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Gibson quality control issues?

#41
DSCN0308.JPG This is my only Gibson anything; a 2013 lefty Thunderbird. I have 17 other basses, and mostly play a '73 Rick 4001, so I hardly qualify as a "fanboi". Other than 4-5 fret ends needing to be slightly dressed, after it acclimated to being here in the Mojave Desert, my Gibson is Flawless; absolutely flawless. I don't know if that was sheer dumb luck; or that Gibson is extra fussy with leftys; or what. But there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. So, it's hard for me to complain about it. Well, except for being very neck heavy and unbalanced; and a headstock that looks for things to bang into...;)
 
#42
While I agree with the "play it first" position, there is no excuse for just shoddy workmanship by a name like Gibson. Incorrectly applied finish, cold / wrong solder joints, bad woodworking - the current owners clearly don't give a rat's backside so long as they "move units" and so long as folks insist that the name makes the instrument, they will move instruments.
 
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#43
Seems like a lot of Gibson bashing and anecdotal evidence being brought up here. :(

I've played plenty of GC And Sam Ash off the shelf Gibsons, Fenders Epiphones, Squiers, Musicman, Sterlings and Ibanez as well as the occasional used Ric, Warwick and Hofner. I find that nearly all of them are in need of a set up and nearly all of them have some QC nit that I can pick. Are there Gibson fanboys, yes - just like there are Fender fanboys and the one thing they both have in common is spreading negative disinformation about the other. :bored:

To the OP - just like any critical diagnosis from a doctor - when an unknown guitar tech says its busted and can't be adjusted or fixed get a second opinion from a trusted tech. You might just find that guitar you so loved but thought was defective is only in need of an adjustment by a competent luthier, likewise you might get a confirmation that it is junk and should be returned. Nothing to lose and everything to gain. And until you have first hand experience to confirm some of those "Gibson basses are junk" claims I'd write them off as rants from competing brand fanboys. :cautious:

Full disclosure: I have well over 30 basses and only one of them is a Gibson. It's had zero issues and I've been very pleased with it, just like most of my other non Gibson basses. :cool:
 
#44
GBassNorth said:
Seems like a lot of Gibson bashing and anecdotal evidence being brought up here. :(

I've played plenty of GC And Sam Ash off the shelf Gibsons, Fenders Epiphones, Squiers, Musicman, Sterlings and Ibanez as well as the occasional used Ric, Warwick and Hofner. I find that nearly all of them are in need of a set up and nearly all of them have some QC nit that I can pick. Are there Gibson fanboys, yes - just like there are Fender fanboys and the one thing they both have in common is spreading negative disinformation about the other. :bored:

To the OP - just like any critical diagnosis from a doctor - when an unknown guitar tech says its busted and can't be adjusted or fixed get a second opinion from a trusted tech. You might just find that guitar you so loved but thought was defective is only in need of an adjustment by a competent luthier, likewise you might get a confirmation that it is junk and should be returned. Nothing to lose and everything to gain. And until you have first hand experience to confirm some of those "Gibson basses are junk" claims I'd write them off as rants from competing brand fanboys. :cautious:

Full disclosure: I have well over 30 basses and only one of them is a Gibson. It's had zero issues and I've been very pleased with it, just like most of my other non Gibson basses. :cool:
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Unfortunately anecdotal evidence is the only kind available.

All this throwing around of Fanboi accusations and the rabid ranting of a few posters never helps much.

I own two Gibsons, and play basses from a variety of makers, but I have eyes and I've seen everything I've described myself.
 
#45
One Drop said:
Unfortunately anecdotal evidence is the only kind available.

All this throwing around of Fanboi accusations and the rabid ranting of a few posters never helps much.

I own two Gibsons, and play basses from a variety of makers, but I have eyes and I've seen everything I've described myself.
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I agree on the fanboy front. I don't doubt your first hand experience either. I will also say that before I bought my one and only Gibson (no pic, no bass, so see pic below) I must have tried at least two or three dozen others over a multi year search period. In handling and playing and closely inspecting fit and finish and playability of each one I never found a flaw that concerned me or caused me to question Gibson's quality control. I assume you're located in Europe, I wonder if the stuff they send there is not to the same standard as what I've seen in stores here?
354a94cc-4fe7-42f6-be54-b704ad5254b1_zps6c7a1c17.jpg
 
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#46
Zombie Thread Alert!

Just thought I'd do a quick update a year and a half since my last post. Back in April of 2014 I was the proud owner of a 2007 Lava Burst SG Supreme that I had picked up used from Guitar Center a few months prior. Since then I've added a TBird to the mix and very recently another SG Supreme in blonde finish. No notable QC issues on any of them, no neck I've, no muddy pickups, no issues with fit and finish or reliability - just loads of fun to play. So that's 3 for 3 Gibsons (two 2007's and a 2013) all bought mail order with no issues. I wish I had that kind of luck with some of the other basses I've bought. Here's the current family photo...
image.jpg3_zpsaa4sgfgp.jpg


Now I've decided to push my luck and buy a 2013 Gibson EB 5 string via mail order. We'll see how that turns out in the next week when it arrives (fingers crossed). I guess owning 4 Gibsons might qualify me as a fanboy in some people's minds, so if I say anything positive about the brand it will probably discounted - oh well, haters gotta hate I guess. In the meanime I'm looking forward to next weeks NBD! Pics will be posted if its a keeper.
 
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#47
I don't fault you for loving a bass, although 2 of then look similar enough for me to wonder why you have both. But hey if it makes you happy. I don't hate Gibson as a brand, just my experience with a specific bass. And I really liked the bass overall (the sound, the ergonomics, etc), except of course for what I considered to be a build quality issue, but maybe that was limited to that bass, or that production run, or whatever. Don't be so quick on the D my friend, I guess that's what I'm saying. That and congrats on your new, upcoming bass!
 
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#48
A set neck can present a huge QC issue. When the neck is a bolt on, and it's not good, it can be swapped out prior to shipping. When it's a set neck, there's not much they can do, other than eat the loss, or ship it out and hope no one notices. I think that's the core problem for Gibson.
 
#50
west al said:
I use a local Sam Ash in my area, and they are the most competent of any I've used in 47 years of playing. Setups are a personal thing also. What I like to as a setup to play, you may not like it. And vice versa.
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I don't think a lot people realize that the big chain franchises job out lutherie/setup. Or perhaps it's done on a day hire thing. The quality of work you get from a GC or SA depends on who they job the work to. One of the best luthier/techs in my area used to handle a local GC's work, but gave it up.
 
#51
JoeWPgh said:
I don't think a lot people realize that the big chain franchises job out lutherie/setup. Or perhaps it's done on a day hire thing. The quality of work you get from a GC or SA depends on who they job the work to. One of the best luthier/techs in my area used to handle a local GC's work, but gave it up.
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The manager of the guitar section of the local Sam Ash, does a great setup as you watch, and talk to him. And that's not taking anything away from the gent that does the setups in the actual repair center there on premises. You guys get so hung up on setups.
 
#55
Zombie thread...but let’s be honest about what’s going on here. Gibson sends out instruments that need a set up and maybe a little more. That’s bad on Gibson. You then buy it at Sam Ash or GC, and they offer the services of their tech. At best their tech cranks the truss rod and messes with the bridge and gives it back with a bad set up. Many times they make it worse (see the OP’s problem. I’d bet the tech made it worse).

If you’re buying a $1000 or so Gibson, you have to add in $100 for your own luthier (not Sam Ash’s kid tech) to finish it. Does this suck? Yes. But no tech at Sam Ash ever cured a rare guitar ailment. If he were capable, he wouldn’t be at Sam Ash.
 
#56
Lamar Fandango said:
Zombie thread...but let’s be honest about what’s going on here. Gibson sends out instruments that need a set up and maybe a little more. That’s bad on Gibson. You then buy it at Sam Ash or GC, and they offer the services of their tech. At best their tech cranks the truss rod and messes with the bridge and gives it back with a bad set up. Many times they make it worse (see the OP’s problem. I’d bet the tech made it worse).

If you’re buying a $1000 or so Gibson, you have to add in $100 for your own luthier (not Sam Ash’s kid tech) to finish it. Does this suck? Yes. But no tech at Sam Ash ever cured a rare guitar ailment. If he were capable, he wouldn’t be at Sam Ash.
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Or you could just learn to do setups yourself.
 
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