Gibson does OK sometimes

[DesmondWafers]

I've had a pretty huge streak of shitty gibsons, but that's over with now.



(I wish I had a better camera)

A 2018 VOS 330. As per every other modern Gibson I've played, it's not perfect cosmetically. There's a very ugly area where the finish was applied super sloppily near the nut as well as a decent chip there. But I can honestly say that I've never had a better playing guitar. I'm really weird about string buzz to the point where the action is around 2.5mm on my teles (and still get some buzz with rougher playing) but this guitar's action is seriously less than 1.5 mm and I can't make it buzz. Playing at FULL force, the strings still ring so clear. I'm not sure if this is some gibson magic, because my fenders NEVER play without buzz, even with the action cranked.

The pickups are phenomenal as well, if you thought a jazzmaster gets overtones, this thing is like playing with reverb on. The VOS I could take or leave, but a few places online are blowing these out at near 2k, so I took the chance. It's also acoustically loud as hell, which is convenient for practicing or even recording demos at night.

So yes, if you're not that worried about a couple of cosmetic problems and this guitar is any indication, I think Gibson is actually doing far better now than they have the past few years.

[zhivago]

Very cool!!!

I have a Memphis-made Gibson ES and it is an incredible instrument!

[parry]

The pickups are phenomenal as well, if you thought a jazzmaster gets overtones, this thing is like playing with reverb on.

^^^ That has my attention ^^^
Congrats on finding a needle in the haystack!

[Larry Mal]

I have a Gibson ES-330 also, it's the most wonderful thing.

I am pretty sure you can buff that polish to a full gloss shine, if you care.

Congratulations! The trapeze tailpiece on there is what made me think that I wanted an ES-330 instead of the ES-335 and such. I feel I chose well, like you say, it's got a great acoustic sound to it for writing and practicing.

[marqueemoon]

Definitely would.

[DesmondWafers]

Thanks everyone. And to Larry - I'm not too concerned about the finish. It looks sort of satin in the pic, but in real life it's full gloss. It's just, well, an old looking gloss which I guess is the point. I'm honestly not too big on faux aging, but for the price I paid I can't exactly complain.

[Larry Mal]

Right... I think it's a full gloss that they put some kind of schmutz on to make it look older than it is. Like that paraffin wax that they put on Red Delicious apples or something.

I mean I don't know what it is... I've read it'll buff off. It's quite possible that it will also wear off as you play it, leaving you in bizarro world in which the guitar looks newer the more you play it. That's Gibson for you.

It's all moot, though. The important thing is how it plays and sounds, and it sounds like you have a winner. I'm a little jealous, I would have liked the 16th fret join ES-330 a little more than the 19th fret one that I have, or really, I would just like to have both one day.

[DesmondWafers]

I'm not even remotely an expert, but it looks exactly like a fender nitro finish when you hit it with steel wool. If you hold it in a certain light, it certainly looks like there's fine "scratching" or whatever you'd call it. I was surprised to how close it actually looks to an old gibson finish (minus checking).

Funnily enough, I saw your threads on other forums about the 16 vs 19th fret join when I was doing my research. I can't imagine that a 19th fret joint would have any adverse effects, but I'm sort of a traditionalist when it comes to that sort of thing.

[Larry Mal]

I wouldn't imagine the fret join is any real deal breaker, after all the ES-335 has always been a 19th fret join, and those sound great.

But there is supposed to be a difference in sound, based on where the bridge sits on the top and such, and where the string nodes are in relation to the pickups.

I hope to really know the difference some day!

[parry]

The trapeze tailpiece on there is what made me think that I wanted an ES-330 instead of the ES-335 and such.

Same thinking here. Pretty sure all these years of playing jazzmasters has wrecked me for that. I need to hear that behind the bridge over-ring and haunt - otherwise, it just doesn't seem right to these ears. I had that sunburst 333 for a bit last year, and while it was a very nice guitar... I just couldn't stop-tail. But it was too nice to mangle up, so I moved it on in favour of re-building a Sheraton with a regular tailpiece or Frequensator. I went with the Freq and love it more than I could've imagined!

[BoringPostcards]

Gorgeous.

[DesmondWafers]

I'm gonna try and throw up some better pictures later, but I've got a question. Does anyone have a suggestion for a riser for the pickguard? There's a decent amount of travel between the guard and the top of the p90 and since I anchor my pinky on the guard, it's irritating how it doesn't sit still.

[timtam]

I'm gonna try and throw up some better pictures later, but I've got a question. Does anyone have a suggestion for a riser for the pickguard? There's a decent amount of travel between the guard and the top of the p90 and since I anchor my pinky on the guard, it's irritating how it doesn't sit still.

Some suggestions would involve something that could affect the finish, eg a second standoff attached to the edge, a second pickguard screw, foam underneath. But maybe you could screw a thin block / strip of wood or metal to the bridge P90's right dog ear (ie under the guard, using the pickup screw) that would give you 3-point support for the guard.

[Larry Mal]

Does anyone have a suggestion for a riser for the pickguard?

(Look for this in the "For Sale" section in 3... 2... )

[HNB]

Grats! Looks beautiful!!