Gibson Guitars

[sight-pin]

Files for bankruptcy. Keep hold of your Les Paul.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/may/01/gibson-guitar-firm-files-for-bankruptcy-protection

 

[DCLane]

Hopefully they'll still be around: they are clear they're purchase of Philips headphones was a mistake and want to emerge as Gibson without the headphones.

 

[the snail]

Been on the cards for a while now. Got distracted from the core business, overpriced for what they are, and a shrinking market, with wealthy baby-boomers starting to die off.

 

[Cycleops]

Should have stuck to guitars.

 

[MontyVeda]

I seem to recall hearing somewhere that new Gibson's are very average guitars with a premium price tag.

 

[GuyBoden]

I seem to recall hearing somewhere that new Gibson's are very average guitars with a premium price tag.

The old carved wood, hand built, 1940-50's are great guitars.
The modern guitars seem too heavy, have too much varnish, over built and little life in them (resonance).

I have a 1949 Gibson L4. Here's a pic of it.

 

[Beebo]

Been on the cards for a while now. Got distracted from the core business, overpriced for what they are, and a shrinking market, with wealthy baby-boomers starting to die off.

I expect that similar will happen with over priced pro bike manufacturers when the current crop of Mamils die out? Just like golf courses are struggling now.

 

[raleighnut]

I seem to recall hearing somewhere that new Gibson's are very average guitars with a premium price tag.

Badly made average guitars at that.

 

[burndust]

Badly made average guitars at that.

i've never been a fan of gibson guitars tbh, the premium price tag is for that "made in america" on the headstock other companies are producing much better products for far less, for the gibson price tag i'd rather go to a custom luthier and get them to build and LP type

 

[Drago]

Give me a Les Paul, SG or even a Flying V over a Strat any day.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Wouldn't mind a E335 'Dot', as played by the Welsh Wizard. Dave Edmunds
(& a song of Springsteens that he gave DE to record)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlqJc8qYU_o

 

[raleighnut]

i've never been a fan of gibson guitars tbh, the premium price tag is for that "made in america" on the headstock other companies are producing much better products for far less, for the gibson price tag i'd rather go to a custom luthier and get them to build and LP type

I dunno, my Corona California Telecaster (2000) is a lovely guitar.

 

[further]

[QUOTE 5231594, member: 45"]I'd rather have a top-end Epiphone than a budget Gibson though.[/QUOTE]
This

 

[Specialeyes]

I've always liked the idea of Gibsons, and have had a few over the years, but the only ones I've actually held on to are both acoustics - an L-1 and a J-45.
The former sounds like plucking nasal hairs, but is great at certain things and like most Gibsons is very cool. The latter is just a beautifully made guitar and keeps getting better with age.

Gibson themselves, seem to have been in a permanent state of freefall and financial mismanagement for as long as I can remember. I heard someone on the radio arguing that the longevity of their instruments and the buoyancy of the second-hand market have reduced the demand for new Gibsons which, whilst I guess is partly true, takes no account of the impact of Pacific-rim-made guitars and the fact you can often buy better, or bespoke, for less. I periodically review guitars on youtube and without exception, every single video is greeted with a wall of 'Made in China, right?' comments with definite M.A.G.A. undertones.

 

[sight-pin]

[QUOTE 5231594, member: 45"]Apart from the stupid self-tuning guitar debacle[/QUOTE]

I have that Gforce self tune thingy on my 2015 studio, Not sure what i think TBO. It's good that i can tune easily to open E, drop D etc with just a press of couple of buttons, but aesthetically I'd prefer normal keys.