• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What the heck is Gibson doing?

#101
MIJ Fender Guy said:
It seems to be getting that way in some cases. Or at least, different issues per factory, no matter the location. It's absolutely the case for Japanese vs American Fenders. All of my MIJ Fenders would pass a microscope QA inspection. Honestly. The neck pocket, the nut finishing, frets, all of it.

That pic above looks like a bad home stain job on an old night stand you might see for sale at a garage sale. Unbelievable lol. I wonder if SW's 55 point inspection will catch that? :laugh:
Click to expand...
If they did catch that on a regular basis Gibson would clean up their act at Sweetwater and ship the other ones to Guitar Center. 😂
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: Iridescentone
#102
TBird1958 said:
Best 14 minutes of 7ender QC ever, hope you enjoy it, note that it shows at least 5 different basses with flaws, not just the brilliant position of the pickup.

Click to expand...

Any brand is going to have certain QC issues. Not defending fender but The gold foil basses are MIM made and not asking $2500. Apples and oranges.

My brand new cme exclusive white LP jr arrived with over torqued tuners crushing the headstock veneer/paint and they couldnt bother to paint inside the horns while my 94 and 96 LPB-3's were absolutely gorgeous. 🤣
 
  • Like
Reactions: FRoss6788
#103
TBird1958 said:
I'm quoting you here.

"Show me one example of Fender finishing as bad as the above. Not even a Squier or Sterling would have such garbage finishing. That is literally firewood."

Which I did, easily.

This is hardly a ringing endorsement either.

" Yea, modern USA/MEX Fender has a lot of problems. You can find me bashing them in numerous threads based on a LOT of personal experience. But wood finishing like that? Never. That is a new level of not giving a F. Also, that ugly gold foil Fender was like 1200 bucks. This is twice that. "
Click to expand...
Go watch trogleys video on the Gibson mustaine V. It looks like somebody shot it with krylon in there garage with zero prep with a $2449 msrp. Or get some pop corn and simply search "Gibson QC issues"
 
  • Like
Reactions: Atshen
#105
CrimsonGhost said:
Any brand is going to have certain QC issues. Not defending fender but The gold foil basses are MIM made and not asking $2500. Apples and oranges.
Click to expand...

That Gold Foil isn't just a QC disaster, it's a design disaster that they went ahead with anyway, so yeah, yay 7ender. Your statement reads that it's ok for them to design and sell a flawed bass, not just one either - got it.

Here's a gem for you.

MARVIN MECKLER

Thread 'How Is Fender USA Quality Control Soooo Horrible?'

Over the last 40+ years I've owned dozens upon dozens of USA, Mexican, Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian Fenders and Squiers. Some amazing, some perfect, some ok, some kinda bad. Some of the Chinese Squiers, alarmingly, have been absolutely perfect. Every now and then, a USA Fender is as well.

However.

I have never seen such non-existent quality control and pisspoor attention to detail in 40+ years as this latest purchase, a new $1900 (before tax) American Professional II Jazz Bass in Miami Blue that no less than FIVE people signed off on.

20240607_130644.jpg
...
  • Like
 
#106
TBird1958 said:
That Gold Foil isn't just a QC disaster, it's a design disaster that they went ahead with anyway, so yeah, yay 7ender. Your statement reads that it's ok for them to design and sell a flawed bass, not just one either - got it.

Here's a gem for you.

MARVIN MECKLER

Thread 'How Is Fender USA Quality Control Soooo Horrible?'

Over the last 40+ years I've owned dozens upon dozens of USA, Mexican, Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian Fenders and Squiers. Some amazing, some perfect, some ok, some kinda bad. Some of the Chinese Squiers, alarmingly, have been absolutely perfect. Every now and then, a USA Fender is as well.

However.

I have never seen such non-existent quality control and pisspoor attention to detail in 40+ years as this latest purchase, a new $1900 (before tax) American Professional II Jazz Bass in Miami Blue that no less than FIVE people signed off on.

20240607_130644.jpg
...
  • Like
Click to expand...
I know you are a Gibson die hard and love your birds but there are many many more instances I can find of recent not so good QC from Gibson for the prices they command vs Fender.

For Gibson basses 92-99ish are always a pretty safe bet in the QC dept.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FRoss6788
#108
TBird1958 said:
That Gold Foil isn't just a QC disaster, it's a design disaster that they went ahead with anyway, so yeah, yay 7ender. Your statement reads that it's ok for them to design and sell a flawed bass, not just one either - got it.

Here's a gem for you.

MARVIN MECKLER

Thread 'How Is Fender USA Quality Control Soooo Horrible?'

Over the last 40+ years I've owned dozens upon dozens of USA, Mexican, Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian Fenders and Squiers. Some amazing, some perfect, some ok, some kinda bad. Some of the Chinese Squiers, alarmingly, have been absolutely perfect. Every now and then, a USA Fender is as well.

However.

I have never seen such non-existent quality control and pisspoor attention to detail in 40+ years as this latest purchase, a new $1900 (before tax) American Professional II Jazz Bass in Miami Blue that no less than FIVE people signed off on.

20240607_130644.jpg
...
  • Like
Click to expand...
That’s like a 2/10 compared to that Gibson neck finish I posted. A pickguard misaligned by like 2mm? lol cmon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FRoss6788
#109
CrimsonGhost said:
I know you are a Gibson die hard and love your birds but there are many many more instances I can find of recent not so good QC from Gibson for the prices they command vs Fender.

For Gibson basses 92-99ish are always a pretty safe bet in the QC dept.
Click to expand...

It might not be what you want to hear, but it's every bit as common with Fender.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Albert Ross
#110
MIJ Fender Guy said:
That’s like a 2/10 compared to that Gibson neck finish I posted. A pickguard misaligned by like 2mm? lol cmon.
Click to expand...

You might not want to search, but there are just as many horror stories about 7ender, do a google search - a surprising number of TB results show up, plenty from Reddit too. Is Gibson perfect, no, far from it, but they aren't alone.
 
#111
TBird1958 said:
You might not want to search, but there are just as many horror stories about 7ender, do a google search - a surprising number of TB results show up, plenty from Reddit too. Is Gibson perfect, no, far from it, but they aren't alone.
Click to expand...
You seem to be taking it really personally. I’m literally saying in every one of my posts that I know Fender has bad QC. But you would never ever see a finish problem like on that Gibson. Especially not on something with an equal price such as an American Vintage II. I would even put some blame on Sweetwater to have the nerve to list something like that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CrimsonGhost
#112
MIJ Fender Guy said:
You seem to be taking it really personally. I’m literally saying in every one of my posts that I know Fender has bad QC. But you would never ever see a finish problem like on that Gibson. Especially not on something with an equal price such as an American Vintage II. I would even put some blame on Sweetwater to have the nerve to list something like that.
Click to expand...

Me take it personally, no, not at all. I do like Gibson basses but really they have their share of problems, best not to cast stones when living in a glass house! I do enjoy respectful dialog, which is what I hope we've been doing. However, it is Friday and I've managed to get make up and a dress on and now need to actually go play one of my horrible Gibson basses in preparation for an upcoming show before going out for dinner. I wish you a pleasant day :)
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: BrentSimons and Water buffalo
#113
TBird1958 said:
Me take it personally, no, not at all. I do like Gibson basses but really they have their share of problems, best not to cast stones when living in a glass house! I do enjoy respectful dialog, which is what I hope we've been doing. However, it is Friday and I've managed to get make up and a dress on and now need to actually go play one of my horrible Gibson basses in preparation for an upcoming show before going out for dinner. I wish you a pleasant day :)
Click to expand...
Enjoy! I love the way the old T birds look, and my lifelong homie, Simon Gallup seems to love them in his later years. Peace
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrentSimons, TBird1958 and darev
#114
TBird1958 said:
Me take it personally, no, not at all. I do like Gibson basses but really they have their share of problems, best not to cast stones when living in a glass house! I do enjoy respectful dialog, which is what I hope we've been doing. However, it is Friday and I've managed to get make up and a dress on and now need to actually go play one of my horrible Gibson basses in preparation for an upcoming show before going out for dinner. I wish you a pleasant day :)
Click to expand...
You are very passionate towards the brand and what you play and have been consistent I believe from atleast like 25-30 years now? The dudepit,pre dudeoit etc. I can see the passion. And I'm right there with you but they need to do better... Bass is Gibson's red headed step child, and you have to admit this release is terribly underwhelming for a $2500 price tag when you can mosey on over to EBMM and have featherweight gold..

A real Gibson USA G3, a 76'-250 thunderbird is a no brainer, the Stupid Gene simmons G3 nonsense trashing a V for how many years now and a set neck "modern" bird is what we get? Come on .. this has been done too many times and nobody asked for this garbage....
 
#115
ole Jason said:
I think they look pretty good. I'm not interested at $2500 but I'd like to play one. It's interesting reading this thread and comparing it to opinions from guitar players on Gibson's current lineup. There are always naysayers but most people agree current Gibson QC is better than it has been in years. Even at GC most of the Gibsons I pick up play well with nice build quality.
Click to expand...
You are lucky because I can't remember the last time I was in a GC in my area where they actually had a Gibson bass of any type in stock. On the rare occasion where I had seen one it's always an SG bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CrimsonGhost
#117
ole Jason said:
I don't think GC stocks Gibson basses in stores do they? I've never seen one there either, I was just talking about the guitars
Click to expand...
The only ones I have ever seen were the SG style and it was very rare when they had one. But it's GC so it's pretty rare they actually have a lot of basses anyways. Unless you count mark bass bass guitars LOL

Actually the one close to where I live now has a fairly decent selection of bass guitars. Of course it's guitar Center so they just pull it out of the case and hang it up most of them play like crap because they haven't been set up properly it would be amazing how many they might sell if they actually took the time to properly set them up correctly. The amount of front sprout on the Maple necked basses was so bad they were literally unplayable. Of course that's really not an issue for me because I have the knowledge and all the tools needed to correct them but that's not the point. If I'm going to buy something that's brand new I expect it to play like it's new.

They have stepped up their game as far as amplifiers as well. I was surprised the other day when I went in there and they actually had GK Mesa and Aguilar in there as well. And of course the obvious collection of markbass stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ole Jason

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back