2016 Gibson 50's Tribute Les Paul Gold Top - First Report:

RVA said:
Funny, and I am being serious here, if a guitar plays so well that it does not need any work, I get disappointed. My wife always asks me why I play the "cheap" guitars instead of the expensive ones. Answer: I am searching for something to fix!!!
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I used to be that way with my old cars...

But these days, we are raising two small kids and its hard to balance repair/restoration projects with my responsibilities.

If I had more free time, I might not fuss so much over things....but as it stands, its tough just finding time to rehearse, then throw in a brand new guitar that needs to be rebuilt, and everything becomes imbalanced.
 
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Make a note of the serial number on my 2016 Gibson Les Paul 50's Tribute Gold Top - 160119204 - wonder where it will turn up???

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You have to get those exact measurements on the string height or you won't play good! But in Stevie Ray Vaughn's string action was very high and he used thick gauged strings. Go figure! Everyone is obsessed with getting the lowest string height on their guitar that it is ridiculous. It doesn't make real sense. Set up the right height and don't worry about other's string height...it ain't going to make you a better player. It also depends on the guitar. Just because someone else's string height is 0.24765189453672345" closer to the the 22nd fret doesn't mean jack poop in my books! High action isn't a bad thing. It makes you a better player. That my 2 cents!


;>)/
 
BlackSG91 said:
You have to get those exact measurements on the string height or you won't play good! But in Stevie Ray Vaughn's string action was very high and he used thick gauged strings. Go figure! Everyone is obsessed with getting the lowest string height on their guitar that it is ridiculous. It doesn't make real sense. Set up the right height and don't worry about other's string height...it ain't going to make you a better player. It also depends on the guitar. Just because someone else's string height is 0.24765189453672345" closer to the the 22nd fret doesn't mean jack poop in my books! High action isn't a bad thing. It makes you a better player. That my 2 cents!


;>)/
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You totally missed the point.

I was willing to accept .125" action on my 2016 Gibson Les Paul 50's Tribute, because it can be altered. I could not accept the loud buzzing as evidenced in the videos I posted, which, according to Gibson warranty, would require a replacement bridge pickup and new PCB.

No more Gibson's. I'm building my own guitars now.
 
BlackSG91 said:
You have to get those exact measurements on the string height or you won't play good! But in Stevie Ray Vaughn's string action was very high and he used thick gauged strings. Go figure! Everyone is obsessed with getting the lowest string height on their guitar that it is ridiculous. It doesn't make real sense. Set up the right height and don't worry about other's string height...it ain't going to make you a better player. It also depends on the guitar. Just because someone else's string height is 0.24765189453672345" closer to the the 22nd fret doesn't mean jack poop in my books! High action isn't a bad thing. It makes you a better player. That my 2 cents!


;>)/
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When string height is high enough to pull notes sharp, it makes sense.
 
Yes, sorry, I just read back through to find the answer. The circuit board cant really be blamed on Gibson, they're made for them so it slipped through the manufacturers QC. The pickup, hard to say. A short in one coil, I would kinda think a breakdown of the enamel on the wire which mightn't show up by metering the pickup. 3 weeks is unacceptable though. Hell I get stuff from the US delivered to my door here in Oz quicker than that. Cheers
 
ivan H said:
Yes, sorry, I just read back through to find the answer. The circuit board cant really be blamed on Gibson, they're made for them so it slipped through the manufacturers QC. The pickup, hard to say. A short in one coil, I would kinda think a breakdown of the enamel on the wire which mightn't show up by metering the pickup. 3 weeks is unacceptable though. Hell I get stuff from the US delivered to my door here in Oz quicker than that. Cheers
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It's no big deal, I just decided not to invest any more money fixing Gibson's....
 
Robert Herndon said:
You totally missed the point.

I was willing to accept .125" action on my 2016 Gibson Les Paul 50's Tribute, because it can be altered. I could not accept the loud buzzing as evidenced in the videos I posted, which, according to Gibson warranty, would require a replacement bridge pickup and new PCB.

No more Gibson's. I'm building my own guitars now.
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I don't measure string action. I play by ear. If there is any string buzz I raise the action. I don't use a ruler for all that crap! I do a truss rod adjustment and take it from there. If the string buzzes at a certain point along the fretboard I raise it. It's not rocket science.
Robert Herndon said:
When string height is high enough to pull notes sharp, it makes sense.
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I do that by ear. I set my truss rod adjustment and check each string for any buzzing all along the the fretboard. I do not need a fancy ruler to do that. You are too technical Robert and it drives me intercourse nutz!!! I don't know what else to say but I think you are way to OCD on this thing. Just play it by ear my friend. You are making it way to complicated in my books if you know what I mean.


;>)/
 
I don't measure either. Used to follow manufacturer's recommended figures for years (actually decades) until I read Biddlin's method & tried it. Had one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments. High string height would only be a problem if you don't have enough rearward saddle travel to intonate properly. Cheers
Edit; Gibson string height (12 fret) specs are low E 5/64", high E 3/64". Cheers
 
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BlackSG91 said:
I don't measure string action. I play by ear. If there is any string buzz I raise the action. I don't use a ruler for all that crap! I do a truss rod adjustment and take it from there. If the string buzzes at a certain point along the fretboard I raise it. It's not rocket science.


I do that by ear. I set my truss rod adjustment and check each string for any buzzing all along the the fretboard. I do not need a fancy ruler to do that. You are too technical Robert and it drives me intercourse nutz!!! I don't know what else to say but I think you are way to OCD on this thing. Just play it by ear my friend. You are making it way to complicated in my books if you know what I mean.


;>)/
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Not OCD at all - it's economy of movement.

In the past month I have sold 9 guitars, and each one of them I set up by hand. It is far easier to set to a given specification than to noodle around by hand. Once the prototype is built and it is adjusted correctly, the other guitars are very fast to set up. With CNC machining, the variations from guitar to guitar are minimal. Additionally, it gives me rapidity & repeat-ability, which equates to greater accuracy...
 
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