NGD - BFG content

[Webtroll]

I was considering buying a Tribute P90 and routing it for a bridge humbucker, but the BFG is already configured that way and has no fingerboard inlays which I like. I was going to sand the top smooth and refinish, and I still may, but there's a little piece of wood missing next to the neck on the top. I thought it was damaged, but a picture of a BFG on the Gibson website has the same wood missing. Is this normal? I'm about to plug it in and play it, but if I decide the guitar is not for me I'm taking it back. The case it came with was a pleasant surprise; I asked about it before ordering it and was told it was a Gibson hard shell case (at least that's how I remember the conversation). What I got was an SKB form fitted case with 5 heavy duty latches. The case is scruffed up a little but the guitar fits beautifully; if I had to fly somewhere tomorrow with my '74 Std I would use this case for sure.

Anyhoo on the TalkBass forums we have a saying "no pic no bass," so in that tradition, here it is:



And the strange wood issue:



This Gary Moore on the Gibson website has the same weird spot:
Gibson.com: Gibson Gary Moore BFG

[Sinster]

Yes that's normal. That came directory off the CNC machine and hasn't been sanded. Well it's been sanded by only the sharp edges.

[Webtroll]

I'm not seeing it on yours, nor on about half the ones I've looked at online, but it does appear to be common. Mine needs a setup and possibly a fret dressing. I want to keep it, but it irks me at the same time. I may look into what it would cost to have a pro put a piece of matching maple in there and dress the frets; if it's a lot it may be going back. Curses!

[Sinster]

Originally Posted by Webtroll

I'm not seeing it on yours, nor on about half the ones I've looked at online, but it does appear to be common. Mine needs a setup and possibly a fret dressing. I want to keep it, but it irks me at the same time. I may look into what it would cost to have a pro put a piece of matching maple in there and dress the frets; if it's a lot it may be going back. Curses!

Mine is there but not as wide. Don't let that bother you because right now your top is a little thicker than normal. Like I said they sand it down.

Here is mine you can see how thick it is.



I really like the dark back of yours.

[Webtroll]

If I start sanding I can't send it back. Maybe I oughta get it setup first, then decide. Currently it frets out higher on the neck, and there's some wear on the lower frets. Top does seem pretty thick from the side, but it's hard to say with the finish. The ridges seem more subtle than on others I've seen pictures of.

[Sinster]

Originally Posted by Webtroll

If I start sanding I can't send it back. Maybe I oughta get it setup first, then decide. Currently it frets out higher on the neck, and there's some wear on the lower frets. Top does seem pretty thick from the side, but it's hard to say with the finish. The ridges seem more subtle than on others I've seen pictures of.

Is this new?

[Webtroll]

No, it's from Guitar Center, so I'm not worried about the warranty. However, if I sand it there's no way they're going to take it back! Sand then tint the top pale blue or amber. So, I'm thinking a setup with a possible dressing, maybe sanding faux binding the sides (or maybe I do the faux, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort), chrome or nickel hardware including proper shaped tuners (I hate the kidney shape on Gibson headstocks, maybe a set of PMMH-Modern will fix that), a creme pickup ring for the bridge and a creme cover for the neck, maybe a Fralin humbucking P90, possibly refinish the headstock veneer and apply a decal people use to make non Gibsons look like a Gibson (haha). Throw a modern wiring harness with 250k or 300k pots, gold tophats and a creme surround and that's what I'm thinking of.

So yeah, if I keep it I'll be all over it. I decided to go this route instead of routing a tribute because I like the lack of inlays on the fingerboard. All in all it won't be cheap, but with my basses I'm used to paying to get what I want. Sometimes it works out beautifully, sometimes it cacks.

Thanks for the replies!

[Bountyhunter]

I like it. I'm not big on the green ones, but that color actually looks really good.

[Leumas]

I've always had a thing for that particular BFG, nice score man!

[Webtroll]

thanks

[marc1kim]

yes its normal. the typical BFG top is identical to what a standard or any other would be coming right out of the CNC router (plus a very light sanding)...the difference is the others (standards, studios, etc) go to the slack belt sander and get all the ridges sanded out. That "missing piece" gets blended in during the sanding process.

BTW, I think the Gary Moore BFGs got more top sanding than the regular production BFG

[marc1kim]

My old BFG:





some cool BFG documents:

[brokenarrow5]

like the color!

[skipdog]

Webtroll: let me know if you want to sell it

[Webtroll]

Originally Posted by skipdog

Webtroll: let me know if you want to sell it

Thanks for the offer; had you been in the store when I picked it up I'd have let you have it, but it's starting to grow on me. I'm not saying I won't regret the decision. There are 2 BFGs on GC with tremolos which appeal to me, but bird in the hand and all that.

[MineGoes211]

I tell ya. I just sent back two guitars thinking I could find another Gibson to add to my guitar collection. My Gary Moore BFG is made well and sound and plays awesome!! It's my main guitar and to me looks great!

[Quadrophenic]

Its a beautiful guitar. You should keep it

[Webtroll]

I am keeping it. It's already in a shop getting a maple patch before sanding and staining. I was thinking of a solid color, but Gator's thread on hand rubbing a burst using stain is giving me second thoughts. I'm hoping the patch stands out less than the gap where the wood is missing. I'm also going to convert it to a ring for the pickup, so I have to either move the coils to a new plate or figure out how to get the existing plate to work with screws; the current screw goes through the plate without threading and screws into a different plate screwed to the bottom of the cavity. I would just drop in another pickup, it's not like I don't have a few lying about, but I wanted to give the BB3 a chance. Besides, what good is a BB3 that can only mount in one guitar that already comes with that same pickup?

Hand rubbed stained wood burst

I'm also wanting to change to nickel or chrome HW, and mount Grover or Gibson tulip tuners. And a custom inlaid truss rod cover. And... The list goes on and on.

[Kmaster]

Well may as well chip up and post my bfg. It's got that large rut near the neck too.

[Zack]

these look pretty cool

[Webtroll]

Yeah I've always liked the lack of inlays, I just wish it had body and neck binding.

(update without bumping) So a maple patch has been installed and I also had the guy sand the top (the frets came out nice too). Under the ridged top? Flames! Well, not heavy flames, maybe an AA top. Hard to say without wetting it, but I'm excited already. Now I have 2 tops to stain (long delayed Bulldog project because I've been chicken). He warned me that the edges of the maple where the patch is could bleed the colors if I go dark, we'll see. Will post pics soon.

[Webtroll]

Here's what's under the funky ridged top. Obviously not bookmatched and the flame is inconsistent, but there's enough of it for me to move forward with staining. The maple patch, fret work, and sanding were done by John Lewis out of the Round Rock GC (jlfretfixer@gmail.com). The work was fast and clean, and he took a lot of time explaining options and what was going on. Anyhoo, enough jabberin, here it is:

[Rock City]

I am sorry not seeing the photo here on my day job. Some "Blocked request: policy violation" but I'll see it at home.
I had BFG two years ago.
I sanded frets and body edges which were sharp.
Then, I pull out kill switch and move toggle to its position.
BB#3 worked pretty well for me but P-90 was a bit thin in BFG. I'd rather put P-90 in bridge and BB but #2 or #1 in neck.
Everything else was swell for an axe on a budget. Real working horse.
And a guitar for not being sorry to do some mods.

[Zenzeypher]

awwwww

now it just looks like a studio - kinda.

[Webtroll]

Originally Posted by Zenzeypher

awwwww

now it just looks like a studio - kinda.

Yeah, but without the fingerboard inlays. Almost every time I see a studio I think of how much better they'd look without them; why put inlays when you're not going to bind it? This is closer to what I would want out of a Studio, and one day I'm going to get a Gibson LP with binding and no inlays. Almost bought a Raw Power because I like how the fingerboard looks without them.

[Sinster]

When you going start to burst it?

[Webtroll]

Well, I should probably get my forum name changed to Waffler; every day I decide on a new color! Still leaning towards an amber or burst for this one and a blue for the Bulldog I put together. May do both this weekend. Also wanting to age some nickel hardware for another guitar. And I'm going to upgrade my home system and reinstall. And I'll be out for much of Sunday, so there's reduced time. Yay!

[MineGoes211]

I'm going to put on one of the Buckethead arcade killswitches in place of the toggle on on my BFG!!! Love the effect!!

[Webtroll]

Well, a few mins ago I made the decision to go nickel, so it will also be getting Grover Rotomatics with the tulip handles, a Grover Nashville bridge, an AllParts featherweight tailpiece, it has 500K pots so I ordered 2 300K pots for the P90 (may decide to leave the 500 in for the tone, undecided, no audio tapers at this time), already have a HB ring, casino chip and switch knob inc in cream, and 4 amber tophat knobs. I ordered some Sprague 02 caps from w666, but I also have some Mojo caps, and somewhere I have some old caps that I wrangled from Walter at Music Exchange in Austin a few years back. If I can avoid pooching the finish this oughta come out nice. Any collectability is long gone, so the black HW and wood knobs are probably going to go bye bye. Unless I score a white LP. Who knows?

[Kmaster]

Originally Posted by Webtroll

Well, a few mins ago I made the decision to go nickel, so it will also be getting Grover Rotomatics with the tulip handles, a Grover Nashville bridge, an AllParts featherweight tailpiece, it has 500K pots so I ordered 2 300K pots for the P90 (may decide to leave the 500 in for the tone, undecided, no audio tapers at this time), already have a HB ring, casino chip and switch knob inc in cream, and 4 amber tophat knobs. I ordered some Sprague 02 caps from w666, but I also have some Mojo caps, and somewhere I have some old caps that I wrangled from Walter at Music Exchange in Austin a few years back. If I can avoid pooching the finish this oughta come out nice. Any collectability is long gone, so the black HW and wood knobs are probably going to go bye bye. Unless I score a white LP. Who knows?

I bet it's gonna come out pretty sexy even if the finish gets messy