I bought a $800 Scott Ian Red Jackson King V. This thing had all kinds of dead frets and buzz. I had to level and crown all the frets, and then change the nut just to make it playable. I bought a $400 Schechter and had zero issues.
Definitely ask for discounts. Last year I had ordered a Schecter Nick Johnston Strat and a Sire T7 from Sweetwater, both in high demand and both on back order. I got a 15% discount on both, just by posing the question “Anything you can do on the price?” I’m the kind of guy who isn’t comfortable with asking for discounts, but your advice had given me the nerve to ask. Thank you, sir!
I actually stopped buying Gibson electrics when Epiphone began releasing their “Inspired by Gibson” line of guitars. I was floored at how great the guitars were for the money. If you blindfolded me I wouldn’t be able to tell you whether it was an Epi or Gibson. What Epiphone is doing with Gibson today is one of the best developments I’ve encountered in the past 45 years of playing guitar. I am hoping they bring out a ‘58 Les Paul to go along with the ‘59 they brought out couple years back. That would be sweet 👍🏻🎸🖖🏻
The paint alone is a dead giveaway. They feel very different just based on that. The bolt on from the Epiphone’s is usually a pretty big giveaway too (unless of course you have a USA Epi).
@@smeagle3295 Poly isn't a bad feel, just different. Epiphone's poly finish is like nice furniture from the 1990s lol. Plenty of Made in China Epiphone models have set necks not bolt ons, and Gibson has made bolts in the past. I really like my 1985 Gibson Invader haha.
I would totally buy a Epiphone Hummingbird if one strikes my fancy. All the Epiphone single cuts I've played have been great. No need to pay Gibson prices.
They are my favorite guitar makers acoustic and electric along with Fender. Every Gibson ive played since their new CEO in 2019/20 has been fantastic. The original series hummingbirds to the 50s 60s Les Pauls, the classic, even the tribute models really impressed me. Got my first Gibson in 2021, couldnt be happier & im proud to have such heritage under my fingers.
Hey Phil, I currently own 5 Gibsons. Two Les Paul's ( A Standard and a Special P90 ) Both play phenomenal honestly. Then I also own 3 SG's as well ( A Standard, Special P90 and also a white Standard which was a Sam Ash run in 2017. I work on guitars as well, two of them were even husks, after setting them up properly and installing very nice hardware I have to say I love every one of them. I love Gibsons and Fenders although I just use Warmoth for S types / T types. Maybe I'm not as critical as others but each and everyone plays beautifully. I've really only come across one 'bad' Gibson so I don't have anything negative to say about the brand...
I have had two Gibsons--a 1978-ish EDS-1275 (the SG double-neck), which I sold years ago, and an early 2000s LP Studio. Neither were perfect, but both sounded great. And, that's my common denominator with Gibsons. Flaws, but sound epic. Easy to find guitars that play better than Gibsons, but hard to find ones that sound better.
I have used single coil LACE pickups for years. They do need to be EQ'd a little differently, but you can get good tones. I had one become open circuit after years of use. I had no receipt and couldn't even remember where I bought them. I gave LACE a call and they said to send it in for testing. A couple weeks later they sent me a brand new pickup. I appreciate LACE taking good care of me.
I was in luck and my first Gibson was indeed a magical one. In 1999 I was able to afford my first brand guitar and got myself a Gibson Explorer (Cherry). It is until today the most comfortable guitar I have played and still is a work horse with subjectively low maintenance. And when I pick it up after a time not playing it, it is still able to give me butterflies in my stomach when I play again. Magical. I have had two Les Pauls in the meantime, too - a 2015 Standard Trans Amber, that was just really beautiful but I could not connect long term to its neck profile and had to switch the PUs for something more metal, sold it though in the end - and a 2016 Les Paul 50s Tribute (Gold Top, Darkback). The latter one is a good guitar and I like playing it (it also has the same factory pickups as the explorer, nice for recording), yet it is nowhere near as magic as the ol'explorer I got in 99. In between (ca 2007) I got a ESP Eclipse 1 (snow white) with EMGs and it is also a great guitar in terms of reliability and maintenance. Yet no real magic, just comfortable work horse, a tad better than the Gibson LPs I had.
“The latter one is a good guitar and I like playing it”. Those are not the words that should come out of a guitarists mouth after he drops thousands of dollars on a guitar. Gibson brands themself as “the best” and in recent years they have completely failed. I worked in a guitar shop for a long time and I don’t remember ever getting in a new Gibson that was truly a great guitar. I played Squiers that were a ton of fun to play and sounded great regularly (don’t get me wrong. There were plenty of duds too). But shame on Gibson. I will never buy a new Gibson. I doubt I’ll ever buy any Gibson. Maybe if I randomly come across a real used magic Gibson, then I’d be stupid to pass up the opportunity. But you will never catch me browsing Gibson ads on the web. I’m more interested in the companies producing great guitars at fair prices ($350-$1750 maybe)
First guitar I ever bought with my own(every birthday, holy communion, confirmation since birth) money.: A Gibson Memphis era, 1992ish dot Sunburst ES335. Headstock broke off twice. First time I brought it to a local luthier(real maker) second time I glued it myself with Elmers and standard clamps. It didn't get its mojo before that. I hated it at first. For some reason it has mojo now. Everyone who has played it recently tells me its the best guitar they've ever played. Maybe it's a miracle, but if it wasn't a Gibson, I'm not sure it would be. I love it so much.
I still have my first Gibson SG I bought 13 years ago. I tried a few out and this one spoke to me. I have bought and sold a few over the years but this one is the best. I did buy a new Tony Iommi SG a couple years ago and it is a close second.
I have multiple Gibson Les Pauls ranging from 1975 to 2022. Some are completely original, some have had headstock repairs, and one had a refret with the binding replaced to create new fret nibs. Every one of them plays great. They often feel different, but they play great. I have a 2003 LP Studio. I bought it because it was super cheap. It arrived and had a headstock repair and very worn frets. I refretted it with stainless frets and it is an amazing playing guitar. I also noticed that harmonics ring off of it easier than any other guitar I had at this point. Next, I bought a 1979 LP Custom, all original. It has the low wide frets of the era and feels different, but still plays great. I bought a 2021 LP Standard around the same time. The fretwork was perfect. A 2014 LP Studio Plus was purchased next. It has a compound radius fretboard and the frets are taller than most other Gibsons. I knew right away that it played great. I also have: 2006 ‘68 reissue triburst LP Custom 2022 Silverburst LP Custom that suffered 2 different headstock repairs in shipping before it got to me. 1987 LP Custom with a headstock repair 1975 LP Custom that had the fret binding replaced during a refret along with a neck refinish. They all feel different, some have very complicated histories, yet they all play great. Even the repaired guitars feel and sound amazing. I’m not sure I’ve encountered a bad Gibson, and I’ve blind bought every single one of them.
Timestamp @7 minutes, Phil desperately tries to reconcile his guitar addiction. It's okay brother no explanation needed, we are all here for the same reason.
I have owned many Gibson guitars since the 1960's when I began playing, but would never buy another. After years of disappointment with tuning issues from Les Pauls, 335's, and even an L5, I switched to Ibanez for an L5 copy and a 335 style guitar. I only play Floyd Rose solid body guitars so ESP, Charvel, Jackson, and the recent EVH striped series red, black, and white guitar all are easy to setup, sound incredible, and all stay in tune! Thank you Phillip for taking the time to make such important and well produced videos!
I bought a birth year guitar when I was in Afghanistan. It was a 1983 Gibson Les Paul custom in pearlescent white…beautiful! Had it sent to my dads who was a great guitar player, I asked him how it was and said it was very pretty lol. I should have know from that statement it wasn’t a player. It was a beautiful guitar but it was a dud when it came to playing and sustain. Sold it because I need guitars that play and sound great so I sold it.
Ive owned probably a dozen or more Gibsons, roughly half of them made in the last 5 years. All have been flawless. They are some of the best feeling and sounding guitars out there. Sure, I have a MusicMan that has more attention to detail, and a Gretsch white Penguin with better tone, but its tough to get something as versatile as a Les Paul or ES.
I'm somewhat late to the party but in the past 4 yrs I've purchased 3 Gibson guitars (mid+ tier to vintage Custom Shop re-issue), each one of them a keeper, imho. I guess I'm very lucky. My gauge for what I consider "guitar mojo" (which is subjective, of course) is a handmade guitar from a boutique builder, which I purchased a few years back. I believe an instrument, regardless of price, should inspire one to play and create... my Gibsons do that in spades. Needless to say, I've sold off multiple Fenders and Duesenbergs these past couple of years. Though I did sell a Flying V since I'm looking to purchase another custom boutique build (the V was pretty awesome, hope I don't regret it some day), I wound up getting 75% more than I paid for it. Truth be told, the Fenders and Duesenbergs were somewhat of a struggle on the secondary market even though they were well kept, high quality and weren't at all freaky models or colours. Say what one will about Gibson, but they are re-sale beasts and truly magical when you connect with one, plain and simple. But I'm sure it's the same if you connect with any other instrument, regardless of the brand. The Gibsons (probably a lot to do with the scale) as well as the brand history just speaks to me more.
I was very lucky to buy my collection (over years) a year or so before covid. And then the market changed. So now to buy similar guitars costs a whole lot more. So I think I’m done for the moment at least. I just can’t justify paying an estimated 30/40% more for the guitars I fancy on the second hand market. Mine have gone up in value too of course but I didn’t buy to sell - so I’m happy to let it sit for a while. It’s just the market, it changes from time to time, I’m okay with it. But I feel very fortunate to have bought some killer guitars before they became way too expensive. I sure wouldn’t like to be starting off my collection now. The whole Gibson bashing is somewhat disingenuous I feel. ‘Somewhat’ There are certain UA-cam channels that constantly bash them and fuel the hate purposely for views and thus $$$. It’s old, boring and predictable. They feed into so many people who can’t afford a Gibson (no offence) and there is quite the demographic now by the looks. The truth is they were never perfect. I remember growing up you’d hear ‘You Gotta try out a few’ before you buy etc. Back in the day (before the internet) you mostly played the guitar before you bought it. Now most people seem to buy online (unboxing videos anyone?) and you are taking a chance for sure. There’s so much more that can be wrong with your brand new guitar than saw ordering sneakers of a t shirt online. And btw Even the coveted ‘59s were not all created equal - some were better than others. So it’s exactly as Phil says ‘When They Get It Right’ …..Boom 🎉. And there’s a reason so many of the best and most respected guitars in the History of Popular music play them, record them & collect them. It’s all very simple. Some people will always be up for a bit of bashing, it’s part of their make up but when you have a conversation with them and their hate or dislike of the brand is based on next to no experience with that brand but fuelled on someone else’s opinions then it’s easy to see through
I love Gibson guitars ,but cutbacks and cheap hardware are going to make any guitar brand sound shit. I’ve updated hardware and pickups on several from 2007 -2014 and they shine. If you get a great neck and body that vibrate and feels right. You can always improve it but if those fundamentals aren’t right nothing can change that . A lemon 🍋 is Always going to be a lemon 🍋 lol 😂
It took me 3 but the first one was an SG I got in 83 that I didn’t really want. Then I got one of the first good Gold top Tributes that didn’t feel or play like a Gibson because of the rounded frets, then I got my 16 Standard used. My Epi LP’s scratch the Les Paul itch better than the Tribute did. So technically three but really I got lucky on my first proper LP
I bought my 1st Les Paul about 3 years ago. I must have got lucky, its flawless. Of course I'm often told online that it's junk because its Gibson. In return I always presume they just can't afford one.
Hey Phil, If you know anyone at Kiesel Guitars, Would you "SUGGEST" that they design and offer a "BARITONE" series of electric guitars?!... I don't know why they haven't done so!..(?)...
I've owned about 20 Gibsons and I bought every single one used so the QC stuff was never important to me. With a good setup, I think they are/were all good guitars. Some just felt and sounded better or worse to me based on my personal preferences. The scale length, neck pitch, and stoptail thing just works for me so many more Gibsons feel good to me vs other brands. I don't know if there are "special" Gibsons as much as some Gibsons that just feel right to me. When you add in strong resale value and a smidge of the "real thing", most of my electrics are still Gibsons.
2016 boiling used sg-special Gibson perfectly happy with it kept it LoveIt 2017 with a brand-new Gibson firebird love it and I kept it got lucky both Bob li bedroom
I handle a lot of Gibsons in a shop. 1 in 100 is magical, 5+ in 100 are garbage. The rest are okay or good. Most of the magical ones that I've played are less expensive (we handle more of those). The 2nd Gibson I ever bought was amazing but I sorted through 100s to find it.
I have two Gibson's which I love. The first was a gift for my 40th from my brothers. Used 2004 LP studio which plays great. 2nd one is 2021 SG standard which I purchased from Sam Ash Used (likely returned) which I love as well. No complaints on either of them and these are the only Gibsons I have owned
First Gibson worked out for me, it's really good, now I'm older it feels heavy but I won't likely part with it. The original owner didn't really want to sell it, I was in the right place at the right time. I also got an Epi a few year later that is also very nearly as good in geometry, there were some component problems but the bones are good. Still have both after 15 years.
I searched through a few Gibsons. My first gibson was a used studio, best guitar and still own. Had a "thing" it did, fat rich chords and tone. 12 years later a swap on a beat up standard, haha, thought I'd try it out at a price I couldn't pass. Diff vibe but another keeper. Learn to mod and set up to taste and many guitars can be the one. Took me along time to find what I liked in a LP style guitar. strings, pickups, setup, etc etc. Standard had fit and finish, along with play feel that couldn't be beat. Studio had everything except those touch and finish add ons. I have also owned some not so great Gibson's to be fair.
I think Guitar market prices is gonna dip because interest rates will be elevated until Q2 in 2024. The demand to supply is actually low if not for supply chain issues.
Just remember all gibson mahogany is generally Honduran which makes it more expensive and also keep in mind they are all finished in nitro so if you want a "true vintage inspired" instrument there is no substitute for gibson even prs uses a lighter weight mahogany on most core models with a les paul it WILL be Honduran mahogany and it WILL have nitro for anyone who cares lol 😅
I went thru 4 Gibsons before I was fortunate in getting a standard with humbuckers and the other is brand new 50’s style neck with P90’s! Love both of them Now on a side note, I have an Epiphone ES335 but I replaced all the electronics and it sounds amazing after some work.
I wish I had your advice two years ago. I had a USA Gibson SG standard and Les Paul Traditional. I traded them in for a PRS 35th Edition Paul's Guitar. I don't regret the PRS. I regret not just paying the full cash for the guitar, and keeping the two Gibsons. My SG was $899 when I bought it and now they're $1499 now! WTF! Anyway, I wanted an Les Paul style back in the arsenal, and it was your advice, Phil, that pointed me to the Epiphone '59 Limited. It has the same electronics that my LP Trad did. Not the same nostalgia of finding that Gibson LP in Tokyo during a military assignment. But I love the Epi. It sounds as good as my old LP and actually feels better to me. But the SG. Well... I don't think I'm paying $1500 for a new SG, so I'll probably go the Epi route again. (esp since I'm mostly a Strat guy, and I like the Gibson style on occasion).
I was gifted a 2006 es 335 from my mom’s ex-boyfriend of all people, and it is my first and only Gibson. It’s magical to me, and everyone who hears it thinks it sounds magical. It’s taken some work, and I’ve added a Bigsby (don’t hate me) and now it’s absolutely my favorite instrument.
Phil's kids in the future telling their children about the time granddad owned a guitar store- We had to eat the guitars Eddie. Your grandmother could make a fender guitar that would melted in your Eddie. To this day I can still taste her boiled bass strings and we was lucky to have it. 💯✌🤟🤘
My first Gibson was a 2008 les paul traditional, I went through five at the store before I settled on mine but it’s a lifer. The second, a les paul tribute, was an online crapshoot purchase but ended up being fantastic. I’ve been very lucky with my Gibsons.
My Gibson Flying V (Faded Cherry) was the very first guitar I purchased, and it's the only Gibson I've got. Great guitar! But I've also swapped the pickups out, because the 496R and 500T just aren't my preference. The pickups are custom made from a guy I found through Ultimate Guitar back in 2007 or so. A "Charlie Christian" style bladed single coil in the neck, and a moderate output PAF style in the bridge. To me, the sound of an electric guitar is less important than loving the look and feel. You can always change the sound. Edit: I started playing bass because my little brother stopped playing his bass, and I "inherited" it. Eventually I decided I actually prefer playing bass. I still play guitar every day, but there is something about a killer bass line that just does it for me.
I got a faded gibson sg for my 16th birthday and will never sell it. There’s something about those faded models that just sound and feel right. It’s got a satin like finish that has worn beautifully through the years. I have some custom made pickups in it too. Every time I let someone else play it, they always go “wow”. But I also have some Epiphones that are like that too. I struggle nowadays to justify the Gibson price point when the Epiphone is a fantastic guitar at literally 1/4 of the cost.
My #1 LP is my 3rd "real" Les Paul and I love it. It looks badass, it sounds badass...I get compliments from other players on the tone, from the audience on how it looks. I agree with Phil...a good Gibby is like the crane technique...when done right, it's unstoppable.
I guess in my day, Gibsons were more consistent. I bought my first and only Gibson new in 1972. It was a ‘71 SG Deluxe with a Bigsby. Cost $375, but they charged an additional $75 for the case. They only made them one year. Super low action, arrow straight neck. This week I ordered a Les Paul Standard from Sweetwater. I always wanted a LP, but couldn’t justify the price. Since I’m getting older, I figured it’s now or not as at all. Fingers crossed that the LP holds up to expectations 😊
The new ones will meet your expectations! I have an '18 that isn't that great. The neck has issues where it needs constant tweeking (I think the neck wood wasn't cured properly/enough.) Also fit and finish problems. In the newly built facility I think these problems will be fixed. Good luck, I hope you enjoy it! I've come to enjoy my LP Traditional and consider these "problems" as part of the personality of the guitar. She DOES sing for me beautifully! 🎼🎶🎸
The "Back Order" subject is intriguing, and I think you covered it well! I might add that sometimes certain (very "hot") models have initially been listed as "out of stock" and "back ordered", only to become flat-out unavailable (as with undeclared "special runs"). A "6th Sense" is often needed here; and if it "says" that such a model is in this category, search EVERYWHERE like mad , find it and HIT IT!! I once did a deal like this thru an online CAMERA retailer!!
The main reason they list "out of stock" is because the Japanese buy them all up before they even roll off the assembly line and then they resell them to Americans on Ebay and Reverb at inflated ridiculous prices, and Gibson doesn't care. Back in the day, Europeans had to pay out the a** to get American made guitars. I was just recently overseas, only to learn that today, American made guitars are are cheaper to buy over there than they are here. What a shame that USA guitar companies are putting the wee wee to its own people.😢
I personally think that guitar center will crash. They have ok service some times but its so much harder to get stuff returned than amazon and fender sells direct from amazon. I literally had 5 cracked neck guitars from guitar center, it was so crazy then amazon sends absolutely perfect guitars every time and still lets you return them when they are perfect. Maybe I was just lucky though.
Guitar center is getting crapped on in customer service by multiple companies, and their overall reputation doesn’t do then any favors. The future is not looking bright for that company.
I have a 1999 Gibson Les Paul Classic I bought new that year through Musician's Friend. I love it, and in all the years after, whenever I picked up newer ones and tried them out, they were just awful, and I thanked my lucky stars that I had my Classic. But then it developed a terminal neck twist. So I ordered a new 2022 Les Paul Standard through Sweetwater, and to my surprise, it not only didn't suck, it was actually head and shoulders above my original LP in every regard. I also just got a Gibson J-45 from Sweetwater, and it was great right out of the box. So, I guess that makes the answer to your question 1. I had to go through 1 Gibson.
Here's my standing on the Lace situation. They reached out to you over it because of the same situation. You're a well established channel. I would still hold my distance with them unless they agreed to reach out to the channel they disrespected with an apology & made an effort to make things right to show they are willing to respect the little guy as well. So I vote not to endorse their product on the channel till they respectfully make things right with the other channel. I'd share that info with them if it was me & say "Apologize to this channel that your previous employee disrespected & make things right with them & that will show me your company has changed for the better".
The SG was the first one my eyes gravitated to when this video started, as well. I have another Black Epiphone Iommi signature SG because i liked the 2010. The 2013 is just not the same. I will keep looking for SGs till they feel like the one. The hunt is fun.
My favorite guitar is a 78 Les paul standard. Norlin era guitars are known for being heavy and lifeless. Mine is heavy (10.1 lb.), maple neck and big headstock. But it absolutely screams. I owned probably 4 others before this one I will have always. Their are good 70's gibsons just ask Robert Baker what his favorite guitar is. Everyone that has played mine wants it.
Gibsons, I think it’s not that they are bad or inconsistent. Just getting the exact specs you are looking for may be hard to find. I have four and I love them. Only bought one that I sold.
I may be an outlier. My first Gibson was an 83 SG and it was fantastic. In 2020 I bought a used 2019 Les Paul and I wouldn’t sell it for anything. On the hunt for a Les Paul gold top with P90s. Hoping for three times the charm, but I will take my time with this as it is my holy grail guitar and I want it to be perfect.
I think you nailed it when you said, "when a Gibson is right, it's really right". And also the ones that are right, aren't right for everyone and the one's that aren't right, aren't wrong for everyone. I've had good luck, I've owned 6 in total, I really connected with 3 of them and I wouldn't change anything with them, 2 of them didn't really have anything wrong but I just didn't connect with them, and I've had issues with a white 2012 Studio that I want to love so much and some days I do, but some days it's just isn't right.
@Chadwick Hurlburt Yes. And the 70s era is a little different because that was such a weird era for USA made guitars. It was definitely a low point. But there is a pretty big fan base of those original Deluxes, many swapped the pickups for P90s, but they were hated for years but now they've become so desired that they've been reissued.
Sweetwater has been good to me with giving deals just ask for a quote and if there are any deals. Might get tax taken off but it could be more. I ordered a katana 50w when it was out of stock, I was told they should be in the following week and it shipped on Monday. Communication is always good. Love the show and thank you for all you do Phil.
I don't know if I got lucky or was smart when buying my Gibson. I could never find one that felt quite right even though there was nothing really wrong with them. But I dediced to buy a Gibson modified Studio from their Reverb Demo shop before they had the mod shop. Honestly, I didn't expect to love it, but I expected to be able to get a sound I couldn't get otherwise. I am well out of the honeymoon phase and to be honest... I absolutely love it. I got it for less than retail on a new Gibson Studio, it sounds and looks great. And out of the box it was setup better than any other guitar I have ever bought- including those I paid for setup on, I expected the Studio to be a gateway into Gibson and that I would end up with a classic, custom, or R(x) version. Now I can't justify spending 2 to 3 times more on another Gibson that I doubt I will like as much as the one I already have.
Bought a Gibson 1959 reissue in 2020. The guitar is so good it gives me goosebumps. Gibson builds old designs using traditional methods. Unless you have highly skilled people you are going to have problems. It takes three months just to train someone to apply the binding and wrap it properly. Most manufactures use modern binding and paint technologies. Gibson does use CNC to produce rough parts but all the assembly and finish work is done by hand. It’s more expensive, the margin of error is greater but people still want traditional old school guitars. Gibson is the Steinway of guitars. There are less expensive alternatives but the old traditional stuff is still magical when you get a good slice of it.
I don't think as many people are buying Gibson as you think. That's sort of why they almost went bankrupt a few years back. Plus they haven't embraced the expectations of the younger generations, where Fender certainly has, like with the plentitude of signature models for female artists. Gibson doesn't care about this demographic yet, but they should. Fender is killing it in that regard and it shows at big festivals where very few bands are playing Gibson, if any in some cases. A lot of people have noticed this. I don't have any friends that play Gibsons live anymore. It's all PRS and Fender and even Epiphone and Squier.
@@nicholaswoolfenden5254 Yeah, I think this guy is mistaking China, Korea, Japan for some other countries that don't have 3000 years of rich woodworking tradition.
@yargnad Gibson is definitely a rock/blues focused based guitar brand. Les Pauls, SG, 335, they all are iconic rock/blues guitars. That type of music isn't as popular right now, it was in the 90's and 2000's and Gibson was booming. Fender isn't even doing as well as they used too, you can tell by the way their usa quality has went way down. Metalish type music is making a comeback, thats why Ibanez and ESP are doing better as of late.
I have worn the frets out twice in my 80 standard and removed most of the paint, hands down my favorite guitar ever, though its neck is unlike the newer neck profiles and I have added locking tuners and graphite nut and saddles and a set of burstbuckers 2,3, as the original hardware was worn out when I got it and the pickups where already replaced and wired wrong, I wouldn't ever sell it, I could never replace it. Norlin era rocks.
I got lucky with my first Gibson purchase. The pickups are the only thing I really feel I need to change. My second Gibson only lasted a year before I sold it
I’m batting about .660 with Gibsons that I like. I’ve had a few that just didn’t suit me. But I find the resale value on the turnaround has made the risk worthwhile. If the guitar has a real problem, it needs to be identified right away and returned.
My first guitar was a 2004 Gibson LP special that cost me around $800 at the time that I still have and play till this day, I’ve since purchased and sold or retuned countless of LP’s standards, modern etc and I’ve yet to find one as good as my “beginner” guitar
My first “real” guitar was a Gibson. An ‘87 SG Elite in ivory w/gold hardware, two volumes, a tone and cool tap, locking nut and Gibson hardshell w/ the pink interior. Traded my first for it (a Hondo). $321 tax included, this was about 1991-ish. I still own and play it. It’s now the aged ivory color (yellowish). All original with some small cosmetic stuff. I will never part with it.
My first Gibson turned me off to the brand for about 10 years. Once I started getting the itch to try them again, I tried about 5 or 6 before finally finding my current LP standard. What’s funny is during my search for a Gibson I bought a PRS SE because it was so much better than the Gibsons I was trying. However, the PRS didn’t have THAT sound. I eventually found my LP at a Guitar Center at random. Wasn’t necessarily looking to buy one right at that moment, but within the first 30 seconds of playing I knew it was the one and I couldn’t let it get away.
To answer your question. I bought one Gibson Les Paul before I found the perfect Gibson Les Paul. My first Gibson LP was a honeyburst tribute. It was OK - no quality issue and it sounded and felt good, but it felt like I settled. I always wanted a Gibson LP but couldnt justify the $2k. I kept the Tribute for a week and returned it. Saved for a couple months and bought a Gibson LP 60s Standard. Its beautiful and I couldnt be happier. I agree with everything you said about the "right" Gibson. Its exactly that. No QC issues, perfectly setup out of the box and plays like a dream. Since, I bought another Gibson LP Studio - its a 2011 model in vintage cherry with the burstbuckers and I LOVE that one too - I have lots of guitars and NONE of them feel like my Gibsons. Thanks for the vids Phil!!!!
Over the years, I've worked with Jeff Lace on pickups for the Harmonicaster electric harmonica I've been developing and I can't speak more highly about Jeff and his brother Don. They've been incredibly gracious to me and genuinely love music and musicians. Yes, they did have some personnel changes and there were some hiccups in the transition, I believe because whoever was let go was involved in a lot of their operations, but things seem to be running smoothly now. They're not a big business, I think they have maybe a couple dozen employees. Jeff and Don still do some of the winding and I know that Jeff works on my stuff himself.
I have an '87 Strat Plus with those ' Fender Lace Sensor' Golds that Don Lace did, I think.Quite beautiful. I also have newer Golds in another Strat I installed. For the quietness and unique sound I love them
On the Gibson quality question, i have a Custom and I really like it. But I bought an Epi 59 Reissue and as you know it has Gibson guts. It’s great and now I pick it up to play more often than the Gibson Les Paul. That being said, the Gibson has appreciated in price big time. I doubt the Epi will
My first Gibson was a 2014 SGJ. I only played it live once. Maybe 7 years ago. Changed out for locking tuners a roller bridge string butler pickup covers. i was in the middle of moving out one night i had a gig and old roommate pawned it while i was playing. I fell in love instantly with my 83 les paul
Hey Phil, I agree that often companies eat input cost increases in the short run. They tend to pass along those increases in the longer term. Nominal wage growth (simple salaries going up) is driven by (as i think you alluded) the overall labor supply/ demand dynamics of the industry. I.e if employees talent is scarce and employees have the leverage to leave and get a higher paying job elsewhere than companies need to adjust wages higher to retain talent. If you work in a factory and there’s no other place nearby demanding your talents then perhaps you have no leverage, as you more or less described. Real wage growth is a separate but interesting discussion. I.e how are wages tracking inflation.
I have an R8 that I LOVE. It'll be with me forever. I played 4 of the identical model and picked my favorite. I haven't been able to find a Gibson I like after that. I've bought 4 others that have come and gone. And played a bunch, but they haven't stuck.
2nd gibson for me - and it's still not what I'd call "the one" vs say my core PRS guitars - I will say - I feel like the PRS s2 gutiars are somewhat also like this - first two were "junk" compared to their core models - 3rd one was the most resonante guitar I've ever played, but it had 6 or 7 cold solder joints and bridge pickup issues.
1:02:08 I had about two previous Gibsons which I sold before I bought my 81 Les Paul Standard. That was back in 1991. This guy's mom was selling it and he was moving to Long Island with this girlfriend. I paid $500 cash for it I said "you still have the guitar?". She said she did, and I said "Okay, here you go". That was it. No negotiation. No haggling. I still have it. A few years later I bought a Gibson SGX which was a piece of junk and sold that. So yeah, I totally get it about finding the one that's right.
I bought my first Gibson LP brand new in 2008. I still have it. It's awesome! 60s neck, root beer finish, awesome flame top, chambered body, excellent guitar. I still love it. I bought an LP special pro in 2015. 60s neck again. Brown, dot inlays with binding on the neck. Still have it. Actually, both guitars are sitting out 6 feet from me so i can reach them easily. They're both excellent guitars and I actually like the special best. Not by much, but if I could only keep one, that's the one.
Bought my first Gibson Les Paul a couple of months ago. LP Classic in Honeyburst. So far i actually really like it! Haven't been able to find any QC issues with it other than a slight fret buzz on the G string, but it's barely noticeable. Certainly can't tell when you play plugged in. Can't say for sure whether i "love" it yet, i haven't played it enough for that. But i can definitely say that it's leaps and bounds better than the guitars i've had before.
I own a Gibson Les Paul and SG . The first les Paul I tried sucked. Neck, sound just the overall feel was terrible. It was brand new. The 2nd one I tried was excellent. It was used. Same with the SG . It took me about 5 SG’s before I jived with one. It was also used . In my experience, and again, this is just me I have never matched well with a brand new Gibson off the rack. Every Gibson I’ve ever bought in my life has been used because those just feel better to me. Maybe there’s something with the used Gibsons versus the brand new ones. Maybe they need to be “broken in“ before they sound good at least to me. Kind of like shoes.
Was the first guitar I wanted! A Les Paul! Watched Les and Mary playing beautiful tunes and wanted to have a working piece of guitar history for my first electric guitar! Till I saw how many repair videos there are for them, or just how to keep them in tune. Looking over all the options I bought a Gretsch G5222 walnut that's just gorgeous, sounds great (though I don't... yet), stays in tune and, least of all, didn't put a dent in my wallet! I'm not going to buy something just for the name on it. When I get my playing to the point that I want to let people listen to my brand of noise I'm going to treat myself to a Gretsch G2420T and spring for a TV Jones upgrade (hope it happens before I die).
Sorry, Phil...I just laughed when I saw the title. Great Title. I got no specifics on good or bad , Fender or Gibson. But that title....it's great. Thanks, Man.
To me, Gibson's problem is obtaining replacement parts. Cannot get a black (replacement) pick guard for my Firebird V as Gibson insists they have never manufactured one, even though the 2006 GOTW was a zebra wood with a black pick guard. Chinese parts are DECALED. Other repro outfits can't do the hot press bird logo. Wots the deal, Neal?
I have 3 Gibsons i absolutely love. 1-81 LP Custom, 1 2013 SG Deluxe, and 1- 2019 ES 335. I have 7 total Gibsons, multiples of some. He is right, i tried out so many guitars to find the 3 im in love with. I paid $5800 for a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Artisan, soon after i realized i bought a piece of art, a collectors piece, its in such good condition im scared to play it, and it doesnt sound as good as my other Les Pauls. Once you get bit by the Gibson bug, you want them all. Idk why but i dont have that with Fender and PRS. I have some really nice guitars from other brands, but they just dont do that "thing" that those 3 Gibsons do.
The ebony SG, ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WEALL, LOOKS LIKE MY 2017 GIBSON USA SG STANDARD: '57 CLASSICS(?), LOCKING GROVER TM's. ROLLED BINDING, HS Case.....ALL-IN: $1299 IN MARCH 2017....BADDEST SG STANDARD I EVER PLAYED, the 2017 SG Standard....
My cousin left me some gear. A 58’ LPJ, 60’ LPC black beauty, a 1960” reissue LP classic, and a Flying V. They’re cool but I’m a Fender man. I like the 57-07 Mary Kaye commemorative Strat and the Rivera Super Champ the most. RIP Paul. Guitar isn’t fun without you.
I didn't buy a Gibson, guitars are about personal preference. If I were to buy a "new" Guitar it would not be a Gibson, it would be an Eastwood or a Hallmark because I like surf guitars and Mosrite is out of business. that said maybe address the federal raid on Gibson's factory that was a major miscarriage of justice. I play a 73 Univox High Flyer equipped with P-90s.
I bought a $800 Scott Ian Red Jackson King V. This thing had all kinds of dead frets and buzz. I had to level and crown all the frets, and then change the nut just to make it playable.
I bought a $400 Schechter and had zero issues.
You got a good one...many are not
I've owned 6 Gibsons. 4 were magic. One was perfect after changing the pickups. One was unsalvageable.
Definitely ask for discounts. Last year I had ordered a Schecter Nick Johnston Strat and a Sire T7 from Sweetwater, both in high demand and both on back order. I got a 15% discount on both, just by posing the question “Anything you can do on the price?” I’m the kind of guy who isn’t comfortable with asking for discounts, but your advice had given me the nerve to ask. Thank you, sir!
I actually stopped buying Gibson electrics when Epiphone began releasing their “Inspired by Gibson” line of guitars. I was floored at how great the guitars were for the money. If you blindfolded me I wouldn’t be able to tell you whether it was an Epi or Gibson. What Epiphone is doing with Gibson today is one of the best developments I’ve encountered in the past 45 years of playing guitar. I am hoping they bring out a ‘58 Les Paul to go along with the ‘59 they brought out couple years back. That would be sweet 👍🏻🎸🖖🏻
The paint alone is a dead giveaway. They feel very different just based on that.
The bolt on from the Epiphone’s is usually a pretty big giveaway too (unless of course you have a USA Epi).
As greedy as Gibson is, if they keep hearing about how good the new Eppies are, they're going to make them almost unaffordable too.
@@smeagle3295 Poly isn't a bad feel, just different. Epiphone's poly finish is like nice furniture from the 1990s lol. Plenty of Made in China Epiphone models have set necks not bolt ons, and Gibson has made bolts in the past. I really like my 1985 Gibson Invader haha.
I would totally buy a Epiphone Hummingbird if one strikes my fancy. All the Epiphone single cuts I've played have been great. No need to pay Gibson prices.
They feel very different imo. I do love my Epiphones, but my Gibsons are on another level. I'm happy with them all
They are my favorite guitar makers acoustic and electric along with Fender. Every Gibson ive played since their new CEO in 2019/20 has been fantastic. The original series hummingbirds to the 50s 60s Les Pauls, the classic, even the tribute models really impressed me.
Got my first Gibson in 2021, couldnt be happier & im proud to have such heritage under my fingers.
Hey Phil,
I currently own 5 Gibsons. Two Les Paul's ( A Standard and a Special P90 ) Both play phenomenal honestly. Then I also own 3 SG's as well ( A Standard, Special P90 and also a white Standard which was a Sam Ash run in 2017. I work on guitars as well, two of them were even husks, after setting them up properly and installing very nice hardware I have to say I love every one of them. I love Gibsons and Fenders although I just use Warmoth for S types / T types. Maybe I'm not as critical as others but each and everyone plays beautifully. I've really only come across one 'bad' Gibson so I don't have anything negative to say about the brand...
I have had two Gibsons--a 1978-ish EDS-1275 (the SG double-neck), which I sold years ago, and an early 2000s LP Studio. Neither were perfect, but both sounded great. And, that's my common denominator with Gibsons. Flaws, but sound epic. Easy to find guitars that play better than Gibsons, but hard to find ones that sound better.
I have used single coil LACE pickups for years. They do need to be EQ'd a little differently, but you can get good tones. I had one become open circuit after years of use. I had no receipt and couldn't even remember where I bought them. I gave LACE a call and they said to send it in for testing. A couple weeks later they sent me a brand new pickup. I appreciate LACE taking good care of me.
My Revstar finally arrived today. RSS02T. Plays great, sounds great. Love the magic switch. Like having a pedal on board the guitar.
I was in luck and my first Gibson was indeed a magical one. In 1999 I was able to afford my first brand guitar and got myself a Gibson Explorer (Cherry). It is until today the most comfortable guitar I have played and still is a work horse with subjectively low maintenance. And when I pick it up after a time not playing it, it is still able to give me butterflies in my stomach when I play again. Magical.
I have had two Les Pauls in the meantime, too - a 2015 Standard Trans Amber, that was just really beautiful but I could not connect long term to its neck profile and had to switch the PUs for something more metal, sold it though in the end - and a 2016 Les Paul 50s Tribute (Gold Top, Darkback). The latter one is a good guitar and I like playing it (it also has the same factory pickups as the explorer, nice for recording), yet it is nowhere near as magic as the ol'explorer I got in 99.
In between (ca 2007) I got a ESP Eclipse 1 (snow white) with EMGs and it is also a great guitar in terms of reliability and maintenance. Yet no real magic, just comfortable work horse, a tad better than the Gibson LPs I had.
“The latter one is a good guitar and I like playing it”. Those are not the words that should come out of a guitarists mouth after he drops thousands of dollars on a guitar. Gibson brands themself as “the best” and in recent years they have completely failed. I worked in a guitar shop for a long time and I don’t remember ever getting in a new Gibson that was truly a great guitar. I played Squiers that were a ton of fun to play and sounded great regularly (don’t get me wrong. There were plenty of duds too). But shame on Gibson. I will never buy a new Gibson. I doubt I’ll ever buy any Gibson. Maybe if I randomly come across a real used magic Gibson, then I’d be stupid to pass up the opportunity. But you will never catch me browsing Gibson ads on the web. I’m more interested in the companies producing great guitars at fair prices ($350-$1750 maybe)
Birth Year guitar? I was born in 1963…I’m already doomed! 😂😂🤘 Oh but what a year that was….
First guitar I ever bought with my own(every birthday, holy communion, confirmation since birth) money.: A Gibson Memphis era, 1992ish dot Sunburst ES335. Headstock broke off twice. First time I brought it to a local luthier(real maker) second time I glued it myself with Elmers and standard clamps. It didn't get its mojo before that. I hated it at first. For some reason it has mojo now. Everyone who has played it recently tells me its the best guitar they've ever played. Maybe it's a miracle, but if it wasn't a Gibson, I'm not sure it would be. I love it so much.
I still have my first Gibson SG I bought 13 years ago. I tried a few out and this one spoke to me. I have bought and sold a few over the years but this one is the best. I did buy a new Tony Iommi SG a couple years ago and it is a close second.
I have multiple Gibson Les Pauls ranging from 1975 to 2022. Some are completely original, some have had headstock repairs, and one had a refret with the binding replaced to create new fret nibs. Every one of them plays great. They often feel different, but they play great.
I have a 2003 LP Studio. I bought it because it was super cheap. It arrived and had a headstock repair and very worn frets. I refretted it with stainless frets and it is an amazing playing guitar. I also noticed that harmonics ring off of it easier than any other guitar I had at this point.
Next, I bought a 1979 LP Custom, all original. It has the low wide frets of the era and feels different, but still plays great.
I bought a 2021 LP Standard around the same time. The fretwork was perfect.
A 2014 LP Studio Plus was purchased next. It has a compound radius fretboard and the frets are taller than most other Gibsons. I knew right away that it played great.
I also have:
2006 ‘68 reissue triburst LP Custom
2022 Silverburst LP Custom that suffered 2 different headstock repairs in shipping before it got to me.
1987 LP Custom with a headstock repair
1975 LP Custom that had the fret binding replaced during a refret along with a neck refinish.
They all feel different, some have very complicated histories, yet they all play great. Even the repaired guitars feel and sound amazing.
I’m not sure I’ve encountered a bad Gibson, and I’ve blind bought every single one of them.
Timestamp @7 minutes, Phil desperately tries to reconcile his guitar addiction. It's okay brother no explanation needed, we are all here for the same reason.
I have owned many Gibson guitars since the 1960's when I began playing, but would never buy another. After years of disappointment with tuning issues from Les Pauls, 335's, and even an L5, I switched to Ibanez for an L5 copy and a 335 style guitar. I only play Floyd Rose solid body guitars so ESP, Charvel, Jackson, and the recent EVH striped series red, black, and white guitar all are easy to setup, sound incredible, and all stay in tune! Thank you Phillip for taking the time to make such important and well produced videos!
ESP Custom shop for the win!
I bought a birth year guitar when I was in Afghanistan. It was a 1983 Gibson Les Paul custom in pearlescent white…beautiful! Had it sent to my dads who was a great guitar player, I asked him how it was and said it was very pretty lol. I should have know from that statement it wasn’t a player. It was a beautiful guitar but it was a dud when it came to playing and sustain. Sold it because I need guitars that play and sound great so I sold it.
Ive owned probably a dozen or more Gibsons, roughly half of them made in the last 5 years. All have been flawless. They are some of the best feeling and sounding guitars out there. Sure, I have a MusicMan that has more attention to detail, and a Gretsch white Penguin with better tone, but its tough to get something as versatile as a Les Paul or ES.
....What do you think of the "Fishman" "FLUENCE" pick-ups?!.... How do they compare to typical "Active " traditional/normal style (?) pick-ups?....
I'm somewhat late to the party but in the past 4 yrs I've purchased 3 Gibson guitars (mid+ tier to vintage Custom Shop re-issue), each one of them a keeper, imho. I guess I'm very lucky. My gauge for what I consider "guitar mojo" (which is subjective, of course) is a handmade guitar from a boutique builder, which I purchased a few years back. I believe an instrument, regardless of price, should inspire one to play and create... my Gibsons do that in spades. Needless to say, I've sold off multiple Fenders and Duesenbergs these past couple of years. Though I did sell a Flying V since I'm looking to purchase another custom boutique build (the V was pretty awesome, hope I don't regret it some day), I wound up getting 75% more than I paid for it. Truth be told, the Fenders and Duesenbergs were somewhat of a struggle on the secondary market even though they were well kept, high quality and weren't at all freaky models or colours. Say what one will about Gibson, but they are re-sale beasts and truly magical when you connect with one, plain and simple. But I'm sure it's the same if you connect with any other instrument, regardless of the brand. The Gibsons (probably a lot to do with the scale) as well as the brand history just speaks to me more.
I was very lucky to buy my collection (over years) a year or so before covid. And then the market changed. So now to buy similar guitars costs a whole lot more. So I think I’m done for the moment at least. I just can’t justify paying an estimated 30/40% more for the guitars I fancy on the second hand market. Mine have gone up in value too of course but I didn’t buy to sell - so I’m happy to let it sit for a while. It’s just the market, it changes from time to time, I’m okay with it. But I feel very fortunate to have bought some killer guitars before they became way too expensive. I sure wouldn’t like to be starting off my collection now.
The whole Gibson bashing is somewhat disingenuous I feel. ‘Somewhat’ There are certain UA-cam channels that constantly bash them and fuel the hate purposely for views and thus $$$. It’s old, boring and predictable. They feed into so many people who can’t afford a Gibson (no offence) and there is quite the demographic now by the looks. The truth is they were never perfect. I remember growing up you’d hear ‘You Gotta try out a few’ before you buy etc. Back in the day (before the internet) you mostly played the guitar before you bought it. Now most people seem to buy online (unboxing videos anyone?) and you are taking a chance for sure. There’s so much more that can be wrong with your brand new guitar than saw ordering sneakers of a t shirt online. And btw Even the coveted ‘59s were not all created equal - some were better than others. So it’s exactly as Phil says ‘When They Get It Right’ …..Boom 🎉. And there’s a reason so many of the best and most respected guitars in the History of Popular music play them, record them & collect them. It’s all very simple.
Some people will always be up for a bit of bashing, it’s part of their make up but when you have a conversation with them and their hate or dislike of the brand is based on next to no experience with that brand but fuelled on someone else’s opinions then it’s easy to see through
Depending on where you purchase from I suppose but most reputable dealers allow free return if you’re not happy with the instrument.
for 2 thousand dollars every single guitar should be perfect and not need a damn bit of work
I love Gibson guitars ,but cutbacks and cheap hardware are going to make any guitar brand sound shit. I’ve updated hardware and pickups on several from 2007 -2014 and they shine. If you get a great neck and body that vibrate and feels right. You can always improve it but if those fundamentals aren’t right nothing can change that . A lemon 🍋 is Always going to be a lemon 🍋 lol 😂
It took me 3 but the first one was an SG I got in 83 that I didn’t really want. Then I got one of the first good Gold top Tributes that didn’t feel or play like a Gibson because of the rounded frets, then I got my 16 Standard used. My Epi LP’s scratch the Les Paul itch better than the Tribute did. So technically three but really I got lucky on my first proper LP
I bought my 1st Les Paul about 3 years ago. I must have got lucky, its flawless. Of course I'm often told online that it's junk because its Gibson. In return I always presume they just can't afford one.
Hey Phil, If you know anyone at Kiesel Guitars, Would you "SUGGEST" that they design and offer a "BARITONE" series of electric guitars?!... I don't know why they haven't done so!..(?)...
I bought a Gibson after owning a Epi L.P. 1959 for a year. I loved my Epi. But
after playing the Gibson it diminished my amour for it.
I've owned about 20 Gibsons and I bought every single one used so the QC stuff was never important to me. With a good setup, I think they are/were all good guitars. Some just felt and sounded better or worse to me based on my personal preferences. The scale length, neck pitch, and stoptail thing just works for me so many more Gibsons feel good to me vs other brands. I don't know if there are "special" Gibsons as much as some Gibsons that just feel right to me. When you add in strong resale value and a smidge of the "real thing", most of my electrics are still Gibsons.
2016 boiling used sg-special Gibson perfectly happy with it kept it LoveIt 2017 with a brand-new Gibson firebird love it and I kept it got lucky both Bob li bedroom
I handle a lot of Gibsons in a shop. 1 in 100 is magical, 5+ in 100 are garbage. The rest are okay or good. Most of the magical ones that I've played are less expensive (we handle more of those). The 2nd Gibson I ever bought was amazing but I sorted through 100s to find it.
I have two Gibson's which I love. The first was a gift for my 40th from my brothers. Used 2004 LP studio which plays great. 2nd one is 2021 SG standard which I purchased from Sam Ash Used (likely returned) which I love as well. No complaints on either of them and these are the only Gibsons I have owned
First Gibson worked out for me, it's really good, now I'm older it feels heavy but I won't likely part with it. The original owner didn't really want to sell it, I was in the right place at the right time. I also got an Epi a few year later that is also very nearly as good in geometry, there were some component problems but the bones are good. Still have both after 15 years.
I searched through a few Gibsons. My first gibson was a used studio, best guitar and still own. Had a "thing" it did, fat rich chords and tone. 12 years later a swap on a beat up standard, haha, thought I'd try it out at a price I couldn't pass. Diff vibe but another keeper. Learn to mod and set up to taste and many guitars can be the one. Took me along time to find what I liked in a LP style guitar. strings, pickups, setup, etc etc. Standard had fit and finish, along with play feel that couldn't be beat. Studio had everything except those touch and finish add ons. I have also owned some not so great Gibson's to be fair.
I think Guitar market prices is gonna dip because interest rates will be elevated until Q2 in 2024. The demand to supply is actually low if not for supply chain issues.
Just remember all gibson mahogany is generally Honduran which makes it more expensive and also keep in mind they are all finished in nitro so if you want a "true vintage inspired" instrument there is no substitute for gibson even prs uses a lighter weight mahogany on most core models with a les paul it WILL be Honduran mahogany and it WILL have nitro for anyone who cares lol 😅
I went thru 4 Gibsons before I was fortunate in getting a standard with humbuckers and the other is brand new 50’s style neck with P90’s! Love both of them
Now on a side note, I have an Epiphone ES335 but I replaced all the electronics and it sounds amazing after some work.
I wish I had your advice two years ago. I had a USA Gibson SG standard and Les Paul Traditional. I traded them in for a PRS 35th Edition Paul's Guitar. I don't regret the PRS. I regret not just paying the full cash for the guitar, and keeping the two Gibsons. My SG was $899 when I bought it and now they're $1499 now! WTF! Anyway, I wanted an Les Paul style back in the arsenal, and it was your advice, Phil, that pointed me to the Epiphone '59 Limited. It has the same electronics that my LP Trad did. Not the same nostalgia of finding that Gibson LP in Tokyo during a military assignment. But I love the Epi. It sounds as good as my old LP and actually feels better to me. But the SG. Well... I don't think I'm paying $1500 for a new SG, so I'll probably go the Epi route again. (esp since I'm mostly a Strat guy, and I like the Gibson style on occasion).
I was gifted a 2006 es 335 from my mom’s ex-boyfriend of all people, and it is my first and only Gibson. It’s magical to me, and everyone who hears it thinks it sounds magical. It’s taken some work, and I’ve added a Bigsby (don’t hate me) and now it’s absolutely my favorite instrument.
Neil Young has one on his LP. He's done pretty well, sorry good....😎
@@steveb9325 definitely a source of inspiration. Particularly the soundtrack to Deadman
Why hate? Bigsbys are very common on old classic 335s.
I really don't like bigsbies on 335....
@@jfar3340 good thing you don’t own mine hahaha
i dont think there bad in fact there way better than the 80's gibson there just way over priced
Pre covid guitar becomes a selling point 😂
Don't bother with the Martin Backpacker, its junk.
Phil's kids in the future telling their children about the time granddad owned a guitar store-
We had to eat the guitars Eddie. Your grandmother could make a fender guitar that would melted in your Eddie. To this day I can still taste her boiled bass strings and we was lucky to have it. 💯✌🤟🤘
What are you Even talking about?
Is that homage to Eddie Murphy eating a Monopoly game?
@@MotownGuitarJoe yeah everytime he has said that his kids couldn't eat the guitars over the years I just can't stop thinking of that bit.
Had to walk 2 miles in the snow to get to the guitar store! Had to use the Gibson’s as snowshoes
We used the treble strings to floss our teeth, sometimes even the bass strings
My first Gibson was a 2008 les paul traditional, I went through five at the store before I settled on mine but it’s a lifer. The second, a les paul tribute, was an online crapshoot purchase but ended up being fantastic. I’ve been very lucky with my Gibsons.
A piece on the Lace Sensor single coils would be ace 👌
My Gibson Flying V (Faded Cherry) was the very first guitar I purchased, and it's the only Gibson I've got. Great guitar! But I've also swapped the pickups out, because the 496R and 500T just aren't my preference. The pickups are custom made from a guy I found through Ultimate Guitar back in 2007 or so. A "Charlie Christian" style bladed single coil in the neck, and a moderate output PAF style in the bridge. To me, the sound of an electric guitar is less important than loving the look and feel. You can always change the sound.
Edit: I started playing bass because my little brother stopped playing his bass, and I "inherited" it. Eventually I decided I actually prefer playing bass. I still play guitar every day, but there is something about a killer bass line that just does it for me.
My favorite guitar is my Gibson p90 melody maker you can see on my channel. I've owned and sold many Gibsons but will never sell this one
Thank you for the comment and for being a subscriber!
I got a faded gibson sg for my 16th birthday and will never sell it. There’s something about those faded models that just sound and feel right. It’s got a satin like finish that has worn beautifully through the years. I have some custom made pickups in it too. Every time I let someone else play it, they always go “wow”.
But I also have some Epiphones that are like that too. I struggle nowadays to justify the Gibson price point when the Epiphone is a fantastic guitar at literally 1/4 of the cost.
I guess I got lucky. My first Gibson (SG Junior) was absolutely perfect and won’t be going anywhere.
My #1 LP is my 3rd "real" Les Paul and I love it. It looks badass, it sounds badass...I get compliments from other players on the tone, from the audience on how it looks. I agree with Phil...a good Gibby is like the crane technique...when done right, it's unstoppable.
I guess in my day, Gibsons were more consistent. I bought my first and only Gibson new in 1972. It was a ‘71 SG Deluxe with a Bigsby. Cost $375, but they charged an additional $75 for the case. They only made them one year. Super low action, arrow straight neck. This week I ordered a Les Paul Standard from Sweetwater. I always wanted a LP, but couldn’t justify the price. Since I’m getting older, I figured it’s now or not as at all. Fingers crossed that the LP holds up to expectations 😊
The new ones will meet your expectations! I have an '18 that isn't that great. The neck has issues where it needs constant tweeking (I think the neck wood wasn't cured properly/enough.) Also fit and finish problems. In the newly built facility I think these problems will be fixed. Good luck, I hope you enjoy it! I've come to enjoy my LP Traditional and consider these "problems" as part of the personality of the guitar. She DOES sing for me beautifully! 🎼🎶🎸
Well if it doesn’t Sweetwater will take care of you. I wouldn't mail-order from anyone else.
I can't afford to buy my birth year guitar. 56 is an expensive option.
Right there with ya, bro. ‘56 was a magical year 😊
The "Back Order" subject is intriguing, and I think you covered it well! I might add that sometimes certain (very "hot") models have initially been listed as "out of stock" and "back ordered", only to become flat-out unavailable (as with undeclared "special runs"). A "6th Sense" is often needed here; and if it "says" that such a model is in this category, search EVERYWHERE like mad , find it and HIT IT!! I once did a deal like this thru an online CAMERA retailer!!
The main reason they list "out of stock" is because the Japanese buy them all up before they even roll off the assembly line and then they resell them to Americans on Ebay and Reverb at inflated ridiculous prices, and Gibson doesn't care. Back in the day, Europeans had to pay out the a** to get American made guitars. I was just recently overseas, only to learn that today, American made guitars are are cheaper to buy over there than they are here. What a shame that USA guitar companies are putting the wee wee to its own people.😢
I personally think that guitar center will crash. They have ok service some times but its so much harder to get stuff returned than amazon and fender sells direct from amazon. I literally had 5 cracked neck guitars from guitar center, it was so crazy then amazon sends absolutely perfect guitars every time and still lets you return them when they are perfect. Maybe I was just lucky though.
Guitar center is getting crapped on in customer service by multiple companies, and their overall reputation doesn’t do then any favors. The future is not looking bright for that company.
Which Guitar company has the least bad press?
This is a great question. This could be a great topic for a podcast
Probably PRS , certainly not Gibson
i don't own a birth year guitar, but i do own a birth day guitar
I have a 1999 Gibson Les Paul Classic I bought new that year through Musician's Friend. I love it, and in all the years after, whenever I picked up newer ones and tried them out, they were just awful, and I thanked my lucky stars that I had my Classic. But then it developed a terminal neck twist. So I ordered a new 2022 Les Paul Standard through Sweetwater, and to my surprise, it not only didn't suck, it was actually head and shoulders above my original LP in every regard. I also just got a Gibson J-45 from Sweetwater, and it was great right out of the box. So, I guess that makes the answer to your question 1. I had to go through 1 Gibson.
Note to self: never sell your Blues Jr.
Here's my standing on the Lace situation. They reached out to you over it because of the same situation. You're a well established channel. I would still hold my distance with them unless they agreed to reach out to the channel they disrespected with an apology & made an effort to make things right to show they are willing to respect the little guy as well.
So I vote not to endorse their product on the channel till they respectfully make things right with the other channel. I'd share that info with them if it was me & say "Apologize to this channel that your previous employee disrespected & make things right with them & that will show me your company has changed for the better".
The SG was the first one my eyes gravitated to when this video started, as well. I have another Black Epiphone Iommi signature SG because i liked the 2010. The 2013 is just not the same. I will keep looking for SGs till they feel like the one. The hunt is fun.
My favorite guitar is a 78 Les paul standard. Norlin era guitars are known for being heavy and lifeless. Mine is heavy (10.1 lb.), maple neck and big headstock. But it absolutely screams. I owned probably 4 others before this one I will have always. Their are good 70's gibsons just ask Robert Baker what his favorite guitar is. Everyone that has played mine wants it.
My "magical" Gibson.....2013 Antique White SG Standard.....I LOVE this guitar!.
In my high school in the 70’s everyone played guitar, girls and boys, of course we only had 35 students (private) in 6th -12th😊.
Gibsons, I think it’s not that they are bad or inconsistent. Just getting the exact specs you are looking for may be hard to find. I have four and I love them. Only bought one that I sold.
I may be an outlier. My first Gibson was an 83 SG and it was fantastic. In 2020 I bought a used 2019 Les Paul and I wouldn’t sell it for anything. On the hunt for a Les Paul gold top with P90s. Hoping for three times the charm, but I will take my time with this as it is my holy grail guitar and I want it to be perfect.
My Revstar RSS20 was worth the wait. It’s great.
Found it at a small dealer on Reverb.
I think you nailed it when you said, "when a Gibson is right, it's really right". And also the ones that are right, aren't right for everyone and the one's that aren't right, aren't wrong for everyone. I've had good luck, I've owned 6 in total, I really connected with 3 of them and I wouldn't change anything with them, 2 of them didn't really have anything wrong but I just didn't connect with them, and I've had issues with a white 2012 Studio that I want to love so much and some days I do, but some days it's just isn't right.
Kia ora from New Zealand a convert to the house of Gibsonites.
My 1975 Deluxe Les Paul is magic. But most of them are not. I get what you are saying. Each and every one is its own thing.
@Chadwick Hurlburt Yes. And the 70s era is a little different because that was such a weird era for USA made guitars. It was definitely a low point. But there is a pretty big fan base of those original Deluxes, many swapped the pickups for P90s, but they were hated for years but now they've become so desired that they've been reissued.
Sweetwater has been good to me with giving deals just ask for a quote and if there are any deals. Might get tax taken off but it could be more. I ordered a katana 50w when it was out of stock, I was told they should be in the following week and it shipped on Monday. Communication is always good.
Love the show and thank you for all you do Phil.
I don't know if I got lucky or was smart when buying my Gibson. I could never find one that felt quite right even though there was nothing really wrong with them. But I dediced to buy a Gibson modified Studio from their Reverb Demo shop before they had the mod shop. Honestly, I didn't expect to love it, but I expected to be able to get a sound I couldn't get otherwise. I am well out of the honeymoon phase and to be honest... I absolutely love it. I got it for less than retail on a new Gibson Studio, it sounds and looks great. And out of the box it was setup better than any other guitar I have ever bought- including those I paid for setup on, I expected the Studio to be a gateway into Gibson and that I would end up with a classic, custom, or R(x) version. Now I can't justify spending 2 to 3 times more on another Gibson that I doubt I will like as much as the one I already have.
I played at least sixty Gibson's before I bought my '68 les Paul custom in 1976. I was 16. $40 down and payments every week. Still my best guitar.
Bought a Gibson 1959 reissue in 2020. The guitar is so good it gives me goosebumps. Gibson builds old designs using traditional methods. Unless you have highly skilled people you are going to have problems. It takes three months just to train someone to apply the binding and wrap it properly. Most manufactures use modern binding and paint technologies. Gibson does use CNC to produce rough parts but all the assembly and finish work is done by hand. It’s more expensive, the margin of error is greater but people still want traditional old school guitars. Gibson is the Steinway of guitars. There are less expensive alternatives but the old traditional stuff is still magical when you get a good slice of it.
I don't think as many people are buying Gibson as you think. That's sort of why they almost went bankrupt a few years back. Plus they haven't embraced the expectations of the younger generations, where Fender certainly has, like with the plentitude of signature models for female artists.
Gibson doesn't care about this demographic yet, but they should. Fender is killing it in that regard and it shows at big festivals where very few bands are playing Gibson, if any in some cases. A lot of people have noticed this. I don't have any friends that play Gibsons live anymore. It's all PRS and Fender and even Epiphone and Squier.
Expensive out of tune guitars. Inherently flawed.
@@nicholaswoolfenden5254 Yeah, I think this guy is mistaking China, Korea, Japan for some other countries that don't have 3000 years of rich woodworking tradition.
I have a 1946 j45 with a recent neck reset. It is leaps and bounds above the new ones I love my Gibson guitars
@yargnad Gibson is definitely a rock/blues focused based guitar brand. Les Pauls, SG, 335, they all are iconic rock/blues guitars. That type of music isn't as popular right now, it was in the 90's and 2000's and Gibson was booming. Fender isn't even doing as well as they used too, you can tell by the way their usa quality has went way down. Metalish type music is making a comeback, thats why Ibanez and ESP are doing better as of late.
I noticed that on reverb, I constantly get offers on brand new guitars for shops with like $400 off.
I have worn the frets out twice in my 80 standard and removed most of the paint, hands down my favorite guitar ever, though its neck is unlike the newer neck profiles and I have added locking tuners and graphite nut and saddles and a set of burstbuckers 2,3, as the original hardware was worn out when I got it and the pickups where already replaced and wired wrong, I wouldn't ever sell it, I could never replace it. Norlin era rocks.
Your a real good player. 😉
My SG was my first Gibson and there's never been anything bad to say about it
I got lucky with my first Gibson purchase. The pickups are the only thing I really feel I need to change. My second Gibson only lasted a year before I sold it
I’m batting about .660 with Gibsons that I like. I’ve had a few that just didn’t suit me. But I find the resale value on the turnaround has made the risk worthwhile. If the guitar has a real problem, it needs to be identified right away and returned.
My first guitar was a 2004 Gibson LP special that cost me around $800 at the time that I still have and play till this day, I’ve since purchased and sold or retuned countless of LP’s standards, modern etc and I’ve yet to find one as good as my “beginner” guitar
My first “real” guitar was a Gibson. An ‘87 SG Elite in ivory w/gold hardware, two volumes, a tone and cool tap, locking nut and Gibson hardshell w/ the pink interior. Traded my first for it (a Hondo). $321 tax included, this was about 1991-ish. I still own and play it. It’s now the aged ivory color (yellowish). All original with some small cosmetic stuff. I will never part with it.
Yes, when I travel I go to local guitar stores. I don't usually visit a GC though, unless it's the Hollywood GC.
My first Gibson turned me off to the brand for about 10 years. Once I started getting the itch to try them again, I tried about 5 or 6 before finally finding my current LP standard. What’s funny is during my search for a Gibson I bought a PRS SE because it was so much better than the Gibsons I was trying. However, the PRS didn’t have THAT sound. I eventually found my LP at a Guitar Center at random. Wasn’t necessarily looking to buy one right at that moment, but within the first 30 seconds of playing I knew it was the one and I couldn’t let it get away.
To answer your question. I bought one Gibson Les Paul before I found the perfect Gibson Les Paul. My first Gibson LP was a honeyburst tribute. It was OK - no quality issue and it sounded and felt good, but it felt like I settled. I always wanted a Gibson LP but couldnt justify the $2k. I kept the Tribute for a week and returned it. Saved for a couple months and bought a Gibson LP 60s Standard. Its beautiful and I couldnt be happier. I agree with everything you said about the "right" Gibson. Its exactly that. No QC issues, perfectly setup out of the box and plays like a dream. Since, I bought another Gibson LP Studio - its a 2011 model in vintage cherry with the burstbuckers and I LOVE that one too - I have lots of guitars and NONE of them feel like my Gibsons. Thanks for the vids Phil!!!!
Over the years, I've worked with Jeff Lace on pickups for the Harmonicaster electric harmonica I've been developing and I can't speak more highly about Jeff and his brother Don. They've been incredibly gracious to me and genuinely love music and musicians. Yes, they did have some personnel changes and there were some hiccups in the transition, I believe because whoever was let go was involved in a lot of their operations, but things seem to be running smoothly now. They're not a big business, I think they have maybe a couple dozen employees. Jeff and Don still do some of the winding and I know that Jeff works on my stuff himself.
I have an '87 Strat Plus with those ' Fender Lace Sensor' Golds that Don Lace did, I think.Quite beautiful.
I also have newer Golds in another Strat I installed.
For the quietness and unique sound I love them
I bought and returned 5 Gibson Les Pauls before getting the one I loved.
On the Gibson quality question, i have a Custom and I really like it. But I bought an Epi 59 Reissue and as you know it has Gibson guts. It’s great and now I pick it up to play more often than the Gibson Les Paul. That being said, the Gibson has appreciated in price big time. I doubt the Epi will
I don’t buy them! I’ve never ever owned a Gibson or an Epi. No interest.
My first Gibson was a 2014 SGJ. I only played it live once. Maybe 7 years ago. Changed out for locking tuners a roller bridge string butler pickup covers. i was in the middle of moving out one night i had a gig and old roommate pawned it while i was playing. I fell in love instantly with my 83 les paul
Hey Phil, I agree that often companies eat input cost increases in the short run. They tend to pass along those increases in the longer term. Nominal wage growth (simple salaries going up) is driven by (as i think you alluded) the overall labor supply/ demand dynamics of the industry. I.e if employees talent is scarce and employees have the leverage to leave and get a higher paying job elsewhere than companies need to adjust wages higher to retain talent. If you work in a factory and there’s no other place nearby demanding your talents then perhaps you have no leverage, as you more or less described. Real wage growth is a separate but interesting discussion. I.e how are wages tracking inflation.
I have an R8 that I LOVE. It'll be with me forever. I played 4 of the identical model and picked my favorite. I haven't been able to find a Gibson I like after that. I've bought 4 others that have come and gone. And played a bunch, but they haven't stuck.
First Gibson I bought was in 1988. Got a sunburst Les Paul Custom. Flawless…but very heavy.
2nd gibson for me - and it's still not what I'd call "the one" vs say my core PRS guitars - I will say - I feel like the PRS s2 gutiars are somewhat also like this - first two were "junk" compared to their core models - 3rd one was the most resonante guitar I've ever played, but it had 6 or 7 cold solder joints and bridge pickup issues.
1:02:08 I had about two previous Gibsons which I sold before I bought my 81 Les Paul Standard. That was back in 1991. This guy's mom was selling it and he was moving to Long Island with this girlfriend. I paid $500 cash for it I said "you still have the guitar?". She said she did, and I said "Okay, here you go". That was it. No negotiation. No haggling. I still have it. A few years later I bought a Gibson SGX which was a piece of junk and sold that. So yeah, I totally get it about finding the one that's right.
I bought my first Gibson LP brand new in 2008. I still have it. It's awesome! 60s neck, root beer finish, awesome flame top, chambered body, excellent guitar. I still love it. I bought an LP special pro in 2015. 60s neck again. Brown, dot inlays with binding on the neck. Still have it. Actually, both guitars are sitting out 6 feet from me so i can reach them easily. They're both excellent guitars and I actually like the special best. Not by much, but if I could only keep one, that's the one.
I still play a79 BC Rich Eagle. It's a great player and it's as beautiful as any PRS
Bought my first Gibson Les Paul a couple of months ago. LP Classic in Honeyburst. So far i actually really like it! Haven't been able to find any QC issues with it other than a slight fret buzz on the G string, but it's barely noticeable. Certainly can't tell when you play plugged in. Can't say for sure whether i "love" it yet, i haven't played it enough for that. But i can definitely say that it's leaps and bounds better than the guitars i've had before.
I own a Gibson Les Paul and SG . The first les Paul I tried sucked. Neck, sound just the overall feel was terrible. It was brand new. The 2nd one I tried was excellent. It was used. Same with the SG . It took me about 5 SG’s before I jived with one. It was also used . In my experience, and again, this is just me I have never matched well with a brand new Gibson off the rack. Every Gibson I’ve ever bought in my life has been used because those just feel better to me. Maybe there’s something with the used Gibsons versus the brand new ones. Maybe they need to be “broken in“ before they sound good at least to me. Kind of like shoes.
Was the first guitar I wanted! A Les Paul! Watched Les and Mary playing beautiful tunes and wanted to have a working piece of guitar history for my first electric guitar!
Till I saw how many repair videos there are for them, or just how to keep them in tune. Looking over all the options I bought a Gretsch G5222 walnut that's just gorgeous, sounds great (though I don't... yet), stays in tune and, least of all, didn't put a dent in my wallet!
I'm not going to buy something just for the name on it. When I get my playing to the point that I want to let people listen to my brand of noise I'm going to treat myself to a Gretsch G2420T and spring for a TV Jones upgrade (hope it happens before I die).
Sorry, Phil...I just laughed when I saw the title. Great Title. I got no specifics on good or bad , Fender or Gibson.
But that title....it's great. Thanks, Man.
I tried at least a dozen Les Paul guitars over a period of a year. When I found mine it was worth waiting for
To me, Gibson's problem is obtaining replacement parts. Cannot get a black (replacement) pick guard for my Firebird V as Gibson insists they have never manufactured one, even though the 2006 GOTW was a zebra wood with a black pick guard. Chinese parts are DECALED. Other repro outfits can't do the hot press bird logo. Wots the deal, Neal?
I have 3 Gibsons i absolutely love. 1-81 LP Custom, 1 2013 SG Deluxe, and 1- 2019 ES 335. I have 7 total Gibsons, multiples of some. He is right, i tried out so many guitars to find the 3 im in love with. I paid $5800 for a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Artisan, soon after i realized i bought a piece of art, a collectors piece, its in such good condition im scared to play it, and it doesnt sound as good as my other Les Pauls. Once you get bit by the Gibson bug, you want them all. Idk why but i dont have that with Fender and PRS. I have some really nice guitars from other brands, but they just dont do that "thing" that those 3 Gibsons do.
The ebony SG, ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WEALL, LOOKS LIKE MY 2017 GIBSON USA SG STANDARD: '57 CLASSICS(?), LOCKING GROVER TM's. ROLLED BINDING, HS Case.....ALL-IN: $1299 IN MARCH 2017....BADDEST SG STANDARD I EVER PLAYED, the 2017 SG Standard....
I love all my Gibson guitars 🎸 my first is my favorite 1999 les paul standard. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
My cousin left me some gear. A 58’ LPJ, 60’ LPC black beauty, a 1960” reissue LP classic, and a Flying V.
They’re cool but I’m a Fender man.
I like the 57-07 Mary Kaye commemorative Strat and the Rivera Super Champ the most.
RIP Paul. Guitar isn’t fun without you.
I didn't buy a Gibson, guitars are about personal preference. If I were to buy a "new" Guitar it would not be a Gibson, it would be an Eastwood or a Hallmark because I like surf guitars and Mosrite is out of business. that said maybe address the federal raid on Gibson's factory that was a major miscarriage of justice. I play a 73 Univox High Flyer equipped with P-90s.