J45 Replacement

[theblast]

Hope all is well with you all.

 

So I sent back my newish (purchased in May) J45 a few weeks ago as it was determined it had an un-fixable Sympathetic Vibration issue (you may remember my previous post). I received a replacement today. Upon inspecting the guitar, it sounds great so far & I'm sure it will open up more. Also, seems like really fast service.

 

Concerns:

As for the finish, it's nice but seems like there are some very light sanding marks which appear to be below the clear coat. They are little lines that don't run the same direction as the natural grain of the wood. Possibly it's just the way the nitro cellulose was applied with a brush???? (tried to photograph but my camera & lighting conditions aren't good enough)

 

There are also some small glue bubbles protruding from the backside of the lower area of the bridge. Have any of you seen this before? (See pics)

 

A small area where the nut, fingerboard & neck all join have a nasty filed area that goes over the nut end, finger board & bit of the neck. I can't feel anything when playing but again, just seems like very poor workmanship. (see pics)

 

The Grover tuning machines were sooooo covered in fingerprints that once I got them cleaned, you can still see permanent fingerprints in them. This is the natural reaction from some peoples skin chemistry, not mine however so it bugs me a little as well.

 

Is it possible that my "replacement" guitar is someone else's "repaired" guitar? Maybe the bridge had come off & they had to refinish the top, hence the subtle marks beneath the finish & glue coming from under the bridge? Or is it just the nature of the beast, i.e. the craftsmanship coming out of Bozeman?

 

Thanks & looking forward to all your expert opinions,

-john

[Modac]

The marks on the top look like silking to me. This is the rays of the wood where it is well quarter sawn.

 

The little scratches near the nut look like someone was playing it who had a ring on.

 

The glue squeeze out just looks like poor attention to detail. A tech should be able to clear that up pretty easily. You can do it too---carefully----with naptha.

 

If you're really impressed with the tone of the instrument, you might want to overlook these things. If not, make a polite complaint, send it back, have them fix it, or have them try again....that's what I'd recommend.

[ballcorner]

These are annoying issues - especially where you had to return the other instrument with a problem. Still, if the tone of the guitar is good, a previous post provided your answers - have the glue removed, live with the blemishes and enjoy the guitar.

 

I think when I come home from work today I might post pics of all the issues with my '05 AJ. My point being that the guitar sounds incredible, so I could care less if there were chainsaw marks on the headstock. And, I think there might be along with a host of other issues including a bridge pin hole that is several millimeters closer to the saddle than the other five. Again, the sound of the guitar is incredible and that is why I bought it.

 

I did get it below retail, but if you look at Canadian retail prices you quickly learn that $2400 + 13% tax is not exactly a bargain ($3000 is retail) for an AJ. Hopefully, I will remain healthy and happy enough to play the guitar up to the stage where it has a whole bunch of blemishes, a history and a story to tell.

 

And YES, that is silking - a most desirable attribute to have on your top. Those are not sanding marks.

[RogueBrit]

I agree with the other folk - apart from the nice silking, these are cosmetic things which, unforunately, tend to be a feature of factory made products - that you wouldn't get with a custom built small-shop model - but you pay for the difference. Almost all guitars, of any make, have some of these issues. For instance - my Martin OM-35 has a couple - including the fact that the centre back insert is not exactly aligned to the heel. My TV J-45 has a couple of small things too. I wouldn't worry about them in the least, personally - they give it character!

 

Roger

[theblast]

Thanks guys, well see. The funny scratches I mentioned were not photographed as my camera won't pick them up. The Silking pics were actually the Glue pics but thank for the vote of confidence as far as that goes.

 

I agree that blemishes add character, I just hope they didn't send me another persons repaired guitar. That's not what I originally paid for. I guess I am trying to figure out if that is even possible.

 

I also forgot to mention that if you were to draw two imaginary lines straight back to the binding from each E string, this area of the top looks like it's being pulled by the bridge. The are even two dime-sized dimples at the binding from the tension.

 

I'm calling Gibson today to talk to them. I just don't want to get stuck with a guitar that's going to have problems. I know problems will always arise, but not frfom the get-go.

 

Thanks again, John

[guitarstrummer]

They wouldn't have given you anyone else's repaired guitar.

 

The finish is applied by spray and not by brush.

[Modac]

Hey John....you paid for a new guitar, didn't you? If so, you deserve a new guitar, then. If you're not perfectly happy with it, then either get another one, or get a refund. There are plenty of independent builders who can and will make you the guitar of your dreams, without annoying flaws, if Gibson can't.

[ajsc]

Doesn't sound to me,as though you are happy with this transaction. In honesty I wouldn't be. I think you should not settle for anything less than what you "thought " you were paying for.

I would think that Gibson would have sent you the best example that they could find, since they are replacing a guitar that you paid hard earned money for.

IMHO, this is not the way to treat a customer who has already had a problem.

[jefleppard]

Hey John....you paid for a new guitar' date=' didn't you? If so, you deserve a new guitar, then. If you're not perfectly happy with it, then either get another one, or get a refund. There are plenty of independent builders who can and will make you the guitar of your dreams, without annoying flaws, if Gibson can't.[/quote']

 

very good point. new is not re-furb.

[onewilyfool]

Gibson just doesn't get quality control....but what they DO get is sound.......if you like the sound....keep it. But still I would write to Gibson and voice your concerns, because they NEED TO KNOW how these guitars are leaving their factory. Otherwise they will keep doing it. How did that glue get through quality control????? amazing...

[ajsc]

I saw glue on a bridge at GC, & was told by someone on this forum, that they "doubted I saw it", because gibson glues bridges from the bottom.

[Hall]

Doesn't sound to me' date='as though you are happy with this transaction. In honesty I wouldn't be. I think you should not settle for anything less than what you "thought " you were paying for.

I would think that Gibson would have sent you the best example that they could find, since they are replacing a guitar that you paid hard earned money for.

IMHO, this is not the way to treat a customer who has already had a problem.[/quote']

 

 

Agreed!

 

 

Steve

[theblast]

I'm a little torn. I do like this guitar but I don't think I'm satisfied. I need to make some calls & I'll let you all know what happens.

 

Thanks, John

[ksdaddy]

Dude! What's going to happen when you scratch it? It sure won't be perfect then.

 

If you really liked it you wouldn't notice little flaws. Maybe it's just not for you, period.

[ponty]

Every Gibson acoustic I have ever owned, (6 of them) have had issues like this - they never seem to be as clean as a martin.

Still, my all time favourite guitar - and I have had about 30-40 is my 1993 J45s. I bought one brand new with a natural top

(Not a J50) which is showing alot of marks which just adds to it character.

[Andrew]

"un-fixable Sympathetic Vibration issue"

 

yep i think thats what i had (have still to some extent..new strings helped) in my j-45 rw...(look up my old posts for full story).

 

im telling you..gibson makes a fine sounding (and smelling in the rosewoods case) guitar.

 

but the so called 'proudly hand made in america' quality is seriously lacking.

 

EVERY gibson i inspected had major to minor flaws. every...single...one. (over a dozen i played before i bought the one i have)

 

from broken kerfling inside (the train track binding thingy) to glue splatter to wrong factory strings to overspray, scratches, and BUZZING! etc...

 

and i'm talking RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX GUITARS.

 

but we keep buying them...and they keep making them...and we keep buying them...

 

and they know it...and they don't really care because hey: $$.

 

sigh...

 

still...i'm as guilty as anyone...i love my axe flaws and all.

 

you have to decide what you can live with and what will annoy you. if it will bug you forever..ditch it..if not..love it.

[Gman]

Send it back until you're happy. Flaws and blemishes are exactly what they are. No character or mojo. If you're not happy now you won't be happy with it next week. Send it back and get what you paid for.

Good Luck Gman

[RogueBrit]

There's the view that says - if no-one reacts to these things, Gibson are unlikely ever to tighten up their QC, and that will be bad for us, and bad for them in the long term. I have to say my 2008 J-45 TV is pretty well free of issues - so they can do it! But they are not going to maintain their resurrected reputation, which they fought so hard for following the Norlin era, if the careless faults we are seeing continue. I hope someone from the company reads these threads.

 

In spite of my earlier view, and after reading all the posts, I am coming to the conclusion that these things need to be carried back to them. Come on Gibson, buck up!

 

Roger