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Home The State of Gibson Guitars

The State of Gibson Guitars

So this is far away from pedal talk. There has been so much chatter about Gibson Guitars lately and I wanted to talk about it myself. Those of you not following, Gibson Guitars has been receiving a ton of criticism on the interwebs ranging from their quality control, new releases and general practices – and really catching fire after Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher talking some major smack about the company. You can read that here.

Back in the 80s and 90s I was super into Gibsons. The first ‘real’ guitar I purchased in the early 90s was an Epiphone Les Paul with gold hardware (still have it today). I remember going to a local Gibson dealer and playing a bunch of Gibsons, but when I tried out the Epiphone, I so much more preferred. I loved that guitar. But years later, I wanted a “real” Gibson and ended up getting a Black Gibson Les Paul Studio as a gift from my wife. At this time (late 90s) Gibsons were really on fire, a friend of mine had the Gibson Custom Shop Elegant, which was one of the nicest guitars I ever played. Quality was excellent, prices were still in the ballpark, etc.GibsonsSeems like the late 2000s is when things started shifting. This was the first time I heard about bad press with the company, ranging from FBI raids, first time I started to hear about the CEO. The last few years, there became an obvious disconnect with the community. Technology is great, but with the burst of boutique builders and luthiers that use hands – it can turn people off. Fretting ‘robots’ to perform ‘exact’ fret jobs. Adding auto-tuning machines as a stock featre, etc.. is not following the trends that guitarists are after. Basically swimming against the current.

I’m friends with various guitar builders and a few years ago is when I started hearing about cease and desist letters that Gibson was sending out for body styles similar to Gibson. Threatening these builder who have been producing lines for years to either stop, get sued or pony up to a licensing deal – just wreaks of money desperation. Again, this sends shock waves to builders, which reverberates to musician community.

I haven’t thought about purchasing a Gibson since the late 90s.. and I’m not alone. I remember the days when you’d see Les Pauls on stage as a very common thing. Not any more. I see an overwhelming amount of Fenders and when I see an SG or Les Paul, I go “wow.. a Les Paul.. haven’t seen one of those on stage for a while”. Of course when I talk about ‘on stage’, I’m referring to my local music scene including touring acts. I know Slash still rocks one, etc. But in general, the trend has really dropped off in the last 20 years.

I wanted to post this video by Agufish, where he provides some GREAT insight on the topic:

and the follow up video…

What are your thoughts on the subject? Let me know by commenting below! Also, what do you think that Gibson needs to do to turn things around?

Nov 1, 2017admin

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Comments: 16
  1. Jason Matheson
    5 months ago

    First, the image of all those trashed guitars is such a sad picture of wasted opportunity. I have little actual stake in this topic as my price range really only allows for sub $1k guitars and that’s not a Gibson to me in that price point. I have always wanted to own a high end Gibson, but of late I have changed my viewpoint. If I were going to spend $2k+ on a guitar it most certainly would not be a Gibson, but something that shows a greater creative spark in its manufacture. Something unique. I just can’t justify blowing that much money on something that I feel is ultimately played out.

    ReplyCancel
  2. admin
    5 months ago

    Yeah.. that photo is brutal. That was from the Nashville flood. Still seems they could have been restored and donated.. or something instead of the trash bin!

    ReplyCancel
  3. Swampash
    5 months ago

    I have a 2015 Les Paul Traditional and its a gem. Quality and workmanship are the best i have seen in years. No gadgetry, just a strightforward rock and roll guitar.

    ReplyCancel
  4. Rick Sell Owner PureSalem Guitars
    5 months ago

    I’m no fan of Gibson Brands as they are now called. Their legal staff is unethical, knowingly sending out cease and desist letters in hopes of scaring smaller companies. When you buy a Gibson guitar today and spend upwards of $1200 all your paying for is the name. They were there when Rock n Roll got its legs and they created some of the most iconic instruments. Unless something is coming out of the custom shop and at that point how many players can actually afford the instrument. Gibson Brands is so diversified that only 15-18% of their profit comes from the sale of musical instruments. I’m sure one day our grandkids will be mowing the lawn on a Gibson lawnmower… I have lost all respect for this once cherished and iconic institution. -Rick Sell / PureSalem Guitars

    ReplyCancel
  5. Dan
    5 months ago

    I think that pic is a lot older than the Nashville flooding. If I recall, it’s a pic of confiscated Chinese counterfeits. Pic has been floating around for at least a couple of years now.

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  6. Elmer
    5 months ago

    I have owned a couple of $1,800 range Les Pauls in my time. The first was a silverburst which ended up having a twisted neck, the other was a black one that Gibson gave me on warranty to replace the silverburst. I just didn’t think they were worth the money. I ended up trading the black one for a tele.

    ReplyCancel
  7. William Clements
    5 months ago

    I have a fender lonestar strat that i love but also have a 2015 gibson les paul classic in fireburst that is is totally awesome. I love them both.

    ReplyCancel
  8. Andy
    5 months ago

    All signs point back to the CEO. Really weird decision making over the years. They’d be much better off keeping it rather simple as far as the models and just provide for the demand from actual players. Also, make them a bit more affordable (for example, the 2018 Les Paul Classic with the P-90s is a step in that direction). And most importantly, be consistent with quality. I have a 2016 Les Paul Traditional that’s my favorite guitar I’ve ever owned since the early 80s. Everything is perfect about it, so in my opinion they still know how to know it out of the park.

    ReplyCancel
  9. Boyd
    5 months ago

    It’s funny you mentioned Slash. He is endorsed by Gibson but does not actually play them. His “Gibson” guitars are actually ghost builds, have been since Appetite For Destruction. Nothing speaks louder than that on this subject.

    ReplyCancel
  10. Kirk Bolas
    5 months ago

    Hank…it’s a sad state of affairs when Gibson is reviled and becomes a source of derision that I’ve even heard passing comments about in local comedy club routines. The news must have some traction in the daily news or some at least light rotation on the local FM radio stations. Otherwise why would a few local standup comics have Gibson as joke material, the company and not the product.

    The first Boston Album was a major reason I picked up the guitar in the first place. I was 13 y.o. ZZ Top and the Right Reverend Billy F. Gibbons, pre-eliminator era was another. Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd has always been a favorite of mine and one of the most underrated rock guitarists of the 70’s and forward. Hmm Gary Moore was another that put that fire under me. The commonality between them all…the Les Paul, with a few of those being the revered ‘58-‘60 “Bursts” were their weapons of choice. Other influences or mine were Angus Young, Buck Dharma, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton (Creme Era), Derek Trucks…all SG loyal players…I could do this all day, but the point is made. Two of the Ted McCarty era, aka Gibson’s Golden Era when that Gibson president was one who truly was the driving and guiding force behind real, honest innovation and not the wanna be wankfest that is today’s Gibson. The Firebird X, the robot tuners on everything but the stuff that the Acoustic shop was known for. When Henry Juszkiewicz rescued the about to tank mid 1980’s Gibson, he was a young man with ambition, ideas, passion and original, outside the box thinking. Now he’s a rapidly approaching senior citizen status and is desperately trying to create at least the image of a legacy by attempting to hijack and sit upon the long dried out laurels that McCarty had rightfully earned over half a century ago. I still own a ‘92 LP Studio…when the only true difference between a Studio and a Standard was essentially just the body and neck binding, the gig bag vs the hard case and about $850. I have a 2009 SG and that’s it. My Epiphone WildKat and my Epiphone LP Baritone really aren’t counted in what I still own by Gibson as they are not made in Nashville, Memphis or the old shop and factory in Kalamazoo.

    I stopped paying any mind to the decal on the Headstock about the turn of the millenium. So long as it feels and plays good, has good tone…then it is a good. Rondo Music of New Hampshire has a house brand known as Agile. The 3100 series is a dead on, spitting image clone of a high end LP. They offer the same guitar with the ability to “Customize” most of the aesthetics as well as several key components. The cost for one right off the shelf is about $300-$450 and the Customized guitar can run as high as $1,500…but the price is still significantly lower than what the House of Henry Juszkiewicz cranks out and the quality is of an exceptional nature no bars and no reservation. I own a couple and they fool my most snobbish friends in a blinded test session.

    ReplyCancel
  11. Kirk Bolas
    5 months ago

    Oh…one correction. The only Brand Name that has any meaning for me and any influence on my purchasing practices is…are ya ready? It’s the…

    Rattlesnake Snake Cable Company

    Buy only the best and accepts nothing less nor any counterfeits.

    ReplyCancel
  12. Michael
    5 months ago

    I own an early 90s Gibson 335 that is a magnificent guitar (and a great MIJ mid-80s strat). The few more recent Gibsons I’ve played were fine but not mind-blowing. But now there are so many cool and interesting smaller builders, with such a wide variety of designs and price points, that if I were in the market for a guitar I’d certainly not look at Gibson first. If one is able to pay $1,500 or more for a guitar, the choices are vast. I don’t think Gibson really makes superior guitars for the money. And everything I’ve heard about the CEO just makes me want to look elsewhere.

    ReplyCancel
  13. Larry b
    4 months ago

    When Gibson left Kalamazoo, their troubles started. The old craftsmen are still in Kalamazoo and have their own company. I have a ‘74 ws340tdw. A fine guitar. Not long ago I bought a Heritage H550, built by the aforementioned craftsmen. A wonderful guitar.
    I believe Gibson changed their business model when they moved to Nashville… quality is gone

    ReplyCancel
  14. Michael
    4 months ago

    I was totally enraged, when i saw that picture. What an enormous waste! They would get a much better reputation, if they didn’t trash instruments and sold them instead.

    ReplyCancel
  15. Luke
    3 months ago

    I recently bought a Gibson SG. I love it! Its light and comfortable.

    ReplyCancel
  16. Peter Whitworth
    1 month ago

    Why don’t Gibson make a good but affordable guitar like Fender make A Mexican Telecaster. I am sure if they made guitars in the reach of everyday people in time they might upgrade to these iconic instruments they have seen their grandfathers playing?

    ReplyCancel

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admin
5 months ago 16 Comments Miscellaneousagufish, bill kelliher, gibson, mastodon4,199
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