School me on Gibson acoustics

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by Pickcity

I've never seen any of the problems that you stated, but I'm not saying they didn't happen to you either. I also stated that some people simply prefer other guitars and they were the honest ones.

All makers have snags at times. Even the mighty Taylor, Martin, or Yamaha...From what I've owned and played for 32 years, none of them touch Gibson, overall...But that is one man's opinion.

Some Gibson envy exists. There is no doubt about that.

There are snags 'at times', and then there are consistent snags. Just about every guitar forum you care to visit will have complaints posted about Gibson's woeful attention to detail and quality control in particular. This doesn't seem to happen with any of the other brands you mention-in particular Yamaha, almost always cited here and elsewhere as an exemplar of excellence in production quality, at every price point.
I have yet to meet anyone envious of poor quality

[Pickcity]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

There are snags 'at times', and then there are consistent snags. Just about every guitar forum you care to visit will have complaints posted about Gibson's woeful attention to detail and quality control in particular. This doesn't seem to happen with any of the other brands you mention.
I have yet to meet anyone envious of poor quality

I won't argue, but I see plenty of guys here who seem to love their Gibsons, including me. Why would I pay well over a grand for a piece of junk?

And again, I've never seen the problems you mentioned.

I think anyone being truly honest will admit that certain brands have haters, and that some of the hatred is out of envy.

[mtown]

My quest for a descent dread started at Guitar Center. I played Martins, Taylors, Breedloves, Gibson's and a few others. None excited me enough to shell out $2000 for one. Then I went to Chicago Music Exchange. Played a J-45 that was almost what I was looking for. I asked the salesman if they had anymore J-45's and he brought out three more still in the boxes. I tried out each one and chose the one that met all my expectations of a $2000 guitar. That was by far the best guitar buying experience I've ever had. My point to all of this is to go out and play as many Gibson's as you can to find the right one.

[zguitz]

J-15 sunburst modern classic...
All I could afford...
Don't care about all the neg sayin'...
Tight bond, inspiring, fluent creative energy...
Love it...
https://goo.gl/photos/NEzfk5NvgFEvWoab7
Dan

[JimmerO]

I really like the Gibson J-200 and will probably buy one some day. I have to say though that every new J-200 I've picked up to try in a store has needed a proper setup. The used ones I've tried have been fine. I wonder if Gibson just leaves that final tweak to the customer. Taylor guitars fresh out of the box play great. I think they're smart to do this since first impressions are so important.

[Tico]

I which the case for my Gibby ES-335 had a shroud.
My buddy's 345 case does.

Peeling back the shroud is a moment of drama, like the opening of a curtain on a stage.

[rodmeister]

Originally Posted by grinningbanjo53

Gibson hate is generally due to "rough" fit and finish.

If you're more concerned about tone and playability it won't bother you.

Most of this "inconsistent with bad fit and finish" is blown out of proportion.

There's a reason you see the majority of singer/songwriters using a Gibson.

They play, sound and record great.

I agree. My guitar shopping came down to the D-28 or J-45. The D-28 was impeccable, the flat surfaces were mirror flat, every detail was perfect. The J-45 on the other hand was a bit rough, with minute undulations on flat surfaces and body curves, that were visible from lights reflected off the surfaces. The area around the finger board as it approaches the sound hole was rough, almost unfinished. I bought the J-45 for that unique tone that spoke to me, I love that sound! If I wanted build quality, fit and finish, I would have taken the D-28.

[$ongWriter]

..I don't hate Gibsons. I hate the fact that the company builds so many not so great guitars. I own a great J-50. It's way better than 99% of the Gibsons built. In my opinion you have to play 10 Gibsons to get a good one. Just my 2 cents...but, in their defense..I love the ringing overtone Martin/Collings sound....

[bjewell]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

'Envy'? Not a chance; the SJ200 I ordered had a back strip off-centre both ends by about 1/4", so did the J15 I played in a store. The J35 I recently returned was built by a 5-year old judging from the 'quality', an ES135 I ordered arrived with an off centre Tune-o-matic, missing tuner screws, missing a tailpiece screw, finish crazing, a crooked 'ES135' decal and the body was full of wood chips. The CJ165 was an embarrassment, and I won't even mention the entry level electrics which are unbelievably bad. What am I supposed to be envious of?
The only Gibson I ever owned and which was excellent in every way, was an early 2000s Advanced Jumbo. If I'm supposed to be envious of anything it's those lucky people who actually found a decent Gibson acoustic. I have been playing for 50 years and have seen Gibson quality descend to the atrocious in many, many cases.
At the prices we are being asked to pay this is completely unacceptable. I expect the same level of consistency from Gibson as I get with Martin, Fender, Taylor and Yamaha-who could clearly teach Gibson a thing or two.

Well everyone knows Gibson sends their best guitars to Japan (true) and their worst to Olde Blighty (probably true). And you SHOULD play a Yamaha. Seriously, forget Gibson...

Originally Posted by $ongWriter

you have to play 10 Gibsons to get a good one.

Originally Posted by bjewell

Seriously, forget Gibson...

Ah, now things are getting back to what passes for normal around here.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by bjewell

Well everyone knows Gibson sends their best guitars to Japan (true) and their worst to Olde Blighty (probably true). And you SHOULD play a Yamaha. Seriously, forget Gibson...

No.
Olde Blighty is too close.
Just like convicts, they send them down to Terra Australis.
Australia.
I know because I've played them.

[zmf]

The OP question was:

Originally Posted by edwardmatt83

It seems like a lot of people online hate on Gibson guitars. Why is that?

Eventually we got to:

Originally Posted by bjewell

Seriously, forget Gibson...

We have come full circle.

[Tico]

Originally Posted by bjewell

Well everyone knows Gibson sends their best guitars to Japan ...

Everyone?

I didn't know that.
Still don't.

Please don't speak for me.

[Looburst]

As for me, I have owned many Gibsons over the last 30 years and have finally settled on a 1964 J45 and a 1934 L-Century. It really depends completely on what your style will be and whether you want that thump or not. Looks aside, I was and am always chasing that Gibby thump. Hoping soon to be owning a 1944 Banner LG-2!

[Gasworker]

I've never played a bad Gibson EVER EVER EVER. Now you have to guess how many I have played. In my opinion the blanket Gibson criticism by the few (not all) may be band wagon related.