[Slowhand] Gibson guitars

[jess mayers]

Hi JB,
   
  Hope you're faring well in your neck of the woods.  I saw your post on the 'Slowhand-Digest' re: Gibson guitars of the 1970's.  At that time, not having enough money to buy one, I settled for whatever I could afford.  I was in a band at that time with a bass player who bought a Martin guitar that, within a year, had issues with the pick-guard and with the wood splitting on the back side.  It was a costly repair, covered under warranty.  It's only been in the past 10 years that I could get pretty much get what I want (always looking for a good deal).  That's how I came upon my Takamine in a pawn shop several years ago.  I played the Takamine, then a comparable Gibson (I forget the model number), they both were excellent, the Takamine was going for two hundred dollars less, that's what I went with.  Fast forward to this past December.  I wandered into a Guitar Centre near where I live, to get a part for my Telecaster, a guitar tuner and some picks.  Then for 'shits 'n
 grins' (can you relate?) I strolled over to the guitar side of the store to play a Gibson ES-335.  I told the manager, 'Toondog', my interest in the guitar and, not planning to buy anything, he told me, boy do I have a deal for you.  He led me back over to behind the cash register where a brand new, gorgeous, 'Lucille', ES-355 (B.B. King model) was on display, 1/2 price (it lists for $2800).  I took it down, played it, fuck, this is a gorgeous guitar.  Still, at 1/2 price...  I happened to have a 10% off card in my pocket for the Guitar Centre, I asked Toondog if they'd honor the card, he got back to me a few minutes later that, yes, they would.  It included a plush Gibson custom guitar case.  So, I bought it, out the door, at $1375.  Beautiful axe.  On top of that, after I got it home, I noticed that it had a rattle on the 6th string, I took it back a few days later to see if they would do a 'set up' on the guitar.  They told me to take it to their contract Luthier, so I
 got a full guitar set-up, comped, that would've cost about $150.  Beautiful guitar.
   
  Now with all the talk bantering about on the digest Gibson quality going down... no, this guitar is a beauty.  The upper end guitars - electric or acoustic - are still works of art.  The mid-range stuff, for the masses, those may be questionable.  It's all in the eye of the beholder.  I say, play it, make the guitar purr, see if it sounds and feels right.  Then make a decision.
   
  onwards - Jess



 





       
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