crunchee

I sent a Ebay message to the seller, telling them what's been confirmed here (no, I didn't drop the HFC name), that their guitar is 100% genuine Gibson USA, and this was their response: Unfortunately, I am sure it is. The front wood isn't faced. The logo is bubbled. The electronics are proper, as is the neck, but a few things on it make me think it is a China made.. thanks Pawn Max Hell, maybe pawn shops actually ARE getting fooled in believing that China-made counterfeits are real, to the point where they don't recognize the real deal anymore...or their buyers are either inexperienced or complete idiots, or both. I think that Henry shares some blame here, for letting Gibson send out guitars that look cheap in the first place. Insert double facepalm meme here.

This LP Studio looks to me to be a typical 2013 Made In The USA satin-finish LP Studio (no affiliation, BTW)...but the seller apparently doesn't think so. Of course, the ultra-thin satin finish and lack of pore filler on the mahogany just MAKES it look like it should be MIC (I don't think the Chinese would bother with a satin finish myself). I think Gibson has discontinued the cheapo-looking satin-finished models, or will very soon for next year: http://www.ebay.com/itm/REPLICA-CHINA-MADE-2013-GIBSON-LES-PAUL-STUDIO-SUNBURST-SATIN-FINISH-IN-BAG-/271674651327?

Funny thing lately is, is that lots of pawnshops are reporting being sold counterfeit guitars...of course, they buy them unusually cheap in the first place (as compared to the originals), then cry foul and plead ignorance when they 'find out' (or when somebody else points it out) they're not genuine.

It could be caused by changes in humidity...or the lack of it during the colder months of the year. You don't want to keep the guitar stored too close to any sources of dry heat during the fall/winter. As far as fixing it, it's hard to say without seeing it IMO, photos would help members of the HFC, but you'd probably need to take it in to a luthier/repair person for an estimate.

Happy Birthday, hope it's been a great one!

So, people who run/own newspapers lack integrity? Especially ones in little provincial towns? What a shock.

WHY are they selling? That'd be my first question. As a fer instance, my podunk hometown (pop. about 5500 on a good day, and it's the county seat) can barely justify having a daily newspaper anymore after at least 125 years of existence (they REALLY need to go to a weekly publication), the 'downtown' area has been dead for 20 years, it was dying at least 20 years before that, and what business that is left has physically moved to the outskirts of town where the Wal-Mart is. That is NOT unique, unfortunately. I'd definitely be looking at what's left of whatever market is there for a print outlet, if there is one. Of course, YMMV.

Was that a straight BIN listing, or were they taking offers, too?

Took 'em long enough, didn't it? I think it's obvious who Zep ripped off on 'Stairway' :

No, not yet...it's hard to choose, still going over the details! Plus, my spare fundage just recently went towards an unforseen expenditure. Ah, I thought I read you had picked up a clone, my bad! I did...a used 4 x 10" Tweed Bassman that somebody else had put together from a kit, but that was some time ago, and that's what drove me to ask about a 5F6-A circuit in a 1 x 12" or 2 x 12" format. The 4 x 10" format does give me plenty of bottom (or is that 'low midrange'?), so maybe using 12s would be overkill. But that's why I was looking for input. Edited to add: One thing's for sure...getting a brand new 'clone' amp ain't cheap, compared to a used one! As long as my 'used' clone sounds good, works reliably, and doesn't blow up (it does, it is, and it hasn't), I should count myself as lucky, I suppose.

No, not yet...it's hard to choose, still going over the details! Plus, my spare fundage just recently went towards an unforseen expenditure.

I have a couple of early '90's LP Studios with ebony boards, and they too have the 'ripple cut' ebony fretboards. It doesn't bother me, I just consider it as an example of Gibson's dedication to craftsmanship. I wish I'd known about the LP Studio you sold, if it was listed here I must've missed it, I like 'em anyway. I know, ebony is scarce, and streakiness is expected nowadays, depending on the price point, but even mine aren't nearly as bad as THIS one...AND it's from 1990! No affiliation, it's been sold anyway, in this case it kinda puts to rest the idea that Gibson dyes or darkens their ebony, or at least used to: http://www.ebay.com/itm/90-039-s-Gibson-Les-Paul-Studio-Celebrity-Owned-Kiefer-Sutherland-w-Case-No-Reserve-/291258297256?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=g1oyDAhe4PVTR4udCWtooIup5BA%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc So, now I know how much extra value a Kiefer Sutherland-owned LP Studio has, at least to a motivated buyer...a couple of hundred bucks, at best. This seller had tried to get rid of it before for a $3500 BIN. I dunno if you can tell if there's a laminated fretboard by removing the nut on the Bonnamassa and checking the headstock end of the fretboard...but short of knocking a chunk out of the binding, or getting sloppy and ripping the wood during a refret, there's no easy way as far as I know.

The output transformers can be an issue, Rob. I don't know about that bassman circuit in particular, but many a Concert and Super Reverb has been wrecked by changing to a 1 x 12, 2 x 12 or 1 x 15 speaker setup and hooking up an 8 or 16 ohm load to a 3.2 ohm output transformer. A BIG +1 to what Tom said. Old Fenders are relatively tolerant of impedance mismatches from what I've heard, but when you get into 2 Ohm/3.2 Ohm territory, it's a tricky situation...which is why I mentioned the change in output transformer rating to 4 or 8 Ohms from the original rating...or even better, having it selectable/variable, like in some Marshalls! I think Marshall's Bluesbreaker 2 x 12" reissue has a selectable impedance, especially since they more or less share the same chassis and most of the same circuit as the JTM45 head RI. But, like I said, I'm looking for one that is as close to a tweed Fender Bassman 5F6-A circuit as possible, but in a different speaker configuration.

Thanks very much for posting the details about the Madtone, Carl! That's an interesting amp, I'm wondering if the two 12" speakers are 4 Ohms each, so that the amp could get the 'normal' 2 Ohm load, that's something I'd want to ask the manufacturer about. Thanks also to Lords of the Jungle about the Ceriatone! I'm seeing what I think is a rotary switch on the bottom of the chassis, next to the output transformer, I'm wondering if that knob is for varying/adjusting the speaker load to the proper resistance. Again, I'd have to ask the manufacturer about that as they don't mention it in the description. Interesting also in that they specify using a 5U4 rectifier instead of a 5AR4/GZ34 rectifier...I can find vintage NOS 5U4 rectifiers easily AND relatively cheaply, compared to a vintage NOS 5AR4.

I'm not a member over there, so I can't see it. I realized last night...there IS something readily available that's very close (but not exact) to a tweed Bassman 2 x 12", and that's the Marshall Bluesbreaker combo. I'm actually looking for something closer/more exact to a tweed Bassman in 1 x 12" or 2 x 12" format, as methinks the Marshall may have some design tweaks in it of it's own, most obvious being tremelo. I LOVE the sound of my handwired tweed Bassman 4 x 10" clone, it's SO shimmery at times, who needs reverb? But, I think I'd also love one in 1 x 12" or 2 x 12" format even more, and built just like the 4 x 10"!

Like the question says...I'm curious to see if anybody makes them. I'm NOT looking for a low-power tweed Twin clone, OR a tweed Super clone, OR a tweed Pro clone, OR something like Victoria Amps Double Deluxe...but instead, the tweed Bassman 5F6-A circuit in an open-back combo cab, with a change in transformer rating to accomodate a 4 Ohm or 8 Ohm speaker load, for 2 x 12" or 1 x 12" speakers. Anybody know? TIA!

^This^! Though most drunks don't know the difference between a White Falcon and a White Russian.

Hope you had a Happy Birth Anniversary, whenever that was!

Is a guitar considered 'vintage' at 20 years, or 25? Either way, that's probably what they'll be when they finally sell all of them.

You know you're in expensive territory when they hang them up with the Rickenbackers.

Pictures or it didn't happen. Glad you got through it OK, though.

Old-fashioned vinyl (like that found on ancient vinyl-based guitar straps) tends to 'un-cure' a nitro finish. If left together for too long in close proximity, the nitro finish turns into sticky goo and won't re-cure/harden. I once found that out the hard way from having a nitro-finished Harmony guitar that came with an old Ovation guitar case with a vinyl pull tab on the case compartment, it only created a small amount of goo on the back of the neck, but it was enough to where I finally had to scrape off the gooed up spot of paint off of the neck). Hope that isn't the problem here.

It hasn't been around anything made of vinyl, has it? Nitro finishes and vinyl don't get along.

Occasionally (and this is just my guess), the black tape gets used on instruments and amps, so as not to imply endorsement of that particular brand. Sometimes, it's that particular TV show's policy. Sometimes, it's because the musician isn't getting any endorsement $$$ to play that brand, and guitar/amp companies can't easily use images that show their gear being used, if it has the brand name taped over. It's basically an 'image' game.

Interesting article, here: https://music.yahoo.com/news/kiss-guitarist-ace-frehley-paul-stanley-gene-simmons-040040176.html Who needs reality TV when you've already got KISS? BTW, anybody seen 4th and Loud yet on AMC?