What's going on with Gibson?

[lowbass68]

The closest they ever came to breaking into the higher end bass market was with the Tobias basses. Based on that debacle, I think they are lucky to be making money on guitars.

Don't forget that Gibson gutted Steinberger too.

 

[Precision2600]

A local Fender dealer told me that they've hired the marketing people behind Harley to make them into THE guitar brand.

I actually heard something similar about Gibson...no idea if it's true or not, but I heard from a friend (who heard from staff at Marc's Guitar Shop, formerly a part of Dave's Guitar) that Gibson was going to start selling their instruments at Harley Davidson dealerships, and that Epiphones are going to be sold in Wal-Mart, or something.

I hope it's not true, but it probably isn't. Either way, ***?

Yech. Anyway...

I wouldn't have a problem with Gibson sticking to a core group of instruments (talking about basses here, I guess) if they weren't shallow bastardisations of classic models that come and go every couple of years. To the best of my knowledge, the Thunderbird is the only Gibson bass to have remained consistently in their lineup for the last 20-odd years.

Let's see a core lineup of: an original-spec Thunderbird, a Les Paul Standard carved-top, an EB-2, and an EB-3. That's pretty much the definitive Gibson bass lineup, and covers just about all the bases (sorry for the pun). Add the Grabber/Ripper/G3 or RD Artist, which people seem to ask for any time the word "Gibson" comes up in conversation around here, and if Gibson sticks with them, and stops waffling at every hiccup in sales, they could be respected again (for the first time?) by the bass-playing community.

I'm doubtful that radical innovation is their key to success (anyone remember the Continental bass?). A large part of Gibson's success (and Fender's, for that matter) is their instruments' resistance to change. Odds are, if someone wants a Gibson guitar, they want a classic, straight-up Les Paul or 335 or whatever. They are a standard from which all else deviates (again, as is Fender).

It'll be interesting to see how the Robot Guitar does. If I had to bet, I think it'll tank. Most players (especially Gibson players) probably aren't into that kind of thing, and those that are probably already have some boutique instrument that does everything the Robot Guitar does, or something similar.

 

[Nocturnal]

Yeah, I would think that the average player wouldn't be super interested in the Robot Guitar. Seems pretty "gimmicky" to me.

 

[Evilio]

I hate to drag up old posts, but a year or two on from when this thread started and there hasn't been any improvment. Even the Epiphone line has gone stale. Gibson seems to be content with releasing 'signature' models. I guess the rational is that they were big in the 60's...the people that grew up with Gibsons as a popular brand are in their 50's and over, with lots of cash, and happy to buy a $3,000+ guitar for the novelty of a musicians name on it, or similar gimmicks.

 

[Oric]

they need to make a flying V that points up

 

[detracti]

They need to make a proper Ripper.

 

[gibsonbassist45]

RD's, RD artists, Grabbers, Rippers? Why don't they reissue any of these. Those LP basses look absolutely dreadful. I know that Gibson is quality, but I would never play something that looked that bad.

yeah i totally agree with you. ive been saying the same thing. they need to reissue these cause they are in demand just as high as the basses they have now.they really should reissue them.

 

[gibsonbassist45]

yeah wow. i cant say how much i totally agree with all of this.gibson really needs to do something.i really like seriously think they need to reissue their old basses from like the 70s and stuff(RD's,rippers,grabbers,EB-3's,les paul triumph,etc.)
i think that its actually kinda of a serious matter with whats been going on with them.you know,maybe theyre not worried about it now. but if they only have like 2-3 basses out,the people are going to become sick of them eventually and they will stop having buisiness.then they will take it seriously. i really think they better take their heads out of their a**** if they expect to stay in production.even with the guitar line.maybe having the two new basses(nikki sixx/shavo sig models) will make alittle more production but still,they are signature models.not everyone is going to buy them, cause its already someone's trade mark bass.and they really didnt need to make ANOTHER nikki sixx bass. i mean please. the shavo one doesnt sound like a bad idea,but we didnt need another nikki sixx..please.i really think the best way to go is to reissue their older basses.then i think they would gain major popularity and in sales rates.but it probably wont happen.and if they do.i really think they will wind up reissuing it all in silverburst just cause its a new trend.but i HATE silverburst.so then theres another issue their on to. thats all i really have to say.i have already started another thread on this same topic. check it out sometime if you can. but as for current gibson in my book..its just a whole lotta crap