What is it about Gibson...

JB_From_Hell

JB_From_Hell

Jomo's Nimions
... that makes people overlook such blatant flaws? I know they play well, but seriously... LOTS of guitars play really, sound great, and don't have silly little flaws.

Scott made a comment about instruments built using 2nd rate parts, by children in sweat shops. Well, somehow, these sweat shop kids manage to do finishes better than the Gibson guys. I really don't think it's just me when I say it's completely unacceptable for a company who's instruments cost thousands of dollars to have messed up finishes.

If it was PRS (or just about any other company) that had these problems, the Gibson guys would be blasting them day & night.

What's the deal?
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

Just play a good one and you'll know, there's a "mojo" behind it. I've played some fine guitars, but I keep coming back to my RI 0 Gibson Les Paul Special DC (I don't think I'm ever going to sell it... tried to convince myself to do it before because I had so much money tied up into it, but couldn't follow through)... that thing is my pride and joy. In fact, as we speak, I'm considering moving around a couple pieces of gear and trying to find my tone from a different angle.
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

JB_From_Hell said:
Scott made a comment about instruments built using 2nd rate parts, by children in sweat shops.
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I was referring directly to chinese made amplifiers that have recently begun to enter the US.

There really is no excuse for the Gibson QC on the normal production line stuff. No excuse at all.

That being said, I put up with a couple of very minor finish flaws (where you can't really see them) with my R8 because it's just such a damn fine guitar. Also, the number of finish flaws I've inflicted on it since rather overwhelms the two small ones I originally found. I'm relic-ing this guitar, I guess.:chairfall
 
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I, honestly, can't remember playing a post 1984 Gibson that i liked.
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

the_Chris said:
Just play a good one and you'll know....
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I've played a ton of them. Like Foamy, I really dig the old ones, and feel nothing at all for new ones. It's not like they suck or anything, and I am, admittedly, very much a PRS fan. However, if I played a McCarty that totally rocked my socks off, I wouldn't buy it if there were silly little problems (finish flaws, pencil marks under the clear coat, crooked tuners) no matter how good it sounded/played.

Everytime somebody elects to go ahead and either buy or keep one of these guitars, it's like calling Gibson and saying, "Go ahead, we don't mind paying full price for cosmetic seconds."
 
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I really don't mind minor cosmetic issues. Contemporary Gibsons just feel like **** to me. & I absolutley can't stand the stock p-ups on the ****ers.
 
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I don't know, to me looks come second to tone and playability. I think if I found a guitar that played perfectly for me and nailed my tone, some finish bleeding onto the binding or a smudge under the clear coat probably wouldn't keep me from buying it.
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

You know.....I've defended Gibson a lot in my posts, but I'm through with it.

You guys have been right. Gibson needs to pull their head out of their ass. There's just no excuse for putting out $2300+ guitars that play worse than a $250 beginner guitar. I guess I've always taken for granted that they don't do a final setup, so pro-level players can dial them in to their liking after the initial purchase, but that's not acceptable to me anymore.

Yesterday, I went into the new Northridge, Ca. Guitar Center, and played half the LP's on their wall, ranging from $2200-$5000. I was appalled! Every single one of them had a bowed neck, a nut that was sky high w/all the strings binding. Intonation wasn't even CLOSE!!! I honestly couldn't get about 7 LP's to even play good enough to try out. That's just ridiculous. Little finish flaws weren't that bad, but the playability was a joke.

That's not to say I don't favor LP's over any other humbucking guitar, because I do. I just realize that all those guitars need a pro setup after purchasing new. I take for granted that all of mine are setup to play like a Tom Anderson. Once they play beautifully, they're spectacular instruments, but Gibson's final setup people must be putting on a pre slotted nut, putting the bridges on, then boxing them up. No Excuse!!!!
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

aren't all Gibsons (and i mean "true" Gibsons not Epiphones) handmade
 
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By the way, I CAN'T WAIT till after NAMM. When PRS starts rolling out the new Singlecuts, McCarties, and Customs!!!!......it's all over! Gibson is gonna be eating a sh!t sandwich, when PRS's guitars just stomp them in every way.
With a PRS, you can pull one off the wall, and know that the final setup has been done to perfection. Just take it home and enjoy!

With new Gibsons, you can take one home, and shoot arrows in your backyard with it.......well, until you pay $45 for a nut slotting, truss, and intonation adjustment.
 
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I'd imagine buying one from a smaller local dealer vs. GC could mean you'd see more axes with proper setups... too bad Gibson is raising quota requirements and driving all the little guys to drop them. I still think Gibson is eventually going to open their own chain of stores a la Harley Davidson :laugh2:.
 
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Tux789 said:
aren't all Gibsons (and i mean "true" Gibsons not Epiphones) handmade
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No more so than PRS or other builders of that size.
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

Gearjoneser said:
By the way, I CAN'T WAIT till after NAMM. When PRS starts rolling out the new Singlecuts, McCarties, and Customs!!!!......it's all over! Gibson is gonna be eating a sh!t sandwich, when PRS's guitars just stomp them in every way.
With a PRS, you can pull one off the wall, and know that the final setup has been done to perfection. Just take it home and enjoy!

With new Gibsons, you can take one home, and shoot arrows in your backyard with it.......well, until you pay $45 for a nut slotting, truss, and intonation adjustment.
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There is a thread on the LPF right now comparing LP and PRS. It pretty funny to read them try to justify their purchase. Lets see, PRS are thin, weedy, have no mojo, have no soul etc. For every knowledgable guy posting there are 20 pin headed wankers trying prove how big their **** is because they bought a LP. Clueless mofo's in short.

Its amazing to me how they expect a PRS to be perfect out of the box but they routinely replace the pups, tuners, electronics, nut, bridge and stop tail without batting eye.
 
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I've bought 1 new and 1 used Gibson's. I had to setup the new one. Used one ripped from the start. But I bet the guy who owned it before me had to set it up!:chairfall
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

Tux789 said:
aren't all Gibsons (and i mean "true" Gibsons not Epiphones) handmade
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If they are (which they are not entirely), would it matter? Bad quality is still bad quality, whether it comes from a machine or a luthier's workbench.
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

FretFire said:
I'd imagine buying one from a smaller local dealer vs. GC could mean you'd see more axes with proper setups... too bad Gibson is raising quota requirements and driving all the little guys to drop them. I still think Gibson is eventually going to open their own chain of stores a la Harley Davidson :laugh2:.
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Probably. That just means no discounts for anyone
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

ratherdashing said:
If they are (which they are not entirely), would it matter? Bad quality is still bad quality, whether it comes from a machine or a luthier's workbench.
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IMO it would matter a great deal
humans are very inaccurate and impresise compared to a CNC operation
if they are all handmade, then there is no way for the people to do their task right every single time and put out the production volume that Gibson puts out.
Handmade is only advantageous when your talking about a situation when the builder has the TIME, and the EXPERIENCE for the guitar to be better than CNC.
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

TheArchitect said:
There is a thread on the LPF right now comparing LP and PRS. It pretty funny to read them try to justify their purchase. Lets see, PRS are thin, weedy, have no mojo, have no soul etc. For every knowledgable guy posting there are 20 pin headed wankers trying prove how big their **** is .....
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I posted on that thread...

ya want me to email ya a pic to show ya how big it is? :laugh2:

Its amazing to me how they expect a PRS to be perfect out of the box but they routinely replace the pups, tuners, electronics, nut, bridge and stop tail without batting eye.
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I don't personally expect the former, or do any of the latter.

I like my Gibsons...plain and simple. I hope the rest of ya stop buying them cos then the prices will come down and I can afford more.
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

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Nothing hauls em in like the words "Gibson" and "quality control". :laugh2:
 
Re: What is it about Gibson...

My disliking the modern Gibsons has nothing to do w/ set-up either. I've played many, many, many newer Gibsons that were owned by friends or acquaintances & set up well. I just don't like post '84 Gibbies.

The 17lbs of finish on them don't help too much, either.
 
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