Gibson tomfoolery continues

Doctorfunk · October 2019

Picture the scene: JC in the boardroom at Gibson.
"Boys, I wanna talk to you all today about case candy as I wanna up our game. I've decided we're gonna put a registration document, a Gibson handbook, a cleaning cloth and a photograph of the guitar next to a computer in a funky branded plastic bag in every guitar case. Plus this..." JC holds up a newly made Gibson branded multi-tool.
It's a fine thing. Countless screwdrivers and hex wrenches and most importantly an in-built Gibson truss rod spanner. "They sure are gonna love us for this" says JC to enthusiastic applause.

Somewhere in the UK a guitar player takes delivery of a brand new TV yellow Les Paul Special. He'd given up on Gibson a while ago but hearing that they were now producing guitars that people actually want gave them another chance. Yes! They'd done it - it was all there. Audio taper pots, the whole bit.
Our man, being a player of some experience notices that the guitar needs a little adjustment and notices that he has a new Gibson multi-tool in the case. He is overjoyed with quality of this thing and that it has a built-n truss rod spanner. No more rooting around for that funny looking little spanner he's always used as this is now built in with everything else. He removes the truss rod cover and unfolds the spanner from the multi-tool and.....it doesn't fit. The built in spanner on the multi-tool doesn't fit.

Meanwhile in the Gibson boardroom JC is sitting on pallet load of Gibson multi-tools addressing his staff:
"Boys, I think it's time we changed the size of the brass nut on our truss rods...."

RaymondLin · October 2019

Somewhere Paul Reed Smith goes "its in tune and ready to be gigged out of the box"

tony99 · October 2019

that's just a little quirk, Gibson are famous for them, quirks, foibles and idiosyncracies, it's why we all love them, just enjoy it!!

guitars4you · October 2019

I gave you a LOL but it could be a wow

I've seen the 'Leatherman' style tool kit but never used it - Just use appropriate tools that have sat on my bench for ages - So you assume that the tool's supplied fit - Wow - How hard is it to get it right !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

professorben · October 2019

Think yourself lucky, my old boss used to take everything out of the cases and sell them separately, cleaning kit, cable, everything.
Usually to the person buying the guitar it should have come free with anyway, sometimes he would ‘discount’ the case candy to help seal a deal.

Pre internet awareness in the general population was the reason many music shops stayed open.

Neil · October 2019

Out of interest, what size is the socket on the multi tool? Gibson use a 5/16" IIRC.

Possibly made in China and the so called metric equivalent = 8mm which I have found don't fit Gibson truss rod nuts either?

TINMAN82 · October 2019

Are you sure? The multi tool wrench fit the truss rod on my 2019 Firebird.

Schnozz · October 2019

Built in multi-tool?

PolarityMan · October 2019

JC is a built in multi-tool

darthed1981 · October 2019

professorben said:
Pre internet awareness in the general population was the reason many music shops stayed open.

I can't click wisdom twice, or I would.

OT - This Gibson story is ridiculous, I assume they purchased a branded version of an existing product en-masse without checking suitability first.

TINMAN82 · October 2019

darthed1981 said:

professorben said:
Pre internet awareness in the general population was the reason many music shops stayed open.

I can't click wisdom twice, or I would.

OT - This Gibson story is ridiculous, I assume they purchased a branded version of an existing product en-masse without checking suitability first.

I think we should be sure the tools definitely don’t fit before drawing that conclusion. As I said, the multi tool that came with my Firebird this year worked for both the Firebird and an ES-335.

Im more concerned about the variably out of whack string alignment on various SG models (sideways vibrios in particular). As shown on various online shopfront photos.

darthed1981 · October 2019

TINMAN82 said:

darthed1981 said:

professorben said:
Pre internet awareness in the general population was the reason many music shops stayed open.

I can't click wisdom twice, or I would.

OT - This Gibson story is ridiculous, I assume they purchased a branded version of an existing product en-masse without checking suitability first.

I think we should be sure the tools definitely don’t fit before drawing that conclusion. As I said, the multi tool that came with my Firebird this year worked for both the Firebird and an ES-335.

Im more concerned about the variably out of whack string alignment on various SG models (sideways vibrios in particular). As shown on various online shopfront photos.

Well that's fair enough - my comment is based on the principle the story is true, of course it may not be.

Musicman20 · October 2019

professorben said:

Think yourself lucky, my old boss used to take everything out of the cases and sell them separately, cleaning kit, cable, everything.
Usually to the person buying the guitar it should have come free with anyway, sometimes he would ‘discount’ the case candy to help seal a deal.

Pre internet awareness in the general population was the reason many music shops stayed open.

Or just the death of the 'typical dodgy salesman' means people aren't ripped off to give someone else an income for doing relatively little? ahahahha

FelineGuitars · October 2019

I like the Cruz multi-tool . Not sure if the Gibson one is any different

WiresDreamDisasters · October 2019

Those multi-tools are too finnicky for me. Too risky to scratch the top when working on the bridge, and too much olympic skill to use one to turn a truss rod anyway.

But there again I am left handed, so...

guitars4you · October 2019

Just had a set-up to do for a customer and the Gibson multi tool kit was in the case, so I tried it and it fits - However I would add that it did not sit as tight on the nut as I'd like - Compared to my old tool and this might cause a worn patch around the hexagnol nut over the years if not used carefully

Sassafras · October 2019

Multi tools are usually crap anyway and fiddly to use. Why have a dozen tools you don't use rather than 2 you do?
It's just annoying that you're paying for something you didn't ask for and will never use.

Henrytwang · October 2019

Sassafras said:

Multi tools are usually crap anyway and fiddly to use. Why have a dozen tools you don't use rather than 2 you do?
It's just annoying that you're paying for something you didn't ask for and will never use.

I totally agree with you. Multi tools are nearly always crap, even the reasonably good ones are unwieldy to use.

johnl · October 2019

Have had those tools with various guitars over the years - SG special, Les Paul Tribute and Les Paul Faded and they definitely always fit. I've also used the same tool to adjust the truss rod on my R8.

Philly_Q · October 2019

Henrytwang said:

Sassafras said:

Multi tools are usually crap anyway and fiddly to use. Why have a dozen tools you don't use rather than 2 you do?
It's just annoying that you're paying for something you didn't ask for and will never use.

I totally agree with you. Multi tools are nearly always crap, even the reasonably good ones are unwieldy to use.

They're not meant to be a substitute for all individual tools. They're just handy to have around if you can't immediately find the right sized screwdriver or allen key.

FelineGuitars · October 2019

https://www.allparts.uk.com/products/box-spanner-5-16-inch

Image: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0398/9005/products/LT-4216-000-web_1024x1024.jpg?v=1467361024

https://www.allparts.uk.com/products/t-handle-socket-spanner-5-16-inch

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Gibson tomfoolery continues

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