Wanting to buy a Gibson, but Forums say QC is "Hit and Miss"

[AzNjT]

Yeah, so as the title says, M looking to buy a Gibson Firebird V but the things that i've read up about Gibsons' 2010 line (though not intending to look specifically for this new series) has some really bad impressions to the point where guitar stores drop the entire Gibson brand and have been dropping them from their Brands sold at various independent dealers.

So yeah maybe Gibsons are alright but, really, DO NOT WANT to spend money on buying online and only to find out that the QC of the guitar is utter Crap.

Now I have "Faith" in Gibson but out of the Gibsons I own and come to think of it, its really been kinda shaky. So if anyone has anything to persuade me not to induldge in purchasing the "New" Gibsons please do so and save me the worry of purchasing a "Hit or Miss" guitar when we expect some level of decency for the price paid.

But I really do want to Trust in Gibson and make the purchase.

Dropping the Gibson brand
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/gibson-les-pauls/83048-my-local-shop-dropping-gibson-line.html

 

[relinquish69]

Be it first or second hand, whether it becomes a hit or miss is totally dependent on individual piece & how it's set up. If a set up can't even save it, I guess that's a miss.

try before buying.

 

[skipper53]

A lesson very painfully learnt. Set ups can do wonders for the most hapless guitars. But that being said, I wouldn't pay a for a guitar off the shelf if I had to spend money after that to rectify manufacture flaws. Thats ridiculous.

I echo relinquish69: Try before you buy. Run it through an amp, put it through the grind, do everything you need to settle your conscience before you drop the cash. It's yours to spend, you have every right to be anal about it.

If the store/previous owner is unwilling to put up with your insistence, move on. There's always another shop, another seller another guitar. But when you find the right one, rock out even when the sun goes out.

 

[AzNjT]

Be it the individual piece? isnt that kinda missing the point, the problem is that the Manufacturing process is the main concern and not the after though of "Set ups". More towards the concerns if the guitars are now dodgy and cutting corners with workmanship, for instance, frets that aren't aligned or if the woods being used are sub par and not properly dried before manufacture.

Anybody who bought Gibson within the last year care to share how your instrument is holding up. Expecting it to be Perfect intonation and action, a well resonated guitar and all the PLAYABILITY aspects, not so much the aesthetics.

Set ups i can handle, but will also not be buying guitars from stores. so trying out isn't an option. Online purchases only. So hopefully the responses from you guyses is Good or "Gibson is still Gibson" then it'll be a green light and dont have to bother about the other thread linked. really have High hopes for this.

OH and, also Gibson owners, please Specify which year and Model your Gibson is! so can gauge the level of Quality Control!

 

[Godspeed64]

My Gibby is a 94.

I tried several SGs, ALL OF WHICH WERE SG STANDARDS, before I purchased that one.
Most of the SGs I tried felt good, but not great. I couldn't justify spending that amount when my Epiphone SG was a gem, it truly felt different from other Epiphones.

So when I finally got to my current one, I didn't think I'd like it. It was beat-up, like really bad cosmetic shape, but I played ONE freaking overdriven note and me and my guitarist stared at each other mouthing "this is it!". From this maybe I can gather that pre-2000 Gibsons are much better.

Gibson is still Gibson, and they surely have quality products. But I would only purchase their new stuff if I get to play it first. If not, I'd probably go for The Heritage or something.