1 (edited by Nightfly 2008-04-20 12:10:13)

Topic: Question about the JB-LP neck

Joe, Is the neck binding over the fret or is it fret over binding ? Obviously it dosn't annoy everyone but to this day I can't understand why Gibson insist on letting the binding overlap the fret as standard. I got rid of my Custom ES-137 because I could easily trap a string in the binding if I got too 'exited' with vibrato or pull-offs on the top E.

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

The Binding is a very nice rounded worn in feel.. The custom shop has that down these days.. Every historic that I own is like that... I know what your saying.. Some  guitars feel way too sharp...
Joe Bonamassa

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

The Binding is a very nice rounded worn in feel.. The custom shop has that down these days.. Every historic that I own is like that... I know what your saying.. Some  guitars feel way too sharp...
Joe Bonamassa

sharpness is an excellent way to look at it. I previously saw them as guitars that just weren't broken in. Is there any hope for a guitar with sharper edges?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

What are you talking about man? A lot of people get pissed off if their luthier doesn't keep the "nubs" from the fret ends when they go in for a refret. The binding going onto the fret should be rolled and pretty smooth. The only time I've ever experienced what you're talking about was on a crappy acoustic where the binding didn't overlap the fret, the high e would get stuck under the fret when you got too excited.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

are you asking me?

some fretboards edges are nice, soft, rolled, whatever....and many new guitars have very hard or "sharp" edges. I guess my initial question is, do they become more comfortable to play after some years?  I'm used to playing guitars from the 70's that are nice and broken in, playing new guitars feels really uncomfortable because of the edges on the neck on some models.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

My complaint was that when executing a 'pull off' I used to get an extra 'unexpected' noise which killed whatever I was doing. This was caused by poorly dressed Binding over Frets on a Gibson Custom guitar. In one place on the neck I could actually trap a string between fret & binding.

I have to say though, this put me off Gibsons for a very long time. Around about a year ago I was asked to use an LP(Standard) for a gig and confessed to really enjoying it. I tried 5 les Pauls out a few weeks ago, 3 reissue and 2 modern standards, the binding on the 3 reissue models was beautifully done. Not intrusive at all ... so I bought one. I even don't notice the heal anymore. All the same, If I could have bought one without binding I would have. ... don't mention the 'Studio' model tongue that wasn't an option !

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

Ah, well alright. I was gonna say why tell a guitar that you like because of a minor problem that can be fixed for a couple hundred bucks.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

In the case of my Custom ES 137, it cost £1500($3000 give or take), the problem didn't reveal itself initially until I started to play it in anger(for gigs). For that kind of money I expect it to be damn near perfect. Suffice to say I stayed away from Gibson for a long time after that. The custom shop have won me back over with my current '58 VoS Les Paul.

I may even get another ...... JB-LP perhapse tongue who knows

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

It's a $3,000 guitar but Gibson's current quality control is spotty at best. Some Pauls will sound like strings nailed to a 2 x 4 because of a bad nut/bridge cut. Then there are the gems that sing. It's hit and miss.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan

10 (edited by ModTourMan 2008-04-21 20:47:52)

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

Joe is certainly right about the Custom Shop - the Historic necks are real nice.  The neck really makes the Historics shine in my opinion.  Everything from the thickness, fit and long neck tenon to the rolled edges of the fretboard makes the Historics just wonderful to play.  People can argue and debate the value vs. the USA models or how historically accurate they are but for the most part I have noticed- as have many others - that you really can't lump these Historic Custom Shop guitars in with your run-of-the-mill Gibson USA pieces.  I myself was pretty disappointed in Gibsons until I finally tried some Historic Les Pauls (eventually purchasing a new 2001 R8).  Sure I recall the R7's, R8's and R9's I played being gorgeous instruments...but the NECKS were just wonderful and what sold me the moment I played one!  To those that haven't had the chance I recommend you play a Historic Les Paul unplugged.   You can really get sense of how these necks bring the rest of these guitars to life!

Russ B.

Re: Question about the JB-LP neck

ModTourMan wrote:

Joe is certainly right about the Custom Shop - the Historic necks are real nice.  The neck really makes the Historics shine in my opinion.  Everything from the thickness, fit and long neck tenon to the rolled edges of the fretboard makes the Historics just wonderful to play.  People can argue and debate the value vs. the USA models or how historically accurate they are but for the most part I have noticed- as have many others - that you really can't lump these Historic Custom Shop guitars in with your run-of-the-mill Gibson USA pieces.  I myself was pretty disappointed in Gibsons until I finally tried some Historic Les Pauls (eventually purchasing a new 2001 R8).  Sure I recall the R7's, R8's and R9's I played being gorgeous instruments...but the NECKS were just wonderful and what sold me the moment I played one!  To those that haven't had the chance I recommend you play a Historic Les Paul unplugged.   You can really get sense of how these necks bring the rest of these guitars to life!

Im saving up for a R9 at the moment. I tried one, and I really fell in love with the neck instantly. The neck of a guitar, should be like holding one's... Extension.

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?