So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
- Thread starter Powdered Toast Man
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ErikH
Well-known member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
OK, looks to me like the paint and/or filler just sank in the gap over time. This isn't the first time I've seen a gap on a set-neck guitar like that. The sides and bottom are most likely solid as can be. I'm sure it looked fine after paint and when it was cured.
OK, looks to me like the paint and/or filler just sank in the gap over time. This isn't the first time I've seen a gap on a set-neck guitar like that. The sides and bottom are most likely solid as can be. I'm sure it looked fine after paint and when it was cured.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
Ok man. I don't want to be a dick. But you bought this seven years ago. And you're just figuring out it's flaws. Have you been playing it? Did you love it prior to this "discovery"? Who gives a rat's ass about it's construction flaws? Do you like the guitar?
Nuff said.
Ok man. I don't want to be a dick. But you bought this seven years ago. And you're just figuring out it's flaws. Have you been playing it? Did you love it prior to this "discovery"? Who gives a rat's ass about it's construction flaws? Do you like the guitar?
Nuff said.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
Out of curiosity... In any instance where there is no such gap in a set-neck guitar, should we expect that there's either a veneer at play, or else that the finish won't hold up?
A guitar I "like" can be cheap or expensive, that said there is a difference in the level of finish I expect if there's a price diff. So whether something is acceptable to me isn't always up to whether I "like" it or whether it sounds good; those criteria are met easily, almost too easily, by guitars less than half the price of a new Gibson.
I recall seeing pics such as the above V (where no effort whatsoever was taken to disguise the joint, and there's no expectation of those steps being taken,) but I admit I'd probably be shocked if I saw something like OP's joint on my own guitar. I guess I'd look around at comparable models from other manufacturers before I let it dissuade me, but I had an issue with a neck incorrectly set by Gibson anyway (I should say worsening to where it impacted the setup,) so I already see them in that light.
Out of curiosity... In any instance where there is no such gap in a set-neck guitar, should we expect that there's either a veneer at play, or else that the finish won't hold up?
A guitar I "like" can be cheap or expensive, that said there is a difference in the level of finish I expect if there's a price diff. So whether something is acceptable to me isn't always up to whether I "like" it or whether it sounds good; those criteria are met easily, almost too easily, by guitars less than half the price of a new Gibson.
I recall seeing pics such as the above V (where no effort whatsoever was taken to disguise the joint, and there's no expectation of those steps being taken,) but I admit I'd probably be shocked if I saw something like OP's joint on my own guitar. I guess I'd look around at comparable models from other manufacturers before I let it dissuade me, but I had an issue with a neck incorrectly set by Gibson anyway (I should say worsening to where it impacted the setup,) so I already see them in that light.
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Obsessive Compulsive
New member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
I too was thinking that Gibson could've filled the gap with wood putty or something to smooth it out, but I never own an expensive guitar, let alone a Gibson, so what the f**k do I know, right? I guess I am in the 'whinging' category....lol....
I too was thinking that Gibson could've filled the gap with wood putty or something to smooth it out, but I never own an expensive guitar, let alone a Gibson, so what the f**k do I know, right? I guess I am in the 'whinging' category....lol....
Obsessive Compulsive
New member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
I think he was trying to say that "ignorance is bliss", and it is!
I think he was trying to say that "ignorance is bliss", and it is!
chevyaddict83
New member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
read the print
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Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
This.
The guitar might be flawed, but how do you know that it wasn't the particular sound that those flaws contributed that drew you to buy this instrument?
This.
The guitar might be flawed, but how do you know that it wasn't the particular sound that those flaws contributed that drew you to buy this instrument?
EDX
New member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
guitardoc just owned the thread, and disguising such thing as a joint gap isn't all that hard, i wouldn't use wood putty to do so, instead i would just take some of the sawdust from that same piece, mix it with glue to a very thick putty consistency and then apply until the gap is filled, then just sand to level and paint over, not hard, and on a big company sawdust is freaking abundant
on the LP thing i feel that heritage does a way better job than gibson, is like if those guys were back then making those guitars...... oh wait.....
guitardoc just owned the thread, and disguising such thing as a joint gap isn't all that hard, i wouldn't use wood putty to do so, instead i would just take some of the sawdust from that same piece, mix it with glue to a very thick putty consistency and then apply until the gap is filled, then just sand to level and paint over, not hard, and on a big company sawdust is freaking abundant
on the LP thing i feel that heritage does a way better job than gibson, is like if those guys were back then making those guitars...... oh wait.....
Silence Kid
New member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
I already touched on it but my curiosity is extra piqued, esp. as it's obviously been done differently on the pictures guitars; what's the difference between disguising joints between say a three-piece body, and joints between a body and set neck?
I already touched on it but my curiosity is extra piqued, esp. as it's obviously been done differently on the pictures guitars; what's the difference between disguising joints between say a three-piece body, and joints between a body and set neck?
YeRedHouseOverYonder
New member
So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
Going back to the OP, I remember buying one those JRs from American Musical. I had to return mine due QC issues (issues with the finish). It played fine, but I'm not sure how it left the factory with *a signed checklist
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Going back to the OP, I remember buying one those JRs from American Musical. I had to return mine due QC issues (issues with the finish). It played fine, but I'm not sure how it left the factory with *a signed checklist
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Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
Well, with a body you are usually going to see the join at some point. Plus there is plenty of space for squeezeout as there is only 1 glued face.
With a tenon you have many glued faces to consider. The wood has to mate solidly even before the glue, so there is VERY little space to play with. Wood glue actually requires the wood surfaces to touch, so you cannot afford for excess glue to be trapped between the surfaces.....you also cannot afford a glue starved join either so slightly more glue than needed is usually what is applied. Hence give that the mortice has to be fitted into a very tight space there is a degree of necessity for a squeezeout point.
Add into this the fact that the mortice is going into a sloped channel, its more than likely that unless your CNC is up to scratch even it being tight at the bottom will cause wedge type gap by the top.
Then you don't need to make the end mate anyhow for structural reasons - end grain has no glued strength anyhow.
Then the typical gap is upward of 35mm deep. Not many fillers will manage to fill this depth without sinking......not even glue/sawdust.
The OP example is actually the worst sort of gap to have. The nitro tends to bunch at the corners of the gap, so by the time the final coats are on there is a degree of bridging the gap, but it will have sunk as you can see. It would be way less amateur looking if the gap was much wider and the ends stay as they were cut like in the case of the 58V
Well, with a body you are usually going to see the join at some point. Plus there is plenty of space for squeezeout as there is only 1 glued face.
With a tenon you have many glued faces to consider. The wood has to mate solidly even before the glue, so there is VERY little space to play with. Wood glue actually requires the wood surfaces to touch, so you cannot afford for excess glue to be trapped between the surfaces.....you also cannot afford a glue starved join either so slightly more glue than needed is usually what is applied. Hence give that the mortice has to be fitted into a very tight space there is a degree of necessity for a squeezeout point.
Add into this the fact that the mortice is going into a sloped channel, its more than likely that unless your CNC is up to scratch even it being tight at the bottom will cause wedge type gap by the top.
Then you don't need to make the end mate anyhow for structural reasons - end grain has no glued strength anyhow.
Then the typical gap is upward of 35mm deep. Not many fillers will manage to fill this depth without sinking......not even glue/sawdust.
The OP example is actually the worst sort of gap to have. The nitro tends to bunch at the corners of the gap, so by the time the final coats are on there is a degree of bridging the gap, but it will have sunk as you can see. It would be way less amateur looking if the gap was much wider and the ends stay as they were cut like in the case of the 58V
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moshpit817
New member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
OOPS!!
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Silence Kid
New member
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
Good explanation, helps me understand... Thank you.
Good explanation, helps me understand... Thank you.
Re: So I took the pickguard off my Les Paul Jr DC... look at this garbage
Both guitars I've purchased from AMS (both MIK imports, so not at all pricey) were sold as A-stock even though both had easily visible cosmetic issues.
They offered me good discounts when I quickly sent proof-pics and demanded either fair rebates or return-authorization numbers.
I'm more of a function over form guy so I was actually happy about the whole mess lol, saved me more than $300 together and they both played well anyways,,,,,,,but I do think it's BS that they didn't know or hadn't caught the defects.
I guess this is a much different case since it was under the pickgaurd and all, but it's definitely nothing new or uncommon with Gibson or AMS
Both guitars I've purchased from AMS (both MIK imports, so not at all pricey) were sold as A-stock even though both had easily visible cosmetic issues.
They offered me good discounts when I quickly sent proof-pics and demanded either fair rebates or return-authorization numbers.
I'm more of a function over form guy so I was actually happy about the whole mess lol, saved me more than $300 together and they both played well anyways,,,,,,,but I do think it's BS that they didn't know or hadn't caught the defects.
I guess this is a much different case since it was under the pickgaurd and all, but it's definitely nothing new or uncommon with Gibson or AMS
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