-
Finally, its here!!
My first high end, one time big time purchase.. my first ever Gibson..
Due to reading all the negative comments about Gibson, over the years, I have learned to avoid them. Having never played one, this was a gamble.
It was a big risk ordering online.. The store I bought this from is the only store that has it and it's from another state.. Knowing the horror stories, I was really afraid of getting a lemon.
But when I opened it, played it, all my fears where unfounded.. This is a really great guitar.. solidly built and its in the right shade of Cherry that I love on ES guitars.
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
The VOS finish is nice.. I know some dont like it.. but I do.. the light relicing on the hardwares as well.. not too overdone and I like it this way..
I also had a lot of experience with Casinos, and Korean built hollowbodies.. This is definitely worth the money.. and a few steps above those.. I have never tried a Japanese made Casino, but I know for a fact that Japanese guitars are well made and probably couldve been the same quality for lesser price.
But I want a Gibson, and I want my first one to be a nice one.. No buzzing, perfect action out of the box (for me, although I play 11's and this would be re-strung and nut cut properly when my luthier's shop opens).. hardwares are solid.
I think some people may be exaggerating things a bit on Gibson's quality.. but i know some are true.. but Im happy I'm one of the people who got a good one..
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
The neck feels great! chunky quartersawn mahogany (as per spec sheet).. Man I was expecting a slim neck, but this one is nice and round.. although I wish it was fatter, like 1-inch all through, but this is fine.. very comfortable..
and the rosewood is very nice, dark and well conditioned.
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Now of course, there are some things that I think couldve done better.. Nut is a bit high, but thats okay as it's going to be recut for 11's.. and some very minor finish flaw on the f-holes, where the black goes over the red paint.. I can live with it..
and some minor tooling marks on the fretboard binding edges.. for this price, I would expect QC people would take some time correcting those.. so those are the bad..
All in all, the tone is glorious and the good outweighs the bad for me.. Def not going back, I'll keep it and play it long..
coming from a Fender nut and a Telecaster addict, I can say, I might have been swayed and now going to the dark side.. I look forward to getting another Gibson.. probably an ES-335 or a Les Paul??
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Now this guitar is a game changer.. now Im rethinking of my gear buying choices and decisions.. if I wait 3-4 years in between purchases, everything will be top notch! I just need discipline and to save save save! I can make it work!
-
05-04-2020 05:33 PM
-
Admittedly Gibson has some totally bone-headed QC moves, but when you get a Gibson that's "right" they are absolutely wonderful. I've owned 7 Gibsons in my guitar playing life and each one has been excellent. With 2 I had a little problem with the nut but it was fixable in 15 minutes by me and I'm no luthier. All play wonderfully, sound great, and each has that solid feel that I like about Gibsons.
Originally Posted by dreamingJazz
Finally, its here!!
My first high end, one time big time purchase.. my first ever Gibson..
Due to reading all the negative comments about Gibson, over the years, I have learned to avoid them. Having never played one, this was a gamble.
It was a big risk ordering online.. The store I bought this from is the only store that has it and it's from another state.. Knowing the horror stories, I was really afraid of getting a lemon.
But when I opened it, played it, all my fears where unfounded.. This is a really great guitar.. solidly built and its in the right shade of Cherry that I love on ES guitars.
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
The VOS finish is nice.. I know some dont like it.. but I do.. the light relicing on the hardwares as well.. not too overdone and I like it this way..
I also had a lot of experience with Casinos, and Korean built hollowbodies.. This is definitely worth the money.. and a few steps above those.. I have never tried a Japanese made Casino, but I know for a fact that Japanese guitars are well made and probably couldve been the same quality for lesser price.
But I want a Gibson, and I want my first one to be a nice one.. No buzzing, perfect action out of the box (for me, although I play 11's and this would be re-strung and nut cut properly when my luthier's shop opens).. hardwares are solid.
I think some people may be exaggerating things a bit on Gibson's quality.. but i know some are true.. but Im happy I'm one of the people who got a good one..
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
The neck feels great! chunky quartersawn mahogany (as per spec sheet).. Man I was expecting a slim neck, but this one is nice and round.. although I wish it was fatter, like 1-inch all through, but this is fine.. very comfortable..
and the rosewood is very nice, dark and well conditioned.
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Now of course, there are some things that I think couldve done better.. Nut is a bit high, but thats okay as it's going to be recut for 11's.. and some very minor finish flaw on the f-holes, where the black goes over the red paint.. I can live with it..
and some minor tooling marks on the fretboard binding edges.. for this price, I would expect QC people would take some time correcting those.. so those are the bad..
All in all, the tone is glorious and the good outweighs the bad for me.. Def not going back, I'll keep it and play it long..
coming from a Fender nut and a Telecaster addict, I can say, I might have been swayed and now going to the dark side.. I look forward to getting another Gibson.. probably an ES-335 or a Les Paul??
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Now this guitar is a game changer.. now Im rethinking of my gear buying choices and decisions.. if I wait 3-4 years in between purchases, everything will be top notch! I just need discipline and to save save save! I can make it work!
Not disputing the horror stories others tell, but delighted you have a great guitar there that you can be inspired by for decades to come.
-
classic cherry red gibby...true hollow thinline..330..what's not to like??
congrats and enjoy!!
get your grant on
cheers
-
Beautiful! I think the VOS Gibsons are great. I’d love a nice ES 330 VOS some time, and yours is a fine specimen. There is something about the cherry finish and the aged binding that looks great to me. Congrats and enjoy!
-
I like the red, it's the first like that I've seen. One thing though, your git tuner will get difficult to transport in a few years :-)
I tried to teach my son to play, but he was always more interested in his phone.
-
Love it.
Now save for a tweed deluxe or tweed princeton and you will have the story telling set up from Valhalla.
-
Good of you to let your Dad play it
-
She is a beauty. Welcome to the magic of Gibson guitars and may she inspire your playing for many years to come!
-
Yeah, this is true, at this price everything should be perfect.. LOL Originally Posted by lawson-stone
I've tried a few 330 copies including Casinos, Japanese ones, Korean ones, some are close, but there's something about a really good Gibson that cant be beat..
if "mojo" is a quantifiable thing, Gibson has it in spades..
-
Thank you so much! The love affair started with a humble Casino! Originally Posted by neatomic
-
Thank you sir! Originally Posted by Mark M.
-
There are has a been few reissues and in VOS finish too, but it has bigsby on it and I dont want a bigsby.. Originally Posted by GNAPPI
took me two years to save up for this one!
The bub has a little ukelele that I'm trying to influence him on.. Hehehe.. hopefully he'll take up the guitar when he's older!
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
-
Yessir!! I will replace my Classic 30 and get a nicer one! Originally Posted by gggomez
Hahahaha! Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
Good of you to let your Dad play it
There's really magic! I've never believed it.. I was always in the Fender, Telecaster camp! Originally Posted by Stringswinger
-
That is indeed a beauty! Congratulations, and play it in good health!
-
Congrats, that is an absolutely beautiful Gibson you have there. You will enjoy it for years to come. Originally Posted by dreamingJazz
I think the Gibson quality thing is way overblown on online forums which are kind of an echo chamber. Sure Gibson puts out some duds, but when I worked at a big box guitar store for years I got to see a ton of high end models come through and most were great. I was a Fender guy for ever but now they are outnumbered by Gibsons in my house
-
Great photo. Bigger blessings than a guitar in that shot. Originally Posted by dreamingJazz
There are has a been few reissues and in VOS finish too, but it has bigsby on it and I dont want a bigsby..
took me two years to save up for this one!
The bub has a little ukelele that I'm trying to influence him on.. Hehehe.. hopefully he'll take up the guitar when he's older!
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
-
Thats what I'm planning to do sir! Thank you! Originally Posted by citizenk74
That is indeed a beauty! Congratulations, and play it in good health!
-
I love reading in Forums, and when I was young, I used to believe in everything Ive read.. Originally Posted by Paulie2
Since I started reading forums, and getting into Gibson reviews, the ratio of Gibson bashing vs Gibson praises are always 5:2.. so it got ingrained in me that Gibson quality is crap.. but every once in a while, a thread comes up and they seem to have a found a good Gibson..
although, mine isnt perfect, its just minor and doesnt affect playability or tone at all.. sure the nut was cut poorly, but I play 11's and I always change out the nuts with bone or have it recut for 11's.. or bindings have minor tooling marks, and f hole paint bleeds on to the top, but its okay for me.. I wish it was perfect, at this price, it should be, but on tone, playability, solid build, feel and mojo (if it ever was quantifiable) it has exceeded my expectations..
Definitely miles above Epiphone in that regard.. but believe me, I was very close in ordering and talking myself into the long waiting time of having a SeventySeven Exrubato Jazz or a Hawk-Std fully custom with P90's instead of Humbuckers.. but Im glad I went this route.. I really wanted a Gibson.
-
If I should say myself, I am the lucky one sir. Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
Thank you.
-
Here's another look at the hardwares..
When my wife saw it for the first time when I opened the case, she said "you didnt spend this much to get a used guitar did you? Are you sure this is a new guitar? How long was it hanging in the store? Why is it rusted??"
the treatment is just right for me.. not too light, and not overdone.. Perfect..
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
I love the feel of this fretboard.. the grains are tight and havent opened up yet..
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Finally the lighting is just perfect.. I think the other photos made it look quite bright red.. but this is the closest I have ever gotten to the color in real life
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
-
Gorgeous. Play it in good health!
-
are you guys bothered by the slight misalignment of strings? its leaning towards the bass side and while it's not affecting playability, its triggering my OCD.. not sure if the neck is set incorrectly or the bridge itself.. I also see this on other Les Pauls, 335's SGs, etc..
I know I can notch the saddles and have it spread evenly across the fretboard, but I prefer the strings to be centered on the saddles instead.. did you guys have this kind of problem with your Gibsons?
I dont want to return it as it sounds so good, and besides the fact that its a 2018 model and I may not find another one that sounds as good and the neck profile might vary..
here's some front photos to show the misalignment..
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
?
on this photo, its very noticeable;
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
the strings run over the pickup poles perfectly which is great, but you can still see the strings leaning toward the bass side here;
Untitled by D Y, on Flickr
Yes, it really doesnt affect playability, and it plays really well. I dont see it when playing and i forget about it when I’m in the tone zone anyway lol.
but there are times when I just open the case, bring the guitar our, and stare at it and marvel on its beauty. Then I see the slight misalignment.
-
I see this as a feature, not a bug. Seriously. That tiny bit of extra room on the edge gives you space for the occasional vibrato (rarely used on the low side). You have a beautiful and highly desirable instrument. Savor it!
Last edited by citizenk74; 05-18-2020 at 05:16 PM.
-
Noooooooo! Leave the string alignment exactly as it is.
Slight bias for room on the treble side is perfection.
It is rare to have trouble pushing the low E off the edge of the FB, but dragging the high E over the edge in either vibrato, an emotive moment, or just being tired, is a far more likely problem.
The best of the best possible setup would arguably have this slight bias as your guitar has.
Enjoy the extra (if accidental?) feature.
Feel free to obsess and stare at it for hours. But definitely note that the slight string offset is, if anything, ideal in practice.
-
Very well said. The slight bias you noted is perfect. That guitar is a keeper. Originally Posted by Bezoeker
Reply With Quote
Julian Lage Trio, Amsterdam, April 17 2024
Today, 02:19 AM in The Players