Gibson Dissapointment

[Showdown]

Again, for me, the fretwork was bad. The frets not only protruded BUT they were buried under gloss (as if the neck was glossed with the bad fretwork in place).

You can get the "fret sprout" problem on even expensive basses. It isn't "fretwork" that causes it. It happens because of changes in temperature and humidity - the wood in the neck shrinks, but the frets don't. That isn't usually the fault of the manufacturer. It can happen when a bass is shipped from a humid area to the desert for example. Where do you live? I would bet that when that bass left the factory the frets were fine.

It is a fairly simple and inexpensive job (and common) for a luthier to fix.

Gibson can be blamed for a lot of QC issues lately, but this isn't one of them.

 

[manbearpig97]

I'm happy to see I'm not alone on this issue. It seems Gibson guitars are getting a better quality check than the basses are.

 

[rockscott]

I have no beef with gibson, i just feel epiphone basses are superior. Having purchased 3 new epiphones in the last 2 months, im very pleased with them. I think gibson puts much more focus on guitars and builds a few basses to stay in the game. Epiphone seems to be building really nice basses in the high end of their lineup.

 

[lowstandereds]

i want to love the sg so bad, but i was also dissapointed

 

[nato101010]

There's 2 SG basses in a local store, and i thought they were very sweet playing, deep sounding basses. Both of them.

People who like gibson basses seem to be outcasts, not the other way around, haha.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

I've always thought that, if I were a guitar player, I'd really love to own a full-fledged Gibson Les Paul. But never been impressed by Gibson basses.

 

[CaptainWampum]

A few of my friends who have dealt with Gibson and their products directly, be it through working at guitar center or a endorsement deal. have said that Gibson may be the least reliable or high quality brand on the market. So I'll stick with vintage gibbys.

 

[Tanner5382]

I seem to be in the minority, as I can't stand Epiphones but love Gibsons. It's not an ego thing, heck I love squiers and danelectros. Every epiphone I've played was cheaply made or had some sort of problem. I've loved all the Gibsons.

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

I love my 2009 faded cherry SG bass, it it so light and comfortable compared to my MIM Fender P-Bass, it has a very warm and full tone but the only thing it needs is a bit more treble bite, the action is perfect and the small scale excellent for my small hands
My P-Bass has got the factory upgraded pickups so is actually louder than the SG, it does not have the warmth of tone but does have a bit more variation in sounds .
My SG gets played a lot more because its more comfortable and has much better playability .

 

[darkstorm]

Gibson became a joke to me long ago with poor qaulity fretwork and other easy to spot mfg defects being way to common. Today they rely on their name rather then qc for getting sales. Ive even had people tell me in all seriousness that a sub $1,000 gibson is gonna need fretjob cause its a cheap guitar by gibson. What a joke, tons of sub $500 guitars and basses by other mfg have consistently great fretwork on them.

 

[rockscott]

I seem to be in the minority, as I can't stand Epiphones but love Gibsons. It's not an ego thing, heck I love squiers and danelectros. Every epiphone I've played was cheaply made or had some sort of problem. I've loved all the Gibsons.

Have you played a Tbird pro or a viola lately?

 

[manbearpig97]

The epiphone explorer was horrible though. The others were all good.

 

[Tanner5382]

Have you played a Tbird pro or a viola lately?

No to the Tbird Pro, but I have heard good things about them. I believe I played around very shortly on a viola a few months back.

 

[Barkless Dog]

Saying I was dissapointed is an understatement.

You need to elaborate on why & how?

What were you looking for, expecting?

 

[SlingBass4]

It's not a perfect world, and I've yet to see any manufacturer that can claim 100% perfection in their builds. 1 bass at 1 store wouldn't necessarily end my search. An EB3 wouldn't be on my interest list - but IF it were, *I* would give it another chance at another store (like a true bass shoppe)...but that's just me

 

[zarigunn]

I seem to be in the minority, as I can't stand Epiphones but love Gibsons. It's not an ego thing, heck I love squiers and danelectros. Every epiphone I've played was cheaply made or had some sort of problem. I've loved all the Gibsons.

you will that hear in your sound man...
They 're so cheap cus,
they don 't sound so well.
If you play a really nice made in america fender/ rickenbacker you 'll know that that sound SOOOO much better than a MIM or squier / epiphone thingy.
Its just a way to play music without caring much about the sound, or just if it is your second instrument.
But playing with an epiphone as main bass..
personally i think that you dont go enough for the goal man.

 

[JMac- Wiskerface Designs]

I love gibson guitars(not as much their basses), but have allways been curious as to why companies like ESP make a better feeling and playing "Gibson" guitar than Gibson does?

 

[Tanner5382]

you will that hear in your sound man...
They 're so cheap cus,
they don 't sound so well.
If you play a really nice made in america fender/ rickenbacker you 'll know that that sound SOOOO much better than a MIM or squier / epiphone thingy.
Its just a way to play music without caring much about the sound, or just if it is your second instrument.
But playing with an epiphone as main bass..
personally i think that you dont go enough for the goal man.

I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me or not. Anyway, a USA Gibson is my main bass.

 

[Johnny Crab]

I 'm a rick player, but i want an SG bass for the bass-heavy songs too i think.

Run your Ric using the neck pickup through a Line6 BASSPODXTLive using the "HUGE 360" patch. You're there.

Back on topic.
Played Gibsons for a while(1972~1989, 2006~2008). The '64 T-Birds would've been keepers except they helped finance transplanting my family from Louisiana to Texas. My 2006 T-Bird got sold and a $199 Brice white T-Bird got kept for "Bird" duties/sound. Too many great, lower-priced basses IMO. Even the Japanese Gibsons(Orville/Orville by Gibson) were better than the 2006 USA product.

Bucks spent > bang got IMO.

 

[12stringbassist]

Not everyone can / will love Gibson basses. I've had taste issues with them 'til I got this one..

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