So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

Nostalgic Distortion

Nostalgic Distortion

New member
LOL, Im almost embarrassed to tell you guys about this N.G.D but here it is in all its wonderful glory!!!

image.jpg

Sam Ash & their stupid Gibson Vault promo emails got me again last night. This time I ended up grabbing one of these NOS Gibson CM's for $400 shipped... I know they weren't a lot of guitar for the money when they came out at $700 retail, which I would have never spent on one, but for $400 & with a return policy, I figured I'd bite???


In hindsight it was a fairly redundant purchase since I already own two lovely Gibson L.P.'s as well as a Dogear P-90 Gibson Junior. That said I do have a certain affinity for single pickup guitars with wrap-around bridges, the intonation is garbage but I love the way they sustain!!! I'm pretty happy with the 2015 L.P. Junior that I bought from them the last go round so perhaps with some decent tuners & a pickup of my choice in her it could be a fun guitar? As for replacing the pickup, I'm thinking either a older Pearly Gates that I've got here or possibly a P-Rail with a mini-toggle to tap it.....

Alright, now let me have it......
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

$400 bucks? Unless it's one of Gibson's abortions that never should have left the factory, you could easily spend more for an Asian made guitar with inferior wood, hardware and build. That's not to say that there aren't some nice guitars coming out of Asia, but you can easily get a Chinese, Indo, or Korean Turd for more than $400 too. You may be giving little up other than cosmetics ... binding and finish.
Again, as long as it's one that would pass a real QC inspection, I think you did pretty good. It could be a great guitar if you are ok with one pup.
 
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Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

Looks like a score to me. You could certainly do worse for $400
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

Agreed. Cool, different and cheap. As long as the playability is fine, I'd rock it!
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

For that kind of price I'd have picked it up too... there are "on sale" at Long& Mcquade (Canadian store) for 900$... so no way but for your kind of money: I'd be tempted if it played well... single hum single cutaway is a nice set-up.
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

I think that's all right

Good score
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

I would throw a Super Distortion in it and rock the snot out of that axe all night long. Nice score.
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

If you're installing a P-Rails, do yourself a favor and get a Triple Shot ring. I can't imagine not having all four sounds available. You also don't need to drill for a mini-toggle. Regarding the poor intonation, you could always get a Pig Tail.
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

The CM like most of the current Gibson wraptail guitars have bridge posts that are drilled even with each other as opposed to being slightly offset, being a little longer run on the bass side. There are a few bridges that help with it but you want to make sure they don't sit too high and restrict how low you can go with the action.

One of the coolest ones is the Hipshot Baby Grand, it works really well and looks pretty cool at the same time. My only fault with it is the chrome plating is kind of chintzy. Otherwise try a Badass style, they're cheap and easy to find, may cure the intonation issues.
 
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Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

Thanks guys, the guitar will be here Tuesday or Wednesday, when it arrives I'll let you know what I think!!!
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

Wow, that is a good price. Even if you mod the hell out of it...I hope it ends up being a great player.
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

I keep saying I am going to get one and make it a goldtop
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

20170928_073213.jpg

So my Gibson CM arrived yesterday!!! Apart from feeling like I needed a shower after finding out what the CM stands for its actually not a bad guitar, & it plays pretty decent for a Lighting Bolt wrap-around equipped guitar. The body is on the thinner side (like a maple capped S.G.) but it makes for a very lightweight guitar thats very comfortable to play & the action is also quite good for a Junior style guitar..

The only flaw I found was that some of the very thin finish had worn off of the corner of the headstock. It's not really noticeable but it is a new guitar so I'm going to call them later & see if I can either get another one or perhaps a partial refund? Whatever the outcome I hope that it's remedied quickly because I already have tuners and Pickups to start modding it...

At the end of the day it was worth what I paid for it & that's not something you can say about a lot of recent Gibsons so overall I'm pretty happy with it. ....
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

If it plays well, you like it and the only issue is the little bit of finish wear on the headstock corner, I'd take whatever discount is offered and keep it. Just a suggestion ... if no discount is offered and replacement only, I'd still consider keeping it. You could end up swapping for a CM that needs fret work, or has a buggered nut or any host of other issues. I came across several sub 1K LP models that were clearly lacking in QC before stumbling into a well done 2013 Tribute that I ended up taking home.

PS. What does the CM stand for? I read somewhere that it was Carved Mahogany. But I think they did have some CM models with a maple cap. CM=Country Music? CM=Crap Muncher? CM=Carl Marx? Nope, cant be it, that would be KM.
 
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Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

It looks rustic, for sure. Are you going to keep it stock?
 
Re: So I Just Bought A Gibson CM, Not Really Sure How I Feel About It???

Hell no I'm not keeping it stock, I'm a compulsive modder!!!

LOL, Ive modded much nicer & more expensive Gibson's so I'm definitely not stopping with this one! Still not 100% sure what I'm going to drop in for a pup yet, perhaps a Dimebucker or a P-Rail with a mini toggle to tap it? In any case I've got several choices on hand & I've already bought myself some Grover Keystone tuners to replace the G-Force so I'm going to get those on this evening.

As for the flaw on the headstock I think I'm going to take Drag's suggestion & just go for some kind of partial refund. Personally I'd much rather have a good player with a barley noticeable rub in the finish than something that looks pristine & play's like garbage...
 
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