I just bought a Gibson abomination

[Philly Q]

I must admit, all the black is a bit too much on this guitar for some reason - although it looks fine on my white Greco. Which is weird.

I just had a look at pictures of your Greco, you're right.

I think it may be due to the fact that the Greco is more of a Cream colour rather than the "Tipp-Ex" finish of the Gibson - so the black doesn't contrast quite so violently.

Also the control layout of the Gibson affects the visual balance - all the black bits are crammed into the "narrow bit" of the V, leaving very little to break up the big white area of the wings (IMO!).


(Why am I over-analysing this?  Because I'm sitting waiting for British Gas to come and do a boiler inspection!)

[AndyR]

I don't think you are over-analysing Philly (or at least, that's exactly the way I'd think about the aesthetics of the thing myself :lol:) - they all seem like sound reasons why it doesn't quite work visually yet.

My first thought was "flip, those surrounds make the pickups look HUGE on this thing..." - this could be a good or bad thing, I just thought it looked a bit odd at first glance.

I wasn't sure about the Vol placement visually either, but I'm totally with Gwem on the violin-bowing. Once you've started doing it effectively on a strat or tele, you really miss the proximity on a Gibson. Yeah, I know it can be done with a volume pedal, but that's another piece of kit to plug in, and it's so much easier to do with the guitar's volume control once you've learnt it.

Bear in mind we're all looking at the guitar "stood on it's @rse", though... Gwem, perhaps we need pictures of it "slung-ready-for-action"? :lol: ... I have a feeling it might look better when someone's wearing it.

EDIT: I suspect the Tippex white is one of the main problems now... I haven't seen this finish close up on a guitar, but I suspect it's very hard to learn how to love it unless it was exactly what you set out to have... I reckon this one might end up getting refinished or treated in some way. Mebbe consider briwaxing it to get it to go off-white and slightly darker? Could be a bit hit-and-miss though. (My Faded SG, cherry, a bit anaemic originally, is gradually going a gorgeous dark and lustrous cherry with a gentle "Dark Pine" briwax treatment every six months or so - but this wasn't nearly as risky as starting on tippex-white! :lol:)

[Philly Q]

I wasn't sure about the Vol placement visually either, but I'm totally with Gwem on the violin-bowing. Once you've started doing it effectively on a strat or tele, you really miss the proximity on a Gibson. Yeah, I know it can be done with a volume pedal, but that's another piece of kit to plug in, and it's so much easier to do with the guitar's volume control once you've learnt it.

Yeah, I can see the argument... but I'd move it a little further across and down, in a line with the other controls, so it sat just below the corner of the bridge pickup mounting ring, above the bridge (PRS volume control position, in effect).  I think that would look better and be better placed (for me personally, obviously!)

Now that really is over-analysing!  :lol:

[gwEm]

andy has the right idea with the volume control - i've written a few tracks using that violin effect now, and I want to play them on a V, because for some reason my audience (and band) won't accept me playing any other guitar. i agree the volume could go more across, but not down though, for practicality reasons.

i'm searching for a cheap but good mini-humbucker or firebird pickup at the moment. don't want to spend a fortune. i like philly's idea of a chrome cover.

i'm warming to the tippex white finish - its kind of punky

edit: just ordered something for the neck

[gwEm]

comments please :)

(i've also changed the truss rod cover back to the 3ply white)

[_tom_]

I think the last one looks best. If the humbucker had a matching cover I think it'd be great!

[Philly Q]

Yeah, third or first, with a cover.  Definitely not the middle one!

[gwEm]

thanks tom and philly

the mini-hb looks very john birch. am leaning to the first myself, the mini with chrome just takes the edge off all that black.

still pondering.

[ToneMonkey]

I like the third one

[WezV]

another for the 4rd with matching covers

[Dmoney]

i like the 3rd also.

[gwEm]

sorry guys, I know you're all saying no rings, but I've decided to go with them, I'll post a last picture later, hopefully you'll agree with my decision then.

the mini-humbucker sounds good in the neck. i think it will work live, but theres only one way to know that for sure.

[AndyR]

Interesting, I was going by the thumbnails first, and I felt the 3rd one... maybe 1st, but the 1st wasn't grabbing me... (2nd, no way!)

Then I opened the pics up, and I think you're right, the rings are better.

[gwEm]

i'm pleased you agree Andy! and thanks for the comments everyone.

Heres that final pic I promised. I think I'll leave it like this for now.. The mini-HB is really going to work live I think, but the proof is in the pudding.

[Dmoney]

that does look cool.
any chance of a body close up?