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Gibson Apparently In Trouble.

I looked at the 'Bay, there are a couple of those Les Paul circuit boards on there. I wonder if the Gibson self-tuning modules are also going to start showing up.

I wonder if this is really the case across the board regarding their electronics. I can't imagine them standardizing a quick connect system across their whole line, but it is Gibson. The article read like a slam piece, but it's in line with what many Gibson users I know have also said.
 
Is that supposed to be new? Gibson has been using PCB's in their control cavities for years. My 2006 LP Standard has one...

I will agree that the 2015 lineup isn't very appealing. I'd have no use for their tuning system, I don't like the new nut they're using, the signature on the headstock looks terrible, etc.

Your 2006 has one? Not doubting you, I just didn't think they started using those until 2008.
 
I suppose this is the gripe?
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I have to admit, it does look a bit flimsy and really seems to go against what someone who wants a Gibson would be all about as far as authenticity is concerned, but it's still just caps, pots and tracing...nothing really different.

I should start wiring up Gibson harnesses...that market must be booming:)
 
Is that supposed to be new? Gibson has been using PCB's in their control cavities for years. My 2006 LP Standard has one...

I will agree that the 2015 lineup isn't very appealing. I'd have no use for their tuning system, I don't like the new nut they're using, the signature on the headstock looks terrible, etc.

Agreed. Soon as i saw the new 2015 lineup, & their pricing, my brain said: no F**king way, jack up by 1k & over. I've played gibson guitars/basses don't get me wrong, some other them are nice. But i'd still never pay for one, i've got no intention of ever owning one. Unless someone gives a gibson guitar/bass to me, & depending on what it is, i'll either keep, or just sell right away (unless it had some sentimental value such as it belong to a friends deceased husband or wtvr) then i'd keep it for that until i'd die. But other than those reasons, i see no point of ever owning a Gibson.

I much prefer epiphone - inexpensive, if i mod to my liking it'll be played more, less worried about scarring it (im still careful but if ever happened i wouldn't be bummed out) + i can get more epiphones for the price of one gibson.
 
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These articles are taking on a life of their own. But there is an undercurrent of truth in the rumblings. Gibson's have always been a bit pricey, but current prices seem a bit out of touch. Much like Richenbacher, you're going to pay an extra grand for the name on the headstock. OK. So where's the money going? To the workers? I doubt it. You'd think a team of luthiers are hand building these precious instruments. In the mass production era, robots and under skilled labor are doing more. They are still the number one name in stringed instruments in America. Messing with that kind of legacy leaves a company vulnerable to the competition. Ask Ford and GM what happened when they ignored Honda and Toyota. Arrogance also comes with a steep price tag.
 
Is any of this surprise to bass players. They own Tobias,steinberger and lord knows what else and we don't hear anything new from these companies that were pioneers in their field.

This is a really interesting point. I played a 2015 SG Standard bass today, and aside from the flesh graters masquerading as strings, I thought it was fantastic. I played it alongside a few MIA and MIM Fender Precisions and as much as I liked the Fenders, the SG was my cfavorite. It got me thinking about buying an SG, but I'm put off by exactly what you're talking about -- Gibson's lack of continuous refinement and improvement.

Yes, the SG was great, but it'd be even better with a belly cutout and an arm bout; a strap lock on the upper horn instead of the damned back of the bass; a pickup selector instead of knobs; the option for a satin-finished neck, and; the option of different pickups. These are pretty basic changes/options, one that I'd expect a company to make over time in the interests of keeping an instrument current. Oh, and how about some damned color choices, Gibson! Transparent cherry is... kinda safe.

Fender takes (justifiable) flak for cranking out 700 kinds of P basses and limiting the really fun colors to the Custom Shop, but as I saw today, there's a decent amount of choice in their Precision lineup. And a lot of that choice seems aimed at improving playability, comfort, and tone. Glossy or satin neck finishes, maple or rosewood boards, ash or alder bodies, multiple kinds of pickups, some color choices, optional bridges and tuners optimized for balance, active or passive electronics, etc. It just makes me think how much better an SG bass could be, given some similar thought and attention.

I still want an SG (badly), but... I'm not sure how to finish that sentence.
 
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a lot of people scream that gibson's gotten sloppy. my husband has a 1971 les paul where the logo is off center on the headstock, and that's not that unusual.

as far as henry, i think he's nuts and have thought so for quite a while.

on the other hand, gibson recently came out with a couple less expensive acoustic guitars that fall below the J45 - the J35 and the J15. they're not exactly cheap, but for far less than the J45 you can get an american made all solid dread with a beautiful gloss finish and a very nice tone. i've played 'em and listened to them both, and quite like them. and i do notice the J15 is selling at our local GCs. and the gibson anniversary bass from last year sold out at all our local stores pretty fast.
 
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