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MGR/Peter Iden « Gibson ES-137 Custom »
Published on 09/30/03 at 15:00Long & McQuaid
Langley, BC, Canada
$2700.00 CDN
Custom order through Canadian distributor (Yorkville Sound)
Slow delivery.
Playability and sound on this guitar were first rate. Beautiful tri-burst finish and comfortable neck. The '57 Classic Humbuckers are everything Gibson claims they are. This was my once-in-a-lifetime dream guitar, until...
I could do without the Varitone control. It adds little to nothing to the tone and looks really cheesy to me. However, this is purely subjective. Your mileage may vary.
I noticed right from the start that this instrument was somewhat sloppy in terms of workmanship: rough feeling binding on neck, gap between nut and fretboard due to fretboard having been cut at an angle, nut binding causing wound strings to "jump" while tuning. there were numerous areas of smeared stain and glue on the binding that I was unable to remove. There were marks on the ivory fretboard caused by fret work. nonetheless, I was going to keep this guitar because it felt and sounded great, even though it was also occasionally rattling. Then, two days ago, I noticed a 1 inch crack in the finish originating from the pickup selector switch. I found the laminated top between the switch and towards the neck to be very soft and pliable. I took the instrument to my luthier friend the next night and he confirmed within 20 seconds what I feared myself: the top was delaminated. He also found that the finish in the neck joint was starting to crack! Folks, this guitar is less than 6 months old, has never seen a store and has never left my temp/humidity controlled studio. My friend referred to it as a "Friday afternoon before a long weekend special" He also had a few other choice comments that I cannot repeat here. Thanks, Gibson!
The store immediately recognized the problem, as well and is as helpful as possible. I am hoping to be able to get a replacement but I have already been advised that the Canadian distributor has inactivated this model.
It would appear that some of the horror stories I have read on the internet concerning Gibson quality control are based in fact. I can now add mine to this collection. The bottom line is, that if you get a well-built specimen of this model, chances are you will be very pleased. I know, I was, despite all the warts and flaws. I can only review this particular guitar, though. And this one is literally falling apart. I must rate it accordingly.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
Langley, BC, Canada
$2700.00 CDN
Custom order through Canadian distributor (Yorkville Sound)
Slow delivery.
Playability and sound on this guitar were first rate. Beautiful tri-burst finish and comfortable neck. The '57 Classic Humbuckers are everything Gibson claims they are. This was my once-in-a-lifetime dream guitar, until...
I could do without the Varitone control. It adds little to nothing to the tone and looks really cheesy to me. However, this is purely subjective. Your mileage may vary.
I noticed right from the start that this instrument was somewhat sloppy in terms of workmanship: rough feeling binding on neck, gap between nut and fretboard due to fretboard having been cut at an angle, nut binding causing wound strings to "jump" while tuning. there were numerous areas of smeared stain and glue on the binding that I was unable to remove. There were marks on the ivory fretboard caused by fret work. nonetheless, I was going to keep this guitar because it felt and sounded great, even though it was also occasionally rattling. Then, two days ago, I noticed a 1 inch crack in the finish originating from the pickup selector switch. I found the laminated top between the switch and towards the neck to be very soft and pliable. I took the instrument to my luthier friend the next night and he confirmed within 20 seconds what I feared myself: the top was delaminated. He also found that the finish in the neck joint was starting to crack! Folks, this guitar is less than 6 months old, has never seen a store and has never left my temp/humidity controlled studio. My friend referred to it as a "Friday afternoon before a long weekend special" He also had a few other choice comments that I cannot repeat here. Thanks, Gibson!
The store immediately recognized the problem, as well and is as helpful as possible. I am hoping to be able to get a replacement but I have already been advised that the Canadian distributor has inactivated this model.
It would appear that some of the horror stories I have read on the internet concerning Gibson quality control are based in fact. I can now add mine to this collection. The bottom line is, that if you get a well-built specimen of this model, chances are you will be very pleased. I know, I was, despite all the warts and flaws. I can only review this particular guitar, though. And this one is literally falling apart. I must rate it accordingly.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com