Oh dear!

[AS90]

Went to Dawson's today to check out the new range of Epiphones and Gibsons they have. I tried an Indonesian made Les Paul which was quite nice, unforunatly the new Chinese Casino was rubbish. It sounded ok, but the fit and finish was terrible, the black paint on the inside edge of the F hole had spilled onto the top, the nut was badly cut and the general feel was bad.

The biggest shock was the Gibsons, I tried an SG Standard, again the nut wasn't done well, the fret board was chipped along the edge of the nut and you could see the edge of the headstock veneer. I picked up the new Les Paul traditional, the binding was crap, you could see file marks all the way down it! The tops were also bad, they looked like photo flames, I dont know why but they all looked the same.

 

The Fenders were outstanding. The new Squier Classic Vibe Tele was a revelation! I couldn't tell the difference between the £850 USA made one and the £270 Chinese made one! The high end MIM Fenders were excellent too. I checked out a few fenders last year and thought they were a bit poor but the new 2009 models are a huge step up in quality and spec.

 

Now, I am a huge Gibson/Epiphone fan (and I always will be) but today left me gassing for a Fender!

 

Sort it out Gibson/Epiphone.

[generation zero]

My '08 Gibson Traditional is pretty close to perfect... there was a tiny bit of the stain from the side of the guitar on the binding in a few spots, barely noticable, that scraped right off with a light rub of my thumbnail... and a little bit of finish flaw right by the neck joint on the top, but I've seen just as much on almost every LP I've ever seen, old or new, epi or gibby. Other than those two small issues, there were no flaws I could find with it. No issues with file marks or crap binding, and the flame is gorgeous. You must have just found a dud... it happens to the best of companies... they just need to tighten up on QC a little bit is all.

[Bender 4 Life]

The high end MIM Fenders were excellent too.

Now' date=' I am a huge Gibson/Epiphone fan (and I always will be) but today left me gassing for a Fender!

[/quote']

 

psssst !

 

 

esta' un muy bueno guitar !

[AS90]

^Nice! But the Squier Classic Vibe Tele is so awesome, there is no way I would spend loads on one like that any more!

[mgrmatt]

I with you AS90 on the Classic Vibe Tele, I played one at the local Sam Ash and was very impressed it looked awesome and sounded great. In my opinion it would be a better buy than a standard MIM Tele.

 

 

mgm

[Lardog666]

It's a shame that the QC at Gibson is not what it once was... there was a time when Gibson on the headstock meant you had a 99% chance of a great guitar... I guess that's what happens when a corporation (i.e. Musicians Friend) is able to dictate how the product is made...

[lostindesert]

I wood choose the Mexican made Fender Classic Player Baja Telecaster over the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

 

Peter

[Bender 4 Life]

^Nice! But the Squier Classic Vibe Tele is so awesome' date=' there is no way I would spend loads on one like that any more![/quote']

 

Loads? nah.....$349.00 American.......installed the Bigsby myself.

 

But yes, the "Classic Vibe" Tele & Strat BOTH intrigue me.....

[frenchie1281734003]

I wood choose the Mexican made Fender Classic Player Baja Telecaster over the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

 

Peter

 

Or you could make one yourself!

 

All U.S.A. parts' date=' and cost me £330 in total to build. Next to it a Mexican made Classic player 60`s Strat, which are the Mutts nuts in my book.

 

[img']http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee74/frenchie_044/thecollection004.jpg[/img]

[mgrmatt]

frenchie, That tele rocks, it looks awesome!!!

 

 

 

mgm