Gibson

Playing different guitars of the same model, there will always be a difference in them. Its a roll of the dice when you order on line, I have been lucky both times I did it, but its very risky doing this. Two of the same guitars side by side will play and sound different, so this is a very personal thing to buy your guitar

Originally Posted by: Slipin LizardJust like to ask... are you directing that comment at me, or others who have posted here?

The "beware of generalizations" is a cautionary for statements like, 'never buy (fill in the blank)' or, 'X-brand is better than Y-brand.'

The 'I don't know much but' *with* the parenthetical statement that followed was an attempt at self-deprecating humor, i.e. directed at myself. :)

The entire paragraph was trying to make the point that shopping by brand or making recommendations by brand is iffy...there are so many models, so many options/configurations and so many changes in materials and manufacturing. Then there is history -- I have read that some (most?) makes experience ups and downs and its reflected in their guitars from time to time. Shoot...some companies change ownership...how are we to know what that means for their future product? What did the CBS network's ownership of Fender do to the guitars?

Originally Posted by: john of MTThe "beware of generalizations" is a cautionary for statements like, 'never buy (fill in the blank)' or, 'X-brand is better than Y-brand.'

The 'I don't know much but' *with* the parenthetical statement that followed was an attempt at self-deprecating humor, i.e. directed at myself. :)

The entire paragraph was trying to make the point that shopping by brand or making recommendations by brand is iffy...there are so many models, so many options/configurations and so many changes in materials and manufacturing. Then there is history -- I have read that some (most?) makes experience ups and downs and its reflected in their guitars from time to time. Shoot...some companies change ownership...how are we to know what that means for their future product? What did the CBS network's ownership of Fender do to the guitars?

This is true. I know I've said a few times that you have to play it and let it sing to you.

That said, I do understand why someone desires a sound from a specific model. The historic Les Paul tone is a good example. I used to have one and will again have another. If you know that what the instrument brings to your playing is by a specific brand, then I can see being a bit myopic about it.

But you need to know what that 'thing' is.

I was convinced I needed a resonator/Dobro up and until a week ago. Convinced. I wanted that old time, lo-fi bluesy sound. I did my research and went and played several models I thought would fit what I wanted, and I was ready to slap the cash down.

None of them gave me what I wanted. Not a one. They gave me some but not totally there. I'd always pretty much got that lo-fi sound from my wife's Taylor Baby but figured with a Dobro, I could get closer to that sound I desired.

I bought nothin'. The Taylor was giving me exactly what I was looking for and I already had it.

Key is this, I knew the sound I wanted. I just needed to look around to ensure I was getting it. I saved money knowing what I wanted and being honest about it with myself.

I bought a Taylor on line, the guitar was perfect and I was very happy with it other then the string height. my guy took care of that. Some people do not live near a Music shop and must rely with on line sales. I just make sure there is a return option ,and most of time if its a problem they did not mention they will pay for the return postage. If I lived near a music chain I would go there but I don't have that option. I have bought and sold many guitars on line, For the most part people are honest. Just be sure you can return the instrument in question.................Pete

I bought a Gibson Les Paul Standard on line at Sweetwater.com. They have excellent guitars brand new and not played by anyone ever. They have an excellent return policy if anything is wrong or you end up not liking it. I got lucky and my new guitar arrived and is perfect for me. Not one mark or blemish on it. I took it to two different luthiers to have them look it over and see what they thought. Both gave it the thumbs up after fully examining every inch of it and test playing it. I highly recommend Sweetwater as they have a guitar gallery on line and you can pick the exact one you want through many photos of it. I love my Gibson LP Standard 2012. Good Luck!

Originally Posted by: jpolitoI bought a Gibson Les Paul Standard on line at Sweetwater.com.

I also went through Sweetwater to buy a 2013 Les Paul Traditional. Like you, I got the guitar with absolutely no problems, and it was gorgeous to look at. It sounded great, but with one flaw. At the 7th fret on the high E string the guitar produced this awful harmonic. Instead of a nice, smooth sustaining B note, it produced a squawking overtone that sounded terrible. I took it took a luthier who felt it was just something inherent in the guitar, not something that could be fixed. I have to say that visit was nerve wracking... he played it while wearing a belt with a huge metal buckle, and at one point, needing to answer the phone, just plonked the guitar down on a hard wood work table. I was amazed that the guitar didn't get damaged.

Anyways, I sent the guitar back to Sweetwater, and their tech checked it out, confirmed the problem, and said there was nothing that could be done, it was just a sympathetic harmonic due to something in the way the guitar was made... maybe something in the wood, who knows.

They did provide me with a full refund, and I was charged any shipping at all. The thing I find contrary when it comes to Les Pauls is that people say they are such a great sounding guitar (thus the $2299 price tag) but in the same breath turn around and that no two sound the same. I was disappointed that Gibson let this guitar get out of the factory with this problem. They say they check every note on every guitar they sell, but it didn't take me long to spot this problem at all.

I'd also like to mention that I A/B'd this guitar with a $1300 Fender Strat, and a $300 Jackson. The Strat is a very different sounding guitar, so its really apples to oranges. However, the Jackson, equipped with humbuckers, was really close. The Jackson had about the same amount of sustain as the Gibson, and every note played flawlessly, whereas the Les Paul had a few bum notes. This is why I recommend that people really try other guitars before splurging on a Gibson Les Paul.

Very good post, but Like I mentioned, I have to depend on, online sales. I agree, the guitars coming off the line are not what they were years ago. I find its important to pay a little more and get Customshop

see my post at the top of the thread, "U.S. Guitar Sales"