New ES-275

[gnappi 43]

Well it's been in the house a few days and the git plays very well, and balances perfectly unlike just about every semi I own or have owned. It's also very light, thinner than a 335 by a bit, and the same weight as my tiny Gibson Vegas.The body and its chambered block makes it light (6 lb 12 oz) balanced and it has an acoustic voice unplugged that a 335 does not.

This should have been a "second" and paying full price for a fairly expensive git with some finish boo boos (not finished at all between the neck pup and the neck and a binding problem in the cutaway) is a bone in the throat and it may wind up going back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[merciful-evans 898]

Thats a shame about the finishing, because they are certainly a desirable model. I still haven't found one to try out yet.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

I recently returned a PRS I bought in April. They have built a new neck for it!

[Rabs 1,275]

To me it does look finished but its three ply binding so the inner layer has not been scrapped back to the body properly... On that sort of guitar it should be really.. Shame... That guitar must have had the newbie in the factory?

[kidblast 1,339]

is it just the angle of the photo, or do the strings not line up with the pickup poles?

[Rabs 1,275]

Well to be fair to Gibson I just went and looked at the pic they have on their site and it looks exactly the same as yours.. And I do think its binding, if it were the wood it wouldn't be that white. The bit between the pickup and fretboard looks pretty crap though

 

 

Edited September 19, 2018 by Rabs

[gnappi 43]

I love the git, really I do but it just rubs me so wrong that the person who finished the binding just didn't give a crap to scrape it, the body sprayer likely had a bit of tape between the neck and pup and just didn't give a hoot to fix it, and finally whatever final inspection method they use (if they have one at all which I now doubt) passed it through.

 

I worked at a major electronics maker and was dubbed their "fireman" because I went on troubled assembly lines to bring quality and daily going rate through final inspection up and I can say this...

 

With them taking so much heat for quality, and being in bankruptcy I would think they would shine up their armor a bit and not let escapes like this pass, but I guess their mindset is BOX IT, Gorammit, just GET IT IN THE FREAKIN' BOX! Message received. Whether I keep it or send it back, this was the last new Gibson I'll buy. If I send it back I hope that they substantially lower the price AND point out the defects and call it a second.

 

 

 

 

 

[SteveFord 534]

Is half of the fret board black and the rest brown or is it just the picture?

[Larsongs 209]

I've had to send back new Guitars from Fender, Gibson,Rickenbacker & Epiphone for one reason or another & get replacements. I've become used to it. I kept sending them back til I get a good one. In each case I ended up with excellent Guitars.

 

I had to send my Epiphone Ltd. Edition 50th Anniv. 1961 RI Casino to the Gibson Factory for Warranty work when it was brand new. It came back perfect..

 

You might consider sending it back for an exchange. Also renegotiate your Deal. 15% is usually do-able with most majors like MF, GC & Sweetwater. Even 20%...

 

It looks like a sweet Guitar other than the Blems...

[kidblast 1,339]

Everyone has their own tolerance level.

 

Those blems would bug me too but only maybe for about a day or two. If we were "Bonding" I'd most likely look past it, and eventually, it wouldn't ever bother me again. Swapping it out is an option of course, but sometimes, a hassle more than it's worth, and no real assurance the next one isn't overall, the same. I don't know if I have a gibson where the biding is 100% perfect through out the entire instrument. I have 6, Bought them all new cept for one (a 2002 LP Standard Cherry Burst)

[gnappi 43]

The strings do line up with the poles, and the rosewood FB is a bit lighter for the last few frets on the high side. If I keep it that's the last thing in the world that would bother me, it's wood and expected. I would say that the top isn't nearly as nicely figured as the one on the Gibson site which sucks but I can live with that because again, wood is wood. Maybe not an optimal selection but it's OK. Craftsmanship (or lack of it) is yet an entirely different issue.

If I were ever to sell this one, I can see some nitpicky snotnose newby down the road fretting about the binding coming loose, or asking if the neck was re-set and wanting me to reduce the price... no PAY him to take it off my hands :-)

At any rate, I spoke to my salesman today and they are going to get another one for me. I will keep this one for the month or so it takes them to get it. If neither work meaning the replacement has playability issues I've too often seen on new Gibsons they will both go back.

 

[Larsongs 209]

The strings do line up with the poles, and the rosewood FB is a bit lighter for the last few frets on the high side. If I keep it that's the last thing in the world that would bother me, it's wood and expected. I would say that the top isn't nearly as nicely figured as the one on the Gibson site which sucks but I can live with that because again, wood is wood. Maybe not an optimal selection but it's OK. Craftsmanship (or lack of it) is yet an entirely different issue.

If I were ever to sell this one, I can see some nitpicky snotnose newby down the road fretting about the binding coming loose, or asking if the neck was re-set and wanting me to reduce the price... no PAY him to take it off my hands :-)

At any rate, I spoke to my salesman today and they are going to get another one for me. I will keep this one for the month or so it takes them to get it. If neither work meaning the replacement has playability issues I've too often seen on new Gibsons they will both go back.

 

Good for you. I'd ask him for a 20% Discount too.... Which is do-able & reasonable..

Edited September 20, 2018 by Larsongs

[gampadoug 23]

Well it's been in the house a few days and the git plays very well, and balances perfectly unlike just about every semi I own or have owned. It's also very light, thinner than a 335 by a bit, and the same weight as my tiny Gibson Vegas.The body and its chambered block makes it light (6 lb 12 oz) balanced and it has an acoustic voice unplugged that a 335 does not.

This should have been a "second" and paying full price for a fairly expensive git with some finish boo boos (not finished at all between the neck pup and the neck and a binding problem in the cutaway) is a bone in the throat and it may wind up going back.

What the hell?

That came out of the Memphis shop?

Is this how the new powers that be are to balance the books?

[Larsongs 209]

What the hell?

That came out of the Memphis shop?

Is this how the new powers that be are to balance the books?

 

No. Nothing new.. There are some new Memphis Gibsons that aren't perfect. Send it back & get another. Or send it to Gibson Factory & tell them to fix it. I've had to do that. They were very good & the Guitars came back perfect.. They're just like Cars. That's why they have Warranties & Gibson is just about the best when it comes to standing behind their Warranty in my experience.

[gnappi 43]

Well, Sweetwater asked me to hold onto it until they could get a replacement from Gibson. It came in to them today and on inspection it had other issues most notably the face of the head was bowed.

 

This one is going back tomorrow. Gibson management in control of "quality" should be ashamed to be selling gits with so many finishing issues. This was my last new Gibson.

 

[Larsongs 209]

Well, Sweetwater asked me to hold onto it until they could get a replacement from Gibson. It came in to them today and on inspection it had other issues most notably the face of the head was bowed.

 

This one is going back tomorrow. Gibson management in control of "quality" should be ashamed to be selling gits with so many finishing issues. This was my last new Gibson.

 

 

2018 has been a rough year for Gibson..

 

That said, I bought a new Gibson Memphis Blacktop ES Les Paul with Bigsby this year. It had a defect in the Headstock. I returned it to Sweetwater. They called Gibson as it was a Ltd Edition Guitar & were sold out. Somehow they got another one from Gibson. They sent it to me & it's perfect. It was well worth it to get a perfect Guitar. It might take a couple attempts but don't give up as they do make some of the best Guitars obtainable.

 

I've had to deal with Warranty Repairs on previous Gibsons & Epiphones. I call Gibson direct & tell them I want to send it to them for Warranty repair. I told them I did not want to take it to a Repair Center. I wanted it taken care of at the Factory level. They said OK. I sent them the Guitars & all have come back perfect...

 

I've had to do it with Fenders too. They're the worst Warranty & Customer Service IMO. Great Guitars but recent QC is below average. Customer Service... below average. They won't repair anything at the Factory level either..

 

I've even had to send my 1975 Martin D-35, which I bought new, for Warranty work to Martin.. They did my Repair Work & Warranty work at the Factory level. They are Outstanding in all respects. They went above & beyond.

 

What you're experiencing can happen with any Guitar.. Don't give up..

 

Lars

Edited October 2, 2018 by Larsongs

[badbluesplayer 632]

is it just the angle of the photo, or do the strings not line up with the pickup poles?

Yes - Take the average visual position between each string and its reflection and you can see the low e is over the inner 1/8 of the screw and the high e is just about over the center of the screw. Not super bad but not good. On a semi, they usually center the strings over the pickups and locate the bridge accordingly, right?

Edited October 2, 2018 by badbluesplayer

[gnappi 43]

Well, it's gone. I liked very much being able to compare it side by side with my D'Angelico EX-SS. At less than 1/4 the price of the ES it was a surprise that the Korean made git played and sounded so good next to the ES.

The two really are VERY much alike though the visual details on the EX-SS are superior, and the bridge pup isn't as weak as the MHS bridge. I wasn't playing the EX-SS very much, because I got it on one of the "Stupid deals of the day" and just kept playing my regulars in the stable. But, now that I am playing it I'm seriously looking at maybe getting a MIJ D'Angelico NY-SS

 

 

 

[Drog 43]

I could live with the binding, as they are hand scraped. The neck tenon looks like it was slightly too long, when you compare it with the Gibson site photo. I think that is why there is a gap.

[Larsongs 209]

Well, it's gone. I liked very much being able to compare it side by side with my D'Angelico EX-SS. At less than 1/4 the price of the ES it was a surprise that the Korean made git played and sounded so good next to the ES.

The two really are VERY much alike though the visual details on the EX-SS are superior, and the bridge pup isn't as weak as the MHS bridge. I wasn't playing the EX-SS very much, because I got it on one of the "Stupid deals of the day" and just kept playing my regulars in the stable. But, now that I am playing it I'm seriously looking at maybe getting a MIJ D'Angelico NY-SS

 

Every D' Angelico I've played seems heavier than they should be & they all suffered from Neck Dive. That & the Headstock is way over the Top.... I totally disagree. About the Pickups. The MHS are far superior IMO..

 

But, good luck to you. To each his own...

[gnappi 43]

Every D' Angelico I've played seems heavier than they should be & they all suffered from Neck Dive. That & the Headstock is way over the Top.... I totally disagree. About the Pickups. The MHS are far superior IMO..

 

But, good luck to you. To each his own...

 

The MHS bridge pup, was plain unusable. As far as weight distribution goes, so??? Every 335 I own or have played was body heavy. Standing with a leather strap neither present a problem.

Edited October 10, 2018 by gnappi

[eldorado2001 13]

Nice gap, but not the kind I like looking at.

 

No, my friends, I'm not kidding, right here on the miracle mile we have the west's largest selections of...

 

Portly,

Regular,

Cadet,

Tall,

And long

 

 

...and not only that...my brother Jake and Little Emil and...sixty tailors!

Edited October 18, 2018 by eldorado2001

[Larsongs 209]

The MHS bridge pup, was plain unusable. As far as weight distribution goes, so??? Every 335 I own or have played was body heavy. Standing with a leather strap neither present a problem.

 

Did you adjust the Bridge Pickup? I've owned a bunch of Gibsons with HB's & if there was the kind of problem you mention it was that the pickups needed adjustment. Occasionally, like any Guitar Maker, you could've got a bad one. In which case you could've sent it to Gibson for Warranty Repair or exchanged for a new one.

 

Body Heavy? Not sure what that means? But yes, when I put a Strap on my Gibsons the Neck doesn't fall towards the Floor like they did with the D' Angelico's I tried...