Incoming NGD: Gibson 339 no-f-hole single bucker monster

[rfurtkamp]

More I play it, the more it reminds me of my first guitar: a (not hollow) early 80s Hamer USA Standard - neck, feel, punch are all very, very similar to it.

And in terms of punchable faces, I'd sooner punch Corgan than Mr. Blink, but...90s Chicago music scene denizen reporting in for hate.

[SPACERITUAL]

Worst out of box setup I have *ever* seen on a guitar (and I used to handle them for a small shop) from a big name. Intonation was dead on perfect...if you didn't want to use above the 3rd fret on the high E. Burr on high E saddle.

About an hour on the bench fixing and tweaking - that level of bad doesn't happen from a guitar just sitting in a packing container for two years.

That said, seems solid now that I've done Gibson's QC pass for them. Fit and finish even under the truss cover was solid, no bad frets, no sharp edges, even paint. Even the gig bag they tossed in instead of a HSC is actually decent - I'd gig with it if I still did such things. Neck balance is good, overall weight very reasonable.

Bucker is dark yet articulate, it can get stupid loud if you hit it hard but that's what I expected. It *might* be louder than the Fender Atomic, which would be an achievement in passive pickups. Sounds good enough and Gibson-like clean, and goes from drunk to snarling with fuzz in a heartbeat.

And it loves the ebow. Oh, gods, does it love the ebow.

The "Baked Maple" silliness isn't as bad as I thought, even if the fretboard edges look like someone's wood burning project - gives it a brighter attack than RW or Ebony, but isn't the too slick feel of maple. I could live with this on any guitar to be honest - far better than the RW synthetic alternatives they've tried to use over the years.

Was it worth $1150? Not sure.

But I figure $300 of that is the name or more. The $650 Casino is as well built to be fair but the frets aren't quite as well done.

Man ive been meaning to weigh in on this for a while. I bought one of the Gibson Memphis trini lopez reissues about two months back. when it got here I was convinced somehow a Chinese fake had been slipped into the case. Its was without a doubt one of the shittiest modern made guitars ive ever handled. There was missing paint, overspray allover the fretboard, huge bow in the neck, the rosewood insert kept just falling out of the tailpiece, the bridge looked like some of the shit ive seen on hundred dollar cort guitars. the glue holding the nut on wasn't scraped and was allover the side of the neck. Just a total piece of shit. I was flabbergasted.

I returned it and got a very nice guitar on the second go around but I really thought the Memphis shop had higher standards.

[rfurtkamp]

Think the problem is they're pumping out enough of them that crapturds get through.

I can blame the buzz/adjustment not related to the bridge burr on it sitting in storage for two-some years (production dates to June 2013 according to the stamps), but the bridge burr...should never have passed basic QC.

That said, one of my dudes who's been buying new Gibsons since the early 70s says that he's almost never seen one that didn't require the type of setup work I described to him.

Also not sure how motivated the people there are/were - was during the wood seizure era *and* the creation of the Epi-specific factory in China (that's putting out stupid good product) - I bet a lot of the guys are probably just punching the clock.

[KaosCill8r]

More I play it, the more it reminds me of my first guitar: a (not hollow) early 80s Hamer USA Standard - neck, feel, punch are all very, very similar to it.

Is that a good thing, or just a trip down memory lane?
That 339 looks awesome. It looks to me like a 335 with a smaller body and no f holes. No f holes would help a lot with reducing feedback Does it have the solid block through the centre like a 335? I love the idea of a smaller body 335 style guitar. The size of the body is my only complaint with my Epi dot. It's only a small complaint. They sound awesome and the necks feel nice.

[rfurtkamp]

Solid block, hollow wings, there's a LP-type access plate under the pots (since no F hole). That's all a 339 is - a smaller body 335 (this one with no F hole and one pickup). Neck feels pure 335 - little chunky, but comfortable as hell.

I had been wanting a LP DC-type guitar for ages but wasn't a fan of TV Yellow or the standard Gibson colors, and this gave me that and a 335 in one go basically.

Is that a good thing, or just a trip down memory lane?

And it's a good thing, it was no slouch and I would still be using it but I didn't know how to be gentle with a guitar and it had the Explorer-type body and the headstock split off after a stage accident and wasn't repairable by anyone I could find at the time.

Haven't played anything in a long time that reminded me of it, and I haven't ever been tempted to buy another (even though Hamers are criminally cheap).

[HorseyBoy]

Worst out of box setup I have *ever* seen on a guitar (and I used to handle them for a small shop) from a big name. Intonation was dead on perfect...if you didn't want to use above the 3rd fret on the high E. Burr on high E saddle.

About an hour on the bench fixing and tweaking - that level of bad doesn't happen from a guitar just sitting in a packing container for two years.

That said, seems solid now that I've done Gibson's QC pass for them.

Ah, Gibson - you've done it again!
Thinking about baked maple always makes me hungry…