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ok..i KNOW you are NOT ready for this!!
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Charlie X
Apr 2, 2012, 4:19:51 PM4/2/12
to
Just got off the phone with one of the main sales folks at Wolfe
Guitars.
(im thinking about a custom 555 but I digress)
He claims that Gibson is now having all of its archtop bodies (175,
L5, Super 4, LEGRAND..ETC!) made in China at the Samick plant. He is
stating this as a fact.
REPEAT: All Gibson archtop bodies are now being made in China by
Samick and then shipped to Gibson where they add the American hardware
and call it 'Made in USA".
He also states that because of the Feds raiding Gibson that their
fingerboards are no longer made of Ebony or Rosewood, but are instead
some type of plastic or fake wood and so are the inlays.
Ok, discuss.
Should i buy a guitar from them?
Guitars.
(im thinking about a custom 555 but I digress)
He claims that Gibson is now having all of its archtop bodies (175,
L5, Super 4, LEGRAND..ETC!) made in China at the Samick plant. He is
stating this as a fact.
REPEAT: All Gibson archtop bodies are now being made in China by
Samick and then shipped to Gibson where they add the American hardware
and call it 'Made in USA".
He also states that because of the Feds raiding Gibson that their
fingerboards are no longer made of Ebony or Rosewood, but are instead
some type of plastic or fake wood and so are the inlays.
Ok, discuss.
Should i buy a guitar from them?
Steven Bornfeld
Apr 2, 2012, 4:47:09 PM4/2/12
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Steve
--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
Greg D
Apr 2, 2012, 5:13:43 PM4/2/12
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I heard this years ago. In fact, I think I may have pushed this notion back in the 90's here. It's as true today as it was then!
Greg
thomas
Apr 2, 2012, 5:11:47 PM4/2/12
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On Apr 2, 4:47 pm, Steven Bornfeld <bornfeldm...@dentaltwins.com>
wrote:
wrote:
> On 4/2/2012 4:19 PM, Charlie X wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Just got off the phone with one of the main sales folks at Wolfe
> > Guitars.
> > (im thinking about a custom 555 but I digress)
>
> > He claims that Gibson is now having all of its archtop bodies (175,
> > L5, Super 4, LEGRAND..ETC!) made in China at the Samick plant. He is
> > stating this as a fact.
> > REPEAT: All Gibson archtop bodies are now being made in China by
> > Samick and then shipped to Gibson where they add the American hardware
> > and call it 'Made in USA".
>
> > He also states that because of the Feds raiding Gibson that their
> > fingerboards are no longer made of Ebony or Rosewood, but are instead
> > some type of plastic or fake wood and so are the inlays.
>
> > Ok, discuss.
> > Should i buy a guitar from them?
>
> Is this post a day late?
Damn Google Groups again--screwing up a perfectly good April Fools!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Just got off the phone with one of the main sales folks at Wolfe
> > Guitars.
> > (im thinking about a custom 555 but I digress)
>
> > He claims that Gibson is now having all of its archtop bodies (175,
> > L5, Super 4, LEGRAND..ETC!) made in China at the Samick plant. He is
> > stating this as a fact.
> > REPEAT: All Gibson archtop bodies are now being made in China by
> > Samick and then shipped to Gibson where they add the American hardware
> > and call it 'Made in USA".
>
> > He also states that because of the Feds raiding Gibson that their
> > fingerboards are no longer made of Ebony or Rosewood, but are instead
> > some type of plastic or fake wood and so are the inlays.
>
> > Ok, discuss.
> > Should i buy a guitar from them?
>
> Is this post a day late?
Charlie X
Apr 2, 2012, 5:51:48 PM4/2/12
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him!! It sounds so crazy that I am a bit suspicious of them not being
a reputable dealer. Trying to scare me off Gibson like that...not that
he would have to try that hard i mean.
Why would he risk a stores rep by making up something like that?
Phil T
Apr 2, 2012, 6:57:38 PM4/2/12
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On 4/2/2012 4:19 PM, Charlie X wrote:
mark cleary
Apr 2, 2012, 6:57:38 PM4/2/12
to
"Charlie X" wrote in message
news:f811a743-17e5-4002...@do6g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
Charlie,
I know your guitar was rattling in the neck but before you rattle you brain
on what to do get some real proof. In the end buying new guitars is a
problem always buy something already known. Lets flush this out some more
seems crazy.
Deacon Mark Cleary
Epiphany Catholic Church
news:f811a743-17e5-4002...@do6g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
I know your guitar was rattling in the neck but before you rattle you brain
on what to do get some real proof. In the end buying new guitars is a
problem always buy something already known. Lets flush this out some more
seems crazy.
Deacon Mark Cleary
Epiphany Catholic Church
MWC
Apr 2, 2012, 9:46:25 PM4/2/12
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Sounds fishy to me, but ...?
Plastic or fake fingerboards doesn't sound right on those guitars. However, as a result of my guitar building hobby, I have learned that jet black ebony without streaks is no longer common and is expensive. I would suspect most "ebony" fingerboards are indeed ebony, but might have been dyed black to meet expectations. Other hardwoods could be dyed black as well; maybe that's what he's talking about "fake wood".
There's an inlay material called "Ablam" which is made from thin veneers of abalone or other shell material. I think the abalone rosette on my Taylor GS might be made from this stuff - looks pretty good to me. I wouldn't call it "fake" but it is different from an inlay made out of an individual shell. You can see it here, for example: http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?NameProdHeader=Abalam+Sheets
Mike
Plastic or fake fingerboards doesn't sound right on those guitars. However, as a result of my guitar building hobby, I have learned that jet black ebony without streaks is no longer common and is expensive. I would suspect most "ebony" fingerboards are indeed ebony, but might have been dyed black to meet expectations. Other hardwoods could be dyed black as well; maybe that's what he's talking about "fake wood".
There's an inlay material called "Ablam" which is made from thin veneers of abalone or other shell material. I think the abalone rosette on my Taylor GS might be made from this stuff - looks pretty good to me. I wouldn't call it "fake" but it is different from an inlay made out of an individual shell. You can see it here, for example: http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?NameProdHeader=Abalam+Sheets
Mike
thomas
Apr 2, 2012, 9:48:38 PM4/2/12
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Gibsons.
Charlie X
Apr 2, 2012, 10:08:50 PM4/2/12
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Charlie X
Apr 3, 2012, 12:51:29 PM4/3/12
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I am just really uncomfortable buying from someone making a claim like
that. Imagine what story i would get if there was a problem with my
order.
Any one have experience with J Hale? He is a large Heritage dealer. I
have decided to try one of their guitars...i know the necks might
twist bend and explode..but so do Gibsons.
Just need to find a dealer who is not overselling me.
that. Imagine what story i would get if there was a problem with my
order.
Any one have experience with J Hale? He is a large Heritage dealer. I
have decided to try one of their guitars...i know the necks might
twist bend and explode..but so do Gibsons.
Just need to find a dealer who is not overselling me.
thomas
Apr 3, 2012, 9:50:38 PM4/3/12
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On Apr 3, 12:51 pm, Charlie X <diymu...@excite.com> wrote:
> I am just really uncomfortable buying from someone making a claim like
> that. Imagine what story i would get if there was a problem with my
> order.
>
> Any one have experience with J Hale? He is a large Heritage dealer.
I wonder if the Chinese Gibson bodies are made in the same plant that
> I am just really uncomfortable buying from someone making a claim like
> that. Imagine what story i would get if there was a problem with my
> order.
>
> Any one have experience with J Hale? He is a large Heritage dealer.
makes the Gibson knock-offs?
Bg
Apr 3, 2012, 11:43:00 PM4/3/12
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> I wonder if the Chinese Gibson bodies are made in the same plant that
> makes the Gibson knock-offs?
Ooooh, Good One.
> makes the Gibson knock-offs?
Bg
Mr Maj6th
Apr 4, 2012, 4:21:50 PM4/4/12
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guitars.
In the area where most guitars are made there are a myriad of
factories from large ones (Eastman) to one-man operations. There are
literally hundreds, probably even thousands, of brokers who call
themselves guitar factories and basically take orders and then broker
the orders out to the lowest price builders or acquaintances that they
normally do business with. One can never get a straight answer from
whomever they are exchanging emails with, in most cases the brokers
don't know the answers to questions that you and I might ask. They
say, we will ask the builders "in the factory," and get back to you,
but the translation and the language difference never seem to give you
a precise answer. There always remain questions that are vague and
unanswered or unasked.
Any one of these builders can modify a guitar to look like any guitar
in the world, and will for the right price. The modifications can be
anywhere from inexpensive to pricey. For instance; fret markers can
go from paper, plastic, or composite, to MOP inlays. The name on the
headstock can go from silkscreen to inlay as well. The trouble with
buying in China is unless you speck-out every detail in the order
(especially the minutia) they use the most inexpensive method on the
guitar. As an example you might settle on MOP inlays on the head and
frets and not speck out the bindings and purffling; they may be a
heavy cardboard covered with wood-colored dye and plaster. Then
again, depending on the builder, they might not.
It is my experience that the Chinese don't rip anyone off, but you get
exactly what you ask for, and absolutely nothing more. They decide
(without asking you) what to give you when you haven't asked for
anything specific.
Maj6th
Larry Hogan
Apr 4, 2012, 11:15:54 PM4/4/12
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On Apr 3, 12:51 pm, Charlie X <diymu...@excite.com> wrote:
Reys (mint used via eBay. Mine is actually the 8th one down, the Tea
Burst, still on his Custom page) for what I considered a steal, and,
IMO, it needed some rather minor work, some of which was admittedly me
being possibly just a bit picky. I sent it back, we spoke on the
phone, corresponded—he was always great to communicate with—and the
guitar came back quickly, wonderfully set up per my exact requests. He
even installed his barely-there weight system (for better strap
balance) while he had it back again. This was all done on a used
guitar, mind you, even including the weighting.
I also bought my Acoustic Image Corus+ amp from him, too. Nice amp.
No worries, and I wouldn't think twice about dealing with him again.
Larry
JNugent
Apr 24, 2012, 2:28:33 PM4/24/12
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