Why my guitar gently weeps
- Thread starter Vox AC30
- Start date
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
Speaks volumes about where society has gone and people's priorities. Nothing wrong with a decent inexpensive guitar, but when musicians are no longer willing to pay for top-quality instruments the whole industry suffers. Maybe I'm just an old guy but seems to me that until quite recently something like an Agile was viewed as a beginner/starter guitar and a player would scrimp and save to afford the real Gibson to replace it. Now I see a lot of people with a whole bunch of inexpensive guitars, not really ever moving on to the "real deal" because the ones they have, while maybe not great, are "good enough." It's the same consumer mentality you see every day in malls and Wal-Marts, etc...the idea that we should all have a whole bunch of stuff, even if lower quality, instead of one or two really good items. We just no longer demand the best or are willing to pay for it as a society.
I see a few things at play here.
I bought two new Gibson's in 2016. Both had uneven frets, .100" action height, bad neck angle, sky high bridge/tailpiece settings, intonation screws backed all the way out and still out of pitch and a buzz/hum that persisted until I stripped out all the Gibson electronics.
In frustration, I found several You Tube videos that chronicled the exact same issues that I experienced. I made my own video and sent it to Gibson who viewed it and suggested I return the guitar.
I, in fact, did return the 2016 Gibson Les Paul 50's Tribute and yet I foolishly spent a considerable amount to make my 2016 Gibson SG T Series playable - sufficient enough that I cannot sell it for what I spent on it.
What I found upsetting was an Agile, that was less than half the cost, didn't have any of these issues.
This is why I didn't buy a Gibson EDS-1275. Instead, I contracted to have one built - by a private Luthier, at less than half the $6,995 cost of a new 2017 EDS-1275, and with zero issues. It was 100% setup and ready to play the moment I picked it up...and the entire experience has been an absolute joy.
I believe that if Gibson could pull this off, on a regular basis, more people would be willing to buy their guitars...
Now, I have played really good Gibson's, but they are not real consistent.
Session 5
Ambassador of Strings & Wings
I agree Robert, also I think you would agree when you pay those kind of prices every guitar should be perfect. The last few years Gibson has some real quality issues and its catching up to them.
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I purchased a brand new, sight unseen SG last year from Sweetwater. The craftsmanship left a lot to be desired, specifically a gap between the fretboard and the neck. After returning the SG, I bought a brand new PRS sight unseen and I'm very happy with the quality.
The guitar is alive in certain circles. The guitar rode the Beatles bubble for decades and that bubble popped. I don't like the guy but Slash did help save Gibson in a weird way. I don't see any one on a white horse on the way to bring the Guitar to center stage again. Keyboards, DJ's with electric music have replaced live bands. Blues clubs are gone and they are back to being a poopy old man's bar.
I don't see the market to carry guitar sales like back in the 70's. Yep nothing will be the the same.
I don't see the market to carry guitar sales like back in the 70's. Yep nothing will be the the same.
Session 5
Ambassador of Strings & Wings
BlackSG91
Ambassador of Anarchy
Slash is supposed to be now the official world-wide ambassador for Gibson. I wonder if he can save them again like he did in 1988.
;>)/
I wonder if that's why most of the 2018 Les Paul models on Gibson's website don't have a pick guard.
BlackSG91
Ambassador of Anarchy
You may have a point there Smitty...Slash's new Anaconda Burst Les Paul guitar without a PG may be a big seller for Gibson but I don't think it's enough to make huge profits for Gibson in general. We'll have to wait and see what the future brings for Gibson. Only time will tell.
;>)/