renderit
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2009
- Messages
- 10,951
Been off the forum for a while but I would like to answer your questions - as I said I've not sold the guitar nor have I tried to so 'big Al' can keep his accusations & twisted theories to himself. I took the official factory tour (by Gibson employees in the factory, not in the parking lot!), and during that tour we were told the history of that factory and how they'd had a very short production period of Les Pauls and then how it very quick switched to only hollow body production. The guitar was on show in a floor case (single case, on it's own) and they pointed it out as being one of the few produced at Memphis. At the end of the tour, I asked if it could be sold and the tour guide went to get the manager to ask - I did get his business card but sadly lost it since. We chatted for quite a while and agreed a price - I was introduced to the guys on the floor that had built the guitar, paid for it by Amex (in the factory store, on the store till). I returned 2 days later to collect the guitar once it'd been fully prepared and packaged ready for me to take back to the UK. I had two friends with me the whole time who can corroborate this story and will have the Amex bill too. Hope this answers all your questions, thanks
Welcome back and please stay. Big Al will become your friend in no time, trust me on this.
Thank you for your response. That makes everything seem to be in order. I suppose that the term "handbuilt" is in question here. Everything is built by moving it about by hand. By most craftsman's standards Gibson guitars are not truly "handbuilt". But try building one without the use of hands! Or mad skills.
I am guessing they may have built a few without some of the templates that were at the other factory hence it being more handbuilt than a Nashville.
I think that (in the long run) you may have something unique and wonderful there because of this.
But:
The word on the street is "the longer the story the more suspicious".
If it is not documented the more suspicious.
What you may have there is nearly impossible to prove without a letter from Gibson.
If I were you I would try to obtain that. They are surprisingly easy to ask!
Also, I understand Mr. Al's comments and though his delivery is akin to Thor smashing eggs with his hammer, he is right.
MANY people hope what they bought is the Sword in the Stone.
They come here to with the hope of proving it.
More often it is an old wrought iron fencepost...