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Gibson Apparently In Trouble.

#81
macteacher said:
Give me an article with facts and named sources rather then "music-store worker" and "A longtime Gibson user" before reaching any conclusions that are suggested to be "factual" and predictions of companies being "in trouble".

Anything else I just view as tabloid fare.

Personally, when I was shopping for a 335 about 10 years ago, I would up with a Heritage, (the company started by old Gibson employees that didn't want to make the move east and bought the old factory and equipment from Gibson before the move).

Compared side to side with the new Gibson 335s I played at the time, the Heritage quality was superior to the Gibsons to my fingers and ears and the Heritage was more than half the price....

In the spirit of full disclosure, I also played about 30 Heritage guitars before deciding on the one I bought, but I attribute that to just getting the right hand carved neck into my hands...
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HA. I actually bought mine from Jay Wolfe sight unseen, but it was awesome. At the end of the day though, I'm a lousy guitar player, i needed the money, and it was the only thing I owned that had any resale value (most of my stuff is warmoth or carvin), and could someday be replaced (my one of USA reverend can never be got back if it goes)
 
#82
that is some article but.... I don't really care too much gibson basses...only 1 I ever played that i liked was a 1966 EB0 or 3... not sure. I can tell you it wouldn't matter to me 1 way or they other how they hire.... many companies make you take a psychological profile and if you wanted the job you would take the test. If there quality control is failing they will fix it or they will ultimately fail. As much as we don;t want to admit it ...these huge companies make their money on beginners not players... I was in GC and they have a $199 slash epiphone... how many of those do you think they sell vs a $5000 guitar? How many squiers vs american fenders? It ultimate drives the used prices up.
 
#83
I've always considered myself somewhat of a Gibson fan. At least up until about 10 years ago. I own a 1960 Gibson ES-125TC. My GF owns an early 80's LP Custom. And a '74 Gibson Ripper is my main instrument.

We like the Gibsons we already own. But neither one of us has been overly impressed by the new ones we've looked at. Even the new EB Bass (which I thought I would be buying) had enough problems when I tried one out that I decided to give it a pass.

How much trouble Gibson is in, I don't know. But I do think they've become a somewhat arrogant company that builds significantly lower quality instruments than they used to.

And after having read a number of articles in business magazines about their 'new' CEO, I strongly suspect a lot of Gibson's current problems rest squarely with him.
 
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#84
Jim C said:
I had heard from a tech who is in touch with a Gibson rep that they were looking into some isolated QC issues (whatever that means)
I believe that the biggest issue is the auto tune system.
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He didn't mention that - he said the finishes were peeling / bubbling, cold solder joints, fret overhang, stripped screws in the bridge saddles - really awful stuff for instruments that costs $2K+
 
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#86
40Hz said:
I've always considered myself somewhat of a Gibson fan. At least up until about 10 years ago. I own a 1960 Gibson ES-125TC. My GF owns an early 80's LP Custom. And a '74 Gibson Ripper is my main instrument.

We like the Gibsons we already own. But neither one of us has been overly impressed by the new ones we've looked at. Even the new EB Bass (which I thought I would be buying) had enough problems when I tried one out that I decided to give it a pass.

How much trouble Gibson is in, I don't know. But I do think they've become a somewhat arrogant company that builds significantly lower quality instruments than they used to.

And after having read a number of articles in business magazines about their 'new' CEO, I strongly suspect a lot of Gibson's current problems rest squarely with him.
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Boy and I thought Fender was the devil doing that.
 
#87
MovingPitchers said:
Boy and I thought Fender was the devil doing that.
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Oddly enough, I've found that the "farm team" brands like Epihone and Squire seem to be making better off-the-shelf instruments than their bigger name siblings lately. I can tolerate fixable setup issues, or minor cosmetic blemishes, on a less expensive instrument. But not those -and worse - on somebody's flagship model. Especially when it falls into the mid 4-digit price range. I think the customer deserves some respect for that kind of money.
 
#88
no surprise. my guitarist had endorsements with them and the player rep was always a revolving door. they are a garbage company that has ruined so many good brands (tobias, steinberger, epiphone, etc.) i would be happy to see them go out of business. their bass lineup is a joke, a musicman sabre copy? thunderbird with exposed pole pickups? garbage.
 
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#89
markjazzbassist said:
no surprise. my guitarist had endorsements with them and the player rep was always a revolving door. they are a garbage company that has ruined so many good brands (tobias, steinberger, epiphone, etc.) i would be happy to see them go out of business. their bass lineup is a joke, a musicman sabre copy? thunderbird with exposed pole pickups? garbage.
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Sad, sad, sad. They've ruined so many other brands they've bought, it just seems stupid to do it to their own, but corporations are pretty much all stupid for short-term $$ right now, even if it means destroying their reputation and long term prospects. Very sad.
 
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#90
Recently picked up a brand new ES-339 Satin Cherry (I believe it is a 2014 model). Absolutely amazing guitar. Great tone and playability, it is actually my first Gibson purchase (after playing for over 25 years). There are a couple of very minor finishing imperfections on the neck/fingerboard, which you could legitimately argue maybe shouldn't be there on a $2000 instrument; however, I am not too fussed by that.

I was also interested in a TV yellow LP Jr and played one that sounded great...but...really didn't want the chunky robot tuner system and I do agree that the Les Paul 100 scrawl on the headstock looks like my 3 year old did it. The hologram is also dorky but not a big deal.

As for basses I have honestly never considered anything they offer, their iconic models don't fit my style and their other offerings tend to feel like an afterthought to their guitar lineup.

IMG_0879_zpsuoo5725b.jpg
 
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#93
Fender started going off the rails when Leo left for good in '69 and it was all CBS. Gibson started going off the rails when Ted McCarty left and Norlin bought Gibson. Hasn't been the same since for either marque. I have one Gibson bass, a mojo'd fretless Ripper. I have Epiphone basses, only one of which I intend to keep, ranging from about 1963 through about 2008.

Gibson's "snob factor" is inherent to the brand's history. It always marketed to the "uptown" musician who might play Carnegie Hall. Fender's initial target market was the blue-collar worker who might pick up a few extra bucks on weekends playing the Odd Fellows hall.

I expect there is less difference in initial quality between an Epiphone and a Gibson than a Squier and a MIA Fender.
 
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#98
The article (if you can call it that) reads like sour grapes and the comments sound like five-year-olds who just learned how to drop f-bombs. :rollno:

FWIW, I own or have owned at least one instrument from almost every era of the company's history, the oldest being mandolin from 1914, the (current) newest, a 1987 Thunder Series bass V. The current lineup certainly can't be considered their finest hour, but I am unconvinced by this declaration that Gibson is "in trouble".
 
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#99
rob2966 said:
As for basses I have honestly never considered anything they offer, their iconic models don't fit my style and their other offerings tend to feel like an afterthought to their guitar lineup.
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Congrats on the ES and welcome to the Gibson fold!

I own two of their iconic basses and I'd love to add a classic LP bass in the future. The full 24 fret one, not the newer 20 fret.

Anyway, here are mine and there are fantastic. A 2013 TBird and a 2014 SG.
image.jpg


I have four other Epi TBirds, 3 bought used and one bought new. The Alpine white Classic Pro IV hanging on the left is the sweet spot for dollar value in construction, finish and of course, monster tone!
 

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