Lars68 Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 An aversion to the orange labels in my two modern Gibsons has been growing on me for some time now. I just don't like the look of them. Today I got some naptha on a cotton swab, dampened the label on my AJ, waited three minutes, and then lifted it straight out. I then cleaned up the glue remains and the job was done. The label is in perfect shape and will now rest in the case. The guitar looks much better to me without a bright orange label staring at me from the sound hole like a "red eye" in a photograph :-) My Sheryl Crow SJ will be next... Anyone else ever done this? Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotTheSilver Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 An aversion to the orange labels in my two modern Gibsons has been growing on me for some time now. I just don't like the look of them. Today I got some naptha on a cotton swap, dampened the label on my AJ, waited three minutes, and then lifted it straight out. I then cleaned up the glue remains and the job was done. The label is in perfect shape and will now rest in the case. The guitar looks much better to me without a bright orange label staring at me from the sound hole like a "red eye" in a photograph :-) My Sheryl Crow SJ will be next... Anyone else ever done this? Lars Never did it. Wouldn't do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenumber2 Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I barely notice the labels in my guitars honestly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Never did it. Wouldn't do it. Me either. I would be afraid something would happen to it, and it would get lost, much like the keys to guitar cases get misplaced over time. I'm fortunate in that my vintage Gibsons that had labels when new still have them, even though those guitars are 45-65 years old. The labels are all still in near-perfect condition, and I like to think of someone taking the time to stick them on at the beginning or end of a long day in Kalamazoo. (Never did figure out how they put the labels inside an F-hole archtop, but there they are.) I have several "non-label" Gibsons, but they were never intended to have labels, and have ink-stamped neck blocks. To me, the labels are part of the guitar's identity, and should not be separated from them. One label I could do without is the "custom shop" decal on the back of the headstock. Yuck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalex Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 The label is part of the guitar to me. I kinda of like the orange label over the white one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 An aversion to the orange labels in my two modern Gibsons has been growing on me for some time now. I just don't like the look of them. Today I got some naptha on a cotton swap, dampened the label on my AJ, waited three minutes, and then lifted it straight out. I then cleaned up the glue remains and the job was done. The label is in perfect shape and will now rest in the case. The guitar looks much better to me without a bright orange label staring at me from the sound hole like a "red eye" in a photograph :-) My Sheryl Crow SJ will be next... Anyone else ever done this? Lars You are kidding us,.....Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I like the labels, its part of the guitar, would never do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Lars you can't see the label while your pickin? Seems ludacris to do that but hey it's your guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 No, not kidding. I'm dead serious. However, I would not have done it had I not know that I could do it without damaging the label. It now rests safely and unharmed in the case and won't get lost on my watch. Maybe 70 years from now some collector will complain about a missing label. Well, so be it. By the way, the same collector might also be upset that I switched pickguards on the now label-less guitar. They are my guitars and I prefer them this way so why not? Also, my guitars are, after all, are modern replicas of vintage pieces that didn't have labels. So I don't like the look of labels and feel they are out of place on these specific types of new guitars. Lars Nick, you are absolutely right about the custom shop decals. Unfortunately, both my guitars have them. I might have to get my spray can out... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 ...and how does it affect your tone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Well....I guess if the Serial number is embossed on the back of the neck it wouldn't be a problem. My Newest Gibson has the custom decal on the neck and "Mahogany Advanced Jumbo Short Scale" typed on the Label...lol....I better keep my label in the hole!!! I'll never remember that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I see what you're doin' a great percentage of the way. The orange label is somewhat noisy, but for me it depends on the model. Have them in the 2 Birds and the Hummingbird bears it more discrete than the pale Firebird. My good friend is dissatisfied with the orange label in his J-45 and wants to remove it. I will pass the naphta-trick, thanks. Guess this is one of the bigger guitar-existential Q's - Do I follow my subjective taste or am I loyal to the great Gibson tradition. Not as easy as it might seem. I would never remove the label in the H, but it sure sticks out from the F. Then again I haven't thought about a long time, , , it has kind of 'disappeared' The neck decal idea is a plain mistake - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Guess I don't have the Orange Label phobia. Never even gave a passing thought to labels inside the guitrar - orange or toherwise. Now those Custon Shop decals - those are annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I agree! The Custom Shop decals bug me. Even if I don,t own a guitar that has one. Orange is my favorite color Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smurfbird Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I think Orange looks much nicer than white. But I wouldn't touch either. Neck decal just seems a little cheesy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bram99 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 They are my guitars and I prefer them this way so why not? Also, my guitars are, after all, are modern replicas of vintage pieces that didn't have labels. So I don't like the look of labels and feel they are out of place on these specific types of new guitars. Lars Nick, you are absolutely right about the custom shop decals. Unfortunately, both my guitars have them. I might have to get my spray can out... :-) I am with you on the concept here Lars....your purchase does not obligate you to be a museum curator...you should have what you want. My new Custon Shop LG-2 has no sticker and I like it better, but I don't feel strongly enough about the sticker on my J-45TV (which doesn't say TV by the way) to remove it. Same with the custom shop decals...I don't like them, but I don't care enough to ever contemplate messing with the finish. But I do change some things on my guitars...... I put black Antique Acoustic Tuner buttons, ebony bridge and end pins and a Greven dark Tor Tis pickguard (all reversible mods by the way) on the LG-2 and now it is perfect....just what I always wanted in every detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I have a white label in a 1947 L-7 (one of the first of the "A" serial numbers), and an orange "union made" label in an old 60's ES 335. Both of those guitars were new once, and nobody gave a thought to what might happen to them more than 50 years down the road. I'm glad they didn't take the labels out. And by the way, the only place the serial number is on that old L-7 is on the label. If that were gone........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bram99 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I have a white label in a 1947 L-7 (one of the first of the "A" serial numbers), and an orange "union made" label in an old 60's ES 335. Both of those guitars were new once, and nobody gave a thought to what might happen to them more than 50 years down the road. I'm glad they didn't take the labels out. I cannot argue that point Nick. Original is original and it is unlikely someone would ever regret not modifying an instrument....I have limited mine to the plastic, all of which is in the case and could be put back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I cannot argue that point Nick. Original is original and it is unlikely someone would ever regret not modifying an instrument....I have limited mine to the plastic, all of which is in the case and could be put back on. Not blamin' you one bit. It's your guitar. I have a long history of modifying guitars, so I can't talk down to anyone. I just happen to love those old labels. The fact that a couple of my newer guitars have those oval orange labels is fine with me as well. In one case, it's historical accuracy. In another case, it's just the way they do it, and I got no complaints. Maybe 50 years from now, someone will look at it and say "wow. Still got that original orange label from 2007." Or 2010, 0r 2012..... You can own guitars for a long time. I bet there are a bunch of people here (like me) who have guitars they have owned for almost 50 years (or longer). I bet Tom Barnwell has more than one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubee Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I've had 30+ Gibsons I guess & have never looked at the label (or other interior appointments) much after I bought them. Some of you guys stare at your guitars much more intently than I do. I look at the guitar when I open the case I guess & probably think 'nice!' and then I play it. Do what you want, your axe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Some of you guys stare at your guitars much more intently than I do. Hehe he, you are right. A lot of us stare like obsessed. Take EA f.x. - he sits there staring at his Hummingbird all day, , , grinning. Then at night he goes out and play it. Personally I have a whole bunch of guitars of the case and they surround me like paintings. Stare, sense, play, , , read'n'write a little here, , , then stare and play on. Bet I'm not alone - happy Sunday happy gibsoneers. . . Maybe 50 years from now, someone will look at it and say "wow. Still got that original orange label from 2007." Or 2010, 0r 2012..... You are right too. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 you outta be banned from the forum and all your guitars taken off you ! :D anyone ever try and remove the annoying yellow and blue headstock decal ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 you outta be banned from the forum and all your guitars taken off you ! :D anyone ever try and remove the annoying yellow and blue headstock decal ? Not touched the decal but strings have been bothering me lately so I removed all the strings from all my guitars and although there's been a noticeable volume dip I think the consistency this has brought in across the stable is a real boon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Not touched the decal but strings have been bothering me lately so I removed all the strings from all my guitars and although there's been a noticeable volume dip I think the consistency this has brought in across the stable is a real boon. Do you find you get more warmth and a somewhat more 'chilled' tone PM ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 A chocolatey whisper, EA. I swear they feel an ounce lighter too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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