So I bought a faded SG today....

[CentralScrutinizer]

and it's looking like I made a mistake. The problem is that I didn't notice until I got it home that the low E string goes sharp when it is played open. I've had plenty of guitars and this is not a normal thing. A smaller issue is the low E buzzes a little, most noticeably when fretting the second fret. I also noticed that the nut is higher on the side of the lower three strings, there's basically a downward slant from the low E to the high E. I bought the guitar out of town so I can't exactly run back to the store either. Can these issues be fixed easily? I could live with the last two things, but the low E going sharp has to be dealt with.

[NeoConMan]

A new nut is not a big thing.

Gibson should make it right for you.

 

Didn't get it at Guitar Center or another Big Box store, did you?

 

I say you should call Gibson Customer Service at 800-444-2766 and let them make an offer to fix it.

Probably take it to the nearest authorized repair center and get it done for free.

For a few bucks you might get a better nut installed, but the Gibson ones work fine if fitted properly.

 

If Gibson won't help, take it back to the store for a refund.

Wouldn't hurt to call the store anyway and talk to manager, make him aware of your issues and displeasure.

Even if Gibson fixes it, the store manager should be aware of the hassles you went thru with the turd they sold you.

 

Be polite, but firm.

 

If it's Guitar Center, don't bother being polite.

[CentralScrutinizer]

Yep, I got it at GC. This sucks, there isn't a Gibson dealer anywhere near me either. I have a friend that works at a local guitar shop who should be able to fix it, I just hate to have to get a brand new guitar fixed.

[NeoConMan]

Somebody got screwed at Guitar Center?

I've never heard of such a thing.....

What store was it, if you don't mind my asking?

 

Take it back, spend the time and effort required to get a full refund.

If they give you any sort of runaround (they will) ask the manager if he wants it up his *** headstock first.

 

I hate GC, this is just one more reason why.

 

They can send the guitar back to Gibson, but they won't.

If they refund your money, it will go back out on the sales floor the next day.

 

I'm really sorry you ran into this, but not surprised in the least that it's GC.

 

Good luck man, and welcome to the forum.

Hope you have good news for us soon!

[AS90]

and it's looking like I made a mistake. The problem is that I didn't notice until I got it home that the low E string goes sharp when it is played open. I've had plenty of guitars and this is not a normal thing. A smaller issue is the low E buzzes a little' date=' most noticeably when fretting the second fret. I also noticed that the nut is higher on the side of the lower three strings, there's basically a downward slant from the low E to the high E. I bought the guitar out of town so I can't exactly run back to the store either. Can these issues be fixed easily? I could live with the last two things, but the low E going sharp has to be dealt with. [/quote']

 

You should have got a... wait for it...

 

 

a Stratocaster with a wammy bar!

 

Get some pencil led (graphite) in that nut slot, everything else can be sorted with a good setup.

[Tim Plains]

and it's looking like I made a mistake. The problem is that I didn't notice until I got it home that the low E string goes sharp when it is played open. I've had plenty of guitars and this is not a normal thing. A smaller issue is the low E buzzes a little' date=' most noticeably when fretting the second fret. I also noticed that the nut is higher on the side of the lower three strings, there's basically a downward slant from the low E to the high E. I bought the guitar out of town so I can't exactly run back to the store either. Can these issues be fixed easily? I could live with the last two things, but the low E going sharp has to be dealt with. [/quote']

Your guitar is perfectly normal. If you've had plenty of guitars, then you should know that all it needs is a set up.

Have you ever owned a Gibson?

 

The Low E goes sharp?

What does this mean exactly...like when you're tuning it?

If you're tuning the guitar and a note all of a sudden goes sharp it's because the string does not sit properly in the nut.

That usually occurs on the B & G stings, not the low E.

Big Bendz nut sauce or some powdered graphite from a local hardware store is all you need.

Or, just take a pencil and a file, shave some lead off the pencil and place in the grove of the nut where the string sits.

I used powdered graphite and haven't had an issue in over six months.

 

The nut is higher on the low E side?

They're all like that. Think about it, it has to.

The low E, A & D strings are much wider than the e, B & G strings.

If the nut wasn't taller on the low E side, your strings would rattle all the time.

 

Low E buzzes on the second fret?

Firstly, some people like that.

Secondly, either your neck is too straight or you need to raise the bridge. Get a set up.

[CentralScrutinizer]

The low e string, when played open, goes sharp temporarily when picked with enough force. I've never owned a guitar with any of these issues, not even cheapo guitars. I'm not talking about bludgeoning the thing either. I mentioned the nut being slanted because I've never noticed that on any guitar and the action is actually higher on the side of the thicker strings. I don't think anyone likes buzzing strings either. I'm just trying to figure out if this guitar has some kind of serious issue or if taking it in for a setup will fix this stuff. BTW, this is the first Gibson I've ever owned.

[Tim Plains]

The low e string' date=' when played open, goes sharp temporarily when picked with enough force.[/quote']

Are you kidding me? Every guitar is like this. So, you're telling me that all your other guitars, if you tune the low E perfectly and then strike the string HARD with your pick, will play a perfectly pitched E. If that's the case, please tell me what your other guitars are and I will sell all of my Gibsons and one Fender and buy whatever guitar it is you are talking about.

 

See for yourself, plug any electric guitar into an electric tuner and see what happens when you strike a string and then strike the same string harder.

 

I don't think anyone likes buzzing strings either.

It's called low action' date=' a lot of people tolerate buzzing on the first few frets as it allows them to play faster.

 

I'm just trying to figure out if this guitar has some kind of serious issue or if taking it in for a setup will fix this stuff. BTW' date=' this is the first Gibson I've ever owned. [/quote']

Your guitar is fine. Take it in for a setup and tell them you don't want any fret buzzing.

Or just do it yourself. Raise the bridge a little and/or loosen the truss rod.

Actually, scratch that, based on this thread, I don't think you should be adjusting the neck. You may damage it.

Take it in to somebody and ask them so show you how to adjust the neck.

[nolongermike@gibson]

No mistake, just get a good setup to your personal spec, done exactly how you like it, from string height to gauge, etc. Your troubles will go away and you'll be really happy with this guitar. I think the faded SGs are awesome, a great value for USA-made Gibson, and as with any new guitar, it needs a setup that gets it where you want it to go. By the way, all of my guitars tend to go a little sharp like that, but its nothing a minor amount of adjusting of the nut won't cure. So my advice about your new SG, is "Fret Not!"

 

Oh man, that was a bad pun. Sorry. :)

[CentralScrutinizer]

I don't know, maybe I'm going crazy. I was working on a song of mine last night and when I got to the part of the song with a open E chord it sounded horribly dissonant, even though fretted notes on the string sounded fine. Then I just got fixated on that and I was starting to feel reeeeally bummed out. This morning I picked up my fender esquire to compare and I have to admit that it does do the same sort of thing on the e string. I don't know.. maybe the shorter scale length plays a role too. I think the guitar is going to be OK after all. Thanks for the help guys, I know I can sound like an idiot sometimes.

 

I don't hate Gibson or Guitar Center either and that wasn't the point of this thread, I'm not out to bash anyone. I got it at the Tallahassee GC and the dudes there were really nice. I asked for an SG standard and they set me up with an egnater tourmaster (omg, that amp has some heavenly high gain sounds) and left me alone, there's nothing I hate more than having a salesmen perched on my shoulder when I'm trying to check something out.

[NeoConMan]

If you aren't 100% satified with the guitar now, you'll never "learn" to like it.

Guitar Center uses their money back guarantee as one of many tools to drive independent shops out of business, so make 'em put their money where their mouth is and refund every penny of the price.

Done deal.

 

Spend the money and get what you REALLY want, you'll have a guitar to love forever.

Life is too short to own the wrong guitar - or buy from the wrong dealer.

[CentralScrutinizer]

If you aren't 100% satified with the guitar now' date=' you'll never "learn" to like it.

Guitar Center uses their money back guarantee as one of many tools to drive independent shops out of business, so make 'em put their money where their mouth is and refund every penny of the price.

Done deal.

 

Spend the money and get what you REALLY want, you'll have a guitar to love forever.

Life is too short to own the wrong guitar - or buy from the wrong dealer.[/quote']

 

I've been jamming on the guitar for a couple hours and I'm 100% positive the guitar is fine after all. I think it was just some kind of buyers remorse and maybe I was a bit paranoid as well (pun intended). I wouldn't have bought it in the first place if I didn't like it.

[Surfabilly]

I'd once tried out a Faded SG Special, at the GC in Indianapolis, and the neck felt like the large end of a softball bat. Have tried others, at different stores and even the same SG, and nothing else was like that one. I still wish I'd had the bucks for it, the one time I found a Faded SG Special that'd been modified with (soap bar) P90s. Otherwise, I can still hope for an SG Classic, and even (eventually) a Faded SG Special.

 

Matt

[guitar_randy]

Sounds like its just in need of setup .

Don't know about guitar center ,but many places offer it for free when you buy a new guitar from them.

If you can't do setups yourself,I'd go back to where you purchased it from and tell them you just bought this brand new guitar from you and it has some set up issues which need correcting,see what they will do for you.

[ssgfowler]

I don't know about all GC's, but the one here in Nashville does not do setups, however, they have an authorized Gibson factory rep in the store one or two days a week doing setups and minor repair work.

[jamo71]

Get a setup. I don't think there are many Gibsons that are not in need of a set up right out of the box. A bone nut would not hurt either.

[ChanMan]

I don't know about all GC's' date=' but the one here in Nashville does not do setups, however, they have an authorized Gibson factory rep in the store one or two days a week doing setups and minor repair work.[/quote']

 

There are a couple of guys there who can, just not officially. I use John Mann at Sam Ash... he is a certified luthiere. I know that is a long way from the 'Boro though...

[apillock]

A new nut is not a big thing.

Gibson should make it right for you.

 

Didn't get it at Guitar Center or another Big Box store' date=' did you?

 

I say you should call Gibson Customer Service at 800-444-2766 and let them make an offer to fix it.

Probably take it to the nearest authorized repair center and get it done for free.

For a few bucks you might get a better nut installed, but the Gibson ones work fine if fitted properly.

 

If Gibson won't help, take it back to the store for a refund.

Wouldn't hurt to call the store anyway and talk to manager, make him aware of your issues and displeasure.

Even if Gibson fixes it, the store manager should be aware of the hassles you went thru with the turd they sold you.

 

Be polite, but firm.

 

If it's Guitar Center, don't bother being polite.[/quote']

 

 

 

 

I'm not commenting about your suggestion on nuts.

I just want to say that your boast about not using any effects is misplaced. Check out the just posted demo of The Moon is Dying on www.myspace.com/thedesperadobrothers to see where you've gone wrong.

If you need a good Arizona song, check out Talking Cowboy Blues on www.myspace.com/edotoole . Maybe you can find a decent singer to accompany.

[happydog]

I don't know' date=' maybe I'm going crazy. I was working on a song of mine last night and when I got to the part of the song with a open E chord it sounded horribly dissonant...I just got fixated on that ...This morning I picked up my fender esquire to compare and I have to admit that it does do the same sort of thing on the e string. I don't know...maybe the shorter scale length plays a role too. I think the guitar is going to be OK after all. Thanks for the help guys, I know I can sound like an idiot sometimes.

[/quote']

 

If this is your first Gibson that is understandable, I had the same sort of confusion. With me, the problem was resolved with a good set-up and the sudden realization that I was grabbing the neck as though I was playing one of my Fenders.

 

The Gibson required a lot less effort for me to play, and I realized I was bearing down on the neck too much, because I was used to dealing with the difficult action on my Strat. So I was over-fretting, so to speak, pressing the strings down too hard. I also realized that I was hitting the guitar too hard with the pick as well. The 490s on the SG were so much more powerful than the pickups on the Strat, but I was still picking as if I was dealing with the Strat's lower-output pickups!

 

So essentially I was playing the SG too hard, both with my right hand fretting and my left hand picking, which accounted for my tuning oddness. After I modified these two factors I noted immediately that it was a LOT LESS EFFORT to play the guitar and I wasn't fighting the guitar to get good sounds out of it any more. For once I had a guitar that WANTED to be played instead of one that I had to fight every time to get a decent sound out of.

 

I don't know about anyone else's preferences but my Strat got traded in not long after that.

[SolidGuitar]

 

If this is your first Gibson that is understandable' date=' I had the same sort of confusion. With me, the problem was resolved with a good set-up and the sudden realization that I was grabbing the neck as though I was playing one of my Fenders.

 

The Gibson required a lot less effort for me to play, and I realized I was bearing down on the neck too much, because I was used to dealing with the difficult action on my Strat. So I was over-fretting, so to speak, pressing the strings down too hard. I also realized that I was hitting the guitar too hard with the pick as well. The 490s on the SG were so much more powerful than the pickups on the Strat, but I was still picking as if I was dealing with the Strat's lower-output pickups!

 

So essentially I was playing the SG too hard, both with my right hand fretting and my left hand picking, which accounted for my tuning oddness. After I modified these two factors I noted immediately that it was a LOT LESS EFFORT to play the guitar and I wasn't fighting the guitar to get good sounds out of it any more. For once I had a guitar that WANTED to be played instead of one that I had to fight every time to get a decent sound out of.

 

I don't know about anyone else's preferences but my Strat got traded in not long after that. [/quote']

 

I concur. I actually purposely set up my strat with higher action and 12 gauge strings as oppose to me SG with 9s. I like the polar opposites in feel. happydog is right though, Gibsons take literally no effort to play and make sound nice. if you need to strum your sg hard, try strumming closer to the bridge. The strings won't go sharp as bad.