LIB3z Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Is it common that the new Gibson USA instrument, out of the box, has this string alignment problem? Strings appear to lean toward the bass side of the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 I don't think there is actually a "problem" with this guitar, (although I can't judge from the pics). It is very common for a guitar to have the strings NOT centered on the fretbaord. It's actually more proper. Most players have a tendancy to not like the strings close to the edge on the treble side, because they can slip off the edge doing vibrato or bends and such. It's not an issue for most on the bass side. Neck width, string spacing, it all comes down to taste, and a little give and take here and there. It's a judgement call. The more effort is taken by the guitar maker, or a luthier doing a set-up (it CAN be changed), the more often they end up off-center as it seems to work better for most. It's only a "problem" if the guitar doesn't play well for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 I don't think there is actually a "problem" with this guitar, (although I can't judge from the pics). It is very common for a guitar to have the strings NOT centered on the fretbaord. It's actually more proper. Most players have a tendancy to not like the strings close to the edge on the treble side, because they can slip off the edge doing vibrato or bends and such. It's not an issue for most on the bass side. Neck width, string spacing, it all comes down to taste, and a little give and take here and there. It's a judgement call. The more effort is taken by the guitar maker, or a luthier doing a set-up (it CAN be changed), the more often they end up off-center as it seems to work better for most. It's only a "problem" if the guitar doesn't play well for you. What Stein says; I pull on strings, a low E close to the edge is not a problem and i prefer that as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALFA ROMEO CORSE Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 Your Gibson SG have a problem, This is certainly true. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Gibson Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIB3z Posted December 4, 2014 Author Share Posted December 4, 2014 Thank you for your opinion. "stein" and "cjsinla" - I understand it may be a matter of personal preference but this guitar is not Custom Shop order and I did not want Gibson to make it with strings aligned to the bass side. Strings placement should be simmetrical. What is interesting this guitar came with Quality Checklist with all items marked as passed and on the first page it reads "Gibson USA - We sweat the details." "ALFA ROMEO CORSE" and "Mr. Gibson" - I have sent this guitar back to the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALFA ROMEO CORSE Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 It is a good decision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB26 Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I wouldn't accept that for one minute. Maybe take the opportunity to get a bone nut thrown on there for your trouble. I just put one on one of my SGs and it's very nice. SG#2 gets one soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
665 Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 That's pretty bad alignment, I would definitely return that guitar. Quite a few years back I got an epi LP standard and the pickup pole pieces were completely misaligned, I took it back as soon as I noticed. Now that's something I try to look at when buying guitars - even more expensive ones sometimes have these problems apparently... I've never seen or owned a Gibson with that issue but I suppose it happens. So now I guess the lesson is to carefully inspect as if you were the final inspector before you buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Well, if you love everything else, about your SG, just have the Nut, and bridge saddles changed/re-cut. Don't really need to send the guitar back, to Gibson, IMHO. Any competent Luthier, or repair person can do what needs to be done, in pretty short order. I had an issue, on a brand new SG with the Maestro. Gibson gave me the option, of sending it back, for either a replacement SG, or just a new Maestro unit, to be sent to me, directly, or to my dealer. I chose to have my dealer install the new Maestro, because I LOVED everything else, about my SG (Color, Grain pattern, bevels and hortapering, neck, TONE, etc.) and didn't want a different SG. But, that's just Me! Cheers, CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Well, if you love everything else, about your SG, just have the Nut, and bridge saddles changed/re-cut. Cheers, CB I likes this. That pretty much goes for ANY Gibby, new or old, whatever your personal taste. Put the strings where YOU want them wherever that may be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Taylor Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 In my experience, Gibson has a problem with string alignment. I ordered a 2018 SG and had to send it back because the high E kept slipping off the rail when I played in the low positions. The dealer sent another one, which I kept, but there was still the alignment issue, but not as bad. I solved it by using a heavier gauge string. At these prices I should be able to play nines or tens, but I can’t. It ain’t my left hand, because I never had this problem with Fender and my Les Paul doesn’t do this. I think what’s happening is — because their necks are set, there is a certain amount of variation in alignment from one axe to another. For economic reasons, they have to pass some guitars that they shouldn’t. The upshot is DO NOT buy a Gibson that you have not played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 I would not accept that guitar. I have rejected others for the same reason. Yes a small bias to the bass side is good, but that is misaligned. String spacing and spread is a big deal for me, and its the biggest issue I have with Fenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 I agree that returning it was the right thing to do. I own 4 Gibson electrics and none of them have strings aligned anything like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Gibson DOES have a problem with string alignment on lots of USA guitars. If you look at a bunch of new Gibsons side by side, you'll see at least half of them have a problem. It's kind of the main thing you consistently see problems with on new Gibsons. You'll see bridges off center - not lining up with the stop bar and the neck. I, for the life of me, can't understand how they can build these things so inconsistently. Don't they have a straight-edge, lol? Or are all the good chiselers in the C-suite? See what I did there? 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Taylor Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Yes. I see a lot of SGs with string alignment off center. I bought two, both misaligned, and sent back the worse one. So I looked at dozens of photos online and noticed two things. 1) when an SG is photographed straight on, so you can see the alignment, some will be clearly misaligned. 2) there are many SGs for sale where they will show you several photos from various angles but not from straight on. Don’t buy an SG that you have not played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Oh at first I hadn't seen what you're talking about, Strings seemed over the poles of the pickups. Wasn't till I zoomed in on your nut. Maybe post a big clear picture of the nut hosted by imgur.com or something instead of the thumbnail provided by the forum. Yeah I'd make them fix it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VladimirPutin69 Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 On 2/19/2020 at 5:05 PM, Steve Taylor said: Yes. I see a lot of SGs with string alignment off center. I bought two, both misaligned, and sent back the worse one. So I looked at dozens of photos online and noticed two things. 1) when an SG is photographed straight on, so you can see the alignment, some will be clearly misaligned. 2) there are many SGs for sale where they will show you several photos from various angles but not from straight on. Don’t buy an SG that you have not played. I have an 82'SG and it has the same problem and I've noticed it only much later after I bought since it's only maybe 1 mm off. It's really mind boggling that a top brand can't get it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 since this old thread 's been resurrected, check out the reveal/real-estate on this one 🙃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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