ricky50

Pics didn't upload - try again http://s36.photobucket.com/user/ricky50c/media/Gibson%20Koa%201_zpsv2h0kibo.jpg.html http://s36.photobucket.com/user/ricky50c/media/Gibson%20Koa%202_zpsouso2gst.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1 http://s36.photobucket.com/user/ricky50c/media/Gibson%20Koa%203_zps6trppei9.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Hi Juan Carlos - hope these pics have uploaded ok - Pic 1 - rough unsanded bracing, kerfing cut inaccurately and unevenly, glue a mess everywhere and some spilt on back in centre of pic. Pic 2 - glue and/or finishing compound at fingerboard/top join Pic 3 - More messy glue/finishing compound at other end of fingerboard/top. This is a custom shop guitar and the whole point is that you happily pay a premium for the understanding that Gibson’s top luthiers do the work and it should be something special. These pics show that the work was done by someone who isn’t very experienced and that whoever signs these guitars out isn’t doing their job. You don’t find this level of messy workmanship on a M***** or a comparable high end guitar. Like I said in my post, it’s a great guitar and this doesn’t affect its sound or my enjoyment and I’ll spell it out again I don’t think about it ninety nine percent of the time.

Hi guys - just for the record - I didn’t start this thread and it’s not my title. And I don’t do drama. I came across the thread by accident when I typed L-00 Koa into Google. I was looking for any random info on a guitar I really love. I was in the 99% phase of my L-00 life and hadn’t thought about the 1% for months. The Google link on the thread title did stand out so I clicked to read further. Look back and you will see that the OP was from a country where he had no easy access to Gibson. He was also a newbie and came on here for some advice and you managed to freak him out and scare him off. Gibson only made 65 of these guitars and as I had one too I thought I’d comment so that he could see that he wasn’t describing something that was unusual. Yes - I know I committed the dreadful sin of mentioning the M word. I have just looked up the OP’s profile and surprise surprise he’s never been back on the forum. Might be nice to invite him back?

In my world 1% is not a terrible distraction. Mr Gibson has been through tough times in the past and nearly went under. If you read my post again you'll see that I was complimenting him on making a phenomenal guitar but giving straight forward and unbiased feedback about his quality control. He needs to know.

Basically yes - nice to know there's open minds out there.

I have the same Gibson L-00 Koa as the OP. It looks fantastic from a distance but when you get up close and particularly look inside, the attention to detail finish is not a patch on my Martin which is impeccably finished. There is glue visible at the neck to body heel joint and at the fretboard above the soundboard. The scalloped bracing is not sanded well and is roughly finished. The kerfed lining is not finished well at all. Basically the internal work looks a bit amateurish. This is a 3000 dollar guitar for **** sake. My Martin cost about the same and internally is perfect. Clean, clean clean. Nothing looks even slightly rough edged and everything fits perfectly. Every joint is beautifully finished. But here's what matters. The Martin sounds pretty good but is a bit boring. Does the job really well but no more. The Gibson sounds spectacular - I've never played another acoustic like it and I've tried loads in the past. It's a totally amazing guitar and an absolute keeper. 99% of the time I'm not aware of the botched internal work and the 1% I think about it is wiped out by the amazing sounds that come from this thing. But Mr Gibson - you need to sort your people out - it doesn't cost a great deal more to do things as well as they should be done and one day this carelessness is going to come back and bite you.