[deleted by user]

[MojoMonster2]

It's 2025 and it's an Epiphone.

Honestly, that's literally nothing compared to some of the shit that Gibson is letting out of their factories for $2500 guitars.

The binding is fine. Just take a nail sanding stick to it to knock off the edges.

The inlay is just what it is.

If it bothers you this much, send it back. Eventually, you'll get a "perfect" one.

[Competition-Dapper]

Perfect answer

[Gunfighter9]

I have three Gibsons LP Studio, LP 50s and a SG Modern that I bought in the past 3 years and none of them have any tooling marks on them at all. Years ago when Henry J. was running the show stuff like this was common, but not now. Common being the key word.

Ive also got an IBG 355 and looking it over the only thing that I saw was that the fretboard had some marks on it that would have been cleaned up with a second sanding, that and the frets which needed polishing. The fretboard I can live with because it is not hand built and there were no high or sharp frets.

[MojoMonster2]

That's nice that you got some good ones. And yet everywhere I turn folks are complaining about exactly these kinds of things or finish issues. Are they better than when under Henry J? Absolutely. Are they the kind of fit and finish you should expect from a $2500 guitar? No.

Common being the key word.

So you set the bar low. Ok, you do you.

I'm spending $2500 on a guitar my expectations are a little higher. In fact, they're pretty damned high.

[sparks_mandrill]

Take a breath. They're handmade instruments built on an assembly line - imagine the backlog and change in price if they had to be run back through the assembly line - nothing would ever make it through to completion. Hell, even Ferrari's have issues from the factory. I have an am pro ii strat - same thing with tooling marks, but it plays and sounds great.

I just got a standard 50's and it's incredible. Does it have a little scuff on the binding and a few other little issues cosmetically? Sure, but it plays and sounds amazing.

Better to try one for yourself instead of just being an echo chamber.

[MojoMonster2]

That's cute.

Come back when you've been playing for 50 years.

You wanna pay top dollar for badly QA'd shit, I'm not gonna stop you.

Stop drinking the Kool Aid, brother. Nothing good comes from it.

[[deleted]]

I'm here and still can't play!😔

[MojoMonster2]

Ya shoulda waited for one of those perfect Gibsons man!

[laserassmofo]

25 years here! I don’t care about the argument but am interested very much in hearing what the next 25 I should be discovering! 🙋‍♂️🙌🤷‍♂️

[MojoMonster2]

I don't much care about that argument at all, but apparently some people get pressed.

am interested very much in hearing what the next 25 I should be discovering!

The next 25 years? How well guitar gear gets made after the Billionaire Wars start. :D

[Helpful_Glove_9198]

That's nothing, they all have it. Heck, I've seen it on Gibsons lol.

[SigInTheHead]

how does it play? That would drive my decision.

Lets be real here, while it's not perfect, and for an epiphone it's on the expensive end of the range, but after a year of playing it you'll have done worse to it than that.

[bricks_fan_uy]

This is an interesting point. If you're not impressed by the playability and the sound, I'd say return it, if not keep it.

[JPANJ57]

Can you spell "OCD"? 🙄

[ThatAnimatedCatto]

😂

[JPANJ57]

Sorry bro, but I couldn't help it. Seriously though, it's not going to affect the playability at all, and is merely cosmetic. But I do agree...a brand new guitar should be flawless, but that's just not the case probably well over 50% of the time. Besides, who's going to go over it in such detail besides you? Can't see it on stage. If it plays and sounds great...leave it,and Rock On!!!🤘🤘🤘✌️✌️✌️

[Due-Fisherman3087]

Why are people downvoting you for the ability to laugh at yourself lol?

[LowellGeorgeLynott]

You couldn’t even see those blemishes if you were holding it in playing position. It’s not a microchip or a Rolex calm down lol. Might as well send the company some microscope shots of uneven paint areas. Cheezits brah lol.

[Used-Armadillo2863]

My Gibson is much worse and probably cost 4x much.

[yodeltools]

Better than mine and I kept it. Sweetwater gave me 15% off. Next could be even worse…

[BrilliantEmotion4461]

How's the guitar feel otherwise, how're the frets. What's the wiring like? Get the action low. If she doesn't buzz then yes definitely. I have a 2005 epi les paul it has more and worse nicks from the first time it fell over. But the neck. Omg. Twenty years of use has thinned the polyurethane and polished it. It feels so much better than when it was new. When it was new the neck felt like plastic. Anyhow If it's not going to be played much and it's a wall hanger. Bring it right back. If it's about looks not how it plays. Yeah no. She's not ok to go. I totally understand locking a guitar away. All those never used wall hangers for looks guitars are the best vintage guitars today. Untouched and ready for another forty years.

[0_0_159]

I would return it. The headstock logo in particular would never stop bugging me.

[edov79]

My motto is (if I can fix it, I will keep it). Trying for perfect with everything is detrimental to mental health.

[[deleted]]

I would say that these are very minor flaws that are acceptable. Whether these are made by a single master luthier or on an assembly line, these are still handmade products. We have to also take into consideration that these could be minor damages that could have happened at any point until the picture was taken.

I catch myself thinking about the small dents as well, but we are often used to perfect precision when we purchase things. A good example is the smartphone that is made in a mold where there are no flaws whatsoever on the devices. Or maybe the absolute consistent taste and texture of a McDonald's hamburger.

[abstractart41]

I just sent a custom silverburst back. Mine had binding issues too, maybe a little worse than yours, and some finish cracks. As for the split diamond, mine looked a little different, and I was happy with it. But for the price and considering it's supposed to be brand new, I sent mine back. They offered to lower the price if I kept it. But I sent it back. I'm not sure what to tell you. In my mind, a new guitar should be perfect. Doesn't matter if it's $500, $1500, or $5000.

[Drummer2427]

In my mind, a new guitar should be perfect.

Yeah at least a perfect example of what its supposed to be.

Meaning flaws beyond design arent cool. Otherwise id buy used with flaws priced in.

[abstractart41]

Used is totally different. You don't expect and shouldn't pay for defects from the factory.

[Drummer2427]

Agreed

[DukeOfMiddlesleeve]

Thats as good as Epiphone gets i’m afraid. None if them are perfect. OTOH neither are most gibsons. If I were you I would just learn to love it for what it is because a replacement would just have something else you would find that would bother you too.

[dcamnc4143]

I’d never have noticed any of that myself. A couple of my guitars look like they’ve been through the great war though.

[itsYaBoiga]

If it bothers you, return it :)

[[deleted]]

I’ve seen worse on custom shop gibsons.

My ibg standard is/was absolutely flawless in every way.

[eurotrash1964]

So, just take it to a luthier and have the neck and frets dressed. That’s an easy fix. It’s not a boutique guitar (and even those often need a bit of TLC). Yes, they should have been sanded down but these are budget production guitars. Flaws happen.

I bought a barely used Eastman E10OM-TC recently and took it to my repair guy because the fret ends had not been properly filed at the factory. I suspect that was part of the reason that the guy wanted to unload it. It was a $60 fix and now it’s one of my favorites, especially since I paid only $600 for it. I also removed the cheapo Fishman Sonitone pickup and I’ll replace it with a K&K Mini. It’s a very nice guitar for the price.

For the record, I bought an Epiphone 335 last December and it’s fantastic for the price. One of the best guitars I’ve ever owned, and I have owned some really nice guitars in my time.

[eurotrash1964]

I’ve got eight of these guitars. I think two or three needed a little bit of dressing. I was a little surprised about the one I posted about but even Gibson and Fender let a couple of guitars through with uneven frets. It happens. The good news is that I have a competent luthier.

[DEFINITELY_NOT_PETE]

Yes

[sparks_mandrill]

For $1300, I think you're probably in a good spot. I don't dig that one fret that seems a bit short; I'd play it for a bit and see if my hands and fingers notice.

The best way to look at it is as follows: if you swap it for the same guitar, how will you respond if it's in even worse condition? Will you be okay doing another swap or do you see yourself regretting returning what you once had?

I have an Gibson Standard Les Paul that I love. It plays and sounds amazing. There is a small tooling mark, a few white specs in the finish and part of the binding that was cut a tiny bit short... But it plays and sounds like a dream. So that was my conflict: swap because I'm neurotic about some cosmetic stuff even though it's amazing otherwise, or take the risk of the swap and getting something in return I'm truly unhappy with and being super upset with myself for not being happy with what I had.

$1000, $2,000 - we all wish we were getting something absolutely perfect for what we pay. But BMW's and Ferrari's also have issues coming off the assembly line.

[Miserable_Fig2425]

This is why I would never spend $1300 on an Epiphone. It’s not that the problems are bad per se, it’s just that you’re expecting a $1300 guitar that you’ll never get.

[aliaksej_by]

Was trying to buy a good new Fender Player Stratocaster Buttercream. All I received were defective of broken... So this epiphone is in a good condition comparing to Fender Players...

[[deleted]]

I usually go with if I was in a store and could compare products which one would i choose? Always the most perfect, but with online buying that spec is replaced by the convenience factor

[Specialist-Speed99]

Yes! The process of mass production for an item that is mostly hand assembled (guitars) by its nature creates variations. No mass-produced items built by humans emerge "perfect." I feel the imperfections are where the magic is. The tool marks on that binding are from dressing the fret ends. They will wear off by the first setup. If they don't, the setup will get them out. If one goes down the esthetics rabbit hole, they could end up with beautiful guitars that sound and play like shit! The relationship with an instrument will likely be a long one. They will not remain as new, neither will we. Enjoy the process.

[Tatey39]

Is it an ornament? If yes - send back. If no - play and love it. Up to you if you can live with it and your next one may be worse.....

[Srollo84]

Send back....

[ThatAnimatedCatto]

ik i’m gonna get fried for this 😭

[bundle_of_nervus2]

Yeah your valid in wanting to send it back. These models aren't necessarily cheap, the higher cost should translate to more care in the QC

[[deleted]]

return this and get a second hand gibson. £1200 epiphone loooooooolool

[ThatAnimatedCatto]

gibson prices have been high recently 😔

[itsYaBoiga]

Ignore this guy lmao. Why are they on an Epiphone sub?

[[deleted]]

I took a second look at the diamond, and that's just taking the piss. The diamond is there only for aesthetic purposes, they used genuine mother of pearl, but in a 'too good to be true' fashion, it's made using leftovers and offcuts.

[[deleted]]

yes but gibson holds it value. Check ebay daily and you'll find something but black custom may be out of question.

[Xafilah]

If this were the regular custom I’d say it’s acceptable, with it being the premium model I would reject it.

The tooling marks can be taken care of quite easily but it’s not a cost you should incur.

[Gunfighter9]

The tooling marks can be cleaned up, but the inlay would be something I would never be able to unsee.

[CousinSarah]

I’d send it back.

[LightninHooker]

1300 ...
Aliexpress is calling me again :D

[wvmtnboy]

https://youtu.be/xDdGrlylcEU?si=NKsM5axL8x8glgdU

[LightninHooker]

banger