Gibson Strat - no, really...

[Lew]

problem i now see is that this starter pack is now directly in competition with all the other strat style starters out there.  and the rest all look a lot more like jimi's actual guitar

how many flying V starter packs are there?   would that not have been a much better choice for gibson to persue.  would the kids not go crazy for that if they had a choice between the two

at least that way they could use a picture of him playing one of their guitars on the box

That's the best bit isn't it? Using a pic of him playing a Fender Strat on the box...  :lol:

[gwEm]

Do the kids these days care as much about Hendrix, maybe someone more up-to-date would have been a good starter pack choice

[Afghan Dave]

An affordable "branded" Flying V would have been such a success.

I can only believe that the decision makers at Gibson are so far removed from guitarists and even their own heritage that they will continue to alienate us.

Have you seen what people are saying on Gibson's own site?

The message is loud and clear - they are taking an overdue beating because the flood gates have been opened by this.

[FernandoDuarte]

That's the best bit isn't it? Using a pic of him playing a Fender Strat on the box...  :lol:

:lol:

[AndyR]

Ummm...

... speechless

Money making's fine by me, I got no real problem, if there are idiots out there to buy it, so be it...

but, er, some poor kid's gonna get this in his christmas stocking... does it come with a baseball cap with "dork" written on it?

Still, look on the bright side, might be a good guitar....

But...

I've got to say - todays Fender vs todays Gibson... I take the Fender everytime - guitar quality-wise and ethics-wise.

Its been a while since I played a bad modern Fender, and they sorted out their budget range too.

Im sure someone will disagree with me now  :lol:

Actually no, I have to agree gwem, based on my limited experience anyway...

So it's not looking too good...

[WezV]

Do the kids these days care as much about Hendrix, maybe someone more up-to-date would have been a good starter pack choice

most possibly wont care one bit about him, but i suppose it might slightly influence the parents.

a flying v one would have been popular and may have actually introduced kids to hendrix - which must be the aim of the authentic hendrix organisation

[Dmoney]

Do the guys at Gibson even care about guitars? :oops:

... and a 3 p/u SG custom in white with gold h/w would be so much more appropriate  :P

answer is no.
i spoke to n ex gibson PR guy.
he opinion of the company was... less than average.... to put it nicely.

[AndyR]

I was just wondering about the strat on the box - how do Fender sit with that, won't they want money for the image... when I recalled reading this just now...

Janie Hendrix: "Well it started when we were fighting to get the rights to Jimi’s legacy back, around 1992-’95 [Janie refers to the legal battle over Jimi Hendrix’s estate with attorney Leo Branton in 1995]. Gibson had developed this Flying V with Jimi’s signature in gold in time to celebrate the 25th year of Jimi’s memorial. Well, after we got our rights back we did a deal with Fender and we worked with them for a while and then, well, one thing led to another and we weren’t working with Fender."

Fender have stitched them up!!! They know all about her, and they've just passed her on to the poor chaps at Gibbo-land, "here you go lads, have one on us..."

[Matt77]

This will be an interesting lawsuit

[Philly Q]

Janie Hendrix is an arse.

Just because she happens to be the half-sister of a bloke she barely knew, she's rolling in cash but still milking the Jimi Hendrix legacy for every last penny.  Even to the extent of getting Gibson to make a piss-poor Strat knockoff.  I despair.

[martinw]

Janie Hendrix is an arse.

And then some.
Anyone read Sharon Lawrence's book, "Jimi Hendrix, TheMan, The Magic, The Truth"?

Highly recommended.

[Ted 'N' Leo]

Saw this at work on my lunch break today. Lame beyond belief.

I knew Janie H was squeezing Jimis legacy for its worth, but this is just so low.

[dave_mc]

these are the same guys who sued PRS for copyright infringement on the les paul shape, right?

:roll:

[Ian Price]

Absolutely terrible. I really hope it doesn't sell but suspect it will.

Agree with all of the comments about Fenders consistency of quality being a long way ahead of Gibson. A guy I work with turns his nose up at Fender in favour of Gibson. He has no argument to back this up other than "it's a gibson" or "it costs more"  :roll:

How many people will there be that buy this and not realise Hendrix played a Fender Strat?

[Dmoney]

i might buy one...
or hold out for a Schumaker signature Maclaren.