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Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

matkoehler

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Apologies if this has been addressed, but my searching hasn't turned up much.

I just picked up a 64 Reissue SG - are these Custombuckers the same as the ones in my 57 Reissue Les Paul Custom? As in, same design spec --I know there will be variation among individual pickups from the same series.

Also, the 63 Reissue Lightning Bar SG Special - what is the neck spec for Authentic '63 Medium C-Shape? Similar to the 64? Despite much searching, I can't find a measurement spec anywhere in the whole googleverse :)
No worries! I don't think they have been addressed. But yes all Custombuckers carry the same specs -- unpotted Alnico III and 7.5k target. And the 63 neck profile is a longstanding one -- not the same as the '64 (which is very similar to the current '59). It's just a round C-shape spec'd around .850" at 1st fret and .950" at 12th fret. Hope that helps!
 

matkoehler

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Thanks Mat!

I'm interested in the "plum crazy" finish.

Should I contact The Music Zoo again, and tell them that I wish for my M2M order to be in that particular finish?

Would The Music Zoo be able to assist me at that point?

What would you advise me to do?
Yes just say you were told by Gibson to request "Plum Crazy" Purple for your build.
 

matkoehler

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MATT -

are the Historics ever rejected at the factory on the basis of "sound " - not "looks" ?

so in other worlds lets say a guitar looks fine - maybe even great - but the particular pieces of wood on a very rare occasion just did not yield a nice sounding Historic - would the guitar be rejected and relegated to the trash heap ?
I've never played a Gibson that I couldn't get a good sound out of...but no, the team is testing for functionality and playability, not looking into tone nuances. The build recipes don't change and thus you can expect a certain degree of consistency between instruments.
 

matkoehler

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My 2019 R8 doesn’t seem to, at least IMO, have narrow/tall frets. They look very similar to a 2013 Benchmark Series Explorer I have. They’re more a medium height and width IMO.

I’ve not found the exact specs online of the 2019 Custom Shop Les Pauls (nothing on the Legacy Gibson site either). Are the 2019 R8 frets actually considered narrow/tall?
I'm not familiar with the 2013 Benchmark specs but '58 Explorers and Flying Vs have had these same frets for a very long time -- so maybe they are the same. The specific fretwire is Jescar FW50078. And compared to reissue frets, yes they are narrower and taller! Hope that helps.
 
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matkoehler

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I bought a brand new guitar last weekend and one of the pickups did not have any label or decal on the back of it. I’m just a bit worried about it.
Ah I just went back a post and saw the context...yes the little PAF waterslides do come off sometimes due to the nature of a waterslide decal. But every Gibson pickup should have the white label on it with the pickup type.
 

goldtop0

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Ah I just went back a post and saw the context...yes the little PAF waterslides do come off sometimes due to the nature of a waterslide decal. But every Gibson pickup should have the white label on it with the pickup type.

From my experience Mat since Custombuckers were introduced in '12/'13 I've bought 2 x CS LPs and 2 x CS 335s and it's been a mixture of none or one of the PAF decals, never seen a white sticker yet with CB on it.
Doesn't worry me at all because we know from the specs what they are and that they're great sounding pups!!
 

Jericho-79

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I got a reply! From the M2M director: we can do trans purple (stain), plum crazy (metallic), and purple sparkle (metalflake). And Heather Poly (metallic) but it's more of a pink purple.

Yes just say you were told by Gibson to request "Plum Crazy" Purple for your build.

Hi Mat.

By the way, I forgot to ask you about this.

Is there any way that you could tell me the name of the M2M director that you spoke to?

The Music Zoo may want to know this person's name if I say to them: "I was told by Gibson to request Plum Crazy for my build".

I trust TMZ and all, but I just don't want to be let down like The Gibson Garage let me down.:unsure:
 

MattD1960

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mat, who would be the best person or department to reach out to regaurding the authentication of a gibson custom shop guitar ?
 

pqs

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Correct me if I’m wrong, but for the Gibson USA neck relief factory spec are between 0.005 and 0.012 measured at the 8th or 7th fret. Is that the same range for Gibson Custom? I feel like, base purely on anecdotal evidence, that necks tend to ship a the lower end of that range.
 

Wizard1183

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Hi Matt, since Brandon of Brandonwound was picked up, which guitars will have pickups he’s played a part in over custombuckers?
 

matkoehler

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From my experience Mat since Custombuckers were introduced in '12/'13 I've bought 2 x CS LPs and 2 x CS 335s and it's been a mixture of none or one of the PAF decals, never seen a white sticker yet with CB on it.
Doesn't worry me at all because we know from the specs what they are and that they're great sounding pups!!
Yep normal for that era but for current times, everything will have the white label. Thanks!
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
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Hi Mat.

By the way, I forgot to ask you about this.

Is there any way that you could tell me the name of the M2M director that you spoke to?

The Music Zoo may want to know this person's name if I say to them: "I was told by Gibson to request Plum Crazy for my build".

I trust TMZ and all, but I just don't want to be let down like The Gibson Garage let me down.:unsure:
His name is Dustin. :)
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
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Correct me if I’m wrong, but for the Gibson USA neck relief factory spec are between 0.005 and 0.012 measured at the 8th or 7th fret. Is that the same range for Gibson Custom? I feel like, base purely on anecdotal evidence, that necks tend to ship a the lower end of that range.
I honestly have no idea -- first I have heard of a neck relief spec measured at the 7th/8th fret. I will ask around but I know that our string action spec is the same across USA and Custom.
 

matkoehler

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Hi Matt, since Brandon of Brandonwound was picked up, which guitars will have pickups he’s played a part in over custombuckers?
Jared is amazing. He provided an immediate lift to R&D but also to the production ramp up of the Pickup Shop. You'll see the fruits of his labors more in Q3 next year but next month you will see a full relaunch of our pickup offerings for aftermarket, and Jared (as well as Parts & Pickups Director Jason Davidson) were instrumental in that. Quality enhancements, new packaging, new prices...and Custombuckers for aftermarket finally! :)
 

Wizard1183

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Jared is amazing. He provided an immediate lift to R&D but also to the production ramp up of the Pickup Shop. You'll see the fruits of his labors more in Q3 next year but next month you will see a full relaunch of our pickup offerings for aftermarket, and Jared (as well as Parts & Pickups Director Jason Davidson) were instrumental in that. Quality enhancements, new packaging, new prices...and Custombuckers for aftermarket finally! :)
Thank you! I was thinking the KH Greenie would’ve had pickups installed with help of Brandon on that but looking forward to what’s to come!
 
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