will Gibson have Tom Murphy do this cool thing with their basses too?

[Blaze Barlow]

This is the best bass gibson ever made.......

 

[123Nil]

Gibson had better do the same thing Fender had better do. They better start marketing a guitar to people who don't give a rat's behind how they did it in 1959. Most of the people who really care about that stuff are retiring and/or moving on to the afterlife.

As long as it's short scale..im in..

Yeah, they've got to stick with some models for the long haul and let them become classics in their own right. Looks like they just dropped their Les Paul Jr. DC Tribute bass. That was a promising, relatively affordable bass and they dropped it after just one year, I think it was...dang

Wow really !!! Wish I could just find one, in a music store to play..

 

[two fingers]

This is the best bass gibson ever made.......View attachment 3628191

And sales were abysmal. That's why it doesn't get made today. It doesn't matter what's best. It only matters what sells.

 

[74hc]

I am totally not into buying relic custom shop gear. I much prefer to buy a custom shop correct to the time period, and me doing relic'n in my own way.

 

[40Hz]

And sales were abysmal. That's why it doesn't get made today. It doesn't matter what's best. It only matters what sells.

Right around that time, out of the clear blue Gibson started getting heavy handed with their distribution channel. A lot of the smaller music stores lost their dealership status for no reason other than they weren't (in Gibson's opinion) moving sufficient volume or pushing the Gibson brand (I guess they're calling it "the Gibson experience" these days) hard enough.

Gibson made a number of equally brilliant marketing moves back in the 80s.

But sales aren't the driving force when it comes to Gibson and basses. The company would basically rather not make basses at all. It's a lack of interest and their corporate culture more than anything else that treats their bass products like orphans - and then makes them orphans in short order. Gibson sees itself as a guitar company. Not a bass guitar maker. They're just not interested.

 

[40Hz]

This is the best bass gibson ever made.......View attachment 3628191

Amazing looking and sounding bass. I preferred the then incredibly (and even more so today) rare passive/dual pickup 'Custom' model myself. But that's just me.

 

[bassplayer9512]

I'd buy a vintage or used Gibson before I would ever buy a new one.

They did make my favorite looking hollowbody basses. I've always wanted to try a midtown and ES LP bass but have never found one close enough.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Yep. The music world recycles everything and does it constantly. The older generation celebrates that it happens. The newer one feels threatened and gets all defensive whenever it's pointed out they're doing the same.

So maybe it's time for Gibson to start 'doing the Vulfpeck' by putting their old wine in newish looking bottles. But this time around maybe be a little smarter about it by insisting they're doing no such thing.

Fender, on the other hand, doesn't have anything to worry about. The gravity well Leo created abides - and is stronger than ever.

I may not be able to agree more on your conclusion !

 

[Blaze Barlow]

And sales were abysmal. That's why it doesn't get made today. It doesn't matter what's best. It only matters what sells.

maybe it only matters what sells to those who profit..but for those that like quality..sound..and instrument enjoyment..this is as good as it gets for me..and thats all that matters in my world..

 

[two fingers]

maybe it only matters what sells to those who profit..but for those that like quality..sound..and instrument enjoyment..this is as good as it gets for me..and thats all that matters in my world..

If there's no profit, there's no reason to make one. The same holds true for any iconic bass you love (or motorcycle, or car, or shoes, or...).

 

[godofthunder59]

here we go, sorry 'bout that Gibson launches the Murphy Lab, dedicated to building historically accurate guitars | Guitarworld
Gibson creates the Murphy Lab, a division of the Custom Shop dedicated to creating historically accurate guitars

"Historically accurate guitars" I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[ctmullins]

The market, as a whole, doesn't really care about Gibson basses

I'm still trying to figure out why the market cares about "historically accurate" instruments. Really? It's a tool. It can be a nice tool, pretty to look at and pleasant to hold, but it's still a tool for making music. And tools should evolve as technology matures.

Maytag isn't making "historically accurate" washers. Bosch isn't reissuing its first jigsaw from 1947. Sony isn't selling Trinitrons any more. Ford stopped making the 1957 Bel-Air after one short year. Why? Because better designs were developed.

A few luminaries have attempted this kind of unsentimental product advancement in the guitar world. Ned Steinberger and Phil Kubicki are obvious examples. Yet their creations were, in the larger scheme, unsuccessful.

What the hell is wrong with the musical instrument industry?

 

[Gaolee]

I just wish they'd come out with a line of instruments we could all fall in love with.

They already did. No problems. I just wish they would keep making them.

 

[40Hz]

maybe it only matters what sells to those who profit..but for those that like quality..sound..and instrument enjoyment..this is as good as it gets for me..and thats all that matters in my world..

And there lies the difference between a musician and a guitar manufacturer. Manufacturers don't generally have the luxury of pursuing excellence regardless of the cost. Nor do most musicians have the luxury of buying an instrument without taking the acquisition price into consideration.

 

[Blaze Barlow]

If there's no profit, there's no reason to make one. The same holds true for any iconic bass you love (or motorcycle, or car, or shoes, or...).

I am only looking at it from my perspective..I do what makes me happy..they can do what they want for the business end..

 

[Blaze Barlow]

And there lies the difference between a musician and a guitar manufacturer. Manufacturers don't generally have the luxury of pursuing excellence regardless of the cost. Nor do most musicians have the luxury of buying an instrument without taking the acquisition price into consideration.

I dont get that deep into it..too much drama..If I like an instrument..I'll buy it..money has never been an issue for me..

 

[40Hz]

I dont get that deep into it..too much drama..If I like an instrument..I'll buy it..money has never been an issue for me..

You're somewhat unusual in that respect then.

Money not being an issue is excellent insulation against most of the day to day financial realities people with money tend to dismiss as "drama." But like my grandfather once told me: If you can buy your way out of something, it can't be considered a real problem.

Nice position to be in.

 

[west al]

IMO, the only Gibson basses that are worth playing are the SG short scales. However, since Epiphone does a better job with these, for less, the question, for me, is moot. I'm never going to buy a NIB Gibson bass.

My current Epi EB-0 is a fine example of the quality of this bass.

 

[Blaze Barlow]

You're somewhat unusual in that respect then.

Money not being an issue is excellent insulation against most of the day to day financial realities people with money tend to dismiss as "drama." But like my grandfather once told me: If you can buy your way out of something, it can't be considered a real problem.

Nice position to be in.

when I started out..I didnt have much money..but was always able to buy the bass I wanted by making some type of financial arrangement..I started buying in a small guitar shop in a small town..the owner was wonderful and would let you pay as you go..I could take the instrument home..and make some kind of regular payment along the way..basically a monthly payment..but not necessarily a set amount..it was the honor system..I bought all my music stuff from him back in the day..he had a regular lifetime customer..it was an older gentleman..non musician..but soft spoken and likable as can be..he passed away a few years ago..and he had helped many musicians along the way..with his kindness and soft style..he is greatly missed and remembered by many.

 

[40Hz]

when I started out..I didnt have much money..but was always able to buy the bass I wanted by making some type of financial arrangement..I started buying in a small guitar shop in a small town..the owner was wonderful and would let you pay as you go..I could take the instrument home..and make some kind of regular payment along the way..basically a monthly payment..but not necessarily a set amount..it was the honor system..I bought all my music stuff from him back in the day..he had a regular lifetime customer..it was an older gentleman..non musician..but soft spoken and likable as can be..he passed away a few years ago..and he had helped many musicians along the way..with his kindness and soft style..he is greatly missed and remembered by many.

Sounds like a real gentleman. I'm glad to know you had someone like that to deal with. People like that are a rare breed in the music business. Or most others these days when you get right down to it.

The music stores I've dealt with were pretty much cash on the barrel operations. The sole exception being the sadly missed G Guitars once in New Haven CT which was an utterly professional yet personable business in every sense of the word.

These last few years I've had better experiences dealing with private dealers who don't run stores in the traditional sense. They're much like the booksellers I prefer to do business with. The ones that still have the personal touch.

But I'm considered old fashioned when it comes to business. And I wouldn't have it any other way.