Why pick on Gibson? LOL - because that's what came through the door. While I'm certain most of us in repair see new guitars that need fretwork, nut and saddle replacement, and minor cosmetic tweaks, it's not often that I see major structural issues on what is presented as a new instrument.

That aside, this is actually a really nice J-200; full voiced and good articulation, with a lot more distinctive bass than common on the model. This is a stock selection issue, rather than an overall workmanship problem, but it's an issue that - if left unresolved - might result in the failure of the top. Saw the same thing on a 70's D-35S, but a lot further along...the lower legs of the x had failed, the fingers on the bass side separated, the forward tone bar half off the top, and the top itself separated from the lining for about 8" along the back edge...all because of an unfortunate choice on the x-brace stock.

Now they have salaried techs under their thumb that have to lie to the customers or face the wrath of the coprorate home office.

late middle aged guys with dreams of recapturing their youth, and enough money to spend taking a shot at doing it

Is that even a joint at the X intersection?!

Looks like they just cut one leg of the X in two, and just butted them up to the other....

Maybe your GC is better than mine, but There isn't much technician in their techs, whom don't get paid much buy the hour either. But I love em! They drive work to my shop at times, their shortcomings sure make me shine.

This is my favorite "inside the box" photo. A guy brought this "handmade" guitar in for a pickup installation. The builder had apparently marketed himself as quite a stud luthier. I am guessing that the intended scale length of the bracing plans and the scale of the purchased neck and fretboard didn't quite jive.

I am myself a GC tech and Roberto Venn Graduate.... Maybe i shouldnt go into this but I got pretty pissed off reading some of your
comments about the Gc Techs.... for starters I dont have to bow to any corporate big guy telling me I cant tell a customer what I
think of any guitar. Obviously I dont bad mouth companys just to vent my opinion but neither would anybody else here that owned a music shop and sold that brand..... Also for somebody who wants to start in Luthiery as a carrer after spending $10000 on schooling for it would be stupid to turn down an hourly pay + commison (hourly pay is not $8 for graduates). Especially sense the only reason to turn it down would be for fear that some hot shot luthier would look down on him and asume he dosent know what hes doing because hes employed by a certain company.....i could go on for days but wont..... Im proud to make a living and support myself doing what I love and get upset when I see people who really have no idea how it works tearing it down.


Also I subscribe to the classifieds here just to help out this site because I come to this forum alot for help on my own building projects and really love the helpfull people on it. I thank you all for that help but if I am just a "guitar tech" and not a "Luthier" maybe I dont belong here.