Not sure, maybe. For sure Gibson are trading on reputation, no doubt. You’d have to ask why given their quality control vs price is at times questionable. Their guitars for some reason really vary in tone (as opposed to PRS for example) and some really sing. Is it reputation alone why some big artists still use them? I dont think it is. They have the choice of anything but still choose to use Gibsons even though other brands have better quality and certainly more consistency.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying all Gibson guitars are shit, not at all. I’m saying you’re always paying a premium for having the Gibson brand on the headstock and the differences between similar style guitars become minute at a certain level, it’s largely down to taste/preference and everything else in the equation is infinitely more important.
As for ‘big’ musicians - leaving aside the many deals, endorsements, sponsorships etc, that play a massive role - if you have infinite choices, the price of the guitar doesn’t really matter, maybe one of their heroes played a Gibson, that nice familiar name on the headstock, good resell value - yeah why not, perfectly understandable you might end up with one.
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I had a Les Paul shape by Harley Benton - think it was the SC550II - and it was £189.
I spent a few quid on the Slash AFD pickups, Nut and Locking Tuners and it was a beast for around £450 in total it better than most Gibson Les Pauls.
Should never have sold that. Gutted.
I may do it all again as I loved that guitar.
Update re my post 19 days ago…Gear4Music refused to take my Epiphone as they said it had a warped neck so took it to my luthier who said it did and that could be why I have a few frets that dont sound great. As its a fixed neck you cant repair it.
So thats on its way back to the person I bought it off on Ebay today.
You can possibly heat it up with heat blankets and clamp it with something straight(ish). That sometimes works, but isnt guaranteed to remove all of it if any. The technique is also used to reverse back bows in necks.
Sending it back is the right thing to do here though.
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I take it you tried truss rod adjustment?
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The guitars that I’ve bought online, I’ve always collected them in person, so got to try them out before exchange of monies. Just to avoid any issues with physical problems etc.
Yeah thats a good idea…
So Tuesday I finally get my refund for the warped Epiphone - took a while.
The seller gave me a postage label but when I took it to post office they said that they couldnt take it as A) to big and B) they guy had created the label for the weight of 0-2kg!
So i had to go home, contact him, he couldnt do another label so I had to send via Parcelforce 24 but for some reason they took 48 hours and when they delivered it Friday he wasnt in. He then arranged delivery for Monday but they finally delivered Tuesday…Got my refund Tuesday night and he sent me £12 to cover my postage fee.
Last time I buy a guitar on line
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At least you’re having some luck with Parcelforce. I sold a kitesurf kite 3 weeks ago. They’ve lost it. £600 worth. Glad i took the extra cover but they’re dragging their heels over it. Investigations blah blah blah.
Properly pissed
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Ive been quite lucky with parcel force in regards to guitars. I think they are still better than UPS (Useless Parcel Service) and DHL (drop it, hide it, lose it).
The worst was Evri who although said it was a 2 day delivery took 7 days.
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New arrival last week. Yamaha Pacifica.
This was 2nd hand from Gear4music but couldn’t have been played as it’s immaculate.
This thing can play anything from pop to hard metal due to the humbucker and 2 Seymour Duncans.
A steal at £599.
Took it to my tutor last week who gave it a full set up and it plays like butter.
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Did L.R. Baggs just unveil this year’s most forward-thinking acoustic guitar design?
Story by Matt Parker
L.R. Baggs – best known for its acoustic pickup innovations – has debuted a new acoustic-electric guitar in the shape of a sleek, forward-thinking design dubbed the AEG-1.
Prior to his focus on pickups, the firm’s founder and namesake, Lloyd Baggs, initially had a background in high-end luthiery, building instruments for the likes of Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, and Janis Ian, so in some ways the new launch – while unexpected – marks a full circle moment for L.R. Baggs.
That said, the AEG-1 is hardly looking backward. Even a cursory glance at the instrument tells you that this is not your usual acoustic-electric build.
In the place of the traditional soundhole is a ring cut, while its slim profile and specially-constructed plywood sides look thoroughly contemporary. L.R. Baggs says the reduced depth is possible thanks to a new (patent-pending) neck support system.
“It frees the guitar’s top and back from the need to support the neck,” explains the firm’s press release. “This allows us unprecedented freedom to voice the top and back to maximize the acoustic response, achieving a full-bodied sound from a thin and comfortable design.”
We’re unsure of the specifics of the design at this point, but you’d be forgiven for thinking this comes from a somewhat similar headspace as Fender’s slimmed-down Highway Series acoustics, appearing to share that rounded carve to the sides and what looks like a recessed bevel to hold the top and back in situ.
L.R. Baggs says its innovative build means more of the strings’ resonance is transferred to the top, “resulting in a wider dynamic range, greater tonal depth, enhanced low-frequency response, and improved tuning stability.”
It is, of course, equipped with L.R. Baggs’ HiFi Duet pickup system, which is mounted inside the guitar under the bridge plate alongside its Silo microphone – and, judging from the fast picking demos from Trey Hensley, sounds the part for it.
“My desire to faithfully amplify the acoustic guitars I was building as a luthier led to the creation of our pickup company,” says Lloyd Baggs.
“It became my life’s work to eliminate every obstacle to playing live acoustic guitar easy, inspiring, and fun. The AEG-1 is the realization of this philosophy and I’m incredibly proud of this instrument. I hope it brings you inspiration and joy for years to come!”
Options include a choice Torrefied Sitka Spruce, Natural Engelmann Spruce, and Sunburst Sitka Spruce tops, all priced at $1,599.
The AEG-1 will be available from November 1. Head to L.R. Baggs for more information.
Made in “Chaina” too. 
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