Gibson Guitars: Current Day Build Quality

[Victor]

Figured it was time for a guitar thread around here. I posted this on my regular guitar forum too but curious what the notoriously opinionated Pelicans reckon..

I have this thing called a "Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite Mark III". It was made in the early 90's and has 3 pups (single in mid), strat switching etc... Anyhow, I decided to sell it and a couple of other (lesser) guitars I have lying around to consolidate down to 3 axes. (Gibson LPS, Ernie Ball Music Man Axis and a neat partsocaster made from various US & Jap bits.)

Anyhow, I have spent the last while looking around the various Gibson dealers for "my" LP Standard. They all have some sort of flaw. Everything from a 2" dimple on the rear, crooked binding, wavy fret edge binding, iregularly fitted bridge poles - you name it. The sales dudes all say the same line: "they are hand made - hence the irregularities". WHAT THE F?? This makes no sense. I asked what the difference is between "Gibson USA" and "Custom Shop". Other than a long tennon neck join, no one could explain the difference. I thought maybe the sober workers are in the custom shop and all the piss heads are in the regular production line?

So it got me to thinking, my early 90's LP (albeit a lowly studio) is built to a higher standard than the current stuff. Are we in tomorrows "bad era" for Gibbo production? Maybe I'm also spoiled by the quality of the Ernie Ball.

And dont get me ranting about the price. RRP AU$4,400. Nuts. I might go looking on eBay. Seem to go for 50% less. Investment my arse....

*Rant mode off. Thanks for reading / responding.

Cheers, Victor

[rouxroux]

www.gibson.com
www.gibsoncustom.com

Maybe these links will help you in your search. We visited the new factory a few years back...Pretty impressive. If you're in Memphis, be sure to take the tour.

[Shuie]

Originally posted by Victor

Are we in tomorrows "bad era" for Gibbo production?

Not at all, IMO. I've seen better guitars from them recently than anything I ever saw in the '90s. Nothing great, tho. You have to sort or trade your way through a few of them to find a keeper, but thats true of almost any Gibson built after 1964.

Also, the investment thought process is not at all applicable to these guitars. Gibson makes A LOT of guitars between the Memphis and Nashville facilities. They can call the 'Custom Shop' whatever they want to call it, but its a factory. Expect setup issues, nut, and fretwork issues out of the box.

Id say to look for a used one. ebay is your friend. If you get a dud, then put it back on ebay and find another one. Repeat process until you find a keeper.

[scottmandue]

I love my old Gibson 325... PO told me it was supposedly "carried around by an old black man in a gunny sack".

Also love my 70's vintage Fender jazz bass & blond SG bass...

I'll tell you a little secret, if you looking for a new reasonably priced high quality guitar look at Ibanez.

[WolfeMacleod]

Modern day Gibson build quality is crap. And it has been, for a long time.

I see the same things you've seen. Pllus things like inlays that are filled with glue around the edges to fill in the space, loose nuts, crooked nuts, misplace bridges, loose fitting neck joints, loose frets, high frets, low frets.
You name it, I've seen it. Unacceptable for a $4000 guitar.

I get a LOT of Gibsons that come through my place.

[craigster59]

I've dealt w/ these guys in the past. Very upfront on their instruments, and have some decent deals. I know you're "down under", but they ship international.

http://www.californiavintageguitarandamp.com/Gibson_Main.htm

[Victor]

Originally posted by Shuie
Id say to look for a used one. ebay is your friend. If you get a dud, then put it back on ebay and find another one. Repeat process until you find a keeper.

That's what I'm thinking at the moment. I've looked at all the major dealers in my area (there's about 7) and somewhere in the vicinity of 30 Standards. There's only one I would buy but it has the '50s profile neck, which is too agricultural for my taste. (Try swapping back and forth from an Ernie Ball Axis and you'll see what I mean....)

I'll keep on the lookout, but for well over $1k less eBay is starting to look like a gamble worth chancing.

[Shuie]

Do not buy new guitars. Let someone else do that and then pay to have them set up properly. eBay is a lot less of gamble if you know what you are doing. Let me know if I can help.

I'll PM you a link for US dealer that sells primarily used Gibson stuff. You can trust this guys ear. If he tells you its good, its good.

[stuartj]

Keeping mr plinky now?

Told ya it was wired wrong....Im a bit of an expert in strat wiring y'know. One little wire....

[Victor]

Yes - "Mr Plinky" has been saved from the wood chipper for now.

Shuie - thanks for the links, I'll check them out.

[on-ramp]

I have a 1990 LP Standard, Tobacco sunburst , which I absolutely love. For some reason, the newer Les Pauls don't "feel" right, as if the quality is lacking.

btw, got 53 grand for a '53 Gold Top ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-1953-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-Guitar-WoW_W0QQitemZ260112120412QQihZ016QQcategoryZ38086Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

10 years ago, you could buy these for a fraction of the price. Who would have known..

[IROC]

I bought a Les Paul Studio last year and it has been a pretty good guitar. The one "cosmetic" flaw that I have been able to find is that the stupid truss rod cover doesn't sit totally flush on the head - it "bows" up ever so slightly. There is also a very slight discoloration on one portion of the fretboard, but it's hard to notice.

Other than that, the finish is nice and it plays really well. The tone is better than my 25 year old SG (no big surprise). It probably needs a good set-up as the intonation is off a little.

Overall, I thnk you're right, though - you have to wade through alot of Gibsons to find one that is really worth the premium price. Luckily, I got mine for about $300 under the Musician's Friend price...

[Shuie]

Originally posted by on-ramp


btw, got 53 grand for a '53 Gold Top ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-1953-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-Guitar-WoW_W0QQitemZ260112120412QQihZ016QQcategoryZ38086Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

10 years ago, you could buy these for a fraction of the price. Who would have known..

Thats the cleanest one I've ever seen for sale, but a year ago that was a $33k guitar. That guy is really trying to set the bar. You can buy a less pristine '56 for that price. Its too high for a '53, IMO, but its a stupid clean no issues guitar and you just never know with the current crop of investors that seem to be buying up anything like this that they can find.