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Gibson quality?

L

LotusCarsLtd52

Dec 6, 2009
398
1
#1
I'd love to get an SG RI but I heard that the quality isn't there anymore. I tried one recently in a GC and was surprised at how the Epiphone was actually better than the Gibson. The Gibson had frets protruding off the edge of the fretboard, a chipped headstock, etc. Granted it was GC so maybe heavy customer use caused the headstock, but the frets? C'mon...

A search online also brings-up several sites with people complaining about the quality and I wanted to see if anyone can confirm this.

Also considering that I would buy used if I did buy at all, how far back should I be looking for quality SGs?
 
#3
Short Answer:

Jazz Ad said:
Oxymoron.
Click to expand...

Longer Answer:

I completely agree with you. I think over the years the headstock is now where 80% of the cost of a Gibson lies. As of late, they have some of the worst QC slip-ups I've ever seen on guitars costing that much. No wait, even on guitars costing half of that, or even a quarter of the price. Not "all" Gibsons are trash, don't get me wrong. I've played many a great one, however for the astromically high asking price they have the balls to attach to some of these guitars, they should be perfect.

Anyone else remember (not too long ago either, I'm a young guy) when you could get a Studio with trapezoid inlays on an ebony neck for $700? :crying:
 
#8
bassobrutto said:
Also considering that I would buy used if I did buy at all, how far back should I be looking for quality SGs?
Click to expand...


About 1969. And without too much effort, you can get a real vintage EB-0 or EB-3 for about the same price as a new reissue.
Click to expand...

I saw a local EB0 for roughly the same price as a RI, but my gripe is that it has that hideous headstock (no offense).

Too bad their EB3 is out of my range, even if I had the cash.
Click to expand...
 
#9
we've had some les pauls delivered with fingerboards seperating from the neck, and i'm not talking 3 or 4 over a few years. we had 3 from the same manuf. month with the same problem...

i'm not saying anything, but i'm just saying....6 letters in a certain order may or may not cost you a bit extra.
 
#10
I have had an SG for the past 2 years and think that it is a great bass. I bought it from GC and the set up was c**p. I paid less than $1100 for it. I changed out the strings to some Pyramid Golds and had my son's luthier do a complete set up. I have been very happy with it and it is one of my two remaining basses.
 
#11
I don't know where you guys find all these sub par Gibsons. the ones I see in stores, including GC, are nothing like what you describe. :eyebrow: regarding sharp frets, some of the Alembics I've checked out at Chuck Levin's have been much worse.
 
#12
I'm really disappointed with the QC at Gibson in regards to their basses. I've played two SG models recently, both were sub-par in workmanship. The worst fretwork I've ever seen. Maybe they should gewt out of the bass business all together. The should have abandoned that 3 point bridge years ago. Thye have Les Pauls that can tune themselves!! Like I said, maybe the sould get out of the bass business all together
 
#13
unfortunately I'd blame the High volume sellers for this..

The paying price is dictated...

The vendors sell boxes and SKUs.. not guitars.

Lower end gear is becomming better.. higher end gear is not available at box stores.

I'd gamble a guess that stopping at a non box store would have better quality gear.
 
#16
It seems to me the problem most folks have with Gibsons is, even though they may have the same basic ratio of bad to good quality instruments because of QC issues as other companies like Fender, with the average price point on a Gibson being so much higher, the QC should be much better than it is.
 
#17
In the last 2 years I have had recent model Gibson SG RI, Thunderbird and Les Paul Money basses... all were well constructed.

I have played a lot of Gibsons and Epis and almost always IMO, the Gibson sounds much better. As far as construction, Gibson can produce lemons, but they are fairly rare IMO. Epi has produced more crappy basses with shoddy construction than Gibson as of late from my experience.

I sold all 3 as..... I HATED the short scale and muddy sound of the SG RI, The TBird was way cool, but wasn't getting played and the Money bass had to go as I just had too many basses at the time.
 

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