StratLovesLenny Posted January 9, 2011 Posted January 9, 2011 Hey everyone, first post here at Gibson! So I bought a Gibson SG Standard (first Gibson-built instrument ever for me) off of American Musical that came in the other day, and it was beautiful. Everything from the finish to the fretwork to the feel was amazing. Action needed to be lowered a bit, but it was great. However, I noticed there was a thumb-sized impression on the back of the neck that dipped down in the finish about 1 mm or two. It doesn't affect the playability a great deal, but is definitely noticeable if you inspect the neck. You can feel it, and it drives me crazy especially since this is a brand spanking new guitar. Anyway, I took it to a tech here in Las Vegas, and he believes that it wasn't a factor of mishandling as far as shipping or storage was concerned, but rather how the neck was shaped before the lacquer went on. The lacquer itself isn't damaged, but is just painted above the misshapen wood. Does anyone know Gibson's process in inspecting guitars? Mine came with a little card that checked off the different points of inspection, but seeing how easily spotted this defect is to see, I'm thinking that the department is just checking the cards off arbitrarily. Whichever the case, I'm really disappointed to have to send this one back because of how good it sounds. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that the next one is just as good (with a better neck of course =)). Anyone else have strange things like this happen when they've received their Gibsons? I see them as a reputable and amazing company, but since the first one I've received was a lemon, I'm starting to believe that the things I've heard about their quality control are true. Ron
BigKahune Posted January 9, 2011 Posted January 9, 2011 Welcome. Sorry to hear about the situation with your SG purchase. Have you got a pic of the area you can post?
69 Son Posted January 9, 2011 Posted January 9, 2011 I have one also, brand new SG, never set up, I take the TRC off and there's a random TRC screw in the channel. Methinks they might have been in a hurry! I expect there to be little niggles, esp on a relatively handcrafted intrument being shipped all over the place. The woods, feel, and tones you get per dollar are an amazing value with Gibson USA, so I just go with it. My 05 and 09 were flawless, the 07 and 10 had very minor QC issues. That said when guitars are hanging up high like GC, it's easier to pick out waves in the body surface, finish flaws, etc. Seeing more and more new Gibsons I wouldn't buy.
StratLovesLenny Posted January 9, 2011 Author Posted January 9, 2011 Here are a couple of the dent pictures. Hard to catch on camera, but definitely noticeable in person, especially if you run your hand across the neck.
69 Son Posted January 9, 2011 Posted January 9, 2011 Never seen that on a Gibson. I doubt that'd make it past to finishing to QC, just my .02 Not sure I would have sent it back over that.
pete c Posted January 9, 2011 Posted January 9, 2011 i would have sent it back also. even on a used guitar i wouldn't have bought it
Bender 4 Life Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 threads like this make me double glad that my post-flood (7/19/10) Standard arrived in absolutely flawless condition.
BigKahune Posted January 10, 2011 Posted January 10, 2011 Never seen that on a Gibson. I doubt that'd make it past to finishing to QC, just my .02 ... +1 Regardless of your "tech" said, that's pretty obvious and I can't imagine that would get through Gibson with being noticed. Looks like a typical bruise you see in hung stock that's handled by all kinds of people/players/customers.
Murph Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 It's a "Mojo Dimple"...... Keep it, it's one of a kind.
StratLovesLenny Posted January 17, 2011 Author Posted January 17, 2011 Hahaha, well my goal with buying a Gibson was really to not need to do anything to the guitar to get it where I want, so I sent it in for a new one. Miss it though, I think the middle position may have sounded slightly better than this new one. I don't think that the Mojo Dimple was caused by mishandling, because I was informed that the company that I ordered from doesn't even open up the box from Gibson after they warehouse it. A pity that they don't check it like Sweetwater. I'll just give Gibson the benefit of the doubt. Anyway the new one has a great feel and is very nice. However, the fretwork was kind of bad and the fretboard was really dried out. I taped off the fretboard and sanded out the more apparent scratches, then went over it with some micromesh pads to get the cloudiness out for a mirror finish. The fretboard is gulping up the fretboard treatment I'm using! Looks way better and darker now =) Going to string some 11s on it tonight. I'm excited for this! just need to find some strap locks (Grolsch beer maybe?) to fasten that thing on. Scared to play standing up with the strap positioning, haha.
EVOL! Posted January 19, 2011 Posted January 19, 2011 ...just need to find some strap locks (Grolsch beer maybe?) to fasten that thing on. Scared to play standing up with the strap positioning, haha. These are your friend and they're cheap. Use 'em myself. Dunlop Straplocks
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