lithdoc Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 (edited) Hey guys, Just bought a new Les Paul Standard 50s with a AAA rated top. Love the guitar from far away, but I am not sure how to interpret the QC issues - is it something I should keep and accept or try to exchange for another one? I spoke to the dealer and they offered either an exchange or a partial refund (not sure how much) - I'm just afraid that the exchanged one won't be much better. There's unpolished varnish by the fretboard on the top, some leftover glue/filling compound underneath the varnish underneath the fretboard... Your thoughts? https://postimg.cc/gallery/DLkpdzH Edited February 3, 2021 by lithdoc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king_biscuit Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 This wouldn't really bother me. Look at what companies like Collings are selling Les Pauls for and you will get the idea of what it costs to make a relatively flawless guitar. For a little over 2k the Standards are fairly inexpensive instruments and with the amount of handwork done on them there are always going to be cosmetic issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 (edited) I would keep it, as long as it plays well and sounds good. When I bought my ES 175 some years ago there were a couple of small similar issues. Over time (and with a bit of careful polishing and TLC) the marks have almost disappeared and are unnoticeable. Edited February 3, 2021 by jdgm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 nothing there would give me a moments pause. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 (edited) Your gonna get 10 guys to say send it back and 10 guy to say its okay. You need to decide if only that Gibson is good enough. Edited February 3, 2021 by Sgt. Pepper 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Pretty minor stuff - I wouldn't worry about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Looks good. Carry on! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtees Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Doesn't bother me much! Is it perfect? No. But if it's a great guitar, I'd keep it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 That is a nice model of Guitar but It is a Standard not Custom Shop. How it plays & sounds would be my criteria for that Price point Guitar.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 I think it looks fine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wind_stopper Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Bit of a cosmetic issue for me, I'd exchange, as this is little too much for a guitar at this price point and with an AAA top. Even if some say "you can barely see it, or the sound matters", I knew it is there and it would bother me. If that was a $500 Epi and it played well, I'd keep it. But for a $2500 Gibson, I'd like to have the top to actually have a top-notch finish, would be a bit more lenient on the backside. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunking101 Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 It's up to you whether you deem it unacceptable at that price point. The flaws in your photos are fairly standard for Gibson. My R7 which cost roughly double isn't perfect either. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NighthawkChris Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 1 hour ago, sunking101 said: It's up to you whether you deem it unacceptable at that price point. The flaws in your photos are fairly standard for Gibson. My R7 which cost roughly double isn't perfect either. Ditto man my R7 GT isn’t perfect cosmetically but it is a perfect guitar if you get what I’m saying 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 If you look too closely at a beautiful woman, they start to fall apart under a microscope. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NighthawkChris Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 44 minutes ago, mihcmac said: If you look too closely at a beautiful woman, they start to fall apart under a microscope. Yeah very true 😀 you don’t have to get too close to me to see I’m a flipping wreck haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 (edited) Maybe me zooming in on these pictures on my phone isn't giving me clarity to see what the problem is. If it's just a bit of lacquer on the fretboard its probably pretty minimal. Lacquer will wear off the fretboard easy enough over time Sure there's "worse" QC than this Edited February 26, 2021 by Eracer_Team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 3 hours ago, mihcmac said: If you look too closely at a beautiful woman, they start to fall apart under a microscope. Marry them and watch what happens. It's like they're chugging Miracle Grow. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 On 2/3/2021 at 5:56 AM, Sgt. Pepper said: Your gonna get 10 guys to say send it back and 10 guy to say its okay. You need to decide if only that Gibson is good enough. Agreed. I'm one of the 'send it back' guys though. I wouldn't drop over $2,000 on a guitar and settle for flaws that would niggle/nag in my brain for the life of the guitar. But then again, I wouldn't drop over $2,000 on a guitar that I hadn't handled, fondled, and played with my own hands either. I like and trust Sweetwater a LOT, but I have learned that if I'm going to spend over $700 on anything, I want to hold it and inspect it personally first. I'm weird that way. 😐 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPRich Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 I can’t see anything but that’s because my brand new AAA topped 50’s is the same…if you get my drift! Translation, that doesn’t bother me in the least. It doesn’t effect the function in any way. The guitar is freaking awesome! It’s made by human hands. Humans are not perfect. I would not send it back for that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken374 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 My new 2020 standard has that also my old slash epiphone did nt have it but the gibson is way better:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmr24 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 I’m sure over the life the guitar there will be a few dings dents scratches nicks drops stains fingerprints buckle rash if it’s actually played so I have never understood why these minor cosmetic things have ever bothered anyone. Makes them unique and doesn’t feel like your just getting an assembly line clone (even tho they mostly are) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 I used to be a send it back guy. You have no idea how much easier my life became once I decided to just accept minor imperfections. (Actually, it didn't, but at least guitar imperfections stopped bothering me) My reasoning was, look at Slash's main live guitar. The neck has been broken in THREE places, yet I look at it and think, yum. It was time to cut back on worrying and spend that time on playing. As for the guitar in the pics, not even I would worry. Keep it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPRich Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 It’s all good. Now the static charge? That is another issue. Did you get that on your guitar, because I did. I would rather have another tiny blemish than “The Gibson Static”! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtees Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 I don't think there is anything terrible there, especially considering how close up those photos are. BUT I will say, it is your money and your choice, if it will bother you then return it. I'm sure deep down you know what you really want to do. Also, I bet if we saw a picture of the whole guitar, most people here would think it's a beautiful guitar...and worth keeping. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnier6 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I see no issues…that’s a keeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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