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What would YOU do to save Gibson?

#261
twocargar said:
First off, it's a shame if they do go under. I've worked for several companies and when morale is bad, like someone else mentioned, things go downhill fast. Service goes, quality goes, and the corporate big wigs wonder why since they cut payroll or benefits why morale is bad. On paper it should have been a good thing for their bonuses, but they don't understand how important the front-line employees are.

I agree with this quote above. Maybe this is one of the reasons they are going into the crapper. My guitarist friends would never buy an Epiphone, but have no problems playing a MIM Fender or a non-US made PRS. Weird. I'm not a Gibson bass player, but if I had the cash I'd buy some of those Alex Lifeson model guitars.

It seems like they're too spread out with their fingers in too many pies. What to do to save Gibson? Maybe sell off some of the other non-Gibson guitar brands for starters and focus on making stringed instruments again. Look at Taylor. They seem to be doing this right.

Here's something interesting, I don't know if anyone else mentioned:

From Wikipedia: Although it is well known for its guitars, Gibson's largest business is in fact electronics. Gibson offers consumer audio equipment devices through its subsidiaries [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (Philips brand), Onkyo Corporation(Onkyo and Pioneer brands), TEAC Corporation (Teac and Esoteric brands), Cerwin Vega and Stanton,[6] as well as professional audio equipment from KRK Systems and TEAC Corporation/TASCAM and music software from Cakewalk.
Click to expand...


They just discontinued cakewalk
 
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#262
digmeout said:
"Make all American males wear a t-shirt that says 'an Epiphone is not just as good as a Gibson".
There's a lot Epiphones out there that ARE just as good as a Gibson, especially lately.
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As usual a lot of haters and gear snobs dissing Epiphone who've never owned one or actually know much about them. Bang-for-the-buck wise IMO generally speaking they're one of the best values on the market today. Ask some of the posters here who own both Gibson AND Epiphone's, they'll tell you there is minimal difference between the two. What differences there are are easily upgraded resulting in a good quality instrument for half or less what the Gibson costs. If you're too ashamed (read - if you're too much of a gear snob) to be seen playing a "cheap" instrument that's your problem, not the instruments problem.
 
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#265
1. Fire Henry (obviously).
2. Review the upper-level management decision making processes over the last few years, and fire everyone else associated with it.
3. Replace the head of R&D (no idea who he is, but even just that tuner fiasco is enough for him to have to go).
4. Completely trash the inventory list, and return to only making models that people actually want to buy (sales figures over the last 20 years should show that pretty easily).
5. Stop selling $4k & $5k guitars. Sorry, they're just not worth that much money, and most working musicians cannot afford them.
6. No Gibson branded products made anywhere except the USA. (the Epiphone line covers the lower end just fine)
7. Focus on instruments, and stop worrying so much about the peripheral stuff.

Probably a lot more, once I was able to dig into the internal details of what's really been going on there.
 
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#266
grooovedigga said:
Well I'm more of a Fender, Rickenbacker fan, but I'd bring back the basic product line and keep all products Made in the USA. I'm not a fan of so many varieties made in so many countrys - keep it simple.
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Sorry...Gibsons are made in one country only...the USA. If you have a Gibson made anywhere else, it's fake.

PaulaJsmith- Collectors choice, and other uber high end Gibson's are the only ones selling. I agree, nobody want a $3K regular line guitar, but $8K CS true vintage/ and collectors choice sell like hotcakes. Sadly, everything is relative, and the hotcakes won't keep Gibson alive. Short run LesPauls, like my Murphy '56 (run of 25) sell out before delivery.
 
#270
darkestsun said:
build more of the wacky Norlin stuff, those are my kind of instruments! Especially the Grabbers/G3s and S1s.
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IMG_0094.jpg
 
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#271
I don’t know if this has been mentioned but one of the things I see wrong with Gibson is they’re not marketing to the younger millennial crowd at all.

It’s fine if their base is older dudes but who’s gonna buy their stuff when that generation goes.

Fender is killing it when it comes to this, and with the whole “lifestyle” brand. Alot of the interesting new acts are endorsed by fender, their social media game is on point, they create content, they give you free lessons if you buy their instruments!
 
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#272
Rolex exists as a luxury brand. If they made a $500 watch they would go under in less than a year.
Gibson does not need to cater to people with no money. Their problem is they are trying to do both, and Gibson has no idea how to build an entry level instrument that they don't already have in the Epi line.
 
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#277
Paulabass said:
Rolex exists as a luxury brand. If they made a $500 watch they would go under in less than a year.
Gibson does not need to cater to people with no money. Their problem is they are trying to do both, and Gibson has no idea how to build an entry level instrument that they don't already have in the Epi line.
Click to expand...

Rolex has a much larger worldwide base of potential wealthy customers who want to know what time it is than Gibson does of wealthy customers who want to buy a "luxury" guitar. Not a very good comparison, I'm afraid.
 
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#278
They won't go out of business. Either they will restructure their debts or be sold off. Their primary asset is the name Gibson. If they were to be sold a likely out come is that the Epiphones would get new headstocks that say Gibson on them. Although Gibson has stuck to the MIA I feels their best bet for the future is to make the Epi's at the $500 dollar range and up Gibsons. Their future customers are looking at CL in math class right now and seeing that they can get a used Fender for $300 and a used Gibson for $700. In the future when that same kid can afford a new instrument they'll look at platform they know and are comfortable with. One that is probably $500 cheaper and less likely to have a QC problem. As far as their basses go, they should just not bother.
 
#280
Could this be karma? I didn't read every post so forgive me if it was mentioned, but they did kill Steinberger and other brands.

And unfortunately I can't be part of any solution because I don't buy new instruments - especially Gibsons. Maybe if they offered a 7 string bass, but if it was another Les Paul influenced bass it would weigh 22 pounds and be passive.

This will be interesting to observe, like GC's supposed impending demise (and they are still around). I don't think the Gibson name will die, though.

Raz
 

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