Chinese Andy Summer TL replicas? Has anyone actually bought one?

[drmordo]

I just didn't want the guitar anymore. It was a learning experience. I can't stress how much seeing the branding and "Made In USA" made me feel. It was sickening. I guess I'm naive. I just didn't expect to see it so blatantly done.

If the photos or thread are taken down, that's OK with me. I figured I'd just do this, report back and hope someone else can learn from it.

I could have fixed all the issues, but I got bad vibes about the whole thing. I may pursue making another Andy Summers tribute in the future.

I kinda understand. I tried to warn you above what you were going to get; I'm sorry I didn't do a better job.

I ran the serial, it came up blank. So at least there's that.

 

[TaperChuck]

I kinda understand. I tried to warn you above what you were going to get; I'm sorry I didn't do a better job.

I ran the serial, it came up blank. So at least there's that.

Thanks, drmordo. I had to see it and experience it myself. Of course, no disrespect to you. You were right.

I was so revolted by the blatant infringement and disrespect for Fender, I may not have thought it through properly on the return. Who knows if another neck would fit that body? It may have been better to keep the body. I dunno.

I'm happy with the outcome though. I'll start looking for parts to build an Andy Summers tribute from scratch. The hardest part is the routing in the back. I do have a neighbor who has the equipment, so it might happen.

 

[Gladhander]

my local guitar shop got a '59 Lp relic chibson that everybody fell in love with and fought over. 2 months later the neck twisted like a pretzel.

Wet wood. Something the Chinese are good at using I’d assume. No drying process? Just spitballing.

 

[fenderchamp]

Wet wood. Something the Chinese are good at using I’d assume. No drying process? Just spitballing.

I'm not sure that I would exactly agree with, particularly the tone of your statement, but the neck definitely twisted.

I remember about 20 years ago or so, back when eBay was fun, I bought a 1 piece goncala Alves Strat body from a guy in Brazil. It was in middle of winter in Nebraska and it twisted and split like a piece of firewood about 2 weeks later.

In all fairness I bought a piece of flame maple from one of those little luthier targeted wood suppliers in the US that you can pay a pretty premium price for a relatively small, and beautiful piece of wood for. It came in the middle of winter wrapped in a bunch of cellophane. I took it inside and unwrapped it and it split.

I emailed the guy and he assured me the wood was properly and perfectly dry, told me they kept it at outdoors temps and wrapped it when shipped to try and mitigate rapid humidity changes and that If I had any idea what I was doing I would have left it wrapped in my garage for a few months (he was probably right too).

wood is a funny thing.

I've seen plenty of new Gibsons and Martins with cracks come right down to it.

 

[Gladhander]

I'm not sure that I would exactly agree with, particularly the tone of your statement, but the neck definitely twisted.

I remember about 20 years ago or so, back when eBay was fun, I bought a 1 piece goncala Alves Strat body from a guy in Brazil. It was in middle of winter in Nebraska and it twisted and split like a piece of firewood about 2 weeks later.

In all fairness I bought a piece of flame maple from one of those little luthier targeted wood suppliers in the US that you can pay a pretty premium price for a relatively small, and beautiful piece of wood for. It came in the middle of winter wrapped in a bunch of cellophane. I took it inside and unwrapped it and it split.

I emailed the guy and he assured me the wood was properly and perfectly dry, told me they kept it at outdoors temps and wrapped it when shipped to try and mitigate rapid humidity changes and that If I had any idea what I was doing I would have left it wrapped in my garage for a few months (he was probably right too).

wood is a funny thing.

I've seen plenty of new Gibsons and Martins with cracks come right down to it.

No “tone” implied.

 

[fenderchamp]

'''Wet wood. Something the Chinese are good at using I’d assume. No drying process? Just spitballing.'''

No “tone” implied.

sorry, I guess I misunderstood you.

 

[Gladhander]

'''Wet wood. Something the Chinese are good at using I’d assume. No drying process? Just spitballing.'''



sorry, I guess I misunderstood you.

No worries friend.

 

[Air_Cooled_Driver]

I bought a $250 Chender Strat for reasons that have nothing to do with really wanting one. I got my money’s worth. It sounds and plays well for the price point. The Fender logo is laughably bad. It’d be an ok mod platform.

 

[badinfinities]

For me, Chibsons & Chenders are a cheap way to learn mod and repair skills. I'm not going to sell them, they are simply a means for me to improve my skills.
They never exhibit quality or value that exceeds their price. Never.

I've been relatively lucky with the three I've bought; none of them have had issues that couldn't be addressed. But they need a LOT of work - fret work, new nuts, new bridges & tuners, new wiring & pots, etc. You're going to need to pot or replace the pickups. The rattle-o-matics and fake Grovers belong in the landfill.

But there are an awful lot of terrible Chibsons out there. MDF tops hidden beneath a razor thin veneer, twisty necks, etc. I'm sure if I had ended up with one of those, I would have sworn them off.

One of my favorite things to do is to read through posts on the Facebook Chibson groups. There are 3 types of posters:
1) delusional goofs who think they got a guitar better than anything Gibson makes.
2) rational types who know they got a ****box that needs a lot of work.
3) anti-Chibsonites who attack everyone who posts about their new Chibson.