A Bush in the Hand

**Clyde Clevenger** · Feb-13-2006, 10:50pm

I sent my Bush back to Gibson with neck troubles for the second time. First time it seemed to be fixed, but quickly went south. Ken Cartwright sent back the second week of January. We get a message from Danny Roberts within a couple of days saying that the neck is split in three places, plus it has some other issues. How attached is this guy (ME) to this mandolin? Long story, short, tonight I got a brand new Bush, signed by Danny Roberts and it's better than the old one, and not distressed. My old Bush always sounded great, but played hard. Other pickers always wanted to play it, the first time. The second time they ran like it was on fire. I just thought it was the price you played to get a good sound, like playing barbed wire strings, builds character. I've heard lots of complaints on this list about Gibson, but they have always treated me fair. I've bought two new Gibsons and always felt I got my moneys worth. When talking about mandolins, the coment I hear more than any other is, "it sounds as good as a Gibson". Well almost. Thanks Danny.

**Fuzzyway** · Feb-13-2006, 11:21pm

Uh.Ooohhh, you mean you don't need all that MANLY grip to play your new Bush.

Glad to hear Gibson done right by you.

Best, fuzzy

**mandoJeremy** · Feb-13-2006, 11:36pm

That is great and Gibson does stand behind their product with excellent customer service. They will make it right and I am glad you got a new Bush model. I love those mandos!

Feb-14-2006, 5:05am

Mandoholic,

I have to second and third what ogthers are saying..... CONGRATS! ! !

Great news that Gibson has done the right thing for a customer. Something missing at a lot of companies today.

Gibson you just made my decision on that V-Fren easy! You get my $$$.

~x

**JGWoods** · Feb-14-2006, 8:22am

Originally Posted by (xbangerman @ Feb. 14 2006, 07:05)

Great news that Gibson has done the right thing for a customer. Something missing at a lot of companies today.

I don't think so- I hear good news about service at almost every maker to the point where outstanding service seems to be the norm.

Feb-14-2006, 9:23am

JGWoods,

I was not talking specifically about the mando makers that well all discuss here. Everyone of those have been great, with outstanding service as you say. But go outside these folks i.e., auto service, car dealerships, heating/air folks, etc, etc.

~x

**chovie d** · Feb-14-2006, 10:30am

I saw the words Bush and evil empire in the thread title and thought for sure this was gonna be a political thread. I am glad it is not.

**Frank Russell** · Feb-14-2006, 11:26am

The work Big Joe's people did on my wideneck F5G (radiused fretboard, refret) made it as close to a Bush model as is possible, without the extra $$. I couldn't be happier with what Gibson did for me. I play it twice as much now as I did before. I'm a satisfied customer. Frank

**mandoJeremy** · Feb-14-2006, 11:50am

Frank, did you ever post pictures of your F-5G? I would love to see it. I played a few of those down at OAI with the wide neck and block inlays and they sure did sound great and looked great also. They very much had the Bush tone happening.

**gnelson651** · Feb-14-2006, 12:27pm

Originally Posted by (chovie d @ Feb. 14 2006, 11:30)

I saw the words Bush and evil empire in the thread title and thought for sure this was gonna be a political thread. I am glad it is not. #

Yea, me too.

But the Evil Empire #

#fell in 1988 with the Berlin Wall.

**f5loar** · Feb-14-2006, 12:31pm

This reminds me of a story of long ago(1951)when a very dissatisfied Gibson customer didn't like the repair work done on his mandolin so much so he took out his pocket knife and gouged out the name GIBSON from the headstock and scraped off the finish. I guess Gibson learned their lessson the hard way about good customer relations!

**bgmando** · Feb-14-2006, 12:34pm

What's the street price these days for both new and used Bush models?

They look like a good mando, and I've yet to hear one beside's Sam's original.

**Clyde Clevenger** · Feb-14-2006, 1:07pm

I really meant nothing political, just a gentle dig at the Gibson bashers, I hear it all the time and usually say nothing, just smile and play my Gibson. I have about 4 hours on it now and it is the one I was looking for. The exact tone I like for Bluegrass and it will only get better, will I still like it then? I've had a couple of people PM me saying I should be unhappy to have to send it back twice. While I'm not a luthier, I'm a fairly accomplished wood worker, I know you can never be 100% sure what wood will do next year, in 10 years, maybe even tomorrow. I'm just very happy that Gibson stands tall by their product. Folks at work this morning were wondering what I was smiling about. It's Valentine's Day.