation against the bridge posts...

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

They do suck for intonation adjustment. It is cost cutting, but (as has been mentioned) it's a cost cutting measure that has been done for a long time.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

To me, the problem with new Gibsons is that some genius decided to put a brass nut on them and have a 4 year old sign Les Paul with a gold magic marker. And then, they assumed everyone wanted a big ugly set of auto tuners, a widened neck, and a circuit board in the electronic cavity.

2014 + Gibsons......NO THANKS! 1990 - 2011 are the only ones I'll consider anymore.

 

[Maggot]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

Intonation is overrated. Think about all those old Teles, not to mention acoustics.

Yes the new Gibson line is reprehensible. They seem absolutely committed to losing money by revisiting the glory years of the Victory, the Corvus, the Sonex, etc.

The annoying part is that I played a couple of SGJs last year and they were pretty good, and very cheap, and they're not even in the lineup this year.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

Why can't you compensate that with saddle height? In this case a metal file on em?

That might work, might not be able to get enough on E A B E. I'm thinking about pulling the Sh6 set from it and getting some PAF types and using it to learn slide technique.

 

[DankStar]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

To me, the problem with new Gibsons is that some genius decided to put a brass nut on them and have a 4 year old sign Les Paul with a gold magic marker. And then, they assumed everyone wanted a big ugly set of auto tuners, a widened neck, and a circuit board in the electronic cavity.

2014 + Gibsons......NO THANKS! 1990 - 2011 are the only ones I'll consider anymore.

Is that the adjustable nut mentioned here?
http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/products/150003911.php?CategoryID=241&n=0

I like the idea of adjustable but not sure of the tonal qualities vs bone or graphite. I'm guessing brass is too bright? Gotta be better than cheap plastic huh?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

The weird thing about the whole feel is that the brass nut is regular spacing, but they widened the neck a tiny bit, and it created more space between the E strings and the edge of the neck.

And that Les Paul logo. WTF??? Why would they ruin the classy look of the original logo? I know...it's probably his last signature or something, but it didn't need to happen.

I don't mean to derail this thread with Gibson bashing. I love Gibson guitars, but someone is making bad decisions nowadays.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

The new wrap around bridges are funkier than the old ones, like there is a raised zigzaggy bar on them I guess for better intonation but there's no adjusting it. This could've been around before now too but I have rarely seen them with it. They also have less of a polished or shiny look. I'll try to find a pic.

edit* Here we go

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

upon closer inspection, I notice the combo bridge/tailpiece setup, and I think, How do you set the intonation on that?

There should be an Allen adjustment screw the pushes against each post. You set the intonation on bar bridges by setting the intonation for the A5 and the B2 strings as best you can and let the chips fall where they may for the other strings.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

You ever see a 1954 Les Paul, or one of its reissues?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

Is it wrong of me to do this...I check gear out at GC but quit buying gear from them. Everything here in the Atlanta area, including the nice acoustics, all look used and like 100's of grubby hands have been all over it...

 

[Maggot]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

Is it wrong of me to do this...I check gear out at GC but quit buying gear from them. Everything here in the Atlanta area, including the nice acoustics, all look used and like 100's of grubby hands have been all over it...

No, it's right to do it. GC is owned by some gawdawful investment group, sales people get no significant commission unless they sell a million warrantee packages and the whole place is probably just a showroom for online retail anyway.

I end up buying stuff there from time to time, though, especially guitars.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: New Gibsons at GC

I have a couple of guitars with wrap around bridges. I've never had any intonation problem with them.