Hello Lee!
On 01 Jan 98, Lee Waun wrote to Rich Lockyer:
 LW> have decided to get just the regular studio model and save 250 dollars 
s
 LW> well. I do agree that the studio lite's loss of all that mahogany has to
 LW> affect the sound a great deal so I will get the regular studio model
 LW> instead.
Good compromise.  It lacks the body and neck binding, but the tone is there, 
especially if you plan on swapping pickups in the future.  If you're saving 
$250, you've more than paid for a pair of Seymour Duncan pickups and 
installation cost.
As I mentioned before, be careful... don't buy one mail-order.  Inspect
CAREFULLY and play every one available in the color you want.  Don't take 
this message the wrong way... I'm not trying to tell you that the low-end 
Gibsons are crap, because they are fine instruments, but there are some 
common cosmetic problems that I've seen.  Places where I've noticed quality 
problems on many of the low-end Gibsons including the Studio, Blueshawk, and 
SG, include the following:
Cracked-looking or wrinkled finish on the top of the body around the neck 
pocket.  Also around the edge of the headstock where it transitions into the 
clearcoat on the black overlay, and the edge of the rosewood fingerboard.  I 
am assuming this is a production problem with the paint lifting when the 
masking is removed and the color coat touched up prior to the final clear 
coat.
Rough fret ends.
Cracks in the headstock overlay... these are particularly stealthy, as I've 
seen them appear on Epiphones after humidity changes where they weren't 
obvious before, but looking carefully, I've seen what appear to be scratches 
in the finish of new Studios.
Neck inlays.  Good inlay work should have a minimum of black epoxy filler 
around the block.  The stuff is all over Epiphones, and almost undetectable 
on LP Customs and Custom Shop models.  It's pure cosmetics, and if you select 
a particularly dark rosewood neck, it will be less obvious.  Also rub the 
edge of the inlays and make sure you don't feel a pronounced edge.
Look for uneven coloration in the rosewood fingerboard.  Many Studios that 
I've played have very good looking faces, but have very light areas on the 
edges where they meet the painted portion of the neck... they look almost 
like they are chipped or dented.  Also look for actual chips on the edge of 
the rosewood (not an issue on a bound-neck Standard or Custom).
These are all cosmetic issues and won't affect the playability or tone 
(except chips on the neck edges), but you're spending a good chunk of change 
on something you're going to keep for a long time, so you want to make the 
most of it.  One thing I've noticed is that the Studios that I checked out in 
Portland were FAR better than those in Guitar Center here in SoCal and in 
Arizona, so you may not find any of these problems in your area.  I haven't 
seen any of these problems on Standards and Customs, but I've seen them on 
all of the Gibsons that sell for under $1200 US, particularly those without 
body and neck binding.  Some are worse than others, and only one or two had 
all of the problems I mentioned.... Again, this message isn't to tell you 
that cheap Gibsons are crap, it's just a warning of things to look for.
C-ya! Rich
--- GoldED 2.40
---------------