Les Paul Identification:

Don's example of new way.

badfrets.png
 
See how Don's high E lands on the downturn of that 1 fret?

fretboard-jpg.3898


Don's reply in the Forum I got this from.

The one I pictured way above here was my first (and last) nibbed guitar. Never occurred to me as I was buying it what a pain it was going to be. And the nibs were combined with fret ends that sloped down for about the final half inch, meaning that whatever you did, the string was steered relentlessly into the crack.

Never again.
 
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chilipeppermaniac said:
Simply put Robert. In the old days with those old school builders you and I talked about, the frets used to be slightly longer than the wood fingerboard and cover part of the bindings with certain models like Standards and Customs having what is known as nibs covering the ends of the frets.

Current nibs are chunkier and more obtrusive and Gibson essentially chops the fret ends shorter which requires fatter plastic binding nibs and even a scenario leading to the joint of the binding nib and fret having slight cracks that can cause a bent or fast played string to catch in that crack

Then there is fret OVER binding completely, No Nibs to catch a string. Hence many advocate this as better.

Go here and read this thread too.

Fret Nib Separation
Click to expand...

Ahhh...

I was just looking and thinking that the "Nibs" look like had more potential to be problematic...
 
Robert,

The nibs on Gibsons are a source of a minor controversy to Gibby folks. To many, they are one of those distinctives which are unique to Gibson. That is somewhat of a nostalgic attachment, but I can't say I'm entirely opposed to it. After all, to my knowledge, Gibson is the only one that does this. For others, they become a nuisance, especially when attempting a wide, lazy vibrato on the high E string. I have two guitars with nibs. One is my Les Paul Custom; the other is my SG Original 2. The Original 2 has a rather wide fretboard, so it can be a little less of an issue.

How much of an issue is it? Some will claim they have no issues; others will claim it's a real headache. Who is correct? They both are, because it really comes down to your personal playing style. Personally, I don't have a ~huge~ issue with it. I have learned to compensate for it, but I sometimes have those moments where my high E gets caught at the edge of the fret and nib - causing an otherwise pleasant vibrato to become a grating "Chlingk!"

Quite honestly, this was a real contributing factor into why I selected a Les Paul Studio for my Les Paul project. It has no nibs to get in the way of playing.
 
Nibs haven't been an issue for me. Somehow, I'll get by.

On the OP picture, the saddle screws face the tail, and it also has a poker chip.....neither are traits of a NEW 2017 Classic T


**Poker chip added


20170207_180533.jpg 20170207_180134.jpg
 
I will add to my above post that the only current model with binding, which I know of, but which also has fret-over binding (meaning, no nibs) is the HP (High Performance) line. The drawback to many is that the HP line also comes stock with the G-Force robotuners.

I believe some 2015s didn't have nibs, either. I seem to remember this causing a bit of a hub-bub.

Oddly, even the Axcess line has nibs. This really surprises me. Granted, they appear to be more diminutive than the normal nibs, but if you look at the examples on Sweetwater, you can see them (it's harder to tell from the pics on the Gibson website). But, the Axcess is supposed to a sports car of a Les Paul. It is available with a Floyd Rose, it has a more gradual heel, it even has a tummy cut on the back of the guitar. And....the MSRP is over $5k. At that cost, you'd think they'd do fret-over binding to maximize the playability of it, given all the other efforts they expended for playability.
 
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smitty_p said:
Robert,

The nibs on Gibsons are a source of a minor controversy to Gibby folks. To many, they are one of those distinctives which are unique to Gibson. That is somewhat of a nostalgic attachment, but I can't say I'm entirely opposed to it. After all, to my knowledge, Gibson is the only one that does this. For others, they become a nuisance, especially when attempting a wide, lazy vibrato on the high E string. I have two guitars with nibs. One is my Les Paul Custom; the other is my SG Original 2. The Original 2 has a rather wide fretboard, so it can be a little less of an issue.

How much of an issue is it? Some will claim they have no issues; others will claim it's a real headache. Who is correct? They both are, because it really comes down to your personal playing style. Personally, I don't have a ~huge~ issue with it. I have learned to compensate for it, but I sometimes have those moments where my high E gets caught at the edge of the fret and nib - causing an otherwise pleasant vibrato to become a grating "Chlingk!"

Quite honestly, this was a real contributing factor into why I selected a Les Paul Studio for my Les Paul project. It has no nibs to get in the way of playing.
Click to expand...

Good points!
 
I think the only way to know if you are a "nibs guy" is to spend some time with a guitar that has them. I don't have the most remote problem with them, and quite like them. I have three Gibson guitars with nibs that I have bought in the last year, and they are all among the best-playing instruments I have ever owned, so obviously the experience varies with the player. I do get that some people don't get along with them but I would be gutted if Gibson changed to only doing fret-over-binding on their guitars. The nibs are kind of their "thing" (Some Heritage guitars have them too, but they are a small company and inexorably tied to Gibson whether they like it or not).
 
gball said:
I think the only way to know if you are a "nibs guy" is to spend some time with a guitar that has them. I don't have the most remote problem with them, and quite like them. I have three Gibson guitars with nibs that I have bought in the last year, and they are all among the best-playing instruments I have ever owned, so obviously the experience varies with the player. I do get that some people don't get along with them but I would be gutted if Gibson changed to only doing fret-over-binding on their guitars. The nibs are kind of their "thing" (Some Heritage guitars have them too, but they are a small company and inexorably tied to Gibson whether they like it or not).
Click to expand...

Makes sense. I don't think I've ever had them on my own guitars. Mom's 1979 Les Paul Custom has them and I don't remember them being a problem.

I have the option on this current refret to go either way, but I don't think I want the added headache....
 
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