Thanks @Igonuts ! Unfortunately, I can't answer most of your questions yet. The guitar won't be "in-hand" until the middle of next week. I do have high hopes though! It was listed as "mint" condition, and appears to be a one-piece body from the pictures. (I thought the grain looked lovely too!) The price was $2k shipped.
I would add that when I got my Monkey (I bought one almost immediately after they became available) I was a bit put out that Gibson had not included those adjustment screws, so I contacted Gibson about sending some to me. They asked for proof of purchase and then sent me a whole replacement bridge with the screws in them! That blew a few minds on the forum, but I think when others did the same thing Gibson just set them the screws, but to Gibson's credit they did respond and take care of the issue. I have no clue why making sure the screws are in the bridge or as part of the case candy was not a part of QC for these guitars and it seems that it still has not been corrected.
Dude, if the G string is sharp, file the G String NUT slot down slightly to .025" @ 1st Fret, problem will be solved.
Dude, if the G String is ringing SHARP, why not just file the G String NUT Slot down slightly, I'd say (without being there and measuring it to see how it is 1st!) to .024"-.026" (.025" is where I set every one of my GIBSON Electrics G Strings) @ 1st Fret...Finding the correct screws will be much more of a hassle than this simple procedure....and Imma willing to bet the problem will be solved by just taking a slight bit off the G String NUT SLOT.
Thanks for the tips, D! Admittedly, I don't spend much time adjusting the nut slots as the appropriate files are not yet in my tool bag. I did get the bridge end sorted out though. The correct screw thread, if anyone needs it, is M3. I went with a 14mm length. That looked right and got the bridge where it needed to be for intonation. Unfortunately, the string height at the 12th fret was a little too high, even with the bridge decked down as far as it would go. For best performance with this BadAss-style bridge, Gibson should have either used a bigger angle at the neck joint, or made the fretboard higher off the body a la the 70s Flying Vs and Explorers. Ultimately, I went with a Schaller 455 bridge. It still looks the part (to me), and I'm able to set the string height where I like it with room to spare. Btw, I set the relief to be as flat as possible, with the string height 1 nickel low E and 1 penny high e. I'll have to get some pics up either here or in the customized sg thread...
Yo Skelt I fucked up, the D string is set at .024"-.027", the G string is .018"-.21", B .014"-.017" and Hi 'e' between .009"-.013" as long as it clears the 1st fret in the TAP Test, higher if it doesn't....I apologize that was MY BAD and just to complete the NUT slot set-up, Low 'E' @ .022"-.025", 'A' @ .023-.026"......these 1st fret strings heights w/as close to DEAD STRAIGHT Neck Relief, not more than .005" @ 9TH Fret, (w/Bridge and 12 fret string height at GIBSON Specs) will produce DEAD ON RINGING Open 'A', 'D' & 'E' chords in the 2nd Octave, it is a definite fact on a GIBSON ELectric w/12" Radius...took me years to get this right....and I find very few other players guitars that ever ring DEAD ON w/Open chords in the 2nd Octave.....BUT I know GIBSONs are designed, and can do, exactly this !
