[4yearlurker]

About 2 years ago I went to a local music store to by a Gibson SG. I have been playing guitar since 1975 and I was always a Srat man. I gave myself a two thousand dollar budget. I played about 5 SGs in the store and told the store owner that Gibson’s quality is surely lacking these days. The guitars were Crap! Action sucked. Finish did not look professional. Sound wasn’t what I expected. My cousin bought a SG in 1972 and he still has it. What a fine guitar that is! That’s what I was expecting. I think they were all Chicom knock offs.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I have an old SG I bought used for $75 over 30 years ago. Great action. Great guitar.

[Drew68]

I gave myself a two thousand dollar budget. I played about 5 SGs in the store and told the store owner that Gibson’s quality is surely lacking these days.

Gibson's quality control leaves much to be desired these days. I would never buy a Gibson without playing it first. There are some gems and some klunkers. When I bought my Les Paul Classic, I didn't even need to plug it in. As soon as I held it in my hands, I knew I would be walking out the store with it!

Funny thing though, when I feel like jamming out, I almost always reach for my Highway One Stratocaster. It cost about 1/3rd of what my Paul set me back but I just love it! My Paul is just too d*mn heavy!

[HiramQuick]

It is amazing how guitar mfgs. change. I play a D28 Martin circa 1969. Also a D35 (72) The 35 pays better, the 28 has a better, more brilliant sound. I purhcased a late 2005, D35 (a divorce sale)from a friend and it actually has better sound than my 72.

But the real difference noted was the 1954 D28 that my wife bought me for Christmas this year. Oh my .... the others now sit in their cases ... this one is a wonder to behold. It maybe one of the best Martins ever built.

Guitars are funnny ... often they improve with age. I have a friend that has an early Taylor 800 series. It is stored sound hole facing and inches from the face of a large stereo speak when he’s not playing it. The constant mimicking of the reverberation from the speaker keeps the sound board in motion ... he claims it is “guitar exercise.” Not sure how true that is, but that Taylor is just about as sweet as my old D28.

Funy