Gibson Gripes:

[Lownote38]

So you're saying Fender never made a bass that you had to remove the neck on to adjust the truss rod? Show me how you do that on a brand new Fender Rascal.
BTW - my intent wasn't to bash Fenders - I have more of them than I will ever have Gibsons. If you properly read my post you'd realize I was attempting to make a point that no brand is flawless on every bass or every design. The person I replied to need's to get past the Gibson bash and on to constructive help for the OP or just move on if he doesn't have something constructive to say.

I don't count the Rascal as the pickguard for it doesn't have the notch that Leo put there so you could turn the truss rod without taking the neck off. You're right about that one. It should have a notch for adjustment. Having that type of adjustment is a Leo invention, but at least there was a notch in the pickguards when he designed them. I did go back and read your post. My apologies for the Fender bashing comment. I have no issues adjusting the truss rod on my 68 Fender Precision that has that type of truss rod nut. I don't ever have to take the neck off either.

 

[Doctor J]

I heard on youtube Leo used to chop down trees just by looking at them with his eyes. And they were always vintage wood. He could see the mojo wood from the trees. And he got everything right first time, every time. Fact.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

They aren't alone on that, Ric sells a truss rod tool that doesn't fit Ric basses, just sloppy corporate behavior that's annoyingly commonplace, particularly when you can get the correct tool at any hardware store for a few $.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I like the bullet style truss rod adjusters with a hex key. They rarely strip out and you can find a replacement at any hardware store if you lose it.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I'm sure Gibson will correct the problem. Your rant was out of line.
Try calmly describing the issue and stating your expectations. It really works better and faster that way.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I just sent this to Gibson Customer support:

I've got a new SG bass. I love the bass. But:

1) The tool for adjusting the truss rod DOES NOT FIT. The notch that exposes the nut of the truss rod is tapered and it's too narrow at the top to fit the tool in correctly. BAD! I expect quality from a Gibson and that's BS. Please send me a tool that FITS MY BASS - ASAP - FEDEX - I paid for it.

2) The User's Guide included with the bass says NOTHING AT ALL ABOUT the bass. Covers ONLY GUITARS - mostly Les Pauls, acoustics and archtops. If you're making a bass, how about a users guide for A BASS. Duh! This is not hard.

VERY DISAPPOINTED.

__________________________________________________

Did my vendor mess up and put the wrong stuff in the case, or is it really Gibson's fault?

The stuff in the case is provided at the factory by Gibson, not your dealer. The tool isn't the problem.....it's a poorly designed truss rod pocket that may, or may not, be overfilled with paint or poly.

User guide? You're SOL there. That's SOP. Gibson doesn't sell enough basses to bother with a bass-specific manual.....

 

[bassbenj]

The bass itself is great.

Well Welcome to the Wonderful World of Gibson. I happen to own a Gibson LP and a Gibson SG guitar (not basses). They are both spectacular instruments. I mean it. I've got quite a few other LP guitars and these are IT! But customer service? Forget about it. Sure let them get miffed about someone saying "BS" but that is the LEAST of the problems with them. I mean they have a real "we don't care about customers" attitude. I should be throwing THEIR emails in MY trash, only I'M the one with instrument and money and they are the ones selling the products. After a while you start to question if those instruments are THAT much better to make it worth while to put up with their nonsense. But so far I still own my Gibsons and just asked them about buying replacement parts and actually haven't tried to have them sell me some yet. Time will tell. They suggested that rather than replacement parts all instruments should be returned to the factory for proper repairs.

 

[Shortie]

Well Welcome to the Wonderful World of Gibson. After a while you start to question if those instruments are THAT much better to make it worth while to put up with their nonsense. But so far I still own my Gibsons ...

I'm asking that question right about now and the answer is coming out to be no. I got the SG bass because I was looking for good quality,playable solid body short scale and there really aren't that many out there. But they're not the only game in town.

 

[Shortie]

that may, or may not, be overfilled with paint or poly.

I went in there with a drill and a file and hollowed out the area, so I could get the wrench in there - what I removed seemed to be all wood. It looked to me like the cavity was not shaped correctly. It tapered off at the top and blocked the wrench.

"Hand Made" is only as good as the hands that are making it...

They give you picture of the ax on the workbench and the workers name/number. I should send him a note: You blew in on this one. I don't need your picture, I just want a bass that's built correctly.

BTW, the bass also rattles a lot.

 

[Norwegian Bass]

I play guitar too, so I know Gibson very well; and I'll say this: if it's not Gibson Custom (and some Acoustic) I'm not interested. Sounds harsh perhaps; but that's what I think about everything else they do. Most of the good anything and care and skill goes into the Custom Shop Les Pauls; that's just how it is IMO. Lucky for me; Les Pauls are what I like!
I've owned 6 instruments from Gibson; and the truss rod adjustment key was in the case once! I also know that some dealers actually takes the key to keep, for their repair departments.
So it's perhaps not always Gibson that's in the wrong.
OP: Do you have a picture?; (that would help.)

 

[guy n. cognito]

I went in there with a drill and a file and hollowed out the area, so I could get the wrench in there - what I removed seemed to be all wood. It looked to me like the cavity was not shaped correctly. It tapered off at the top and blocked the wrench.

Be VERY careful. You are removing wood in the most delicate and frequently broken parts of any Gibson. Don't remove a MM more than you need.

 

[Shortie]

Don't remove a MM more than you need

Well I did it very carefully - MM by MM until I had just enough room to fit it in - it came out OK.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Well I did it very carefully - MM by MM until I had just enough room to fit it in - it came out OK.

Just don't drop it.....or hit it hard.....or look at it too funny.........

 

[Shortie]

Do you have a picture?; (that would help.)

I fixed it already - see other posts. Tnx.

 

[Shortie]

Just don't drop it.....or hit it hard.....or look at it too funny.........

I know - I don't really know how much wood is left back there. I should have looked around for a wrench that would fit but it's been getting me so pissed off I just said f' it. It's not the only bass in the world.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I know - I don't really know how much wood is left back there. I should have looked around for a wrench that would fit but it's been getting me so pissed off I just said f' it. It's not the only bass in the world.

A friend of mine works at Gibson in the setup and QC area.......he said this is common because they don't use that particular tool to adjust the guitars on the bench. It's also not one of the reasons they can use to reject a guitar even if they did try to fit the tool.

 

[Shortie]

t's also not one of the reasons they can use to reject a guitar even if they did try to fit the tool.

So much for Gibson "quality"... One thing is for sure: I will never buy another Gibson bass. (Maybe that's what they want...)

 

[guy n. cognito]

So much for Gibson "quality"... One thing is for sure: I will never buy another Gibson bass. (Maybe that's what they want...)

I told this story a few times: I've toured the Gibson factory three different times for work related reasons. There are THOUSANDS of instruments in various stages of construction at any given time......yet each time you could count the number of basses with two hands. They've never been a big seller for Gibson, and that is evident in their facility.

 

[Shortie]

I like the bullet style truss rod adjusters with a hex key. They rarely strip out and you can find a replacement at any hardware store if you lose it.

I have a Reverend like that - it's great. But these fancy makers want to keep themselves and their authorized repair shops in business. It's like it used to be with Sony electronics - everything used non-standard sized plugs and jacks that you could only get from Sony for a ridiculous price.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I've see photos of a lot of Rics where people gouged out enough wood under the double truss rod nuts to get a standard socket in there, BAD idea. Rics are like Les Pauls in that there is no scarf joint, so you get some short grain right at the headstock/neck transition. Gibsons are notorious for snapping off headstocks because of this design flaw. It's worse on Rics because you already have a big trough for the two trussrod nuts right at weakest point on the neck. I know people have been finding either nut drivers or thin-wall sockets that will fit without removing more than a bit of paint. A PITA, but there it is. Welcome to the world of old-school unimproved "legacy" luthiery.