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MIDTOWN RICHLITE FINGERBOARD ISSUES


djBeWilmingtonNC

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i purchased a 2017 aqua 356-richlite. from the get go low and hi e string noticed finger slipping off of frets more than i've experienced w/many other guitars. had it set up upon delivery as it was too high. after strings settled. left them on for a month. d'addario 10-46. i put on same brand/gauge, one by one to keep nedck tension. immediately the e string buzzes really in an exaggerated fashion. and open as well. i have to have it set up and i'll get a new nut cut as well but i don't have the 250.00 right now which is what my tech in nyc charges. i had right before this a used 2007 336, and noticed a big difference. the 336 much heavier, less resonant acoustically, but a better neck. thicker top. on the 356 the edges of the inside of the f hole feel just like a laminate, 330. (i had 2, plus 2 lennon casinos, and 2 custom johnny a guitars). i like the guitar but hoping the neck can be fixed. i have never had a guitar which did this. extreme effect with just the string change. i have replaced the high e  and same effect. i raised the bridge. same thing. 

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I can see you have a problem.  But it definitely looks like craftsmanship and has nothing to do with being a richlite board.  Personally I don't like nibs because of potential problems with "fit".  Even if they start perfectly done. 

But if perfectly done to start with, richlite should have less chance of developing problems.

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I don't think the Richlite board is causing any problems.  I have a CS356 with a Richlite board and nibs on the fret ends and I've never heard any "pinging" when playing solos or weird sounds playing chords.  When you have two different materials coming together (the nib and fret) there will always be a slight edge between them, but for the life of me I can't see how you are getting your string to go in there while you are playing.  It would seem you have to pull the string off the fingerboard entirely for it to reach the point where the nib and the fret join together.

But if you're not happy with the guitar by all means exchange it and get something else, but don't blame Richlite or Gibson's method of binding fret ends which they have been doing for many, many years with great success.

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