This morning, I was up early, as always, fixing coffee for my wife and enjoying the quiet beforr the kids get up.
I took a photo of the two Gibson's, along with the hand-built replica. This is the largest number of guitars I have ever owned at one time!!! That's 5 including the Stratocaster and Hellraiser.
So, looking back over roughly 30 years of playing, it would seem that I've had this romantic obsession with Gibson. It started with a very early experience with Mom's 1979 Les Paul Custom and a encounter with a Black and Gold LPC down at Buck's studio back in the 1970's...but those instruments were built in a different time. I do not see the ssme level of quality and craftsmanship in Gibson's recent offerings.
Unfortunately, this journey has been a very unpleasant and frustrating one, but had afforded me a unique learning opportunity as well.
After buying a new 2003 Gibson SG, a new 2016 SG and most recently a 2016 Les Paul, I have been faced with having to either return them, have them repaired under warranty or pay for the repairs out of my own pocket.
It just doesn't seem like things should be this difficult...
In the end, I think its the romanticism with Gibson, and other people's perception of Gibson's quality in the past, may drive some people to acquire them and perhaps I too have allowed myself to fall into that trap as well.
As far as earning money is concerned, the unglamorous Schecter C1 Hellraiser has earned me morr money than any other guitar I have ever owned. Despite the fact that it isn't a Gibson, it is still the 100% dependable guitar I use on almost every recording job...not because its the Holy Grail, but because its quiet and very stable.
It is true that I find the EMG'S to lack some of the character of a passive pickup and that I don't like the tone of a 25.5" scale, so certainly a new guitar is needed, and most likely, this will be a full custom build to combine all my desired features into one instrument.
No flaming post here, no brilliant revelations, just a desire to get off the Merry Go Round of Gibson's hit-and-miss quality issues and get back to recording.
On Mother's Day, Mom will have something she really wants and is super excited about. I am very happy that I was able to apply all that I learned into this Les Paul Custom Replica.
I have a prospective buyer coming tonight to check out the SG and the 2016 Gibson Les Paul 50's Tribute is scheduled to see the Gibson tech next week.
I believe all things happen for a reason....the SG's were both a learning experience and the 2016 Les Paul, apparently not for me, but perhaps a way for someone else to experience their lifelong dream of owning a real Gibson.
In the end, giving away this Les Paul Custom Replica and the prospect of giving away this 2016 50's Tribute, have been the most satisfying of all my musical experiences combined.
It is indeed a blessing to be a blessing to others...
I took a photo of the two Gibson's, along with the hand-built replica. This is the largest number of guitars I have ever owned at one time!!! That's 5 including the Stratocaster and Hellraiser.
So, looking back over roughly 30 years of playing, it would seem that I've had this romantic obsession with Gibson. It started with a very early experience with Mom's 1979 Les Paul Custom and a encounter with a Black and Gold LPC down at Buck's studio back in the 1970's...but those instruments were built in a different time. I do not see the ssme level of quality and craftsmanship in Gibson's recent offerings.
Unfortunately, this journey has been a very unpleasant and frustrating one, but had afforded me a unique learning opportunity as well.
After buying a new 2003 Gibson SG, a new 2016 SG and most recently a 2016 Les Paul, I have been faced with having to either return them, have them repaired under warranty or pay for the repairs out of my own pocket.
It just doesn't seem like things should be this difficult...
In the end, I think its the romanticism with Gibson, and other people's perception of Gibson's quality in the past, may drive some people to acquire them and perhaps I too have allowed myself to fall into that trap as well.
As far as earning money is concerned, the unglamorous Schecter C1 Hellraiser has earned me morr money than any other guitar I have ever owned. Despite the fact that it isn't a Gibson, it is still the 100% dependable guitar I use on almost every recording job...not because its the Holy Grail, but because its quiet and very stable.
It is true that I find the EMG'S to lack some of the character of a passive pickup and that I don't like the tone of a 25.5" scale, so certainly a new guitar is needed, and most likely, this will be a full custom build to combine all my desired features into one instrument.
No flaming post here, no brilliant revelations, just a desire to get off the Merry Go Round of Gibson's hit-and-miss quality issues and get back to recording.
On Mother's Day, Mom will have something she really wants and is super excited about. I am very happy that I was able to apply all that I learned into this Les Paul Custom Replica.
I have a prospective buyer coming tonight to check out the SG and the 2016 Gibson Les Paul 50's Tribute is scheduled to see the Gibson tech next week.
I believe all things happen for a reason....the SG's were both a learning experience and the 2016 Les Paul, apparently not for me, but perhaps a way for someone else to experience their lifelong dream of owning a real Gibson.
In the end, giving away this Les Paul Custom Replica and the prospect of giving away this 2016 50's Tribute, have been the most satisfying of all my musical experiences combined.
It is indeed a blessing to be a blessing to others...
:boobs:
