I must be jinxed! I had to mention about shipping nightmares and I put the whammy on myself. I just got my new Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Elegant delivered today. I sent it in for warrantee repairs and Gibson's Custom Shop decided to replace it. It took them three months to turn it around. When I sent it in, they insisted it go FedEx because they don't damage the guitars like UPS or the others (they paid, so I didn't mind). They sent the new one to me via DHL Express....Airborne Express delivered it. The factory Gibson Dealer: call security @ 1-888-EAT S**T if seal is breeched seal on the bottom of the box was broken and one bottom corner was crushed. When I removed the case from the box, the case botom was pushed-in and it was split at the seam. Gibson packed a $6k guitar in a singlewall cardboard box with a single sheet of bubble wrap at the bottom of the box, and one single sheet at the top. A cardboard triangular-shaped cardboard thing holds the guitar in the center of the case (side-to-side only) and goes on the top of the guitar, on top of the bubble wrap. You could see where the bubble wrap was flattened on the bottom sheet: right in the center where the case was split! To top it all off, nevermind the damaged case: the guitar I sent to them had the most spectacularly figured maple flame top (they advertised AAA..it was better than that)...the guitar I got back was a joke. You have to hold it at an angle to even see the top has figuring: it looks like a plain top. Needless to say, I called Gibson and screamed. I'm sending it back TOMORROW. I waited 25 years to buy a LP, and spent over a year hemming and hawing while shopping for the right guitar at the right price. I bought the guitar of my dreams for a killer price and I ended up with a piece of crapola.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Don't buy a Gibson and don't ship guitars via DHL/Airborne Express.
Thanks to all for letting me vent, LOL!
