Randmo

Agreed

When I showed the J-15 (Lisa) to the tech (Doctor) at GC, he said that he had seen this on several guitars (he didn't mention any brands), and that he had never seen any issues caused by it. As I said before, I'm satisfied with the answer, and knowing its solid maple I'm not going to worry about it. I'm just going to play on and someday add a J-45 to my stable and anything else that has a "J" in it

Decided to install new strings, here is before and after... ...and my $200 Yamaha FG700S

Not offended at all... This is all new to me. My eyesight is not the greatest either While I was at GC, I looked at another J-15, I didn't like the looks or sound, you would have a hard time prying mine away from me, bridge plate and all.

Gibson said its Maple, but didn't say if it was laminate or not.

I loosened the strings and stuck my iPhone in there. You could probably put the phone in sideways and turn it once it's below the strings, I haven't tried it yet. I suppose if you drop the phone, then you will need to open up the back.

I agree, I paid a lot of money for this. I got the email from Gibson today which I felt they were telling me I installed the strings wrong. I'll admit I'm very new at this, but look at my previous pictures of my Yamaha FG700S, I didn't know what I was doing then either, but they look fine. From this and the February thread it seems this is a common problem... I don't know what to think anymore. I love the guitar yet I think I'm a little disappointed considering its cost. I would be comfortable with a repair, I don't want a new guitar.

I have the Guitar Center warranty, that's why I'm not real concerned. I haven't had a problem with it, mainly it's just the point, I was (am) mainly concerned about long term effects.

Took the J-15 to guitar center, it would be covered under my Pro Warranty if it were causing issues, I wasn't going to raise a big stink, so I went to Sam Ash just for another opinion, they seemed to feel the same way. Gibson says it's normal, so I guess I'm going to live with it. I have only been playing for 3 months, so I don't have the background to argue, except the way it looks. BTW while I was at GC I looked at the J-15 they had in stock, I didn't care for the color of the fretboard or back. I didn't have a mirror to look inside. But I never would have bought based on looks, I love mine and I'm keeping it.

Got a response from Gibson, they say this is normal with the locator hole and that I just don't have the strings in correctly. I'm going to take it to Guitar Center tonight and see what they have to say.

According to the poll on this thread 7 out of 10 have this issue

I won't be able to get to the dealer until Saturday, I will let you know what I find out.

I've had it out 3 times and it keeps going off to the side, got tired of messing with it, probably will take it to dealer and start there. Notice also that the pins don't look like the are all the way down, maybe the bridge is thicker in those areas?

Here is my $200.00 Yamaha FG700s... Wish my $1500 J-15 looked like that (J-15 below)