A Gibson QC issue with a happy ending

Dave W · April 18, 2015, 10:11:34 PM

Back in late 2013 I sold one of my guitars so I could afford to buy a SG Special Faded Bass. Hardly had a chance to play it, though, thanks to the multiple medical problems I've had since early 2014. Hardly played anything at all until early this year.

A couple of months ago I finally picked it up again and I noticed that the body had started to split at the center seam from the bridge down to the butt end, and that one of the halves was slightly warped. I brought it to Gibson's local authorized service shop who sent them photos to get authorization to repair it. Their rep had them ship it back to Nashville. After over a month, local repair tech calls Gibson to find out the status; he's told that the bass will be replaced. The Special Faded series is discontinued but supposedly they still had a few of them left. Then on March 28 he called me again -- Gibson is on the phone with him and they want to send me a new 2015 SG Standard Bass in cherry ($1679 street price) at no extra charge, and they want my approval. Umm...YES! But the delay had been so long and they had already changed their story, so frankly I wasn't going to believe it until I had it in hand.

It arrived here this past Thursday, and I'm happy to say it's the real deal. Local tech had adjusted the setup by the time I drove over there. Sounds great, looks great, no fit and finish issues, lighter and better balanced than the Faded, and the Babicz bridge is very nice up close.

Pics to follow.

westen44 · April 19, 2015, 12:21:12 AM

That is fantastic. It doesn't get much better than that.

Droombolus · April 19, 2015, 02:24:10 AM

Congrats ! A real classy move by our troubled friends. I'd think it would have made more sense if they'd offered a Special as a replacement but, to quote a dutch saying: both the ways of God and Gibson are hard to fathom.

Highlander · April 19, 2015, 02:54:57 AM

Nice one...!

Pilgrim · April 19, 2015, 12:45:52 PM

Nice to hear a positive story. Took a while, but sounds like a very nice resolution.

Basvarken · April 19, 2015, 03:01:09 PM

Nice Dave! Enjoy your SG Bass

Dave W · April 19, 2015, 03:42:40 PM

Thanks, guys. Until the local guy brought out a deluxe case and opened it, I really wasn't sure it would actually be a Standard. A replacement Special would have been fine, of course, but if Gibson were totally out, it might have been more expensive for them to set up for a single replacement.

Sorry about the quick pics, it's way too overcast for natural light and the flash on my camera isn't good indoors.

clankenstein · April 19, 2015, 06:49:17 PM

very nice.i think that bridge looks quite good on there.how does it sound?

Dave W · April 19, 2015, 10:30:23 PM

The Standard sounds clearer to me than the Special did, although it's hard to say for sure without a head-to-head comparison. No way to tell if the bridge has anything to do with that. Could be the weight difference or something else.

It's definitely glossier.

gearHed289 · April 20, 2015, 09:04:06 AM

Nice score Dave!

Pilgrim · April 20, 2015, 10:45:18 AM

Quote from: Dave W on April 19, 2015, 10:30:23 PM
It's definitely glossier.

That makes it shinier. As we all know, bright shiny objects are GOOD!

Grog · April 20, 2015, 11:22:03 AM

Better bass, better health, sounds like a win win situation! I've heard great things about the new SG bass with the Babicz bridge............ Congrats!!

doombass · April 21, 2015, 02:12:07 PM

Indeed a happy ending. Congratulations Dave!

uwe · April 21, 2015, 02:41:40 PM

Dave, someone - incongruous as it may seem - must like you up there!!!

A bass finally without a three point bridge was bestowed upon you!!! Back to the old EB-0F days, huh? Congrats - I don't have one like that!!!

Fret job should be better too, they are Plekking their new line of basses now. It sure made a dif on my 2015 TBird.

patman · April 21, 2015, 03:01:16 PM

Finally...proof that finish affects tone