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As mentioned before, I had ordered an ES-137 and it arrived a few days ago. I have logged-in countless hours using it since its arrival, and although I had played one in the store, my guitar has exceeded my expectations in many ways.
A few of the positive points:
First, the sounds you can get out of this guitar truly vary because of the Varitone switch(filter really). While playing I tried to compare it to my Epiphone Broadway, which is a hollow-body guitar, and I can get a tone very similar with a little adjusting of the knobs; however, I have found that I prefer the straight sound now (not using the varitone, or tone knobs) with the neck pickup.
Second, the neck on this guitar is a bit flatter than the one I tried out. I am not sure if this is a 2007 vs 2006 model variation or what, but the neck feels like a classical guitar neck (flat, and thin) -- which I prefer compared to the rounder and thicker necks.
Third, it's pretty -- but that's just me. I got the lightburst coloring, which is a fade from a medium brown, to a honey colored brown.
Now for the negatives:
The quality assurance team for Gibson should be fired, and replaced with Korean, or Chinese inspectors, because there were things on this guitar that should not have allowed it to leave the factory. I am being picky, but comparing the QA on this $2000 guitar to a $300 guitar I would expect the detail work to be at least as good, as an inexpensive guitar-- and it isn't.
The pick-guard was trimmed to accomodate the bridge pickup, had burs from the cutting. Those burs should have been removed, and the pickguard polished there so it had a smooth appearance.
There was a layer of brown buffing compund visible around the nut, which although easily removed by me it still should have been cleaned up at the factory.
Sawdust in the case, I have read multiple comments about this and it is actually true. I had to vacuum my case to clean it out because there were a lot of bits of 'stuff' in there.
Finally, while the body was finished perfectly, the back of the neck has a slightly 'pebbled' feel, which comes from the last coat of varnish/lacquer not being polished properly.
Summary:
As I said, the QA team should be fired, but no one else
because everything else was perfect. None of the above complaints are serious, even the polishing on the back of the neck -- it actually feels nice and is very minor (like I said, I was being justifiably picky).
The playability, action, fit and feel or the guitar are all excellent and did not require any adjustment other than tuning the guitar. In the future I may put better quality tuners on the guitar, but I will think about that when I am ready to change strings.
For all those people who believe that Gibson brand is better than Epiphone, I would disagree. I think Epiphone guitars actually are better manufactured /assembled in their respective countries. This leads me to consider a Korean manufactured D'Angelico EXS-1DH as my next purchase.
I have heard people suggesting that they are not as good as the American made ones, but I can't believe that since I have never bought a foreign made guitar over $300 that wasn't well made- and I have bought a lot of them.
Anyways, back on topic... I bought this guitar because of the sounds it can make, the way it plays, and the way it feels, and I was not disappointed. Just the opposite in fact, I love this guitar and the neck on it is easily the best I have come across. The combination of the ebony fretboard, the pretty inlays, and the shape make it the most comfortable electric guitar I have ever owned.
The Bottom Line:
Unless you specifically want a particular Gibson guitar, do not feel bad about buying the Epiphone counterpart. They are pretty much the same guitars just equipped with cheaper equipment
- which is easily replaced. For example, on my Broadway, I replaced the tuners with the really nice Grover Imperial Super Rotomatics, and replaced the bridge with a Gibson Tune-o-matic for like $50. Those two changes made the guitar 200% better, and now I essentially have the elitist broadway for less than half-the price.... thrifty, huh?
If you are in the market for a semi-hollow bodied guitar, and cost is not a factor, then this is a great guitar to consider - but try it out first. I would quickly buy this guitar again, if given the choice. I certainly recommend it.
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08-25-2007 04:32 PM
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yay! you got it. glad you seem to like it. i'm sure the more you play it the less you'll think about some of the small irritating things that came along with it.
i'm currently GAS-ing bad for a thin semi hollow myself, a telecaster thinline (yeah, i like teles) but i promised my fiancee i wouldn't buy another guitar until AFTER our weding next year! so your thread is just evil!
but on a more serious note, how dare you not post pictures!
we wanna see this beauty...lightburst is one of my favorite gibson finishes.
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Alrighty, here are some pictures:
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Gravy,
Beautiful guitar, but no need to apologize. I had the same experience with a new 175 last year. Pickup rings on backward, tooling marks in the fretboard, binding not lined up correctly, and a strange buzzing that couldn't be fixed.
Turned out to be a problem in the bracing. They sent me a new one 4 months later, I immediately ebayed it, and took that money and bought a buddy's 175 (1971) that is a gem. He had bought a custom made L5 a couple of years ago, and after sending it back a few times to Gibson, and them still not getting it right, he sold it.
I agree, right now Gibsons qc is very much lacking. However, I am not sure what US made D'Angelicos you are comparing to, as John died in 1964, so there haven't been any US made ones in a long time.
They have had their NYers made in Japan though. Perhaps that is what you are thinking about. They just discontined the Korean made ones, and have been closing the remainers out this year. I believe Samick made those Excels, and are a wonderful guitar for the $.
Enjoy the new guitar, it is a beaut!
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That is really a shame! I would hope that the folks at the Memphis Gibson factory know about their problems and bring their standards back up from their current levels. I suppose Gibson's could be due to any number of reasons, but there is no excuse for a top-line guitar brand like Gibson to ever to permit a guitar to leave the factory with buzzing, and the fretboard scuffed up etc..
Originally Posted by derek
This 137 is a peach, and the way it plays is just so comfortable and easy, I wouldn't ever suggest it wasn't worth getting; just the opposite really-- it's a keeper.
I hope I didn't sound too negative. I was just trying to be fair in pointing out that when you pay a lot of money for something, you should get a better product (playability, materials AND finish) than when you pay $300 for a guitar. This just isn't the case with Gibson. If Epiphone made an ES-137 Custom I have no doubt it would be of better craftmanship than the American made Gibson at a fraction of the price.
In fact, it is because of this I have been eying the Epiphone ES-175. But I will have to sneak that one in behind my wife's back because she will kill me if I get another guitar so soon.
On a different note: Mr. B - I look forward to hearing your new music when you do end up getting that new Tele, and no doubt you will post the pictures
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Thanks! It's an absolute blast to play. Just wish I had a bit more time to do so.
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Gravy, that is the best looking 137 i have seen, beautiful, great top etc., good luck, man you are one picky sucker, and rightfully so, gibson, which i have a few of, dosen't really know the meaning of quality control, they let a lot slide, your bonding with that guitar , and will be pissed for awhile but continue to play the hell out of it, and eventually you will forget about gibson's ineptness, it is a beauty, and great review.
peace
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12-06-2007, 07:52 PM #8Jazzarian Guest
Very nice looking in the photos. I take it this is one of the fancier ES137s Gibson offers? Those inlays are the same as seen on the Gibson "Supreme" models Les Paul and SG.
Geez, I've seen some selling around $1100? Hell of a deal for a new Gibson. Consider a new SG Standard sells for about $1200 these days.
Don't feel too bad. My '92 Gibson Super V CES is a "Master Model" from the Custom Shop. I've got a tiny burr on the incredibly flamed back poking thru the varish, maybe a 1/4". Wood does funny things over time, even having been cured ad naseum. During the time I've owned it (7 years), it's doubled in value, so I won't complain too much :}
Moral of the story? Even the Custom Shop can't produce perfection. Hopefully they file off burrs on pickguards better than Nashville does.
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GravyTrain's Gibson ES-137 looks absolutely terrific even with the 'negatives' that he mentioned. Not wanting to sell my house for funds I purchased the Ephiphone ES-175 (although I'd have also like the Gibson version) and it suits me fine. The quality of amplification these days is so advanced that you can get more-or-less the sound you want by simple combinations.
However, one thing really pisses me off. It's the non-guitar playing 'collector' who obviously likes to furnish his walls with expensive guitars rather than a few paintings. Are we really saying that the Epiphone equivalent of the Gibson is a few thousand pounds superior in sound? Possibly better (it certainly used to be in the 1960s) but that much better today?
In 1964 I ordered a Gibson ES345TDC from the States (there were few in England at that time) and it turned out to be one hell of a guitar which did me well for seven years. However, I got totally fed up playing for people who didn't know a crotchet from a hatchet, spending my life on the road or holed up in some studio playing total garbage for a living, that I decided to transfer to playing classical guitar but continuing my love of jazz. The Gibson was sold...please don't laugh, it still hurts...for...wait for it...£150! I've since seen one from exactly the same year on the web for £15,000.
So I'm delighted he's got his beautiful 137, but I truly hope he didn't pay through the nose due to some wealth collector.
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I like the 137 fine as long as it doesn't have the varitone option. Unnecessary weight and doesn't do anything for me tonewise.
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09-17-2009, 04:42 PM #11Jazzarian GuestEssentially a single cutaway ES335. There were some great deals on them a few years back, like around $1200. Originally Posted by derek
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My only Gibson, and likely to remain that way: 175 body shape, but built like a 335 with a neck from a Les Paul. Better balance all round, I think. Best of all worlds. The Classic (without the varitone, that I too am quite happy to live without) has the 490 pickups which (depending on the amp, the way you play, and your ears) are a bit brighter than the the 57's that come with the varitone equiped Custom. I love it, but not so keen on the quality control, or lack of it.
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I recently found one used for about $1000. I set it up, put good strings on it, and it has become my favorite gutiar . . .
Bill
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Personally, I like the 135 just fine. Doesn't have the mahogany block, but the chromite or whatever it is. Also, you can get the 135 with P90/100's, which is pretty cool imo.
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09-18-2009, 10:17 AM #15Archie Guest
I just bought a 135 (from a really nice fellow in England) and wonder what you more experienced players would recommend for strings. It now has some very light strings on it, and I'm planning to put heavier ones on it. I have 11s on my other guitars.
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I use Thomastik Infeld flats .12 on all my jazz guitars. Not sure what your 135 has on it, but a general rule is you can move up or down one size without much adjustment, but if you move up a couple of sizes, you will probably need to take it in for setup/intonation, and possible nut filing. Assuming you don't know how to do it. Originally Posted by Archie
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09-18-2009, 01:42 PM #17Jazzarian GuestI'm sure 12s would do him just fine without all the fuss. Originally Posted by derek
I had lots of problems with Thomastik Infeld on my ES175. They last about a month on it. D'Addario Chrome Flatwounds might last 6 months in comparison.
ES175s tend to be hard on strings in general, I don't know why. No fuss no bother on the GB10 and Super V. Strings last a long time on them.
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i have an ES-137 and a ES335 and i LOVE the 137 over the 335! I took the 490 pickup out! because just as RaQ said, it was a little to bright for my taste. so i replaced it with the 57 classic and put 12's on, and it does anything and everything that i need for jazz!!!
jason30
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Personally, I love the Varitone. Although I don't find myself changing it frequently, I find that position 1 is alright, but if you use position 5 or 6 and turn up the volume a bit it sounds really nice. Originally Posted by derek
I DO think the Varitone is uber-ugly, but it has it's place on this guitar. Gibson should invest the 50 cents to make it look like it's not a relic of the 1800's.
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I have a Gibson 135 with mahogany centre bock, stop tailpiece, '57 humbuckers and it does the blues to jazz thing with ease. It does seem to prefer 10/11 roundwound strings in my opinion though! But a great and underated guitar.
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I thought it was a shame when they quit building them. Originally Posted by kempini
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When I got my 137 it was because I had seen a 135. Local player had set up a small store and had a used one for £800 - but I thought about it too long and when I decided to go for it he'd either moved or closed down and I couldn't trace it. This was round about the time Gibson made the change over, so in the end I went with the 137, but I was really looking for the 135. I've tried the Epi 135, which they made for a while, but even these have dried up. Originally Posted by derek
While I'm on-line and close to rambling again - what do you all think about the Casino for jazz?
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i played one and i fell in love with it! i think it has a very warm and rich sound and handles beautiful melodic chords.not to mention blazing riff attacks.
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I have the same guitar, same color and love it. I read your original post about the quality issues and felt I should kick in too.
My case had saw dust in it as well. To me, that's sloppy, and should never happen.
Mine was also missing a strap button. The button by the neck was never installed. There was a mark like it was prep'd for install, but not actually drilling happened. The autorized tech at the store I bought it from put one in, it took forever, and because of an odd screw size I can't get strap locks to fit it.
The binding on the neck had a brownish glue all over it, that was easy to clean, but my epiphones and agiles don't have any of these issues. Granted the Gibson plays great, and has some really highend hardward, so some of the increased cost is justified, but it is amazing how many issues get through that place.
I have a les paul classic that the tailpiece studs are not set right on either, they were put in funny and painted over (so the paint is starting to chip).
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Beautiful guitar. I'm glad it didn't come with those plastic green knobed tuners.
Here's a picture of a rosewood veneer pickguard I made for my ES-135. The binding matches the guitar. I think the wood looks way better than plastic. Something like this would look great on your guitar I think.
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