NGD - Gibson Southern Jumbo - Really Gibson?

[billrenn]

Does the plastic pickguard bother the OP?

[Glob]

In 1922, plastic must have been a great and possibly expensive innovation. On my guitar today, it's the cheap, nasty kind with rough edges. But it will be replaced, and again the guitar itself is fantastic.

If I could help it I wouldn't serve a $200 wine bottle in plastic cups, but that's me.

And if I was a businessman, or a luthier, I wouldn't soil my brand and my craft by putting a piece of plastic on a guitar I expect to sell for so much; especially when my brand has reputation issues - which I think have been largely addressed so I'm not bagging the whole guitar and I certainly don't want to send it back

I don't mind for example that the finish hides the wood grain, especially on the back - I understand it is part of the Gibson's look. But if you put expensive gear tuners on the guitar for example - of a style that is not Gibsonesque at all - why not go the whole yard?

I suspect only Gibson can answer these questions.

[Osage]

Originally Posted by Glob

I suspect only Gibson can answer these questions.

I think that maybe there isn't really a question to answer. The fact that you seem to be the only one bothered by it kind of speaks for itself.

[ssstewart]

i didnt care for mine either so simply bought a purdier Gibson custom truss rod cover from git shop

[HighDef28]

I think the plastic truss rod cover is charming.

[JayBee1404]

A tempest in a tea-pot.

[rollypolly]

I’m also in the plastic fan camp. It’s tradition, easily replaceable if you don’t like it. it’s a Gibson, not a Taylor.

[Osage]

Originally Posted by Glob

Like buying a Ferrari with plastic covers on the wheels.

Gibson is hardly the Ferrari of guitars.

Half the people I know own a Gibson and I've never met a single person with a Ferrari.

Don't get me wrong, I like Gibsons. I own several and play them regularly but I'd probably equate them to Toyota or Honda. They're not cheap but definitely not the most expensive. They're common, popular and dependable. My Toyota Sienna is a great van and it has plastic wheel covers

[rule18]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

Yep, Bill Nichols.

He does real nice work. He did this “Excalibur & Vine” for my ‘02 Taylor 814c back around ‘04.

Yeah, that's the guy! He did a dragon inlay on rosewood back in '01 for my Taylor 714. Great work.

[b1j]

Let's dial back the dump on Glob. He stepped forward with a sincere statement of his opinion. Where would we be as a forum for ideas if we discouraged openness for fear of going against the crowd?

I've toyed with the idea of getting a Thalia cover for my J-45 – not for the bling of it, but more as a little gift to express my esteem for my beautiful guitar. However, Gibson paints the headstock jet black, so even an ebony all-wood cover would look brown by comparison.

https://www.thaliacapos.com/products...RoCtbQQAvD_BwE

[kcnbys]

I absolutely LOVE plastic truss rod covers, and the amazing affect they have on the tone of my guitars. I also love the way they look and feel. I'll never own a guitar w/o one .

[OldFrets]

Originally Posted by b1j

Let's dial back the dump on Glob. He stepped forward with a sincere statement of his opinion. Where would we be as a forum for ideas if we discouraged openness for fear of going against the crowd?

Nonsense. "I'd prefer a wooden TRC" would be stating his opinion. Calling it "unbelievable" and "shocking", let alone "ashamed of the Gibson company" is just a bad attempt at trolling.

[joeappel]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

As noted, two screw black plastic TRCs showed up on Gibsons in 1922, the year after Ted McHugh filed the patent for the adjustable truss rod. One of those Plain Jane TRCs adorns my 1932 L1, 1942 J50, and 1961 B45-12. They are as much a Gibson trademark as the logo and the burst.

I wonder if the older ones were Bakelite. It doesn't seem like use of polyethylene became widespread until WWII. The modern ones are ABS, according to Gibson.

[b1j]

OldFrets, I guess I’ve developed a thick skin for all those who say “good” Gibsons are hard to come by. Anyway, we don’t have to be disagreeable if we happen to disagree.

[zoopeda]

Originally Posted by b1j

OldFrets, I guess I’ve developed a thick skin for all those who say “good” Gibsons are hard to come by. Anyway, we don’t have to be disagreeable if we happen to disagree.

This is the original post:
"a piece of crappy plastic that makes me feel ashamed of the Gibson company...Why Gibson, WHY???? It's pathetic..."

If you're going to start a thread that's intentionally hyperbolic and inflammatory, you're going to get a proportionate response.

And I'm not even a Gibson fanboy.