Gibson Apparently In Trouble.

[Jimtoonz]

Juszkiewicz has been known for decades as a pompous, arrogant, jerk with suspect thought processes. Even so, he has his better traits. Oh, I listed those already.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Article? Meh.

But I have my info from the most popular guitar tech in San Diego (and is a gibson certified tech) - the quality of the fit / finish / parts of gibsons are at an all-time low right now. They are just circling the train.

 

[peterkidd]

They are just circling the train.

Some Do say he is Loco....

 

[Papazita]

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.

Yes you do, just not under those brand names that are now trademarked by Gibson.

 

[Robus]

Reads like a piece ftom a high school newspaper.

 

[Revolver]

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.

You might want to take a look at this.

Gibson SG Limited Run Bass Guitar w OHSC | eBay

 

[stacker]

Well, they are correct saying that Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz is nuts, but that's been known for many, many years.

There was a company review site I saw last year where ex-employees catalogued how bad the vibe was a Gibson and having that fruitcake at the helm can't help matters, Harvard Business Grad or not!

 

[stacker]

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.

They shut Steinberger down cos someone on the staff called out Henry.

 

[Jackers]

I don't know what's more stupid. Journalists or drummers.

 

[Jazz Ad]

As said already it is the same issue as Rickenbacker, just on a larger scale.
When you own a historical company that sells without advertising, you have 2 choices :
- Clean up you range, document as much as you can, build on the past, respect it and aim for great quality
- Capitalize on the name to make money selling crap

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

Reads like a piece ftom a high school newspaper.

Agreed, especially the section from the supposed job candidate. "They expected me to waste THREE WHOLE HOURS of my valuable (unemployed) time taking a stupid test?!?!" Gibson may be in trouble, but that pathetic article didn't seem vaguely credible.

 

[Toptube]

fixed

So, if someone buys a new Les Paul and they would like to change out the pickups, they now have to replace everything which adds an entire new layer about $25 to the cost of their $300 pickup replacement, in a $2500+ guitar.

 

[nerkoids]

Gibson can go jump off a cliff. The year they decided we lefties didn't matter at all is the day they became unworthy of consideration.

 

[I am Soma]

i know about 15 guitarsists in my practice space alone that all play/love Gibsons...their customers think theyre crap?

 

[Jolagh]

i know about 15 guitarsists in my practice space alone that all play/love Gibsons...their customers think theyre crap?

I kind of agree. I think their customers push the brand because it's what they own and it's got to be the best. Their potential new customers think they're crap.

 

[mmbongo]

From the article:
When I opened up the control cavity, instead of seeing metal potentiometers and capacitors, I saw a plastic circuit board that the pickups plug into. The sales person told me that they have been turning away customer after customer that wants to change out pickups because the parts to do so aren't available.

Weird. Seems to me that if somebody wants to buy a brand new guitar with the purpose of changing pickups and capacitors, a little circuit board wouldn't stop them. Yank it out and put pots in. You can even buy Gibson branded pots.

Gibson Accessories Potentiometer - 500k Ohm Audio Taper, Long Shaft | Sweetwater.com

 

[I am Soma]

I kind of agree. I think their customers push the brand because it's what they own and it's got to be the best. Their potential new customers think they're crap.

id never played a gibson before two years ago. purchsed an eb4 and was really impressed with everyting about it- including the price, craftsmanship, etc. the guitarist im in a band with played ibanez for years and bought his first les paul here in the last 2 years. i havent seen any of his other guitars since then and he raves about it.

just seems like all major brands see posts like this where is some sweeping statement about how everyone thinks they are crap....when thats obviously not the case (i.e. daily fender, rick, gibson hate thread)

 

[I am Soma]

From the article:
When I opened up the control cavity, instead of seeing metal potentiometers and capacitors, I saw a plastic circuit board that the pickups plug into. The sales person told me that they have been turning away customer after customer that wants to change out pickups because the parts to do so aren't available.

Weird. Seems to me that if somebody wants to buy a brand new guitar with the purpose of changing pickups and capacitors, a little circuit board wouldn't stop them. Yank it out and put pots in. You can even buy Gibson branded pots.

Gibson Accessories Potentiometer - 500k Ohm Audio Taper, Long Shaft | Sweetwater.com

this.

 

[I am Soma]

Article? Meh.

But I have my info from the most popular guitar tech in San Diego (and is a gibson certified tech) - the quality of the fit / finish / parts of gibsons are at an all-time low right now. They are just circling the train.

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.

 

[Jughead6]

I love my Gibsons. They're old ones. In recent times other brands have been equally disappointing.

I am a pessimist and a cynic.