New R9 and a binding issue

Freddy G said:

that's scraper blade chatter from levelling the binding flush with the fretboard....

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Yep.
If it is still proud of the board, it can be fixed.

I agree that it should have not left the factory like that, and Sweetwater should have caught it as well. That being said, if I really liked the guitar I would keep it. Its a minor flaw that doesn't affect playing at all. You might spend a lot of time trying to find another R9 of similar weight.

Although the scallop looks obvious in an enlarged photo, its probably no more than about .005" deep. That could be repaired simply by running a file across the edge to level out the surrounding area. It wouldn't take much at all to the scallop disappear. Had Sweetwater done that prior to shipping the guitar you would never know the difference.

Scraper blade chatter. At the start of the stroke the blade digs in too deep as you push off, creating those little valleys. If you don't take a file and smooth it out, then every additional stroke of the scraper blade accentuates those scallops. Ask me how I know.....

From another thread:

Southwest said:

This just came into my email inbox. At least some comfort for one or maybe a few of the Birmingham ex-PMT guys.

A message from the team at Fair Deal Music,

I'm sure most, if not all of you, are aware of the news circulating about PMT's closure. To say we are shocked is an understatement, and looking at the wider trends in the industry, it's not unexpected. PMT has served many of us in the store, and I'm sure many of you, for many years. Losing them is a big blow to the music industry. There are now even fewer spaces for all musicians to speak to people who know and care about music.

In light of this, we want to say thank you to all of you. Truly. We are nothing without your support. To each and every one of you, new or old, we truly appreciate you. While the state of the industry on the whole isn't the best, that doesn't mean we can't fight it together. If we don't use these spaces, we will lose them.

We are in conversation with ex-members of PMT Birmingham's staff to see what we can do to help. Jamie Downes is joining the team today and will be working at Fair Deal Music, and we are all very excited to see what the future brings.

One way you guys can help is to come into the shop and try instruments out. It is the best way to get a feel for them yourself. You can't hear how an instrument sounds or how it feels unless you physically play it, neither will reading forum posts or watching reviews. You are a unique player. While these are certainly helpful tools to guide you on your journey, sometimes, if you take a chance on something, you just might be surprised!

We appreciate that it is not always an option for some of you, and that life can be busy and stressful at the best of times, so you can always request a demo from our lovely team to give you as much information as you could want!

Once again, thank you all for supporting us over the years. It really is a privilege to serve you all, and hopefully we can for many more years to come.

From,

The Fair Deal Music Team

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aintitthelife98 said:

Appreciate all the discussion. I agree that both SW and Gibson should have caught this but here we are. I should be hearing from my rep at SW this morning but I have no doubt they'll make it right based on my prior experiences with them. Looking at the replacement options they have on their site right now, what does everyone think of this top? I guess it's a polarizing subject what sort of tops people like but always appreciate everyone's thoughts.

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Do You love the top?

I understand wanting some opinions, but when it comes to buying these guitars I’ve already decided “this is cool to me” and people decide if its cool to them too.

If you dont love the top, it doesnt matter what anyone else thinks. Especially as its to remember a family member.

Also looks like a shim under the nut.


Pretty shoddy. I agree it could probably be fixed up by a luthier… but I’d say unacceptable, send it back.

It’s a bummer because that’s a great looking top… At the other one you posted I don’t like as well. At that price, don’t settle!

gkelm said:

Also looks like a shim under the nut.
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Pretty shoddy. I agree it could probably be fixed up by a luthier… but I’d say unacceptable, send it back.

It’s a bummer because that’s a great looking top… At the other one you posted I don’t like as well. At that price, don’t settle!

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To the OP....is there any indication of those gouges into the rosewood itself? If not, then it's an easy fix.
And I have never seen a factory under the nut shim. Those lines are masking lines from the finishing process, and because the nut actually extends down below the masked line it gives the illusion of a shim.

This kind of stuff shows that Gibson only truly cares about the money. And I have several. Shame on me. These type of issues never, and I mean never, happen with PRS and Collings guitars. Heck, even cheap, import guitars have far better QC than Gibson. Are you listening Curly? I thought you were going to straighten this kind shenanigans out once and for all. Gibson is a joke at this point. I've only bought one Gibson new and that was an R9 that I bought in 2007. I'm totally over Gibson. I'm keep buying PRS, Collings, Knaggs and others thank you. If Gibson entered the market as is today, they'd be done in a year. History and sentimentality are the only things keeping Gibson afloat. I've had a lot of very expensive guitars and I can honestly say that pound for pound, if I had to choose between my PRS SE DGT and my R9 to be my forever guitar, I would keep the PRS. Without hesitation.

Here are head on shots of the nut .. would they really go to the effort of shimming a nut from the factory rather than making a new one or is it just finish over the bottom creating that illusion??

aintitthelife98 said:

Hey everyone. I was looking for a special, lifetime/keeper guitar to commemorate my dad who just passed and I had been looking to get a Les Paul for a while as all my other electrics are Fender so I took the plunge on this R9 from Sweetwater. I've only had a few days with it but so far it's been great weighing in at 8lbs, 9oz. I looked at a bunch they had available but kept coming back to this top.

Now onto the binding issue. While spending some time with it tonight, I noticed this "chip/issue" in the neck binding right up by the nut. I know these are hand made and there are always going to be imperfections and I also acknowledge that this is purely cosmetic but is this something that would be expected on a guitar in this price range? I have a few vintage Gibson acoustics but this is my first new Gibson electric so I want to make sure my expectations aren't out of wack.

Thanks in advance for the help!

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aintitthelife98 said:

Hey everyone. I was looking for a special, lifetime/keeper guitar to commemorate my dad who just passed and I had been looking to get a Les Paul for a while as all my other electrics are Fender so I took the plunge on this R9 from Sweetwater. I've only had a few days with it but so far it's been great weighing in at 8lbs, 9oz. I looked at a bunch they had available but kept coming back to this top.

Now onto the binding issue. While spending some time with it tonight, I noticed this "chip/issue" in the neck binding right up by the nut. I know these are hand made and there are always going to be imperfections and I also acknowledge that this is purely cosmetic but is this something that would be expected on a guitar in this price range? I have a few vintage Gibson acoustics but this is my first new Gibson electric so I want to make sure my expectations aren't out of wack.

Thanks in advance for the help!

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As an owner of 4 R9’s 1 is from SW, that top on yours is outstanding, most sought after and rare! I looked hi and low for few years and to get a top like the one you have you have to get a Murphy that costs 5K more just to have the guy ding and scratch it up!! I’d ask them to give you a steep discount and keep it! It’s gorgeous and the sound is not affected! Looks just like a Rossington! heck I’ll take if they sell it again!

Seems like Sweetwater needs to add a 56th point to the inspection list

Is it just me or does that one visible nib look funny? Mine are a bit rounded I think. That one looks filed flat. I need to check mine when I get home from work.

If I liked everything else about the guitar, I'd keep it. It wouldn't bother me. I would take a fine abrasive file to bevel it a little.

The next guitar they send you could be cosmetically perfect and a tone turd.

Just wait 'til you get a few dings in the guitar and that binding issue will fade in importance.

I’d be pissed off, and that guitar would be going back for a replacement, and either a discount on the new one, or a Sweetwater gift card.

aintitthelife98 said:

Hey everyone. I was looking for a special, lifetime/keeper guitar to commemorate my dad who just passed and I had been looking to get a Les Paul for a while as all my other electrics are Fender so I took the plunge on this R9 from Sweetwater. I've only had a few days with it but so far it's been great weighing in at 8lbs, 9oz. I looked at a bunch they had available but kept coming back to this top.

Now onto the binding issue. While spending some time with it tonight, I noticed this "chip/issue" in the neck binding right up by the nut. I know these are hand made and there are always going to be imperfections and I also acknowledge that this is purely cosmetic but is this something that would be expected on a guitar in this price range? I have a few vintage Gibson acoustics but this is my first new Gibson electric so I want to make sure my expectations aren't out of wack.

Thanks in advance for the help!

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I'm picky - i would send it back with a quickness. Don't worry about being married to that top, they're are plenty others.

If you Love the guitar keep it. This is an easy fix. I'd look for a discount on your guitar and a fix included from either them or take it to someone

The_Gibboboy said:

As others have said, bad binding
Also, is there something odd under the nut in the photo, something very pale looking under there

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It goes under the binding too. As if they over-taped the binding when finishing the neck. Kind of a crappy job for a $7k guitar.

In my experience, Firefly does a better job at QC than this. I'm thinking that Gibson just doesn't care anymore.

I think this one got the 54 point inspection. I’m sure Sweetwater will take good care of you.

Gtrzrus said:

This kind of stuff shows that Gibson only truly cares about the money. And I have several. Shame on me. These type of issues never, and I mean never, happen with PRS and Collings guitars. Heck, even cheap, import guitars have far better QC than Gibson. Are you listening Curly? I thought you were going to straighten this kind shenanigans out once and for all. Gibson is a joke at this point. I've only bought one Gibson new and that was an R9 that I bought in 2007. I'm totally over Gibson. I'm keep buying PRS, Collings, Knaggs and others thank you. If Gibson entered the market as is today, they'd be done in a year. History and sentimentality are the only things keeping Gibson afloat. I've had a lot of very expensive guitars and I can honestly say that pound for pound, if I had to choose between my PRS SE DGT and my R9 to be my forever guitar, I would keep the PRS. Without hesitation.

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James Curleigh has been gone for a few years now. He had no intentions of long term employment with Gibson. Cesar Guekian is CEO currently and many say he will eventually own the company. Who knows? What I do know is during the new ownership Jim Decola stated the company was hyper focused on quality control and that they were reading forum complaints from owners and making a huge effort to put quality first and make a quality guitar going forward. It has become apparent, they have lost the mission of quality workmanship, and have instead become focused on quantity, and have upped the daily/weekly production quotas (quality be damned) just to get as many new guitars in the box and out into the pipeline. If this is indeed fact, the company will not survive long term, as word of mouth on the net travels fast, and buying a new Gibson will just leave a bad aftertaste in every guitar players mouth. The covid guitar "boom" is over, they really need to step up the quality like they claimed to be doing after the last ownership change.

scgarman said:

buying a new Gibson will just leave a bad aftertaste in every guitar players mouth

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Well, not mine, as I'd have tried the thing out before buying it. If you don't want a Gibson then buy something else, it's not rocket science. Perhaps your prefered online dealer will pay a bit more attention if you buy a different brand, who knows? Or even cares?