• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Gibson is the new FIAT????

#81
you got extremely lucky...Overall, I was about 50/50...
my gold tbird, and walnut tbird....20130 2014, respectively are very, very nice...

But again, where American instruments usually have a good rep, to have junk due to lack of quality control, is unacceptable.

I love the sound of my birds, and other Gibson's I had, but poor finish is something Gibson USA NEEDS TO BE ASHAMED OF.
 
#82
I have only ever tried two Gibson basses so my opinion carries very little weight, however, they were both the 2014 Anniversary model SG's and both of them had fretwork that I wouldn't accept from a Chinese made instrument. The fit and finish of my Squier Jag Short Scale was better than both of these. The price for them in Australia is similar to my Godin Shifter Classic and there is no comparison whatsoever. The Godin is in a different league altogether. I am sure they can make good instruments, but these two should never have left the factory the way they were built.
 
#83
as someone who owns, races and LOVES their Fiat Abarth 500c, I resent the comparison to Gibson.
IMG_2683.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Beamrider, GBassNorth and TMARK
#84
3rdpath said:
as someone who owns, races and LOVES their Fiat Abarth 500c, I resent the comparison to Gibson.
View attachment 725948
Click to expand...
I made the comparison and it was really more in reference to the "old fiat".... With that said, I was actually looking forward to driving an Abarth. However, many articles that I've read as well as recent owner surveys, Rates them with poor owner satisfaction, initially, and poor quality control....Hence the Gibson comparison.

I think the 500 is cool. And I too have experience with the average man's sports car as I own an MX-5.
 
#85
starmann said:
Hey all:

As someone who started on a '75 Ripper, I just can't believe the garbage Gibson has put out over the last few years.

I do still own two, A really nice TBird Anniversary Gold, and a Beautiful TBird in Walnut....

But similar to FIAT in 1983 (for those who remember) that was producing junk in the US, it pulled out of the American Market, mostly due to NO QUALITY CONTROL = Poor, unreliable product.

And here's where it gets SAD...Like Fiat, Gibson had some really cool products, but do to apparent Lack of Pride and Laziness, they lost it all on the most "FIXABLE" issue....POOR QUALITY CONTROL and Pride in their output.

Although back recently, FIAT already has a couple of cars rated as "UNRELIABLE".

Gibson too has pulled out of the bass market, or so it seems, per the lack of any 2016 offerings...Mostly due to pooooooooooooor Quality control, based on my experience (just a guess).

I would love to hear your thoughts, on Gibson returning, and will it be the same crap as the last few years with a few exceptions, I own two, or continued POOR QUALITY CONTROL?
Click to expand...
Quality control is only part of the problem. You need good craftsman working on the products to help reduce the rate of rejections by the QC team. It's apparent they don't have that
 
#86
no worries. i didn't take the comparison to heart. there's crap gibsons and fiats...and amazing ones as well.

i love my abarth. absolutely no problems and i drive it like i stole it. i've owned porsches and bmws too and the abarth is easily as much fun. granted, it won't hit the top speeds my 911s did, but there's really no reason for me to be that stupid anymore. and with the lower cost of ownership…i can buy more basses!
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth
#87
My 2012 Explorer is ok. I had to change the bridge and pickups and I hate the thin finish, but it plays pretty nice and looks awesome on stage...

I think we need a long scale SG (I know....neck dive city) and the violin shaped EB... Yeah that's it!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1960jbass
#88
Brian D said:
Comparing the two quality-wise, I don't think so. FIAT has been doing well on the quality side of things since the mid-late 90's. They just haven't been sold in USA, which is not the center of the world by the way!

Now, if you compare the two by their offerings I would agree with you. FIAT were/are lacking in a full product line in recent years.
Gibson the same, when you look at basses. They're not making what people want.
Click to expand...
FIAT doesn't need a full product line. They own Chrysler, which has a very verbose offering, already.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth
#93
My 2013 Pelham Blue Midtown Standard, after a real professional set up, is absolutely wonderful to play.

The only QC issue was a rattling neck pick up fixed with a little foam.

Of course, I started on an Epiphone Newport in 1965. Many Gibsons, Fenders and others later, I still love Gibsons.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth
#94
I bought the 2015 Gibson T'Bird when it came out, got it new in box from GC and paid the $2600 list price. The nitro finish was smooth and consistent throughout with no apparent flaws. The fret work looked good and there were no rough or unfinished edges on any of the frets. Electronics worked fine, no scratchiness from the pots and all solder joints were tight.

My main problem was with the Tektoid nut that Gibson used on the bass. One problem was that the lacquer overspray on it was poorly done. Another problem was with tuning stability on the nut, too much friction and inconsistent string pull through the slots, especially on the E string. Another problem was the factory set pickup heights, especially the bridge, where the output was too low.

After having the upper neck area refinished, to fix a crack, the installation of a bone nut and a complete setup the instrument sounds great. The tuning is stable and all of the strings are intonated perfectly, according to my chromatic tuner. There are a few things that are less than perfect but unless I had spent $8K to $10K, as I would for a custom bass, I can't see that I was ripped off or anything. When I tried other basses at different GCs before getting this one I found that only this bass, the Warwick Thumb and the Fender J felt good in my left hand.

So for somebody like me I think this was a good bass for the money. I may get another bass sometime in the future, as my skill improves and if there is something that this bass can't produce.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, TBird1958 and hopsbb
#95
Here is a bash the brand of the week thread. So far it's been poor quality control at Rickenbacker, then poor quality control at Fender, now it's Gibson's turn. I own a 2013 Gibson SG Standard Bass and a 1972 Gibson EB3. I fail to see the quality control issues you are talking about. No doubt I could find what I consider quality control issues with your brand of choice or anyone else's brand of choice. The whole quality control thing is subjective and in the eyes of the beholder. I consider my Gibson's to be a workhorse like my Ford F250, not a Fiat. Those bashing Gibson the most are the one's sitting on the sidelines stirring the pot IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrAtomic, TBird1958 and hopsbb
#96
starmann said:
Hey all:

As someone who started on a '75 Ripper, I just can't believe the garbage Gibson has put out over the last few years.

I do still own two, A really nice TBird Anniversary Gold, and a Beautiful TBird in Walnut....

But similar to FIAT in 1983 (for those who remember) that was producing junk in the US, it pulled out of the American Market, mostly due to NO QUALITY CONTROL = Poor, unreliable product.

And here's where it gets SAD...Like Fiat, Gibson had some really cool products, but do to apparent Lack of Pride and Laziness, they lost it all on the most "FIXABLE" issue....POOR QUALITY CONTROL and Pride in their output.

Although back recently, FIAT already has a couple of cars rated as "UNRELIABLE".

Gibson too has pulled out of the bass market, or so it seems, per the lack of any 2016 offerings...Mostly due to pooooooooooooor Quality control, based on my experience (just a guess).

I would love to hear your thoughts, on Gibson returning, and will it be the same crap as the last few years with a few exceptions, I own two, or continued POOR QUALITY CONTROL?
Click to expand...
Did I ever tell you about the Ripper I GAVE Away in the early 90s?!
 
#99
Stardust Productions said:
Gibson is such a terrible company. Anyone who buys their stuff nowadays is a sucker.
Click to expand...
And here you are again, spreading joy and enthusiasm! So you don't like Gibson, and Lull and Xotic are "less than the rest." Seriously dude - what basses do you actually like? Are there any?

My Gibson EB5 is a great-sounding, great-playing innovative bass. At barely over $1,000 with a well-made hardshell case, it was a bargain.

Of course, your mileage will vary!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassmanMetzger56, Thisguy and GBassNorth
#100
I like Gibson basses fine but I find a lack of quality-control at any modern mass-manufacturer unfathomable. Basses and guitars are still largely made by hand but given that you have machines that can do the initial work for you on each stage of the build, i.e. CNC, PLEK, etc. that it we would be in a position to have more consistency than in the past. Generally, this is true. If you look at the low-end of the market (e.g. Squier or equivalent Indonesian-built) then the QC is generally pretty good and fairly consistent; it's at least as good as some of the high-end stuff.

What is the issue? Pride in the work. If an Indonesian worker feels insecure in their job, they're going to do much better work to keep it. Now, employees should be protected in the work environment and I'm the first to speak in favour of Unions (I'm a member of one, soon to be a member of two) but there needs to be an analysis of the staff at Gibson. If the work environment really is so bad that employees are producing poor work then the management need to take a serious look at their labour practises and see what it can do to motivate the workforce.

An unhappy workforce and a high turnover of staff in any organisation is an indication of stormy times ahead and sometimes can even be the progenitor of a collapse. I recently left a job because of how unhappy I was with the practises and another member of staff literally walked out - and we weren't that junior! Now that branch is struggling and I see the same across that organisation (not that I care, I want to see them fail!). If you treat your staff well it might cost you money in the short-term but in the long-term, happy staff that want to be there do quality work and cost you a lot less in the long run.

Unfortunately most businesses only seem to be concerned with the next quarter, rather than the next quarter of a century...
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassmanMetzger56

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back