WARNING - OPINIONS TO FOLLOW - GIBSON LOYSLISTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STOP READING:
I have received more than a few emails asking me to comment on recommending a "good guitar." Most are accompnied by a question regarding a standing recommendation to purchase a Gibson because they are said to be "the best," without further factual basis upon which to make such a claim.
I do not promote the sale of my guitars here. For one, I am too busy to take any more orders this calendar year and i simply cannot tell anyone which instrument is "the best" for them. I can, however, share my personal experiences.
This morning, I gave much thought to these questions in particular, and I am obliged to share with you my thoughts here, as opposed to copying and pasting this into several emails.
Having been born into the music industry, and having worked with a guitar as a means of income, i must say that few arenas carry with it the blind loyalty to a product as in the field of guitar.
Loyalty to, and fascination with the Gibson brand, is at the forefront of this movement.
I can recall, quite recently, posting problems with Gibson's and had one facet of "fans" telling me that the problems, which were well documented on videos I posted, were either "impossible or deliberately fabricated."
The other facet of "The Faithful" who replied simply told me that it was normal to have to "strip out and rewire" any new Gibson after purchase and that I should "stop whining" about my problems with new Gibson's.
Whilst we all have opinions, it is ironic to me that some individuals promote Gibson, and subsequently deny the widespread issues with their product line, as if they are on Gibson's payroll, or, at the very least, afforded a kickback for their efforts.
As I think back into my work as a studio musician, I recall how few Gibson's I have actually seen used in the studios over the years...by far seeing more Fender's, PRS' s, Valley Arts and Music Men than anything else.
In subsequent irony, more Gibson's are seen in video production than any other guitar, although we now know that Gibson replicas, like the Kris Derrig and The Scorpions Donnenget Gibson ghostbuilds, have been with us for many years, which even Gibson sought to capitalize on in the case of the Derrig replica.
I am also reminded of Steve Lukather's interview where he told how the record label directed him to "play" a Gibson Les Paul in the video for "Rosanna, " even though he stated it had been recorded on his Valley Arts and tremolo can be heard throughout the song.
While I have owned 3 new Gibson's, I cannot say the experience has been worthwhile, especially in light of time and money expended. I have played many coveted original Gibson guitars, and none stand out in my mind as being truly stellar - only the black and gold finish was remarkable to me from an early experience at Buck Owens Studio in Bakersfield, California.
Early in my problems with Gibson, I was encouraged to push forward with modifications. Adrian, however, presented himself as a voice of reason to the contrary, and I began to search for others with similar problems, which I found well documented.
Much like the blind, almost cultish loyalty to Harley-Davidson, there is that element of "The Faithful" who will encourage Gibson ownership and deny direct evidence of their quality control issues repeatedly.
As such, many better playing guitars are overlooked...and even frowned upon.
I too fell victim to the historical romanticism with Gibson, purchasing three problematic guitars from them, returning two and investing over $500 in a 2016 Gibson SG to make it useable in the studio - a guitar I still cannot rid myself of even for the original retail price with case - which is now just kept for my beginning student's to enjoy.
While you can disagree, on the grounds of either your own loyalty or personal experience, one only needs a quick You Tube search to uncover videos of the exact problems that I encountered by others, en masse. Problems that are still occurring with brand new Gibson's.
So, as there will always be a North and South, so will there always be those who will decry Gibson as a gift from God himself and promote acceptance of uneven fretboards, proud frets, electrical and intonation anomalies as simply part of "The Gibson Experience."
I've posted enough photographic evidence personally, not withstanding Grants' and Adrians' contributions, to substantiate the QC problems with Gibson. While you might get a "good one," you very well might not.
In the end, I think a good guitar is one that makes you enjoy playing it...and not one pimped by its historical romanticism and/or cult following.
For me, through structured investment, i am able to afford any guitar want. For me, the right choice was to make my own, and even this has been met with opposition and discouragement. But for me, I am also fueled by opposition.
So I would say, be open to that guitar which feels and sounds good to you, and don't be swayed by what you are told about any particular guitar being "the best" because Joe B. likes them or because they made a fee great guitars 50 years ago.
Likewise, if you think you want a Tremolo, get one. Don't be discouraged or accept the cynicism that a Floyd "isn't necessary or functional by design," get onr and enjoy it.
Adrian just may have found the "Holy Grail" in this Peavey....
