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bobalu

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Everything posted by bobalu

  1. A few years late for this post, but this is EXACTLY my experience with the T-tops. I bought a Figured 335 last week based on the pick-up sound. The tone knob does wonders for mellowing out the sound (not being sarcastic, it really has an effective sweep). I have a 2011 ES-335 with '57 Classics and they are dark sounding (which I like), but I can't brighten up the sound with it, it is what it is. Go T-top for the note clarity, articulation and flexibility of sound.
  2. I have a 2011 ES-335 with '57 Classic's (and have had them in previous LP's that I have owned over the years). I love it, but I play mostly clean through a Twin Reverb, and use a pedal for some Blues dirt. I played a new ES-335 Figured top last week with the Calibrated T-Tops and was blown away by the clarity and articulation. So much so that I bought the guitar. Where have these T-tops been all my life! An absolutely stellar sounding pickup. IME, I characterize the '57 Classics is a rather dark sounding pickup, so the T-tops are not a "bright" pickup, per say - they sound very articulate with amazing note clarity and separation. It's the '57's that are dark sounding.
  3. They are showing up in my local shops just now. I plan to drop by soon to check them out. My concern with a "Gibson" amp would be the reliability and customer support afterward. My direct experience in dealing with Gibson customer support (always guitars for me, acoustic and electric) and particularly for Warranty issues has been pretty dismal. In my dealings, they have NEVER stepped up to make good on their Warranty, and other forum discussions really trend to a very poor track record on their part. In all cases for me, the local shop had to step in afterward to help me out with my claim. Their Warranty "Exclusion" fine print really just eliminates all claims, save for those at their discretion. Because of this, I don't think I would buy a Gibson amp regardless of how good it sounded. I have never had issues with my Fender or Mesa Boogie amp Warranty claims.
  4. They are showing up in my local shops just now. I plan to drop by soon to check them out. My concern with a "Gibson" amp would be the reliability and customer support afterward. My direct experience in dealing with Gibson customer support (always guitars for me, acoustic and electric) and particularly for Warranty issues has been pretty dismal. In my dealings, they have NEVER stepped up to make good on their Warranty, and other forum discussions really trend to a very poor track record on their part. In all cases for me, the local shop had to step in afterward to help me out with my claim. Their Warranty "Exclusion" fine print really just eliminates all claims, save for those at their discretion. Because of this, I don't think I would buy a Gibson amp regardless of how good it sounded. I have never had issues with my Fender or Mesa Boogie amp Warranty claims.
  5. No, it's "humidity/storage" related now! 😁
  6. I'll second the Roland cables. I have been using them regularly and they have been bullet proof reliable. I gave up on the cheap cables. And the super expensive ones are too super expensive for me. The rolands seem to be a good quality compromise.
  7. I think the ivory looks way better than the all black! Great choice!
  8. Unfortunately Gibson Quality Control is not very good (well documented on various discussion boards and forums - including this one). The problem is, as others here have mentioned, is that there is no assurance that any new one reordered will be flaw free. And odds are it will not be. Just be prepared to keep returning it until a properly made one is received. It's pretty disappointing that you have to do this for such a pricey instrument whose manufacturer claims is "top quality". 😐
  9. It has been my personal experience in recent shopping for a LP Standard that Gibson's quality has not improved a single bit. I am still trying to find one in person that has no manufacturing flaws. I would never order a Gibson on-line because of the poor quality. Just shop in person and try to find one that is built properly. Good luck!
  10. IME, that is standard Gibson quality (i.e. "they're all like that"). Exchanging for another one would be a crap shoot as to better or worse than what you have. You just have to personally inspect every square inch of any new Gibson before handing any money over. The days of consistent good quality from Gibson are unfortunately long gone.
  11. Are you a Gibson employee, or a shareholder? 🤔
  12. Agreed - real cheap out on Gibsons part (as usual). The gig bag is just plain stupid for an ES series guitar. The 235 will fit nicely in an ES-339 hard case. I found one at my local shop and its perfect.
  13. Yes, almost all the time with Gibson's in particular. Very easy fix. Loosen and remove the strings from the nut slot and simply (but carefully) sand the sharp edges of the nut over to round them a bit with 800 grit or higher automotive sand paper (body finishing). I usually tape off the fretboard at the first fret just to be safe. I then finish it off smooth with 1200 - 1500 grit. 2000 grit + will polish it up nicely if you want to take the extra step. (I do) As usual, the customer is finishing Gibson's work that should have been completed at the factory before the guitar left. 😐
  14. Similar in that Epiphone produces better builds than Gibson USA. The parallel is uncanny! I still don't understand how Gibson, even today under new management, cannot put tuners on straight and headstock/fretboard inlays without fill. Mounting a pickguard properly so the underlying nut does not dig into the top. Properly removing the file marks off the fretboard and binding. Mounting a neck pick-up on an ES series guitar with a pickup ring that doesn't slope down so much that one end almost touches the strings when the height is correctly adjusted. I better stop. 😊
  15. I have a 2012 ES-335 as well and I bought it specifically for the comfortable neck profile. Although the hang tag said "slim taper", it did indeed feel a bit beefier and comfortable - I can't stand the slim taper profile and can't play one for long without my hand cramping up. I didn't go to the extent of research that you did on Gibson neck profiles, but there is no question that my 2012 is not a slim taper. Rounded C would make sense as it's not near as big as a 50"s style.
  16. Yes, if I recall the history, Jack got his design idea at 3:35 on a Sunday afternoon after 334 previous attempts. 😄
  17. Just proves again that the only opinion that really matters is your own! It's even more special as it was a gift from your brother. Happy story and a nice looking guitar there....
  18. Awesome job, thanks for posting that. I'm going to spend some time learning 😃.
  19. I currently have an SG and have had several over the years. I can vouch for its versatility, as others have stated here. A pleasure to play - and I have never been bothered by any neck dive 😏. Keep in mind, from a historical perspective, that Gibson in fact designed and introduced the SG as a replacement for the Les Paul in 1961 (and it wasn't re-named as the SG until 1963. The Les Paul wasn't re-introduced until 1968) - so they weren't really targeting a specific genre of music (at that time of course). With the excellent upper fret access, I think its more versatile than the Les Paul.
  20. I have played a few in the shop. My disappointment (a deal breaker for me) was the poor upper fret access. Very deceiving for a double cut. I liked everything else about them including the price and build quality. Definitely try before you buy unless upper fret access (past the 14th fret) is a non-issue for you.
  21. I get the relic thing and have no gripe if that's what you prefer. However, and IMO, this is perfectly in keeping with the Gibson "bizzaro world" pricing of nearly all their products. Extra bizarre though as the SG seemed to be the only reasonably priced "real Gibson" guitar left in their line up (compared to LP's and hollow/semi-hollows). :mellow: Custom Shop = Custom price.
  22. Love Mesa Boogie, and your new amp there is killer looking.
  23. bobalu

    MHS pickups

    The reason I bought my 2016 ES Les Paul was for the MHS pups. I think they sound fabulous. Sorry I can't comment on Custom Buckers, and BB's are too bright for my liking (I'm seeing a pattern in this thread - if you like BB's, you won't care for the MHS... :))
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