Pinch

Black Dog: I changed the hybrid set on my Tribute to regular 10s with no problems. I looked up the specs on Gibson.com, and they were cut to facilitate regular tens. They list the width of the slots. If I remember correctly, the slot widths on my 2017 V were the same (it also came with a hybrid set, only I like it on that one). So basically, if the width listed is the same as the one listed for the 2017 Tribute T, and you want to go regular 10s, you'll be fine.

There you go then. I played my 2017 Tribute today, and every time I do I think "f..k, I love this guitar". I couldn't buy a $3k Les Paul, and I wouldn't. I may have ripped on Gibson prices in the past, but I think what they charge for the Tributes is fair. Same as with the 2017 Flying Vs, that were about the same price. $1k for a great guitar is acceptable. I can certainly survive without binding. Congrats, and welcome to the forums (you're new here, right?). Any questions, just ask on here. There's usually a reply in minutes. The number of people on here who know their s...t is incredible!

To expand: 1. The QC issue... Well, like Megafrog says, if you'll notice anything, maybe some minor cosmetic flaw. I noticed the strap button on my V wasn't drilled in 100% straight - things like that. A year later, guess how much the minute gap has affected it's durability. Exactly - zero. It's still a lot of money, so if you're uncertain, bring someone along to check it out. To save time, have the store set it up to your specs (action, etc.), intonate it, and have them check that the truss rod works fine. 2. The 498T is an Alnico V, which is little hotter than the Alnico II in the 490T. It'll probably sound great either way. If you ever decide to replace it, you can. I doubt you will, though. 3. My 2017 Tribute's fretboard had a naturally light fretboard that didn't get a lot darker with oiling. I'm assuming they save the darker rosewood for more expensive models. Should be fine anyway. I use Dunlop Ultimate Lemon Oil once a year, because we get cold and dry winters. Every other year, I use Gorgomyte for deep cleaning before oiling. If you Google it, you'll have some people saying this product works, that one's crap... I say, if it's from a reputable brand and made for guitars, you'll be fine. 4. Like I said, I have a 2017, but the specs are similar and the 2018 specs look great to me. You'll love it. Well, you already do, but you'll love it even more once you take it home.

What Megafrog said. I love my 2017.

I've wondered the same thing. The manual still states they string them with tens, and they don't.

To my ears, different woods sound very, VERY different.

Poison Idea. Their "fun-loving" side: Taang weren't big on video budgets...

Johnny Cash - When the man comes around. Rick Rubin's only saving grace.

Rick: the slinkiness thing... My Epi LP has the TP all the way down,,and everything is else is set up like my Tribute. Apart from the tailpiece! My Gibson is a LOT slinkier!

Guns 'N Roses - Don't damn me. An excellent lyric, brilliant bass playing by Duff McKagan (most underrated - he was a huge part of their sound and of their success. Note how he flips between locking in with the drums and playing to the decidedly punk rock whatstheword parts of the song) and one hella hot Les Paul. In fact, my Tribute, once I'd LOWERED the pickups just a hair, sounds just like Slash's here. The other day I measured. It's like 1.3 mm between the neck pickup and the string...

Pre-Internet: I would've just played it. These days: wondering if there are minute spirit levels that could measure the bridge changing over time.

Good point, Pippy. Because the pressure would only be exerted straight down if there was an exactly equal length and break angle on the other side of the saddle. I think. Or at least I think I think so.

Although I'm not sure.

I noticed the low E touches down on the bridge on my Tribute, even with the TP up. I'm guessing it's because the Nashville bridge is wider than an ABR-1. I'm assuming I'll live.

Not a Gibson.

Revolution Six is SG Player?!? I don't actually mind. He's not a troll, he's just... let's call it "different". I say, welcome back, Sir. I look forward to the A/B test of my Epi LP and my Gibson Tribute. I've put it off, because I fear the ProBuckers sound more like Slash than my Gibson.

I'm revisiting Marilyn Manson's "Mechanical animals" from 1998. Putting the hoopla and media aside, they were a fine-tuned machine by then. I love Bowie and the Sweet, so I know my glam rock. This, I maintain, was and remains a "Ziggy" album for the 21st century. I remember a sound engineer friend who was a lot older and waaaay more jaded than me at the time. I walked into the studio, and here's this guy, who was not shy of professing his hatred for Marilyn Manson and all he supposedly stood for, blasting the album over the speakers, just entranced. He spent a month in there! If you can get past the WHATEVER, you'll love it too. It's superb songwriting, second-to-none production and engineering (they had drummer Ginger Fish, who was well known for prowess and professionalism, AUDITION TO PLAY ON HIS OWN BAND'S ALBUM :D I know mr. Beinhorn is a well-respected producer, but I didn't know he was a disciplinarian. Likely, he got the demos, and realized, "whoah. This is some next-level shxt, so I better be thorough here!" If you have the time, I think you should take the time to listen to it. It's a modern classic, and apparently it works for people of all ages and tastes. Get past whatever prejudices you have. You'll love me for it. Like the Beatles-obsessed sound engineer friend said, "this is the only album I've ever heard that comes even close!" I agree. It's that good. Stars aligned.

Revolution Six: have you tried the ProBuckers? They're in my PlusTop, and while the 490 set in my Tribute is a LOT more responsive to the pots, I must say I love the ProBuckers just as much. They are one-dimensional in comparison, but it's a great dimension!

I re-iterate: don't fix it unless it's broken.

Nine Inch Nails - With teeth (album).

Don't go overboard with everything all at once. Chances are the SD's are great, just like you shouldn't buy another guitar because MAYBE it could be even better than this one that you love. I can TASTE the OCD, even on the other side of the world, and that's just because I'm just like that myself. What a great pic with the dog!! Love bulldogs. And the guitar looks AMAZING without the pickguard. I wouldn't change a thing. Even the gold hardware works... LAMF... And the ebony fretboard contrasts nicely against the Alpine White.

You know what they say: if it's not broken... I'd keep it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VnJ7hmhjPQA Motörhead - "Don't believe a word" (promo vid). Two things that stand out when I look back at this one: 1. When the album it's from first came out, I remember thinking "that's the best blues lyric written this side of the Delta boys. It's like a blues classic in disguise". I believe I was right, all them 20 years ago. It's not very noisy, so all you English-speakers out there should be able to make out the lyrics. If you need assistance, I strongly suggest you Google them. They're THAT that. Lemmy was, and remains, one of the most underrated lyricists of all time. 2. So THAT's where Roy Orbison's glasses ended up!

Hank Williams' grandson. If you think country ain't punk rock, think again. He was born country royalty, and used it to have some of the best country musicians on the planet play on his records. And the lyrical content is not exactly family-friendly. This is probably his most family-friendly song. Good stuff. A friend hopped on their bus and stayed for a week, and he said Hank and co. were super nice.

Goldtop2: don't quote me on it, but is there much leprosy in squirrels? Never heard of a single case. Can they even carry leprosy...? Disclaimer, I'm not sure, so don't blame me if you get leprosy from eating squirrel. It's not so much the disclaimer as that I had to type the sentence above. I'm fairly confident that "don't blame me if you get leprosy from eating squirrel" has never been typed, uttered, or even smoke-signalled before, ever.