COA Should State Weight

honkytone · 05-02-2012, 05:44 PM

Gibson should take a cue from PRS and indicate the weight of Historics on the COA. Having bought (and mostly sold) a half dozen Historics in the last 18 months, NONE of them has been within a half pound of the seller's represented weight. Five were heavier than stated, one was lighter. And every time I could tell the second I picked it up, nevermind putting it on a scale. Hell, sometimes even before taking it out of the case! I feel like I must be one of the only guys out there with the equipment, ability, and/or honesty to weigh a guitar accurately.

Is weight the most important criterion for a Les Paul or any other guitar? Of course not. But it's one that some of us care about and consider when making our sight unseen purchase decisions. Do we all deserve to get what we bargain for and are told we can expect? YES, absolutely, no questions asked. Having the weight stated on the COA (even though theoretically it could vary a little over time, climate, and modification) would take a lot of the guess work out of it. Assuming GIBSON could weigh them accurately.

Tim Plains · 05-02-2012, 06:03 PM

Bad idea because that's an extra step in production. Knowing Gibson, it would probably add $500 to the price of each guitar.

I've owned numerous PRS guitars and never seen PRS document the weight anywhere. Where did you get that?

AxeBuilder · 05-02-2012, 06:11 PM

They could borrow my scale:

gem12 · 05-02-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R9.

Bad idea because that's an extra step in production. Knowing Gibson, it would probably add $500 to the price of each guitar.

I've owned numerous PRS guitars and never seen PRS document the weight anywhere. Where did you get that?

I concur.

onlypadog · 05-02-2012, 06:43 PM

Doesn't weight change with age anyway?

River · 05-02-2012, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlypadog

Doesn't weight change with age anyway?

Twenty years hasn't made any difference with mine.

honkytone · 05-02-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R9.

I've owned numerous PRS guitars and never seen PRS document the weight anywhere. Where did you get that?

Geez, am I imagining that? I had a 2007 DGT and could've sworn the weight was listed on the info tag that came with it. Thought sure that was common PRS practice. Anyway--cost issues aside--no reason Gibson couldn't do it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlypadog

Doesn't weight change with age anyway?

And yeah, I think it does or could, depending on climate, humidity, etc. but at least it would indicate the weight of the guitar when it left the factory.

tspoon5150 · 05-02-2012, 07:20 PM

I think COA's are BS anyway.......Put a damn chip in there that could be read
by a computer and quit f**kg around......

No damn original vintage had a COA and last I checked, they
are selling for a little more than a Historic......

If the weight is a problem, don't buy it or return it......If online, if
they lie about the weight, what else are they lying about?

honkytone · 05-02-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tspoon5150

If the weight is a problem, don't buy it or return it......If online, if they lie about the weight, what else are they lying about?

I know, don't buy it or return it. But it's rarely that easy. And, yeah, if a seller lies about weight they probably are lying about something else, but how do you know before you get it? You're pretty much restating the problem. And returning, even if anyone will honor a return over weight discrepancies--and what a lame thing to have to ask for--is a total PIA and waste of resources. Sure, we all rag about COAs being a joke, but this is one instance where they could actually serve a useful purpose.

SKATTERBRANE · 05-02-2012, 07:49 PM

does a person weigh less in higher altitude?

tspoon5150 · 05-02-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honkytone

I know, don't buy it or return it. But it's rarely that easy. And, yeah, if a seller lies about weight they probably are lying about something else, but how do you know before you get it? You're pretty much restating the problem. And returning, even if anyone will honor a return over weight discrepancies--and what a lame thing to have to ask for--is a total PIA and waste of resources. Sure, we all rag about COAs being a joke, but this is one instance where they could actually serve a useful purpose.

It is a hassle to send it back and take a chance of breakage......

Good idea on the COA, but too much hassle and Gibson thinks you plan
on keeping it forever, I guess........

I buy about half my stuff online and from reputable dealers and
had not have a problem yet.......

Individuals are a different story though.......Most Historic's are with in
the 8 to 9lb range, but always an exception.......

b3john · 05-02-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tspoon5150

I think COA's are BS anyway.......Put a damn chip in there that could be read
by a computer and quit f**kg around......

They say that Gibson does put RFID chips in them these days, but that only Gibson can read them.

slither · 05-02-2012, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b3john

They say that Gibson does put RFID chips in them these days, but that only Gibson can read them.

Which is all rather pointless after the guitar leaves the factory and they don't supply the dealers with scanners to read the chip.

Seantk · 05-03-2012, 05:34 AM

That R9 I got from you did "feel" kind of heavy

Did your Ebony R0 weigh more than advertised?

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlypadog

Doesn't weight change with age anyway?

I find the older I get, the more I weigh

tspoon5150 · 05-03-2012, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b3john

They say that Gibson does put RFID chips in them these days, but that only Gibson can read them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slither

Which is all rather pointless after the guitar leaves the factory and they don't supply the dealers with scanners to read the chip.

I am talking about a chip that the public would be able to read from......

I know about the Gibson chip......A public chip would be good for resale,
history, tracking, etc......The Gibson chip is for only tracking it
going down the assembly line and maybe warranty work.......

A public chip could also used like a LoJack for tracking stolen guitars......

Another idea is Gibson serial tracking site from the chip mentioned above......

BillB1960 · 05-03-2012, 09:17 AM

Join a gym.

shesrealfine · 05-03-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillB1960

Join a gym.

That took longer than usual.

But "the COAs are worthless" stuff was right on cue I thought...

BillB1960 · 05-03-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shesrealfine

That took longer than usual.

But "the COAs are worthless" stuff was right on cue I thought...

Yeah I didn't catch this thread 'til this morning. I was tired last night.

b3john · 05-03-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillB1960

Join a gym.

I owned a 13 lb. Les Paul Custom once. We called it "The Anvil". I consider my "play a heavy Les Paul" dues paid for at least this lifetime, thankyouverymuch.

HenryHill · 05-03-2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b3john

They say that Gibson does put RFID chips in them these days, but that only Gibson can read them.

Who's they, since when, and which guitars; anything with a circuit board or separate/discreet/hidden/embedded RFID's?

LPCollector · 05-03-2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryHill

Who's they, since when, and which guitars; anything with a circuit board or separate/discreet/hidden/embedded RFID's?

Gibson has been RFID'ing them for years....since '99.

“In 1999 we started doing this with the R-9s,” he explains. “Beginning in 2000 they’ve gone into every Custom Shop guitar.” Each transponder — about half the size of a typical oblong headache pill — has a distinct number. They can allow guitars to be tracked during the manufacturing process with greater precision. More important to musicians and collectors, the transponders can be used to foil counterfeiters and thieves."

Which is a funny statement to end with.....only Gibson can read the RFID's!
....carry on.

AXE · 05-03-2012, 06:20 PM

Is this why I keep hearing this beeping noise coming from my historic's?

7gtop · 05-03-2012, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXE

Is this why I keep hearing this beeping noise coming from my historic's?

........ Could be ........ But I think it's the "back-side" static
source ........

kungpow! · 05-03-2012, 09:24 PM

Anyone have an actual pic of these mysterious RFID thingys? I have never seen one.

Starting to think they're like Nessie...

Doubt they would put the weight on. Lighter ones are often thought as better, therefore the heavier ones woulen't sell as well. T'would be a bad business move.

b3john · 05-03-2012, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kungpow!

Anyone have an actual pic of these mysterious RFID thingys? I have never seen one.

Starting to think they're like Nessie...

Radio-frequency identification - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

rockstar232007 · 05-03-2012, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kungpow!

Anyone have an actual pic of these mysterious RFID thingys? I have never seen one.

Starting to think they're like Nessie...

Doubt they would put the weight on. Lighter ones are often thought as better, therefore the heavier ones woulen't sell as well. T'would be a bad business move.

I'm not sure if these are the same type that Gibson uses, though?

Maybe these?:

kdm · 05-04-2012, 07:07 AM

You Tube

b3john · 05-04-2012, 08:53 AM

Mythbusters RFID episode axed after 'pressure' from credit card firms ? The Register

The reason only Gibson can use the embedded RFID chips to validate a guitar is that they don't want to publish the sequence they're using to generate the unique ID stored in the RFID chip; they don't want to make it easy to reverse engineer.

LPCollector · 05-04-2012, 09:07 AM

RFID chip.......

Nessie, Sasquatch....yup, I killed 'em!

LPCollector · 05-04-2012, 09:09 AM

Everyone of our COA's have a weight on them........get it?
Your Birth Certificate........

05-02-2012, 05:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
honkytone Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 265 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts	COA Should State Weight Gibson should take a cue from PRS and indicate the weight of Historics on the COA. Having bought (and mostly sold) a half dozen Historics in the last 18 months, NONE of them has been within a half pound of the seller's represented weight. Five were heavier than stated, one was lighter. And every time I could tell the second I picked it up, nevermind putting it on a scale. Hell, sometimes even before taking it out of the case! I feel like I must be one of the only guys out there with the equipment, ability, and/or honesty to weigh a guitar accurately. Is weight the most important criterion for a Les Paul or any other guitar? Of course not. But it's one that some of us care about and consider when making our sight unseen purchase decisions. Do we all deserve to get what we bargain for and are told we can expect? YES, absolutely, no questions asked. Having the weight stated on the COA (even though theoretically it could vary a little over time, climate, and modification) would take a lot of the guess work out of it. Assuming GIBSON could weigh them accurately. LPaddicted likes this.

05-02-2012, 06:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tim Plains Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9,350 Thanks: 638 Thanked 672 Times in 76 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight Bad idea because that's an extra step in production. Knowing Gibson, it would probably add $500 to the price of each guitar. I've owned numerous PRS guitars and never seen PRS document the weight anywhere. Where did you get that? deepblue and LPaddicted like this. __________________ Tim. Future Bartlett Retrospec winner!!

05-02-2012, 06:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
AxeBuilder Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,912 Thanks: 92 Thanked 25 Times in 11 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight They could borrow my scale: LPaddicted likes this. __________________ 2011 LP Custom Hot-Mod 1955 Black Beauty (BB1, BB2) 2011 LP Classic Custom Antique Natural (57 Classics) 2007 LP R9 Sunset Tea Burst Yamano (BB1, BB2) 2011 PK Custom S-Style (Duncan SSL-1s) 2010 Carvin Bolt Tremolo (Carvin AP11s) 2005 Brian Moore iGuitar i81.13 Emerald Green (iMs + RMC Piezo) 1976 Ibanez Les Paul 2351AV Antique Violin (Super 70s) 1969 Ovation Balladeer 1111-4 Natural Marshall JVM205, Class 5, JTM-1, JMP-1, JCM-1, DSL-1 Egnater Tweaker 15 - 112 cab Vox AC4TVH - V112TV cab

05-02-2012, 06:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
onlypadog Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 704 Thanks: 5 Thanked 10 Times in 3 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight Doesn't weight change with age anyway? __________________ Giggidy giggidy goo

05-02-2012, 07:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
tspoon5150 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: LoneStar State Posts: 1,732 Thanks: 119 Thanked 59 Times in 13 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight I think COA's are BS anyway.......Put a damn chip in there that could be read by a computer and quit f**kg around...... No damn original vintage had a COA and last I checked, they are selling for a little more than a Historic...... If the weight is a problem, don't buy it or return it......If online, if they lie about the weight, what else are they lying about?

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05-02-2012, 07:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
SKATTERBRANE Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 21,441 Thanks: 603 Thanked 549 Times in 185 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight does a person weigh less in higher altitude? River, jhun1976 and RAG7890 like this.

05-03-2012, 09:17 AM	#16 (permalink)
BillB1960 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stumptown Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 236 Thanked 236 Times in 92 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight Join a gym. jhun1976 likes this. __________________ Gibson LP Classic Antique Fireburst GOTW #2 Bolt Electric Vintage P'ups Gibson LP G0 Darkburst GuitarForce LOTB P'ups Gibson LP Special TV Yellow Fralin P-90s Gibson Limited Edition Flying V 57 Classics Fender Limited Edition Strat Fender American Ash 8502 Telecaster Fender Bullet Deluxe S2 Ibanez AR-250 SD Phat Cats Epiphone DR500M Masterbilt Epiphone 58 Reissue Korina Flying V *"It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to"*

05-03-2012, 06:20 PM	#22 (permalink)
AXE Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Village Of The Damned. Posts: 19,047 Thanks: 1,225 Thanked 677 Times in 155 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight Is this why I keep hearing this beeping noise coming from my historic's? LPCollector, guitarnut_germany and 7gtop like this.

05-03-2012, 09:24 PM	#24 (permalink)
kungpow! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,174 Thanks: 42 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight Anyone have an actual pic of these mysterious RFID thingys? I have never seen one. Starting to think they're like Nessie... Doubt they would put the weight on. Lighter ones are often thought as better, therefore the heavier ones woulen't sell as well. T'would be a bad business move. River likes this.

05-04-2012, 08:53 AM	#28 (permalink)
b3john Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: stage left Posts: 3,828 Thanks: 169 Thanked 33 Times in 12 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight Mythbusters RFID episode axed after 'pressure' from credit card firms ? The Register The reason only Gibson can use the embedded RFID chips to validate a guitar is that they don't want to publish the sequence they're using to generate the unique ID stored in the RFID chip; they don't want to make it easy to reverse engineer. __________________ A bunch of Strats, some Gibsons, a couple clonewheels, a few Fender amps, various stompboxes *Posted from MyLesPaul.com App for Firebird X*

05-04-2012, 09:07 AM	#29 (permalink)
LPCollector V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where the Universe is conspiring in my favor. Posts: 4,888 Thanks: 33 Thanked 332 Times in 55 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight RFID chip....... Nessie, Sasquatch....yup, I killed 'em! kungpow! likes this. __________________ http://soundcloud.com/MarkDarby33/tracks

05-04-2012, 09:09 AM	#30 (permalink)
LPCollector V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where the Universe is conspiring in my favor. Posts: 4,888 Thanks: 33 Thanked 332 Times in 55 Posts	Re: COA Should State Weight Everyone of our COA's have a weight on them........get it? Your Birth Certificate........ __________________ http://soundcloud.com/MarkDarby33/tracks

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