Is it just me or is it Gibson (QC)

[JimmyJet]

I haven't had time to get out and hit any music stores to try out any ES335's, but have looked at quite a few on those internet stores that pictures of actual stock, and at this time, I'd say about 70% of them have the strings off center from the fret board -- meaning they are shifted toward the high e string -- as a result, the high e is closer to the fretboard edge than the low e.

 

Another tale tell is if you look dead on facing the fretboard, the d string is touching the edge of the dot marker and the g string is shifted away from the opposite edge of the dot marker. I've seen this on many models from the Satin Finish to the more expensive block inlay and figured topped models.

 

I'm shocked that this misalignment (either from nut slotting and/or bridge positoning) gets the okay from Gibson to go out the door -- especially on axes in the $2k - 4k range.

 

Here is an example that is just one of many that I've come across - click the center picture to see a larger image and you'll see the d and g strings shifted to the right of the dot (toward the treble end).

 

ES-335 owners -- does you guitar exhibit this?

 

http://wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/gibson/es/cs85189/cs85189.php

[lpdeluxe]

As I've said before, if we all bought guitars in person, and insisted on quality, the manufacturers would wake up. As long as people look at a web site and say "ooooh, it's sooooo pretty! and push their dollars on the seller, that won't change. My '00 Nashville 335 has no issues...and I drove 300 miles and back to inspect it in person before I bought.

 

Or do you buy cars without a road test?

[L5Larry]

The slightest shift off-center of the angle of the camera or guitar will cause this "appearance". What your seeing in these photos does not mean the strings are off center, it's most likely just the camera angle.

 

Take out a guitar, set it in a stand (or on the couch), stand in front of it and see how little you have to move side to side to make the strings move in perspective to the fingerboard.

 

Guitars are like women, about the only thing you can tell about them from a picture is if they're pretty or not. It's always important to do a good hands-on inspection.

[KennyF]

 

Guitars are like women' date=' about the only thing you can tell about them from a picture is if they're pretty or not. It's always important to do a good hands-on inspection.[/quote']

 

GREAT analogy Larry! There is hope for the world...

[JimmyJet]

The slightest shift off-center of the angle of the camera or guitar will cause this "appearance". What your seeing in these photos does not mean the strings are off center' date=' it's most likely just the camera angle.[/quote']

 

Actually, if you scroll down that pic and look at the end of the fretboard next to the neck pup, you'll see how much closer the high e is to the edge of the fretboard and how far in the low e is away from the left edge of the fretboard. That's pretty much a dead-on shot, not that much of a camera angle to cause the strings to appear shifted by that amount.

 

And no, I've never purchased an axe over the internet and don't plan to for precisely those reasons, plus there is always one or two that you try out that have a certain vibe that other perfect specimens don't. I was just looking online when I found out from this forum that there were internet stores that had photos of the actual stock and was shocked to find so many of them exhibited off-centered strings. Hopefully, I'll see better in the stores I visit - plan to go this weekend...

[Hall]

Approximately two years past Gibson made it clear of its plans to compete with its larger volume fellow manufacturer(s) in output and increased models. Did everyone forget that tidbit? They did away with 'seconds' and started churning them out. Lous1952 and Raptor would recall. The consequence, particularly in electrics, has been the demise of the prior high standards of QC. Fact of life. I won't buy a Gibson that is not Custom Shop, lucky I have a bunch of old Gibsons already, and its even showing there. Mass production. You have to really check each one out now days as compared to the past.