GeorgeM Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I have just purchased my first les paul, A Signature T Vintage Sunburst. The guitar sounds and plays awesome, however there are some imperfections on the finish . Have you ever seen anything similar ? The top looks fantastic but I was really hesitant purchasing the guitar because of that imperfection under the body binding on the Cutaway. Also there are some red stuff on the headstock veneer it doesn't seem to come off so its not leftover polish. Also the truss rod cover seems to be slightly curved is that normal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 You are right, that area around cutaway looks really bad. I don't know if I would've bought a guitar that looked like that. That is, unless they gave me a deal on it because of the blemish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Nice guitar. That binding is unfortunate. I would find that unacceptable no matter how great a guitar it is. Good luck with it, I hope you can work it out. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 you mean the gouges or the different shade due to the maple cap having different grain? the side of the headstock probably got that way from being placed in, or banged into a wallhanger, I have a few nitro guitars w/that exact same skid-mark. if it plays & sounds great, keep it, any replacement may play and/or sound like wet poop, and 5 yrs from now it'll have plenty of other dings on it anyhow. Welcome to the Forum !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 The tops of LPs are all still given a final shaping by hand and it looks like yours was given too heavy-handed a treatment. Added to which the filler used to rectify the situation hasn't been applied very well and it's clearly not been a great pice of finishing. Having said that it's an absolute stunner in all other respects - very sweet indeed - and if, as you say, it plays as good as it looks then I'd keep it - if it were mine. The hanger mark has been dealt with. The TRC bowing is a bit odd but some gentle persuasion with a fine file on the holes of the TRC should get it lying flat without too much effort. Congrats on choosing a very fine playing, sounding and looking guitar - 3 out of 3 can't be bad - and welcome to the forum! P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeM Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 I have now returned the guitar, not for the blemishes but because the truss rod was loose and the guitar had very little relief which means i could not add more relief to the neck and i wont be able to have any relief if I use 9's. I will get a replacement on tuesday. Is the truss rod issue common for gibson LP's since it doesn't have double acting truss rod? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Re: TR problem. Common, NO! Unheard of, NO (as well). Sounds like you just got a "Problem child." It happens, unfortunatately, with all mass produced products. Here's hoping your replacement will be as beautiful, and without any "issues." But, this is one reason, among other's, that I never buy Guitars, "on-line!" I always have to play them, and inspect them, first! So, as inconvenient as a 2 hour drive (each way) is, to my dealer, it's way worth it, in the long run! Good Luck, and Best Wishes, on your replacement. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Also, if you (because of circumstances, distances, etc.) have to buy from an "On-Line" dealer, check out "Sweetwater," or "Wildwood Guitars" where they show you, the actual guitar you're getting, and have a really good reputation, for Great Customer Service, and in-house inspections, prior to shipping. That, at least, will minimize the probability of getting a "lemon." It won't guarantee you'll love the playability, or sound, but at least some of the potential problems will be minimized. Cheers, CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeM Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Thanks for the info Charlie, now i am more relieved since its not that common of a problem hopefully it will be a problem free guitar. Actually i have bought the guitar from a local shop (from UK) but they didn't had that finish in stock at my local shop but had 2 of them on some of their other shops. So i had to pick one of them so asked them if they can provide me with some photos to compare them and choose which one to ship here so they sent me a few iphone photos and i went for one of them and as it turns out it was a lemon. Now I am going for the other one and i hope its going to be a nice guitar, this one its going to be a couple of months younger (27 of August 2013 I believe) fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Welcome George. I think you made the right move by returning it. For me, the cut away problem wouldn't have set well. The trust rod issue made returning it a no brainer. I can't wait to see the pic of the replacement guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Thanks for the info Charlie, now i am more relieved since its not that common of a problem hopefully it will be a problem free guitar. Actually i have bought the guitar from a local shop (from UK) but they didn't had that finish in stock at my local shop but had 2 of them on some of their other shops. So i had to pick one of them so asked them if they can provide me with some photos to compare them and choose which one to ship here so they sent me a few iphone photos and i went for one of them and as it turns out it was a lemon. Now I am going for the other one and i hope its going to be a nice guitar, this one its going to be a couple of months younger (27 of August 2013 I believe) fingers crossed. Oh, sorry...didn't realize you were in the UK. But, I think Sweetwater and Wildwood Guitars DO ship international. Maybe the tarrif isn't worth it, though? Not sure. Surely, there must be some "on-line" dealers (Andertons, for one) that are quite trustworthy, over there? Anyway, I hope the replacement fills the bill, quite nicely! Cheers, CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeM Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 I dont think its worth it to order from the US, I might end up paying more (import tax, shipping etc) and I might still get a lemon. Right now in the UK there are only 4-5 Signature T's in Vintage Sunburst so i don't have much of a choice. I usually buy from Thomann cause i have a month to decide if want a guitar or not and also thomann has the best prices europe but they ran out of stock of VS "T's". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Yeah, probably not! Anyway, keep us informed, and (as always) post some nice photos, of your new (replacement) "baby!" CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeM Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Yeah, probably not! Anyway, keep us informed, and (as always) post some nice photos, of your new (replacement) "baby!" CB I will as soon as i get her :) probably it will be next tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeM Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share Posted January 14, 2014 I just got up my new guitar, i will change the strings and set it up before I take the photos . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 I hope your replacement Signature T is all fine. Looking forward to your pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeM Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Here is my replacement Signature T. I am very happy with this one, the truss rod actually works and there are no noticeable finish imperfections. Also i think this one is more resonant and fuller acoustically. You can see the maple top under the binding like the previous one but there are no ugly wood fillers on that one. The only problem i have notice on that on is that after i raised the stop bar i could hear harmonics when i was strumming the high E string, I lowered the stop bar on the high e side so that the string barely touches on the bridge and it stopped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Congrats - very beautiful guitar! Glad you are fine with it. The top wood can be seen in the cutaway on all LPs with transparent or translucent finish. There's nothing wrong with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeM Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Thanks, yes i have now learned that about the cutaway :P but the first one was just horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 when they switched back to the thinner binding many many moons ago they maple cap is visable under the binding. The 'historical' gang here can tell you when that switched back from a fat binding that covered that section. glad you got one that is better finished overall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Redeemed!! Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Not that it matters much but the new one is even prettier than the last one! Congrats! P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Not that it matters much but the new one is even prettier than the last one! Congrats! P. Meets my opinion, too - nice figuring AND nice graining as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboTony Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I just picked up a 2013 Les Paul Standard Premium Plus and have the EXACT poor cut away scenario. Its like the original post took a shot of mine....EXACT!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeM Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 I just picked up a 2013 Les Paul Standard Premium Plus and have the EXACT poor cut away scenario. Its like the original post took a shot of mine....EXACT!!!!!! Looks like they don't pay much attention when they are filling the cutaway, did you get a price reduction? What is the finish of your standard can we see a picture? I think errors in that area might be quite common but on most finishes you cant see them. Btw thanks everyone for your comments , i've spend a lot of time yesterday setting up everything and now it plays like a dream, the only thing i am not sure about are the pickup heights for the 57-57+. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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