Gibson Apparently In Trouble.

[-Asdfgh-]

It just occured to me, any of us older ones remember Arp? They sunk all this money into trying to work out a guitar controller for their synth line and got so obsessed with that it bankrupted them. This was way, way before MIDI was even though of. Wonder if that could happen here.

Casio had a nice line of MIDI controllers built into standard guitars. Is Casio still going or did the same thing happen?

 

[rtav]

I've known several people who worked for Gibson USA - and they all, without fail, said "IT SUCKED." Its been that way for 20 years.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

It just occured to me, any of us older ones remember Arp? They sunk all this money into trying to work out a guitar controller for their synth line and got so obsessed with that it bankrupted them. This was way, way before MIDI was even though of. Wonder if that could happen here.

Yup - I remember that. A buddy had an Odyssey back in the day - and everyone wanted a shot at that controller... then the word went out it was a awful... but an interesting try at something cool.

But automatic tuning? Seriously - who was clamoring for THAT? It's a *Gimmick*.

 

[Gaolee]

PS- I have purposely neglected to mention until now that I was until recently the CEO of a pretty large company. So I guess that means I am lynching myself. Clearly I am the one with a personality disorder.

And here I thought you were this guy:

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Not only did Tobias and Steinberger sell their business, they also sold their NAME, that is a "sell-out" if I've ever heard one. And it's not like Mr T or Mr S has retired from the game(thankfully).
I can see your point though; I was P- off when Fender shut down Hamer, which is considered the first "boutique"
manufacturer. Why did Fender do this; imo it is because Hamer was producing way better quality products than the big F.
I have never worked for Gibson or Henrey, but he did not become the CEO of the greatest string musical instrument manufacturer in the world by having a lazy work ethic. Some people are go getters, others not so much.

It's an interesting contrast to see how Ernie Ball handled the purchase of Music Man. Rather wreck it, he made it better, thus proving it CAN be done - but Fender and Gibson appear unable to manage that.

 

[rogerbmiller]

And here I thought you were this guy:

Nah he is now one with the universe. Wish I wrote those songs though. The royalties!

 

[Jim C]

If I use a hard case and the temperature stays the same, my Fenders are like cars and rarely need a tune up!

 

[Herrick]

I've never had a new Les Paul but I've owned a few new SGs. Never had a problem with them. I only sold them to try out other guitars, not because the SGs were crap. As they say, your experience may vary.

 

[40Hz]

The new Gibson tuning system represents an investment and calculated gamble of tens of millions of dollars once the cost of R&D, retooling, manufacturing and advertising are calculated
(or so I read earlier this week - still searching for link).

If this tuning system is a total miss with consumers, it ain't gonna be pretty watching Gibson try to turn the ship around.

Gibson's tuning system is an Edsel in my opinion. It "solves" a problem that really doesn't exist. And even if it really does exist, their solution is overkill and clumsily implemented. Like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer.

There's another auto-tuning system out there (can't remember by who - but Guitarist Magazine did a review on it) that doesn't just correct tunings, it also allows you to alter tunings (switch to a drop-D, open-G, or user programmable tuning) at the push of a button. It also adjusts everything via a mechanism in the bridge rather than the tuning pegs - so the weight is all in the body where it belongs - rather than the headstock. All in all, a much better design than Gibson's version, which took the most obvious 1-trick pony approach. And supposedly, this other auto-tuning system actually works. At least according to the reviewers - who seemed to be surprised.

 

[CrUiSeR]

It's an interesting contrast to see how Ernie Ball handled the purchase of Music Man. Rather wreck it, he made it better, thus proving it CAN be done - but Fender and Gibson appear unable to manage that.

That is a matter of opinion, for the longest I would agree; lately not so much. IMO of course

 

[Chef]

"Gibson"

I don't understand.
Do they make things?

 

[Son of Wobble]

"Gibson"

I don't understand.
Do they make things?

Gibson makes guitars, but they are a very problematic product. This fellow performed accompanied by a Gibson SG and look what happened:

 

[Chef]

He looks like trouble.
Guys with beards=trouble

 

[Gaolee]

Gibson's tuning system is an Edsel in my opinion. It "solves" a problem that really doesn't exist. And even if it really does exist, their solution is overkill and clumsily implemented. Like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer.

There's another auto-tuning system out there (can't remember by who - but Guitarist Magazine did a review on it) that doesn't just correct tunings, it also allows you to alter tunings (switch to a drop-D, open-G, or user programmable tuning) at the push of a button. It also adjusts everything via a mechanism in the bridge rather than the tuning pegs - so the weight is all in the body where it belongs - rather than the headstock. All in all, a much better design than Gibson's version, which took the most obvious 1-trick pony approach. And supposedly, this other auto-tuning system actually works. At least according to the reviewers - who seemed to be surprised.

Line6 perhaps? I play with a guy who has a whole Line6 setup, and it works well enough for cover band use. It gets pretty close to a whole lot of different sounds, and it alters tunings digitally somehow. I don't think his guitar tunes itself, though. The sounds are a little off if you listen to it next to the real thing, but if you are going from a Strat to a Les Paul to a Ric 12 to a hollow Epiphone back to back, you can't beat it for convenience and economy.

Gibson isn't doing that, so I just flat don't see what self-tuning does that good tuning machines don't already do.

 

[Gaolee]

He looks like trouble.
Guys with beards=trouble

Guys with beards and knitted caps are really, really scary people. They probably take a P-Bass to a gunfight and win.

 

[Duder]

I've got one of the faded series SGs from around 2002. It's one of the few with the crescent moon inlays and always gets compliments from anyone who has touched it. Hell, the guitarist in my brother's band went out and bought one because he tried mine. My experience with Gibson is limited, but it's been positive.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

That is a matter of opinion, for the longest I would agree; lately not so much. IMO of course

Okay, on this we agree. The last several years of EBMMs aren't as nice as they were ~20 years ago (I've owned several)

 

[Belka]

As regards the whole CEO / narcissism / sociopath discussion. Entrepreneurs and CEOs are generally a very different breed from most of us. If you work in close contact with them you learn how to deal with them to the best of your ability. They are generally extremely inconsistent, have huge mood swings, have minuscule attention spans if they're bored, but fantastic attention to detail if they're not bored, and you learn by instinct the right moment to ask for days off and when to stay out of their way. But despite being difficult, good ones who are true leaders can inspire staff. If they can admit to mistakes and take on board feedback, then they're halfway there. If they can't inspire or get staff to believe in their vision at least some of the time, then the company is screwed.

 

[stacker]

my brothers girlfriends sisters uncle has a friend of a friend who knows a sound tech who still listens to the black album who graduated with the best tech in the area who says the quality/finish/parts of gibsons are quite good at this point. he also owns a golden doodle.

I am pleased for you. Thanks for imparting your knowledge.

 

[stacker]

***?

Same here..