lol @ gibson

wallie! · #1 01-23-2007, 01:43 AM

haha I was in the city last Saturday and thought I would try my hands on a Les Paul.
For starters It wasn't as heavy as I ever imagined them, and the action seemed to be pretty good. The guitars finish was pretty average, but here comes the interesting part.
Somebody had made a huge mistake when wiring the guitar. When the neck humbucker was selected, it was impossible to turn the volume off. On all 4 knobs I had it set to '0' and I was still getting full (but muffled because the tone was '0') volume. The bridge pickup was fine and could be turned off, as well as both humbuckers combined.

If they make basic errors like this it makes me wonder what else they have screwed up over the years haha
If i had a choice of any overpriced guitar I would take PRS any day.

EDIT: While on the subject of prices , i noticed the Les paul was roughly $4,400 (aus) and an Explorer was roughly $2,300 (aus). How the hell can they get away with that? I'm pretty sure there isnt $2,100 of more quality parts in a les paul over an Explorer, They are charging an extra 2k for just a name? pathetic.

David McCarroll · #2 01-23-2007, 02:34 AM

He he he.......

I sourced a Natural Finish Explorer for a friend of mine via Gallin's Guitars in Sydney - they had one in their Melbourne store - so they shipped it to Sydney....... trouble is, after all that, no one in the shop thought to plug it in and test it before we turned up - so we get there - plug it in and....... yep, another Lemon - this one didn't work AT ALL!

How much effort would it have taken to simply plug the stupid thing in and try it, even to tune the guitar up before someone who was going to walk in the door and hand over nearly $3K turned up?

They are a joke.

Back in the days when I worked for a Gibson dealer, my H-H guitar needs were, well I can't really say "met", but were carried out by a Custom Shop '57 LP Reissue and an original '64 SG - the LP was chronically untuneable and weighted at least a metric tonne (hence costing close to it's purchase price in phisiotherapy - dang - I can't spell that!!!), and the SG was made of chewing gum and spit, hence could be relied upon to stay in tune for about 30 seconds, but hey, y'know - endorse what you sell etc etc etc.

The instant I left that shop, they disappeared and were replaced with two lovely PRS Custom 22s which are a dream, in every way!

Gibson - Pffftttt!!!!

fettouhi · #3 01-23-2007, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallie!

haha I was in the city last Saturday and thought I would try my hands on a Les Paul.
For starters It wasn't as heavy as I ever imagined them, and the action seemed to be pretty good. The guitars finish was pretty average, but here comes the interesting part.
Somebody had made a huge mistake when wiring the guitar. When the neck humbucker was selected, it was impossible to turn the volume off. On all 4 knobs I had it set to '0' and I was still getting full (but muffled because the tone was '0') volume. The bridge pickup was fine and could be turned off, as well as both humbuckers combined.

If they make basic errors like this it makes me wonder what else they have screwed up over the years haha
If i had a choice of any overpriced guitar I would take PRS any day.

EDIT: While on the subject of prices , i noticed the Les paul was roughly $4,400 (aus) and an Explorer was roughly $2,300 (aus). How the hell can they get away with that? I'm pretty sure there isnt $2,100 of more quality parts in a les paul over an Explorer, They are charging an extra 2k for just a name? pathetic.

and they still only wanted 4400 AUS

.

Regards

André

markg5150 · #4 01-23-2007, 04:30 AM

Are Gibson US guitars really that bad ??? ... How do they survive??? the brand name won't last forever if its being undermined by poor quality.

Les Pauls are my thing but I'd like an Explorer

JoeJoe · #5 01-23-2007, 04:45 AM

I haven't had any bad experiences with gibby's... All the one i've picked up had no problems, were set up good and played well.

The last Gibsons i tried (les paul faded) played like a dream, had a really nice tone and had sustain that was unbelievable...

and no, i don't work at Gibson... Maybe it's the shop that had tested them and had set em up, but i'm not sure.

Eggy · #6 01-23-2007, 06:18 AM

My local dealer has 3 Les Pauls in at the moment. 2 of them sound pants and the third is so badly finished that the ESP on the wall next to it (which is half the price) makes it feel like a toy.
Gibsons are a bit like Jaguar and TVR cars. They're expensive status symbles and it'd be nice to show to your mates but you wouldn't want one as a daily driver.

Gibson = Pants!

Ben

Rotti · #7 01-23-2007, 08:02 AM

I love Gibsons. Nothing else sounds like a good LP or SG.

Texter · #8 01-23-2007, 08:04 AM

I have a '94 SG Standard and it's a pretty good guitar for a Gibson, except that everything is too much to the left once you sit down. But I think I was lucky. There are only some minute glue and file marks on the fretboard...and it actually stays in tune as long as I lube the nut with a pencil.
The Les Paul simply isn't designed to be played by a human being. I wonder why idiots keep buying those when I compare it to my very comfortable, playable and balanced Ibbies, let alone my Vigier. The muddy tone caused by the stupid bridge design, hilariously lacking sustain when FRETTING notes, completely disfigured overweight body with such a bad balance that the guitar wants to flip off your lap (try the trem version), the completely idiotic Bigsby vibrato bar that loses a spring when you lift it: Gibson is useless! Those guitars belong in a museum. Then again, I'm biased because I hate Les Pauls. They look cool, though...from a distance.

dragsternj · #9 01-23-2007, 09:17 AM

I bought a $40k BMW and the heated seats didn't work. I have NO idea how they get away with that.

Ohhh i also have LP Custom and a Explorer....both flawless strange.

Scott Smith · #10 01-23-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallie!

haha I was in the city last Saturday and thought I would try my hands on a Les Paul.
For starters It wasn't as heavy as I ever imagined them, and the action seemed to be pretty good. The guitars finish was pretty average, but here comes the interesting part.
Somebody had made a huge mistake when wiring the guitar. When the neck humbucker was selected, it was impossible to turn the volume off. On all 4 knobs I had it set to '0' and I was still getting full (but muffled because the tone was '0') volume. The bridge pickup was fine and could be turned off, as well as both humbuckers combined.

If they make basic errors like this it makes me wonder what else they have screwed up over the years haha
If i had a choice of any overpriced guitar I would take PRS any day.

EDIT: While on the subject of prices , i noticed the Les paul was roughly $4,400 (aus) and an Explorer was roughly $2,300 (aus). How the hell can they get away with that? I'm pretty sure there isnt $2,100 of more quality parts in a les paul over an Explorer, They are charging an extra 2k for just a name? pathetic.

Let's not fool ourselves here. Gibson is NOT the only guitar line that suffers from this problem. Can you tell me the difference between a VWH and a RG570? Inlays? Routing? Grip? Pickups? "Name"? $1600 difference? Hardly...

I'm not gonna defend Gibson here, I'm not a fan since Harry took over. Weight Relief Holes? Gimme a break... But don't think they are the only overpriced guitars out there. Here in the States a LP Standard is cheaper than a VWH. A VWH is way more expensive than a 570. A Studio is cheaper than a Standard. Ect... I can go for days here... And I won't even mention the Plastic Jem, or the DNA, or the 10th, an on and on. Seems to me that Ibanez also suffers from "overchargeitis"...

So, what does Ibanez charge for a VWH "down under"? I'd like to know that...

screamndemon69 · #11 01-23-2007, 01:43 PM

i have owned 4 Explorers in the past two years. 3 new and one used. two of the new ones were tone monsters and one was a complete lemon and the used one was, well, used so it was hard to compare it with the new ones.
Gibson can make some awesome guitars but for the price i think they are not worth it for me. i paid less than $900 for the first new Explorer (blk) and it was a great deal and a good guitar. I got another one (natural) that was a keeper (should have kept that one) and i just sold another new natural one that was a lemon by comparsion.
it is to hit and miss for me to spend over 1k without playing it first. they have a the capabilities to make good stuff but are just way too inconsistent. i want a V and maybe another Explorer some day but if i get the urge for an LP, unless i get a really great buy, i'd get an Epi Custom LP. just my 2 cents.

damo7v · #12 01-23-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Smith

So, what does Ibanez charge for a VWH "down under"? I'd like to know that...

prices from large australian online retailer...

jem7vwh:

http://www.allansmusic.com.au/defaul...ctCode=JEM7VWH

les paul std:

http://www.allansmusic.com.au/defaul...Code=LPS02S5HS

exact same price.

Drow Swordsman · #13 01-23-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damo7v

prices from large australian online retailer...

jem7vwh:

http://www.allansmusic.com.au/defaul...ctCode=JEM7VWH

les paul std:

http://www.allansmusic.com.au/defaul...Code=LPS02S5HS

exact same price.

They're also about the same price in the US....both are within $100 of each other I believe...$2100 (US) being the standard street price.

Satchriossi · #14 01-23-2007, 05:57 PM

lol indeed. gibsons are funny; "i've not altered this design since the '50s but because of hype and lies i'm gonna charge 4K for it because i KNOW people will keep buying it purely because of its 'heritage'" - i hate that word. It's a fashion accessory.

dragsternj · #15 01-23-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satchriossi

lol indeed. gibsons are funny; "i've not altered this design since the '50s but because of hype and lies i'm gonna charge 4K for it because i KNOW people will keep buying it purely because of its 'heritage'" - i hate that word. It's a fashion accessory.

Really ?? I got mine because of its creamy tone, and sustain for hours, because it plays nicely and because its probably more beautyful than ANYTHING Ibanez has to offer. And i have my fair share of ibaneze'sssss including some Jems and Prestiges.