Slash Standard Les Paul (Quality Issue)

[Belzeebub]

I felt betrayed by Ibanez because of this whole locking mod fiasco. I diligently saved up for years in the hopes of bringing home a JS or a Jem someday. that day came in 2005 so I was very happy when i came home with a beautiful JS1000 in black Pearl. I played my heart out. then i learned of the bitter truth. I was outraged, felt betrayed and helpless (since i could not reutrn my guitar anymore). to me, it was just senseless to spend for the locking stud mod since technically, i shouldnt have been sold a guitar that would certainly present with an inevitable defect down the road. so i traded it in for a Gibson Les Paul Classic. I could not have been happier!

[irunnoft]

Originally Posted by satim

Click on any of the pictures any you will be able to see very easily VIEW AS FULL SIZE

Wow! That's really sad and upsetting. I was hoping that some of the same issues that plagued Gibson's banjos weren't also occurring in their Les Pauls and other electric guitars. However, seems like a lot of the same issues that were happening in the OAI division are also inherent in the USA Standard division.

I'd seen a Gibson Granada (one of their flagship banjos) displayed in the Nashville store with a totally botched job on the nut. The bass string was way out of line and would barely stay on the fretboard when played. The finish on some of their banjos was less than desirable, too. Supposed to be glass-like, but they weren't smooth at all. Lots of issues with undressed, rough frets, bad jobs on binding, finish issues, etc. I always thought that maybe some of the OAI issues were due to the fact that Gibson's line of guitars (especially solid bodies) were given more attention. I guess that's just not so. Sad.

[irunnoft]

Originally Posted by Belzeebub

I felt betrayed by Ibanez because of this whole locking mod fiasco. I diligently saved up for years in the hopes of bringing home a JS or a Jem someday. that day came in 2005 so I was very happy when i came home with a beautiful JS1000 in black Pearl. I played my heart out. then i learned of the bitter truth. I was outraged, felt betrayed and helpless (since i could not reutrn my guitar anymore). to me, it was just senseless to spend for the locking stud mod since technically, i shouldnt have been sold a guitar that would certainly present with an inevitable defect down the road. so i traded it in for a Gibson Les Paul Classic. I could not have been happier!

That SUCKS! Betrayed is a great word choice for that type of dirty, underhanded dealing. It's one thing to let something slip by that the mfg. is unaware of, but to knowingly put something out there that's going to have issues down the road - that's a whole new level of scummy!

On a more hopeful note, I've recently bought two Gibson Custom Shop Reissues (R9's) and they have ZERO issues. They are very well built and are, as far as I've been able to scrutinize, perfect. I think it's sad that in order to get something well-built and of superb calibre, that people should be forced to buy the top of the line.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by satim

I sent an email no response, what a surprise!

Keep sending until you get a response. It took me three times, and on the third one, I demanded a response.

[ippon20]

or just buy an Ibanez from Rich Harris...He sets em up with the locking stud mods...plus his pro setups are the shite.

[Sea Pull]

When you are paying around 3 grand for a guitar it should be nearly flawless. Granted nothing is ever perfect but file marks? That's a crock. Did you get it at a GC? I think GC is half of Gibson's problem. They are the freakin Wal-Mart of Guitar shops and in many areas they have an exclusive contract with Gibson. My local guy doesn't even sell Gibson anymore. If he did he would have sent that thing back before it ever got on the shelf..

[SamsDaddy]

Originally Posted by Belzeebub

I felt betrayed by Ibanez because of this whole locking mod fiasco. I diligently saved up for years in the hopes of bringing home a JS or a Jem someday. that day came in 2005 so I was very happy when i came home with a beautiful JS1000 in black Pearl. I played my heart out. then i learned of the bitter truth. I was outraged, felt betrayed and helpless (since i could not reutrn my guitar anymore). to me, it was just senseless to spend for the locking stud mod since technically, i shouldnt have been sold a guitar that would certainly present with an inevitable defect down the road. so i traded it in for a Gibson Les Paul Classic. I could not have been happier!

Thanks for the info and link Belzeebub. I don't think that locking stud issue will be a deal-breaker for me because I like the JS1200 so much.

I am of two minds about these kinds of issues. I completely agree that companies should not knowingly release guitars with an issue like this. However, it doesn't seem that Gibson is really any better than Ibanez in terms of things like the ake Bumblebees in historics and not telling people about chambering, etc.

I happily modded my R8 with new audio taper CTS pots and NOS Sprague caps because Gibson releases them with crappy pots and caps. I suppose this Ibanez issue isn't all that different in my mind. It sounds like a rather easy mod to do, and while I am not happy that it will be another $45 to spend on an already expensive guitar, it isn't any different that modding my pots and caps in my R8. Really though, it is cost-cutting from all of these companies that makes for slightly inferior products. They are doing the bare minimum.

And now, as with everything I read on the internet, there is conflicting information about the Ibanez locking studs. Some says it is required, while others says it is all BS and the stock studs are just fine. What is one to believe?