Would you buy a new Gibson?

gibby

Sorry if I upset anyone, but Gibson were fooked when they introduced chambered guitars around 2008 (?)..I owned 2 (a 2008 and a later 2011, both STD's). Very well put together, maybe too well, BUT NO personality to them and the TONE I'd expected from a good LP just wasn't there..NO BALLS!  Yes, weight can be an issue with older models, but if you ain't got character, is doesn't matter how good looking you are!...And, to add to that demise, there was the auto-tuning black box on the headstock added a few years later. To be honest, I've not played a recent model, but why would I?...TOO expensive ,and in my mind I already have what I need.(numerous LP's from 70's, 80's and 90's)...(and I use a PRS when my back is playing up!)

richardhomer

gibby said:

Sorry if I upset anyone, but Gibson were fooked when they introduced chambered guitars around 2008 (?)..I owned 2 (a 2008 and a later 2011, both STD's). Very well put together, maybe too well, BUT NO personality to them and the TONE I'd expected from a good LP just wasn't there..NO BALLS! 

Gibson have been using some form of weight relief for about 35 years on most Les Pauls. Vintage - as in 50s examples - were light(ish) due to using light mahogany. Those guitars sound quite bright - with a very open, clear sounding mid range. For most players, they represent the tonal ‘ holy grail’ - so it’s not surprising that Gibson has tried to get nearer to it over time.

Keefy

gibby said:

Sorry if I upset anyone, but Gibson were fooked when they introduced chambered guitars around 2008 (?)..I owned 2 (a 2008 and a later 2011, both STD's). Very well put together, maybe too well, BUT NO personality to them and the TONE I'd expected from a good LP just wasn't there..NO BALLS!  Yes, weight can be an issue with older models, but if you ain't got character, is doesn't matter how good looking you are!...

Interesting that you should say that (and not in the least upsetting). I have had a chambered R8 VOS Les Paul since 2008. IIRC I told the chap in the shop I was looking for a Les Paul, but found the weight a bit off-putting. He handed me this chambered R8 (used), I tried it, I loved it - it did everything it should. I hadn't come out intending to spend anything like that much money, so I eventually handed it back, then made my excuses and left.

After a spot of lunch with Mrs Keefy I went back to the shop and tried maybe 9 different Les Pauls, but none compared to the chambered R8. Out came the credit card...

There are obviously a fair few differences between a regular LP and the Custom Shop equivalent, but what I don't know is whether the chambering is done in the same way.

57Deluxe

richardhomer said:

gibby said:

Sorry if I upset anyone, but Gibson were fooked when they introduced chambered guitars around 2008 (?)..I owned 2 (a 2008 and a later 2011, both STD's). Very well put together, maybe too well, BUT NO personality to them and the TONE I'd expected from a good LP just wasn't there..NO BALLS! 

Gibson have been using some form of weight relief for about 35 years on most Les Pauls. Vintage - as in 50s examples - were light(ish) due to using light mahogany. Those guitars sound quite bright - with a very open, clear sounding mid range. For most players, they represent the tonal ‘ holy grail’ - so it’s not surprising that Gibson has tried to get nearer to it over time.

the only weight relief my studio has is lack of ponecy cap! It is solid, heavy AND has an Ebony fretboard to boot. Is a Monster Muncher...

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/52/9b/22/529b224c4c97bd7faab4373212154ff0.jpg

AllthegearNoidea

As long as I'd played it first. Just bought a 2018 Es335 traditional Great guitar as is my historic R8

Three-ColourSunburst

Quite apart from their ludicrous prices, the way they treat their workers, their shoddy quality control, their shameless exploitation of nonsensical 'mojo' in their marketing, the obnoxious far-right ' libertarian' political beliefs of Henry Juszkiewicz, the fact that the only real link with the original Gibson company is that HJ owns the brand name, I have now read that Gibson are not adverse to blatantly conning their customers - as with the fake 'bumblebee' capacitors they continue to sell at $129 a pair, which actually contain an ordinary 50-cents capacitor. The more I read the more I am determined never to buy a Gibson - they clearly believe that their customers are a bunch of idiots.

http://store.gibson.com/historic-spec-bumble-bee-capacitors-two-pack/

http://www.mylespaul.com/threads/historic-gibson-faux-bumblebee-caps.118027ac

mburekenge

Yes. Would love a new es-345 But i would have to try about 100 to find 'the one. But that's fun, so who cares?

meltedbuzzbox

mburekenge said:

Yes. Would love a new es-345 But i would have to try about 100 to find 'the one. But that's fun, so who cares?




I went looking for a high end gretsch and ended up buying a new es-345.
If finances allow I will always buy the right guitar, new, used or whatever

Philly_Q

Keefy said:
There are obviously a fair few differences between a regular LP and the Custom Shop equivalent, but what I don't know is whether the chambering is done in the same way.

@Keefy I think these pictures might be a bit out of date, but:

On the Custom Shop chambered LPs, the control cavity isn't closed, so it's more like this:

http://www.chambered-reissue.org/