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Post by Infinite Ego on Mar 23, 2011 12:10:40 GMT -5
Many of company's recent moves seem, uh, inexplicable or odd, etc., but I wonder if this is a sign that, finally, Gibson is simply crying for help: www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-Custom/50th-Anniversary-Korina-Tribute/Features.aspxThink this is a desperate plea for intervention?  I suppose Gibson is in a difficult spot. They are making some really good guitars in their Historic reissues but they all cost around 5K to over 6K, new, and there's a lot of them out there for sale right now. They seem to be just thrashing around trying anything to generate interest and sales. Akin to death throes or something. I'd sure hate to be in the guitar, amp, or effects business today -- trying to come up with new products amidst an ever-expanding ocean of products. Still, other companies seem to be thriving. G/L seems to be going full speed with an emphasis on just making their guitars better and PRS, while they almost went under during this recession, have rebounded beautifully and are probably making their best guitars ever and have a rabid base of customers. Gibson too big? Too unfocused? Overly dominated by one personality, the co. president who has lost his senses? Bogged down with committees? |
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Post by aliensporebomb on Mar 23, 2011 13:13:58 GMT -5
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mirth
New Member
Posts: 931
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Post by mirth on Mar 23, 2011 13:33:03 GMT -5
As a lefty Gibson has never got much love from me. Also, I believe they've outpriced themselves. I just have a hard time believing they are making compatible products to the custom companies, many who are cheaper still.
I guess if I had 5 grand to spend on a guitar, I'm pretty sure I could find quite a few places with better quality control, better woods and better craftsmanship.
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Post by Infinite Ego on Mar 23, 2011 13:45:34 GMT -5
I guess if I had 5 grand to spend on a guitar, I'm pretty sure I could find quite a few places with better quality control, better woods and better craftsmanship. No doubt about that. It's fairly evident that Gibson QC is horrendous these days unless you're willing to shell out truly big bucks, and, even then, you could easily still end up with a guitar that is plagued by half a dozen "little things" that you'd have to live with. There must be at least 10 medium-sized firms right now that you could get two or three perfect guitars for Gibson money. Shame. |
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Post by dimbulb on Mar 23, 2011 15:14:25 GMT -5
I always liked that yellow mahogany finish, but the pickup selector is really weird and the headstock, well, yeeech!
I never liked Gibsons anyway...
-jas
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Post by aliensporebomb on Mar 23, 2011 15:27:14 GMT -5
I seriously think Gibson is going to have some problems. The economy isn't the happiest and they just came out with the new Alex Lifeson (Rush guitarist) signature Les Paul and that sells for $4000.
Meanwhile, the latest low-end strats are coming out with surprisngly good necks with NO fret buzz at all and better than decent pickups.
Surprising in some ways and not in others.
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Post by davidmgt on Mar 23, 2011 15:29:42 GMT -5
I am lucky I got my Historic (R8) for under $2k and it is a fabulous guitar - I would never pay full price for one though. I think Gibson has strayed a bit too far from their core (making great guitars for guitar players) and have, sadly, become something of a lifestyle company. Add to that what must be a ridiculous cost structure and some really bad top management and you have the dusk tiger  |
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Post by Infinite Ego on Mar 23, 2011 15:57:23 GMT -5
I am lucky I got my Historic (R8) for under $2k and it is a fabulous guitar - I would never pay full price for one though. I think Gibson has strayed a bit too far from their core (making great guitars for guitar players) and have, sadly, become something of a lifestyle company. Add to that what must be a ridiculous cost structure and some really bad top management and you have the dusk tiger I didn't know you had an R8 -- or maybe I forgot. Yeah, that's a killer guitar for sure. Love the sound of a good LP. Hey, you should check out your local PRS shop and take your R8 in and compare it to an SC-58 or maybe a McCarty 58 and see what you think. |
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Post by davidmgt on Mar 23, 2011 16:25:51 GMT -5
I am lucky I got my Historic (R8) for under $2k and it is a fabulous guitar - I would never pay full price for one though. I think Gibson has strayed a bit too far from their core (making great guitars for guitar players) and have, sadly, become something of a lifestyle company. Add to that what must be a ridiculous cost structure and some really bad top management and you have the dusk tiger I didn't know you had an R8 -- or maybe I forgot. Yeah, that's a killer guitar for sure. Love the sound of a good LP. Hey, you should check out your local PRS shop and take your R8 in and compare it to an SC-58 or maybe a McCarty 58 and see what you think. The R8 is a very nice guitar, certainly the best LP I have ever played. I would normally have never gotten one, but I could not resist it for the price ($1800!!). Quality wise-however, my Hamer Studio is right there with it - the control cavity of the Hamer is something to behold! I would really like to see how the PRS models compare as well as the Larrivee RS4s. The problem I see with Gibson is that most everything they sell should cost about between $500 to $1000 less in order for the price to match the quality. The Historics are priced about right (assuming one has a flawless one) as to get something better one would have to spend 4-5K on a Collings or Giffin. |
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Post by aliensporebomb on Mar 24, 2011 11:47:06 GMT -5
I always liked that yellow mahogany finish, but the pickup selector is really weird and the headstock, well, yeeech! I never liked Gibsons anyway... -jas Definetely. The ES-125 Switchmaster style switch, headstock and "one too many knobs" gives it a look only a mother could love. It's like the Dusk Tiger. It was so polarizing. But the Firebird X was even more polarizing than that. |
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Post by Infinite Ego on Mar 24, 2011 15:23:14 GMT -5
Firebird X was the marketing equivalent of getting trashed and urinating in the punch bowl at your sister's wedding.
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Post by aliensporebomb on Mar 24, 2011 19:07:30 GMT -5
It's the same price as the Alex Lifeson Les Paul. I think I'll go for the Lifeson Lester rather than the "Herniated disc septum separated urine bladder" model.
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Post by aliensporebomb on Mar 24, 2011 21:08:43 GMT -5
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Post by Infinite Ego on Mar 24, 2011 21:30:01 GMT -5
next year it's the lunch room mustard-ketchup mixup commemorative edition SG.... |
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Post by dasein on Mar 24, 2011 21:55:44 GMT -5
99 times out of 100, I don't care what a guitar looks like as long as it sounds good. But this... this is actually offensive to me. |
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