merciful-evans

I honestly love that beautiful finish. As for the 'rough' looking area, I normally dont worry about detail, but I would question this with Gibson via the dealer I think. If offered an exchange: If you are happy with the sound & handling you're better off keeping it though.

I have a strap for each guitar. Some straps are not removable, so they go in 3rd party cases (they have more room). A bespoke case means I have to be able to remove the strap. Planet Waves Locking straps mainly go in there. My oldest strap is a Levys one. I dont have any super expensive ones, but was tempted by the Gibson Switchblade, but the forward section is too long. I dont love any of them.

I concur. YTube vids and spec comparisons can be helpful as research, but you cant make a properly informed opinion from a distance. Hands on playing is the right way to choose a guitar.

Women smile at you and call you 'lovely', which indicates that you are no longer perceived as a sexual threat. That hurts.

Nice! Read it all or not, you're still not getting it. Never mind. Climb back into your pram.

No need to shout. Also no need to repeat yourself. You might try reading what others are saying though. Because it seems clear enough that you just dont get it. Let me put it another way. When was the last gig you played with an unplugged solid electric guitar? I'm not trying to change your mind about wood. I'm unconcerned about that. OTOH, your assertion of "NO DOUBT ABOUDITT" is unconvincing and futile.

Woods are always sourced in terms of what is available. It was like that 70 years ago and its like that now. In that sense 'cheap' just reflects what was easier to source at the time. It need not have any special relevance to the sound of the guitar. Mahogany, alder, basswood, maple; all these woods can sound wonderful. The important thing is the the woods are properly seasoned. Even that is only important in terms of stability rather than sound. Playing solidbodies unplugged is something I do a lot, but only for practice. It bears no resemblance to the amplified sound found in performance. I have no doubt that quality can come cheaply. I was going to use my Reclaimed Wood PRS (100-150 year old woods) to gig last night, but the Squire Esprit is handling better of late, so I took that instead. Its worth only a fraction of the PRS but the sound is articulate, complex and subtle. As different from the PRS and other higher end models (Gibson / Ric etc)as they are from each other, but no less beautiful and certainly not inferior. Of course, taste is subjective. If your taste always tends to high price guitars, then enjoy them in good health and good luck.

Look for 'patina'. Its a crazed pattern that develops when nitro is fully cured.

whats a grammy? :-"

Lets all line up like bowling pins.

I think these are all excellent answers fellows. ...and I was going to say the QC guy should be discharged.

Perfectly reasonable Pin. You must play properly Its nice to have a choice. If electric guitars were made during Stalin's regime....

About the E falling off the neck. I've always had a problem with this. Should I practice more? Maybe, but I've been playing for 48 years. I play every day and I put in at least an hour; often much more. Whether I am just a poor player or not, I have never stopped or thought about giving up. The best improvement on this problem was getting rid of the Strat (standard 70s USA model). I used it exclusively for nearly 25 years because I loved the sound. It handled like a pig. All my other guitars are better at handling the problem. Rarely happens anymore, but it does once in a while. Yes, live too Partly for this reason, I would never use a guitar that was too rounded at the edges. Nor one with nibs.

Sabredog, Gibson learned the hard way in 2015 that the Gibson faithful are still calling the shots (if they had any doubt). The vast overall majority want 1959 specs. Gibson knew that the 2015 policy (of modern specs) was a huge risk, and they lost out massively on sales as a result. At the end of 2015, when the 2016 sprint run models were appearing, shops were discounting the 2015 models heavily. My LP was a 49% reduction from list price. So you, me and any other HP fans are very much in the minority. When I first came here it shocked me how passionate the traditionalists are. I didn't understand it. I'm only just starting to now. I decided to stick around and discovered that they are incredibly knowledgeable about guitars. There are some excellent players, luthiers and professionals here. Most are generous with their help & time too. I have learned quite a bit here. You've made your views known in the OP. I recommend engaging with those who disagree with you. Intolerance is a dead end!

I have long suspected (well, more than just suspect) that chambering adds something to sound without fundamentally altering the tone. Enjoyed your account of LP questing. I too believe development has to continue and HP models do that superbly. I dont have an HP, but one the despised 2015 prototypes. Its nice to compare the trad & the new. I have the full trad experience with my 339 and the wonderfully contrasting modern LP. I like both. Liking both is permissible. I gave myself permission so I know its ok. Classy looking LP you have there. Enjoy it in good health.

Yes. I really like these Gibson articles. I don't always agree with everything stated. Nevertheless, they are informative. Interesting comment that ritchlite is more expensive than ebony.

Nice job with the vid Rabs. The dark backgrounds and lighting look great & bring out the beauty of the guitars.

Ox liver & red onion Carrots, sprouts & potato

Good idea. The pickup ring idea is handy.

photobucket are a waste of time now. try another pix host. tinypic works ok

old acoustic stuff from way back Vastopol The Silver Swan Powder Rag and trying hard to work up an instrumental version of the Irish folk song 'The Jolly Beggarman'

I would hope so. It's pretty basic stuff

A through neck! Does that mean using smaller pickups? And will you allow the centre section to show through after finishing? That neck radiusing must take an age. Looks like ebony .

It may be something to consider if you are just going to change the strings to your favourites.

Who cares about a bit of neck dive? It doesn't dive when you're playing it, and it doesnt dive when you're sat down. So either sit down or play it. :mellow: