I Made A Mistake Buying A Gibson Custom Shop R0 Guitar

[@PhillipMcKnight]

I have been sick with Covid, I'm starting to feel better and I can edit and upload videos. I hope to be ready for this Friday's Podcast and hope to see you all then.

[@johnnewton1830]

Get better man

[@johnnewton1830]

…was a bit worried when there was no kyg.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Stay warm, dry and feisty Phil.

Get well Phil!

[@leonardodufloth9309]

Get well soon Phil, much love to the family!

[@princevalium25]

Gibson has gone the way of Harley Davidson. Quality is way down, prices are way up, and brand snobbiness is at an all-time high

[@Theenragedone]

Well typed. Even the resale value on Gibson's is starting to come down.

[@docdaytona108]

I don’t count on this improving anytime soon, as the pandemic allowed/forced EVERYONE to raise prices substantially and there are more Gen Xers and Boomers with lots of disposable income aging into midlife crises everyday. (Not to mention crypto bros falling into sudden wealth all the time.) Gibson is unequivocally the FOMO/YOLO ‘status symbol’ brand and it’s no longer close. If they were known for single-coils, I’m sure they would have the king of bling, John Mayer himself, onboard by now, too.

[@bassyey]

Fanboys help that. They have horde defending them. Oh well, profits must be high with all these fools giving them money. I can't really blame them for that.

[@ericcrapton8275]

Hmm i havent really noticed that in the 2021s. Maybe one every now and then but most 2021s seem to be amazing.

[@nedim_guitar]

@@ericcrapton8275 I like your name there. :D

[@669rd]

I own a Gibson Les Paul Standard and this is probably the most accurate video on Les Paul’s QC issues. From rough fretboards to minor problems like reflective knobs falling off. It’s always repairs and more repairs, I have just ordered an Edward’s LP Custom and got gently reminded how a guitar with no issues should feel like. Thanks Phil for an honest video.

[@countzero5150]

You would never see the types of quality issues gibson and fender custom shop guitars have come out of the ESP Kiso custom shop.

[@squirelova1815]

That's why I stick with Gretsch.

[@conbro0985]

I used to back Gibson so much cus all my idols played them. Until I tried two attempts on a Gibson sg. First one had scratched up pickup covers. The second one there was tooling marks all over the fretboard. Like really badly scraped. At the end of the day the problems weren’t worth the cost.

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

That's why I buy only Ibanez

[@squirelova1815]

@@blessedheavyelements8544 Ibanez cares. Innovation, value and decent QC.

[@Arfonfree]

Even though I will never be in the market for a guitar at this pricepoint, I found this interesting. Makes me appreciate just how good my budget guitars are.

[@Bixll09]

Amen brother.

[@10bunks12]

Well said

[@Olliemusiz]

Hey Phil! Former Gibson employee! I can confirm with you that after working over the past year at Gibson, they have slowly started to care less and less about quality and more about quantity, to the point of threatening to write people up if they noticed blemishes or scratches or jams. I watched a slash les Paul go out the doors with a flat head screwdriver jam directly left of the pickup, right on the top where it’s clearly visible. :) they DO NOT CARE.

[@gregmullins6927]

Thanks for revealing this mate,I do repairs and set ups on guitars and every time I work on a Gibson the screws on most of the fittings need tightening,this is sub standard and unacceptable considering the high price a consumer pays for a Gibson guitar.

[@martin-1965]

Really depressing to see this video and to hear what you just said mate. I don't think I will ever buy a Gibson new, I'll go second hand when I get around to it and check it out carefully before buying it. Mail order brides and mail order guitars seem to have a lot in common lol.

[@holstorrsceadus1990]

So many dinged up beaters the Mod Shop is never going to run out of new stock

[@ramencurry6672]

I own an Epiphone 339 …a couple years old, I think it’s fantastic.

[@andrewgarcia3136]

@@holstorrsceadus1990 that's a win for players imo, as long as the mod shop keeps their standards up. that said they have a really iffy and overpriced 60s standard up there... it almost looks as if the top has a big piece of filler wood in it, or someone massively messed up the paint job... maybe it is a gigantic mineral streak. i have no idea how it is listed for $2200. the listing doesn't even mention the obvious defect you can see in the photos. what's even crazier is that it is in multiple reverb shoppers carts

[@michaeldorey9225]

Phil,first of all best wishes for your health, and your family's well being😍 Second of all,I'm 68,been playing since I was 13.,can't imagine a knob falling off of a Gibson,or any parts flying off,just out of the case. I live in Tennessee, and I know that buying a Gibson these days,is simply buying the name on the headstock.

[@scoobers90]

Sorry to hear you got a Friday guitar, Phil. At that price any of the issues you had are inexcusable to me. Get well soon!

[@onionheadguy7094]

Lol Friday guitar ive never heard that before thats great 😂

[@CarlyonProduction]

Yeah it’s crazy. To get a modern Gibson of a similar quality to the greats, you have to pay an insanely inflated price. But even then, the quality is not up to scratch. Gibson seems like a great investment right now. Their prices just go up and up and up. But for anyone who just wants the best guitar money can buy….they aren’t even in the running for me.

[@vorpalblades]

They build those 7 days a week at Gibson.

[@WilliamHaisch]

The old saying I heard came from the 1970s. You didn’t want a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was made on a Friday or a Monday. Also, you needed to buy two: one to ride and another to rob parts from to make the first one run. Quality was an issue when AMC owned HD.

[@doctorbarber1]

@@WilliamHaisch My dad was always fond of this one: Ride a Harley, ride the best. Ride a mile, walk the rest.

[@arustydodge2111]

Thank You for The Honest Review, PHIL. Couldn't agree more with YOU! For that Company, and That Guitar, and that amount of $$$$, there's no reason for it not to be PERFECT. I too would send it back!

[@hawg427]

I love my R9. I read somewhere the Custombuckers are not sold separately. That scratch on the neck is just horrible and should have never left if a proper Q&A was done.

[@craig.encinitas]

Ahh yes, the Charm of buying a Les Paul. I’m the third owner of a 60’s Standard, and feel quite fortunate that cosmetically, nothing was wrong with it.

[@Diax1324]

@@BoltRM Yknow, they're kind of their own thing, but as low-output PAF-style humbuckers, Ibanez's Super 58 pickups are really affordable and they're one of my all time favorites. I tend to find pickups favored by jazz players sound AMAZING with distortion, and they're no exception. Output is comparable to my Hot noiseless Jeff Beck sig pickups, tone is buttery and round. Bridge pickup can be bright, but then again that's what the tone knob is for.

[@marc-antoinejean6428]

@@BoltRM Suhr Thornbuckers are just fantastic pickups The best “Les Paul in a Plexi sound” I’ve heard live was made with a Suhr Pete Thorn signature in a Two-Rock with a BE-OD Deluxe pedal

[@gingersteve]

@@BoltRM the Gibson Custombuckers are Alnico 3 magnet - so you'll want a pickup with those magnets too. I find that Alnico 3 pickups have their own sound altogether. You'll want something with plain enamel wire and quite a low DC reading (bridge 8kish or below, neck 7.6kish or below). There are a few makers who produce fantastic PAF clones with Alnico 3. Just depends what you can easily get in your country!

[@reddoggie100]

1st: hope u feel better asap. 2nd: great bud. Most of us wouldn’t b able to do this comparison. You’re experience is very helpful for the rest of us. 🍻

[@flapjack413]

To put it in the words of Bad Santa himself, "They can't all be winners." Good honest review, Phil.

[@ct90twa]

Wow. I’m surprised by that. I have been considering an R0 especially given all the hype about increased quality control and attention to detail. No way that should have left their shop, let alone the custom shop, like that.

[@cosmicrevival7105]

Regular Gibson USA quality did improve though. Bought a LP 60s 2020 and LP 50s 2021 Standard and they are fantastic.

[@coraliefontesdeaguiar2333]

@@cosmicrevival7105 Same here, I have a 2020 gold top, I love it, it's flawless !

[@christianlarsson2038]

You are? I'm just surprised people are still surprised about Gibson having iffy quality.

[@cosmicrevival7105]

@@christianlarsson2038 I sometimes feel like that is the price if you want to have an all nitro lacquered guitar.

[@christianlarsson2038]

@@cosmicrevival7105 Well, yes. At least if you want a factory/mass produced guitar, then a flawless nitro finish is quite a big ask. But there are many smaller makers that can spend weeks on doing a visually perfect correctly cured multi-layered nitro finish. The Custom Shop ought to be able to do that. But scratches under the finish, uneven binding, different finish pickup covers and the neck angle/pickup height issue is simply clumsy ass-clown stuff.

[@glenclifton4563]

I don't blame you at all!! You want what you pay for and that guitar is very expensive. Great job pointing out the flaws!

[@guitarflyer172]

I must have just lucked up with my Gibson purchases! I’ve got 9 and they all had perfect QC and played and felt awesome! From 1982 to 2021!

[@jimherleva4541]

No you haven’t lucked out - it’s the norm. I have 10 from the 70s through to 2020s, including Custom Shops. All are wonderfully made and play brilliantly.

[@RichardWhite86]

I think the bad ones are the exceptions. I owned a 2014 Les Paul Standard, now own a 2013 Standard, 2011 R8, 2018 J-15, and have played numerous other Gibson (LPs, SGs, 335, and acoustics) and all of them were great. The only single flaw noticed was my bandmate’s SG had paint over a screw.

[@ShaneBiggs-l6d]

I mean if we really know our gear, ... this tells me sir that you do not know your gear. Phil is the man and knows his shit well.

[@guitarflyer172]

@@ShaneBiggs-l6d I can do anything Phil can do with a guitar and more. I’ve even got as many guitars. He’s not that special dude!

[@kristopherkrahl1597]

I love when you tell it like it is...I think we all appreciate your honesty and integrity when you make these videos for us.

[@jimwoodard64]

@Phillip McKnight, as a guy who has purchased 6 guitars since the change to the new Gibson management (2019, 2020, and 2021), I am saddened by this. The co-guitarist in my band just got a new (2021) Custom Shop Explorer and he couldn't be happier. That thing is a ripper. I most recently purchased a 2021 Alpine White Les Paul Custom, also an excellent and flawless guitar. I can't believe the shop didn't catch this and slap Gibson first. Not that it's an excuse, in no way do I excuse this experience, but it is incumbent on the shops to send back the rejects so they can get repaired, modded, or scrapped. This is too bad and does not speak well to a large number of people, because regardless of how much good is out there, it only takes on bad apple to spoil the whole bunch.

[@andrewhartnett2140]

You give Phil too much credit. He has a history of grifting on these “customer service” issues, bad shipping practices etc. It is an excuse to make a video titled something like “You won’t believe what so and so let leave the factory”. Anyone can find a bad guitar or amp made by anyone. There is no great revelation in pointing out flaws in anyones manufacturing. Most of the big makers make plenty of good guitars if you go to look for them just as they all make some lemons. I didn’t by Gibson for 10 years bc of people like Phil. I’ve got a les Paul, lp junior, and a 335 and I love them all. Of course I set them up and some for new pups but they are fundamentally good guitars. Honestly people like Phil or myself are probably barely competent enough players to make serious comments about all this. The most prized vintage guitars in the world were made by the same manufactures under the same high demand conditions with even less stringent quality control. Somehow plenty of guys sound good on them. A good player sounds good and a bad player sounds bad regardless of the axe. I wouldn’t have commented except for the fact that I avoided Gibson for nearly a decade bc of talking heads. Judge each guitar on its merits.

[@jimherleva4541]

@ Andrew Hartnett Well said. I’ve been a Gibson man all my playing life - admittedly I couldn’t afford one when I started out but it was always the dream - now I have over 10 Gibson guitars. Several are Norlin, some are modern, some are Custom Shop, all are wonderful instruments. We never had the internet when I started so it was exactly as you say - individual merit. What makes me sad is younger players are being turned off trying all types of products simply because some cretin on KZbin tells them to. People like this idiot would simply go ragging on another company he’d previously lauded if Gibson weren’t there - all for views and subs.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

You're right, he has his demographic "The Moaning players" . We all know Gibson and otherd offer seconds with small defects at lower prices, maybe the sellers forgot to give the full transparency. If it was bought with a decent discount then I could live with those cosmetic issues.

[@matthewf1979]

If my 2019 R9 wasn’t a gift from my now deceased grandmother, I would have returned it. There was a huge chip in the fingerboard past the 22nd fret from day one. The binding turned pink anyway that was touched by my hands or strap. The neck tone pot was bad. The “Custombuckers” in mine are complete crap. The toggle switch pocket is a disaster. Now, after a few years of ownership in a controlled climate, the lacquer is literally flaking off on the neck and top. I just can’t recommend these guitars to anyone. You are either going to spend thousands in electronics and finish repair, be without the guitar for a year for Gibson to fix it OR live with the bullshit. I’m in a position that the only value of the instrument to me is who gave it to me. I can’t trust the shipping to send it to Gibson to repair. It’ll get even more damaged or go missing.

[@jimherleva4541]

Let me add to this. I have an R9 and an R8 customshops. The electronics are great, the Custombuckers are excellent pickups, the finishes are ageing perfectly - as is the binding. Aside from the odd knock and bucklerash from use, they are exceptional. Just thought I’d add my completely irrelevant anecdotal evidence too.

[@roywarriner8441]

I'm glad you're feeling better Phil.

[@ChristopherStandardTime]

clearly, nothing has changed at gibson. hope you're healing quickly, Phil.

[@BlurpeeBaggins]

Get better quickly! Really missed you last Friday. Hope all in the family are well!

[@ericlewis9638]

Thank you for another upfront and honest review Phil, that’s what we depend on you for! The truth.

[@hellodrjeckyl]

Thanks for the honest review Phil. As soon as that reflector fell out the knob I knew this was not gonna be good. Feel better man! I've been wanting a custom shop 335 this helped bring me back to reality.

[@gregmullins6927]

My friend I've owned 10 Gibson guitars over many years and most of them were overpriced and sub standard in my books,have you looked at Yamaha's SA2200 it's fantastic or Eastman,D'angelico equivalents? the retail value is not there but these instruments are superior to Gibson,also the break angle of the D anG strings makes those strings regularly go out of tune,PRS have a better design,just a suggestion.

[@hellodrjeckyl]

@@gregmullins6927 Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't looked into any of those guitars really. I currently own an Epi 335 that I'm happy with. I agree with you that Gibsons are pricey but I wouldn't call them junk. I've owned three, two which I've kept and plan to keep. None of them were bad or had any issues. The one I didn't keep I sold to help purchase one of the other ones. I think the pricing is mainly due to American labor costs, parts cost and build time. Set necks, binding, and nitro finishes only add to price. For me it helps justify the price when I think that this will be used for a lifetime and will bring me enjoyment. Using that logic I could probably even justify getting a custom shop, but It's just hard to drop 7K on a guitar at once when I think it could be put to better more responsible use, like towards my family, home or future.

[@crispytech9182]

For the price point you would think Gibson would include a free tube of glue with your purchase...LOL

[@Nightsat44]

You're a straight shooter Phil Keep up the great work Love your Ch.

[@billnelson9413]

Thanks for the honest reviews as always!

[@kootenaystringworks1765]

Careful with that Snark on the headstock, I've seen them leave imprints in fresh nitro.Get well soon!!

[@Bliggick]

I have proof that Gibson sold Epiphone parts as Gibson parts. I needed a new black, silver insert, top hat knob for my 2010 Gibson SG Standard. I went to the music store (this was in about 2013 so the "specs change over time" excuse was highly unlikely) and bought a set of Gibson "Genuine Parts" knobs sealed on a rack mount blister card. When I put one of the knobs on my SG I noticed it didn't match, the font on the silver insert didn't match. The white numbers were less defined and didn't line up the same with the insert. On closer inspection I found out this set of replacement knobs were a perfect match for the knobs on an Epiphone Casino that I own. To say I was not satisfied with this purchase is an understatement. I also posted this revelation with a picture on the Gibson forum and there was no response from Gibson. Buyer beware.

[@216trixie]

Bad knobs oh my!!!!!!

[@lazyboydtown]

Be well! much love and good vibes to you and your family.

[@augisanchez]

Thank you for an honest review that doesn’t fall into hype. I’m sure there are guitars coming out of the custom shop that are glorious. That R0, for whatever reason, was not. These guitars, for their price point, are increasingly just expensive window dressing for doctors and accountants- and no longer getting into the hands of actual players.

[@Xaltar_]

Sorry to hear you were sick Phil, I hope you are back in good health by now. Truly sad to see. Gibson really have lost the plot. The break angle on the neck was wrong, hat falling off the knob, pickups unevenly "aged", scratch under the finish. Any one of these things you might expect to see on a sub $500 guitar but the combination really is disgusting, the break angle being the absolute worst offender. This thing shouldn't have left the factory. I guess they are catering to the wall hanger collector market now, the people who wouldn't know a good guitar if it fell on their foot. I must have tried a dozen Gibson LPs over the last few years (since Covid) and I haven't found a single one that appealed enough to warrant the price tag. Every single one had some kind of issue, QC for the most part. I think there were maybe 2 that I just didn't like the feel of, too heavy and neck too thin (I like em chonky). That is selecting "the best" ones in a store, I wouldn't dream of ordering one online with this kind of track record. A Gibson used to be an investment but I am afraid that if I buy one now they will implode and the value will tank. If the resale value dies then there is literally 0 point to a new Gibson anymore, better to just go with another brand because the "used" models sell for more than new ones.

[@james1939-s1c]

I bought two Les Paul standards one in 2020 and one in 2021 because I missed my old one from years ago. Both were returned due to QC issues. The first one was returned as soon as I opened it, the guitar had the A String out of the bridge groove, and they set it up with the action of the A string, so the other strings were crazy high. My thought was if they were so lazy to set up the guitar based on a string that wasn't seated correctly that speaks volumes. I did seat it and lower the action just out of curiosity, and the nut was never cut, or was insanely high by any standard and packed it up and returned it. A year later I was reading good things and tried my luck with Sweetwater since they inspect them. This one didn't have the obvious setup issues, but the nut was still higher than a squire, the fret work was terrible, and there were finish issues everywhere. Sorry no way for $2500, I returned it and picked up a Custom Shop Stratocaster off reverb that was returned by a customer for $2700, and the quality between the two were insane. The custom shop, a 2021 1960, had the best fret work I ever seen, it was setup out the box to perfection, the nut was perfect, the finish was flawless, and sounded great.

[@johnl9617]

I recently purchased a figured Gibson es-335 (not cheap) and only when I conditioned the fretboard as part of a complete set up, did I notice a small divot in it, at the top of one of the small block fret markers. I reluctantly decided to "live with it" as it does not affect the playability and I didn't want to get a replacement in worse condition. I reported it to Gibson, in the event that it worsens over time and as a learning tool for the people in their Quality Control Department. All customer service said is that they would "let them know". They are definitely not proactive and they seemingly are more interested in sales over customer satisfaction. I see a lot of this...Gibson is back hype...I'm not so sure unfortunately.

[@generatiacloud]

I have issues on my es-335 triny lopez, really, extra poor quality,

[@xx-gp4me]

If they were to sell these as factory seconds with a reduced price they could expand their userbase and get back a lot of goodwill.

[@nathanward3888]

Never gonna happen. The Douche-itude of this company never ceases. And now they're gonna drive Mesa into the ground as well.

[@sedrickalcantara9588]

Wrong! It’s already happening, they call it the Gibson Demo shop

[@jimherleva4541]

Lost me at “reduced price”. Can’t afford it? Not for you.

[@xx-gp4me]

@@jimherleva4541 If you feel the need to pay full price for damaged goods that sounds like some self esteem issues, or some sort of cuck fetish.

[@yargnad]

​@@jimherleva4541What a stupid fucking statement. Obviously Phil *could* afford it and it's definitely *not* for him either.

[@brenthorrocks]

Glad you're feeling better! Thanks for posting your amp settings, that is super helpful!! Thanks Phil!

[@nicholasflamel1134]

Gibson Guitars: "Imperfection by design" Perfect slogan.

[@clanofhousecats8079]

This video was helpful, thank you! I have a Gibson Slash Appetite Les Paul Standard, and it plays amazing. Very happy with it. Glad to know I may not be missing out on not owning an R model

[@cheebsgod]

I cant stress how much of a sucess ive had putting high quality p-ups in a budget guitar. I have several more expensive guitars than my Ibanez GRG (insert letter salad) that I've put a tonerider PAF, tonerider p90, and a dimarzio super distortion in. The toneriders are more budget than the dimarzio (about 50 bucks vs about 80), but that was some of the best money ive ever spent, since the build quality is great and it feels exceptional. I definitely got a gem of the Gio line, but this guitar is epic and now with the new wiring and pickups, sounds great too

[@nathanward3888]

Me too. I have a Partscaster that is out of this world, and started life as a Squier Affinity Strat (the body is the only thing that remains and it's been refinished). I managed to score a late 90s Fender neck for it a few years ago that, to this day, is the best neck I've ever played and cost me a whopping $90. All told, after selling off old parts I replaced, I have only spent about $500 on it, including it's original purchase. And every person who plays it can't believe how good it feels and sounds. Screw Gibson with their bullshit.

[@thorstenglockner5700]

Get well soon - sending energy from Germany! Thanks for the upload.

[@gregs8685]

Glad you’re feeling better. It’s ridiculous that QC at Gibson is so bad that even their custom shop can’t build a quality item. On the other hand PRS core guitars are basically flawless. Fender Custom Shop while not as good as PRS in QC are excellent.

[@zakkwyldesliver]

PRS S2 guitars blow Gibson’s production guitars out of the water from a quality and workmanship standpoint. Not sure about the Custom Shop, but I know PRS are sticklers about inspection and QC before they leave the factory.

[@zakkwyldesliver]

@@dukeford You left out “my budget”, poors.

[@mancub1589]

I have been watching your videos while recovering from surgery. Yeah, that’s how much I enjoy your show. Lay low, get well Phil.

[@wadesummers4102]

Glad you're feeling better. Shocked at those Q/C issues on such a pricey guitar...My Epiphone 59LP had no such problems and it was $800 (still a lot of money but nowhere near a CS...).

[@Kkorkykatt]

Yep i concur- bought an Epi LP Modern in 2020 & apart from a minute amount of fret leveling that i did myself (common Epi problem) the QC was excellent i paid 600 euro for it- i've heard far too many horror stories when it comes to Gibsons, add to that i'm not into Nitro finishes & the subsequent finish cracking & the fact that with a pickup swap, i dare someone to listen to a recording & differentiate the difference in tone & its a no brainer for me!

[@JoeC712]

My brother has one of those. Such a superb sounding guitar. Enjoy mate.

[@jackclark2787]

I have a 60th anniversary 59 and it has none of those issues

[@jeffarnold3229]

My opinion the need to concentrate on hiring woodworkers rather than struggling musicians for their factory.

[@LA-zc9rg]

Sweat spot was 2013 -> 2018. I own a ‘16 R0 8lbs it’s woody jangly & fat depending on amp settings and PUP selection.

[@stratisfied678]

Disappointing that a "custom shop" instrument, sold at a premium, has so many flaws. Feel better Phil, I enjoy your take on the whole scene. Your MI background, understanding of retail, manufacturing, marketing & hype is noted and appreciated.

[@216trixie]

Nonsense. If your Gibson's were so bad, why did you keep buying them? Dont believe you.

[@suzannecoholic1467]

Jeepers Phil! I had covid over the holidays myself. I'm sorry you caught it. :( Your KYG podcast and KYG 'family' lifted my spirits a whole lot while I recuperated. Nevertheless, glad you're feeling better and on the mend. Take care of yourself, and hope your family is well too. :) Thanks for the honesty about the R0 vs that sweet R9, much appreciated. Those custom shop reissues cost a pretty penny for so much lack of attention to detail.

[@disco4535]

Really hope you're doing better Phil. This was most likely filmed prior. I know there's at least a thousand other fiends that desperately missed your podcast this weekend lol. But I'm glad you decided to rest!

[@nicksonthevet]

Sorry to hear that you were sick, get well soon, Greetings from Tanzania, East Africa

[@patrickwrenn3021]

Hope your feeling better Phil...I do not play so I'm here strictly hear for guitar education so I can share in conversations w my daughter who plays. That being said and correct me if I'm wrong but if I'm shelling out thousands for a custom shop guitar it better be flawless. Thanks Phil for a great review and education

[@gregmullins6927]

Pat I suggest you have a look at PRS,D'angelico,Yamaha,Ibanez,Schechter and Eastman,putting it bluntly Gibson is fucked!!!

[@justnik8727]

Hope you're feeling better Phil. I cant believe this is happening in 2022. Admittedly I read the comments before writing mine and watching the whole video. I have a Giibson LP Studio in smokehouse burst 2020 and a Gibson LP Standard in HCB 2021 and they are perfect. I am in Sydney Australia. Cant fault them. Anyway, Ill now move onto watching the rest of the video.

[@joesharpe7685]

Guitars will be hit and miss but the issues you found I would consider unnacceptable on a squier at this point considering how good quality and QC is on lower end guitars. For a guitar that people buy because it's had the thought and the attention to detail given to it to have such glarring problems is really a concern for Gibson's QC. For a USA guitar it'd be bad enough but a £5K+ CS..???

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

This has been discussed plenty over the years on this channel and others yet many people still buy a Gibson. Its really difficult to tell which imperfections were intentional and which were not. In any case…I buy brands less nebulous concerning quality control. I do not want a Gibson at this point and really never did. Its all a bunch of hype and I am weary of it.

[@joesharpe7685]

@@geraldhenrickson7472 Gibson seemed to really steady their image and it's been improving, alas it seems the problems haven't gone they've just got better at hiding them haha

[@yurimodin7333]

Gibson is just a bunch of bad over complicated designs anyway. Nut to tuner angles, funky neck angle into poorly designed neck pocket, headstocks that break off for no reason, the detune-o-matic bridge. The SG was at least a step in the right direction but still poorly executed.

[@ileutur6863]

@@yurimodin7333 A headstock will never break for no reason

[@ileutur6863]

@@geraldhenrickson7472 I don't understand why people make expensive purchases like this online. I'd rather go to a big music store and play 5-6 variations of the same model

[@steviesynapse]

Hope you’re recovering well Phil. Thank you for your excellent and honest review. Even one of those quality issues on a guitar in this price bracket is totally unacceptable, looks like there are some deep rooted issues still going on at Gibson. Looking from the outside in, these QC issues appear to be a company who think that their customers will pay a lot of money for the Gibson name and legacy in the form of sub-standard guitars.

[@Darla_Lo]

Glad to hear that you are better! Missed you on Friday and worried you had Covid-19. Thank you for all that you do for the guitar community. Keep Gibson on their toes. WTF Gibson?

[@piotrrkoss]

Get well Phill ,Thank you for a honest review.Much Appreciated

[@Gandhi4055]

With the QC these days it seems like every Gibson is a B-Stock

[@Brian-qg8dg]

I just bought a Gibson R0 2019. Inspected it much in person, it is a winner. Plays, sounds and has no facotry flaws, and has a beautiful top

[@Kami_81]

I ordered a Les Paul Std 60's from my local guitar shop, I must say that I'm worried after seeing this, if this is the level of quality control for custom shop, I can't imagine what it can be for the production models.

[@dogpd3]

Well did you get it

[@Kami_81]

@@dogpd3 Not yet, it can be weeks or months before it arrives, so I'm still waiting. I'll leave a short review on the QC once it arrives.

[@dogpd3]

@@Kami_81 okay cool man

[@jyuke9955]

I bought a 60’s standard unburst in 2019 and I absolutely love it. The only thing I did was to lower the pickups about even with the rings and that really made a big difference.

[@dogpd3]

@@jyuke9955 that’s awesome

[@doctorbarber1]

I have a 2013 Traditional that I love with a killer top, great neck, etc., and seeing stuff like this helps keep the itch to trade it in the name of chasing one of the higher end Gibsons at bay. I doubt I'll ever buy a Gibson new, just seems like the outrageous sticker price is less and less justified every year.

[@LuisMorales-xr1gm]

Get well Phil. Your health is first . There's plenty of time for vids when you're well.

[@TheFaustianMan]

Ah! So it was Covid! Damn! Sorry to hear it. You do you, and when you feel better we'll be here for you!

[@tommilitello198]

That pickup ring would be a dealbreaker easily if I was considering one,and that sucks because it’s not something you’d think about whe ordering it

[@brandonanderson2066]

When covid kicked my ass I really enjoyed watching your Livestreams. Got my mind off it.

[@mattw.6726]

I hope Gibson reaches out to you regarding this and makes it right. The guitar should never have left the factory with those issues.

[@craigdockstader502]

Glad you are feeling better and back. Covid is crazy.

[@CheddarKungPao]

Thanks for sharing this, Phil. Gibson seems to prioritize cranking out guitars faster over maintaining a level of quality that other brands deliver at that custom shop price level. I love my 2019 R9 but it has some silly flaws (like back of the neck heel is rough and seems like it never got buffed.)

[@luminousbrilliance1711]

Get well soon Phillip! Thanks for all your videos!

[@shantytron]

I think the short duration of this video is the biggest indictment of Gibson here. It seemed like Phil just couldn't find enough nice things to say, so he didn't.

[@tedjohnson5210]

Gibsons are nice guitars, and I wouldn’t mind owning a R9 someday BUT, I feel like every video I watch of these guitars makes me appreciate my Epiphones with Gibson pickups and wiring. They have some of the same flaws but at 1/5 the price. As always a great video Phil, I know I’m late to the game on this one but thank you!!

[@myoptik3x103]

I think it is an important service you do for the whole industry when you hold companies feet to the fire regarding qc. I’m not sure how much this guitar cost, but I’m sure it was more than my entire collection put together, so there is no excuse for skimping on the fine details. I hope you are feeling better, I’m getting over COVID myself and it is bad news.

[@jorgetrimboli]

Phil, I have learned many things from your channel. Your work is priceless. Please, take the time to get 100% recovered; you are an essential voice for musicians. Be blessed!

[@BrianSGuitars]

That's a shame it didn't come in nicer condition. My 2015 R0 is a Guitar Center limited edition, and while I wouldn't say it's flawless it's pretty nice, and is by far my best sounding guitar!

[@joecoach7268]

There is just something about the Gibson sound. Maybe I cant really put my finger on it, but you demo a lot of guitars and none of them sound like your Gibsons. Maybe its just me, I dont know but it truly sounds warm and unique. Hope you continue to feel better Phil - thanks for the vids!

[@joefromnowhere5296]

I made a choice long ago to stay away from Gibson . Seeing reviews like this just confirms what I saw on Gibsons out in the wild for a long time. I scratched my itch for a les paul with an Epiphone version that I bought as a “B” stock guitar . Paid around 500 USD for it a few years ago and I’ll be damned if I can find anything wrong with it. Very stable neck and action can be set up lower than I’d ever want it with no buzz or fretting out anywhere on the neck. I own 30 ish guitars mostly Ibanez - I can easily attest to their QC standards across all ranges. Rg655 (Japan),RG1070 (Indonesia), S670(Indo) , RG 920 (Indo), RG4 and RG420 , and a 7 string Iron Label S series are all from different price points BUT they all play and feel on par with each other and just what you’d expect with the Ibanez badge on the headstock. Will these instruments resell for close to what I paid ? I think not. But with the consistency and reliability I don’t see them being sold anyway so that doesn’t bother me. In my opinion Gibson needs to up their QC game to a level thats above a 300 dollar guitar with a 4700 dollar logo on it . They couldn’t give me any guitar for free and expect me to play it or even keep it. Return to sender with packaging tape still intact . Oh and they can pay for the return shipping too.

[@glennyocklin2884]

Phil, sorry to hear about the COVID got it in November and was a one step away from the hospital. Get better soon and take care.

[@lolaa2200]

Years after years Gibson create itself a legacy of overpriced poorly made guitars. It's sad they can not see that. It feels like they intentionally switched their marketing strategy toward posers who don't really care about the guitar but just want it to hang on a wall and be looked at from 5feet away, but they want the logo on it. Sure there is a market for that and sure Gibson serve that market. As people who want to actually play the guitar we just have to acknowledge they do not build musical instrument anymore.

[@MetalOctane]

Wow, poor qc even from the custom shop. That sucks man. I bought, 2 new Gibson Les Paul Standards last summer, (on separate occasions) but had to return them both because they had bad qc issues. Dents and dings under the finish, clamp marks, cross-eyed tuners, buffing burns, cuts in a fret, bad toggle switch + a lot more. Not to mention that one sounded completely dead and flat. I was so excited to finally have a Les Paul again only to be tremendously disappointed, twice. Hope you feel better soon Phillip!

[@gregmullins6927]

T Rex years ago I bought a Gibson 359 then $10,000.00 retail in Australia,I bought it for $6,000.00 it had file marks on the fingerboard and one of the bridge saddles was faulty,this is disgraceful for a hand made instrument,I'll never buy a Gibson ever again.

[@DavidLHolzer]

I had COVID in the beginning of December. Hope you feel better. I appreciate your efforts to get a video uploaded. But don't overdo.

[@chefboy6123]

My 2020 Custom Shop 60th Anniversary RO V3 Neck is awesome! Bought it used in VG condition. My Birth Year Guitar. A keeper that has none of the issues Phillip's did.

[@mentula3784]

I gave up on Gibson in 2013, had a trans Amber plus top that the binding separated from the neck slightly and would catch and hold a string until it was plucked out. I returned it for a replacement which did exactly the same thing. Changed that sucker for a prs and haven't looked back. Great vid Phil 👍

[@jray5363]

Get Well Soon, Phil! Missed you last week! Covid Sucks!

[@westernfilet]

I got last month a Gibson Les Paul Custom w/ Ebony. It's absolutley flawless.

[@rick00770]

Get well soon Phil. I really enjoy your reviews.

[@MrRafaztar]

Hey hope you are feeling better missed you this weekend and my family too hehe

[@Spritsailor]

My 2017 Gibson EB4 bass is a gem. I love it and everyone loves the tone.

[@philmanson2991]

I bought my Standard new in 1998. I installed Tom Holmes antique humbuckers, CTS 500k pots, Bumblebee caps, and locking Grovers. I had it PLEK'd in 2021 at Righteous Guitars in Roswell, GA. IT IS A BEAST, and proof that there really was a "Good Wood" period when Gibson cared about QC.

[@dogpd3]

I had a studio from the good wood era that was terrible. Recently got a standard that blew a good wood era Gibson out of the water

[@ClintsGuitarsNGear]

Thanks for being honest in your reviews. These manufacturers need to know these things to improve the quality of their guitars. After all people are paying big dollars for these Gibson's today and you should only ever receive the very best.🍻👍 And hope you recover fast from Covid.

[@ladyluckdrums]

$6500 and there's issues with fit and finish is unacceptable. I bought a scratch and dent 60s standard, I guess I was Ok knowing there were finish issues given the discount. And the same for my les paul tribute. Great videos Phil, hope you feel better!

[@BradleyWatson-gx6pv]

The R0 has an etheric & open sound that neither the Studio, Classic nor Standard with the 60s neck can replicate. It's a dream guitar...

[@squicker]

Glad I saw this video. I have a 2014 R9, a 2012 R6, and was thinking of adding an R0. I quite like the colour bleed on my R9, it helps it 'age' in a natural way (even though by intent). I feel like 2014 was a golden year for the 'R' guitars, my R9 is faultless and is one of just 4 Les Pauls I will never sell.

[@wiseguy9202]

I love my R0. Of course the day I got it, I yanked out the pickups and installed my preferred 496R/500T's.

[@activese]

Hi Phill, so glad that you are better, take care.

[@Gottaloveguitars427]

Praying for you buddy, take care and get better soon

[@martymiller9514]

The disappointment is real because it's an item that is shipped out: you want to receive a good-looking item because you're not right there choosing it, in person, in a store. So then you get something that's under par. That's a bummer.

[@anthonynonya]

Great, honest review, thanks, Phil. I wish I could like your videos more than once!

[@ThePandaProcrastinates]

Glad you are feeling better Phil!! Hope to see you Friday man!

[@guitarman3968]

Any imperfections on a custom shop instrument are completely unacceptable. Just about every unboxing video I’ve watched lately have revealed imperfections, custom shop and regular. I’ve been contemplating buying another Gibson, but I might switch to Dusenberg instead. I’m very disappointed with Gibson. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[@lescaster2179]

I love my 2014 R8 Historic VOS. Everything I wanted in a Les Paul "Standard" and the Custom Buckers in it satisfyingly scratch that vintage Tele-on-Steroid 50's LP itch for me. Big, round, warm neck with no 'muddy' or 'wooly' characteristics and really what I would describe as an open, 'woody' sound. The neck is bright with a nicely added growl vs. the neck and together they sound glorious and really well balanced, making me want to find more reasons to use that position. At the time (2018), I bought it gently used from a Sam Ash via Reverb for the same price as a new LP Standard production model. Crazy to see used prices now, but back then you could still shop for an excellent condition LP R7 and R8 for $2,500 with a modest amount of patience, $2800-$3000 if you had zero patience.

[@kyrandell3290]

Best wishes Phil to get well soon. Health and family first. We all need you back fully fit! Cheers, Ky

[@gredmer]

Glad you’re feeling better.

[@kostisk8914]

Glad u pointed out the action couldn’t be lowered anymore. Suppose u could swap out pup rings and stuff. Get well soon.

[@dragan4658]

The pattern on your r9 looks better thank the r0 anyway! Glad to see you're feeling better Phil!

[@martianmurray]

Glad to hear you’re feeling better!