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Gibson Apparently In Trouble.
- Thread starter Colbert Vape
- Start date
I think they looked, played, and sounded better back when they were still doing this to them:
I kinda gave up on Rickenbacker about the time they stopped producing the 4005. And I'm still kicking myself for not buying one back in '75 when I had my chance. Now that was a Rickenbacker Bass. First time I heard one was when bassist extraodinaire Andy Kulberg (formerly of The Blues Project) was playing one with a band called Seatrain. Hearing him on that Ric was an epiphany for me.
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I think they looked, played, and sounded better back when they were still doing this to them:
I kinda gave up on Rickenbacker about the time they stopped producing the 4005. And I'm still kicking myself for not buying one back in '75 when I had my chance. Now that was a Rickenbacker Bass. First time I heard one was when bassist extraodinaire Andy Kulberg (formerly of The Blues Project) was playing one with a band called Seatrain. Hearing him on that Ric was an epiphany for me.
I can't believe somebody remembers Andy and Seatrain. First met him and the rest of the band when he was in The Blues Project. Danny Kalb was a hell of a player, and that keyboard guy went on to some sort of fame. Seatrain was based for a time in a smaller town in CT where I was living then.
I believe Kulberg also played the Hagstrom 8-string bass at least a few times. The thing that sticks with me about Blues Project is that, except for the drummer, the members' last names all began with K.
When The Blues Project was already big and recording Danny was taking guitar lessons from a jazz player in New Milford. He said that even if he could play what he did he didn't know the basics of music and guitar. Can't remember for sure, it's been many years since then, but I think he was taking lessons from Art Ludemann (not sure of the spelling). But the whole band hung out at the New Milford Music Store quite a bit back then. Then Seatrain lived there for a while.
Andy Kulberg's bass stylings were something to die for IMO. Almost "beebop" for lack of a better word. That guy was incredibly fluid and melodic - yet he always managed to hold down the groove at the same time. Not the usual pattern based style most bassists of his time used either. It was almost like he was scat-singing on those Rics he played. And he had enough tone (and class) for a dozen lesser players.
I think Mr. Kulberg is still one of the most underrated bassists on the planet.
I think Mr. Kulberg is still one of the most underrated bassists on the planet.
Yeah. It seemed that the notes just rolled out without thinking about them. He was a pretty classy guy.
Yeah all he has to do now is figure out how to stop building boat anchors.
Hey Ball....the Eighties called....they want their 10+ pound basses back. lol
I knew of Seatrain at the time and listened to them a bit - at one point, at may 16 or 17, I was supposed to learn a bass line for one of their tunes for a jazz band tryout - I wasn't really ready (well, ready to learn, but not close enough) at that point anyway, I did learn the line, but didn't get the gig. I can't remember the name of the tune, but I think I remember the line... ...I've always wondered since how closely my memory of it matches the real thing.
I drove by the Gibson Church Street location yesterday (in Nashville) and I guess they are still using it. Still has their signs up. Anyway the building next door is being torn down, so anyone working in that building should be going crazy by now, with the jack hammers going all day.
There is a lot more to Gibson than what is hanging on GC walls. And the players that want these are not shopping at GC.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
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- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
Wasn't Larry Atamanuik in Seatrain? Seems like I heard that once... great drummer.
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Yeah, I'd say there is some substance to this article. Some people just like putting their head in the sand I guess.
Their revenue dropped by HALF over the last 5 years from about 440 million to about 220 million. Mind you, the US economy was recovering over that time. Fender revenue went up at least up until 2011. Are customers liking Gibson products? I'd say no.
It's pretty sad really, they're an absolutely iconic company who were responsible for making the instruments in a lot of the music we all love. I'd love to pick up an SG bass but this makes me a bit weary. Unhappy employees make bad products, and there must be some reason people aren't buying their products to explain that astronomical revenue drop.
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Yeah, I'd say there is some substance to this article. Some people just like putting their head in the sand I guess.
Their revenue dropped by HALF over the last 5 years from about 440 million to about 220 million. Mind you, the US economy was recovering over that time. Fender revenue went up at least up until 2011. Are customers liking Gibson products? I'd say no.
It's pretty sad really, they're an absolutely iconic company who were responsible for making the instruments in a lot of the music we all love. I'd love to pick up an SG bass but this makes me a bit weary. Unhappy employees make bad products, and there must be some reason people aren't buying their products to explain that astronomical revenue drop.
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That is a shocking decline in sales for Gibson. In the light of this information, I'd say the new self-tuning technology looks less like a calculated risk for the company, and more like a desperate but essential Hail Mary play.
I always wanted a Les Paul but their prices are outrageous. I was thinking of getting an ESP instead.
Interesting. I just purchased a Gibson. Another member here just received his yesterday. I was at Sam Ash a couple of weeks ago and a guy was buying a lefty Les Paul. I just searched a few minutes ago for 2 Gibson flying Vs at one of my local GCs, both were gone.
I had a thought that maybe part of it's because of their out-dated pricing models. They aren't competitive with most other guitar companies in terms of price point, and their mid-range price bracket lacks any models people want. Epiphone has budget models, Gibson has expensive models. Where is the mid-range?
For awhile they had the SG Specials and I thought they were coming around, but of course those seem out of production now. I almost bought one of those on two occasions but I kept holding off thinking they'd be around today.
