A WARNING TO GIBSON LOVERS

[5L1V3R]

If you are thinking of purchasing a guitar from Gibson's cheaper 'faded series', think again.  The finish is the worst i have seen on a guitar ever.  It dents extremely easy.  The neck is painful to play.  It is uncomfortable to play sitting down.  It is overall a ripoff.  I could have bought an Epiphone for at least $200 less that is better.  Ye be warned.

[Ryan]

Thanks for that. I was thinking about a Faded V, and now i'm glad I settled on a Hamer Sunburst doublecut. Which, by the way, is the best bang-for-buck guitar I've ever seen.

[RumorsOFsurF]

I don't like Gibson, so I don't think I'll have a problem.

[guitardude]

i got the non faded sg special. i agree 300% out of 100% w/ you about the neck. i'm probably going to sell mine

[dj_techa]

What model did you buy?  I've been eyeing the sg faded in brown.

[idiotbear]

I have a faded SG Special in brown, and I couldn't disagree more with the OP. It's a great guitar.

Point 1: if you buy a guitar without a clearcoat on it, of COURSE it's gonna ding more easily than one that's covered in half an inch of nitro or, even more so, poly. And if you're ding-sensitive, why purchase an instrument that's already supposed to look beat-up? 

Point 2: I guess the neck's a teeny bit chunky, but painful? Come ON. You make it sound like it's got a neck like a spanish guitar finished in barb wire. It's fine. Anyone who can get behind, say, a Telecaster's neck, will have no issues.

Point 3: Ripoff? Top-dollar retail for these guitars in the UK is about £550, maybe £450 on eBay. That's a good £400 less than an SG standard, and puts the faded specials firmly in the mid-price bracket. It's extremely good bang for the buck, especially from Gibson, who normally charge an arm and a leg.

[dj_techa]

A friend of mine had a cherry colored ES-333, which seem very similar to the faded series , and was a great, solid, B grade guitar.

[fonzie]

i tried the faded SG at the store and it was a pretty good guitar imo. I'd buy it.

[Rich]

I have a faded SG Special in brown, and I couldn't disagree more with the OP. It's a great guitar.

Point 1: if you buy a guitar without a clearcoat on it, of COURSE it's gonna ding more easily than one that's covered in half an inch of nitro or, even more so, poly. And if you're ding-sensitive, why purchase an instrument that's already supposed to look beat-up? 

Point 2: I guess the neck's a teeny bit chunky, but painful? Come ON. You make it sound like it's got a neck like a spanish guitar finished in barb wire. It's fine. Anyone who can get behind, say, a Telecaster's neck, will have no issues.

Point 3: Ripoff? Top-dollar retail for these guitars in the UK is about £550, maybe £450 on eBay. That's a good £400 less than an SG standard, and puts the faded specials firmly in the mid-price bracket. It's extremely good bang for the buck, especially from Gibson, who normally charge an arm and a leg.

100% on everything.

[5L1V3R]

A friend of mine had a cherry colored ES-333, which seem very similar to the faded series , and was a great, solid, B grade guitar.

I have the Les Paul Special DC.  I doubt I can sell it or trade it in though cause it sort of was a gift and I don't want to be an ass.
But the neck is like sandpaper, and it is just so awkward compared to a regular finish guitar.

[dj_techa]

A friend of mine had a cherry colored ES-333, which seem very similar to the faded series , and was a great, solid, B grade guitar.

I have the Les Paul Special DC.  I doubt I can sell it or trade it in though cause it sort of was a gift and I don't want to be an ass.
But the neck is like sandpaper, and it is just so awkward compared to a regular finish guitar.

Like the guy from the shins plays?!?!  I've played that guitar before and the neck was nice.  maybe you just got a funky one?

[stonevibe]

A friend of mine had a cherry colored ES-333, which seem very similar to the faded series , and was a great, solid, B grade guitar.

I have the Les Paul Special DC.  I doubt I can sell it or trade it in though cause it sort of was a gift and I don't want to be an ass.
But the neck is like sandpaper, and it is just so awkward compared to a regular finish guitar.

Sand the finish off the neck then, if your going to keep it at least make it your own. You can get it done professionally, I'm contemplating having it done to one of my Les Pauls. It'll ruin the resell value but I don't plan on selling it ever.

[fonzie]

A friend of mine had a cherry colored ES-333, which seem very similar to the faded series , and was a great, solid, B grade guitar.

I have the Les Paul Special DC.  I doubt I can sell it or trade it in though cause it sort of was a gift and I don't want to be an ass.
But the neck is like sandpaper, and it is just so awkward compared to a regular finish guitar.

Like the guy from the shins plays?!?!  I've played that guitar before and the neck was nice.  maybe you just got a funky one?

i love the shins. I personally liked that guitar whenever i tried it out.

[5L1V3R]

i'm guessing the guy in the shins has a les paul special dc in the standard finish, like a gibson custom shop one.  mine is a cheaper version with a matte finish

[dj_techa]

No his is the tv yellow faded series.